16 years ago, the aircraft carrier "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" fled to Russian citizenship. And until now, the brainchild of the Nikolaev shipbuilders remains the flagship of the Northern Fleet. The biography of the ship is filled with dramatic events.
“Articles appeared in the press claiming that the aircraft carrier “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov” on the eve of the referendum “On the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine” on December 1, 1991, allegedly secretly “escaped” from Sevastopol to Severomorsk. One of the articles was titled: “How the Admiral Escaped from Ukraine.” I discussed this issue with the warranty representatives of the Black Sea Plant, who were on this cruiser at that time, and they said that the departure of the ship was planned, they were preparing for it in advance, ”writes Valery Babich in his book“ The City of St. Nicholas and Its Aircraft Carriers ” . Valery Vasilyevich Babich is a recognized historian of the construction of aircraft-carrying cruisers in Nikolaev.
Writing about the recent history of our region is a thankless task. Many participants in the aircraft carrier epic are still alive and watching the agony of shipbuilding giants in the city. The recent past is an open wound for veterans. They built these ships themselves and do not want to agree with any private assessment of their unique being. Some time must pass for the cold mind of the historian to restore the objective causal relationship of real events.
For a decade and a half, Valery Babich's books were the only source on the history of the construction of our aircraft carriers. Recently, however, the author's monopoly has begun to crumble. Hundreds of forums have appeared on the Internet, the visitors of which share their memories of service on aircraft carriers. These are simple sailors, and commanders of combat units, and admirals. There was a kind of "popular cut" of the emotional perception of the aircraft carrier era.
The fate of the Nikolaev aircraft-carrying cruisers is sad. "Minsk" and "Kyiv" today entertain Chinese tourists, and "Varyag" is in the Celestial Empire in military service. "Admiral Gorshkov" (former "Baku") was sold to India, renamed "Vikramaditya" and a month ago pompously handed over to the host country. Only one TAKR "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" serves in the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy.
"Admiral" was stolen
The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov was laid down at the Black Sea Shipyard in 1982, launched in 1985 and has been in service since 1990.
The main characteristics of the ship are as follows: length - 302.3 meters, width - 72.3 meters, draft - 9.1 meters, maximum speed- 29 knots, displacement - 60 thousand tons, crew - about 2 thousand people (of which 600 pilots and aircraft technicians), cruising range - 8400 miles. The aircraft carrier can be based on: 26 Su-33 and MiG-29K fighters, 18 Ka-27 and Ka-29 helicopters, two Ka-27PS helicopters and four Ka-31 helicopters.
The ship’s armament consists of two Udav rocket launchers, 12 Granit anti-ship missile launchers, 6 six-barreled 30-mm artillery mounts, 4 six-barreled Kinzhal anti-aircraft missile systems and 8 Kortik anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems.
On December 1, 1991, at 9:00 am, this huge ship quietly weighed anchor in the Sevastopol Bay and began moving towards the Bosphorus. The departure was sudden. Cargo, half of the crew and aircraft remained on the shore. Everyone on board the Admiral Kuznetsov understood that the ship was being secretly taken out of Ukrainian waters. A year and a half later, the newspaper Severny Rabochiy published the memoirs of Captain 2nd Rank Viktor Kanishevsky, who was a member of the campaign from Sevastopol to Severodvinsk. Here is an excerpt from that article:
“... As I remember now, the excitement of that autumn day when the Kuznetsov received a telegram from the President of Ukraine Kravchuk. It declared that the ship was the property of Ukraine, that until a government decision was made, it should remain on the Sevastopol roadstead.
Having broken up in groups in cabins, officers, and just sailors, wondered how Russian President Yeltsin, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Chernavin and Commander of the Northern Fleet Gromov would react to this.
- I just can’t understand: why does Ukraine, with its closed Black Sea, need a ship intended for ocean service? If she really wants to have an aircraft carrier, then let the Varyag complete the construction or the Ulyanovsk, - the commander of the BC-5, Captain 1st Rank Andrei Utushkin, was perplexed. This is pure politicking...
- Not without that, - the political officer captain of the 1st rank Vladimir Ivanov agreed with him. - Only Russia will not give up Kuznetsov for anything.
However, the declaration of Ukraine's independence, adopted shortly before the ill-fated telegram, had already destroyed the seemingly indestructible maritime brotherhood of the aircraft carrier's crew. Some of the officers and midshipmen, whose families were in Sevastopol, did not hide their desire to serve under the Ukrainian "trident", and therefore frankly rejoiced at the telegram. Like, why ruin such a beautiful ship in the North. He needs to be based closer to the repair base. And it is available for an aircraft carrier only in Nikolaev ...
Days passed. Kyiv was silent. In the meantime, a radio message came from the Arctic that Vice Admiral Yuri Ustimenko, First Deputy Commander of the Northern Fleet, flew to the Crimea. The long-awaited guest arrived at the aircraft carrier by boat. Despite the late hour, a big gathering was played. Having greeted the crew, the vice-admiral with a Ukrainian surname ordered the sailors to disband, and ordered the commander to immediately weigh anchor. Yarygin began to explain that two-thirds of the officers and midshipmen, as well as the surrender team, remained on the shore, and would arrive by boats only tomorrow morning.
- And what about the planes that remained in Saki? - the political officer Ivanov got excited.
“They will fly to Safonovo themselves,” Ustimenko reassured. Based on the resolute tone of the guest, it could be concluded that he received an order to withdraw the "property of Ukraine" to the North not only from the commander of the Northern Fleet Gromov, but also from the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Chernavin. Or maybe the Minister of Defense himself. So, Moscow gave the go-ahead. The control officers of the aircraft-carrying cruiser felt themselves involved in an unannounced quarrel between the two yesterday friendly capitals.
At 23.40, without giving any signals, the aircraft carrier left the Sevastopol raid in pitch darkness and headed for the Bosphorus. When the shore was far astern, they turned on the running lights ... ".
Captain 2nd rank Viktor Kanishevsky was the assistant commander of the ship and was responsible for the "survivability" of the ship. He belonged to the senior commanding staff and knew the situation well. Junior officers and sailors looked at this "northern campaign" with different eyes.
Through the eyes of junior officers and sailors
There are as many as three posts on the Balancer forum in which the authors share their impressions about the Admiral Kuznetsov’s campaign from Sevastopol to the village of Vidyaevo, the base of the aircraft-carrying cruiser in the Northern Fleet.
A visitor under the nickname Oldcondor reports: “... We got into such trouble for three weeks that we don’t even want to remember. Half of the crew was recruited from other ships, the other half - all sorts of engineers, adjusters from the factory, special forces, officers of the Black Sea Fleet headquarters, and so on. There were even border guards and some kind of coast guard from Sevastopol.
And we have, just in case, eight tiers of the superstructure, seven decks and two platforms. All this is divided into 53 gatherings. Nobody really knows the geography of the ship. Personnel - blind kittens - poke all over the decks. Nobody can be sent anywhere. The messenger will definitely get lost, and then you need to announce a “driven hunt” in order to find the wanderer ... However, you can not announce the hunt, the person will get hungry and return to the people himself. True, there is a danger that this sailor will be sheltered by the "fellow countrymen", then he will sleep for two days, slack off the watch, and this, with a shortage of people, is not welcomed by the authorities ... ".
“Countrymen” is a unique invention. - Continues the memories of a forum member under the nickname Capitan Sidor. - On the "Kuznetsov" fraternities appeared already on the second day of the move, immediately after the Bosphorus. The entire crew was divided into "Russians", "Khokhlov", "Moldovans", "Georgians" and "Balts". There were also, it seems, some Asians: either Tajiks or Uzbeks, I don’t remember exactly. Khokhols always wanted to flee to their homeland. When leaving the Bosphorus, they threw three rafts overboard, trying to get to the Turkish coast en masse. Everyone, of course, was caught and hidden in a punishment cell all the way to Vidyaevo...
The Georgians dragged everything from the galley. Once, when loading food, they took away a whole beef carcass under the nose of a watch officer ... They had their own barbecue room on the fourth tier, where there were empty cabins for pilots and paratroopers. The guys were briskly trading ...
Moldovans are a peaceful, uncomplaining people. Everyone concentrated in the boatswain's team and did not give us much trouble. But the Estonians and Latvians immediately went into the "catacombs" - to the lowest tiers - they could not be driven upstairs ... ".
The security company - the ship's OMON - was involved in the campaign in full. The guys guarded the white bone on the "island" (command superstructure - author) and guarded it well. No one moved anywhere without OMON. Only Sreznevsky - the commander of the BCH-6 - was not afraid to go below the 4th tier ... All the other officers were waiting for the inevitable reprisal. They, as a rule, were undressed and robbed in the dark…”.
You can not treat messages on the forums as reliable facts and, moreover, as a historical source. Anonymous correspondents go unpunished in their writings. They say what they want. No responsibility. Nevertheless, the statistics of negative reviews about the last Nikolaev-built aircraft-carrying cruiser makes you wonder.
Russian biography of "Admiral Kuznetsov"
The Russian biography of the ship is filled with dramatic events. The "stolen thing" did not bring happiness to the new owner. Here is an incomplete track record of his "misfortunes":
1. In April 1995, Kuznetsov got into a severe storm. At the same time, several steam boilers failed, the ship lost speed and was almost thrown ashore on Novaya Zemlya.
2. In December 1995, the aircraft-carrying cruiser set off for the Mediterranean Sea. At the very beginning of the campaign, he discovered serious problems in the operation of the main power plant. It turned out that two of the eight steam boilers had salted tubes - instead of distilled water, the sailors poured outboard water. During the entire campaign, the tubes of other boilers regularly burst and leaked. Evaporators, turbogenerators, diesel generators constantly failed. As a result, "Kuznetsov" moved at an average speed of 2-4 knots.
3. In February 1996, when visiting Malta, Kuznetsov lost all boilers (!) And the ship was left without a move. Due to strong winds, there was a danger of the aircraft carrier being thrown ashore. Admiral Valentin Selivanov, who led the campaign at the last stage, recalled: “... I remember how it is now. We are sitting at a reception with the Minister of Defense of Malta in the palace. The communications officer reports to me: “The wind is increasing to thirty meters per second. Not a single boiler is working at Kuznetsov. I immediately figure out: our anchor-chain is etched a hundred meters, the length of the hull is 304 meters, to the rocks 250 meters. The sail of the ship is huge, it is dragged onto the rocks.
I drop the minister and rush to the helipad. According to all flight rules, landing on the deck in such a wind is prohibited, but the helicopter pilots landed me. I already foresaw the greatest disgrace in history. The largest ship in Russia in the year of the anniversary lies broken on the rocks of Malta. The whole world would see it on TV...
The stern was carried to the rocks, and we, with matyuks and prayers, worked on the cauldron. As a result, one boiler was launched. It gives power for one and a half knots of travel. This is not enough, but our approach to the rocks has slowed down. Finally, another boiler was put into operation. Thank God and the sailors from the warhead-5 - the disaster did not take place. I don’t know how I would have lived later if I had ruined Kuznetsov. In general, he brought the ship to Severodvinsk, returned to Moscow and wrote a letter of resignation.
4. In August 1998, while receiving fuel, the wrong valve was closed by mistake, and 60 tons of fuel oil spilled into the fire control post. The post is out of order. A little earlier, due to a pipe break at Kuznetsov, two of the four Kortik anti-aircraft systems were flooded.
5. In October 2003, "Admiral Kuznetsov" went after docking in the Barents Sea for sea trials, during which a fire broke out in the main gas duct.
6. In 2000, a BCh-5 sailor died on the ship from electric shock.
7. On January 17, 2002, a fire broke out at Kuznetsovo during repairs on the roadstead of Severomorsk. The foreman of the 1st article, V. Bobylev, died - he was poisoned by carbon monoxide.
9. On January 6, 2009, another fire broke out on board the Admiral Kuznetsov while anchored in the Turkish port of Akzas-Karagach. According to preliminary data, one of the causes of the fire could be a malfunction in the fuel system of the engine room. The fire lasted about two hours. D. Sychev, a conscript sailor, who suffocated from smoke, died.
The sad biography of the aircraft-carrying cruiser attracted wide attention of the Russian public and the media to it. Moscow engineer Krotov wrote to the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation open letter, in conclusion of which he put forward the demand: “Stop wasting people's money! TAKR "Kuznetsov" is inefficient, dangerous to operate and very expensive to maintain. I urge the Secretary of Defense to mothball this ship."
In 2008, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, stated at an expanded government meeting that the fleet needed six aircraft carriers at a cost of $5 billion each to maintain combat capability.
In Nikolaev, everyone held their breath, and ... in vain. Two years later, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov told the correspondent " Russian newspaper”: “... Russia does not plan to build new aircraft carriers in the coming years. True, we commissioned an appropriate preliminary design in order to understand what a modern aircraft carrier should look like. Then the General Staff and the command of the Navy will evaluate these proposals. In the meantime, the bet is made on floating airfields. More precisely, for the purchase in France and the construction of four Mistral-class helicopter carriers. Of course, they will not replace ships like the Admiral Kuznetsov. But they will contribute to the demonstration of the St. Andrew's flag in the oceans."
For 20 years, the Russian Navy has operated its only aircraft-carrying cruiser. For all the time, this ship has been a full-fledged unit of the Russian fleet for only six years. The rest of the time was spent on major repairs and planned docking of the vessel.
The costs of maintaining an aircraft carrier in a functional state are high, and Russia hardly bears this burden. The military had big doubts about the advisability of maintaining the ship. However, Russia endures, turning "Kuznetsov" into a symbol of a powerful state. And while the construction of a new aircraft carrier is at the design stage, we have to tighten our belts to service the old ship. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is inclined to sell the aircraft-carrying cruiser to China.
From a military point of view, an aircraft carrier cannot compete with more modern models. On the other hand, judging by the experience of the Varyag, it can seriously reduce the time for the development of Chinese aircraft carriers. Independent experts believe that the Kuznetsov is not hopeless, although there are some problems with the takeoff and landing of aircraft, but in terms of combat characteristics it is better than light-weight aircraft carriers and landing ships.
In Nikolaev, this situation is being watched through the eyes of an outsider. Our aircraft carrier shipbuilding is dead. Will it be revived? - Unknown.
The director of ChSY, Yuri Makarov, under whom the assembly line for the production of aircraft-carrying cruisers was created, was skeptical about the prospect of reviving the construction of the “masters of the oceans”. Shortly before his death, in an interview with a local TV channel, he said: “In order to restart the construction of aircraft-carrying cruisers, it is necessary to return the planned economy, the CPSU, the Komsomol, the pioneers and the October star ... otherwise nothing will happen ... ".
The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" of the Nikolaev assembly continues to perform combat missions today. BUT New Year holidays"Admiral" spent in the Atlantic Ocean, performing the tasks of long-distance campaigns ...
(Ed. 2016) The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov of the Russian Northern Fleet set off for the coast of Syria. The aircraft carrier will become part of the Russian Navy grouping in the eastern Mediterranean.
This information was confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Earlier on Saturday, correspondents from several Russian agencies, including directly from the base of the Northern Fleet in Severomorsk.
The Admiral Kuznetsov air wing includes MiG-29KR and MiG-29KUBR ship-based fighters, as well as fourth-generation Su-33 carrier-based fighters.
Sergey Gavrilov, journalist, via
As we said earlier, the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov (hereinafter referred to as Kuznetsov) turned out to be too large for one article of the cycle. And therefore, before undertaking its description, in three separate articles we examined the history of creation and them - the Yak-141, MiG-29K and Su-33.
Next, we should talk about design features and the capabilities of our only ship capable of providing flights of horizontal takeoff and landing aircraft, but ... Knowing what controversy this could cause in the comments, the author of this article preferred to first talk about the Kuznetsov aircraft carrier service, without which neither its current state nor features combat use will not be understood in Syria.
Recall (briefly) the main performance characteristics the only aircraft carrier in Russia.
The standard displacement (according to various sources) is 45,900 - 46,540 tons, the total displacement is 58,500 - 59,100 tons. The "largest" displacement of the TAKR is also mentioned - 61,390 tons. The power of the machines (boiler-turbine four-shaft installation) is 200,000 hp. , speed - 29 knots. The cruising range at a speed of 18 knots was to be 8,000 miles. Autonomy in reserves, provisions and drinking water- 45 days.
Armament - airplanes and helicopters (the total number can reach 50 aircraft), as well as 12 Granit anti-ship missiles, 192 Kinzhal missiles, 8 Kortik air defense systems and 8 AK-630M 30-mm mounts, Udav anti-torpedo defense missile system (based on RBU). It was believed that this complex is capable of destroying a homing torpedo with a probability of 76%. Crew size (actual) up to 2,100 people. aircraft carrier personnel and 500 people. air group.
TAKR, at that time bearing the name "Riga", was laid down on the slipway "0" of the Nikolaev ChSZ in a solemn ceremony on September 1, 1982 at 15.00. Present at the ceremony, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy S.G. Gorshkov personally attached a silver mortgage board to the bottom section of the hull.
The start of construction was preceded by extensive preparations, including a major modernization of the slipway, as well as the installation of two 900-ton KONE gantry cranes purchased in Finland. These huge structures (height - 110 m, size of the portal - 150 m) made it possible to move cargo weighing up to 1,500 tons. As a result, the Nikolaevsky ChSZ received a slipway complex that allows you to build and launch ships with a launch weight of up to 40,000 tons.
It is interesting that one of the advantages of the deal with the French for the acquisition of Mistral-type helicopter carriers is the transfer by the French side of the technology of large-tonnage block assembly, which we allegedly did not own. In fact, the hull of the future "Kuznetsov" was assembled from 21 blocks 32 m long, 13 m high and wide, corresponding to the ship's hull. Each of these blocks weighed up to 1,400 tons, the superstructure was the 22nd block.
Installation of the superstructure on the second ship of the series - at that time "Riga", and later - "Varyag"
The construction of the first block began a little later than the official laying, in December 1982, and it was installed on the slipway on February 22, 1983. It is interesting that during the construction of the ship, the computers of the designer, the Nevsky Design Bureau, were linked with the ChSY computer center into a single electronic computing system which greatly simplifies access to necessary documentation. New design methods have greatly accelerated the pace construction works. New ones were introduced everywhere (including electronic ones), for example, they managed to abandon the traditional markings on the plaza. Cable work, for the first time in the history of domestic shipbuilding, was carried out immediately on the slipway.
Renamed Leonid Brezhnev, the TAKR was launched on December 4, 1985, having a mass of 32,000 tons (of which the ship itself weighed 28,000 tons, the rest was ballast and other cargo), mooring trials began on June 8, 1989. Of course, this year the ship was not yet ready to go to sea, but the need to gain practical experience in taking off and landing on deck led to the fact that on October 21, TAKR (now Tbilisi) for the first time departed from the factory berth and headed for Sevastopol . There, at the training ground near Cape Margopulo, the first tests were carried out, as well as overflights of the ship by Su-27K and MiG-29K fighters.
On November 1, 1989, the first landing of a horizontal takeoff and landing aircraft on the deck of a ship took place in the history of the Russian Navy: at 13.46 V.G. Pugachev landed on a Su-27K with tail number 39. At the same time, the readiness of the ship, even by the beginning of 1990, was 86%. State tests were started on August 1, 1990 and were carried out very intensively - in 2 months and 4 days (the ship returned to the plant to eliminate comments on October 4, 1990) TAKR passed 16,200 miles, 454 departures of aircraft and helicopters were made from its deck . For the first time, night start and landing of aircraft were tested.
The acceptance certificate was signed on December 25, 1990, and on January 20, 1991 TAKR (now - "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov") was enrolled in the Northern Fleet. Nine days later (January 29), the naval flag was raised over the ship for the first time.
It was assumed that Kuznetsov would spend 1991 on the Black Sea, he was even included in the 30th division of surface ships of the Black Sea Fleet, and then, in 1992, TAKR will enter the first combat service in the Mediterranean Sea, after which it will go to the Northern Fleet . However, in November 1991, it became clear that the collapse of the USSR was irreversible, and the situation became ... shall we say, unstable. As you know, in a certain period of time, Ukraine claimed nothing less than the entire Black Sea Fleet of the USSR. The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Chernavin, decided to transfer Kuznetsov to the north, and on December 1, 1991, the ship went to sea.
The first campaign of the TAKR passed without any special incidents, although, of course, there were some nuances. Already in the Aegean Sea, the vibration of the third machine was discovered, as it turned out later - a fishing net was wound around the propeller. It didn’t particularly “stick”; therefore, they went with it to Gibraltar, and only there, during a two-day stay (associated, first of all, with the reception of fuel), it was cut off by the efforts of the divers on board the ship.
During this campaign, "Kuznetsov" first met with the forces of the US Navy - an aircraft carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier "George Washington". The Americans immediately raised their aircraft and began flying around and photographing the newest TAKR, and also tried to explore its physical fields. In response, ours transmitted the signal “I am conducting exercises”, increased the speed to 24 knots and lifted both rescue helicopters into the air (aircraft, unfortunately, were not on board the Kuznetsov during this transition). The patrol ship "Zadorny" fished out a sonar buoy from the water. There was nothing else worthy of mention in that campaign, and on December 21, 1991, the TAKR arrived at its destination. Here, "Kuznetsov" was included in the 43rd division of missile cruisers based in the village of Vidyaevo.
In order to understand what happened to our TAKR next, it is necessary to stop and figure out the situation in which our only heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser found itself.
First- this is the largest and most complex ship of all built in the USSR. It implemented fundamentally new technologies necessary for basing horizontal takeoff and landing aircraft. No doubt this was a huge step forward, but usually in cases like this, ships with so much new technology suffer from a lot of "childhood diseases" that need to be identified and "treated".
Second- we can say that we inherited the Kuznetsov from the USSR, but this cannot be said about its air group. The Su-33 hasn't even finished testing yet. Yes, it was developed in the USSR, but the refinement of such a complex object as a carrier-based combat aircraft is extremely difficult, and mass production should also be organized.
Third- the question of the training of carrier-based pilots. Without a doubt, there were many professional pilots in the USSR, there were also those who piloted VTOL aircraft, but no one knew the specifics of takeoff from a springboard and landing with a stopper, except for literally a few test pilots.
In other words, the state tests were passed, the acceptance certificate was signed, the flag was raised, and on December 21, 1991 Kuznetsov arrived at the place of permanent deployment. But at the same time, we still didn’t have a combat-ready aircraft-carrying cruiser with a completed and trained air group as part of the fleet, and in order to get it, the Russian Federation needed to make a lot of efforts. The problem was that the country was entering an era of political chaos and financial crises, infamously known as the "wild nineties", which, of course, did not at all contribute to the combat capability of such a complex weapon system, which was the Kuznetsov TAKR.
Organizationally, the Kuznetsov wing was formalized in February 1992., having formed the 57th Smolensk Red Banner mixed naval aviation division (57th squadron), which included:
1. 279th shipborne fighter aviation regiment (279 kiap). It was supposed to include two squadrons of Su-33s and, probably, a squadron of Su-25UTG training aircraft;
2. 830th Shipborne Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment (830 KPVP), equipped with Ka-27, Ka-27PS and Ka-29 helicopters.
In turn, 279 kiaps were formed on the basis of two compounds. On the one hand, the 279th kiap became the heir to the 279th okshap (separate naval assault aviation regiment), which dates back to December 1, 1973, when the formation of the first regiment of Yak-36M (Yak-38) carrier-based aircraft for the TAKR began " Kyiv". This regiment was a pioneer in every respect: it was the first to master completely new technology, what were VTOL aircraft, its pilots became the first carrier-based pilots, they were the first to gain experience in sea and ocean campaigns ... All this was on them, so who, if not them, was to master the latest Su-33s?
However, in addition to them, the 279th kiap also included many officers from another unit, the 100th research and instructor fighter aviation regiment (100th iiap), with which ... an interesting story turned out.
This regiment was created on December 24, 1985 (based at the Saki airfield, Crimea) with the aim of studying the capabilities of carrier-based aircraft, testing the tactics of its use, as well as training carrier-based aviation pilots. That is, the regiment was equipped with extra-class pilots, who just had to figure out what the Su-33, MiG-29K were and how all this could be most effectively used in combat - and then teach others about it. But the USSR collapsed, and the 100th IIAP ended up on the territory of now sovereign Ukraine ...
Surely, many readers of the site watched the film "72 meters" at one time. It contains an episode in which the crew of the Black Sea submarine must choose - the Ukrainian oath and service in the sunny Crimea or the hills of the Arctic, where the boat will have to go. With a few exceptions, the crew chooses fidelity to duty, and, to the sounds of the “Farewell of the Slav”, leaves the pier, where the “ceremonial event” was planned.
This episode immediately became, as it is fashionable to say now, an Internet meme and, by the way, the reason why the rental of "72 meters" in Ukraine was banned. But ... this episode is not fictional at all. Many people faced a similar dilemma, including, of course, the personnel of the research and instructor aviation regiment. So - about a hundred officers of the 100th IIAP, including - 16 pilots, led by Lieutenant Colonel Timur Avtandilovich Apakidze (by the way, the commander of the 100th IIAP), following not the letter, but the spirit of the oath given by them, chose to leave the hospitable Crimea, having moved with families in the polar Severomorsk.
Nails would be made of these people ...
Timur Avtandilovich Apakidze in the cockpit of the Su-33
Without a doubt, these officers were carriers of a unique, at that time, experience in operating carrier-based aircraft, without which development would have been extremely difficult. However, even with them, work on the adoption of the Su-33 and the preparation of an air wing for the Kuznetsov could not be resumed where they had been completed in the Crimea. The fact is that the 3rd Directorate of the State Research Institute of the Air Force remained in Ukraine, which was engaged in testing the aviation of the Navy. As a result, all materials and documents on the stages of flight design and state tests of the Su-33, performed in the Crimea, turned out to be inaccessible - "fraternal" Ukraine categorically refused to transfer them to the Russian Federation. "Clamped" was also one of the Su-27K (T10K-7), which remained at the airfield "Kirovskoye" in the Crimea.
But that was not all. NITKA remained in the Crimea - a unique training complex for the training of carrier-based pilots, capable of even imitating pitching when landing on the deck of an aircraft-carrying cruiser. Subsequently, it was still possible to agree with Ukraine on the operation of this complex, and, starting from July 1994, the training of personnel of the aviation of the Russian Navy resumed on it, but for two whole years after the Kuznetsov appeared in the north (1992-1993), it turned out to be not available to us. And even later…, for example, in 1994 Ukraine allowed our pilots to fly NITKA for a whole month. But it was not only in the complex, of course. During Soviet times, the most complex infrastructure for the development of carrier-based aviation was created in Crimea, and NITKA, in essence, was part of it. And in Severomorsk, apart from military airfields, by and large, there was nothing.
In other words, after the collapse of the USSR, we lost the infrastructure for research and training of carrier-based pilots, as well as a lot of materials on previously performed tests. The country, of course, did not have the means to restore all this to any extent. The only "training ground" where state tests of the Su-33 could be resumed was, in fact, the TAKR itself. But even here, not everything was in order.
It is well known that the lack of equipped bases was a huge problem for our aircraft carriers (and not only them). And I must say that some conclusions from the operation of the TAKR of previous projects in the USSR were nevertheless made. So, "Kuznetsov" in the village of Vidyaevo was waiting for a pontoon-spacer specially made at ChSY - a very complex engineering structure, created specifically to ensure the basing of the latest TAKR in the north. To do this, special mooring devices were mounted on the pontoon, communications for supplying power to the ship, and even living quarters for service personnel. But, of course, the Black Sea shipbuilders could not supply their creation with a powerful boiler house, coupled with a power plant - it was assumed that the pontoon would only serve as a link between the ship and the corresponding land infrastructure. But they didn’t have time to build it, as a result of which there was absolutely not enough steam and electricity for Kuznetsov. As a result, as on other TAKRs before him, the Kuznetsov crew is forced to constantly keep one of its engine and boiler rooms in working order. Which, of course, had the most negative impact on the resource of mechanisms.
Now it will be extremely difficult to say what is the reason for the first breakdowns of the Kuznetsov power plant - someone believes that the issue is in the initial "capriciousness" of the boiler-turbine installation, on the other hand, one should listen to those who claim that despite the well-known complexity operation, the fleet could well cope with this if it were not for the chronic underfunding and low qualifications of conscripts, who simply did not have time to train how to work with such mechanisms, as well as the difficulties that arose in obtaining spare parts and components for boilers. In any case, certain difficulties arose from the very first days of operation - warranty specialists worked on the ship, including due to the vibration of the third machine that captured the network in the Mediterranean Sea. During the next exit to the sea, one of the main turbines of the ship broke down, which required a very thorough and expensive repair.
All of the above, without a doubt, largely predetermined the use of the Kuznetsov aircraft carrier in subsequent years. For three years, in the period 1992-1994, the ship spent 3-4 months at sea, the crew was trained, flight design and state tests of the Su-33 were carried out. It seems to be lines filled with banality, but what was behind it? In fact, it was necessary to revise the entire training program for deck pilots, excluding training at the NITKA simulator from it, it was necessary to somehow teach people to “transfer” from an unusual airfield directly to the deck. And this is in conditions when the equipment responsible for takeoff and landing operations was junk on the ship. As V.P. Zablotsky writes in his monograph on the TAKR "Kuznetsov":
« The most serious drawback was the mismatch of the light zones of the Luna-3 OSB and the telecommuting and landing control system Otvodok-Emancipation with the on-board equipment of the radio engineering system (K-42 Resistor)».
In the spring of 1993, the first four serial Su-33s were placed at the disposal of the 279 kiap, and 1994 became in some way a milestone for our carrier-based aviation. Firstly, the state tests of the aircraft were completed, and the final chord was the successful interception by a pair of Su-33s and the destruction of the La-17 target aircraft against the backdrop of the sea. Secondly, at the same time, the fleet received 24 Su-33s, which made it possible to equip our only carrier-based aviation regiment. Nevertheless, the difficulties described above with the training of personnel led to the fact that by 1994 we had only the leader group, which consisted of 10 pilots who were allowed to fly from the ship, and ... difficulties still remained.
The impossibility of using the NITKA simulator, for example, led to the fact that the pilots were unable to practice night takeoff and landing, although such flights were previously carried out from the TAKR board in the Crimea. As a result, I had to be content with flights only during the daytime and at dusk. A number of malfunctions in control systems prevented our aviation from working out the group use of fighters and their joint actions with an anti-submarine group.
The 1994 test exercise demonstrated the potential capabilities of our carrier-based aviation. The flights were carried out by six Su-33s, divided into three deuces. The first of them was piloted by test pilots of the Sukhoi Design Bureau V.G. Pugachev and S.N. Melnikov, who were supposed to portray enemy aircraft attacking TAKR-u from a distance of about 800 km. The second pair of aircraft (T.A. Apakidze and V.V. Dubovoi) and the third (I.S. Kozhin and K.B. Kochkarev) were supposed to provide air defense for the formation, which included TAKR outside the ship's air defense systems.
The most interesting thing about these exercises was that NATO aviation took an active part in them. When entering the designated patrol area, the pair of T.A. Apakidze - V.V. Oak using the onboard equipment of the Su-33 found an unidentified target 280 km from the cruiser and were immediately reoriented to intercept it. The target turned out to be the Norwegian patrol "Orion", after its interception, the Su-33 returned to the assigned task - the aircraft piloted by V.G. Pugachev and S.N. Melnikov, were discovered and "destroyed" by air-to-air missiles.
The same thing happened with the second pair of Su-33s piloted by I.S. Kozhin and K.B. Kochkarev - during the exit to the patrol area, aircraft were found that started from Norwegian airfields. By decision of the ship's command and control center, the pilots first intercepted the descendants of the ancient Vikings, and then continued to complete the training task, which was also completed.
Of course, if we compare the 1994 test exercises of the carrier-based aviation of the Northern Fleet with the training process of US aircraft carriers, then the incomparability of scale is immediately striking - well, what are only six aircraft ... However, you need to understand that our naval pilots took their first steps, and in the most difficult conditions. At the same time, these exercises already demonstrated the undoubted usefulness of a carrier-based air group, which consisted of horizontal takeoff and landing aircraft, even if they were of the most limited number.
Theoretically, the large ships of the Northern Fleet had the ability to detect air targets 280 km away, but on the condition that the aircraft flies high enough so that the radio horizon does not interfere with its detection. And even having discovered such an aircraft, not a single ship of the fleet, including heavy nuclear missile cruisers, had weapons that could destroy it at such a range. Also attracted the attention of the duration of the aircraft in the air. Unlike the Yak-38 "mast defense aircraft", the latest Su-33s could be deployed to patrol in remote areas. Both pairs of Su-33s, having received one task, during its implementation were reoriented to another, unscheduled one (interception of NATO aircraft), successfully solved it, and then returned to the original task without landing or refueling.
In the winter of 1994-995. Kuznetsov underwent the first more or less serious repair of the main boilers, including the replacement of tubes, but judging by further events, it was not done very well - in 1995, the ship lost speed while going to sea. The previously announced reasons - operation in the conditions of the Far North, the complexity of the boiler and turbine installation, general underfunding and the ongoing collapse of the armed forces led to the fact that the ship that entered service in 1991 already in 1995 actually needed a major overhaul of the power plant. Of course, this is an abnormal situation for a modern warship, but in the period 1991-1995. the situation in the fleet and in the country as a whole was infinitely far from the concept of "normal". And instead of repairing the TAKR, Kuznetsov went to his first military service in the Mediterranean.
The exit took place on December 23, 1995, while the Kuznetsov became the basis of the aircraft carrier-multipurpose group (AMG), which, in addition to the TAKR, included the Volk multipurpose nuclear submarine (project 971 Shchuka-B), the Fearless destroyer (project 956), TFR "Ardent" (project 11352). They were provided by the SB-406 tug and the Olekma tanker of the Northern Fleet, which followed from the AMG to the Bay of Biscay, and later on, the Shakhter tug, and the Ivan Bubnov tanker. As far as the author understood, the Dniester tanker accompanied the AMG all the time.
Without a doubt, and despite the presence of the latest TAKR in the AMG, such a squadron was only a shadow of the naval power of the USSR, capable of keeping dozens of warships and submarines in the Mediterranean on an ongoing basis. Alas, the times of the 5th OPESK are gone, and most likely forever. Nevertheless, our AMG was quite suitable for demonstrating the military presence, and its composition made it possible to work out the actions of the Kuznetsov carrier-based aircraft "in conditions close to combat."
Unfortunately, by 1995, the 57th Scud was not ready for combat work in in full force. So, the 279th kiap received 24 Su-33s, so that both of its squadrons were fully equipped with materiel, but only the first one was “ready for the campaign and battle”, the planes of which could be distinguished by the image of an eagle on the keels (the cars of the second squadron had a head tiger in the same place).
As a result, Kuznetsov went to his first combat service with an air group of 13 fighters, that is, a dozen Su-33s of the first squadron, as well as one pilot batch aircraft (T10K-9, which was assigned the number 109), two Su-25UTG training aircraft , as well as 11 Ka-27, Ka-27PS and Ka-29 helicopters from the 830th Kplvp. At the same time, there were 15 combatant fighter pilots on board the Kuznetsov, who were allowed to fly the Su-33 from the deck of the ship, not counting T.A. Apakidze (who commanded the air division) and his deputy Colonel Vlasov (with them, respectively, 17), as well as 11 helicopter crews.
Naturally, ship pilots were distinguished by the highest qualifications, suffice it to say that out of 15 fighter pilots, 14 were sniper pilots or pilots of the 1st class. The engineering and technical staff was able to match them - almost all had experience in servicing flight equipment in combat services. In addition to the pilots of the 57th squadron, test pilots were also present at the TAKR, whose task was to conduct a series of tests of the Su-33 in the Mediterranean Sea.
The trip lasted 110 days - starting on December 23, 1995, it ended on March 22, 1996. 14,000 miles were traveled through the waters of two oceans and five seas, 30 flight shifts were carried out (that is, days during which aviation flights were carried out), during this time Su-33s made 400 (according to other sources - 524) sorties, helicopters - 700 (according to other sources - 996), including 250 to search and track submarines.
The first combat service "Kuznetsov" had the following consequences. Firstly, it turned out that the ship was fully capable of fulfilling the role of a "floating airfield" for the aircraft based on it. So, for example, in the period from January 19 to January 23, 1996 (that is, not for 5 days in a row), 5 flight shifts were carried out and the Su-33 took off 67 times. It seems to be small, especially against the background of the capabilities of the American Nimitz, designed to perform more than a hundred flights a day. But remember that the Kuznetsov air division had only 13 aircraft at its disposal, and the average number of sorties was 13.4 per day - that is, each aircraft took to the air once for five days in a row.
In fact, during these five days, from 8 to 20 sorties per day were made, that is, part of the aircraft carried out 2 sorties in one day. Or, for example, flights on January 26-27 - on the first day, the Su-33s made 21 sorties, on the second - 12 more, and it’s not a fact that all 13 available aircraft took off. All this is quite comparable with the indicators of American carrier-based aviation, but one must understand that no one set the task of ensuring maximum number departures. For the first time, the TAKR with the Su-33 on board entered combat service, and it was necessary to check and work out a lot in practice - accordingly, we can say that the actual number of sorties per day per aircraft was not the maximum, but, so to speak, " comfortable working".
The interaction of heterogeneous forces was worked out - surface and submarine ships with carrier-based aircraft. The TAKR air group successfully intercepted numerous reconnaissance and patrol aircraft of NATO countries, monitored the US AUG, helicopters detected and escorted foreign submarines, "working" together with the Volk nuclear submarine. When Kuznetsov was returning home, in the second half of March, he took part in the large exercises of the Northern Fleet, in which, in addition to him, up to 40 warships and submarines, as well as up to 50 aircraft and helicopters of naval aviation, were involved.
During these exercises, the destroyer "Fearless" was nominated as a long-range radar patrol ship 200 km from the warrant, in which the Kuznetsov TAKR followed. Having received information from him, the Su-33, acting at a distance of 500 km from the TAKR, intercepted and “destroyed” four Tu-22M3s, which were never able to reach the missile launch line on the TAKR returning from combat service. It should also be noted that the “air umbrella” of the TAKR was built in two echelons - the far one was focused on intercepting enemy aircraft, the near one was aimed at destroying anti-ship missiles.
In other words, of course, it can and should be said that the absence of long-range radar weapons significantly reduces the capabilities of the Kuznetsov air group, but in no case should we forget that even in current form Kuznetsov significantly strengthened our fleet, providing it with such capabilities that the fleet had never had before. The experience of the first combat service of Kuznetsov testified that the presence of TAKR-a increases the combat stability of a ship formation operating in the far sea or ocean zone by 1.5-2 times.
Secondly ... alas, the first combat service demonstrated the extreme weakness of the ship's power plant. At the very beginning of the trip, when the TAKR was just leaving the Kola Bay, a seven-point storm began, during which two out of eight boilers failed, and at the time of returning to the base, only two boilers were working on the ship. Accordingly, in April 1996, Kuznetsov was put in for repairs, from which he left only by the summer of 1998. I must say that if it were not for chronic underfunding repair work, the ship would not have to spend two whole years at the mooring wall. Yes, and the quality of repairs, probably, was lame, and in addition, the “wild 90s”, underfunding and a drop in the qualifications of personnel had a strong effect. In the period 1998-1999, Kuznetsov continued to serve in the fleet, but in 1999 one boiler and one (out of four) GTZA completely failed.
Despite this, in 2000, the Kuznetsov was supposed to go on a second combat service, but it was canceled due to the tragic death of the Kursk submarine. As a result, instead of the BS, the ship got up for a three-year average repair. Then, during 2004-2007, the ship again plunged into the everyday life of military service, while in 2004, as part of a ship group, went to the North Atlantic, and from December 5, 2007 to February 3, 2008, made another BS - a trip to the Mediterranean Sea. Then - 7 months of repairs on the Zvyozdochka and service until May 2014, when the ship, which had just returned from a campaign to the coast of Syria, got up for a short three-month repair. Service again, and from January to June 15, 2016 - the restoration of technical readiness before a new long-distance campaign and - participation in hostilities in Syria.
In general, the following can be said - for the period from January 29, 1991, when the naval flag was first hoisted over the Kuznetsov, and until October 2017, when work began on overhaul TAKR, 26 years and 8 months have passed. During this time, the ship was under repair for approximately 6 years and 5 months, that is, only 24% of the total presence in the fleet. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that under normal conditions and with the availability of timely funding, a two-year repair in 1996-98 and a three-year one in the period 2001-2004 could be carried out much faster, or a much larger volume could be produced in the same period repair work.
In other words, the ingrained opinion that Kuznetsov does not get out of repairs has no basis. The problem lies elsewhere - a huge ship, which has been in the fleet for 27 years, has not yet received a single overhaul ...
The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" - a ship of project 1143.5, the only one in the Russian Navy in its class, was launched in 1987. In 1990, it was named after Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N. G. Kuznetsov.
Start. background
| 1945 | A strategy for the further development of the country's navy was agreed upon by the leadership of the USSR. The plans of the leadership of the Ministry of Defense did not include the construction of aircraft carriers. N.G. Kuznetsov (Commander-in-Chief of the Navy), who understood the importance and necessity of having aircraft carriers in service, weapons of the future, as he believed, was categorically against such a position. Thanks to the efforts of the admiral, these ships were included in the design plans. |
| 1953 | Kuznetsov was able to achieve understanding and his efforts approved the development plan light aircraft carrier(codenamed "project 85"). The main purpose of an aircraft carrier is to cover ships at sea from attacks by enemy aircraft The project involved the construction of 8 light aircraft carriers. The first two were to be put into service by the end of 1960. |
| 1955 | Commander-in-Chief of the Navy N.G. Kuznetsov was dismissed. His place was taken by S.G. Gorshkov, who did not see the need for the development of aircraft carrying ships. After all, the leadership of the country called aircraft carriers "weapons of Western imperialism" |
| 60s of XX century | "Project 1123" - trial use of anti-submarine cruisers for the aircraft carrier fleet. One cruiser could accommodate up to 14 KA-25 helicopters on its deck. After conducting full-fledged tests of the project, it became clear that helicopters cannot fully protect ships in the event of an air attack |
| Second half of the 1960s | A plan was agreed and approved, which was based on the design of new ships with the possibility of being placed on board aircraft with the possibility of vertical takeoff. As a result, ships developed according to project 1143 ("Kyiv") appeared, having completed with Yak-38 aircraft. But, unfortunately, the Yak-38 aircraft was not equipped with technical and flight characteristics that made it possible to fully patrol the area around the ships and, if necessary, provide cover from enemy air attacks. As a result, three warships of the "Kyiv" type, together with the TAKR (heavy aircraft carrier cruiser) of project 114342 "Baku", which, in fact, was an improved version of them, remained in the armed forces of the USSR as cruisers rather than aircraft carriers |
| 1977 | The beginning of the development of aircraft carrier ships of project 11435. One of the ships was eventually named TAKR "Admiral Kuznetsov" |
History and military campaigns of TAKR
| January 20, 1991 | Air cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" is assigned to serve in the staff of the Northern Fleet. On this day, the naval ensign of the USSR was hoisted on board the ship. |
| May 1991 | The nuclear aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" was enlisted in the 30th division of surface ships of the Black Sea Fleet |
| December 1991 | The cruiser "Kuznetsov" departed for the registration point in the village of Vidyaevo, Murmansk region. The route was made from the Black Sea, going around Europe |
| 1993 | It was marked by the entry into the aviation group of the SU-33 fighter ship |
| December 1994 - February 1995 | Carrying out repair work of the main boilers of TAKR "Kuznetsov" |
| October 19, 1995 | In preparation for flights aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov, an Mi-8 helicopter crashed. During the raid, due to strong winds, the aircraft was overturned. No ship damage recorded |
| December 23, 1995 | At the head of a detachment of twelve ships TAKR (Heavy Aircraft Carrying Cruiser) "Admiral Kuznetsov" entered combat service in the Mediterranean Sea. On board the cruiser was an air group consisting of 15 Su-33 aircraft, one Su-25UTG and 11 Ka-27 helicopters. During the campaign, the declared performance characteristics of the aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" were checked. The Strait of Gibraltar was passed after 10 days of the campaign |
| January 7, 1996 | Cruiser TAVKR "Admiral Kuznetsov" anchored off the coast of Tunisia. During this stay - which lasted until January 17 - an exchange of visits was made with the US Navy, during which both Russian helicopters landed on an American aircraft carrier and American helicopters landed on the deck of the Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov. In addition, Russian pilots were transported on two-seat carrier-based US aircraft. Among other foreign guests, on January 7, 1996, the commander of the US 6th Fleet, Admiral Donald Pilling, visited the cruiser. |
| August 2000 | The aircraft carrier "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" took an active part in major military exercises, subsequently joining the operation to rescue the crew of the sunken submarine K-141 "Kursk". As a result of this tragedy, the second campaign for military service in the Mediterranean was canceled, which was supposed to take place at the end of 2000. |
| 2001 to 2004 | The cruiser was on a scheduled average repair. During which the performance characteristics of "Admiral Kuznetsov" were finalized |
| September 27, 2004 | As part of a group of 9 ships of the Northern Fleet, which includes a heavy nuclear missile cruiser"Peter the Great", the missile cruiser "Marshal Ustinov", the destroyer "Admiral Ushakov", the BOD "Severomorsk" and "Admiral Levchenko", the nuclear submarine K-335 "Gepard" and support vessels, the aircraft carrier cruiser entered the North Atlantic. One of the main tasks of the exercises was to work out the interaction of ships when repelling attacks of a mock enemy and to train ship pilots when flying from the deck. During this trip, flight design tests of the Su-27KUB multi-purpose carrier-based aircraft were also carried out. |
| October 18, 2004 | During the campaign, an accident occurred with the Su-25UTG training aircraft. During landing, it was, the trajectory was calculated incorrectly and there was a strong impact of the landing gear with the landing deck. As a result, one of the landing gear of the aircraft broke, the aircraft was able to catch the landing hook on the arrester cable and stop the run. |
| September 5, 2005 | The cruiser-aircraft carrier "Nikolai Kuznetsov" during a campaign in the North Atlantic suffered two emergency landings of Su-33 fighters due to a break in the arrester cable. The first fighter fell into the ocean and sank at a depth of 1100 meters (the pilot - Lieutenant Colonel Yuri Korneev - managed to eject), the second plane stayed on the deck. It was planned to destroy the sunken plane with depth charges due to the presence of secret equipment (for example, the “friend or foe” identification system), but it turned out that this was impossible to do because of the great depth. The command of the Navy expects that the sunken Su-33 will collapse itself |
| From December 17, 2013 to May 17, 2014 | TAKR "Admiral Kuznetsov" made a new campaign for military service in the Mediterranean Sea with a call at the material and technical base of the Russian Navy in the port of Tartus (Syria). Rear Admiral Viktor Sokolov, deputy commander of the Northern Fleet, raised his flag on the cruiser. While in the Mediterranean, the Russian heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov operated in conjunction with the flagship Pyotr Veliky. During this trip, the pilots of the 279th Naval Aviation Regiment gained considerable practical experience in flying from the deck of an aircraft-carrying cruiser on the high seas, having made more than 350 sorties with a total stay in the air of about 300 hours. |
| November 15, 2016 | Air group TAKR "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" began sorties against ISIS in the Syrian Republic |
| January 6, 2017 | It was officially decided to reduce the number of Russian armed forces on the territory of the Syrian Republic. This also meant the return home of the TAKR "Admiral Kuznetsov". |
| February 8, 2017 | The Russian aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" stopped at his residence permit - Severomorsk, having completed a long-range military campaign. This military campaign lasted about 4 months, passing about 18 thousand nautical miles. Having finished the military campaign, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser "Peter the Great" and the aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" made a real sea salute of 15 artillery shots |
According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, during combat service, the aviation group assigned to the cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" made about 1,200 sorties, of which more than 400 were to carry out a combat mission.
There were some difficulties with the delivery of combat supplies to the ship while on the high seas.
sorties were made by an aviation group assigned to the cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" during combat service
The reason is that the Berezina complex supply ship was engaged in providing ammunition, but it was decommissioned and there were no analogues in the Russian Navy. The supply task was assigned to the floating crane SPK-46150 - and the task was completed.
Design and construction
Design
The command of the Ministry of Defense approved a plan to start building aircraft carrier ships that could receive aircraft both with vertical takeoff and landing, and with a traditional one.
In 1977 task to complete design work was given to the Nevsky Design Bureau.
1980 Completed work on the preparation of sketches of the future ship. To present the work to the management, 10 projects were completed, including those with a nuclear engine.
Having passed all the stages, the project of the ship received the code "project 11435".
Project 11435 differed in many ways from the ships of earlier projects, but the main differences include:
- The main missile system, according to the new project, was located inside the ship;
- The turret corps was built on the right side with a strong protrusion beyond the ship's contours.
These design solutions made it possible to expand the deck area, thereby allowing aircraft to take off with the traditional take-off method.
May 1982 Project 11435 agreed and approved in the final version.
September 1982 The construction of the first aircraft carrier began at the Black Sea Shipyard No. 444 in the Ukrainian city of Nikolaev.
Construction and testing
September 1, 1982. On one of the slipways of the Black Sea Shipbuilding Plant, the laying of the future aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, which at that time was called Riga, took place.
"Admiral Kuznetsov" was the fifth among the ships under construction.
It was during the construction of this ship that a new technology was developed and tested, the essence of which was that the ship's hulls were made from large sheet blocks weighing from 1200 to 1380 tons.
November 26, 1982. On this day, the ship was renamed, having received the name "Leonid Brezhnev", as a tribute and respect after the death of the general secretary.
December 4, 1985. On this day, the ship "Nikolai Kuznetsov", in a solemn ceremony, was launched.
September 8, 1989. On the aircraft carrier, the crew began to be on duty around the clock, although not at full strength.
October 21, 1989. The aircraft carrier "Tbilisi" (the name at that time), ready for 85%, went to the open sea in order to determine the readiness for flight design tests: test flights of the ships assigned to the aircraft carrier were carried out, as well as testing of all cruiser systems.
November 1, 1989 On this day, the first landing of the aircraft on the deck of the cruiser took place. The SU-27K aircraft was piloted by pilot V. G. Pugachev. Also on November 1, the first takeoff of the Mig-29K aircraft took place, the pilot was T.O. Aubakirov. In connection with the completion of testing and monitoring the work of all ship systems in various conditions, he returned to the plant for completion.
August 1, 1990. The cruiser began state tests, which lasted about 5 months. As a result of state tests, the ship sailed more than 16 thousand nautical miles, the total number of aircraft takeoffs is about 450 times.
December 25, 1990. The aircraft carrier was declared ready for combat duty as part of the naval forces and was named "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" was transferred from the Ministry of Industry to the Ministry of Defense.
Drawing TAKR "Admiral Kuznetsov"
Design features
Frame
The ship's hull is constructed from solid sheets of welded steel for superior strength. The ship in its composition has 7 decks and 2 platforms. Along the entire perimeter of the case is equipped with a second bottom.
The room where the aircraft are stored is equipped with collapsible fireproof partitions. These partitions divide it into 4 compartments.
The room (the so-called hangar) is equipped with a complex that allows transporting aircraft by means of a chain transmission. Thanks to this design solution, it became possible to abandon the use of large traction tractors inside the ship.
When forming terms of reference to the "project 11435" the task was to increase the area on the aircraft carrier for use by them for takeoffs and landings, both in the traditional way and with vertical takeoff.
As a result, the area was increased to 14.8 thousand m 2, which is about 2.6 times more than that of the heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers of earlier projects. The dimensions of the aircraft storage room were increased (153.2 × 26.4 × 7.1 m versus 130.4 × 22.7 × 6.7 m on the Minsk aircraft carrier).
To provide support during the take-off of carrier-based aircraft in the traditional way, a springboard with an elevation angle of approximately 14.3 degrees is installed.
Hull protection
The decision to protect the ship's hull from enemy attacks is unique for its time. Compartments for storage and use and rooms with ammunition are protected in the form of box armor.
The protection of the ship from torpedoes of enemy ships consists of three longitudinal bulkheads, the middle one is equipped with several layers. The total width of the protection is 4.52 m.
Takeoff and landing areas
To assist pilots in landing aircraft, the following have been developed and installed:
- aerofinisher complex;
- unique system optical landing system "Moon".
Traditional take-off sites
The surface of the flight deck was treated with a special composition that prevents aircraft from sliding during takeoff and landing, and this coating is also heat-resistant, allowing it to withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees. This coating was named "Onega".
VTOL sites (vertical takeoff and landing aircraft)
Separately, on the flight deck, 3 sites for vertical take-off and landing aircraft are allocated. The area of each site is about 100 m2 (10×10). The surface is laid with special AK-9FM tiles, which allow to withstand heating up to 745 degrees.
In order to protect the maintenance personnel and technical staff from the strong exhausts of aircraft engines, deflectable shields - deflectors - are mounted on the deck. In addition, the starting positions are equipped with hydraulic stops (delays) that hold the aircraft in place before launch and are sunk at the operator's command.
To ensure landing on the ship, arresters "Svetlana-2" were installed: four metal cables stretched across the landing deck with an interval of 12 meters.
"Hope"
emergency lift system installed on an air cruiser
The cables are connected to the brake hydraulic machines, providing a complete stop of the aircraft after 90 meters of run with an overload of not more than 4.5 g. The cable of the fourth arrester (fourth from the stern) is also connected to the Nadezhda emergency barrier raising system.
In the stowed position, the cables are recessed in special recesses in the deck, and are raised to the working position using hydraulics immediately before landing.
Power plant and driving performance
The power plant "Admiral Kuznetsov" with minor changes is fully copied from earlier projects. The big changes include the complete replacement of boilers of earlier modifications with new ones with improved characteristics.
After modernization, a 4-shaft steam turbine power plant can develop a capacity of 200 thousand hp. (for previous projects up to - 180 thousand hp).
The turbines are fed by eight KVG-4 boilers with a steam capacity of up to 115 tons of steam per hour (against 95 tons per hour for older boilers). Parameters of superheated steam in the collector: pressure 66 kg/cm 2 and temperature 470°C. Propellers - 4 bronze propellers with 5 blades.
Crew
Ships developed according to project 11435 according to the plan should be equipped with a composition :
- Total crew - 1980 people
Including:
- officers - 520;
- midshipmen - 322;
- sailors - 1138;
- Air group - 626 people.
As a result, it turns out that 2606 people are supposed to be on the ship. And if the cruiser is the flagship during the campaign, then 55 people (commanders and headquarters) will be additionally located on the ship.
Crew sleeping and resting areas are quite acceptable and comfortable for long sea trips.
Armament
Main strike complex
Anti-ship missile system (SCRK) "Granit" with 12 cruise missiles in mines. Heavy missiles are capable of delivering a 750-kg warhead to a distance of up to 550 km.
P-700 "Granit" (3M45) - anti-ship missile system on the aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" Anti-aircraft weapons
- 4x2 anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems (ZRAK) "Kortik". Ammunition 256 missiles and 48,000 30-mm shells, range: missiles 1500-8000 m; guns 500-4000 m;
- 24 modules of the Kinzhal air defense system, the ammunition of each module is 8 missiles in a drum, so that in general the ammunition load is 192 missiles. Destruction range 1500-12000 m;
- 6 tower six-barreled 30-mm installations AK-630M (48,000 shells).
Anti-torpedo armament
- 2 RBU-12000 bombers of the Udav complex (60 reactive depth charges).
Aviation armament
In accordance with the assignment of the Ministry of Defense, the aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" was created, the characteristics of which ensured the deployment of carrier-based aircraft, consisting of:
- 26 Yak-141, MiG-29K and Su-27K (Su-33) aircraft;
- 18 Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopters or Ka-29 transport and combat helicopters;
- 4 radar patrol helicopters Ka-27RLD (Ka-31);
- 2 Ka-27PS search and rescue helicopters.
In fact, due to lack of funds, the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, whose characteristics allow for the deployment of a larger number of aircraft, carries a reduced air group:
- 14 Su-33 fighters;
- 2 training aircraft Su-25UTG;
- 2 MiG-29K fighters;
- 2 combat training MiG-29KUB;
- 15 Ka-27 and Ka-27PS helicopters;
- 2 helicopters Ka-31 radar patrol.
Communications, detection, auxiliary equipment
- navigation complex "Beysur";
- 1 radar complex"Mars Passat";
- 1 radar station MP-750 "Fregat-MA";
- 2 radar stations MP-360 "Podkat";
- 3 radar stations "Vaigach";
- combat information and control system (CICS) "Lumberjack";
- communication complex "Buran-2";
- hydroacoustic complex "Polynom-T";
- hydroacoustic station "Zvezda-M1";
- complex electronic warfare "Sozvezdie-BR".
Aft section of the flight deck "Admiral Kuznetsov" during the military campaign 1995-1996 Technical characteristics of the aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov"
Displacement, t:
Main dimensions, m:
Power, hp (kW):
Travel speed, knots:
Cruising range, miles:
Project crew, persons:
Armament
| Aviation, LA | 50…52 |
| Su-33 and MiG-29K fighters or Su-25UTG attack aircraft | 26…28 |
| Helicopters RLD Ka-34 | 4 |
| Helicopters Ka-27 and Ka-29 (including Ka-27PS) | 18 (2) |
| percussion | PKRP "Granit-NK" |
| Rocket P-700, pcs | 12 |
| Vertical launchers SM-233, pcs | 12 |
| anti-aircraft missile | SAM "Dagger" |
| Vertical launchers SM-9, pcs | 24x8 |
| SAM 9M330-2, pcs | 192 |
| Anti-aircraft missile and artillery | ZRAK "Dagger" |
| Number of installations, pcs | 8 |
| SAM 9M311-1, pcs | 256 |
| 30 mm shells, pcs | 48000 |
| Artillery | ZAK AK-630M |
| Number of installations, pcs | 6 |
| Anti-submarine / anti-torpedo | RBU-12000 "Udav-1" |
Electronic weapons
| BIUS | "Lumberjack" |
| General detection radar | PLC "Mars-Passat", 4 FAR |
| NLC detection radar | 2xMR-360 "Tackle" |
| NC detection radar | 3xMP-212 "Vaigach" |
| GAS | GAK MGK-355 "Polynom-T", GAS MGK-365 "Zvezda-M1", anti-sabotage GAS MG-717 "Amulet", GAS "Altyn", ZPS MG-35 "Shtil", GAS MG-355TA |
| EW facilities | "Constellation-RB" |
| Interference complexes fired | 2x2 launchers PK-2 (ZiF-121), 4x10 launchers PK-10 "Brave" |
| fire control radar | 2x Korall-BN, 4 control radars for the Kinzhal air defense system 3R95, 4 control sub-units for the Kortik air defense missile system 3R86 |
| Navigation complex | "Beysur" |
| Radio navigation aids | "Resistor K-4", "Lawn" |
| Means of communication | Buran-2 complex, Kristall-BK space communications complex |
commanders
From the moment of launching to the present day, the heavy aircraft carrier cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov of the Fleet of the Soviet Union has been under the command of the following officers:
| Photo | Full name and military rank | Years of command of the ship |
 |
Captain 1st Rank Viktor Stepanovich Yarygin | 1987-1992 |
 |
Captain 1st Rank (Rear Admiral) Ivan Fedorovich Sanko | 1992-1995 |
 |
Rear Admiral Alexander Vladimirovich Chelpanov | 1995-2000 |
 |
Captain 1st Rank Alexander Vasilyevich Turilin | 2000-2003 |
 |
Captain 1st Rank Alexander Petrovich Shevchenko | 2003-2008 |
 |
Captain 1st Rank Vyacheslav Nikolaevich Rodionov | 2008-2011 |
 |
Captain 1st Rank Sergei Grigorievich Artamonov | Since 2011 |
The aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" is the only aircraft carrier in service in Russia. This is the only Russian aircraft carrier that bears the proud name of the invincible Soviet Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy - Admiral Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov. The ship is unique, it is both a cruiser and an aircraft carrier, hence the name - the aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov". If not for a number of reasons, then there would be a lot of aircraft-carrying ships, which would allow changing the balance of power on the planet.
The history of the Russian aircraft carrier - the pride of the Russian fleet
The project under the code 1143.5 ("Admiral of the Fleet Kuznetsov") began to be developed in 1981 and in 1982 was laid on the slipway. Since 1976, "Kyiv" (1143, laid down in 1970) has already sailed the sea, since 1978 "Minsk" (1143.2 - 1972). Novorossiysk (1143.3 - 1975) and Baku (1143.4 - 1978) began to be developed. These were aircraft platforms. vertical takeoff development of Yakovlev Design Bureau and Kamov Design Bureau helicopters. Their capabilities were limited in terms of range and time to perform combat flights.
Aircraft Yak36 - radius 60 km. with a flight duration of 20 min. The Yak38, which replaced it, did not fundamentally change the situation. A vertical take-off takes 1 ton more kerosene than a conventional take-off aircraft, and this is the flight time and combat load. But the YAK141, which was already ready for the same excellent characteristics, had a tragic fate due to an accident, and the idea of \u200b\u200bvertical take-off was postponed and forgotten.
Project 1143.5 developed in a different direction, there were many supporters of having high-speed long-range well-armed fighters on board since the late 60s. The opponent of the project was Honored Marshal D.F. Ustinov, who considered Yak-type aircraft the only possible for Soviet aircraft carriers. But the project was destined to come true. In the late 1970s, the United States had new low-flying missiles that were not available to the air defense systems of that time, but were shot down by fighter aircraft. There was no time to wait. In 1981, the world's best fighter-bombers SU-27 or MiG-29 (subsequently Su-27K and MiG-29K) already appeared in the USSR.
The test pilot Pugachev, who became legendary, landed the SU-27K on 11/01/1989. The Mikoyanovites did not lag behind, after 1.5 hours the MiG-29K landed - this is the hero of the USSR, cosmonaut Toktar Aubakirov (future major general of Kazakhstan). Within three weeks, flight tests were carried out, 227 sorties and 35 landings were performed. A 11/23/1989. The commission signed the Act "On the implementation of the flight design test program."
Creation of a springboard
The creation of conditions for takeoff and landing had a negative impact on the implementation of the project 1143.5. Initially, the American experience of using steam catapults built into the deck was considered, which dispersed even a heavy radar aircraft on a stationary ship in calm weather. Ustinov partly rightly considered it unacceptable to use someone else's experience, it means always falling behind. And so a unique take-off method using a springboard appeared.
In the Crimea, a Scientific Testing Training Complex was built, which received the nickname "Thread" (recorded in the design documents of NITKA). According to preliminary calculations, Springboard-1 was built for the training takeoff of the Yak-38, Su-27 and MiG-29. The results showed the inaccuracy of the calculated characteristics. Then they built Springboard-2 with optimal curvature - which became a springboard for the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.
Plane landing
More a complex system than takeoff. In order to land and stop you need to land the plane in a certain place. A system was used - an arrester, similar to the American one. This is a tensioned cable and a hydraulic system. The hook hold (hook) was worked out in training conditions. Then the skill of braking was honed. Without these skills, there will be no naval aviation pilots.
To help the pilots, the Luna optical system appeared - this is the supply of light signals to the pilot when landing. The landing path is called Glide path. Red light - this is the maximum level of danger, indicates a landing below the level of the runway. Green - indicates the accuracy of the run. Yellow - indicates an extra climb, you will have to repeat the landing.
Name
The first name was "Riga", given to the ship during its construction at the "Black Sea Shipyard". Here political instability begins, L.I. dies. Brezhnev and the ship has a new name "Leonid Brezhnev". In 1989, the ship goes to sea under the name "Tbilisi". The aircraft-carrying cruiser received its name "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" in 1990 on October 4.
On the wave of success and economic power, new generation aircraft carriers are being built one after another - with a conventional takeoff. The death of Ustinov in 1984 contributed to the rapid development of aircraft carriers with conventional aircraft. Project 1143.6 appeared, laid down in 1985 - called the Varyag (sold by Ukraine to China). And the nuclear "Ulyanovsk" - project 1143.7, laid down in 1988, dismantled in 1992 (Ukraine). "Kuznetsov" escaped the tragic fate by leaving Sevastopol for the Northern Fleet in 1992, fully corresponding to his nickname "Invincible".
Aircraft carrier hijacking
The aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" in the early nineties has already become the flagship among the 7 aircraft carriers. In 1991, the main blow was dealt to the country in the lost Cold War, the division of property among the "Sovereign" "States" began. In September it is the Baltics, a month later Ukraine. The heads of all levels and all republics profit from the robbery of collective property. Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Vladimir Chernavin (1985-1993) sets the task of stealing the flagship to the Northern Fleet before declaring Ukraine's sovereignty.
In December 1991, the cruiser was to undergo another test in the Black Sea. The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy instructs the Commander-in-Chief of the Black Sea Fleet Khronopulo MN to pass the Dardanelles Strait in strict secrecy during the planned exercises. The ship had to get away from the armed capture and arrive at the destination Vidyaevo, which is in the Northern Fleet. This ship has been in service since 12/25/1990. From 01/20/1992. TAKR (heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser) is assigned to serve in Murmansk.
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Characteristics of the aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov"
The aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" is designed to perform various tasks, the main of which is to prevent an air or sea nuclear strike on the territory of the Russian Federation (USSR). To do this, the warship is armed with missiles for delivering and repelling strikes, aircraft and helicopter aircraft, radar and satellite systems, deep anti-submarine bombs and missiles and artillery. This is a mobile military base capable of changing the military and political situation anywhere in the world. 1960 people (200 officers) are serving on the ship: 626 - flight personnel, 40 - the headquarters of the formation of ships.
Specifications in numbers
- length - 305 m, max.
- width - 72 m, max.
- height - 65 m.
- Displacement:
- Max. 61 400 tons,
- standard 46 500 tons,
- normal - 53,000 tons.
- Draft 8 - 10 m.
- Reservation: duplicated rolled steel, three-layer protection 4.5 m wide withstands torpedo hits of 400 kg of TNT.
- The cruiser is driven by a power plant of 2 boiler rooms, where there are 4 main and 2 GTZA each.
- Endurance of navigation 45 days.
- Superstructure "Island" 32 m from 13 tiers.
- Planes and helicopters from the hangar are delivered to the deck by 2 lifts.
- The cruiser has 3857 rooms: 387 - cabins, 134 - cockpit, 6 - wardrooms, 120 - warehouses and 50 showers.
- The training of sailors begins with the study of the premises, which lead to corridors 6 km long.
Armament
- P-700 Granite - the destruction of enemy aircraft carrier strike groups (AUG). The main threat to NATO aircraft carriers (moving in a group, accompanied by 1 - 1.5 dozen ships) were anti-ship missile systems"Granite". This Soviet development has no analogues. On the deck bow there are 12 launchers with P-700 Granit missiles. There can be different warheads: high-explosive fragmentation 750 kg. or nuclear 500 kt. Russia and the United States have agreed not to arm themselves with a nuclear charge for these missiles for the time being. Its length is 10 m, launch weight is 7000 kg, diameter is 85 cm. The 3M45 anti-ship missile is 10 times heavier than the American Harpoon, therefore it carries 2.5 times the charge and hits the target 5 times further, up to 700 km.
- As targeting systems three means of guidance are used at once, excluding disorientation by its enemy: satellite, carrier-based aviation (helicopters and airplanes) and radar. The missile rises to a high altitude (up to 17 km) and detects a target, then drops down to an extremely low altitude (25 m) and heads towards the target. Which makes it difficult for enemy air defenses to intercept it. If the ship is destroyed, then the rest of the fired missiles hit other ships of the group. The missile is equipped with a device for radar interference, pointing anti-missiles at decoys.
- Protective missile weapons. And also 4x2 ZRAK "Kortik" (256 missiles and 48,000 shells) protect against high-precision anti-ship missiles. There is also a 4x6 anti-aircraft missile system of the Kinzhal air defense system (192 pieces), which is used in the event of a massive attack from the air and from low-flying missiles. Six-barreled anti-aircraft artillery AK-360 (30 mm shells), strikes at a distance of 4-5 km.
- Gaining air supremacy. Equally important in power heavy cruiser is aviation. The super-maneuverable Su-33s replaced the Su-27Ks, 36 units. Each of them is designed to destroy the F-15 and F-16 in the air. The aircraft are equipped with long-range and short-range radars, satellite communications, and carry up to 8 tons of bomb load. Armed with all types of air-to-air, air-to-surface missiles. They can deliver nuclear strikes, since 2016 they can destroy ships with one of the latest BrahMos missiles with the same efficiency as 3M45. Shoot down all missiles at an altitude of up to 27 km. Multi-purpose helicopters Ka-27, of which there are 16 on the ship, are designed to detect and destroy submarines. They mine mines. In the amount of 3 units. used for radar patrol and 2 more for search and rescue operations.
- Antisubmarine weapons. The RBU 12,000 Udav anti-submarine jet bomber has 60 missiles of various types: it destroys torpedoes, creating a drifting minefield; small submarines and submarine sabotage forces at a depth of up to 600 m.
- Electronic weapons. Unique weapons allow timely and accurate combat operations: CICS "Lesorub", multifunctional radar "Mars-Passat", three-coordinate radar "Fregat-MA", low-flying targets are detected by 2 radars "Podkat", 2 radars "Vaigach", navigation system "Buran" -2", radar for flight control "Resistor" and "Gazon", EW "Constellation-BR", GAS "Zvezda-M1".
Conclusion
TAKR - this is one combat unit, it will not solve all the problems, but it is a formidable weapon. It will be impossible to conduct an effective launch of nuclear missiles on our territory in the TAKR combat alert zone of this type. And the enemy’s 1st AUG is difficult to oppose to “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov”. It is desirable to have at the disposal of Russia about 10 aircraft carriers. It's even better to have allies to share such high costs with them.
Who is Kuznetsov, why was he given such an honor?
Of particular importance, inspiring selfless work and military successes, is history. It all depends on who we will honor, and this will be our future - great or not. Kuznetsov N.G. turned out to be a follower of the traditions of Russian naval officers, for whom Ushakov, Lazarev and Nakhimov were examples. He was awarded 4 orders of Lenin, 3 orders of the Red Banner, 2 orders of Ushakov 1st degree, the Order of the Red Star, as well as medals and foreign orders.
Despite his modest peasant origin, he was intelligent - he gave the impression of a Russian nobleman. Sailors loved him, officers trusted him. He was not part of the political groups fighting for power. The chiefs and first persons of the state relied on him, some were afraid of his authority among officers, sailors and the entire Soviet people. He did not serve and did not humiliate himself, he was an excellent performer and a talented organizer. Under Stalin, he managed to do a lot for the country, at the Yalta meeting of the winners he resolved the conflict issue about the division of the fascist fleet.
short biography
As a child, at the age of 15, attributing to himself two years (born 11 (24). 07.1904 in the Arkhangelsk province, according to documents - 1902), he becomes a sailor of the North Dvina military flotilla. There he passed civil war 1917 - 1922 After serving for another 1 year, since 1923 he has been studying at the Naval School. Frunze" and graduated with honors in 1926. Period 1926 - 1929. serves in the Black Sea as a watchman on the Chervona Ukraine, and 1932-1933. was assistant commander of the cruiser "Red Caucasus". From 1933 he became the commander of the light cruiser Chervona Ukraine, from that moment the ship became a model of combat readiness and training.
As a military attache and chief naval adviser to the Spanish Republic, Kuznetsov organizes the uninterrupted supply of military supplies to Spain to fight fascism. Having successfully completed the task in 1936 - 1939. he returns to Sevastopol. Aviation played a significant role, which was used off the coast for the safe passage of transport ships. From that moment on, the future people's commissar was personally convinced of the effectiveness of a bunch of ships and aircraft and became the initiator of aircraft carrier building and the diversified development of all types of weapons.
At the end of the political purge of supporters of the ideas of Trotsky-Uborevich. who were preparing a coup d'état in Russia, in 1939, a non-politicized young and talented specialist N.G. Kuznetsov. Which made a great contribution to the Victory of 1945 and the development of the country's defense capability. He was inconvenient for the Khrushchev-Zhukov team, did not speak fables about Stalin, met the WWII war without defeat. And the ideas of Kuznetsov approved by Stalin about the need to build aircraft carriers began to be implemented from January 1943 (in November 1944, the Nevsky Design Bureau created the 1st project, by the end of the war 4 types of aircraft carrier were developed, included in the post-war program). Having come to power, Khrushchev managed to temporarily destroy the program and cut the ships under construction.
The suspended Kuznetsov was isolated from publicity until the end of his life. He lived at his dacha until 1974, where he wrote books under the control of editors who created the myth of Stalin to please the new political clan. On the anti-Soviet wave in 1990, his well-deserved name accidentally appeared on an aircraft-carrying cruiser, because he was a creator, not a destroyer of the state, and respected Russian traditions that had developed under the emperors.
Special page in biography
There is one confusing story in 1948, when the "Court of Honor" took place over the admirals. Honored high-ranking military judged the same honored officers. They turned out to be N.G. Kuznetsov and his subordinates L.M. Galler, V.A. Alafuzov and G.A. Stepanov. The military collegium, which found everyone guilty, itself petitioned to reduce Kuznetsov's punishment. Departed for service Far East(1948 Deputy for Naval Affairs, and since 1950 - Commander of the Pacific Fleet). As a result, under the same authority, he again headed the country's Navy from 1951 to 1953.
Under Khrushchev, he continued to hold the position of commander of the fleet until 1955 in a new capacity - First Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. A 03/03/1955. Continuing to be in the Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR, his position was renamed "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union." No political group could manage him, and the figure was too prominent and politically responsible. Therefore, 02/17/1956. once again demoted to vice admiral and dismissed with the note "Without the right to work in the Navy." Received the nickname "Disgraced Admiral".
class="eliadunit">The beginning of design work on the creation of a cruiser of project 1143.5 - 1978. The work is being carried out by the Leningrad Design Bureau. The first option is an improved preliminary design of the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser 1143. The design is carried out in accordance with the research work called "Order", which is a military-economic justification for the aircraft-carrying cruiser with a nuclear installation of project 1160.
The design was based on the following projects:
- advance project 1160 - an aircraft carrier with a displacement of 80,000 tons;
Project 1153 is a large aircraft-armed cruiser (50 aircraft), with a displacement of 70,00 tons. There are no laid down and built ships;
- project aircraft carrier recommended by the Ministry of Shipbuilding Industry, displacement of 80,000 tons, aircraft and helicopters up to 70 units;
- project 1143M - an aircraft carrier armed with Yak-41 supersonic aircraft. This is the third aircraft carrier of project 1143 - 1143.3. It was laid down in 1975, adopted in 1982, decommissioned in 1993;
- project 1143A - project 1143M aircraft carrier with increased displacement. Fourth aircraft-carrying cruiser built. Laid down in 1978, adopted in 1982. Since 2004, the ship has been modernized for the Indian Navy. Admitted to the Indian Navy in 2012.
- heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser of project 1143.5 is the next fifth modification of project 1143 and the fifth aircraft-carrying cruiser built.
In October 1978, by a decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the Ministry of Defense was instructed to develop a tactical and technical assignment for the ship project 1143.5, the Ministry of the shipbuilding industry to issue a draft design and technical project by 1980. The estimated start of the serial construction of ships of project 1143.5 is 1981, the end is 1990. Laying and construction of ships - slipway "O" of the Nikolaev shipbuilding plant.
Preliminary design prepared for 1979, in the same year it was approved by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy S. Gorshkov. A few months later, in 1980, the head of the military department, D. Ustinov, signed a directive from the General Staff, which spoke of the need to change project 1143.5. Now the deadline for the completion of the technical project was postponed to 1982, construction to 1986-91. In April 1980, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy S. Gorshkov approves the tactical and technical assignment with the changes made to the project. In the summer of 1980, all parties involved - the Ministry of the Shipbuilding Industry, the Ministry of the Aviation Industry, the Air Force and the Navy recognize the development of the ship project 1143.5 as fully completed.
However, changes to the project continue. The use of aviation weapons on the ship of project 1143.5 was worked out in accordance with the decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. At the end of 1980, the Central Research Institute of Military Shipbuilding corrected the tactical and technical specifications for the ship project 1143.5. At the same time, a decision was made to build a second ship of project 1143.4 (1143A) instead of the ship of project 1143.5. However, in the future, the project is being finalized again - technical project 1143.42. In the early spring of 1981, a contract for the production of order 105 was received from the Main Directorate of the Navy at the Nikolaev shipbuilding plant. In the fall of 1981, changes were made to the ship's design - the displacement was increased by 10 thousand tons. The following changes are made to the project:
- installation on board the ship anti-ship missiles "Granit";
- increase in aircraft armament up to 50 units;
- springboard takeoff of aircraft without the use of a catapult;
The final technical design of 1143.5 was ready by March 1982. Adopted by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 392-10 dated May 7, 1982.
On September 1, 1982, the ship of project 1143.5 was laid down on the modernized slipway "O" of the Nikolaev shipbuilding plant and was given the name "Riga" with serial number 105. Two months later, the ship was renamed "Leonid Brezhnev". In December 1982, the installation of the 1st block of the hull structure began. By the way, it was the first ship consisting of 24 hull blocks. The blocks are hull wide, 32 meters long, 13 meters high, weighing up to 1.7 thousand tons. The superstructures of the ship were also installed in the form of a block.
All propulsion and power systems were ordered for 1983-84. Their installation and installation was carried out on an already partially assembled hull, which led to the opening of the decks and some bulkheads and greatly slowed down the entire construction process. The first photographs of the new ship, taken from the satellite, appeared in the French press in 1984, the readiness of the TAKR for this year was 20 percent.
The ship was launched from the slipway at the end of 1985, the weight of the ship did not exceed 32 thousand tons, the readiness of the ship was estimated at 35.8 percent. In 1986, P. Sokolov was appointed chief designer of project 1143.5. In mid-1987, the ship was renamed again - now it has become known as TAKR "Tbilisi", the readiness of the ship is estimated at 57 percent. There is a delay in the construction of the ship (by approximately 15 percent) due to a disruption in the supply of various equipment. At the end of 1988, the readiness of the TAKR is estimated at 70 percent. The estimated cost of the ship for 1989 was about 720 million rubles, of which almost 200 million were delayed in the supply of equipment and systems. In the same year, a new chief designer L. Belov was appointed, the readiness of the ship was estimated at 80 percent. About 50 percent of electronic equipment and systems are installed on the ship, most of the equipment arrived on the ship in 1989.
The first exit of the ship to the sea was made on 10/20/1989. It was officially allowed by all project participants. Of the ready-made solutions on the ship, the air group was ready for use. The exit of the ship was completed on November 25, 1989. The tests of the air group begin on November 1, 1989 - the Su-27K was the first to land on the deck. Immediately after landing, he took off from the deck of the TAKR MiG-29K.
The completion of the ship with weapons and electronic equipment was completed by 1990, the complete readiness of the ship is estimated at 87 percent. Running factory tests were carried out in the spring and summer of 1990. In October 1990, the ship changed its name for the last time, which it still bears - TAKR "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov". During the 1st stage of the ongoing tests, the ship successfully covered more than 16 thousand miles, more than 450 times aircraft took off from the deck of the ship. State tests of the first TAKR project 1143.5 were completed on 12/25/1990, after which it was accepted into the Navy. Further tests of the ship took place until 1992 on the Black Sea, after which it goes into the Northern Fleet.
Design development of the ship:
- improvement of the project 1143 - five options were proposed, the main units being worked out: a catapult, an emergency barrier, aerofinishers, KTU. Displacement up to 65,000 tons. Main armament: 12 launch anti-ship missiles "Granit";
Project 1143.2 is the next version of the ship's improvement. The main units being worked on: two catapults, an enlarged hangar, a flight deck. Displacement up to 60,000 tons. Main armament: an air group of 42 aircraft (some of which may be helicopters);
- draft version of project 1143.5 - the proposed version was worked out as far as docking was possible. Displacement up to 65,000 tons. Armament - an air group of 52 vehicles (30 aircraft and 22 helicopters) and 12 launchers of the Granit missile defense system;
- project 1143.5 (Ustinova-Amelko) - changes in the design of the ship to the requirements of the Ministry of Defense. Units under study: springboard, KTU or NPP of projects 1143.4/1144. Displacement up to 55,000 tons. Main armament: 12 launch anti-ship missiles "Granit" and an air group of 46 aircraft of the Yak-41 type;
- project 1143.5 (TsNIIVK) - a revised project of the Central Research Institute of Military Shipbuilding. Displacement up to 55,000 tons. Units under development: reserve catapult added, hull structure reduced, aviation fuel supply reduced. Main armament: an air group consisting of 46 aircraft (short and vertical takeoff aircraft of the Yak-41 type).
- project 1143.42 - a revised project in favor of the second ship of project 1143.4. Displacement up to 55,000 tons. Worked out nodes: increase in the deck, catapult. Main armament: air group consisting of 40 aircraft (DRLO aircraft are present), anti-ship missiles "Basalt";
- project 1143.42 (adjustment of the Ministry of Defense) - a revised project by decision of the military department. Displacement - up to 65,000 tons. Worked nodes: springboard. Main armament: 12 launch anti-ship missiles "Granit", an air group consisting of 50 aircraft.
The device and design of TAKR project 1143.5
Structurally, the ship consists of 24 blocks, weighing about 1.7 thousand tons. Welded hull with 7 decks and 2 platforms. During the construction of the ship, two Finnish-made Kane cranes were used, each with a lifting capacity of 900 tons. The hull of the ship is covered with a special radio-absorbing coating. If we conditionally divide the ship into floors, then their number will be 27 floors. In total, 3857 rooms for various purposes were made inside the ship, of which we note: cabins of 4 classes - 387 rooms, cubicles - 134 rooms, dining rooms - 6 rooms, shower rooms - 50 rooms. During the construction of the ship, more than 4 thousand kilometers of cable routes, 12 thousand kilometers of pipes for various purposes were used. The ship received a through deck with an area of more than 14,000 m2 with a springboard at an angle of 14.3 degrees in the bow of the ship. Profiled fairings are installed on the springboard and the edges of the deck corners. Aircraft are delivered to the takeoff deck by 40-ton lifts (right side) to the bow and stern of the ship. Deck width - 67 meters. A section of the landing strip 205 meters long and 26 meters wide is located at an angle of 7 degrees. The deck surface is covered with a special Omega anti-slip and heat-resistant coating, and the vertical take-off / landing areas are covered with AK-9FM heat-resistant plates. On the left and right sides of the launchers there are two runways (the takeoff run is 90 meters), which converge at the upper end of the springboard. The third runway is 180 meters long (the left side is closer to the stern). Cooled deflectors are used on the deck to provide protection for the support personnel and aircraft from aircraft taking off. For landing the aircraft on the deck, arresters "Svetlana-2" and an emergency barrier "Nadezhda" are used. The landing of the aircraft is carried out with the help of a radio system of short-range navigation and an optical landing system "Luna-3". The closed hangar, 153 meters long, 26 meters wide and 7.2 meters high, accommodated 70 percent of the regular air group. It also stores tractors, fire engines, a special set of tools for servicing the LAC. In the hangar, a chain semi-automatic system for transporting standard aircraft is made; aircraft are transported on deck using tractors. The hangar is divided into 4 compartments by folding fireproof curtains with electromechanical control to ensure fire safety. Structural protection of the surface part of the shielded type ship, internal protective barriers - composite structures of the steel / fiberglass / steel type. High-strength steel (yield strength 60 kgf/mm2) was chosen as the main material. Aviation fuel, fuel and ammunition tanks are protected by local box armor. For the first time in the construction of domestic ships, underwater structural protection is used. The depth of the PKZ is about 5 meters. Of the 3 longitudinal partitions, the second was armored multilayer type. Unsinkability was ensured when 5 adjacent compartments were flooded, no more than 60 meters long.
Power- boiler-turbine type, consisting of 8 new steam boilers, 4 main turbo-gear units TV-12-4, providing a total power of 200,000 hp. Propulsors - 4 fixed-pitch propellers.
Energy- 9 turbogenerators with a total capacity of 13500 kW, 6 diesel generators with a total capacity of 9000 kW.
Armament and equipment of TAKR project 1143.5
12 underdeck launchers of the Granit shock anti-ship missiles are located at the very base of the springboard. The launchers are covered with armored covers flush with the deck. Jamming systems 4 launchers PK-10 and 8 launchers PK-2M with an ammunition load of 400 rounds (SU "Tertsia").
The anti-aircraft armament of the ship is 4 modules of the Kinzhal anti-aircraft missile system with an ammunition load of 192 missiles, 8 Kortik air defense missile systems with an ammunition supply of 256 missiles, 48,000 shells. The modules are installed side by side, providing a circular shelling of air targets.
The artillery armament of the ship is three AK-630M batteries with 48,000 rounds of ammunition.
The anti-torpedo armament of the ship is two RBU-12000 10-barrel mounts, installed side by side in the stern. Ammunition 60 RGB.
Air group - according to the project 50 LA. As of 2010, it included 18 Su-33s, 4 Su-25Ts, 15 Ka-27s and 2 Ka-31s.
Radio-technical armament and equipment of the ship - 58 systems and complexes, the main ones are:
- BIUS "Lumberjack";
- SOI "Troinik";
- complex long-range target designation "Coral-BN";
- multifunctional radar "Mars-Passat" with a phased antenna array;
- three-coordinate radar "Fregat-MA";
- two-coordinate radar "Podkat" for detecting low-flying air targets;
- navigation complex "Beysur";
- communication equipment "Buran-2";
- active interference stations MP-207, MP-407, TK-D46RP;
- Flight control radar "Resistor";
- complex electronic warfare"Cantata-1143.5";
- complex hydroacoustics "Polynom-T";
- sonar stations "Zvezda-M1", "Amulet", "Altyn";
- navigational radar stations"Naiada-M", "Vaigach-U";
- station of underwater communication "Shtil";
- space communication system "Kristall-BK";
- the combat control system of the aircraft "Tur-434";
- television landing system "Otvedok-Emancipation";
- guidance station "Gazon";
- automatic control system "Control";
The antenna devices of most systems and complexes are located on the superstructure of the ship. Radio transceivers - more than 50 units. These are 80 paths for receiving and transmitting information and data, most of which can work simultaneously.
Auxiliary equipment has more than 170 items and consists of 450 separate units.
The ship's rescue equipment is a command boat of project 1404, two boats of project 1402-B, two 6-oared yawls (project YAL-P6), 240 PSN-10M (rescue rafts in containers).
The main characteristics of the TAKR "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov":
- length - 304.5 meters;
- width KVL / deck - 38/72 meters;
- draft - 10.5 meters;
- the height of the springboard above the water - 28 meters;
- displacement standard / full / max - up to 46000/59000/67000 tons;
- economy / max speed - 18/32 knots;
- range economy / max travel - 8000/3800 miles;
- autonomy - 1.5 months;
- personnel of the ship crew / flight crew - 1533/626 people.
This year, TAKR "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov":
- January 08 - as part of the shipborne aircraft carrier group of the Russian Navy, he entered from the Syrian port of Tartus on an official friendly visit;
February 16 - as part of the shipborne aircraft carrier group of the Russian Navy, he completed a cruise in the Mediterranean Sea and returns to the home base of Severomorsk;
- 2012-17 - modernization of the ship should begin, work will be carried out production association Sevmash.
Sources of information:
http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-5.html
http://flot2017.com/item/opinions/55248
http://www.atrinaflot.narod.ru/2_mainclassships/01_takr_11435/0_11435_1.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=163tmz19FQI
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