 A starboard view of the Soviet Balzam-class general intelligence collector ship underway in international waters as United States Navy ships sail out from Norfolk, Virginia, at the beginning of NATO Exercise Ocean Safari '85.
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Yantar Yard Kaliningrad |
| Operators | |
| Preceded by | Primor'ye-class surveillance ship |
| Succeeded by | Vishnya-class intelligence ship |
| Built | 1980–1986 |
| In commission | 1980–1987 |
| Planned | 4 |
| Completed | 4 |
| Active | 1[2] |
| Laid up | 2[1] |
| Retired | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | intelligence ship |
| Displacement | 4,900 tons full load |
| Length | 105 m (344 ft) |
| Beam | 15.5 m (51 ft) |
| Draught | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Propulsion | 2 shaft diesel 9,000 hp (6,700 kW) |
| Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h) |
| Complement | 220 |
| Sensors and processing systems | Sonar: MG-349 hull mounted array,[3] MG-13 underwater communications, MG-7 |
| Electronic warfare & decoys | Cage Pot I, Twin Wheel, Log Maze[4] |
| Armament | 2 × 4 9K32 Strela-2 positions, 1 × 30 mm AK-630 anti-aircraft gun, 1×7 55 mm MRG-1 grenade launcher |
The Balzam class, Soviet designation Project 1826 is a class of intelligence collection ships built in the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy during the 1980s.[5][6] They are also known as Lira class, after the first vessel of the class.
- ^ Toppan, Andrew (18 October 2001). "World Navies Today: Russian General Support Auxiliaries". Hazegray.org.
- ^ "Balzam Class Intelligence Collection Ship". Military-Today.com.
- ^ "Large intelligence ship - Project 1826". Russianships.info.
- ^ "SSV Balzam [Pr.1826 Rubidiy]". Command: Modern Air Naval Operations.
- ^ "1826 Belomor'ye/Lira/Balzam class". Warfare.be. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- ^ "Bal'zam Class / Project 1826 Intelligence Gathering Ship in Pictures". Sword of the Motherland Historical Foundation.