Photos Show Russian Raptor Patrol Boat Destroyed and Pulled From Seabed in Crimea

Ukrainian forces have destroyed a Russian Project 03160 “Raptor” high-speed patrol boat near the settlement of Znamyanske in temporarily occupied Crimea, Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi reported on March 16.

The report cites newly released images published by the Russian Telegram channel “Dosye Shpiona.”

The photograph shows the heavily damaged boat being raised from the seabed, indicating the vessel was destroyed during the attack.

According to the report, the strike occurred on March 7.

Around that time, both the Ukrainian Navy and the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) reported the destruction of enemy boats in the same area. However, the vessels were initially identified as Project 02510 BK-16 boats.

It remains unclear whether the boat shown in the recently released photo is the same vessel referenced in those earlier reports.

The loss could further reduce the already limited number of Raptor-class boats remaining in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, which is believed to have roughly six such vessels still in service. Some boats of this class may also have been transferred from the Baltic Fleet.

The Project 03160 “Raptor” is a high-speed coastal patrol boat developed by the Pella Shipyard design bureau for the Russian Navy. Construction of the vessels takes place at the Pella shipyard in Otradnoye in Russia’s Leningrad region.

These boats are designed to operate in coastal waters, straits and river mouths, both day and night, at distances of up to 100 nautical miles from their base.

Raptor boats can also operate from larger amphibious ships, where they may be stored in dock chambers or deployed directly from the vessel.

The vessel’s engine room is located in the stern and is equipped with two American-made Caterpillar C18 ACERT turbo-diesel engines, each producing 1,150 horsepower at 2,300 rpm.

Power from the engines is transmitted through a clutch system to Rolls-Royce Kamewa 36A3 HS waterjet propulsion units manufactured in the United Kingdom.

One key feature of these waterjet systems is their ability to operate even when the water channel is only partially filled, allowing the boat to maintain maneuverability even during heavy tilting of the hull.

Key specifications of the Project 03160 Raptor include:

• length: 16.9 m;

• beam: 4.1 m;

• height: 3.6 m;

• draft: 0.9 m;

• empty weight: 8 tons;

• full displacement: 23 tons.

Maximum speed:

• 48 knots (≈88 km/h) at full speed;

• 28 knots in waves of 2.5 m;

• 20 knots in waves of 4.5 m.

The vessel’s range is up to 300 nautical miles at cruising speed, and its combined propulsion output reaches 2,300 horsepower, allowing it to operate as a rapid-response patrol and landing craft in coastal operations.

Earlier, reports emerged that the Russian frigate “Admiral Essen” was no longer capable of launching “Kalibr” missiles at Ukraine after sustaining critical damage during an attack on the port of Novorossiysk.

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