Meeting the Varyag missile cruiser on the ocean, American warships signal to it the phrase “You’re Looking Good!”, which means “You look good!” Forgetting that in front of them is a ship of a potential enemy, they express admiration for this formidable ship, nicknamed the “aircraft carrier killer.”
A special feature of this ship (project 1164) are eight large double containers angled upward, four on each side. They, of course, are not for beauty; each one houses the Vulcan P-100 complex. This is a terrible weapon.
A salvo that the Varyag missile cruiser can fire is lethal for an entire squadron that makes up an aircraft-carrying group of ships. A "wolf pack" of eight five-ton rockets rushes towards the specified target, controlled by an electronic brain. As expected, this “group of comrades” has its own leader, who gives commands to the other seven participants in the attack. It is he who chooses the largest target for himself - the flagship aircraft carrier - and gives instructions on where to fly to others. In the event of the premature death of the main rocket, command is assumed by the next one, which at that moment will be at the highest altitude. But this is unlikely; it is very difficult to shoot down someone walking at a speed of almost 3000 km/h and making deceptive maneuvers. And if you consider that there are eight of them, and each has a nuclear charge...
The missile cruiser "Varyag", the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, was built in Nikolaev more than thirty years ago. Until 1996 it was called “Chervona Ukraine”.
The original design included six double launch containers (three on each side). The intervention of Admiral Gorshkov led to a change in the original plan towards increasing firepower. The commander of the Navy also influenced the composition of the artillery weapons: instead of the automatic A-100, a double-barreled AK-130 was installed on the tank. The displacement increased, the performance characteristics deteriorated somewhat, and the ammunition had to be reduced. It is difficult to judge how much all these measures have improved the ship’s combat qualities, but the fact remains that today the Varyag missile cruiser is one of the most formidable combat units in the world.
The Pacific Fleet had the opportunity to participate in a campaign to the shores of Somalia (2011). Pirates off the African coast have disrupted shipping, posing a threat to the safety of merchant seamen. The squadron of several ships was led by the missile cruiser Varyag. Photo Russian ships published all the printed publications in the world after they carried out successful operations that stopped the activity of the newly-minted corsairs. Anti-ship systems were not needed on this campaign; using them would be as rational as shooting sparrows from cannons. But the artillery turned out to be very useful.
In 1991, Ukraine, like all other republics of the USSR, ceased to be red. Five years later, the crew proposed to give the ship a name, famous back in 1904. Then, during Japanese war, the unconquered Russian cruiser did not lower itself at Chemulpo and sank to the bottom without falling to the enemy. The feat of the last parade impressed the German poet Rudolf Greitz, who composed the lyrics of the song that became the unofficial anthem of the Russian Fleet. The guards missile cruiser “Varyag”, cutting the ocean waves with its bow in the 21st century, inherited a proud and expensive name.
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The Project 1164.1 missile cruiser "Chervona Ukraine" was laid down at the 61st Communard plant in Nikolaev on July 31, 1979 (serial number 2010), on November 5, 1982 it was included in the list of ships of the USSR Navy, launched on August 28, 1983, entered service commissioned on December 25, 1989, and on February 28, 1990 included in the Pacific Fleet. After the collapse of the USSR, the cruiser went to Russia and in 1996, at the initiative of the ship’s crew, it was named “Varyag” - in honor of the famous armored cruiser of the 1st Pacific Squadron of the Russian Navy, a participant in the Battle of Chemulpo in 1904.
The cruiser's main weapon is the P-1000 Vulcan homing cruise missiles. The SM-248 missile launchers are located on the sides of the ship; they look very impressive and can easily distinguish the Varyag from other ships. Project 1164 cruisers are also called “aircraft carrier killers” - in fact, that’s what they were created for.
1. The pattern of missile action is impressive - after a salvo from one side, all eight missiles, after opening their wings, form a single group, a “wolf pack” with a leader - a separately flying missile, which guides the entire group to the target, adjusts the course for the remaining missiles, dumping information on them. When approaching the target, the lead missile selects the largest object (an aircraft carrier), directs one of the missiles with the so-called at it. “special ammunition” and divides the remaining objects between the rest of the “flock” missiles. All missiles include homing heads and strike objects. The mass of one rocket is almost five tons, the flight speed is about 2900 km/h. An enemy ship has no chance of staying afloat after being hit by such a missile. If the lead missile is shot down, another one, exactly the same, takes its place. The attack takes place without the participation of the ship’s crew using a “fire and forget” system. Interestingly, all this is technology from the early 70s.
