Project 12700 Minesweeper thread

ALAMO...
I'm fine, my friend, and I wish you the same..
God willing and when this conflict is over, let's go somewhere for a victory beer !

...got q dumb question, but what are the full range of the capabilities of these mine sweepers? I tried reading up about them but they clearly seem very important to the Russian navy. What kind of capabilities do they have that make them so important?

November 30, 02:13

In Primorye, the minesweeper "Anatoly Shlemov" tested the latest equipment
After the completion of the verification activities, the ship will be commissioned into the Pacific Fleet

VLADIVOSTOK, 30 November. /TASS/. The minesweeper "Anatoly Shlemov" project 12700 "Alexandrit", built for the Pacific Fleet, during factory sea trials in Peter the Great Bay, tested the marine television complex and navigational radar station, the press service of the fleet said on Wednesday.

"During the next stage of the factory sea trials, a marine television complex was tested on the ship in test mode, which meets all modern requirements in solving the assigned tasks. Also, at the exit to the sea, industrial specialists and the crew of the newest sea minesweeper tested a navigation radar station," the report says. .

After the completion of the verification activities, the sea minesweeper will be commissioned into the fleet with the hoisting of the St. Andrew's flag on it.

The sea minesweeper "Anatoly Shlemov" is the third for the Pacific Fleet and the seventh in the project 12700 series, built at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard. Two similar minesweepers are serving in Kamchatka - "Yakov Balyaev" and "Pyotr Ilyichev".
The ship has a unique, largest monolithic fiberglass hull in the world. The service life of such a body is longer, and the weight is much less.

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/16457651

The minesweeper "Anatoly Shlemov" will be the 7th project 12700 minesweeper delivered to the Russian Navy.

...got q dumb question, but what are the full range of the capabilities of these mine sweepers? I tried reading up about them but they clearly seem very important to the Russian navy. What kind of capabilities do they have that make them so important?

In very simple terms a sea mine is like a land mine... cheap and easy to produce and if you are at a disadvantage to your enemy you can kill their mobility and speed by dropping them all over the place... of course you also limit your own mobility at the same time if you are not properly equipped to deal with mines too.

But then even if neither side uses mines (incredibly rare though), there will be unexploded ordinance to deal with everywhere anyway.

In combat using mines in specific places allows you to limit the directions the enemy can approach your positions... you can channel them into areas you want them to go and punish them for going any other way.

Obviously sea mines are more of a problem because they can move with currents and tides and all mines have the problem that they don't care about friend or foe and they don't stop fighting just because the two or more sides fighting sign some piece of paper.

Needless to say dedicated anti mine ships are not common in most navies, while the locations they will need to be looking for mines will be enormous... when a real war starts you need lots of dedicated vessels to be continuously looking for mines and clearing them, that is around friendly bases and in friendly waters and international waters you want your ships to sail through.

It is critical you have lots of anti mine ships on hand to deal with mines and also enemy divers and perhaps even sea surface drones moving forward... the Russians take this all very very seriously and have large numbers of mine clearing vessels... they have an enormous range of sea mines of various types that can be delivered by ships, by subs, and by aircraft.

They even have a special pressure magnetic fuse that can be fitted to aircraft bombs and carried by bombers and dropped into shallow water near enemy positions and ports... they sink to the sea floor and then wait for a ship to sail past with a suitable magnetic pattern... and boom.

A bomber or transport plane flying low and slow over any waterway could be laying mines, which might be FAB-1,500 or FAB-3000 bombs sitting in 100m of water waiting to blow up under an unsuspecting ship or sub sailing through that area...

Russia has a lot of mine sweepers and so do the Chinese, but the rest of the world not so many...

https://www.globalfirepower.com/navy-mine-warfare-craft.php

December 1, 01:06

Source: the new minesweeper "Anatoly Shlemov" can be handed over to the Russian Navy in December
According to a source in the military-industrial complex, the ship is currently being tested in the Pacific Fleet.

