Vanya-class minesweeper

Class overview
Project 257DM "Vanya-class" minesweeper
Name	Vanya class (Project 257)
Operators	Soviet Navy Bulgarian Navy Syrian Arab Navy
Preceded by	Sasha class
Succeeded by	Zhenya class
Built	1960–1973
In commission	1960–1990s
Completed	47
Lost	1
General characteristics
Type	Minesweeper
Displacement	200 tons standard 260 tons full load
Length	40.2 m (131 ft 11 in)
Beam	7.9 m (25 ft 11 in)
Draught	1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts Diesel engines, 1,600 kW (2,200 hp)
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range	2,400 nmi (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement	30
Sensors and processing systems	Radar: Don 2 Sonar: MG-69 Lan mine-search, MG-25
Armament	2 × 30 mm (1.2 in) guns 8 naval mines Sweeps MT-1, MTSh

The Vanya class were a series of minesweepers built for the Soviet Navy between 1960 and 1973. The Soviet designation was Project 257.

Design

The ships were designed as coastal mine hunters. The hulls were built out of wood for significantly reduced magnetic signature. Measures were also taken to reduce electrical and acoustic signature. The propellers were fitted without bubble shields. A more advanced version the Project 257DM was introduced in the mid-1960s. The Project 699 was a version with more powerful diesel engines for towing heavier sweeps.

Ships

A total of 47 units were built by shipyards in Kolpino and Vladivostok (3 Project 699).

Exports

Bulgaria - 7 ships (1969–1980)
Syria - 2 ships (1972)

All ships were retired by the mid-1990s

References

Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.