2. Acquaintance with “Varyag” begins with prosaic bags of cabbage and carrots. Standing nearby The Admiral Panteleev BOD is preparing to set off on a trip to the shores of Africa and is loading a supply of food.
3. They go on sea voyages for a long time and seriously stock up on everything they need. This is only a small part of that drinking water, which is loaded into the holds of a warship.
4. The officer accompanying me advised me not to use mobile phone: “If you have a smartphone, it’s better to turn it off, otherwise it may burn out.” I didn’t believe it, but I turned it off just in case. The ship has a full set of radar weapons of the MP-152 “Ring” complex for detecting operating radios and location stations, homing heads of enemy missiles, their direction finding and suppression. Perhaps there was some reason in the officer’s words.
5. On the forecastle of the Varyag there is an AK-130 - a ship’s automatic cannon. Fires a high-explosive fragmentation projectile at a speed of 90 rounds per minute and a range of up to 23 kilometers. Fully automatic - operates independently until the ammunition runs out. They say it has no analogues in the world. We knew how to do something, but something that shoots. There were problems with consumer goods, but the guns were always excellent. AK-130 is no exception. In the initial sketches of the ship, there were 12 launchers (six per side) and instead of one twin-barrel gun there were two single-barreled A-100s. In 1972, Admiral Gorshkov ordered the addition of four more launchers to fire two full eight-missile salvoes, and the two AK-100s were replaced with one twin-barreled AK-130. The ship became significantly heavier, the speed and ammunition of artillery guns decreased (720 rounds versus 2000).
6. Despite modern means communications, the signal flag system remains the main communication for watercraft in the fleet. The Russian Navy uses a code of fleet signals. 32 signal flags correspond to the letters of the Russian alphabet: Vedi - “The course leads to danger”, Zhivete - “Make a medium move”, Y - “Detected a mine”, etc. This photo shows the signalman's position on the cruiser. The metal box contains signal flags, which, if necessary, are raised on vertical halyards to the yardarm. To the left of the box are black “running balls”, which in the sea indicate the speed of the ship. The lower the “ball” is located, the higher the speed. By the way, the Varyag can travel at a speed of 32 knots. When he goes at such speed, the breakers behind him are ten meters high.
7. “What is that little red thing turning blue?” On the wall are silhouettes of ships and planes of Russia and NATO countries. A hint for the signalman who is observing what is happening around the ship.
8. This is the wheelhouse of the ship. From here it is controlled in everyday conditions. The cabin is connected to the combat information center BIUS "Lesorub-1164" by a command elevator.
9. Place of the commander of the cruiser “Varyag”, guard captain 1st rank Eduard Moskalenko.
11. “Tovs” - I love these naval words. Huys, biteng, twindeck, southwest, coaming, sternpost, binnacle - all this smells of the salty sea wind and is incredibly exciting.
12. The shifts went to their places of work. The Kavtarangs racked their brains: “What would I show you that’s so unclassified?” We agreed on some screen No. 22. Sailor Renat from Bashkortostan sat in the operator’s seat and began pressing buttons, turning on monitors - depicting the activities at the combat post. It looked quite authentic.
13. The same Renat, who caught the attention of the officers at the wrong time, enlivened the ship’s library room, pretending to be sorting out the mail that had arrived on the ship. The library is good. Small, but everything is there. In general, the Varyag is a fairly comfortable ship. The wardrooms are decorated with wood, there are paintings hanging, and carpets on the floor. There is a swimming pool with a waterfall, healing showers, a large steam room, and a sauna. The accommodation cabins are air conditioned and the ship has four air refrigeration units.
14. Walking on a cruiser involves long walks along endless corridors and sudden descents and ascents along vertical ladders. In the fourth compartment we go lower and lower, to where the sailors' quarters are. Weapons are, of course, interesting, but I really wanted to see how sailors live on one of the most powerful cruisers in the world.
16. On the screen of the competition for the best cabin, you can see, for example, that cabin No. 14, who scored a bolt for the competition in December, apparently received big stars from the commanders and then became advanced, without falling below the rating of “four”.
17. This is how the night shift rests in the now exemplary cockpit No. 14. I opened the door for a couple of seconds and took a few pictures of the sleeping sailors.
18. In the next cockpit, a sailor was writing something important in a journal. Next to him stands a cage with a parrot screwed to the table. The parrot was there and resting.
