Russian Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard launches Georgy Kurbatov Alexandrit-class Project 12700 minesweeper for Russian Navy.

According to a press release published by the Russian Press Agency TASS on October 2, 2020, Russian Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard launched the Georgy Kurbatov Alexandrit-class minesweeper of project 12700, on September 30, 2020. The new ship will be commissioned in 2021.
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Russian Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard launched the Georgy Kurbatov Alexandrit-class minesweeper of project 12700, on September 30, 2020. (Picture source anna-news.info)

The Georgy Kurbatov Alexandrit-class minesweeper left the slipway in July 2020 after its hull has been formed and equipped with systems and mechanisms. The shipyard built the superstructure, the mast, antennas, and general systems and painted the hull. The Georgy Kurbatov was laid down on April 24, 2015 and was launched on September 30, 2020.

The floated minesweeper is berthed at the embankment for continued construction. The trial team will prepare it for the first mooring trials. The minesweeper is to become operational in 2021.

The Georgy Kurbatov had to join the Russian Navy in late 2016 but caught fire on June 7, 2016. The commissioning time was postponed for several years, as a result. The Alexander Obukhov, Ivan Antonov, and the Vladimir Yemelyanov minesweepers of the project have become operational in the meantime.

The Georgy Kurbatov is an Alexandrit-class minesweeper, Russian designation Project 12700 Aleksandrit designed by Almaz and being built by the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard for the Russian Navy. The main feature of project 12700 is a monolithic fiberglass hull shaped by vacuum infusion, a modern construction method which results in a lighter hull with longer service life. The ships of the class are designed to use various flails, as well as remotely operated and autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles and unmanned surface vehicles to disable or destroy mines at safe distances.

The Georgy Kurbatov is armed with 9K38 Igla short-range surface-to-air defense missile systems, a 30mm AK-306 gun mount, an MTPU 14.5mm marine pedestal machine-gun mount, as well as UDM, MTPK, and PMR series of mines.

The Georgy Kurbatov is powered by two M-503M1 diesel engines developing a maximum power output of 1,864 W, two rudder propellers with nozzles, and two transverse thrusters. The vessel is also equipped with two 315kW diesel generators and two 210kW emergency generators.

The Georgy Kurbatov minesweeper can reach a maximum speed of 16.5 kt with a maximum range of 1,680 nmi. at a speed of 10 kt. The maximum endurance of the minesweeper is ten days.