Gyurza-M-class artillery boat


The Project 58155 Gyurza-M class is a series of small armored gun boats in service with the Ukrainian Navy. The first two vessels were laid down at the Kuznya na Rybalskomu shipbuilding plant in October 2012. Originally it was planned to build nine such vessels by 2017. In December 2013 the Ministry of Defence withdrew its contract.
In mid-2014 construction of the Gyurza-M class was revived and the first two vessels were launched in late 2015. In December 2016 they officially joined the Ukrainian Navy. The new military contract for twenty vessels is to be completed by 2020.

Development and design

The modernized Project 58155 Gurza-M for the Ukrainian Navy started to be built at the Leninska Kuznya in October 2012. Originally it was planned to build nine such vessels by 2017. In December 2013 the Ministry of Defense withdrew its contract.
In summer of 2014 construction of Gurza-M was revived and the first two vessels were expected to be completed in fall of 2015. In December 2016 the first two Gurza-M officially joined the Ukrainian Navy. The new military contract is for 20 vessels that should be completed by 2020.

Vessels

Operators

;: Ukrainian Navy: 4 in service, 1 in order, 1 in trial, 2 returned by Russia and awaiting repairs.

Incidents

On 25 November 2018, two Ukrainian Gyurza-M-class gun boats, Berdyansk and Nikopol were seized by the Russian Navy. They were captured while they tried to cross the Kerch Strait en route to Ukrainian port city of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov. During the incident, three Ukrainian crew members were injured. The ships were returned on 18 November 2019, but Ukraine accused Russia of returning them in sub-par condition. The Ukrainian government is now figuring out what weapons and parts need to be replaced, and will try to recover them from Russia.