19. The holy of holies of the missile cruiser is the galley. The ceilings here are low and a sailor with a rag in his hand, putting things in order, walked with his head bent, which gave his figure a sad look. Nearby, two other sailors began to open cans with a simple knife, for which I immediately received a scolding from the officers accompanying me. Everything has to be perfect for someone else's eyes, I understand.
20. A ship's cat is an indispensable accessory for any warship to combat rodents. Or, as they say here, “squirrels.” Seals and vital cables in a metal braid - these are the conditions for the coexistence of people and rodents. There are several cats on the ship, they are brought in one at a time. combat unit. The cats of the cruiser "Varyag" are popular among guests in different countries, where the ship enters. It happens that they are given as gifts - one of the ship’s cats now lives in Orthodox Church in Singapore. Mother, they say, was happy with such a gift. Another was given to a local admiral in Indonesia.
21. I wanted to take one Lifebuoy as a keepsake. They didn’t give me a government circle, but they gave me something else.
22. We had lunch with the officers, talked, then moved to the work cabin, where we talked some more. I didn’t want to leave, but time was running out for them and for me. When leaving, I took a few more pictures on the deck of the Varyag and on the shore.
24. It seemed to me that everything was in order on the cruiser. He goes to sea and conducts training exercises. The Varyag is a welcome guest in foreign ports; people line up to see it and take a tour of the ship. As the officers said: “The French Mistral is parked nearby - there is no one there, but to us there is a queue for the entire pier, thirty thousand people come for several days of visit.” You can see how proud the sailors are of their “Varyag” and their service. They invited me to go on a hike - I have to think about it, I’m not friends with the jocks, although I really want to, of course. Because this is real.
What makes the Russian “aircraft carrier killer” unique?
One of the most warring ships of the Russian Navy The guards missile cruiser "Moskva" (project 1164 "Atlant") can go for repairs and modernization in 2018. It is planned that the work will be carried out at the Zvezdochka plant (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation JSC) in Severodvinsk. Some media outlets wrote about this, citing their sources in the industry. It was reported that the contract for the modernization of the ship is expected to be agreed upon by the end of 2017.
Recently, this plant completed the repair of another cruiser of the same project, Marshal Ustinov. At the end of 2016, the ship left the waters of the enterprise and headed for Severomorsk, the main base of the Northern Fleet.
As a source in the Navy told TASS, it is possible that for a while possible repairs the cruiser "Moscow" can be replaced by the "Marshal Ustinov".
Zvezdochka completed repairs to the missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov
The Zvezdochka ship repair center has completed repairs to the missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov. On Saturday, December 24, the ship left the Zvezdochka water area and headed for Severomorsk
This question certainly stands - who will replace the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet. Sevastopol (fleet ships - TASS note) guards the Mediterranean Sea, its eastern part. And, of course, it is impossible to be in the fleet without such a ship. It is possible to assume that “Ustinov” will go there. Because in the north (Northern Fleet) there is a heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser "Peter the Great" Source in the Navy
The ships of the Atlant project were intended to combat aircraft carrier groups of a potential enemy, which they could strike while outside the range of enemy aircraft. But today, according to TASS military observer Viktor Litovkin, their weapons no longer guarantee the completion of such tasks.
And although our fleet has no longer set itself the task of fighting aircraft carrier groups, the armament of the ships of the Atlant project and their combat support systems - reconnaissance, navigation, communications, electronic warfare, as well as the power plant must be changed to the most modern. Including to strengthen our capabilities in the ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea, where the American 6th Fleet with cruise missiles on board is “grazing.” And his ships sometimes enter the Black Sea, approaching our shores Viktor LitovkinTASS military observer
COMBAT GEOGRAPHY
Initially, it was planned to build 10 Project 1164 Atlant cruisers, but only four were laid down. Three such ships were put into operation - "Moscow" (formerly "Slava"), "Varyag" (formerly "Chervona Ukraine"), "Marshal Ustinov". All of them are part of the three fleets of the Russian Federation - the Black Sea, Pacific and Northern.
The fourth ship - "Ukraine" (formerly "Admiral of the Fleet Lobov") - is stationed at a plant in Nikolaev and is owned by Ukraine. According to some reports, its estimated readiness is about 95%. Negotiations were held about its purchase by Russia for the Northern Fleet, but at the beginning of 2014 they were interrupted.
In 1991, "Slava" (cruiser "Moscow" - TASS note) was put on the stocks of the Nikolaev plant for partial modernization, but due to underfunding, the planned time frame (no more than a year) turned into a long eight years. To complete the repairs, money was provided by the authorities of the Russian capital. In 1999, the ship was returned to sea, but under a new name.
