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Russian landing ship Novocherkassk

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Novocherkassk in port at Novorossiysk in 2010
History
Russia
NameNovocherkassk
BuilderStocznia Północna, Gdańsk, Poland
Yard number142
Launched17 April 1987
Commissioned30 November 1987
Out of service26 December 2023
FateDestroyed at Feodosia, Crimea
General characteristics
Class and typeRopucha-class landing ship
Displacement
  • 3,450 t (3,396 long tons) standard
  • 4,080 t (4,016 long tons) full load[1]
Length112.5 m (369 ft 1 in)
Beam15.01 m (49 ft 3 in)
Draught4.26 m (14 ft 0 in)
RampsOver bows and at stern
Installed power3 × 750 kW (1,006 hp) diesel generators
Propulsion2 × 9,600 hp (7,159 kW) Zgoda-Sulzer 16ZVB40/48 diesel engines
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range
  • 6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
  • 3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Endurance30 days
Capacity10 × main battle tanks and 340 troops or 12 × BTR APC and 340 troops or 3 × main battle tanks, 3 × 2S9 Nona-S SPG, 5 × MT-LB APC, 4 trucks and 313 troops or 500 tons of cargo
Complement98
Armament
Service record

Novocherkassk (BDK-46) was a Ropucha-class landing ship of the Russian Navy and part of the Black Sea Fleet. Named after Russian city of Novocherkassk, the ship was built in Poland and launched in 1987.

The ship was attacked twice during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, being damaged in March 2022, and attacked again in December 2023.[2] In the second attack, the Ukrainian Air Force fired cruise missiles at the ship while the ship was at a naval base in Feodosia, Crimea.[3] While Russian officials admitted the ship was damaged, Ukrainian Air Force officials said that the ship sustained extensive damage due to secondary explosions which would make repairs difficult.[3][4] The UK Ministry of Defence assessed the ship as "completely destroyed",[5] and the UK Defence Secretary said the ship's destruction showed "Russia’s dominance in the Black Sea is now challenged."[6] Subsequent satellite imagery and photographs attributed to Crimean observers showed that the ship suffered extensive damage and was partially submerged in port after the attack.[7][8]

Description

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Novocherkassk had a standard displacement of 3,450 t (3,400 long tons), a length of 112.5 metres (369 ft 1 in), a beam of 15 metres (49 ft 3 in), and a draft of 3.7 metres (12 ft 2 in). It had two diesel engines which gave a maximum speed of 17.8 knots (33.0 km/h; 20.5 mph), and a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). It was armed with two AK-725 57 mm artillery mounts and two 122 mm multiple rocket launch systems.[9][1]

It was capable of carrying up to 500 tons of cargo and 225 embarked soldiers. Additionally, the ship could hold 10 main battle tanks, while the ship deck was able to hold 25 armored personnel carriers.[10][6] In normal operating situations it had a crew of 87.[11]

History

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The ship was launched on 17 April 1987. In November of the same year, the ship was included in the Soviet Navy's Black Sea Fleet.[12] The ship was stationed at lake Donuzlav.[12] Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union the ship participated in various military exercises.[12] In 1990–2007 it has been under conservation. In 2002, the ship was renamed to Novocherkassk, after the city that took patronage over it.[12]

In November 2012, Novocherkassk took part in an operation with other Black Sea Fleet ships in anchoring off the coast of Gaza. The ship movement was ostensibly to prepare to evacuate Russian citizens from Israel in case the Israeli–Palestinian conflict there escalated. Other ships in the operation included Saratov and Moskva.[13] In 2015, Novocherkassk was a part of Black Sea Fleet exercises in the Mediterranean which corresponded with a Russian buildup of military forces in Syria.[14]

In March 2020, the ship set out for Syria, with sister landing ship Tsezar Kunikov and frigates Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Makarov, in response to growing tensions with Turkey and the withdrawal of American troops from Syria.[15] The ships' movement spurred concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 virus from and to Russia.[16]

Novocherkassk in Sevastopol in 2015

Russian invasion of Ukraine

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In March 2022, roughly a month into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Novocherkassk was docked in the port of Berdiansk in southern Ukraine with a number of other Russian warships. A Ukrainian missile attack on 25 March damaged several Russian ships there, sinking Saratov and damaging Novocherkassk.[10][17] By June 2022, Russian state media outlet TASS claimed that Novocherkassk was one of twelve landing ships in the Black Sea that could launch an amphibious operation in Ukraine. However, Novocherkassk was not confirmed to be repaired, and its status remained unknown.[18] On 24 August 2022 it was reported Novocherkassk and sister ship Tsezar Kunikov were out of action due to lack of spare parts to repair the ships. The lack of spare parts was attributed to the sanctions imposed on Russia.[19]

Ukrainian air force spokesmen stated that afterwards the ship was used heavily for logistics to transport weapons and soldiers from Russia to the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine.[6] After the Kerch Bridge attack, Russia looked for alternative means to supply Crimea, with large landing ships such as the Novocherkassk being key.[20]

December 2023 strike

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On 26 December 2023, Novocherkassk was struck by Ukrainian cruise missiles while it was in a naval base in the city of Feodosia in Russian-occupied Crimea.[3] Ukrainian Air Force released a statement saying that they believed the ship was used to transport Iranian-made attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).[21] According to Ukraine's Air Force the vessel suffered secondary explosions and will be difficult to repair.[3][6] Videos posted to social media show very large explosions seen at the Feodosia port after the attack.[4] Andrii Klymenko, the head of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies analyzed video of the attack and told The New York Times: "Judging by the video of the explosion, which was very powerful, it was carrying explosives: either shells or missiles, or, as some people say, drones".[21]

