The Project 1241.1 Molniya (Lightning) are a class of Soviet missile corvettes. The NATO designation is Tarantul. These ships were designed to replace the Osa class missile boats. In the late 1970s, the Soviets realised the need for a larger, more seaworthy craft with better gun armament and higher positioned air search radars. The need for these improvements was underscored by the 1990 gulf war, when 12 Iraqi 'Osa-I's' were destroyed or damaged by short ranged Sea Skua anti-ship missiles. They were attacked by British Lynx helicopters, but the Osa crews didn't notice them because they flew below their radar horizon. In the Tarantul, both the single 76 mm main gun and the two 30 mm Gatling-type guns are used for air defence, together with a comprehensive electronic warfare suite. The boats are built by the Petrovsky yard (Leningrad), Rybinsk and Ulis yard (Vladivostok). A version of these ships for coastal anti submarine warfare and patrol was developed as the Pauk class corvette or Project 1241.2. The Indian navy paid approximately $30 million each for Tarantul-I copies in the early nineties. With over 30 sales on the export market the Tarantul has been a relative success for the Russian shipbuilding industry. Tarantul class vessels operate with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) but exact figures are disputed. Some sources credit the PLAN with at least one Tarantul presently in use and more than 30 planned (licensed indigenous production), while other sources reject this estimate, mostly because of the availability of indigenous 'Houijan' missile corvettes (also with some Russian content).
 ORP Metalowiec, a Polish Navy Tarantul-I missile corvette in Gdynia
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators | list error: <br /> list (help) Soviet Navy  Russian Navy  Bulgarian Navy  Volksmarine  German Navy  United States Navy  Indian Navy  Polish Navy  Romanian Naval Forces  Ukrainian Navy  Vietnam People's Navy  Yemeni Navy |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Missile corvette |
| Displacement | 480 long tons (488 t) standard, 540 long tons (549 t) full load |
| Length | 56.0 metres (183.7 ft) |
| Beam | 10.5 m (34.4 ft) |
| Draught | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) |
| Propulsion | 2 shaft COGAG turbines at 11000 hp each, plus 2 cruising engines at 4000 hp each (there were diesel and turbine versions of the cruising engines), |
| Speed | 32.48 knots (60 km/h) |
| Range | 1650 at 14 knots (26 km/h), operational autonomy for 10 days |
| Complement | 50 |
| Sensors and processing systems | Radar: Spin trough, Bass Tilt, Peel pair,Pop group |
| Armament |
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Versions
Projekt 1241 'Molniya'/Nato: Tarantul-I
First version, based on the Pauk-class hull, though with a significant added amount of weight. Equipped with four SS-N-2 'Styx' ship-to-ship missiles (either the 40 km range P-15 'Termit' missile or the later P-20 variant with 80 km range) and the associated 'Plank Shave' radar targeting system (45 km range in active mode of surveillance, 75-100 km range in passive mode, with an added air surveillance capability). 1 x AK–176 76.2 mm main gun and 2 x AK-630 30 mm six-barreled gattling guns, the latter CIWS system supported by the 'Bass Tilt' targeting radar. Furthermore, there is a Fasta-N SA-N-5 quadruple MANPAD lancher and two PK-16 decoy launchers. Propulsion is a COGOG system (COmbined Gas Or Gas)consisting of two NK-12M high power gas turbines with a combined 24200 horsepower output for full power and two cruise gas turbines with a combined output of 6000 hp. Top speed is 42 knots. Although the Soviet Navy only used two Tarantul-I's, mainly as trails platforms and for the training of foreign crews, the Projekt 1241's became a relatively successful export product, with about 33 export sales.
Projekt 1241.1M 'Molniya'/Nato: Tarantul-II
Second version, with the same propulsion as the previous class but with a rather different superstructure on the basic 'Pauk' class hull. The reason for this was the installation of four SS-N-22 'Sunburn' supersonic ship-to-ship missiles with a range of at least 100 km. The associated radar system is the L-band 'Band Stand' radar, with a 120 km active and 500 km passive range and the capability to track 15 different targets. The missiles can also receive third party guidance trough the 'Light Bulb' uplink (from other ships, helicopters or long range patrol aircraft). Cannon armament is retained, as were the PK-16 launchers, although Soviet Navy ships benefitted from the improved SA-N-8 quadruple MANPAD launcher. At least one ship had a SA-N-11 Kashtan gun+missile CIWS installed instead of the AK-630's.
Although highly capable, the ships had to be heavily modified and were rather overweight and very cramped, further adding to the limited sea-endurance. Other problems occurred with electronic interference and the high electric power consumption. However, as at least 18 Tarantul-II were built for the Soviet navy, most of these problems got solved one way or the other.
Projekt 1241-RE 'Molniya'/Nato: Tarantul III
Retaining the main armament and basic hull form of the 1241.1M, the third version received nonetheless important upgrades. Apart from a modest but useful internal redesign, the Tarantul-III had a new motorisation, consisting of a CODAG(COmbined Diesel And Gas) system. Two PR-76 gas turbines (rated at 12000 hp each) and two M504 (rated at 5000 hp each) diesel engines were used, being a big improvement over the earlier COGOG system both in terms of serviceability (the two cruise diesels being almost something of a Soviet 'classic'), fuel efficiency and, most importantly, service life expectancy compared to the older NK-12M's.
Apart from these modifications, Soviet naval engineers still considered (correctly, as would turn out in the '90 Gulf War) the design to be insufficiently protected against air attack. The Tarantul-III, built from 1987 on, received an improved ECM (Electronic countermeasures) suite, consisting of 2 'Half Hat' and 2 'Foot Ball' jamming systems, coupled to 4 improved PK-10 decoy launchers. At least 24 of these ships were built for the Soviet Navy before production ended in 1992.
Ships
98 ships built,
Currently (2005) - 23 in service
One ship in service: 101 "Мълния" ("Lightning")
Five ships built - all retired, including Hiddensee, which is currently a museum ship in Fall River, USA
The Indian variants are known as the Veer class corvettes. At least 12 are currently in active service.
Four built, two in service
- ORP Górnik (434) (decommissioned)
- ORP Hutnik (435) (decommissioned)
- ORP Metalowiec (436)
- ORP Rolnik (437)
Three ships, all in service, homeport Mangalia
- 188 Zborul commissioned 1990
- 189 Pescarusul commissioned 1991
- 190 Lastunul commissioned 1991
Two ships, both in service
- U155 Prydniprovia
- U156 Kremenchuk
Six ships in service, possibly 8 on order
One ship in service. Another 1 ship unknown status.
References and external links
- Conway's all the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995
- State of the Russian Navy
- Project 1241 Tarantul class Guided Missile Corvette
- Bharat Rakshak Indian Navy Veer class
- Guided Missile Corvette "R-109" from Russian Black Sea Fleet (with photos)
- Guided Missile Corvette "R-239" from Russian Black Sea Fleet (with photos)
- Guided Missile Corvette "Ivanovetc" from Russian Black Sea Fleet (with photos)
Gallery
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ORP Rolnik, a Polish Navy missile Tarantul class corvette
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INS Nirghat
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RFS Morshansk
