Algerian warship stays in St. Petersburg

06.08.2010 Small landing ship Kaaled Beni Rached has been staying for several days at English Embankment in St. Petersburg.

Reporter of the Central Navy Portal managed to get onboard the Algerian ship and talk to commanding officer who refused to disclose the purpose of the visit referring to the lack of authority. The ship is guarded by Algerian sailors armed with automatic rifles.

Baltic Fleet (BF) Press Service explained that Kaaled Beni Rached arrived to St. Petersburg with official call and also to replenish supplies. Answering the question whether the visit is connected somehow with coming launch of Project 636 submarine built at Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard under Algerian Navy's order, the BF official said that was classified information and could not be disclosed.

It should be noted that two Algerian-flagged Kilo-class diesel electric subs stay at Admiralteyskie Verfi quay, nearby the site where Kaaled Beni Rached moored.

Small landing ship Kaaled Beni Rached is one of the two Kalaat-type ships built in the UK at Vosper Thornycroft. She was launched in May 1984, commissioned into Algerian Navy in Oct 1984. Displacement is 2,130 tons; length is 93 meters; beam is 15 meters; draft is 3.5 meters; crew is 81. Main propulsion includes 2 x 6,000 shp MTU diesels. Speed is 16 knots; fuel range is 3,000 nm at 12 knots. Armament: two single-barreled 40-mm gun mounts OTO-Melara; two coupled 25-mm gun mounts 2M-3M; heliport. The ship is capable to carry up to 240 marines or 650 tons of cargo.