Its uniqueness is that it (the cruiser "Moscow") is the first hull of the ship of the Atlant project, that it floats all the time... and was once pulled out of repair Igor Kasatonov
The cruiser "Moscow" during the exercises "Caucasus-2012" in the Black Sea
Behind the stern of the cruiser are many long-distance voyages, three oceans (Pacific, Atlantic and Indian), performing important tasks in different regions planets: participation in ensuring meetings of the heads of the USSR and the USA on the island of Malta in 1989, performing live firing (including in Atlantic Ocean), participation in large-scale international maneuvers.
A serious test for the ship was its participation in the operation to force Georgia to peace in August 2008. The cruiser then operated as part of a naval formation of heterogeneous forces.
In 2013, the cruiser passed through the Panama Canal and entered Pacific Ocean. Ships flying St. Andrew's flag rarely enter this busiest waterway in the Western Hemisphere.
In March 2014, the cruiser, together with other ships of the Black Sea Fleet, carried out a blockade of the Ukrainian Navy on Donuzlav. And in the winter of 2016, he returned from combat service in the Mediterranean Sea, where he covered a Russian air base in Syria.
The cruiser's crew operated as part of a permanent naval formation in the Mediterranean Sea, performing tasks to cover the Russian Khmeimim airbase on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic with air defense systems. Vyacheslav TrukhachevRepresentative of the Black Sea Fleet, captain 1st rank
The ship in the Mediterranean Sea was replaced by the same type missile cruiser Varyag, the flagship of the Pacific Fleet. At the end of 2016, Moskva topped the list of the best ships of the Black Sea Fleet.
"ARGUMENTS" OF THE CRUISER
After the collapse of the USSR, these ships formed the basis of the heavy surface forces of the Russian fleet. This class was called the "aircraft carrier killer" by NATO.
The lead ship of Project 1164 Atlant, the missile cruiser Moskva.
Project 1164 missile cruisers
Designed to strike enemy strike groups and large ships, to ensure the combat stability of anti-submarine search and strike groups of ships, as well as to perform collective air defense tasks for formations and convoys in remote areas of the World Ocean. The auxiliary tasks of ships of this class are fire support for landing forces, anti-submarine warfare, and shelling of the coastline occupied by the enemy.
The cruiser was designed for the P-500 Basalt anti-ship missile, and was later re-equipped with the more advanced P-1000 Vulcan. There are 16 of them on the cruiser (eight twin launchers). The length of the rocket is almost 12 m, the weight without launch boosters is over 5 tons. The firing range is 550–700 km, depending on the chosen trajectory profile. Speed - up to Mach 2.5 (almost 3 thousand km/h). Warheads - high-explosive cumulative (explosive charge about 500 kg) or nuclear.
The cruiser's anti-aircraft missile armament consists of eight S-300F Fort air defense missile launchers (64 missiles) and two Osa-AK missile launchers with 48 missiles.
Artillery weapons include a 130 mm AK-130 artillery mount and six six-barreled 30 mm AK-630 anti-aircraft guns. Entered into service back in the 1980s, the AK-130 remains the most powerful naval artillery system in the world today.
Anti-submarine weapons consist of two torpedo tubes (ammunition capacity of 10 anti-submarine torpedoes), two RBU-6000 rocket launchers (ammunition capacity of 96 jet depth charges) and a Ka-27 helicopter.
With its 11.5 thousand tons of displacement and impressive dimensions (186.5 m long and 20.8 m wide), the Moskva reaches a speed of 32 knots (60 km/h). Crew - 510 people. Plus, unlimited seaworthiness, a large reserve of autonomy, powerful weapons - in terms of combat capabilities, it is far ahead of similar ships of other countries of the same class.
The cruiser "Moskva" on patrol in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Syria. December 2015
According to military experts, the updated Moskva may receive the latest Caliber cruise missiles. This weapon has already successfully proven itself during massive strikes against terrorist targets in Syria, and foreign customers are showing interest in it (export versions - the Club-N and Club-S systems - TASS note).
"Caliber" carries on board frigates of Project 11356 ("Admiral Grigorovich"), submarines "Varshavyanka" and "Pike" - submarines can launch missiles from torpedo tubes at a range of up to 1.5 thousand km.
