Project 1209 Omar class
NATO: Utenok
Overview
Project 1209 Omar class
One of two built Project 1209 Omar (NATO: Utenok) class landing craft air cushion vehicles. Seen near Sevastopol in 1992.
Source: Unknown author -
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Description
Introduction
The Project 1209 Omar is a late Cold War era air cushion vehicle of Soviet origin. The NATO reporting name is Utenok class. This class was to be a faster and more economic transport for use alongside larger landing craft with loading ramps and the ability to transport vehicles. The economy was achieved, but lack of loading ramp proved a major issue in practice. Only two vehicles were ever built.
Design
Project 1209 is a further development of the Project 1205 (NATO: Gus) class. It can be identified by lacking the very large intake between the propellers. Project 1209 is also wider and has a small gun turret in front of the bridge. A single gas turbine engine drives both propellers and air cushion equipment. This makes it more economic to produce, maintain and run. A negative is that a single engine or drivetrain failure makes the vehicle inoperable. This was deemed an acceptable risk given the reliability of gas turbine engines.
Cargo capacity
The Project 1209 can carry 60 armed troops or 75 passengers without equipment. Alternatively it can transport up to 6 tonnes of cargo. There is no capability to transport vehicles, and cargo must be loaded manually. The lack of a loading ramp makes it vulnerable at a beachhead and diminishes the benefits of time gained by a higher top speed.
Mobility
The Project 1209 has a maximum speed of 60 knots and a range of 200 nautical miles. This is 10 knots faster than the Project 1206 Lebed and twice the range. The gas turbine engine provides 6.000 hp, making it more economical than the combines 20.000 hp of the Project 1206.
Armament
Armament of the Project 1209 consists of single forward facing turret with two 12.7mm NSV heavy machine guns. Various sources also state that a 30mm AG-30 Plamya automatic grenade launcher is fitted, although difficult to verify with photos. There are also two ball mounts for use with the 7.62mm PKM machine guns carried by the naval infantry aboard.
Users
Only two Project 1209 were ever built. Various export models existed on paper, but never reached the design stage. Both vehicles were used by the Soviet navy for naval infantry landings. They were used alongside other air cushion vehicles and regular landing craft. Russia inherited both vehicles and decommissioned them in 1993 and 1994 respectively.
Details
Armament
12.7mm Utes-M machine gun turret
In front of the bridge is a small turret armed with two 12.7mm NSV heavy machine guns.
AGS-17 Plamya
Reportedly a single 30mm AG-30 Plamya automatic grenade launcher is fitted to the Project 1209.
Kalashnikov PK
Two ball mounts allow the passengers to mount their 7.62mm PKM machine guns and use them from inside the Project 1209 troop compartment.
Related articles
Project 1206 Kalmar class
Project 1209 was to complement the Project 1206 which could land vehicles. Project 1209 was to be a more economic, faster and longer range troop transport for use alongside Project 1206.