Espora vs Project 1241.1 Molnaya

The Espora and the Project 1241.1 Molnaya are both Corvette classes. The Espora displaces 1,790 tons — 3.3x the Project 1241.1 Molnaya's 549 tons. The Espora reaches 27 knots vs 42 knots for the Project 1241.1 Molnaya. Operational range is 4,000 nautical miles for the Espora vs 2,400 for the Project 1241.1 Molnaya. The Espora carries a crew of 100 vs 50 for the Project 1241.1 Molnaya. The Espora was produced in 6 units vs 80 for the Project 1241.1 Molnaya. The Espora was commissioned in 1985, 8 years after the Project 1241.1 Molnaya (1977).

Argentine corvette, introduced in 1985, propelled by two SEMT Pielstick diesels.
Origin 🇦🇷 Argentina
Category Corvette
Type Corvette
Manufacturer AFNE "Río Santiago"
Year introduced 1985
Number built 6 units
Estimated unit price NA
Soviet missile corvette, introduced in 1977, reaches 42 knots and has a crew of 50.
Origin 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
Category Corvette
Type Missile corvette
Manufacturer Vympel Shipyard
Year introduced 1977
Number built 80 units
Estimated unit price $30 million
Displacement 1,790 tons
Maximum speed 27.0 knots
Range 4,000 nm at 18 knots
Length 91.2 m
Beam 11.0 m
Crew 100
Propulsion 2 SEMT Pielstick 16 PC 2–5 V400 diesels, 22,600 bhp (16.9 MW), 2 × 5-blade props
Armament
  • 4 × MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles
  • 1 × 76 mm/62 OTO Melara dual purpose gun
  • 2 × DARDO twin 40 mm AA guns
  • 2 × .50 cal machine guns
  • 2 × triple 324 mm ILAS-3 tubes (WASS A-244S torpedoes)
Displacement 549 tons
Maximum speed 42.0 knots
Range 2,400 nm at 12 knots
Length 56.0 m
Beam 10.5 m
Crew 50
Propulsion 2 shaft COGAG turbines at 11,000 hp each, plus 2 cruising engines at 4,000 hp each
Armament
  • 4 × P-15 Termit/SS-N-2 Styx or 4 × P-270 Moskit/SS-N-22 Sunburn or 16 × Kh-35 Uran/SS-N-25 Switchblade anti-ship missiles or 4 × BrahMos
  • 1 SA-N-5 SAM (1x4) MANPADS air defence missiles
  • 1 × 76 mm AK-176 dual purpose main gun
  • 2 × AK-630 30 mm gun or 1 × CADS-N-1 Kashtan CIWS

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Espora-class or Project 1241.1 Molnaya-class?
The Espora-class has greater displacement at 1,790 tons compared to the Project 1241.1 Molnaya-class's 549 tons.
Which is faster, the Espora-class or Project 1241.1 Molnaya-class?
The Project 1241.1 Molnaya-class is faster with a maximum speed of 42 knots compared to the Espora-class's 27 knots.
Which has longer range, the Espora-class or Project 1241.1 Molnaya-class?
The Espora-class has a longer range at 4,000 nautical miles compared to the Project 1241.1 Molnaya-class's 2,400 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Espora-class or Project 1241.1 Molnaya-class?
The Espora-class is longer at 91.2 meters compared to the Project 1241.1 Molnaya-class's 56.0 meters.
How many crew members do the Espora-class and Project 1241.1 Molnaya-class have?
The Espora-class has a larger crew complement of 100 compared to the Project 1241.1 Molnaya-class's 50 crew members.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Espora-class or Project 1241.1 Molnaya-class?
The Project 1241.1 Molnaya-class has been built in greater numbers with 80 vessels compared to 6 vessels of the Espora-class.