Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

The editors: James & Alex

Bora Class Hovercraft

Posted by James Turnbull, Wednesday, 18th October 2006

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Docked at the Russian Black Sea navy base in Sevastopol, Ukraine we can see an odd looking ship – a Bora Class hovercraft.

Designed in 1988, the Bora is by far the largest military hovercraft going and are odd in the fact that they are not for troop landing or transportation. The hovercraft are instead designed for coastal defense, particularly carrying out missile attacks on ships. They’re well suited to the task though, with 8 ‘Mosquito’ missiles, 20 anti-aircraft missiles, an artillery complex, a machine-gun and an interference creating device.

Only two such craft have been built and this is probably the first of the two. Wikipedia has more info and photos.

Thanks: SickFinga

9 Responses to 'Bora Class Hovercraft'

  1. dave says:

    cool! unfortunately the hovercraft ferry from calais to dover is closed.
    does anyone know if that was the old hovercraft terminal at calais?

    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

    and do still hovercraft ferries operate?

  2. rob says:

    Im not sure, but this looks like the Sea Cat- its a kind of catamaran thingy.

  3. m4rcus says:

    There is a passenger hovercraft that goes from Portsmouth to Ryde…

    Placemark: Google Maps Link / Google Earth

  4. Michi Disperso says:

    i think i’ve found an Hovercrafts factory ^^

    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  5. dave says:

    cool, that i call an awesome hovercraft sight. very nice!

  6. Jel says:

    Well, we can always sell you an old Russian sub, not a thousand miles from Michi’s hovercraft factory (which is actually the service base for M4rcus’ machines) – spot the flymos too. Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  7. Jel says:

    Or even a French aircraft carrier (Charkes de Gaule?) leaving port…http://googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=&c=&t=k&hl=en&ll=69.060164,33.204138&z=17

  8. Mrb says:

    There’s a hovercraft making the crossing from the Isle of Wight

    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

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