Ondatra-class

Summary

Description

The Ondatra class, also known as Project 1176 Akula ("shark"), is a series of landing craft that were constructed for the Soviet Navy and the Russian Navy. The production of these vessels spanned from 1971 through 2009. The Azovskiy Shipyard, Rybinsk Shipyard, and Vladivostok Shipyard were responsible for the construction of over 40 Ondatra landing crafts utilized by both Soviet and Russian naval forces, with additional units manufactured for export markets.

The craft’s design borrows elements from the US Navy's Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) and is designated as type DKA Desantanyy Kater. Ondatra vessels are characterized by a limited operational range suitable for short-term missions (approximately 2 days or 330–500 nautical miles) and possess a shallow draught advantageous for amphibious and littoral combat operations. An example of the Ondatra in practice is its role as a tug for the Ivan Rogov-class landing ship’s Lebed-class air-cushioned landing craft.

In terms of armament and capabilities, the Ondatra class has a modest performance with the capacity to transport only a single main battle tank. It has an armament that includes 2 MPTU-1 of 14.5 mm, and the vessels are relatively slow, achieving maximum speeds of 11 knots. By 2009, the Ondatra was considered an outdated design from the 1970s and may be replaced by the Project 21820 Dyugon-class landing craft, which carries two main battle tanks, has a superior armament, and can reach speeds of up to 35 knots.

The Ondatra's operational history includes over four decades of service with a recent event occurring on November 10, 2023, when one Ondatra class craft was destroyed in Chornomors'ke, northern Crimea, by a Ukrainian sea drone. This incident highlights the involvement of Ondatra class vessels in current conflicts and their obsolescence in modern combat scenarios.

Technical specifications