Ivan Papanin (combat icebreaker)

Chronicle

2024: Going to Sea

On July 1, 2024, it became known that the ice-class patrol ship "Ivan Papanin" of project 23550 had entered factory sea trials. This is the lead "combat icebreaker" of the series, designed to protect Russian interests in the Arctic. The ship was built at the Admiralty Shipyards shipyard in St. Petersburg.

As noted by TASS, Ivan Papanin combines the properties of an icebreaker, tugboat and patrol ship. It is able to overcome ice up to 1.7 m thick, has a displacement of about 9 thousand tons, a length of 114 m and a width of 20 m. The maximum speed of the ship is 18 knots (33 km/h). The crew has 49 people, with the possibility of accommodating an additional 47 specialists.

source = Wikipedia

The armament of the "combat icebreaker" includes a 76 mm AK-176MA caliber artillery mount with a firing range of 15.7 km. It is planned to equip the ship with Kalibr-K cruise missiles and Uranus anti-ship missiles. On board there is a helipad, a hangar for a helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as the ability to accommodate two high-speed combat boats of the Raptor type.

Ivan Papanin is capable of performing a wide range of tasks, including protecting and monitoring water resources in the Arctic, escorting and towing detained vessels, escorting support vessels, transporting special goods and participating in rescue operations. The autonomy of the ship in terms of water reserves and provisions is about 70 days, and the cruising range is 10 thousand nautical miles (more than 18 thousand km).

The construction of Ivan Papanin is part of Russia's strategy to strengthen its presence in the Arctic region. President Vladimir Putin in 2023 stressed the strategic importance of the Arctic zone for the country, noting its colossal economic capabilities and importance for the defense, power and logistics of the state.^[1]

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