Polnocny-class

🇩🇿 Algeria • 🇦🇴 Angola • 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan • 🇧🇬 Bulgaria • 🇨🇺 Cuba • 🇪🇬 Egypt • 🇪🇹 Ethiopia • 🇮🇳 India • 🇮🇩 Indonesia • 🇮🇶 Iraq • 🇱🇾 Libya • 🇵🇱 Poland • 🇷🇺 Russia • 🇸🇴 Somalia • 🇸🇾 Syria • 🇺🇦 Ukraine • 🇻🇳 Vietnam • 🇾🇪 Yemen

The Polnocny-class amphibious warfare vessels were designed in Poland in cooperation with the Soviet Navy. Production occurred between 1967 and 2002 at the Stocznia Północna shipyard in Gdańsk and the Stocznia Marynarki Wojennej in Gdynia. The class was succeeded by the Ropucha-class landing ship and the Lublin-class minelayer-landing ship.

Classified as medium landing ships by the Russian Navy, these vessels utilize a bow ramp to facilitate beach landings. The design is functionally similar to Western tank landing ships but incorporates onboard multiple rocket launchers to provide fire support for landed troops. Defensive systems include anti-aircraft guns and short-range surface-to-air missiles. The class consists of several variants, such as the Polnocny-C, which is configured to transport armored personnel carriers, main battle tanks, infantry, or stores. The Project 776 variant was modified for use as an amphibious assault command ship, while the Polnocny-D and NS-722 versions include helicopter platforms.

The class served as a component of Soviet amphibious forces, providing force projection for naval infantry units. Vessels were exported to numerous operators in Eastern Europe, Africa, Southern Asia, and the Middle East. In Soviet and Russian service, the class was gradually phased out in favor of hovercraft. India operated a variant of the design as the Kumbhir-class until decommissioning units in 2024. Syrian vessels were reported destroyed in 2024, and the Ukrainian vessel Yuri Olefirenko was reported sunk in May 2023. Current operators include the Algerian National Navy, the Azerbaijani Navy, and the Vietnam People's Navy. The Russian Navy continues to utilize the class for logistic support roles. Certain decommissioned vessels have been converted for civilian use.