Seen in Kronstadt: The Project 12700 Aleksandrit-class minesweeper Aleksandr Obukhov

Aleksandr Obukhov is the first of a projected forty new Aleksandrit-class minesweepers to be built for the Russian Navy. They will have fibreglass hulls, which will reduce their magnetic signature.

The class characteristics are:

• Displacement: 890 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 61.0m
• Beam: 10.2m
• Draught: 2.68m
• Propulsion: 1 x 1 x 2,500 hp diesel engine, driving a single propeller; 2 x 315 kW diesel generators; 2 x 210 kW diesel generators
• Speed: 16.5 knots
• Range: 1,600 nautical miles at 10 knots
• Complement: 45
• Armament: 1 x 6 30mm AK-630 multi-barrelled automatic cannon; she can also carry a hand-held anti-aircraft missile and may be equipped to lay mines