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MDKVP Project 12321 "Adelia" / Aist

Project amphibious hovercraft project 12321 "Adelia" large assault hovercraft also known as Dzheyran [Gazelle] class. According to NATO classification, this is the Aist class [Aist in Russian means Stork]. This was developed in the PCB "Almaz" in 1964-1965 under the chief designer L.V.Ozimov. The progress in the development and construction of the project was overseen for the Navy by Captain B.A.Kolyzaev, and after him Captain 2nd Rank V.Litvinenko. Landing ships "Adelia" project built for the Soviet Navy between 1970 and 1985 in the shipyard "Almaz", Leningrad. A total of 20 landing craft were built for this project. According to the classification Sovetskaya Navy they were small landing ships.

Dzheyran, aka Adelia, is the typical inhabitant of desert and semi-desert landscapes, is the only true representative of extremely diverse genus Gazelle, dwelling in Eurasia. Despite the fact that the gazelle is defined only as a subspecies of Gazella subgutturosa, it is very much different from other species of the genus Gazella. Adelia - the only gazelle, the females of which - except in very rare - cases, lack of horns. Adult males usually weigh about 30 kilograms - in contrast to the 20 kilograms common to males of other species of gazelles.

The creation of this unique amphibious assault ship preceded by great design, research and experimental work. To select the principle of formation of the air cushion, assessment of structural measures to ensure the stability, stability testing of the ship on course, manageability, amphibious, seaworthiness have been built and tested two models of large-scale displacement of 28-30 tons of various constructive schemes of formation of the air cushion. In the experiment, and many other technical problems were resolved positively on these models. Highlights the significant value of metacentric height of the project, thanks to which the ship has a practical status. Pontoons hold MPC and ensure its positive buoyancy in any situation.

Desantovmestimost ship was designed for two or three medium-sized floating tank. The lead ship of the project 1232 was built at a shipyard in Leningrad in 1970. Landing ships project "Adelia" became the first in the world and the largest serial (up to mid-1980s) landing craft air cushion. In 2011, the Russian Navy had 2 landing craft type "Adelia" (hull numbers 608 and 609). They are serving as part of the Caspian Flotilla.

Trial operation of the first small landing ship allowed to take into account all the shortcomings in the subsequent production of the project 12321. For serial ships MPC was strengthened defensive armament (with 2 30 mm AK-230 control radar "Lynx") and improved habitability conditions, and the ship's hull riveted instead on the head was made of welded alloy AMG-61. The cargo area has a through passage for the technology and is located in the center plane. Service bays are spaced along the sides. At full speed landing craft, "Adelia" controlled air rudders placed for the propulsion system, and at low speeds - jet rudders from the air bleed from the axial fans, blowers.

Marching propellers represent a four-bladed controllable pitch propeller diameter of 3.5 meters in the ring nozzles. Total displacement ships "Adelia" reached 353 tons, full speed of 50 knots, cruising range of 300 miles, the autonomy of 5 days. Main propulsion of small landing craft consisted of two gas turbine engines DT-4 with a total capacity of 32,000 hp, driving the supercharger and four propellers. Main propellers represent a four-bladed controllable pitch propeller diameter of 3.5 meters in the ring nozzles. Total displacement ships "Adelia" reached 353 tons, full speed of 50 knots, cruising range of 300 miles, the autonomy of 5 days. Main propulsion of small landing craft consisted of two gas turbine engines DT-4 with a total capacity of 32,000 hp, driving the supercharger and four propellers.