The
Osa is a high speed missile boat of Soviet origin. It was developed in the early
1960's as a more capable alternative to the Komar class missile boat. The Osa
is the world's most numerous missile boat. The official Soviet designation for
this class is Project 205 Tsunami. The name Osa, which Russian for wasp, is the
NATO designation. The improved Project 205U is known as Osa II. The Osa
class is a major improvement over the Komar missile boats. The Osa class is four
times larger, is based on a steel hull, features 4 instead of 2 missiles, has
a much improved air and self defense capability and better sea going performance.
The main armament of the Osa are the four P-15 (SS-N-2 Styx) anti-ship missiles.
Air defense is provided by two AK-230 turrets with two 30mm autocannon. One turret
is fitted forward and the other aft. The AK-230 turrets were unmanned, each armed
with two 30 mm guns capable of firing 2000 rpm (400 practical) with a 2500 m practical
range. For an increased air defense capability the manually aimed quad launcher
for the infra red guided Strela (SA-N-5) surface to air missiles was added to
some vessels, mostly the Osa II. To keep the design simple the Osa has three
diesel engines each connected to its own shaft. The power to weight ratio is high
and results in a maximum speed of 39 knots. The Osa II has more powerful engines,
slightly high maximum speed and a tube-shaped missile launchers for the improved
P-15U missile. Although the sea going capability is better than the Komar the
Osa is not a true ocean going ship and is mostly used in coastal waters. The
Osa was widely used by Soviet and Eastern European forces during the Cold War.
It was also widely exported, mainly to Asia and the Middle East (over 400 were
made in USSR, and another 120 in China). These missile boats saw action during
the War of Attrition, Yom Kippur War, and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, also used
in the Iran-Iraq War. Missile boat R-169 was built at the Primorskiy Shipyard,
Leningrad, commissioned 1968. Was listed as missile boat of the 41st Brigade
of Missile Boats. 07 February 1977 the missile boat was transferred to the
Bulgarian Navy. 12 July 2012 the missile boat was excluded from the lists
of the Bulgarian fleet. Specifications |
Displacement (tons): | Standard: | 192 |
Full load: | 235 |
Dimensions (m): | Length: | 38,6 |
Beam: | 7,6 |
Draft: | 1,84 | Speed
(knots): | 42 | Range: | 1800
nmi (14 knots), 800 nmi (30 knots), 500 nmi (35 knots) | Autonomy
(days): | 5 | Propulsion: | 3x5000
hp M-504B diesels, or 3x6000 hp diesels, 3 fixed pitch propellers |
Armament: | 4x1 KT-67M anti-ship
missiles launchers (4 P-15U (4K40U) missiles) – Klyon fire control system
2x2 30 mm AK-230 (2000 rounds) – MR-104 Rys fire control system |
Electronics: | Rangout radar,
Nikhrom-RRM IFF, Nickel IFF, ARP-58SV radio direction finder | Complement: |
29 (4 officers) |
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