main striking force of the Russian Navy considered submarines, nuclear and diesel-electric.They are difficult service away from home shores, gently demonstrating the vulnerability of potential adversaries, sometimes intentionally giving himself a "notch".Emerging from the depths of the sea in the most unexpected moments, maneuvers near areas of foreign fleets, they show the commanders of the ships that, in spite of the obscurity, they are still there.In peacetime, such a practice is considered normal, while in case of war, the presence of submarines manifested differently.But submariners own tactics and movement of surface vessels is virtually impossible to hide, especially such as large aircraft carriers or cruisers with nuclear power plant.One gets the impression that these giants are not afraid of anyone.
Do you need this giants?
That is behaving in a sea of nuclear missile cruiser "Peter the Great"."Military Review" - a website dedicated to domestic and foreign weapons systems - introduces its visitors with many technical details of construction of the ship, its running performance, but refrains from analyzing its combat effectiveness in the case of a ship or a serious global conflict.However, cruiser, founded in 1986, may not meet the requirements of the new millennium, it was designed without taking into account technology and low visibility is a large glowing goal.It has advantages, but it has a number of drawbacks, such as the content of the combat unit cost the Russian treasury in a round sum annually.So you need our navy nuclear cruiser "Peter the Great" or better and cheaper to conventional submarines, missile systems and naval aviation?How successful it will be able to protect the maritime borders of Russia in case of special circumstances, foreign policy?What he has rivals in the oceans?
These issues require extensive and detailed responses.
Series «Orlan»
In those days, when the Soviet Union fleet commanded by Admiral Gorshkov, the overall ideology of naval strategy relied on large ships, both surface and underwater.Enduring power of the Soviet Navy symbolized numerous nuclear submarines and submarine-cruiser bristling launchers, radars and antennas.Diesel power plants narrowed the range of operational use of naval forces.Allow visible presence in any part of the world's oceans was laid at the Baltic Shipyard "Yuri Andropov" (since 1998 "Peter the Great").The nuclear cruiser was built not one, despite the serious economic difficulties of perestroika in the shipyards began a series of four ships in 1144 the first project that has received the general name of "Orlan".Native "brothers", "Andropov" steel "Kirov", "Frunze" and "Kalinin", also named after prominent figures of the Communist Party.Subsequent events that began to occur in the country, have shown that placing such a large-scale task of re-surface the Navy leadership a few hot.At the moment of the entire series, only one nuclear missile cruiser "Peter the Great" is a combat-ready unit.What will happen to the "Admiral Lazarev" (former "Frunze") and "Admiral Nakhimov" ("Kalinin"), it is clear they are being upgraded until the end of the decade will rise to the ranks.The fate of the "Admiral Ushakov" ("Kirov"), sad, waiting for the ship recycling.
Sneak up quietly it can not
This ship is not just big.Its largest are only carriers.It may be years in the autonomous navigation, producing planned replacement of personnel and replenishing food stocks.The team consists of 727 sailors, sergeants, warrant officers and officers, including 18 pilots and technical personnel operating the helicopters.The speed of 32 knots.Displacement 26,000 tons.It should be borne in mind that to ensure secrecy of its appearance in any area of the world ocean is almost impossible.And it's not the size, or rather, not only in them.The passage through the straits or channels disavows and low-tonnage ships, not that nuclear cruiser "Peter the Great".News that a particular carrier, a destroyer or frigate proceeded through the Suez Canal, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, instantly disperse all over the world.So what is the purpose of this giant if its location is always known, if not from the TV, according to the satellite monitoring?
Major goal
clear that the appearance of the shores of this powerful ship any potential adversary on guard and declare a general alarm.The same reaction would be the commander of the naval compound, which for some reason approach heavy nuclear missile cruiser "Peter the Great".If such an event occurs during peacetime, all finished the regular "exchange of courtesies," the squadron politely bared his shock and defense systems, "make some noise" link and go out, "like ships at sea."But in the case of war, it will go much more intense and dangerous.As a major target enemy immediately open fire and will do everything to let the cruiser to the bottom.The launches will respond to anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, air strikes and other hostile acts, "Peter the Great"?And if he can put himself in case of need a preemptive strike?
Yes.To this end, it has everything you need.
Armament
It is unique not only in size.In the world there is so neavianesuschih armed ships as "Peter the Great".Nuclear cruiser has on board a huge arsenal of all possible means of fire damage and protect against air attacks, submarine attacks, mine threat and other hazards."Chief caliber" are the missiles "Granit", featured twenty launchers under the deck.
