Poti-class

The Poti class, designated Project 204 by the Soviet Union, was a series of anti-submarine warfare corvettes developed to succeed the Kronshtadt and SO1 classes. Built between 1960 and 1968, the class was the first Soviet anti-submarine design not based on traditional World War II-era ship patterns.

These vessels were the first Soviet warships to incorporate gas turbine propulsion. The propulsion system used a combined diesel and gas arrangement. Gas turbines exhausted through the transom and powered air compressors that vented into thrust tubes. The propellers were mounted within these tubes to facilitate a shallow draught.

The primary gun armament consisted of a forward-mounted twin dual-purpose turret. Anti-submarine systems included rocket launchers and torpedo tubes. Equipment varied by production date; early units carried RBU-2500 launchers, while later vessels were equipped with RBU-6000 launchers. Torpedo configurations included either quad or twin tubes depending on the specific vessel and operator. Sensors included surface search, air search, and fire control radars. Submarine detection was conducted via hull-mounted high-frequency sonar and dipping sonar. Electronic support measures were provided by Watch Dog units.

Production took place at shipyards in Kerch, Zelenodolsk, and Khabarovsk. The Soviet Navy operated the class until the late 1980s, when the Pauk class began replacing Project 204 units. Six vessels were transferred to the Bulgarian Navy between 1975 and 1990 to replace older submarine chasers. These ships were named Khrabri, Strogi, Bezstrashni, Letjashhi, Bditelni, and Naporisti. Romania acquired three ships in 1970, which utilized RBU-2500 rocket launchers and Soviet Type 53 torpedoes. Bulgarian and Romanian units remained in service following the Cold War, though some ships underwent modifications such as the removal of gas turbines. All members of the class were decommissioned or discarded by 2008.