Notes: These missile hydrofoils are based on the hull and propulsion train of the Project 206M “Turya” class. There is only a single foil, the aft part of the hull hydroplanes at high speeds. They are air-conditioned and NBC-sealed. The SS-N-2 launchers are the same type as carried on the Project 61MR (“Mod-Kashin“) class destroyers. Despite initial reports that they were good seaboats, later information revealed that the Soviets regarded them as cramped inside and topheavy. Of thirteen planned ships, one was cancelled and another started but never completed. All were built in Leningrad.
After the breakup of the USSR, Russia discarded many and five went to Ukraine, one of which was later transferred to Georgia after a complete refurbishment.
Project 206.6
R-44 serves as a developmental ship for the Black Sea fleet, and was the first vessel anywhere to carry the SS-N-25 “Switchblade” missile, in two quad-canisters. These were removed in 2000 but re-installed in 2003. In 1998, the SP-521 combat data system was installed. R-44 also has the Dueto CIWS which is two 30mm gatling guns superimposed on each other, in place of the AK-630. More recently, the ship has been seen with no “Drum Tilt” radar and a large deckhouse between the bridge and mast.
Combat usage:
On 9 August 2008, several media outlets reported that Tbilisi had bern sunk in combat, either by a SS-N-9 “Siren” (likely from a “Nanuchka” class ship) or a SS-N-22 “Sunburn” (from the Slava-class cruiser Moskva) fired by the Russian navy, which was moving a flotilla into position to enforce a 50NM Total Exclusion Zone (TEZ) around the Georgian navy’s main homeport of Poti. Several of the reports mentioned a second Georgian warship had also been sunk but did not elaborate; it’s possible only one was sunk and was being double-reported. On 10 August the CinC of the Georgian navy stated that no ships at all had been sunk however by that point the Georgian military’s communications were destroyed to such a degree that the admiralty in Tbilisi may no longer have had a picture of what was happening on Georgia’s coast.
If the sinking did happen, it would be the first time the Russian navy battled a former USSR-member’s navy and also the combat debut of either the “Siren” or “Sunburn”; whichever was used.
(below: Tbilisi at sea)
Displacement: 225t standard, 260t full Dimensions: 129’9”x24’9” (41’ foils)x6’9” (13’1” foils) Machinery: Diesel-direct: 3 Kolomna M-504 diesels, 3 shafts Max speed: 42kts Range: 600NM @ 35kts foilborne, 500NM @ 14kts hull borne (5 days max endurance) Complement: 29 (5 officers, 24 enlisted) + 4 spare berths
WEAPONS-Missiles
x2 P-15 Termit (SS-N-2B “Styx”) 43NM surface
x4 (1 quad) SA-N-5 “Grail” 2NM AA
WEAPONS-Guns
x1 AK-176 3” 8NM surface/ 4NM AA (300rds)
x1 AK-630 CIWS 1NM AA (1000rds)
SENSORS-Radar
Garpun (“Plank Shave-A”) (E) 50NM surface search/FC for missiles (range, bearing)
MR-123 Vympel (“Bass Tilt”) (H/I) 10NM FC for CIWS
“Cheese Cake” (I) 20NM surface search/navigation (range, bearing)
SENSORS-EW
Nikhrom (“High Pole-B”) IFF (early units)
“Salt Pot” IFF (later units)
“Square Head” IFF
“Hood Wink” optronic director
x2 PK-16 countermeasures launchers