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Riga vs Type 21

Riga vs Type 21 at a glance — displacement 1,416 vs 3,250 tons, length 91 vs 117 m, speed 28 vs 37 knots, crew 175 vs 177.

Specifications
Riga Type 21
Origin 🇷🇺 Ex-USSR 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Category Frigate Frigate
Type Frigate Frigate
Manufacturer Kaliningrad Yarrow Shipbuilders
Year introduced 1954 1974
Number built 68 units 8 units
Estimated unit price NA $60 million
Displacement 1,416 tons 3,250 tons
Maximum speed 28.0 knots 37.0 knots
Range 1,950 nm at 14 knots 4,000 nm at 17 knots
Length 91.0 m 117.0 m
Beam 10.2 m 12.7 m
Crew 175 177
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Riga Type 21
Armament
  • 3 × 100 mm guns/56 (B-34) (3×1)
  • 4 × 37 mm guns (2×2)
  • 4 × 25 mm guns (2×2) - Some ships
  • MBU-600 anti-submarine rocket launchers (replaced by two RBU-2500)
  • 2 or 3 × 533 mm torpedo tubes (1×2 or 1×3)
  • 1 × 4.5 in (114 mm) Vickers Mark 8 gun
  • 2 × 20 mm Oerlikon guns (later 4)
  • 1 × 4-rail launcher for GWS-24 Sea Cat
  • 2 × 8-barrelled Knebworth Corvus countermeasures launchers
  • 4 × launchers for MM38 Exocet surface-surface missiles
  • 2 × 12.75 in (324 mm) 3-tube STWS-1 anti-submarine torpedo launchers
  • TKWA/MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System)
  • 2 x 4-cell Harpoon missile launchers
  • 1 x 6-cell LY-60N Hunting Eagle SAM launcher
  • 1 × Vulcan Phalanx 20mm CIWS
Propulsion 2 × shaft steam turbines, 2 × boilers; 21,000 hp (16,000 kW) COGOG on 2 shafts; 2 × Tyne cruise turbines: 8,500 shp (6,300 kW); 2 × Olympus boost turbines: 50,000 shp (37,000 kW)
Explore further
Riga-class Specs, operators & history →
Former operators · 68 built
Type 21-class Specs, operators & history →
Former operators · 8 built
Change comparison vs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Riga-class or Type 21-class?
The Type 21-class has greater displacement at 3,250 tons compared to the Riga-class's 1,416 tons.
Which is faster, the Riga-class or Type 21-class?
The Type 21-class is faster with a maximum speed of 37 knots compared to the Riga-class's 28 knots.
Which has longer range, the Riga-class or Type 21-class?
The Type 21-class has a longer range at 4,000 nautical miles compared to the Riga-class's 1,950 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Riga-class or Type 21-class?
The Type 21-class is longer at 117.0 meters compared to the Riga-class's 91.0 meters.
How many crew members do the Riga-class and Type 21-class have?
The Type 21-class has a larger crew complement of 177 compared to the Riga-class's 175 crew members.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Riga-class or Type 21-class?
The Riga-class has been built in greater numbers with 68 vessels compared to 8 vessels of the Type 21-class.