Tapir-class
Summary
| Origin country | 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR |
| Category | Amphibious vessel |
| Subtype | Landing ship, tank |
| Manufacturer | Russian State Industry |
| Year commissioned | 1965 |
| Units |
081 Nikolai Vilkov 148 Orsk 152 Nikolai Filchenkov |
Technical specifications
| Displacement | 4360 tons |
| Crew | 55 members |
| Width | 15.3 m (50.2 ft) |
| Length | 112.8 m (370.1 ft) |
| Propulsion | 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 9,000 bhp (6,700 kW) |
| Armament |
|
| Maximum speed | 16 knots |
Description
The Project 1171 Tapir class, designated Alligator by NATO, originated from Soviet post-World War II analysis recommending the construction of dedicated amphibious vessels. Development began in 1959 as a joint effort between the Soviet Navy and the Ministry of the Maritime Fleet. The final design merged military requirements for speed and survivability with civil requirements for fuel economy. While four configurations were proposed, the Navy selected the most powerful version, leading the Ministry of the Maritime Fleet to withdraw from the project. All completed units were produced for naval use rather than commercial shipping lines.
The Tapir is a beachable, general-purpose large landing ship. The design facilitates the transport of tanks, armored fighting vehicles, and troops. While the lead ship, Saratov, lacked dedicated troop accommodations, subsequent vessels in the class included habitable troop compartments. The design features an upper deck capable of storing additional vehicles. NATO identified several subtypes within the class during its production run.
Construction occurred between 1964 and 1975. The ships have been operated by the Soviet, Russian, and Ukrainian navies. During the Cold War, units such as Orsk conducted campaigns across the Atlantic, Indian, and Mediterranean oceans. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the majority of the class was retired. One vessel, Ilya Azarov, was acquired by Ukraine and renamed Rivne before being converted for civilian use.
Remaining active units have been utilized in regional operations. Orsk transported personnel and material to Yugoslavia, Adjara, and Abkhazia. Starting in 2013, Nikolai Filchenkov and Saratov were employed in the transport of military equipment to Tartus during the Russian intervention in Syria.
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the class was used for logistics in the Sea of Azov. In March 2022, Orsk was documented unloading military equipment in the port of Berdiansk. On 24 March 2022, Saratov sustained damage during a Ukrainian missile attack while at the same port. The vessel was subsequently scuttled by its crew to prevent the detonation of on-board munitions. Russian officials later reported the hull was salvaged for transport to Kerch. As of current reporting, the Russian Navy maintains active vessels in the Black Sea and Pacific Fleets. The class is succeeded by the Ivan Gren class.