Project 1144. The cruiser of Project 1144 Orlan

In recent years, the domestic military-industrial complex has sighed slightly more freely: state orders have appeared, and the state has finally "ripened" to the idea that it is not a very good idea to give tasks for the production of ships and engines to them abroad. Alas, but so far the re-equipment of the fleet is very slow. So far, we have to stay afloat "old men", which were laid and built in the USSR. Project 1144 also applies to this.

Basic information

These are heavy cruisers with a nuclear power plant, the laying and launching of which were carried out at the Baltic plant from 1973 to 1998. Their uniqueness is just in the nuclear "heart", since there are no more such ships in the Soviet and Russian fleet. NATO also assessed these vessels: their size and armament inspired respect for any potential adversary. The constructor in charge of the project 1144 was Boris Kupensky. On the post of his deputy was Yukhin Vladimir Evgenievich.

However standard it may sound, these ships really do not have analogs in the world shipbuilding. They are completely universal, they allow performing tasks to destroy surface and underwater enemy ships. These ships were equipped with missile weapons of this class that it was possible with a high degree of probability to guarantee the complete destruction of virtually any grouping of the probable enemy.

Known project 1144 is also the fact that these ships were the largest in the world, not counting aircraft carriers. The closest American analog, the cruiser Virginia, is 2.5 times smaller in displacement. These vessels are multifunctional: they can perform long-term combat missions in virtually all parts of the world's oceans, support and cover both surface ships and coastal fortifications. In general, they were armed with almost all the newest means, which had been created in the USSR by that time. The main striking force was the Granit missile system.

A Brief History of the Series

At the end of March 1973, the first nuclear cruiser of Project 1144 Kirov was laid, which in 1992 became Admiral Ushakov. At the end of December 1977, it had already been launched, and exactly three years later the ship, which had passed all navigational and combat tests, was solemnly handed over to the Soviet Navy. At the end of 1984, TARK "Frunze" joined the ranks. In the same 1992, it was renamed "Admiral Lazarev." Finally, in 1988, strictly according to plan, the fleet received the Tark "Kalinin", known since 1992 as "Admiral Nakhimov". In 1986, the project 1144 came to its logical conclusion: the shipyards laid the last project ship "Peter the Great".

Initially, the name of this cruiser of project 1144 Orlan was Kuibyshev or Yuri Andropov, but the collapse of the USSR did not come true to these plans. In the midst of construction, the country in which this ship was built began to cease to exist, and so the building was only able to be completed in 1996. Thus, the fleet received the last ship of this series only ten years after its laying on the stocks.

How were the cruisers of this project created?

In 1961, the Soviet military learned of the unpleasant fact: in the US launched the long-range nuclear missile cruiser Long Beach. This gave impetus to domestic research in the field of using nuclear reactors as a propulsion system for ships. In principle, this was the expected solution: the USSR was at the peak of its development, and therefore was in dire need of large warships that could operate for a long time in isolation from their main forces.

The nuclear power plant has very much contributed to the successful implementation of such tasks. In 1964, active scientific research in this field was already conducted in the country. Initially, industry and scientists were given the task of designing a ship with a displacement of up to eight thousand tons.

Combat couple

The design was carried out from the point of view, every future cruiser of the project 1144 should have the opportunity to confront all types of weapons available to the fleet of the likely enemy. In addition, the Soviet military perfectly imagined the threat posed by enemy aircraft, and therefore requested the creation of the most effective shipborne missile defense. Initially, the designers assumed that one of the cruiser of Project 1144 simply would not be able to carry such a large amount of weapons. So initially they wanted to create two ships at once : type 1165 and type 1144. They had to cover each other, acting as one whole.

On the first ship there had to be anti-ship, on the second - anti-submarine missiles. The anti-aircraft weapons were to be received in equal proportions, which ensured the creation of a powerful air defense. However, the further successes of Soviet science and technology predetermined the possibility of reducing many ship systems, and it was decided to abandon the unnecessarily energy-intensive design of the two ships. All works of type 1165 were discontinued, some of the developments were transferred to the nuclear cruisers of Project 1144 Orlan.

Increase in armament and displacement

In the course of the work, the ship received more and more armaments, which caused a rapid growth of its displacement. As a result, no one remembered the ship's original antisubmarine mission, as engineers were given complete freedom to create a huge universal cruiser with a displacement of up to 20,000 tons. It was decided to introduce into its "stuffing" all the most modern technologies that the Soviet Union was able to create at that time. It was then that a new type of ship was identified - a heavy nuclear missile cruiser (TAKR). The new missile cruisers of Project 1144 Orlan promised to become the most promising and powerful trump card for the entire Soviet surface fleet.

