Between 84 and 87 Projeckt 205ER-class (‘Osa II’) missile boats were constructed in the USSR, and Iraq acquired eight of these, all in the ‘tropicalised’ sub-variant. Although their displacement was increased to 243 ton at full load, and their crew to 28, they retained the maximum speed of 42 knots. The Projeckt 205ER retained the electronics of the earlier Projeckt 205 (including the Rangout radar for missiles and Rys fire-control system for guns) but had new KT-97M launchers for P-15U missiles, and a slightly redesigned superstructure. Both versions proved popular in service and relatively easy to maintain and operate, and were able to deploy their primary armament over a range of 30 to 40km even in sea state 4 or 5. The primary weakness of both the Projeckt 205 and 205ER was the short range of their gun armament: this proved insufficient to counter even helicopters armed with guided missiles, let alone vessels of the Kaman-class which had a much heavier 76mm cannon. (Artwork by Ivan Zajac)