Upgraded Murena landing craft ready for production
Boat "Murena" comes ashore. Photo "Rosoboronexport"
Since the beginning of the XNUMXs, the possibility of launching mass production of modernized Murena-M hovercraft landing craft has been discussed. Also, enterprises from the United Shipbuilding Corporation were developing the project and preparing production. As reported, the construction of the first boats of a new type can start this year at the Khabarovsk shipyard.
Year plans
On January 9, Vesti.Khabarovsk TV broadcast an interview with Sergey Korolev, Chief Engineer of Khabarovsk Shipbuilding Plant JSC (KhSZ). The main topic of the conversation was the company's plans for the new year 2023 and the specifics of their implementation. Thus, much attention was paid to the issues of working with personnel, attracting young people, etc. In addition, S. Korolev spoke about the ongoing and planned construction of ships and vessels.
The chief engineer of the enterprise recalled that at the moment the cooperation of KhSZ with the naval fleet limited to the repair of equipment. Nevertheless, the construction of new combat units for the Navy may begin in the near future. According to S. Korolev, this will be an important milestone in stories factory.
The chief engineer told what exactly KhSZ would build. So, the plant, together with the design organization, recently defended an initiative project for the modernization of a landing hovercraft (DKVP) under the code "Murena". This year, the plant expects to receive an order from the Ministry of Defense for the construction of such equipment. S. Korolev hopes that the first boats of the new series will also be laid down before the end of the year.
The Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the plans of the KhSZ leadership. If it intends to place an order for new boats, the details of such plans are still unknown. It is not clear how soon the contract will appear, what will be the size and cost of the series, etc. However, if KhSZ management correctly assesses the situation, all these details may become known in the coming months.
The boat is ready for landing. Photo "OSK"
According to the basic project
The basic version of the DKVP pr. 12061 Murena was developed back in the early eighties by the Leningrad Central Design Bureau Almaz. By the middle of the decade, the bureau had prepared technical documentation and handed it over to the Khabarovsk shipbuilding plant for mastering serial construction. Soon the laying of the first boats took place.
The lead Murena with tail number D-453 was handed over to the customer in 1985. From 1987 to 1992. KhSZ built and commissioned seven more boats. All these pennants were intended for the landing forces of the Pacific Fleet. They were assigned to one unit based in the port of Khabarovsk. New DKVP were involved several times in various maneuvers and exercises.
In November 1994, in connection with the general problems of the Russian Navy, it was decided to transfer all Muren from the landing forces to the coast guard of the Federal Security Service. As part of this structure, the boats served until the middle of the 143s, when they decided to write them off due to the development of the resource. The first seven boats were subsequently disposed of as unnecessary. The last representative of the series, D-XNUMX, ended up in the KhSZ workshop, where it was mothballed.
In the first half of the 2004s, KhSZ received the only export order for Murena. Three Russian DKVPs have been acquired by the South Korean Navy. These boats were laid down in 2005 and 2006, and by the end of XNUMX they were handed over to the customer and began service. In the future, the emergence of new South Korean orders was not ruled out.
Resumption of construction
The construction of DKVP pr. 12061 for the Russian fleet stopped in the early nineties. The only export contract was completed in the middle of the XNUMXs. Nevertheless, proposals were regularly made to resume the construction of boats in the interests of the Russian Navy.
Landing at sea. Graphics "Rosoboronexport"
Such ideas were developed in the early 2014s in connection with the construction of the Mistral universal landing ships. For use on such UDC, a modernized Murena-M DKVP was developed. In 2014, it was reported about the possibility of building five such pennants to equip two landing ships. However, in 15-XNUMX France refused to transfer ready-made UDCs to Russia, and the further fate of the upgraded Muren was in question.
In 2018, it became known that this project was not abandoned. Similar boats can be built for domestic UDC of a new project. The possibility of building a series of eight units before 2027 was mentioned. The first Murena-M could be laid before the end of the decade.
However, such plans were also not implemented for one reason or another. As it is now reported, only by now KhSZ and the design organization have completed the development of a modernized version of the boat and have prepared production. Now they are counting on receiving a contract from the Ministry of Defense, after which they will begin construction.
Technical features
The old pr. 12061 "Murena" provided for the construction of a hovercraft of a traditional design. Such a DKVP was intended for the transportation and landing of troops on an unequipped coast, and could also provide fire support. The possibility of working as a minelayer was envisaged.
The Murena boat received a box-shaped hull with an inner deck to accommodate the landing force. On the sides of it were the units of the power plant and the injection units of the air cushion. The length of the boat reached 31,3 m with a width of 14,6 m. The total displacement was 150 tons, incl. almost 50 tons of payload.
Moray model. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
The power plant of the boat consisted of two gas turbine engines with a capacity of 10 thousand hp each. Through gearboxes, power was distributed to two air cushion blowers inside the hull and two propellers for movement. The air cushion provided movement at a low altitude above the surface and made it possible to overcome some obstacles. The boat developed speeds up to 55 knots and had a cruising range of up to 200 nautical miles.
Inside the hull was tank deck, which occupied almost the entire length of the boat. For loading and disembarking there was a folding bow ramp. Murena could take on board one main tank, two armored personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles, two guns with tractors, or up to 140 paratroopers.
For self-defense and fire support of the landing force, the boat carried two AK-306 artillery mounts and two BP-30 mounts with AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers. The crew also had several MANPADS. After opening the ramp, the landing force could fire from a personal weapons or use the weapons of their combat vehicles.
According to known data, the current Murena-M project provides for the preservation of the main design features, layout solutions, etc. At the same time, the updated DKVP should be equipped with modern engines, electronic systems and weapons. Due to this, a significant increase in tactical, technical and operational characteristics will be obtained. In addition, it will be possible to ensure compatibility with modern Navy control loops.
Awaiting construction
The Russian Navy needs various landing craft, incl. boats with a displacement of up to 150 tons and a carrying capacity of up to 50 tons. In the past, this niche was occupied by DKVP pr. 12061 Murena, but they were decommissioned and disposed of long ago. Over the past few years, the possibility of building similar boats made using modern materials and technologies has been considered.
For various reasons, the development of the Murena-M project and the preparation for production were significantly delayed. However, to date, the design organization and the manufacturer have completed the required preparations and are ready to start construction. Now everything depends on the Ministry of Defense, which will have to determine whether such boats are needed, in what quantity and in what timeframe - and then issue the appropriate order.
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