Water-carrying tanker Manych left Sevastopol on June 1 heading for new basing site – Murmansk.
Northern Fleet (NF) will be new home base of the vessel.
Designed late in 60’s under Soviet Navy’s technical specifications by Baltsudoproject design bureau (Leningrad) and built in 1972 by Vyborg shipyard , the sea-going water tanker was used for fresh water supply of warships on mission, mainly for BSF Mediterranean Squadron.
In total, Vyborg shipyard built two ships under Project 1549 – Manych stationed in Black Sea Fleet and Tagil joined Pacific Fleet in 1976. Afterwards, it was decided not to build such big-size water tankers any more.
Through her long and strenuous service, Manych has called at ports of 19 countries including Guinea (port of Conakry), Egypt (Alexandria and Port Said, 15 times), Syria (Latakia and Tartus, over 30 times), Tunisia (Menzel Bourguiba and Bizerta), Greece (Piraeus, Pilos, and Salonika), Bulgaria (Burgas and Varna, 8 times), Turkey (Antalya and Izmir), Libya (Tobruk), Yugoslavia (Tivat). Totally, the ship has performed over 70 calls at foreign ports.
In 1978, 1979, 1980 Manych won red challenge banner in the BSF auxiliary ships contest for excellent service; in 1980 the crew was awarded with the Lenin Honorary Certificate. Also, the crew received letters of gratitude from Soviet Navy Commander-in-Chief (1980) and BSF Mediterranean Squadron Commander.
Manych has been based in Sevastopol for a long time. In 2010 Russian Navy command decided to transfer the ship to Northern Fleet. The new NF crew arrived and on June 1, 2011 the ship left Sevastopol setting the course for Murmansk.
Reference
Full-load displacement – 5,700 tons Dimensions: length – 115.8 meters, beam – 15.9 meters, draft – 5.8 meters Full speed – 17 knots Fuel range – 6,000 miles at 14 knots Propulsion plant: 2 diesels (overall power 9,000 shp), 2 screws Armament: 2 coupled 57-mm gun mounts AK-725 (dismounted after commissioning) Carrying capacity: 1,900 tons of fresh water, 20 tons of distilled water, 180 tons of food supplies Crew – 79 men [mappress] Source: rusnavy, June 3, 2011