MOSCOW, 1 December. /TASS/. The minesweeper "Anatoly Shlemov" of project 12700 (code "Alexandrite") can be transferred to the Navy (Navy) of the Russian Federation after testing until the beginning of 2023. This was reported to TASS by a source in the military-industrial complex.

"Currently, Anatoly Shlemov is being tested in the Pacific Fleet (Pacific Fleet). If they are successfully completed, it can be transferred to the Pacific Fleet at the end of December," he said.
TASS does not have official confirmation of this information.

In turn, the head of the Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant, Vladimir Seredokho, told TASS that before the end of the year, it was planned to transfer two minesweepers to the Navy, two more in 2023, one in 2024, and two annually from 2025.

About minesweeper

"Anatoly Shlemov" is the third sea minesweeper of project 12700, intended for the Pacific Fleet, and the seventh "Alexandrite" in a row. A minesweeper of this type "Yakov Balyaev" is serving in Kamchatka, and the second such ship, "Pyotr Ilyichev", was handed over to the fleet in mid-November.
The minesweeper Anatoly Shlemov was laid down in July 2019 and launched in November 2021. Sea trials started in Primorye in early November 2022.

Project 12700 "Alexandrite" was developed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau. Ships of this type are designed primarily to search for and destroy mines in the waters of naval bases. They are equipped with hydroacoustic stations located both on board and on remote-controlled and autonomous underwater vehicles. At the same time, "Alexandrites" can also use traditional minesweeping weapons.

The advantage of the composite minesweepers of project 12700 is considered to be higher strength in comparison with steel hulls, which ensures greater survivability when searching for mines. The service life of a ship made of monolithic fiberglass is longer than that of a hull made of low-magnetic steel, and the weight of the hull is much less. The displacement of the ship is 890 tons, length - 61 m, width - 10 m, speed - 16.5 knots, crew - 44 people. The ship has high maneuverability due to the use of an effective set of various thrusters.

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/16470019

Pictures of the minesweeper "Anatoly Shlemov" handed over to the Russian Navy...

The 8th ship of the class: LEV CHERNAVIN is out of the boathouse and will be in the water in the next few weeks.

LEV CHERNAVIN is ready to be launched tomorrow (14 April).

LEV CHERNAVIN is launched

June 15, 2023 at 13:50 Subject: Industry

The eleventh minesweeper of the "Alexandrit" type will be laid down in St. Petersburg

On Monday, June 19, the mine defense ship "Dmitry Lysov" will be laid down at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard. As specified in the press service of the enterprise, this is the 11th minesweeper of project 12700 (code "Alexandrit"), intended for the Russian Navy.

Project 12700 "Alexandrit" was developed by Almaz Central Design Bureau. Ships of this type are designed primarily to search for and destroy mines in the waters of naval bases. They are equipped with hydroacoustic stations located both on board and on remote-controlled and autonomous underwater vehicles. At the same time, "Alexandrites" can also use traditional minesweeping weapons.


Laying fabric in the matrix of the third serial minesweeper of project 12700 at the Sredne-Nevsky shipbuilding plant
Press Service of the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard

The advantage of project 12700 composite minesweepers is considered to be higher strength compared to steel hulls, which ensures greater survivability when searching for mines. The service life of a ship made of monolithic fiberglass is longer than that of a low-magnetic steel hull, and the weight of the hull is much less.

The displacement of the ship is 890 tons, length - 61 meters, width - 10 meters, speed - 16.5 knots, crew - over 40 people. The ship has high maneuverability due to the use of an effective set of various thrusters.

https://flot.com/2023/%D0%A1%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%B75/

Lev Chernavin....
The eighth project 12700 ship built in total. During this year, it should be handed over to the Russian Navy.

June 19, 2023 at 16:52 Subject: Industry

Composite minesweeper "Dmitry Lysov" laid down in St. Petersburg

On Monday, June 19, the eleventh project 12700 mine defense ship (code "Alexandrit"), named after Lieutenant Commander Dmitry Lysov, who commanded the T-120 minesweeper and died heroically in 1944, was laid down at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant (SNSZ). during the reflection of the attack of a German submarine on the northern convoy in the Kara Sea. As noted in the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry, the solemn ceremony of laying the foundation stone was held under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy thanked the SNSZ shipbuilders for their selfless work for the good of the Motherland and stressed that the ships they built successfully fulfill their tasks in the Baltic and Pacific Oceans. The new ship, after construction and testing, will join the Northern Fleet.


