Sailor of BF large landing ship Minsk committed suicide

22.04.2010 A sailor of Baltic Fleet (BF) large landing ship Minsk committed suicide through hanging, reports REGNUM referring to Baltic Fleet HQ.

Native of Chelyabinsk region, 19-year old contract sailor hanged himself by power cord in the ship's engine room. According to preliminary information, there was no evidence of violent actions on the sailor's body.

This is not the first suicide in Baltic Fleet. In May 2009 a 19-year old regular seaman hanged himself at BF camp nearby Kaliningrad. In Oct 2009 remains of a seaman were found in the woods of Kaliningrad region; the sailor from BF marine brigade left the base without leave and hanged himself in the forest. In Aug 2005 a swastika-tattooed skinhead sailor was beaten up on board Minsk.

Minsk is a Project 775 large landing ship

REGISTRATION

Baltic Fleet

CONSTRUCTION, NAME

The ship was built in Gdansk (Poland) in 1984. Initially, the ship had name of BDK-43.

MILESTONES

In 2004 the ship paid an informal call at British port Plymouth

In April 2005 she performed a 3-day "Cruise of Memory" visiting places of battle glory of Great Patriotic War

On July 31, 2005 the ship took part in St. Petersburg naval parade associated with Russian Navy Day.

PERFORMANCE

Speed: 18 knots
Operational range: 6,000 miles at 12 knots
Crew: 87 men

DIMENSIONS

Displacement: 4,080 tons
Length: 112.5 meters
Beam: 15 meters
Draft: 3.7 meters

PROPULSION

CODAD powerplant, two screws, total power is 19,200 shp

ARMAMENT

2 coupled 57-mm gun mounts AK-725
2 launchers of MLRS A-215 Grad-M
4 launchers of MANPADS Strela-2
Capacity is up to 500 tonnes of armor vehicles and 225 marines