Czilim-class hovercraft

Czilim-class hovercraft
Class overview
Builders:	Jaroslawski Sudostroiteinyj Zawod
Operators:	Border Guard Service of Russia
Built:	1997–1998
In commission:	2001–Unknown
Completed:	4
Retired:	4
General characteristics
Type:	Hovercraft
Displacement:	8.6 long tons (9 t) full load
Length:	12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Beam:	5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)
Propulsion:	2 × 218 hp (163 kW) Deutz AG BF 6M 1013 diesel engines 2 × three-bladed variable pitch propellers
Speed:	40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph)
Range:	300 mi (480 km) at 30 kn (56 km/h)
Capacity:	6 Border Guards with equipment
Crew:	2
Sensors and processing systems:	I band navigation radar
Armament:	• 1 × 7.62 mm machine gun • 1 × 40 mm RPG

The Czilim class ACV (Project 20910) is a small patrol hovercraft operated by the Border Guard Service of Russia.

Configuration

The Czilim class is the first new class of military hovercraft developed for the Russian military since the fall of the Soviet Union. It is based on an Almaz design and was ordered from Jaroslawski Sudostroiteinyj Zawod in the late 1990s. It is roughly the same size as the British SR.N6 hovercraft.

The Czilim class was designed for border patrol duties on the Amur River on the border with China, and is expected to be used entirely by Russian Border Guards. It is intended as a smaller replacement for the Soviet Gus class LCAC. The first craft was laid down on 24 February 1998 and entered service in early 2001. Three further craft were built at Yaroslavl between 1997 and 1999. Four were in service in 2004, though none are believed to be currently operational.

The Czilim class is capable of carrying six Border Guards and their equipment.

References

• Saunders, Stephen. Jane's Fighting Ships, 2003-2004. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2546-4. 
• (English) All Czilim class ACV - Complete Ship List