The Polnocny (or Polnochny)-class ships are amphibious warfare vessels. They were designed in Poland, in cooperation with the Soviet Navy and were built in Poland between 1967 and 2002. They now serve in several different navies, and some have been converted to civilian use. The name comes from the Stocznia Północna shipyard (Northern Shipyard) at Gdańsk, where they were built. 107 were built by 1986 (last 16 by Stocznia Marynarki Wojennej (Naval Shipyard) at Gdynia, Poland). In 2002, one ship of a modernised design NS-722 was built in Gdynia for Yemen.
== Characteristics == The Polnocny-class ships are classified as medium landing ships in the Russian Navy, and are loosely equivalent to Western tank landing ships. They are equipped with a bow ramp that allows beach landings. The Polnocny-C version can carry 12 BMP-2 armored personnel carriers, or 4 Main Battle Tanks, or 250 infantrymen with their weapons like 82 mm Mortars and ATGMs, or 250 tons of rations & stores. Unlike their Western counterparts, these ships can provide substantial fire support for landed troops with their onboard multiple rocket launchers. Other armament consists of anti-aircraft guns and short-range surface-to-air missiles.
== Variants == The Polnocny class comprises several sub-types that vary in size and capacity:
Polnocny-A (Project 770) (46 built): Displacement: 800 tons full load Length: 73 m Speed: 19 knots (35 km/h) Polnocny-B (Project 771) (36 built): Displacement: 834 tons full load Length: 73 m Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h) Polnocny-C (Project 773) (24 built) Displacement: 1150 tons full load Length: 81.3 m Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h) Modified Polnocny-C (Project 776) Amphibious Assault Command Ship (1 built - ORP Grunwald) Displacement: 1253 tons full load Length: 81.3 m Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h) Polnocny-D (Project 773U) (4 built) Displacement: 1233 tons full load Length: 81.3 m Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h) Aircraft facility: One helicopter platform NS-722 class (1 built in 2002) Displacement: 1,410 tons full load Length: 88.7 m Speed: 17 knots (31 km/h) Aircraft facility: One helicopter platform
== Operational service == Built in large quantities, the Polnocny-class ships were once the mainstay of the Soviet amphibious forces, and gave the Soviet naval infantry an effective force projection capability. They were gradually phased out in favour of hovercraft, and few remain active in a number of navies.
Current operators
Algeria − 1 Polnocny-B armed with a twin AK-230 gun as of 2023 Azerbaijan − 1 Polnocny-A and 1 Polnocny-B as of 2023
Vietnam − 1 Polnocny-A and 2 Polnocny-B as of 2023
=== Potiental operators === Ukraine - 1 Polnocny-C, the Yuri Olefirenko; reported sunk 29 May 2023
=== Former operators === Syria − 3 Polnocny-B as of 2023, destroyed by Israel in 2024 after the fall of the Assad regime Angola − Non-operational by 2004 Bulgaria Cuba Egypt − 3 Polnocny-A Ethiopia India − Operated 2 Polnocny-A ships and 8 Polnocny-D (latter operated as Kumbhir-class) from 1966 to 2024 Indonesia Iraq Libya − 3 Polnocny-D Poland − 1 Polnocny-C was converted into an amphibious command vessel Russia − Operated 1 Polnocny-B as a logistic support ship as late as 2004 Somalia Soviet Union − Passed on to successor states Ukraine - 1 Polnocny-C, the Yuri Olefirenko, no longer in service as of 2023 South Yemen − Passed on to the unified Yemeni state Yemen − 3 Polnocny-B in poor state by 2004
== See also == List of ships of the Soviet Navy List of ships of Russia by project number Equivalent landing ships of the same era
BATRAL class Type 079 Kumbhir class
References
== Bibliography == Moore, Capt. John (1974). Jane's Fighting Ships 1974-75. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0354005067. Watts, A.J.(2006); Jane's warship recognition guide; Collins; ISBN 0-06-084992-4 Jarosław Ciślak; Polska Marynarka Wojenna 1995 (Polish Navy 1995); Lampart, Warsaw 1995; ISBN 978-83-86776-08-5 Saunders RN, Commodore Stephen, ed. (1 July 2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005. Janes Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2623-3. International Institute for Strategic Studies (1 January 1989). The Military Balance 1989-1990. Brassey's. ISBN 978-0-08-037569-4. International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023 (1st ed.). Routledge. pp. 201−204. ISBN 978-1032508955.
== External links == Indian Navy Polnochy class landing ship Bharat-rakshak.com All Polnocny-A Class Landing Ships - Complete Ship List All Polnocny-B Class Landing Ships - Complete Ship List All Polnocny-C Class Landing Ships - Complete Ship List