Russia found replacement for destroyed corvette Asсold in occupied Kerch
Russians are preparing a new ship for Kalibr missile strikes on Ukraine (photo: Getty Images)
Instead of the bombed corvette Asсold, which was a carrier of Kalibr missiles in Kerch, Russia is preparing to shell Ukraine from a new ship called Tucha, brought in from Tatarstan, according to Defence Express.
Defense Express refers to an infographic created based on satellite images by OSINT analyst MT_Anderson. It illustrates the current status of all four missile corvettes of the 22800 Karakurt project, which serve as carriers for the Kalibr cruise missiles.
According to the information, the corvette Askold, practically destroyed during the missile attack on November 4, 2023, was undergoing repairs at the Zaliv shipyard in the temporarily occupied Kerch as of December 3. The Russians reportedly covered the sections of the ship's hull that suffered the most significant damage.
At the same time, Defence Express notes that the snapshot taken on December 5, 2023, near Novorossiysk, is of particular interest. It shows two missile corvettes of the 22800 Karakurt project: the Amur, which has been completed and undergone testing but has not yet been accepted into the Russian Black Sea Fleet, and presumably the ship Tucha, which was brought to Novorossiysk via inland waterways.
Unlike the previous three Karakurts constructed at the Zaliv shipyard in the temporarily occupied Kerch, the corvette Tucha was built at a shipyard in Zelenodolsk, Russia (Tatarstan), located on the Volga River. It is assumed that the new Kalibr missile carrier, intended to replace the destroyed corvette Askold, was transported to Novorossiysk through the Volga-Don Canal.
The corvette Tucha was laid down in 2019 and launched in Zelenodolsk in July 2023. In terms of characteristics, the vessel does not differ significantly from the previous ships of the 22800 Karakurt project:
- full displacement - 870 tons;
- length and width of the hull - 67 meters and 11 meters;
- autonomy of navigation - up to 15 days, crew - 39 people;
- armament - 76-mm cannon, 8 launchers for Kalibr or Oniks missiles, Pantsir in the naval version, Orlan-10 drone.
Photo: Launching of the missile corvette Tucha, July 2023 (Defence Express).
Rocket strike by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Kerch
On November 4, in the temporarily occupied city of Kerch in Crimea, explosions were reported.
Russian occupiers announced the operation of air defense systems in the city. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military stated that the Defense Forces targeted the Zatoka shipyard in Crimea.
As a result of the attack, the missile carrier Kalibr of the corvette Askold was damaged, which the occupiers planned to launch and introduce into the Russian Black Sea Fleet in December 2023.
Photos from the Strategic Communications Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine showed significant damage inflicted on the enemy ship. It was noted that Askold is likely beyond repair.
