OVERVIEW: The Don-class AS is a diesel-electric powered, twin shaft submarine tender, intended to provide logistical support for submarines in distant operations.

DETAILS: The Don-class was conceived as logistics vessels to support a dispersed Soviet submarine fleet in distant operations in the event of a nuclear war. The ships could provide emergency repairs, resupplying and rearming of up to 8-12 submarines. Each ship of the class had storage space for 42 533-mm torpedoes, and a single 100-ton crane fitted at the bow, one 10-ton crane, two 5-ton cranes and two 1-ton cranes.

In the 1970's, the class were converted into flagships. 


SPECIFICATIONS:

Displacement: 	5,030 tons (standard); 7,150 (fully loaded)
Dimensions: 	Length 137.2m, beam 16.8, draught 6.5m
Propulsion: 	4 diesel engines 2 PG-101 electric motors, 8,000 hp, 2 fixed pitch 		propellers
Speed: 		16 kts
Endurance: 	21,000 nm @ 10 knots; 40 days
Crew: 		350
Aviation: 	aft helicopter deck, no hangar; 
Cargo: 		42 533 mm torpedoes (in storage)
Armament: 	4x1 100mm gun; 4x2 57mm guns
In Service:	1958-1998

NOTES: IOC:1958. The class was the USSR's first purpose-built submarine tenders. The Don-class were re-purposed for use as flagships in the 1970's.  Units in class: Batur; Fedor Vidyaev; Viktor Kotelnikov; Magomed Gadzhiev; Dmitriy Galkin; PB-3.  One hull, Nikolay Kartashov transfered to Indonesia in 1962 and re-named KRI Ratalungi.

SOURCES: Submarine tenders - Project 310. (n.d.). Accessed 26 October 2021. https://russianships.info/eng/support/project_310.htm; Naval Institute, "Combat Fleets of the World, 1990/91, pg. 635"