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Naval
Forces News - China, Ukraine |
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| Pictures
of future Chinese Navy Zubr class LCAC conducting builder trials in Ukraine |
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Fresh
pictures of a Zubr class air-cushioned landing craft bound for China
have emerged. The pictures show the LCAC during its builder trials in
Ukraine before its delivery to the Chinese Navy. |
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Currently the world’s largest hovercraft, development
of Zubr landing ships started in the USSR in 1978, and the first serial
ship joined Soviet Navy in 1988. Its carrying capacity is 3 main battle
tanks with overall mass of 150 tons or 10 armored personnel carriers
weighing up to 131 tons plus 140 marines, or 8 infantry fighting vehicles
with mass up to 115 tons. If not carrying armor, Zubr is capable to
accommodate 366 men.
In total, 14 Zubr-class ships have been launched; only two of them remain
in inventory of Russian Navy. Five ships were decommissioned , two uncompleted,
and five sold to Greece for the Hellenic Navy and where they are generally
used in support of Special Forces.
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The Chinese Navy has reportedly placed an order for
four craft at a cost of 315 million US dollars. Two are being built
by a Ukrainian firm in Feodosiya, and a second pair of vessels will
be built in China under the supervision of Ukrainian technicians.
Pictures from http://globalmilitaryreview.blogspot.com/
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