A solemn ceremony of the first raising of the Russian Naval Flag on the newest mine defense ship "Georgy Kurbatov"was held in Baltiysk.
The basic minesweeper of the project 12700 was built for the Russian Navy at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard in St. Petersburg. As reported in the information support department of the press service of the Baltic Fleet, the ship has successfully completed a set of state tests at sea ranges in the Baltic.
"Georgy Kurbatov" will become the next ship that will replenish the minesweeping forces of the Russian Navy according to the plan of their active re-equipment. The basic minesweepers of this project are designed to combat sea mines, including new, so-called "smart" ones, which such a ship can detect not only in the water, but also in the sea soil.
The new ship is able to use traditional minesweeping weapons, but its modern equipment significantly expands its capabilities. On remote-controlled and autonomous underwater vehicles, it is provided for the formation of an anti-mine circuit with the use of the latest, highly efficient hydroacoustic stations. The main command post is an automated mine action control system.
The ships of this project, the press service stressed, have the world's largest hull made of monolithic fiberglass, formed by vacuum infusion. It is much lighter than steel hulls, and most importantly-stronger, which provides greater survivability of the ship when searching for mines.
The ceremony of the first raising of the St. Andrew's flag was attended by representatives of the fleet command, shipbuilders and personnel of the new ship. Although the ritual took place at the main base of the Baltic Fleet, the Georgy Kurbatov will serve in the Black Sea Fleet. From Baltiysk, he will go to the place of permanent basing.
Help "RG"
The displacement of the mine defense ship of the 12700 project is 890 tons, the length is 61 meters, the width is 10 meters, the speed at full displacement is 16.5 knots, the crew is over 40 people. The ship has high maneuverability due to the use of an effective complex of various thrusters.
Svetlana Pesotskaya (Kaliningrad region)
