The Natya class, Soviet designation Project 266M Akvamarin, were a group of

minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...

s built for the Soviet Navy and export customers during the 1970s and 1980s. The ships were used for ocean minesweeping.

Design

The design evolved from the with new demining equipment including more advanced sonar and closed circuit TV. A stern ramp made recovering sweeps easier. The hull was built of low magnetic steel. The engines were mounted on sound dampening beams and shrouded propellers were used to reduce noise. An electrical field compensator was also installed. A single ship designated Natya 2 by

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two N ...

was built with an aluminium hull for reduced magnetic signature.

Project 02668

* Displacement: 852 tons. * Armament: 1 × 30mm AK-306

CIWS A close-in weapon system (CIWS ) is a point-defense weapon system for detecting and destroying short-range incoming missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses, typically mounted on a naval ship. Nearly all classes of l ...

, 2 × 14.5 mm MTPU-1 machine guns, BKT high-speed pin sweep, TEM-4 electromagnetic sweep, AT-3 acoustic sweep, SZ-1 or SZ-2 depth charges, "Livadia" mine detector-finder. * Crew: 60. Project 02668 was designed by Design Bureau "Almaz" and is a prototype, which demonstrates the latest technology - the logical continuation of a series of Project 266ME. The minesweeper is equipped with the most modern means of anti-mine protection. It was the first Russian mine-sweeping ship to have an integrated navigation bridge and main command center, as well as the "Diez-E" automated control system of anti-mine action activities. The St. Andrew's flag-raising ceremony was held on 17 January 2009, and the ship was accepted into the Russian

Black Sea Fleet Chernomorskiy flot , image = Great emblem of the Black Sea fleet.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Great emblem of the Black Sea fleet , dates = May 13, ...

Operators

45 ships were built for the Soviet Navy from 1970 to 1982. *7 ships believed to remain in service. **

Black Sea Fleet Chernomorskiy flot , image = Great emblem of the Black Sea fleet.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Great emblem of the Black Sea fleet , dates = May 13, ...

- 5 ships ** Pacific Fleet - 2 ships *2 captured by Russia. ** U310 ''Chernihiv'' (ex-''Zenitchik'' - captured) **U311 ''Cherkasy'' (captured)https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-minesweeper-idUSBREA2P17H20140326 *12 ships built for the Indian Navy in two batches between 1978 and 1988. Ship design was modified to Indian specifications. Known as the Pondicherry-class minesweeper in Indian service. Five ships have been decommissioned leaving seven in active service. To be replaced by

Future Indian minehunter class GSL Mine Counter-Measure Vessels are series of twelve naval ship that were jointly proposed to be built by Goa Shipyard Limited and a yet to be decided TOT partner for the Indian Navy. Background In May 2004, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MO ...

. *8 ships transferred 1981-86. 2 still in active Libyan People's Army *2 ships captured in February 2011. *One ship in 1986. *One ship.

References

* Also published as * * {{Soviet and Russian ships after 1945 Mine warfare vessel classes Minesweepers of the Russian Navy Minesweepers of the Ukrainian Navy Minesweepers of Ukraine Minesweepers of the Libyan Navy Minesweepers of the Syrian Navy Minesweepers of the Yemen Navy

Design

Project 02668

Operators

See also

References