Orkan-class fast attack craft

The Orkan class or projekt 660 (NATO code: Sassnitz class) is series of three fast attack craft of the Polish Navy, in service since 1992.

ORP Grom
Class overview
Builders	VEB Peenewerft, Wolgast Northern Shipyard, Gdańsk
Operators	Polish Navy
In service	1992–present
Active	3
General characteristics
Type	Fast attack craft
Displacement	369 tonnes
Length	48.90 m (160 ft 5 in)
Beam	8.65 m (28 ft 5 in)
Draft	2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	3 diesel M520 engines 3,970 kW (5,320 hp) each
Speed	36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range	3,000 km (1,600 nmi)
Complement	33
Sensors and processing systems	Sea Giraffe 3-D radar, STING EO fire control radar
Armament	8 × RBS-15 Mk. III anti-ship missiles (ships often carry just 4 missiles) 1 × 76 mm (3 in) AK-176M gun 1 × AK-630 30 mm (1.2 in) gun Close-in weapon system 1 × 4-rail Strela 2M launcher 2 x WKM-Bm 12.7 mm heavy machine gun posts

History

The original project was prepared by the German Democratic Republic for its navy and was named Project 660, it also received the NATO reporting name "Sassnitz". After the Unification of Germany the unfinished hulls were bought by the Polish Navy from VEB Peenewerft shipyard in Wolgast and successfully completed by Northern Shipyard in Gdańsk.

In 2006, Ministry of Defence ordered 36 RBS-15 Mk 3 anti-ship missiles to equip the ships. Since 2007, they carried RBS-15 Mk 2 missiles as interim armament.^[1] RBS-15 Mk 3 missiles were first deployed in 2014.^[2] Since 2015 Orkan^[3] and Piorun underwent a 19-month, mid-life refit.^[4]

List of ships

Pennant number	Name	Commissioned
421	Orkan	18 September 1992
422	Piorun	11 March 1994
423	Grom	28 April 1995

The lead ship of the class is named Orkan (Polish: Hurricane), while other two ships are Piorun (Polish: Thunderbolt) and Grom (Polish: Thunderclap). Piorun and Grom were famous Polish destroyers of the Second World War. Orkan was to have been the first destroyer constructed in Poland, but her construction was interrupted by the start of the World War II.

Gallery

• 
  Orkan before modernisation
• 
  Piorun
• 
  Grom in 2008 armed with 8 RBS-15 Mk2
• 
  Grom in 2011, armed with 4 RBS-15 Mk2