The Soviet Union occupied one sixth of the land. Partly due to the geographical location, partly to technological capabilities, the development of the Navy ships in the country was given a lot of time. However, any large state is still engaged in this.
Boats and cruisers, submarines and aircraft carriers, light and large - lists of technological solutions can go on for a very long time. One of these was the Orlan, or "Project 1144." The heavy nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Ushakov is the flagship of the project, which has no analogues in any fleet in the world. We will talk about him, his capabilities, characteristics, military and technical data in the article.
Name evolution
It should be noted that the name “Admiral Ushakov” was not immediately received by the cruiser. "Admiral's patches" appeared after the collapse of the Union - in 1992. Then he and 3 other "Orlan" received new names. In this case, only one - the 4th - bears the name "Peter the Great." The first three became admirals. These are Ushakov, Lazarev and Nakhimov. When leaving the slipways, the ships called Kirov, Frunze, Kalinin, respectively. The fourth cruiser was first called the Kuibyshev, then, even before the end of construction, he received a new name - Yuri Andropov.
To date, only "Peter the Great" is in the service. Nakhimov is under modernization. The first two, perhaps, will also be updated, but for Nakhimov.
Project "Orlan"
The idea of creating a ship, which subsequently became the nuclear cruiser Admiral Ushakov, did not come immediately. Initial designs date back to the 50s of the last century. Then it was decided to create two types of ships - one was to become a cruiser (project 63), the second - an air defense ship (project 81). For both types, it was planned to use a nuclear reactor as a power plant.
Then project 81 was closed, and work on both types was reduced in one direction. The ship was to become not very large, but had the capabilities of both air defense and a simple cruiser. Unfortunately, project 63 did not live much longer, and soon it was also closed.
The return to the “atomic” project comes only at the end of the 60s, when the Leningrad Central Design Bureau is entrusted with the creation of an “inexpensive” nuclear patrol vessel. The ship should have a displacement of about 8,000 tons (for comparison, the flagship of this project - the Admiral Ushakov missile cruiser - received 24,000), not only be able to accompany other ships, providing fire support, but also to track, and if necessary destroy, ships of probable the enemy. One of the main "chips" was to become an unlimited range of navigation. The initial project was to build about 40 such vessels, but, as it turned out, the industry was simply not ready to release a vessel of such a displacement, not to mention its affordable price.
Landmine + Orlan
Despite these inconsistencies, Project 1144 gets a green street. Nuclear and artillery installations, torpedo tubes and even an unmanned helicopter are being developed. It is worth noting that the development of these aircraft in the Union began long before this idea dawned on the Americans. However, the ship never saw the helicopter. But there is another, no less important moment for the then “Kirov” (later “Admiral Ushakov”). The cruiser passes from the category “tracking vessel” to the category “anti-submarine ship”.
The fact is that at the same time Orlan was developing a purely strike vessel, the project of which was code-named "Landmine" (or "product 1165"). And in May 1971, when weapons were already being developed for both ships, the projects were connected. The future ship receives the best weapons options, previously developed for each type.
Launching
A year after the merger of the projects, the military presents the final version. Then in March 1973 at the Baltic plant them. Ordzhonikidze laid the head cruiser. In the final version of the project, 5 vessels were planned, 4 of which were built. But it should be noted that the fourth ship - "Peter the Great" - immediately received several differences from its counterparts. In particular, it has greater autonomy, improved anti-submarine and sonar weapons, more modern cruise missiles.
After 4 years, on the New Year days of 1977, the heavy nuclear-powered cruiser Admiral Ushakov was launched and enlisted in the Navy of the Soviet Union. This year was marked by another event for the Orlan project. It was then that a new classification was introduced into the Navy, and the Kirov from the rank of a simple anti-submarine ship became a heavy nuclear missile cruiser.
Description and Design
At the time of design, and then the construction of the ship, composite materials were widely used in the world. Therefore, the developed superstructures of the watercraft are mainly created from aluminum-magnesium alloys. Most of the weapons installed in the aft and bow. Additional armored shields cover the engine room, ammunition cellar, and almost all the important posts of the Admiral Ushakov vessel.
The cruiser has an elongated forecastle and a double bottom for the entire length of the vessel. The surface part has five decks (also throughout the hull). In the back there is an under-deck hangar designed for the permanent presence of three helicopters. A lifting mechanism was also designed there and facilities were provided for storing all the materials necessary for flights. In a separate compartment is the lifting and lowering system for the release of the antenna of the Polynom complex.
The construction of such a ship put forward very great demands on possible manufacturers. Firstly, in the final design, the ship received a displacement of more than 24,000 tons. Secondly, the maximum hull length was to be more than 250 m. There were a number of requirements that only one plant in the Union could satisfy - Leningradsky.
Armament
Before talking about weapons, it is worth noting that the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Ushakov was supposed to strike at enemy ship carrier groups, track and destroy submarines, and, of course, provide air defense and (in the future) missile defense of its territories. Based on all these tasks, the ship received a list of all kinds of weapons. Since a detailed description of each type will require more than one article, it will be necessary to confine ourselves to brief characteristics.
The main strike weapons are represented by the Granite system, an anti-ship missile system located in the bow. It includes 20 missiles, a maximum flight range of 550 km, the warhead is nuclear. 500 kg warhead.
Anti-aircraft weapons - Fort missile system. The cruiser has 12 drum sets of 8 missiles each. In addition to air targets, you can hit enemy ships with a class up to the destroyer. The launch of rocket engines occurs after it is released from the installation, which ensures explosion and fire protection of the ship. Flight range - 70 km (limited by ship control systems).
Anti-submarine equipment includes the Metel missile system - 10 missile torpedoes. Firing range - up to 50 km, depth of destruction - up to 500 m. In addition to this system, two five-pipe torpedo tubes are used.
Also on the deck is a large number of small cannons, guns and small six-barreled machine guns.
Serving the Fatherland
Among the many exercises and combat missions that the "eagles" went to, it is worth noting one especially, in which "Admiral Ushakov" participated. The cruiser was in our waters when, in December 1983, NATO ships, speaking on the side of Israel, began military operations against Syria and Lebanon - allies of the USSR. The ship was ordered to go to the Mediterranean Sea. This is where the funny thing begins. When it entered those waters, and a little less than a day remained to the destination, NATO ships immediately ceased fire and fled to the island zone. The Americans did not dare to approach closer than 500 km to Ushakov.
Execution cannot be pardoned
The phrase from the old tale given above very well describes the situation with the ship at the dawn of the new century. In 1989, when the cruiser was on a mission, the main gearbox broke. Then the problems begin with the main power plant, and in 1991 the captain receives an order: a repair should be made. The ship is docked, but over the next years there is only one important event - the transfer of a ship to the Russian Navy and the renaming of the Admiral Ushakov as a heavy nuclear missile cruiser. Modernization and medium repairs begin only by the year 2000.
Further fate is fully consistent with the old tale - it all depends on where the comma is. For 20 years (from the moment of parking), this comma has changed its position several times. Either modernization or utilization, then a new solution and even a return to the Navy, but this is not final. What will happen next and whether the Admiral will go to sea is still unknown.
Conclusion
One of the few vessels in the Russian Navy, the cruiser Admiral Ushakov, boasts a power plant based on a nuclear reactor. Even today in the world fleet there is no ship comparable in fire power to Ushakov. The appearance of the flagship on the horizon in many cases dramatically changed the balance of power in some situations, and it would be unfortunate if a ship of this class is simply thrown into scrap.