Zubr-class LCAC

The Zubr-class (Project 1232.2 class, NATO reporting name Pomornik) is a class of air-cushioned landing craft of Soviet design. This class of military hovercraft is, as of 2012, the world’s largest hovercraft. It is designed to sealift landing assault units (such as marines or tanks) from equipped/non-equipped vessels to non-equipped shore, as well as transport and plant mines.

There are currently nine ships in active service in the world. The Zubr is used by the Russian, Ukrainian, and Greek navies. The transfer of the Kefalonia (L- 180), the first of two Zubr hovercraft purchased by Greece, to the Hellenic Navy marked the first time that a Russian-made ship was purchased by the navy of a NATO member.

Configuration
High strength and buoyancy of the craft are provided by a rectangular pontoon, the main load-carrying part of the ship's hull. The superstructure built on the pontoon is divided into 3 compartments with two longitudinal bulkheads: combat material compartment in the midsection fitted with tank ramps, and outboard sections housing main and auxiliary propulsion units, troop compartments, living quarters, and NBC protection systems. To improve working conditions in the battle stations, troop compartments and living quarters are fitted with air-conditioning and heating-systems, sound/heat-insulating coatings, and structures made of vibration damping materials. The ship provides normal conditions for the crew to take meals and rest.

Personnel are protected against the effects of weapons of mass destruction by airtight sealing of combat stations, crew and troop compartments, augmented with individual gas masks and protection suits. The ship is also protected from magnetic influence mines with an active system to compensate for the magnetic fields generated by the ship and transported materials. The central command post and MS-227 device compartments are strengthened with alloy armor.

Capacity
The Zubr landing craft has a cargo area of 400 m2, and a fuel capacity of 56 tons. It can carry three main battle tanks (up to 150 tonnes), or ten armoured vehicles with 140 troops (up to 131 tonnes), or 8 armoured personnel carriers of total mass up to 115 tonnes, or 8 amphibious tanks or up to 500 troops (with 360 troops in the cargo compartment).

At full displacement the ship is capable of negotiating up to 5-degree gradients on non-equipped shores and 1.6m-high vertical walls. The Zubr remains seaworthy in conditions up to Sea State 4. The vessel has a cruising speed of 30-40 knots.

Operators

 * 770 Evgeny Kocheshkov (former MDK-118)
 * 782 Mordovia (former MDK-94)
 * 782 Mordovia (former MDK-94)


 * Donetsk (former U 420)
 * Artemivsk (former MDK-93, U 424)
 * , which operates four ships. Three vessels were commissioned in 2001: the Kefalonia (L180) was purchased used from the Russian Navy and upgraded, the Ithaki (L181) which was completed in Ukraine, and the Zakynthos (L183) which was built in Russia. A fourth vessel, the Kerkyra (L182), was launched in June 2004 at St. Petersburg yard and was commissioned in January 2005.
 * HS Kefalonia (L180) - ex Russian Navy 717, commissioned 2001
 * HS Ithaki (L181) - hull launched in Ukraine 1992, commissioned 2001
 * HS Kerkyra (L182)
 * HS Zakynthos (L183)
 * . The Chinese PLAN has reportedly placed an order for four craft at a cost of 315 million US dollars. Two will be built by a Ukrainian firm in Feodosiya, and a second pair of vessels will be built in China under the supervision of Ukrainian technicians. The first unit was delivered in April 2013.
 * . The Chinese PLAN has reportedly placed an order for four craft at a cost of 315 million US dollars. Two will be built by a Ukrainian firm in Feodosiya, and a second pair of vessels will be built in China under the supervision of Ukrainian technicians. The first unit was delivered in April 2013.