Finally, the requirements for the new car were issued in 1972. The project was developed at a rapid pace in Leningrad. As in all such cases, scientists and engineers worked under the guidance of not only their immediate superiors, but also the curator of the fleet. This time it was Captain 2 rank AA Savin. This approach allowed the Navy to get exactly the ships that they needed, making appropriate adjustments during the course of work.

Improvements and improvements

It should be remembered that the second, third and fourth nuclear missile cruisers of Project 1144 were to be built according to a new, improved project 11442. It was intended to replace the already obsolete systems with new types of weapons: the tower six-barreled 30-mm cannons replaced the perfect "Dirk". Instead of the "Osa" air defense missile system, the "Dagger" was installed, the caliber of the universal artillery unit was increased to 130 mm, the anti-submarine complex "Metel" replaced the improved "Waterfall", new bombing systems (depth charges), etc. were also installed.

Initially, it was assumed that all the heavy missile cruisers of Project 1144 after Kirov will be built exactly on this project, but the industry was failing: not all of these weapons were simply able to bring to the required kind, and therefore they put what they had already completed. So in reality (with almost no reservations) to the project 11442 is only "Peter the Great", and the second and third ships occupy an intermediate, transitional position. That's how the project "Orlan" (1144) appeared, the modernization of which ships is still to this day.

Basic design features

The body of each "Orlan" is distinguished by a considerably elongated half-tank. In the case - 16 main compartments, which are separated from each other by waterproof partitions. There are five full decks along the entire length of the building. The hydro acoustic complex "Polynom" is installed in the bow. At the stern there is a hangar (under the deck), which allows the placement of just three anti-submarine helicopters Ka-27. There are lifts for helicopters, as well as storage tanks for helicopter fuel.

At the stern there is a compartment from which the towed antenna of the Polynom complex descends. Virtually all the power structures of the body are made of magnesium-aluminum alloys. The layout of weapons is classical - most of the combat complexes are located on the stern and nose.

Protective characteristics of the ship

Each Project 1144 missile cruiser carries a powerful anti-torpedo armor, a double bottom is provided throughout the body. The vital parts of the ship are locally protected by armor. Belt armor in its classical form is absent (as on most modern ships). The main protection is located in the depth of the case. The difference from other cruisers of that time is that TAKR has a thickened skin from the stern to the nose 3.5 meters high. Meter - under the waterline, 2.5 meters - protection of cars and crew.

And this also shows the uniqueness of the ships of this class, since the heavy nuclear-powered cruisers of Project 1144 are the first vessels after the Second World War in which such a reservation technology is provided. Machine compartments, reactor and rocket compartments are protected by 100 mm thick armor. The combat posts and command post of the ship are protected similarly. There is armor around the helicopter hangar, the ammunition depot is similarly protected. The tillers are covered locally.

Power point

The design uses the reactor KN-3 (with the active zone BM-16). This installation is a direct descendant of ice-breaking reactors OK-900, but it differs greatly from them. The main differentiating factor is uranium with a high degree of enrichment. At one gas station, the cruiser can operate for at least ten years. Reactors are two-circuit, in each circuit, water is used as the heat carrier (more precisely, bidistillate). This special water is very high degree of purification, circulating through the active zone under a pressure of 200 atmospheres. This provides almost instantaneous boiling of the second circuit and high efficiency of the entire plant.

The power plant uses a scheme with two shafts, and each of them "works" for 70,000 liters. from. Fully installed in three aft compartments. The total number of nuclear reactors is two, their total capacity is 342 MW. For comparison, Permskaya GRES produces 2,400 megawatts, so the ship consumes energy, which is enough for the city, which is home to 100-150 thousand people. There are two backup boilers in the turbine compartments (in addition to the main ones).

It should be remembered that Project 1144 Orlan has a reserve power unit (not atomic), which allows the ship to develop a speed of 17 knots. The reserves of diesel fuel are such that the cruiser can pass up to 1,300 nautical miles. When using nuclear reactors, a vessel can develop a speed of up to 31 knots, with the power reserve becoming unlimited. Thoughtful outlines of the hull provide these ships with excellent seaworthiness, which allows them to cover huge distances in the shortest possible time.

Information about the crew

In total, the crew consists of 759 people, including 120 officers. There are 1,600 living quarters in total. To accommodate officers and warrant officers 140 single cabins are provided, there are 30 crew cabins for sailors, the foremen are accommodated in cabins with a capacity of 8-30 people. Household needs provide 15 shower rooms and two baths, there is a swimming pool measuring 6x2.5 meters and a sauna.

