Matka class missile boat

Class overview
Name:	Matka class (Project 206MR Vikhr)
Operators:	Soviet Navy  Russian Navy  Ukrainian Navy  Georgian Navy
Preceded by:	Osa class missile boat
In service:	1977- present day
Completed:	12
Lost:	1
General characteristics
Type:	hydrofoilMissile boat
Displacement:	233 tons standard, 257 tons full load
Length:	38.6 m
Beam:	7.6 m
Draught:	3.26 m
Propulsion:	3× M503 B2 Diesels; 15,000 hp
Speed:	42 knots
Range:	600 nm at 37 knots, 1450 nm at 14 knots
Endurance:	5 days
Crew:	30
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar: Plank shave, Bass Tilt, SRN-207, High Pole
Armament:	1 x 76 mm gun 1 - AK-630 gun system 2 P-15 Termit anti ship missiles (replaced by 8 SS-N-25 in Russian Navy units)

The Matka class is the NATO reporting name for a group of hydrofoil missile boats built for the Soviet Navy. The Soviet designation is Project 206MR Vikhr.

Design

These boats are the ultimate descendants of the Osa class missile boat and are a heavily modified version of the Turya class torpedo boat. There is only a single foil, the aft part of the hull hydroplanes at high speeds. They are air-conditioned and NBC-sealed. The SS-N-2 launchers are the same type as carried on the Project 61MR (“Mod-Kashin“) class destroyers. Despite initial reports that they were good seaboats, later information revealed that the Soviets regarded them as cramped inside and topheavy. Of thirteen planned ships, one was cancelled and another started but never completed. All were built in Leningrad.

After the breakup of the USSR, Russia discarded many and five went to Ukraine, one of which was later transferred to Georgia after a complete refurbishment.

Project 206.6

R-44 serves as a developmental ship for the Black Sea fleet, and was the first vessel anywhere to carry the SS-N-25 “Switchblade” missile, in two quad-canisters. These were removed in 2000 but re-installed in 2003. In 1998, the SP-521 combat data system was installed. R-44 also has the AK-630М1-2 Roy CIWS which is two 30 mm gatling guns superimposed on each other, in place of the AK-630. More recently, the ship has been seen with no “Drum Tilt” radar and a large deckhouse between the bridge and mast.

Combat usage

On 9 August 2008 during the 2008 South Ossetia war, several media outlets reported that Tbilisi had been sunk in combat, either by a SS-N-9 “Siren” (likely from a “Nanuchka” class ship) or a SS-N-12 “Sandbox” (from the Slava-class cruiser Moskva) fired by the Russian navy, which was moving a flotilla into position to enforce a 50NM Total Exclusion Zone (TEZ) around the Georgian navy’s main homeport of Poti.

But really Tbilisi 13.08.2008 was blown up in port Poti by Russian Airborne troops.

Ships

A total of 12 boats were built for the Soviet Navy. A gun boat version without hydrofoils was offered for export.

•  Russian Navy - 3 boats are in service (3 boats Caspian Flotilla)
•  Ukrainian Navy - 2 boats in service
•  Georgian Navy - 1 boat The Tbilisi (თბილისი) transferred from Ukraine, sunk by the Russian Airborne troops in Poti port during the 2008 South Ossetia war

Interesting facts

In the Russian language, the word матка (NATO given name) means "uterus".

References

Gardiner, Robert (ed.). Conway's all the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. London: Conway Maritime. ISBN 0851776051. OCLC 34284130.  Also published as Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław. Conway's all the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1557501327. OCLC 34267261. 

• Russian language site
• (English) All Matka Class Missile Boats - Complete Ship List