Veteran of the Black Sea Fleet BDK Saratov

A feature of this type of ships was their dual purpose - military and civilian. However, the civilian department, due to the unprofitability of powerful ship engines, refused to operate. Civil features remained in the external appearance of the ship.

Outwardly, it resembles a cargo ship. The superstructure at the BDK Saratov is located in the stern, there is also a porthole used for loading equipment when mooring astern. On the upper deck of the vessel there are cargo cranes for self-unloading on an unequipped coast.

See also: ☭  Creation of projects for the fleet

The displacement of the landing ship is 4650 tons. Main dimensions: length - 113.1 m, width - 15.6 m, draft - 4.5 m. Two diesel engines with a total capacity of 9000 liters. With. drive two screws and give the ship a maximum speed of 16.5 knots. With an economic speed of 15 knots, the Saratov BDK is capable of traveling 10,000 miles. The holds can hold up to one and a half thousand tons of cargo. Crew 55 people. The ship can take on board 20 tanks, or 45 armored personnel carriers, or 50 trucks and 300 troops. Landing forces can be supported by multiple rocket launchers.

BDK Saratov continues to serve

The ship was built in 1964 in Kaliningrad and was the lead ship in a series of 15 ships. The original name is "Voronezh Komsomolets". Based at the Donuzlav base in the Crimea. During his service, he made two dozen long-distance sea voyages with units of the Marine Corps. It is actively used in combat training today.

In 2014 he made 4 trips to the Mediterranean Sea. These ships have excellent seaworthiness. The contours of the hull of the BDK Saratov served as the basis for the design and construction of the new landing ship "Ivan Gren".