The P 6-class torpedo boat, Soviet designation Project 183 Bolshevik, were Soviet wood-hulled motor torpedo boats produced shortly after World War II. They were armed with two twin 25 mm autocannons and two 5331NaN1 torpedoes.[1] [2]
A large torpedo boat developed shortly after World War II, the Project 183 "Bolshevik" torpedo boats were influenced by the American-built Vosper, Elco, and Higgins motor torpedo boats delivered to the Soviet Union via Lend-lease. The development was carried out by the No.5 shipyard in Leningrad, and had a hull designed to be semi-planing with sharp lines, compared to the earlier full hydroplaning Soviet designs like the or Project 123-bis. The boat was made out of wood and powered by four M-50 diesel engines, and able to reach a maximum speed of 43kn.
The ships were armed with two twin 25 mm autocannons with 2,000 rounds of ammunition, two 533 mm torpedo tubes, and eight depth charges. Additionally sea mines could be taken to replace the torpedo tubes.
The Project 183 was used as the basis for multiple derivative designs, such as the Project 183-R missile boat, the first mass-produced missile boat which also scored the first combat kill with an anti-ship missile, the Project 199, a sub hunter derivative fitted with a sonar for the border guard, and the Chinese Type 55A, a gunboat fitted with larger calibre guns.
The first P 6 torpedo boat was delivered in 1949, and construction was carried out by three shipyards, building a total of around 420 boats. The ships were well-liked by their crews, and a large amount of them were exported to allied nations. Most of the ships were retired by the 1980s. Some were converted to passenger or transport ships.
In 1953, the People's Republic of China bought 39 P 6 torpedo boats from the Soviet Union and the plans to build their own. The Soviets provided assistance to start local production, where it is known as the Type 02 torpedo boat, and a total of 63–80 boats were built. Some of the ships were built with steel hulls instead of wooden ones as there was difficulty finding suitable wood. The ships participated in actions against the Republic of China Navy, and were all retired by the 1990s.[3] [4]
Egypt acquired about 46 units from 1956-1970. They saw action against Israel in the Six-Day War, including an action where the Israeli destroyer Eliat and accompanying torpedo boats sank two P 6 boats.[5]
NATO reporting name: Komar class, first mass-produced missile boat type.
Chinese designation for Project 183.
NATO reporting name: Shantou class, steel-hulled gunboat variant armed with two twin 37 mm guns and two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns.