Caspian Sea Monster

Pictured here during tests on the Caspian Sea (1970s) USSR

"The Lun-class Ekranoplan, or "Caspian Sea Monster," was a 350-ton Soviet naval craft designed to skim just meters above the water at speeds of 550 km/h. Armed with six nuclear missiles, it was envisioned as a stealthy, high-speed weapon against U.S. aircraft carriers. But, only one was built, entering service in 1987.

The craft relied on the “ground effect,” where low-flying wings create a cushion of high-pressure air, reducing drag and boosting speed and efficiency. This made it fast, fuel-efficient, and nearly invisible to radar. Designed for rapid, unpredictable attacks, it could bypass naval defenses and escape retaliation. However, it had significant limitations—it struggled in rough seas and couldn’t rise above waves, greatly restricting its utility.

Initially a symbol of Soviet military ambition, the program’s focus shifted in the USSR’s final years. A second model, the "Spasatel," was repurposed as a mobile field hospital instead of a weapon. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the original Ekranoplan was abandoned at a naval base in Dagestan.

In 2020, the craft was towed to Derbent to become part of a military museum but became stuck on a sandy beach. Exposed to rough waves, its hull began to deteriorate. Later that year, a recovery operation moved the Ekranoplan to dry land to avoid further damage"

Source and some great pics https://comradekiev.com/journal...