Project 1241 Tarantul class
Guided Missile Corvette
The Tarantul Missile Boat (Raketnyy Kater RK) are smaller and less capable than the previous Nanuchka class, though several knots faster. They feature the small hull and basic arrangement of the Pauk class anti-submarine corvettes with a different propulsion system. They may be considered a better armed successors to the Osa-class missile boats.
A total of at leat 45 were built beginning in 1979. Several units were stricken or transferred in the 1990's, and as of early 2000 about 18 Tarantul-I/II were believed to remain in service, along with 28 Tarantul-III units. By 2001 only 5 Tarantul-II class boats and one Tarantul-I class boat remained, along with 28 Tarantul-III units. And by late 2003 it appeared that 5 Tarantul-II class boats and one Tarantul-I class boat remained, along with 20 Tarantul-III units.
Announced plans call for either resuming production of this class or an improved, enlarged version.
