Russia Floats Out Large Landing Warship
The Yantar shipyard in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad has floated a new large landing ship for the Russian Navy
The $160-million vessel has a displacement of about 6,000 tons and will be able to carry up to 13 main battle tanks or 36 armored personnel carriers or 300 naval infantry troops.
Along with Mistral-class amphibious ships being built in France, Ivan Gren class ships will form the core of the Russian Navy's landing forces.
The construction of the landing ship Ivan Gren started in 2004, but has been delayed due to the lack of financing and skilled workers.
The ship's completion is expected by 2013. Plans to build three more ships of the same class are under consideration.