The large anti-submarine ship "Kerch" is the third of the famous seven ships of Project 1134 B, which were created in Nikolaev (in Ukraine). For a long time, these BODs were the most powerful surface units (until subsequently the creation of the project series under the number 1155). The vessel is intended to participate in search and strike groups to identify and eliminate enemy nuclear submarines in any part of the ocean. The ship received its name in honor of the eponymous hero city. Recently, he was assigned to the Black Sea Fleet as part of the Russian Federation. It is one of two ships of the first rank. The second is a cruiser called Moscow.
Construction
In fact, at the beginning of 2011, six of the seven ships of the project (1971-1979), which were part of the Soviet fleet, were excluded from the units, as well as subordinate to the Russian Navy and dismantled for scrap. Only the unique large anti-submarine ship (Project 1134 B) “Kerch” remained operational at the Black Sea Fleet.
The construction of the ship began in 1971, under the building index of 2003. The ship was first launched into the water in July of the seventy-second year, and it entered service in late 1974. On the deck of a military watercraft, which was included in the seventieth brigade of the 30th division of the anti-submarine defense of the Black Sea Fleet, the Soviet flag was hoisted. The city of Sevastopol became the official port of registry, in 1999 the tail number was changed to 733.
Specifications
Below are the main technical parameters of the flagship Black Sea Fleet:
- nominal / maximum displacement - 6700/8565 tons;
- length / width / draft - 173.5 / 18.55 / 6.35 meters (maximum);
- power units - four gas turbine engines -59 combined with a pair of engines -71;
- power indicator - one hundred two thousand eight hundred horsepower;
- speed parameters (marching / full) - 18/33 knots;
- travel time at 32 knots - 2,760 miles;
- mover - 2 * VFSh;
- autonomy - one and a half months for provisions, thirty days for fuel and water reserves;
- crew - four hundred and thirty people.
The national large anti-submarine ship "Kerch" changed board numbers several times. The latest index is 713.
1976-1985
The ship left for the first combat mission to the Mediterranean Sea (early 1976). By its presence, the BOD proved the military participation of the Soviet Union during the Israeli conflict with Lebanon. In the summer of that year, the ship returned to the home port. Then there were still exits to the Mediterranean (1977-1978, 1979).
In 1978, the Kerch large anti-submarine ship was awarded a special government prize for missile specialization for its achievements, and a few months later the Ministry of Defense pennant “For Courage and Combat Valor”.
Two years later, the ship was awarded the challenge Red Banner of the KCHF Military Council. In the fall of 1981, the flagship advanced to the training ground (Sevastopol). Soviet Marshal Moskalenko KS was on board. In the fall of 1982, the ship took part in the Shield-82 naval exercises, and two years later, in the Soyuz-84 competition. In the summer of 1884 the ship went on an official visit to Varna (the fraternal Bulgarian port).
First repair and improvement
At the end of the visit and refueling, the ship was not destined to go on schedule for the next combat mission. One of the crew members did not check the availability and volume of oil, launched the main mechanism, as a result of which the power plant broke down. The ship was delivered to the docks for repairs.
After the modernization of the BPC, "Kerch" was equipped with new weapons:
- Rocket bell missile system;
- anti-aircraft guns "Storm-N";
- communication device "Tsunami";
- Cyclone and Podberezovik systems;
- forty-five-millimeter salute guns.
During repairs on the ship, a fire occurred in the officer’s canteen. The fire began to be extinguished only twenty minutes later, but the ship was saved, there were no casualties. In the summer of 1989, “Kerch” visited Istanbul, and in August went again to Varna.
1993-2011
Performing a mooring, the large anti-submarine ship "Kerch" crashed into the concrete pier of the Sevastopol Bay. As a result, severe deformations of the stern were obtained; it took fourteen days to repair. In June-July 1993, the ship was on its last mission in the twentieth century, where there was contact with American nuclear submarines.
According to the results of 1993, military naval equipment won the prize of the Main Committee of the Russian Navy for missile equipment. And as early as next year, a large anti-submarine ship (BPC "Kerch") was on a campaign in the Mediterranean Sea, which lasted seventeen days. The ship provided a visit to Boris Yeltsin in Greece. Later there were transitions to Varna, Cannes and Messina. In 2005, ongoing repairs were carried out in Novorossiysk. In their course, the turbogenerator was replaced, some hull work was carried out, six millimeters of the run of the gross line were eliminated, and the bottom and outboard fittings were repaired.
Interesting Facts
“Kerch” is a large anti-submarine ship (262-B, “Stary Oskol” is a new ship, which, by the way, is about to descend from the shipyards to replace the old-timer), with which several extraordinary stories are associated. Besides the fact that he suffered several fires and a ram with a concrete pier, the vessel happened to go sailing in 1992 after the collapse of the USSR under the flag of a defunct country.
In the summer of 2011, the BOD monitored the Monterey missile cruiser for two weeks. During the period of constant readiness, the ship passed more than one hundred eighty thousand nautical miles. As a result of anti-submarine and related operations, it was possible to maintain contact with foreign nuclear submarines for eight hours. With diesel-powered submarines, this period was about forty hours.
During the scheduled repair in 2014-2015, the flagship again suffered a fire. This time, the large anti-submarine ship "Kerch" suffered very seriously. The question of its further disposal is being considered. However, caring people are trying to prevent this and make a museum out of the ship. The ship is also under the patronage of the Southeast District of Moscow, the Belgorod and Volgograd administrations.
Conclusion
Over the long history of the Navy of the USSR, many military ships were built, which at that time were considered progressive and modern. Unfortunately, decades could not but affect the condition of the ships. Many of them were disposed of and cut into scrap metal.
So far, the Kerch BPC has escaped this fate, the history of the creation and operation of which gives the right to state with confidence that this is one of the effective flagships of the Black Sea Fleet. Another fire on the ship seriously damaged the equipment, and therefore, the question arises, what to do with the ship next? I would like to hope that he will find a worthy application - if not in the battle field, then as a museum exhibit.