Project 697TB is a two-vessel Soviet inshore minesweeper class built at Astrakhan on small fishing-trawler hulls for mine search, sweeping, and destruction in harbor approaches, coastal waters, and dispersed basing areas. RT-59 moved from the Caspian Flotilla to Russia's Black Sea Fleet in 2023, while RT-181 remained associated with the Caspian Flotilla in published order-of-battle references.
RT-59 is documented in Russian naval order-of-battle sources as transferred from the Caspian Flotilla to the Black Sea Fleet in July 2023. Defense Express separately reported that Project 697TB minesweepers were among Caspian Flotilla assets considered for Russia's Dnieper River Flotilla, whose planned area was the Dnipro sector around the former Kakhovka Reservoir and lower river.
Role detailsPublished references describe Project 697TB as an experimental two-boat series, with individual vessels distinguished by RT tactical designations and hull numbers.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| RT-59 | Lead inshore minesweeper | Commissioned on 26 October 1976, listed with hull number 360 by 2016, and reported transferred from the Caspian Flotilla to the Black Sea Fleet in 2023. Sources: RT-59 - KCHF.ru, Project 697TB - RussianShips.info, Black Sea Fleet 2026 ship list - KCHF.ru |
| RT-181 | Second inshore minesweeper | Commissioned on 11 November 1980, listed with hull number 362 by 2016, and retained in published Caspian Flotilla references. Sources: Project 697TB - RussianShips.info, RT-181 - FLOT.com |
KCHF says RT-59 was commissioned on 26 October 1976 after being laid down at the Shipyard named after Kirov in Astrakhan and assigned to the Caspian Flotilla.
Sources: RT-59 - KCHF.ru
RussianShips.info and FLOT.com list RT-181 as the second Project 697TB boat, entering fleet service on 11 November 1980.
Sources: Project 697TB - RussianShips.info, RT-181 - FLOT.com
KCHF reports that RT-59 was transferred from the Caspian Flotilla to the Black Sea Fleet in July 2023.
Sources: RT-59 - KCHF.ru
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's Dnieper River Flotilla announcement created the setting for later reporting on Caspian Flotilla assets that could be used in the Dnipro sector.
Sources: Dnieper Flotilla vulnerability - Newsweek
Defense Express reported that Russian Dnieper River Flotilla planning discussions listed 697TB minesweepers among potential assets drawn from the Caspian Flotilla.
Sources: Dnieper River Flotilla ship plans - Defense Express
Project 697TB was a small experimental minesweeper class rather than a large production family. The two named vessels explain most of the public record: RT-59 is the boat tied to the Black Sea Fleet transfer, while RT-181 remains the Caspian Flotilla counterpart in published references.
| Vessel | Commissioned | Published service context |
|---|---|---|
| RT-59 | 1976-10-26 | Commissioned into the Caspian Flotilla, later reported transferred to the Black Sea Fleet in 2023 and listed by KCHF in the Black Sea Fleet's 2026 ship composition. |
| RT-181 | 1980-11-11 | Second Project 697TB boat, listed by RussianShips.info and FLOT.com with Caspian Flotilla service context. |
