Natya-class minesweeper

The Natya class were a group of minesweepers built for the Soviet Navy and export customers during the 1970s and '80s. The Soviet designation was Project 266M Akvamarin. The ships were used for ocean minesweeping.

Design
The design evolved from the Yurka class minesweeper with new demining equipment including more advanced sonar and closed circuit TV. A stern ramp made recovering sweeps easier. The hull was built of low magnetic steel. The engines were mounted on sound dampening beams and shrouded propellors were used to reduce noise. An electrical field compensator was also installed. A single ship designated Natya 2 by NATO was built with an aluminium hull for reduced magnetic signature

Ships
Forty five ships were built for the Soviet Navy from 1970 to 1982.

Russian Navy
13 ships believed to remain in Service
 * 1 Baltic Fleet
 * 5 Black Sea Fleet
 * 5 Northern Fleet
 * 2 Pacific Fleet

Ukrainian Navy
2 ships in service


 * U310 Chernihiv
 * U311 Cherkasy

Indian Navy
12 ships transferred between 1978 and 1988 known as the Pondicherry class minesweeper 8 Ships will be decommissioned by 2008 and four will be given life extension refits

Libyan Navy
8 ships transferred 1981-86

Libya
2 ships captured in February 2011

Syrian Navy
One ship in 1986

Yemen Navy
One ship