Neustrashimy class frigate

"Neustrashimy" class frigates (Russian: "Неустрашимый") are the most modern large frigates in the Russian Navy. The Soviet designation is Project 1154 Yastreb ("Hawk").

Design

The ship class was designed as a general purpose ASW frigate to follow on from the Krivak class frigates. This group of frigates incorporates some stealth technology. The program started in 1986 and seven ships were originally planned. As of 2007, only one ship, the "Neustrashimy" (Неустрашимый - "Fearless"), is in service with the Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet and is active.

Program

The ships were built by Yantar Yard, Kaliningrad. Only the "Neustrashimy" was completed by the time the Soviet Union collapsed. Two further ships were incomplete. "Yaroslav Mudry" (named after the great ruler of the Kievan Rus Yaroslav the Wise) and "Tuman" (Fog, named after the World War II era Soviet patrol boat whose crew exhibited great valour in combat with three German destroyers), The exact status of these ships is disputed but the 2006-07 edition of "Jane's Fighting Ships" states the "Yaroslav Mudry" is being completed for service entry in 2007.

2008 deployment to Somalia

In late September 2008 the "Neustrashimy" left the Baltic Fleet and was sent to the waters off the Somali coast to fight piracy in the region, [http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080926/117144421.html] and to intercept MV "Faina", a Ukrainian ship bound for Kenya carrying 33 T-72 battle tanks and a hoard of ammunition, that was seized by pirates off the Horn of Africa. Russian navy spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo told the Associated Press that the missile frigate "Neustrashimy" had left the Baltic Sea port of Baltiisk a day before the hijacking to cooperate with other unspecified countries in anti-piracy efforts. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080926/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_somalia_piracy_8;_ylt=Ak.EE4EqWwLVfsF.N3F5obpbbBAF] On 4 october, she entered the Mediterranean Sea on her way to Somalia.

References

* Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/rus/1154.htm Profile at FAS in English]
* [http://ship.bsu.by/main.asp?id=100194 Page in Russian Language]
* [http://www.atrinaflot.narod.ru/2_mainclassships/06_skr_11540/0_11540_1.htm Page in Russian Language]