Orkan-class fast attack craft

ORP Grom
Class overview
Builders
  • VEB Peenewerft, Wolgast
  • Northern Shipyard, Gdańsk
Operators Polish Navy
In service1992–present
Active3
General characteristics
TypeFast attack craft
Displacement369 tonnes
Length48.90 m (160 ft 5 in)
Beam8.65 m (28 ft 5 in)
Draft2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)
Propulsion3 diesel M520 engines 3,970 kW (5,320 hp) each
Speed36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range3,000 km (1,600 nmi)
Complement33
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Sea Giraffe 3-D radar,
  • STING EO fire control radar
Armament
  • 8 × RBS-15 Mk. III anti-ship missiles (ships often carry just 4 missiles)
  • 1 × 76 mm (3 in) AK-176M gun
  • 1 × AK-630 30 mm (1.2 in) gun Close-in weapon system
  • 1 × 4-rail Strela 2M launcher
  • 2 x WKM-Bm 12.7 mm heavy machine gun posts

The Orkan class or projekt 660 (NATO code: Sassnitz class) is series of three fast attack craft of the Polish Navy, in service since 1992.

History

The original project was prepared by the German Democratic Republic for its navy and was named Project 660, it also received the NATO reporting name "Sassnitz". After the Unification of Germany the unfinished hulls were bought by the Polish Navy from VEB Peenewerft shipyard in Wolgast and successfully completed by Northern Shipyard in Gdańsk.

In 2006, Ministry of Defence ordered 36 RBS-15 Mk 3 anti-ship missiles to equip the ships. Since 2007, they carried RBS-15 Mk 2 missiles as interim armament.[1] RBS-15 Mk 3 missiles were first deployed in 2014.[2] Since 2015 Orkan[3] and Piorun underwent a 19-month, mid-life refit.[4]

List of ships

Pennant
number 		Name Commissioned
421 Orkan 18 September 1992
422 Piorun 11 March 1994
423 Grom 28 April 1995

The lead ship of the class is named Orkan (Polish: Hurricane), while other two ships are Piorun (Polish: Thunderbolt) and Grom (Polish: Thunderclap). Piorun and Grom were famous Polish destroyers of the Second World War. Orkan was to have been the first destroyer constructed in Poland, but her construction was interrupted by the start of the World War II.

Gallery

  • Orkan before modernisation
    Orkan before modernisation
  • Piorun
    Piorun
  • Grom in 2008 armed with 8 RBS-15 Mk2
    Grom in 2008 armed with 8 RBS-15 Mk2
  • Grom in 2011, armed with 4 RBS-15 Mk2
    Grom in 2011, armed with 4 RBS-15 Mk2

Citations

  1. ^ Umowa na dostawę rakiet SAAB RBS 15 Mk3 dla Marynarki Wojennej. 18 October 2006 (in Polish).
  2. ^ Dłuższe ręce MW. 21 January 2015 (in Polish)
  3. ^ "Dwa lata na remont ORP Orkan, potem modernizacja".
  4. ^ "Nauta wyremontuje ORP Piorun".

References

  • "okręty rakietowe projektu 660, typu Orkan (NATO: Sassnitz)." (in Polish). Polish Navy. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2011.