Mauritian Zhuk class coastal patrol craft during a visit in India.
Source: www.pages.intnet.mu -
© copyright lies with original owner
The Zhuk class is a coastal patrol craft of Soviet origin. It was developed in the early 1970's as a cheap and rugged patrol craft for coast guard and border guard duties.
The Zhuk is a small vessel with a conventional design. A one level cabin is located in the middle and the two diesel engines are fitted at the rear. A small mast houses the navigation and surface search radar. A small one man turret located on the front deck and many vessels feature a similar turret at the rear deck. Alternatively a single pintle mounted machine gun is mounted at the rear deck.
Most Zhuk are armed with two one man turrets that are fitted with two 12.7mm NSV heavy machine guns. The aft turret is not present in some vessels and a single pintle mounted NSV is fitted instead. The turrets do not feature any kind of fire control and are manually aimed.
The Zhuk class is powered by two diesel engines that each power a single shaft. The maximum speed is 30 knots. When travelling at 15 knots the operational range is 1.100 nm. While being a small vessel the Zhuk is limited to coastal operations.
The Zhuk class was produced for the USSR border guard and for export. The Zhuk has been exported to a wide variety of nations with ties to the USSR or Russia. Many Zhuk vessels remain in service around the world and are likely to remain in service despite their age.
Mauritian Zhuk class coastal patrol craft.
Source: www.pages.intnet.mu -
© copyright lies with original owner
The "Zhuk class" is the NATO reporting name for what is called the "Project 1400 Grif" class in the Soviet Union and Russia. While being in production for over 20 years and built by four different shipyards there are some small changes in the design.
The Project 1400M Grif-M class patrol boat is armed with one Utes-M turret. Most Project 1400ME for export sales have a second Utes-M turret aft. Each turret is fitted with two 12.7mm NSV heavy machine guns.
Most original Project 1400 class had a single 2M-7 mount for two 14.5mm KPV heavy machine guns.
Some original Project 1400 class had a single 2M-1 twin mount for the 12.7mm DShKM heavy machine gun.
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