For medical needs meets a two-level unit, which includes an outpatient room and a fully equipped operating room, insulators, a dentist's office, and a pharmacy. Physical form the crew can support in the gym, fully equipped with all the possible simulators. There are three wardrooms, a separate lounge for relaxation, as well as a real cinema.

The main armament of the cruisers 1144

As we have already said, the role of the main armament is played by the P-700 "Granit". These are third-generation missiles, supersonic, the hallmark of which is the approach to the target at an extremely low altitude. Their weight is up to seven tons, and at the approach they develop a speed of up to 2.5 Mach (2.5 times faster than the speed of sound), they can carry a standard explosive charge up to 750 kilograms. The second option is a 500-kiloton nuclear charge for a distance of up to 625 kilometers. The length of the rocket is ten meters, the diameter is 85 cm. In one complex there are 20 such projectiles installed at an angle of 60 degrees to the surface of the deck. The production of launchers was carried out in Leningrad.

It should be noted that the Granites were originally intended for launch from submarines, and therefore before the combat launch their cavity is filled with seawater. Shoot down such missiles is extremely difficult. Designers have achieved that even with the defeat of Granite with an interceptor missile, it retains a kinetic impulse of such force that it can quite reach the target.

Protection against air attack

The basis of the missile defense on these ships is the S-300F (Fort), the spinning drums of which were placed under the deck of the ship. The total number of anti-aircraft missiles is 96 pieces. On the "Peter the Great" was installed an updated S-300FM "Fort-M", which exists in a single copy. At the same time, such a complex can neutralize up to six targets, simultaneously accompanying another 12. Each of the "side" targets is guided by a missile, and this is not hampered by possible interference in the air that a potential opponent can place.

Heavy cruisers of Project 1144 Orlan currently carry 94 such missiles. The decrease in their quantity is due to the increase in the mass and dimensions characteristics. Initially, this unique complex was created on the basis of purely overland army air defense S-Z00PMU2 "Favorit". Its advantages over the standard "Fort" are that it can hit targets at a distance of up to 150 kilometers, with a minimum interception altitude of only 10 meters, which is extremely important in the conditions of the RCC, which "adore" to fly to the target at extremely low altitude. Increased coverage of the affected area was achieved due to a sharp improvement in the characteristics used in the electronics complex.

The second echelon of ABM

SAM "Dagger" is the second "highlight" of TAKR. Theoretically, it was supposed to be installed on all the ships of the improved project 11442, but in fact this weapon was received by all the same "Peter". The purpose is to detect and destroy targets that managed to break through the first line of the echeloned missile defense system. The main striking force in this case is solid-fuel missiles 9M330, which are absolutely unified with the famous land complex "Tor-M1".

The peculiarity of these projectiles is that they are thrown out of the launching pit by a special catapult, and only then will the march engine start. This approach has allowed to significantly reduce their weight and size characteristics while maintaining the target range.

The complex is reloaded automatically, volleys go every three seconds. In automatic mode, targets can be detected for 45 kilometers, reaction time - up to eight seconds. The number of simultaneously fired and escorted targets is up to four. This installation works completely automatically, without needing to be accompanied by personnel. According to the manufacturer, on board one ship there should be 128 missiles to "Daggers".

The third echelon of ABM

The complex of close defense is Dirk. He replaced the very outdated six-barrel installations. As in the previous case, this system can detect and accompany the target in fully automatic mode. Defeat targets are modernized six-barrel installations (two pieces), the total rate of fire is 10 thousand rounds per minute. They "insure" their two blocks of four 9M311 missiles in each. They differ in fragmentation-rod warfare and contactless fuse. This allows the missiles to hit the target, just being from her nearby, which dramatically increases the likelihood of an enemy projectile being destroyed.

In the turreted space of each installation there can be 32 such missiles in containers. They are unified with the land complex 2C6 "Tunguska". Can carry out tasks to destroy anti-ship missiles, guided bombs, aircraft, helicopters and enemy drones. With rockets, "Dirk" can reach the target at a distance of one and a half to eight kilometers, the fire from six-barrel installations is conducted at a distance of 50 to 150 meters from the ship's side.

Targets flying at altitudes of five to four thousand meters can be hit. The full ammunition of the "Kortikov" is 192 rockets and 36,000 shells. At the moment, the project 1144, whose modernization has not yet been completed, receives improved versions of these installations.

Alas, but today there is no information whether there will be a complete modernization of ships of this class, assuming the replacement of electronics with modern analogs. It remains to be hoped that this will be done. The new cruisers of this project are clearly not expected, so the rest should be watched especially carefully.