In this story, a lot of uncertainties.The American side is not willing to disclose details.The command of the Russian naval aviation also modestly silent after a brief informational messages sent to the Cosmonautics Day 2014.But stingy enough data to the USS "Donald Cook" famous throughout the world.This fairly new ship, equipped with everything necessary, and despite the fact that it is not the size of the record, could symbolize the naval power of the United States, which was sent to the Black Sea.As they say in such cases, employees of the circus, the number failed.
Gripping story
In April, near the Russian border began to unfold the drama, called anti-terrorist operation, but in reality has become a veritable civil war.After udavshegosya coup against the rebellious eastern provinces of the new Ukrainian authorities sent regular troops with artillery, tanks, tactical ballistic missiles and all other weapons, originally manufactured to fight strong and dangerous external aggressor.Crimea, managed to avoid the sad fate of the victims, the population of the peninsula voted for independence and joining Russia.
In the midst of this turmoil boiling, accompanied by bloodshed, the Black Sea became the US destroyer "Donald Cook".We can only guess about the true purpose of the visit, but certain conclusions can be reached by dealing with the combat capabilities of the ship.
Series "Arleigh Burke" and its 25th instance
Americans their national heroes, and they are named after them, one or the other cruiser, a frigate or a destroyer.Donald Cook, the captain of the US Marine Corps, fought in Vietnam and died of the disease (malaria), while in captivity.Even at home this hero is no consensus about how this war was just.It is also unknown exploits, if any, committed by Cook before his capture.However, it is really important?The captain fought for their country in places where he was sent, and died in 1967.In his honor and was named the 25th unit of the account of the series of American post-war mass warships.All in all, it is assumed that the number of twin destroyers figure exceeds 60.
Project "Arleigh Burke" struck the Pentagon so successful that he had been high hopes.In 1983, when the foundations lead ship of the series, he was impressed with its contours, applied in the construction technology and even appearance.
destroyer class "surface-to-shore»
Any series consists of naval ships, similar in appearance, differing from each other more strongly than later went the stocks or that one.The destroyer "Donald Cook" was launched in 1997, adopted in a combat fleet in 15 months.This ship can not be considered out of date, it has a powerful Missiles, equipped with the most advanced electronic media, protected by a variety of possible factors affecting and almost invisible to radar.However, there are some features of the destroyer because of the nature of specific fire features.The fact that its on-board anti-system represented a very modest.Four cruise missiles "Harpoon" (subsonic and small) is not enough to conduct a serious naval battle against a powerful enemy.In other words, the USS "Donald Cook" is designed to attack coastal targets in the complete absence of domination and resistance on the part of the enemy fleet.To do this, he has "Tomahawk" (the number of cells below the deck of the Kyrgyz Republic can be up to 90 pieces).
About «Aegis»
But not only for shooting on cities and coastal positions created this ship that cost a billion military budget (the prices of the second half 90).Main share of this astronomical sum accounts for the latest electronics, integrated into the design of the hull and superstructure.The multi-faceted angular cutting is not just skin spaces on its inclined planes mounted antenna transmitters and receivers of radar signals.They are keenly watching the hundreds of potential targets and passing the information to the computer control complex provide safe execution of combat missions.System "Aegis" obey fifty anti-aircraft missiles, capable of hitting the MDBs in near space.American destroyer "Donald Cook" on a plan, a mobile element of a global missile defense system, conducting reconnaissance and automatically, like a robot, produce solutions strategic level.
addition to fixed relative to the housing antennas on the ship there is one radar AN / SPY-1, performing many of the functions of detection of low-flying objects to the observations of spy satellites.
the ship destroyer
It makes sense to refer to the question of what is the sense in the shipping USS "Donald Cook".The characteristics of the ship are not unique, but they are good.At full displacement at 8.9 thousand. Tons it has a length of 153 meters and width of 20 meters and draft of 9.4 m. To produce the underwater hull applied nonmagnetic high-strength magnesium-aluminum alloys, which increases the resistance and lowers the torpedo visibility systems for enemydetection.Power unit loaded with two screws, it consists of two gas turbines from General Electric LM2500-30 a total capacity of 108 thousand. Liters.with.Maximum stroke - 32 knots, autonomy of 4400 miles (at 20 knots cruising course).The crew consists of 337 members of the team, of which 23 officers Kubrick and fighting positions reserved durable and lightweight Kevlar panels, which also was a revolutionary decision.
special admiration worthy of the screws.These propellers usually give the ship its noise resulting from cavitation processes and acoustic station submarines can easily identify the type of the moving object, its speed and the distance to it.Each blade propellers "Cook" is equipped with a special pipe system, the charge air at the end of the edges.The result is a bubble cloud, distorting the sound "portrait" of the ship and absorbing noise.How justified the money spent on the development and manufacturing of this complex system is unknown, because the destroyer can be detected, and many other means of notification.
