Natya-class minesweeper

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title: "Natya-class minesweeper" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["mine-warfare-vessel-classes", "natya-class-minesweepers", "cold-war-minesweepers-of-the-soviet-union", "minesweepers-of-the-russian-navy", "minesweepers-of-russia", "minesweepers-of-the-ukrainian-navy", "minesweepers-of-ukraine", "minesweepers-of-the-libyan-navy", "minesweepers-of-the-syrian-navy", "minesweepers-of-the-yemen-navy"] description: "Soviet class of minesweepers" topic_path: "history/military" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natya-class_minesweeper" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Soviet class of minesweepers ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox ship"]

Field	Value
sclass	2
section1	{{Infobox ship/image
image	IvanGolubets2005Sevastopol.jpg
image_caption	Russian ocean minesweeper project 266M "Akvamarin" Ivan Golubets at Sevastopol, 2005
section2	{{Infobox ship/class overview
name	Project 266M Akvamarin
builders	KB Baltic Zavod
operators	*
class_before
class_after
subclasses
built_range	1970s–2001
in_commission_range	1970–present
total_ships_completed	45
section3	{{Infobox ship/characteristics
type	minesweeper
displacement	873 tons
length	61 m
beam	10.2 m
draught	3.6 m
propulsion	2 × M-503 diesel engines 5000 hp
speed	17 kn
range	1500 nmi at 12 kn
endurance	7 days
crew	68 (6 officers)
sensors	*Sonar:
EW	*Minesweeping:
armament	*2 × AK-230 dual 30 mm autocannons
::

| sclass = 2 |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = IvanGolubets2005Sevastopol.jpg | image_caption = Russian ocean minesweeper project 266M "Akvamarin" Ivan Golubets at Sevastopol, 2005

|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview | name = Project 266M Akvamarin | builders = KB Baltic Zavod | operators = *

| class_before = | class_after = | subclasses = | cost = | built_range = 1970s–2001 | in_service_range = | in_commission_range = 1970–present | total_ships_building = | total_ships_planned = | total_ships_completed = 45 | total_ships_canceled = | total_ships_active = | total_ships_laid_up = | total_ships_lost = | total_ships_retired = | total_ships_preserved =

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class = | type = minesweeper | tonnage = | displacement = 873 tons | length = 61 m | beam = 10.2 m | height = | draught = 3.6 m | draft = | depth = | hold_depth = | decks = | ice_class = | sail_plan = | power = | propulsion = 2 × M-503 diesel engines 5000 hp | speed = 17 kn | range = 1500 nmi at 12 kn | endurance = 7 days | test_depth = | boats = | capacity = | complement = | crew = 68 (6 officers) | time_to_activate = | troops = | sensors = *Sonar:

• MG-69/79 High frequency, hull mounted, active mine detection
• Radar:
• Don 2 I-band air/surface
• 2 × Square Head - High Pole B IFF
• MR-104 ''Rys''' (NATO designation: "Drum Tilt") H/I-band fire control | EW = *Minesweeping:
• AT-2 acoustic sweep
• GKT-2 contact sweep
• TEM-3 magnetic sweep | armament = *2 × AK-230 dual 30 mm autocannons
• 2 × 2М-3М dual 25 mm autocannons
• 2 × 5 RBU 1200
• 7 AMD-1000 naval mines or 32 depth charges
• underwater mine searcher MKT-210
• Sweeps BKT, AT-3, TEM-4 | armour = | armor = | aircraft = | aircraft_facilities = | notes =

The Natya class is the NATO reporting name for '*Project 266M *Akvamarin''''', a class of minesweepers built for the Soviet Navy and export customers during the 1970s and 1980s. The ships were used for ocean minesweeping.

Design

The design evolved from the 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 propellers 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.

Ukrainian forces claimed to have sunk the minesweeper Kovrovets on 19 May 2024. At the same time, in other sources they claimed to sink the small missile ship Tsiklon. There are no independent confirmations or comments from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Project 02668

• Displacement: 852 tons.
• Armament: 1 × 30mm AK-306 CIWS, 2 × 14.5 mm MTPU-1 machine guns, BKT high-speed pin sweep, TEM-4 electromagnetic sweep, AT-3 acoustic sweep, SZ-1 or SZ-2 depth charges, "Livadia" mine detector-finder.
• Crew: 60.

Project 02668 was designed by Design Bureau "Almaz" and is a prototype, which demonstrates the latest technology - the logical continuation of a series of Project 266ME. The minesweeper is equipped with the most modern means of anti-mine protection. It was the first Russian mine-sweeping ship to have an integrated navigation bridge and main command center, as well as the "Diez-E" automated control system of anti-mine action activities.

The St. Andrew's flag-raising ceremony was held on 17 January 2009, and the ship was accepted into the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Operators

45 ships were built for the Soviet Navy from 1970 to 1982.

• 5 ships believed to remain in service as of 2025:

  • Black Sea Fleet - 3 ships
  • Pacific Fleet - 2 ships

• 2 captured by Russia.

  • (ex-Zenitchik - captured)
  • Cherkasy (captured)

• 12 ships built for the Indian Navy in two batches between 1978 and 1988. Ship design was modified to Indian specifications. Known as the in Indian service. All have since been decommissioned. These ships were to be replaced by GSL Mine Counter-Measure Vessels, but the project is currently on hold.

• 8 ships transferred 1981-86. 2 still in active

Libya Libyan People's Army

• 2 ships captured in February 2011.

• One ship in 1986.

• One ship.

Citations

References

• Also published as

References

1. (2024-05-19). "In Blowing Up A Russian Minesweeper, Ukraine May Have Revealed A Secret: It Has ATACMS Rockets With 470-Pound Warheads".
2. (2024-05-19). "Guerre en Ukraine : nouvelle perte russe en mer Noire, l'Ukraine affirme avoir détruit et coulé le dragueur de mines Kovrovets".
3. (2024-05-19). "Ukraine Destroys Russian Black Sea 'Kovrovets' Minesweeper".
4. Dysa, Yuliia. (21 May 2024). "Ukraine says it destroys Russian missile ship in Crimea strike". Reuters.
5. "Морской тральщик "Вице-адмирал Захарьин"".
6. (2014-03-26). "Russia seizes Ukraine's last Crimean ship". Reuters.

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