The Khobi class (Project 437N) is a class of replenishment oiler built for the Soviet navy between 1953 and 1958.

Class overview
NameProject 437N (NATO: Khobi Class)
BuildersZhdanov Shipyard, Leningrad
Operators
Built1953-1958
In commission1955-present
Completed20
Retired5
General characteristics
TypeReplenishment Oiler
Displacement1,525 tons full load
Length63.2 m (207 ft)
Beam10.0 m (33 ft)
Draught4.5 m (15 ft)
Propulsion
  • 2 Type 8DR 30/50 diesels
  • 1,600 bhp
  • 2 shafts
Speed13 knots (24 km/h)
Range2,500nm at 12.5 knots (23 km/h)
Capacity
  • 1,000 tons fuel oil
  • 550 tons diesel fuel
Complement33
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 Don-2 (navigation)
  • 1 Spin Trough (search)
Electronic warfare
& decoys
IFF
Armamentnone
Aircraft carriednone

Construction

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Ships of the Khobi class were built at the Zhdanov shipyard in Leningrad, USSR. They were small tankers, similar in size to US Navy gasoline tankers (AOG). The Project 437N could refuel one ship at a time over the bow. A total of 20 vessels were built for the Soviet Navy. Two vessels were later transferred to Albania in 1958-59 as Patos and Semani (ex-Linda?) and one vessel was transferred to Indonesia.[1][2][3]

Ships in class

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There were 20 vessels in the class.[4][5][6]

Name Yard No. Laid Down Launched Commissioned Fate
Alazan No. 635 September 1953 unknown December 1954
Tartu No. 636 January 1955 1955 December 1955
Goryn No. 643 February 1955 1955 December 1955 paid off 1974
Khobi No. 644 April 1955 unknown July 1956
Sosyva No. 645 June 1955 unknown July 1956
Orsha No. 646 August 1955 unknown September 1956 paid off 2005
Titan No. 650 28 April 1955 1956 December 1956
Tunguska No. 657 November 1955 unknown September 1956
Sunta No. 658 January 1956 1956 October 1956 transferred to Indonesia as KRI Balikpapan (901)
Linda No. 659 March 1956 1956 November 1956
Indiga No. 662 August 1956 unknown May 1957
Moksha No. 663 October 1956 unknown July 1957 paid off 2010
Sysola No. 664 August 1956 unknown July 1957
Cheremshan No. 667 December 1956 unknown September 1957 paid off 2005
Lovat No. 670 March 1957 1957 December 1957
Shacha No. 673 July 1957 unknown June 1958
Seyma No. 674 August 1957 unknown June 1958 paid off 2005
Shelon No. 675 January 1957 unknown October 1958

Cheremshan black market activity

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During 1995-1996, while operating as a wastewater/sludge lighter with the Northern Fleet, the Cheremshan stole 1,197.5 tons of fuel from other Russian Navy vessels.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Guide to the Soviet Navy (Polmer)
  2. ^ Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (Wertheim)
  3. ^ russian-ships.info (accessed 29 Feb 2012)
  4. ^ Guide to the Soviet Navy (Polmer)
  5. ^ Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (Wertheim)
  6. ^ russian-ships.info (accessed 29 Feb 2012)
  7. ^ Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (Wertheim)
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