VET system and air defense
ship at sea threaten much trouble.In case of war the enemy keen to let him on the bottom, and this makes for all that it can.He puts the mines, sometimes equipped with devices multiplicity (if you know how the account would follow the most important vehicle of the enemy), they are equipped with different types of fuses.In addition, in the course are the torpedoes, rockets, and, of course, aviation.At the shipyard «Bath Iron Works» made sure to safeguard all these misfortunes USS "Donald Cook".Armament includes its anti-missile-torpedo ASROC-VL, anti-aircraft missiles "Stenderd-2" to intercept targets at long range, anti-aircraft UR ESSM, beating the enemy crept up on and even trans-atmospheric interceptors SM-3.
gaps in anti-grade designers planning to equip the ship perspective complex LRASM.In general, a lot of weapons.But it turned out to be useless, even during the school raid is not the most modern bomber Su-24.The destroyer "Donald Cook" blind.
Fighting the way and experience
Since the launching of the ship is not standing idle.At first, he was based in Norfolk, in 2012 it was credited to the Spanish port of Rota, where deployed US Navy base.In 2000, during the events of the destroyer in Aden "Donald Cook" assisted another ship, "Cole" protaranennomu boat with suicide bombers.The first salvo "Tomahawk" on Iraq in 2003 made all the same, "Cook."He visited many distant campaigns, plowed the sea all over the world took part in the exercises, including international.The crew showed good training and coordination, highly qualified and some courage shown by during assignments.
Chronicle
Mean facts describe the chronology of the entire period of the destroyer in the Black Sea in 2014.Bosporus ship passed April 10, the day of liberation of Odessa from the German-Romanian invaders.For about two days, a compound in which in addition to "cook", were maritime reconnaissance "Dupuy de Lom" lifeguard "Alize" and the destroyer "Duplex" French Navy, to perform various maneuvers in a relatively short distance from Sevastopol.April 12 appeared on the radar screens approaching plane to head directly to the "Donald Cook".The destroyer "Su" noticed (even identified the type of aircraft, and the fact that he was not armed), and the ship was declared teaching and alarm.Further developments for some time remained a mystery.
Flight
Pentagon officials expressed extreme indignation at the actions of the Russian pilots.They characterized them as unprofessional and hostile.The statement was emotional and tough, but between its rows read by confusion.Who became suddenly famous destroyer "Donald Cook", which published the photo with mocking comments from many media around the world, moored in the Romanian port of Constanta, and 27 members of his demoralized team expressed a desire to retire.Blame - Russian aircraft had violated all conceivable norms of international law.
Montreux Convention
One of the international maritime agreements referred to by the US side, called the Montreux Convention.According to her the Black Sea warships countries without their own water area here may be no more than 21 days, and their total tonnage can not exceed 30 thousand. Tonnes per country.The destroyer "Donald Cook" did not violate the convention, but shortly before the events described another ship of the US Navy, "Taylor" several podzaderzhalsya supposedly repairing screws.The purpose of the last visit "Cook" was clearly "show the flag", but other than that, to the crew, most likely, becoming another, secret task.
And suddenly the war?
Contact the presence of the international squadron near the Russian coast and Ukrainian events in general, no one challenged or denied.As the risk of a conflict of its transition to the military stage increased.No illusions about the capacity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the US could consider the likelihood of assisting them in the form of intelligence without the involvement of the army in a possible full-scale war.Gathering such information, and probably going to take a US Navy destroyer, "Donald Cook".Options defensive systems, the deployment of air defense systems, communications centers and other important elements of the military structure of the Black Sea Fleet could be of interest to the General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraine, to whom this information would be immediately transferred to the case of war.
So what happened?
In fact, the American destroyer nothing terrible has happened.He successfully left the inhospitable waters of the Black Sea region.The planned visit to Odessa was not held due to the deep moral trauma, tested crew.The reason for this annoyance - a compact set of electronic warfare "Khibiny" attached to the console anything longer armed bomber Su-24, a dozen times over the last ship at extremely low altitude.Apparently, she had so many of his belly with oil stains so upset team "Cook" as awareness of their vulnerability and even helplessness.It would seem, here it is - the probable enemy, and he acts in the learning mode.So learn as executed by the handling of his defense!But the system has failed.Temporarily.Russian did not even spoiled, but they could.He flew the aircraft, and "Aegis" restart.
Results and conclusions
essence of the claims of the Pentagon to the Russian aviation, in general, was to ensure that our pilots have shown a certain rudeness.Well, maybe a certain intolerance has actually occurred.Equally rude in 1988 Soviet sailors rammed USS "Caron", tried to enter the territorial waters of the USSR.Crimea, in fact, has long attracted foreign squadron norovyaschie visit the peninsula is not always with friendly intentions.
As destroyer "Donald Cook", then underestimate its combat capability is still not worth it.This is - a modern and serious armed ships, the last in 2012 modernization.It is possible, he must now another.