Russian officials confirmed the attack, and claimed that one person was killed and two injured by a fire in the city started by the attack, while describing the ship as damaged.[21][4] Russian officials also claimed that two Ukrainian Su-24s were shot down by anti-aircraft fire during the attack, which Ukraine denied.[2][4] Satellite imagery taken by the company Maxar after the strike showed extensive damage to the ship, with the ship partially submerged alongside its pier, with billowing smoke coming from it.[7] However, other sources claimed much higher Russian casualties. The Ukrainian Navy claimed that 80 Russian personnel had been killed, while Russian opposition news outlet Astra reported that there were 77 Russian military personnel aboard the ship at the time of the strike, of whom 33 were missing and 19 were wounded. Later, on 29 December, a Ukrainian hacker group claimed that 74 Russian soldiers were killed, while 27 were wounded.[22][23] A Russian memorial site lists the names of 34 Russian sailors who were killed.[24]

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy released a statement about the attack saying: "I am grateful to our Air Force for the spectacular replenishment of the Russian Black Sea submarine fleet with another vessel. There will be no peaceful place for the occupiers in Ukraine".[4][21] President of Russia Vladimir Putin was informed of the strike via the Russian Defense minister Sergey Shoigu.[7] U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps wrote that he believed the destruction of the ship was proof there was not a stalemate in the conflict, and that "over the past 4 months 20% of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been destroyed. Russia’s dominance in the Black Sea is now challenged.”[6][20]

The attack is part of a series of attacks on Russian ships, designed to constrain their ability to move troops and materials from Russia to occupied sections of Ukraine.[11][20]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ropucha Class (Project 775 Class) Russian Landing Ship, Tank (LST)". OE Data Integration Network (ODIN). U.S. Army. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Russian naval ship in Crimea damaged in airstrike by Ukrainian forces, Russian Defense Ministry says". AP News. 26 December 2023. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Osborn, Andrew; Hunder, Max (2023-12-26). "Ukraine strikes Russian naval landing warship, Moscow admits damage". reuters.com. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  4. ^ a b c d e Lendon, Brad (2023-12-26). "Ukraine claims it destroyed Russian tank landing ship". CNN. Archived from the original on 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  5. ^ "Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 28 December 2023". Twitter. UK Ministry of Defence. December 28, 2023. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e Arhirova, Hanna (2023-12-26). "Ukraine damages a Russian landing ship in the Black Sea after battlefield disappointments". AP News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-29. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  7. ^ a b c Gigova, Radina; Picheta, Rob; Murphy, Paul P. (2023-12-28). "Satellite images show Russian navy ship burning after Ukrainian strike in Crimea". CNN. Archived from the original on 2023-12-28. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  8. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (2023-12-27). "Full Devastation From Cruise Missile Attack On Russian Ship Comes Into View". The Drive. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  9. ^ "Large landing ship "Novocherkassk" project 775 / II". Korabli. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  10. ^ a b Mezzofiore, Andrew; Carey, Tim; Lister, Celine; Alkhaldi, Olga; Voitovych, Gianluca (2022-03-24). "Ukrainians claim to have destroyed large Russian warship in Berdyansk". CNN. Archived from the original on 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  11. ^ a b Vynck, Gerrit De; Ilyushina, Mary (December 26, 2023). "Ukraine attacks Russian landing ship in Crimean port". Washington Post.
  12. ^ a b c d "Уничтожение «Новочеркасска»: почему среди россиян это вызвало истерику". Komsomolskaya Pravda (in Russian). 26 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  13. ^ Kelley, Michael B. "Russia Sends Warships Off Coast Of Gaza In Response To Israel-Palestine Tensions". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  14. ^ "Russian Black Sea Cruiser Moscow, Amphibs Heading to Drill in Eastern Mediterranean, MoD Warned Planes Away from Syria". USNI News. 2015-09-24. Archived from the original on 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  15. ^ "Russia reinforces Syria before Putin-Erdogan talks - flight and shipping data". Reuters. 2020-03-04. Archived from the original on 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  16. ^ Sutton, H. I. (2020-03-24). "The Russian Navy's Bosphorus Relay Resupplying Syria Continues". Naval News. Archived from the original on 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  17. ^ Vakil, Caroline (2022-03-25). "Ukrainian military clarifies which Russian landing ship it destroyed". The Hill. Archived from the original on 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  18. ^ Starr, Michael (3 June 2022). "Large Russian naval landing force ready for 'intended tasks' - report". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Archived from the original on 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  19. ^ "Польша поставила России контрафактные детали для десантных кораблей" [Poland supplied Russia with counterfeit parts for landing ships]. mash.ru (in Russian). 2022-08-24. Archived from the original on 2022-08-28.
  20. ^ a b c Waterhouse, James (2023-12-27). "Ukraine war: Does attack on Russian ship make a difference?". BBC. Archived from the original on 2023-12-30. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  21. ^ a b c d Méheut, Constant (2023-12-26). "Ukrainian Missile Strike Hits Russian Warship in Occupied Crimea". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2023-12-26. (subscription required)
  22. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 27, 2023". Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  23. ^ "Ukrainian hackers claim Ukrainian strike on Russian ship killed 74 soldiers". 29 December 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-12-30. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  24. ^ "Memorial reveals 34 Russian sailors died in 2023 Novocherkassk ship sinking", Euromaidanpress (November 15, 2024)
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