Polnocny-class landing ship explained

The Polnocny (or Polnochny)-class ships are amphibious warfare vessels. They were designed in Poland, in cooperation with the Soviet Navy and were built in Poland between 1967 and 2002. They now serve in several different navies, and some have been converted to civilian use. The name comes from the Stocznia Północna shipyard (Northern Shipyard) at Gdańsk, where they were built. 107 were built by 1986 (last 16 by Stocznia Marynarki Wojennej (Naval Shipyard) at Gdynia, Poland). In 2002, one ship of a modernised design NS-722 was built in Gdynia for Yemen.

Characteristics

The Polnocny-class ships are classified as medium landing ships in the Russian Navy, and are loosely equivalent to Western tank landing ships. They are equipped with a bow ramp that allows beach landings. The Polnocny-C version can carry 12 BMP-2 armored personnel carriers, or 4 Main Battle Tanks, or 250 infantrymen with their weapons like 82 mm Mortars and ATGMs, or 250 tons of rations & stores. Unlike their Western counterparts, these ships can provide substantial fire support for landed troops with their onboard multiple rocket launchers. Other armament consists of anti-aircraft guns and short-range surface-to-air missiles.

Variants

The Polnocny class comprises several sub-types that vary in size and capacity:

• Polnocny-A (Project 770) (46 built):

Displacement: 800 tons full load

Length: 73 m

Speed: 19kn

• Polnocny-B (Project 771) (36 built):

Displacement: 834 tons full load

Length: 73 m

Speed: 18kn

• Polnocny-C (Project 773) (24 built)

Displacement: 1150 tons full load

Length: 81.3 m

Speed: 18kn

• Modified Polnocny-C (Project 776) Amphibious Assault Command Ship (1 built - ORP Grunwald)

Displacement: 1253 tons full load

Length: 81.3 m

Speed: 18kn

• Polnocny-D (Project 773U) (4 built)

Displacement: 1233 tons full load

Length: 81.3 m

Speed: 16kn

Aircraft facility: One helicopter platform

• NS-722 class (1 built in 2002)

Displacement: 1,410 tons full load

Length: 88.7 m

Speed: 17kn

Aircraft facility: One helicopter platform

Operational service

Built in large quantities, the Polnocny-class ships were once the mainstay of the Soviet amphibious forces, and gave the Soviet naval infantry an effective force projection capability. They were gradually phased out in favour of hovercraft, and few remain active in a number of navies.

Current operators

• Algeria − 1 Polnocny-B armed with a twin AK-230 gun as of 2023
• Azerbaijan − 1 Polnocny-A and 1 Polnocny-B as of 2023

• − 3 Polnocny-B as of 2023
• − 1 Polnocny-A and 2 Polnocny-B as of 2023

Potiental operators

• Ukraine - 1 Polnocny-C, the Yuri Olefirenko Unclear if still in service or not.

Former operators

• − Non-operational by 2004
  • • Egypt − 3 Polnocny-A
• Ethiopia
• − Operated 2 Polnocny-A ships and 8 Polnocny-D (latter operated as Kumbhir-class) from 1966 to 2024^[1]
• Indonesia^{[2] [3]}
• Iraq
• Libya − 3 Polnocny-D
• − 1 Polnocny-C was converted into an amphibious command vessel
• − Operated 1 Polnocny-B as a logistic support ship as late as 2004
  • − Passed on to successor states
• Ukraine - 1 Polnocny-C, the Yuri Olefirenko, no longer in service as of 2023
• − Passed on to the unified Yemeni state
• − 3 Polnocny-B in poor state by 2004

See also

• List of ships of the Soviet Navy
• List of ships of Russia by project number

References

1. Web site: INS CHEETAH, GULDAR AND KUMBHIR DECOMMISSIONED AFTER 40 YEARS OF GLORIOUS SERVICE. 2024-01-13. 2024-01-17.
2. Moore 1974, p. 171
3. Web site: Medium landing ships - Project 770. russianships.info. 18 August 2021.

Bibliography

• Book: Moore, Capt. John. Jane's Fighting Ships 1974-75. Jane's Information Group. 1974. 978-0354005067.
• Watts, A.J.(2006); Jane's warship recognition guide; Collins;
• Jarosław Ciślak; Polska Marynarka Wojenna 1995 (Polish Navy 1995); Lampart, Warsaw 1995;
• Book: Saunders RN . Commodore Stephen . Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005 . 1 July 2004 . Janes Information Group . 978-0-7106-2623-3.
• Book: International Institute for Strategic Studies . The Military Balance 1989-1990 . 1 January 1989 . Brassey's . 978-0-08-037569-4 . English . . International Institute for Strategic Studies .
• Book: International Institute for Strategic Studies . The Military Balance 2023 . 15 February 2023 . Routledge . 201−204 . 978-1032508955 . 1st . International Institute for Strategic Studies . .

External links

• Indian Navy Polnochy class landing ship Bharat-rakshak.com
• All Polnocny-A Class Landing Ships - Complete Ship List
• All Polnocny-B Class Landing Ships - Complete Ship List
• All Polnocny-C Class Landing Ships - Complete Ship List