Pauk-class corvette

The Pauk class is the NATO reporting name for a class of small patrol corvettes built for the Soviet Navy and export customers between 1977 and 1989. The Russian designation is Project 1241.2 Molniya-2. These ships are designed for coastal patrol and inshore anti-submarine warfare. The design is the patrol version of the Tarantul class which is designated Project 1241.1, but is slightly longer and has diesel engines. The ships are fitted with a dipping sonar which is also used in Soviet helicopters. The class saw moderate export success, with four ships sold to India as the Abhay class, two ships sold to Bulgaria, and one ship to Cuba. A further five ships were transferred to Ukraine after the fall of the USSR. There were plans for India to build more ships locally under license, but this was dropped in favour of the indigenous Kamorta class.