Ukrainian corvette Sumy

Sumy (U209) was a Grisha I-class anti-submarine corvette of the Ukrainian Navy. Prior to joining the Ukrainian Navy she was a former Soviet Navy corvette named MPK-43 and later Odesskiy Komsomolets.

MPK-43 in 1979
History
Soviet Union
Name
  • MPK-43
  • (МПК-43)
BuilderZelenodolsk Shipyard, Zelenodolsk
Yard number712
Laid down1 August 1972
Launched2 June 1973
Commissioned28 December 1974
Renamed
  • Odesskiy Komsomolets, 1983
  • MPK-43, 1992
IdentificationSee Pennant numbers
FateTransferred to Ukraine, 1997
Ukraine
Name
  • Sumy
  • (Суми)
NamesakeSumy
Commissioned1 August 1997
Decommissioned11 June 1999
IdentificationPennant number: U209
General characteristics
Class and typeGrisha I-class corvette
Displacement
Length71.2 m (233 ft 7 in)
Beam10.1 m (33 ft 2 in)
Draught3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
  • 3 shaft, 2 × М-507А cruise diesels, 28,000 kW (38,000 shp), (2 shafts)
  • 1 × М-8М boost gas turbine 13,000 kW (18,000 shp), (1 shaft)
  • Electric Plant: 1×DG-500 (500 kW), 1×DG-300 (300 kW), 1×DG-200 (200 kW)
Speed35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Endurance9 days
Complement79 (9 chiefs)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar: MR-302 Rubka air/surface search radar;
  • MR-1031 AK-725 fire control radar;
  • Don-2 navigation radar
  • Sonar: MGK-322T Argun'/Bull Horn low-frequency hull-mounted sonar;
  • MGK-339T Shelon'/Elk Tail medium-frequency through-hull dipping sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • Bizan-4B suite with Watch Dog intercept,
  • 2 PK-16 decoy RL
Armament
  • artillery: 2×2 57mm AK-725 gun mount (1000 rounds);
  • antisubmarine: 2 twin 533 mm torpedo tubes DTA-5E-1124
  • 2 RBU-6000 A/S rocket launchers (96 rockets)
  • 2 depth charge racks (12 depth charges)
  • Up to 18 mines in place of depth charges

Development and design

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The 1124P project corvette (NATO reporting name: Grisha I class, Soviet classification: MPK-147 class Russian: МПК-147) were intended to counter enemy submarines in nearby area of naval bases, ports and scattered berths, on the deployment of naval forces to carry out anti-submarine surveillance and protection of ships and vessels at sea.[1]

Project 1124 of the first series were armed with SAM Osa-M in the bow of the hull. One twin AK-725 gun was located in the stern. Control of firing AK-725 was carried out by the MR-103 Leopard radar with a maximum detection range of 40 km, which was also located on the stern superstructure. The MR-302 Rubka radar was installed as a radar for detecting air and surface targets on the ship's mast. The basis of the sonar consisted of submersible GAS MG-322 Argun (operated in echo direction-finding mode) and lowered GAS MG-339 Shelon in the stern superstructure, which operated only in the "stop" mode. The basis of anti-submarine weapons were located two twin torpedo tubes for DTA-5E-1124 and two RBU-6000 on the bow of the ship's superstructure.[2]

Construction of small anti-submarine ships on Project 1124 began in 1967 at the Zelenodolsk Shipyard. A total of twelve ships of this project were built, after which they were replaced by the corvettes of Project 1124 of the second series (Grisha-III according to NATO reporting name).

Construction and career

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The corvette MPK-43 was laid down on 1 August 1972 at the Zelenodolsk Shipyard, Zelenodolsk. The ship was launched on 2 June 1973. The corvette was commissioned on 28 December 1974 and by the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy on 23 January 1975, MPK-43 was enlisted in the Black Sea Fleet.

The corvette was a member of the 400th division of anti-submarine ships of the 68th brigade of ships of the Black Sea Fleet, which took an active part in training and combat activities of the fleet. MPK-43 served in the Mediterranean, sailing more than 43,000 miles. As part of the ship's anti-submarine strike groups, the ship won the prize of the Chief of the USSR Navy four times for anti-submarine training (the last in 1989).[3]

During the receipt of the ships of the Black Sea Fleet of the USSR, the Ukrainian Navy reached a state of non-combat readiness. Like sister ship Kherson, due to lack of funds for repairs to bring the ship in order failed and immediately after joining the Navy, the ship was written off and disposed of.[4]

Pennant numbers

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Date Pennant number[5]
1975 274
1976 297
1979 092
1981 081
1983 054
052
1991 075

References

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  1. ^ "Малые противолодочные корабли проекта 1124". korabley.net. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Small anti-submarine ship of project 1124 type IPC-147 "Albatross" (Grisha)". Weapons of Russia. 20 December 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Малый противолодочный корабль "МПК-43" Черноморского Флота". www.kchf.ru. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Corvette "Ternopil" is a new "albatross" of the Ukrainian fleet". Eugene Silkin, "Maritime State". 20 December 2010. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Small anti-submarine ships - Project 1124". russianships.info. Retrieved 24 February 2022.