Laying of minesweeper "Dmitry Lysov", 19-06-2023
Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Admiral Evmenov also presented medals and commendations to distinguished employees of the enterprise.

Project 12700 "Alexandrit" was developed by Almaz Central Design Bureau. Ships of this type are designed primarily to search for and destroy mines in the waters of naval bases. They are equipped with hydroacoustic stations located both on board and on remote-controlled and autonomous underwater vehicles.
At the same time, "Alexandrits" can also use traditional minesweeping weapons.

The advantage of project 12700 composite minesweepers is considered to be higher strength compared to steel hulls, which ensures greater survivability when searching for mines. The service life of a ship made of monolithic fiberglass is longer than that of a low-magnetic steel hull, and the weight of the hull is much less.

The displacement of the ship is 890 tons, length - 61 meters, width - 10 meters, speed - 16.5 knots, crew - over 40 people. The ship has high maneuverability due to the use of an effective set of various thrusters.

https://flot.com/2023/%D0%A1%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%B76/

The 9th unit Afanasy Ivannikov in construction

The composite hull of the 10th unit POLYARNYY has been formed.
It is now outside the boathouse.

The minesweeper "Lev Chernavin" entered the second stage of sea trials



The Project 12700 mine defense ship "Lev Chernavin" (code "Alexandrit"), built for the Navy at the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard, has begun the second stage of factory sea trials in the Baltic Sea. As the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense reported, there is an acceptance and delivery team on the ship along with the crew, which checks and controls the performance of all systems and mechanisms.

According to the military department, during the first stage of factory sea trials, the minesweeper confirmed its maneuverability characteristics and demonstrated the reliable operation of the power plant and navigation systems. After factory running, the ship will undergo state tests, and then it will be accepted into the Baltic Fleet.

"Lev Chernavin" is the seventh serial (eighth) mine defense ship of Project 12700. It was laid down on July 24, 2020, and launched on April 14, 2023. Sea trials started in early October.

Project 12700 "Alexandrit" was developed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau. Ships of this type are designed primarily to search for and destroy mines in the waters of naval bases. They are equipped with hydroacoustic stations located both on board and on remote-controlled and autonomous underwater vehicles. At the same time, "Alexandrit's" can also use traditional minesweepers.

https://flot.com/2023/%D0%A1%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%B710/

The sea minesweeper "Lev Chernavin" of project 12700 was put into operation

On December 25, 2023, in Baltiysk, a solemn ceremony of raising the Naval flag of the Russian Federation took place on the mine defense ship (sea minesweeper) “Lev Chernavin” (serial number 528) of project 12700 (code “Alexandrite”), built at Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding JSC plant" (SNSZ, part of JSC "United Shipbuilding Corporation" - USC) in St. Petersburg. The command to raise the flag was given by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin from St. Petersburg. “Lev Chernavin” became the eighth new generation minesweeper of Project 12700 commissioned by the Russian Navy, and the second in the Baltic Fleet.



https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4788627.html

The 12th pr.12700 minesweeper has been laid down in St. Peterbburg.
The name is SEMYON AGAFONOV.

https://flotprom.ru/2024/%D0%A1%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%B72/

What I don't get is why they continue using the Zvezda M503B-1 engines on something like this. The Russian Wikipedia page for this ship claims it uses two 2500 hp engines. Each engine has 42 cylinders. Why not use something like the DM-185 high-speed diesel engine instead? In its V12M configuration it is supposed to be capable of 2416 hp at 1900 rpm. The engine is made by Ural Diesel Motor (UDMZ) and is currently being used in different configurations to make rail locomotives and BelAZ dump trucks.

I suspect the Ural Diesel Motor engine would be somewhat heavier than the Zvezda engine. But that's not particularly important since this is a boat anyway. It may still have some issues with production rate but I expect those to be solved eventually.