"Victor Leonov": why does the ship cause panic, for what purposes was it built, where is it now?

In February this year, while patrolling the eastern part of the American coast, the Russian ship Viktor Leonov was seen, which, according to the NATO codification, is called "Cherry". Then the reconnaissance ship of the Russian navy flew along the coast of Delaware approximately 130 kilometers (70 nautical miles) from the land.

Also, Viktor Leonov was not accompanied by American cruisers. This approach has caused a lot of noise and even caused panic, but some sources have argued that the mission of the ship is allegedly patrolling the state coast since President Donald Trump joined the post.

Where was the ship of the Russian Navy noticed, and how did the authorities react to this

A month earlier, many publications, referring to a source in the power structures, noted that the reconnaissance ship "Viktor Leonov" stopped 30 miles from the base of military submarines, located in Connecticut. In addition, his stay was also recorded in the state of Georgia, where submarines are also based (37 kilometers to the southeast). But at the same time the ship did not enter the territorial waters of America. During the observation, the experts identified the famous "Victor Leonov" and 60 miles north-east of Norfolk (Portsmouth, Virginia). It is in this state that one of the oldest and largest multi-military naval bases of the United States in the Atlantic is located.

Donald Trump promised to flood the Russian ship

When the first information about the appearance of a Russian ship near the US coast began to spread for the first time, during the February press conference Donald Trump was offered to express his opinion on this matter. The head of state was not shy in expressions and expressed a desire to sink the ship. "Personally, it would be much easier and easier for me to enter into military opposition with Russia and sink this reconnaissance ship right about 30 miles from the coast. Only in this case we will not be able to agree, "the US president said.

It is worth noting, for the first time the Russian reconnaissance vessel began to carry out tasks on patrolling the area of the eastern coast of America since 2015.

In which city was the ship built, specialization, characteristics

The Russian ship "Viktor Leonov" was built for nearly four years - starting from 1985 and 1988 in Gdansk (Poland), where six more ships of the same type were also launched during this period. Initially (until 2004) it was called the Odograf. Despite the fact that the facility is far from being new, it has more than once carried out the process of capital modernization of previously installed equipment.

All seven models of the project No. 846 narrowly specialize in the types of radio electronic installations, but they differ significantly from the outside. This is due to the characteristic features of locators and other modern electronic warfare systems.

At the same time, it is known that these Navy facilities are included in the Unified State System for Illumination of the Environment under and over the water, therefore the technical characteristics of the radio electronic devices that are installed on them are strictly classified and not disclosed. At the same time, the general purpose of most types of EW systems has long been freely available.

Possibilities of the Russian reconnaissance ship

It is known that Viktor Leonov is equipped with the following devices:

• Complexes GAR (hydroacoustic exploration);
• System "Memory";

So, the devices read and store a specific set of so-called noise profiles, characteristic for those or other objects, forming a kind of card file. With the help of such data, crews of warships and submarines will be able to establish at a great distance which vessel is approaching them, which is especially appreciated in combat conditions.

In exactly the same way, the equipment of Viktor Leonov is capable of not only detecting but also remembering the profiles of the air defense systems of a potential enemy and its radar complexes. For the conduct of military intelligence, all this information is a very valuable trophy.

In addition, the ship is equipped with a Signit system for intercepting signals, sonar and a rocket complex of the ground-air class.

The name of a hero is a legendary reconnaissance ship

The famous middle reconnaissance vessel, which caused a lot of conversations with its sudden appearance, was previously known to everyone as an Odograf. This is how the car driver was called in the old days - the device that carried out the laying of the ship's route on the Mercator map.

Since the launch, the object belonged to the Black Sea Fleet, and in 1995 it was transferred to the balance of the Northern Fleet. Beginning in April 2004, the ship was named "Victor Leonov" - in honor of the legendary Soviet sailor, commander of separate reconnaissance teams of the Pacific and Northern Fleets, who became twice Hero of the Soviet Union. It was he who once with his operational actions and clear command made the huge enemy garrison surrender.

Where is now the ship of the Russian Navy

At the end of last year, the ship "Viktor Leonov" left Severomorsk (the main base of the Northern Fleet) on a march and in March this year, in order to replenish supplies, entered the port of the Cuban capital. During his stay in Havana, the crew took part in some events.

Also, the sailors visited the memorial of a Soviet soldier-internationalist. For nine years, this was the seventh visit of the ship to Havana. Where is now the ship "Victor Leonov" is still unknown, but many are confident that after sailing from the Cuban port, he must continue to perform tasks to provide communication in the West Atlantic, in May it is planned to return to the base.