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The improved Osa II features better engines and can fire a newer version of the
P-15 anti-ship missiles. 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 and a slightly high maximum speed. 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-20 was built at the Rybinsk Shipyard (yard No.428), commissioned 1964.
Was listed as missile boat of the 41st Brigade of Missile Boats. In April
1992, the missile boat was excluded from the lists of the fleet and scrapped. Specifications |
Displacement (tons): | Standard: | 171,5 |
Full load: | 209 |
Dimensions (m): | Length: | 38,6 |
Beam: | 7,6 |
Draft: | 1,73 | Speed
(knots): | 38,5 | Range: | 1800
nmi (14 knots), 800 nmi (30 knots) | Autonomy
(days): | 5 | Propulsion: | 3x4000
hp M-503G diesels, 3 fixed pitch propellers, 1x75 kW DG-75-1 diesel generator,
1x43 kW DG-43-14/1500P diesel generator | Armament: | 4x1
KT-97 anti-ship missiles launchers (4 P-15 (4K40), P-15T missiles) 2x2 30
mm AK-230 (2000 rounds) – MR-104 Rys fire control system | Electronics: |
MR-101 Rangout radar, Nikhrom-RRM IFF, Nickel IFF, ARP-58SV radio direction finder |
Complement: | 28 (4 officers) |
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