"Caliber-NK", of course, is not the only powerful weapon for Russian surface and submarine ships, but their effectiveness has been tested by high-precision strikes against terrorist bases, command posts and training bases for militants of the terrorist groups ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra (banned in the Russian Federation) in Syria . I think they will be very useful on the modernized Moskva, as well as, quite possibly, the Onyx anti-ship systems Viktor LitovkinTASS military observer
They talked about new weapons for Moskva back in 2015. Assistant to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for military-scientific work, Captain 1st Rank Andrei Surov, reported that there will be modernization for new weapon systems, new communication, automation and control systems.
According to him, the fleet will retain this segment of ships “in the next 5–10, maybe 15 years,” but research and development of a ship of similar displacement is underway to replace it.
ABOUT NORTH "ATLANTA"
Repairs of the Marshal Ustinov began in 2011 by shipbuilders from the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center. Work was carried out on the ship's hull, the mechanisms of the propeller group, the main power plant, and the general ship systems of the cruiser. Electronic weapons systems were modernized, replacing analogue devices with digital ones.
The cruiser "Marshal Ustinov" received modernized electronic weapons
After completing tests in the White Sea, the missile cruiser will arrive at its permanent location in the Northern Fleet.
The company noted that the experience gained by Zvezdochka during the repair of the Marshal Ustinov will reduce the repair time of the cruisers Moskva and Varyag of the same type.
They gained experience in repairing surface ships even earlier when they modernized the Project 956 ship "Fearless" (in 2004 it changed its name to "Admiral Ushakov." - TASS note). Then they made an aircraft carrier. It is obvious that this repair period will be shorter taking into account this experience, which was obtained earlier by Igor KasatonovAdvisor to the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, admiral
At the end of October 2016, "Marshal Ustinov" went to sea to carry out the factory sea trials program. Numerous checks of the cruiser's systems and mechanisms in sea conditions, which lasted about a month, confirmed high performance characteristics ship.
The missile cruiser "Marshal Ustinov" went to sea for sea trials
The Northern Fleet missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov went to sea for sea trials after repairs and modernization at the Zvezdochka defense shipyard in Severodvinsk.
While our “Varyag” is stationed in South Korean Busan, a hostile squadron is approaching the shores of Korea, only the north. Not yet an enemy one - because war has not been declared, notes the online publication Tsargrad. But the situation is so aggravated that the very first shot will turn it into an enemy one, informs “ Pacific Russia", ToRoss.
“Tsargrad” continues: “If this is your shot, you will become the instigator of the war. But then you’ll break out into the open sea and be able to fight further. If you wait, you will first be blocked in the port, and then shot when you try to leave their waters.
Captain 1st Rank Vsevolod Rudnev, commander of the cruiser Varyag, stationed in a Korean port, faced such a dilemma. He chose the second option and went down in history as a hero. Although from a military point of view he made a mistake - as many in the navy believe - if he had been active, he would have had a chance to escape from the Japanese squadron of Rear Admiral Sotokichi Uriu.
He could have left. But he chose not to give up.
Paradoxes of history - today the cruiser "Varyag" is again docked in the Korean port. And again, not yet an enemy, but already a hostile squadron is approaching him. Moreover, an armada, according to the head of state who sent it. And the choice, characteristically, is approximately the same: stay in the port and you can become a target.
True, 113 years passed between these elections. And the port is different: then there was Chemulpo, today’s Incheon, and now Busan. And “Varyag” is there on a friendly visit. Together with the accompanying tanker Pechenga. And the hostile squadron is now not Japanese, but American.
And, to be honest, the commander of the “Varyag” of the guard, captain of the 2nd rank Alexei Ulyanenko, does not have a choice. The visit, which began on April 11, should last four days and, therefore, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow the Russian ships will give up their mooring lines. If they meet the Americans, it will be at sea. And relations between the United States and Russia, no matter how complex they may be, today are still far from an immediate threat of war.
What if there was one, this choice? What could the Varyag oppose to the enemy, other than the same readiness not to give up that its great-grandfathers showed in the battle of Chemulpo?
The Guards missile cruiser “Varyag” is not a new ship. Its construction began on July 31, 1979.
A sad smile of history: this missile cruiser of Project 1164.1 was laid down under the name “Chervona Ukraine” at the shipyard “Name of 61 Communards” in the city of Nikolaev. At the same shipyard, the construction of which began back in 1787, by order of His Serene Highness Prince Potemkin-Tavrichesky, who first won for Russian Empire these lands belonged to the Turks, and then he breathed life into them by erecting cities and temples, building enterprises and industries. The shipyard was called that way when it opened in 1788 - Nikolaev Admiralty.