Attack pack these shells endure impossible, they have an integrated, autonomous control system.The flight is coordinated by the "leader", to rise above all the other missiles, and in the case of his defeat enemy missile means automatically "purpose" of the new leader.In conjunction with the radio interference and false objects hit "granite" can be considered compelling.
air defense systems S-300F (in marine modification) supplemented defense systems "Dagger" and "Chestnut".These facilities are protected from the effects of Tarka anti-ship missiles launched including from airplanes.Moreover, they are capable of hitting even the ultra-precise laser-guided bombs with.
Attack torpedo and missile boats also failed.In addition, there is a missile and artillery 130 caliber, able to beat at distances up to 22 kilometers.To counter enemy submarines nuclear heavy cruiser "Peter the Great" is equipped with ten launchers "Waterfall" with four dozen anti-tank guided missiles RSL-40 and help them discover the Ka-27 - two of them.And that's not all.
In general, a lot of weapons.And defensive and offensive fire is from that conduct.
Phantom of the eighties?
However, this does not mean that Tarka "Peter the Great" can be called the perfect unsinkable cruiser against which the enemy powerless.This weapon is simply not the case, especially as the vehicle was designed for a long time, almost three decades ago.During this time, the concept of military shipbuilding has changed, become different silhouettes warships, appeared unusual outline sea "Stealth" disappeared complex weave of antennas, simplified forms, the lines become broken contours.Some experts in the field of armaments "Peter the Great" (heavy nuclear missile cruiser Project 1144) seems to be the ghost of archaic era of the seventies and eighties.Already he has a resonant gratings, radar and communications antennas lot.And give an example of such specialists in the US "Arleigh Burke" - a destroyer, built with all the modern requirements for stealth and information support.
American rivals
Yes, USS impresses with its ultra-modern look.It's just a robot-transformer of some kind, he has no protruding parts, and provides the computer system (according to the Pentagon) early detection and very fast operational decisions.There is concern as to how successful can operate nuclear cruiser "Peter the Great" against the system "Aegis" destroyers, which are equipped with type "Arleigh Burke".
But not everything is so sad.The fact that the latest American ships were created based on two major principles: maximizing the integration of control systems and minimize the costs.
system «Aegis»
radar station AN / SPY-1, set to "Arleigh Burke" as antenna uses four phased array fixedly attached to the superstructure.The entire system is closed to a single machining center, which, of course, has certain advantages in terms of noise immunity, but also narrows the range of distances of detection and tracking of targets.Especially this deficiency is manifested in the need to reflect the attack low-flying supersonic anti-ship missiles possessed by "Peter the Great".Nuclear cruiser due to its size can carry a lot of weapons, and its antenna, located high, provide early warning of even such subtle objects such as ships of class "Arleigh Burke" (that invisible call still can not).
the antenna "Peter the Great»
Yes, a lot of dishes, and it is because of them so clearly visible on the radar screens of "Peter the Great".Nuclear cruiser is equipped with three radar stations, each of which fulfills its part of the job."Sunrise" (MP-600), mounted on the foremast, performs the function overview.Below, in the grotto is the radar "Fregat M 2" (MP-750), it defines all three coordinates of the target.At the foremast installed antenna "mistimed" (MP-350), it is able to detect low-flying targets - this is the element that is lacking in a coherent chain of antiaircraft protection of the American system "Aegis"."Tackle" works in two-coordinate system, and has a high scan rate in combination with a small elevation angle to provide the desired performance.Thus, despite its visibility, Tarka "Peter the Great" has all the chances to hit a much more modern ship likely opponent, hit him all his rich arsenal.Detect enemy he can advance and, therefore, a surprise attack does not threaten him.Flip missiles it is also quite able to do this, it has everything you need.
Prospects
History knows many examples when the warships were in the fleet for decades.Soundly made body, good driving and maneuvering capabilities and large displacement provide the basis for the modernization of the vessel and holding it in line with the requirements of the moment.There are signs that the nuclear missile cruiser "Peter the Great", technical specifications which can certainly be called outstanding, will be operated for a long time.Analogues of him, not even other similar ships with nuclear power plant, such as "VA" or "Long Beach", are much smaller than our flagship of the Northern Fleet in displacement, and hence on the modernization potential.And its unique propulsion system, including two fast-neutron reactor and auxiliary boilers, increasing the capacity to 300 megawatts.
is significant that it is a miracle of domestic shipbuilding named after the founder of the Russian Navy, who began this good business building modest small boat.
Perhaps it will be decades before the moment when it will be removed from the Navy nuclear missile cruiser "Peter the Great", that will come to replace the new ships of the third millennium.
