Compared with other states that want to use the wealth of the Arctic, Russia is in a better position. The advantage is the presence of an atomic icebreaker fleet, which is not found in any country in the world, as well as extensive experience in high latitudes.
In order to firmly consolidate the position of the Russian Navy in the Arctic zone, the country's leadership decided to build the lead military icebreaker. The Ilya Muromets project 21180 will be the first multifunctional vessel created in the interests of the Russian Navy and the Ministry of Defense over the past forty-five years.
In total, it is planned to replenish the Northern and Pacific fleets with four auxiliary vessels. At the same time, icebreakers will be built as a separate series. One of them will be the icebreaker Ilya Muromets, project 21180. A photo of the ship is presented in the article.
History of creation
At one time, the workers of the Admiralty Shipyard built Ilya Muromets (project 97). In the Pacific Fleet, he served from 1965 to 1993. In the history of the Soviet Union, at least 32 vessels were built on the basis of this icebreaker. All of them were intended exclusively for military purposes. Eight of them performed the tasks of border patrol ships, and one object was used as a hydrographic vessel. Unlike its counterpart, ice ships of project 21180 are created as multifunctional. They can be used by both military and military scientific expeditions.
What is a ship like?
The icebreaker "Ilya Muromets" of project 21180 is a single-deck multifunctional Russian auxiliary diesel-electric vessel. It belongs to a new generation of ships using powerful energy systems and modern rowing electrical installations. In addition, according to the plans of Russian developers, the availability of expanded functionality and large-volume facilities should become one of the characteristic features of the Ilya Muromets icebreaker.
Developers
The technical design of the new Ilya Muromets icebreaker was carried out by employees of the Vympel Design Bureau for Ship Design, under the supervision of MV Bakhrov, the chief designer. Employees of the Admiralty Shipyard enterprise, with whom the Russian Ministry of Defense entered into an agreement on March 21, 2014, engaged in working design documentation. The vessel was developed under technical design No. 21180.
Ship tab
Construction work was carried out taking into account all the requirements set forth in the State program for military shipbuilding. In April 2015, the Admiralty Shipyard undertook the ceremonial laying of the Ilya Muromets military icebreaker.
According to the statement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Viktor Chirkov, the laying of the icebreaker was carried out taking into account the characteristics of tomorrow’s ships. A year later, this ship was launched, where to date, completion work is being carried out on it.
When will the ship be ready?
According to the plans of the developers, the icebreaker Ilya Muromets, after completion of all design work, will undergo mandatory tests. Presumably, they will be held in October 2017. Then, as planned, the icebreaker Ilya Muromets will be sent to the Arctic zone to serve in the Russian Navy.
How are you going to use the ship?
The icebreaker Ilya Muromets will be delivered to the Arctic zone for effective independent ice pilotage of warships and ships of the Russian Navy. The ship will perform the following tasks:
- Patrol the territory of the Arctic zone.
- Tow other ships.
- To transport goods. For this purpose, it is planned to use the cargo hold of the ship, as well as the decks on which special refrigerated containers will be installed. Loading and unloading operations will be possible thanks to the 21-meter crane installed on the ship with a lifting capacity of 26 tons. Additionally, a crane will be installed on the icebreaker. Its carrying capacity will be two tons. The bow of the vessel is planned to be equipped with a helipad. On the deck of the icebreaker there is a place for a multifunctional working boat BL-820 using an inflatable board.
- The icebreaker will be used as a carrier of additional crews (in the amount of fifty people).
- Pave the way on the ice surface to non-ice class ships.
- Supply coastal, island bases and airfields located in the Arctic zone.
- The icebreaker will also be used by scientists in conducting hydrographic surveys.
In case of emergencies at emergency facilities, the vessel is activated during fire fighting. Especially for this purpose, the icebreaker is equipped with two fire monitors and a fire pump. Also, using this pump and a multifunction boat, it will be possible to carry out localization and collection in the event of an oil leak. To collect oil products from the surface of the water, the icebreaker provides 400-meter boom barriers.
Thus, using the icebreaker Ilya Muromets (photo presented in the article), the Russian Navy will be deployed and deployed in the Arctic zone. This will strengthen the military presence of the Russian Federation in the territorial waters of the Arctic.
Design
Conventional icebreakers contain superstructures with a vertical front wall. Since Ilya Muromets is also intended for military functions, its superstructures have an inclined front wall. Frigates and destroyers have a similar design. On the icebreaker Ilya Muromets, if necessary, it will be possible to install artillery pieces. Presumably, the new icebreaker will use the AK-306. Mostly it is with this artillery installation that auxiliary mobilized vessels are armed.
What is the uniqueness of the ship?
The vessel "Ilya Muromets" has indicators typical of many ice-class vessels that provide a Russian military presence in the Arctic zone. The vessel is characterized by high seaworthiness, maneuverability and multifunctionality. These conceptual principles were laid down in the shipbuilding program in 2015.
Nevertheless, the lead auxiliary vessel has its own innovation. According to the developers of the icebreaker, it will manifest itself when it comes to cruising range and autonomy. "Ilya Muromets" is designed for two-month voyages. According to experts, this ability is a good indicator for an icebreaker that does not use a nuclear power plant. Thus, this vessel is able to cover distances within 12 thousand nautical miles.
Using new flange screws
The icebreaker is equipped with four diesel generators with a capacity of 2600 kW each. Thus, the total power is 10 600 kW. Separate screw-steering columns are equipped with two comb motors. Each of them has a capacity of 3500 kW. It is planned that they will be powered by four diesel generators. The uniqueness of this icebreaker lies in the presence of ridge electric motors, taken out of the hull. The screws, therefore, are able to rotate 360 degrees on the shafts. Due to this, the icebreaker will be able to carry out movement in any direction. This ability is especially important when the ship is in the ice. According to experts, in the Arctic zone, icebreakers very often have to back up. For a new icebreaker equipped with flange propellers, sidetracking will not be problematic either.
Engines
"Ilya Muromets" is equipped with engines of the type "Azipod". These steering columns are used by the famous Mistral helicopter carriers and Arctic tankers of the R-70046 project. At one time, the workers of the Admiralty Shipyard also built the ship Mikhail Ulyanov, equipped with the same columns. The use of Azipod engines in Russian icebreakers is carried out for the first time. A feature of Ilya Muromets can also be considered that it will be equipped with domestic propeller-steering columns. Employees of the St. Petersburg Central Scientific Research Institute of Ship Electronics and Technology are engaged in their design and production.
The performance characteristics
- "Ilya Muromets" belongs to the class of ice ships. It is suitable for operations with ice thickness not exceeding one and a half meters.
- Country of origin - Russia.
- The manufacturer is the Admiralty Shipyards enterprise.
- Intends for the Russian Navy.
- The crew consists of 32 people.
- Displacement - 6 thousand tons.
- The length of the vessel is 84 m.
- Width - 20 m.
- Depth 10 m.
- The icebreaker is characterized by a draft of 6.8 m.
- Speed - 11 knots (economical) and 15 knots (full).
- "Ilya Muromets" is capable of continuous movement with an ice thickness of not more than one meter.
Conclusion
The lack of supplies of auxiliary vessels for the Russian navy significantly limited the possibility of maneuvering it in Arctic waters. It is expected that the commissioning of the Ilya Muromets icebreaker will fill this gap. According to the developers, unlike their epic namesake, the icebreaker will not wait "thirty years and three years", but will defend the homeland in the very near future. The icebreaker will be launched at the beginning of 2018.