The first ship, the sailing frigate “St. Nicholas,” was launched here on August 25, 1790. The frigate then fought as part of a squadron under the command of Admiral Fyodor Ushakov, took part in one of the legendary victories of the Russian fleet - the battle of Cape Kaliakria, bombed enemy batteries and landed troops in the no less legendary battle for the island of Corfu in 1799. This is the one that had no analogues in maritime history operation during the war with France, when “fortresses took ships.”
And now this heroic Russian plant, which built heroic Russian ships, finding itself in independent Ukraine, is riveting potbelly stoves for punitive troops in the ATO zone. Derussified to the extreme...
But in 1982, when the cruiser Chervona Ukraine was launched, no one thought about such a future, and no one even knew that such a thing was possible. Therefore, in 1990, the cruiser made an inter-naval transition from Sevastopol to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, where it was assigned to the 173rd missile ship brigade of the Kamchatka flotilla. Here he soon ended up the best ship formations, won first prizes for firing cruise missiles. So when the ship received its new one on February 9, 1996, holy name, this was considered worthy of tradition - the name of the legendary “Varyag” is given to the most worthy.
Today this ship is the flagship of the Russian Pacific Fleet. Its displacement is 11,280 tons. The length is about 200 meters, the width is almost 21 meters. Midship height is 42.5 meters. The performance characteristics are impressive: with a total power of the gas turbine power plant of 22,500 horsepower (and there are four of them), the speed is 32 knots. When the “Varyag” is moving at full speed, a breaker 10 meters high rises behind it!
The cruising range is 7,500 miles with an autonomy of up to 30 days. The crew is approximately 500 people.
What is the Varyag equipped with?
The ship is called the “aircraft carrier killer.”
Is he formidable enough for the enemy?
Despite its age, the ship is today equipped with the most modern combat and navigation equipment.
Several radar stations: three-dimensional radar for detecting air targets MR-600 “Voskhod”, radar MR-123 “Vympel” for fire control artillery installation. Radar 3Р41 "Volna" of the antenna fire control post of the "Fort" air defense system, called for its characteristic "boob" shape. Radar complex MP-800. PK-10 “Brave” electronic warfare system.
The 30mm six-barreled automatic gun mount itself is AK-630. These are primarily anti-aircraft weapons, which also include two Osa-MA air defense systems with 9M33 missiles and eight S-300F Fort air defense systems.
Two five-tube torpedo tubes, an RBU-6000 Smerch-2 rocket launcher, and a Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopter are used as anti-submarine weapons.
The 130mm AK-130 artillery mount works as artillery weapons. This ship's automatic cannon has no analogues in the world. It fires high-explosive fragmentation shells at a range of up to 23 kilometers at a speed of 90 rounds per minute.
To control weapons there is a combat Information system BIUS "Lesorub-1164". To ensure navigational safety, there are the “Bal” and “Vaigach” complexes, where electronic maps are displayed.
Among the defensive equipment is a set of radar weapons of the MP-152 “Ring” complex. It is designed to detect radar stations and homing heads of enemy missiles with their further direction finding and suppression.
But the main part of the Varyag cruiser’s armament is the P-1000 Vulkan homing cruise missiles. It was thanks to them that the Project 1164 cruisers were called “aircraft carrier killers.” After launching from SM-248 launchers located in pairs on the sides of the ship, all eight missiles open their wings and turn into a single shark or wolf pack, forming a single group under the control of the “leader” missile. This, formally speaking, lead missile gives target designation to the entire group, corrects their course, pointing at the target. When approaching it, all missiles turn on their homing heads and inevitably strike. At the same time, the “leader” himself, without further ado, selects the largest object, directs a missile with the largest charge at it (and if for an aircraft carrier, then with “special ammunition”), and distributes the rest among other objects.
What’s interesting is that if the lead missile is shot down, then its functions are taken over by another, followed by a third, and so on. As a result, for the ship’s crew, shooting becomes an exciting, but short-term activity: the “fire and forget” scheme works.
The total ammunition load of such missiles is 16 units.
According to the sailors, when hit by such a missile weighing almost five tons at a speed of about 2900 km/h with high-explosive ammunition of 500 kilos, the enemy ship has no chance of staying afloat.
Combat experience? Eat!
By the way, “Varyag” took part in a combat operation in Syria - in January 2016 it replaced the same type cruiser “Moskva” as part of the Russian Navy Operational Unit in the Mediterranean Sea. The main task was to cover the actions of the Russian Aerospace Forces air group at the Khmeimim base with the help of the S-300F air defense system.