VANYA I & II class
In 1961, the Soviet Navy put into service a class of coastal minesweeper designated as Project 257D or Vanya I class. In the period 1960-1973 a total of 73 ships of this class along with some variants were built at the Kolpino and Vladivostok Shipyards. The Project 257D had a wooden hull and special care was taken to reduce its acoustic, magnetic, electrical and hydrodynamic signature. The low noise propellers had an air bubble shield system. The machine room was equipped with different acoustic and anti-vibration isolators. Even the 30mm AK-230 twin gun was a special antimagnetic variant. The mine sweep equipment consisted of a television hunting tow, an electromagnetic sweep for bottom mines and a contact sweep. From the basic model emerged several variants such as the 257DM, 257V, 1253V and 699 or Vanya II, and a variant for the export known as 257DME. The Vanya II class was built in small numbers during 1965-68 period and had better performances and more powerful engines. Along with the Soviet Navy, only the Bulgarian and Syrian Navy operated these vessels, receiving seven and two ships respectively.
VANYA I & II class gallery and more info