Page 39 - Theory and Design of Air Cushion Craft

ACV and SES development in the former USSR 23

Fig. 1.22 Sormovich Aist large amphibious assault ACV.

Fig. 1.23 USSR large military WIG Caspian Sea Monster.

transport. In addition about 1000 air cushion platforms have been constructed,
mainly for oil industry support in marsh/swamp areas (Fig. 1.21). About one hundred
military ACV have been constructed, including the five largest amphibious landing
craft in the world, called Pormornik (550 tonnes, 57.6 m, 65 knots, payload 120t), over
the period 1988-94. Twenty two amphibious landing craft code named AIST by
NATO (275t, 47.3 m, 70 knots, payload 90t) were constructed in the 1970s (Fig. 1.22),
and sixteen medium sized LEBED amphibious landing craft (87t, 24.4 m, 50 knots
cruise, payload of 35 t) during the early 1980s. The LEBED can be operated into the
stern docks of large Landing Ships such as the 'Ivan Rogof' class. The USSR has also
developed the largest WIG in the world, named 'Caspian Sea Monster' (Fig. 1.23).
The principal design offices and shipyards for ACV and SES are all located in what