The Russian cruiser is equipped with a powerful weapon system, which can undertake a variety of tasks in defensive and offensive operations.
Introduce
The Russian Navy today inherits many Soviet achievements including the most powerful warships. Of all the Russian Navy’s weapons, the Kirov-class battlecruisers are frequently mentioned. This is because it is a large warship, armed with powerful weapons such as SS-N-19 surface-to-surface missiles and SA-N-6 surface-to-air missiles. However, Russia also owns another type of warship with the same combat capability as the Kirov-class, the Slava-class cruiser.
Despite being born a long time ago, to this day, the Slava-class cruisers are still the most powerful class of the Russian Navy as well as in the world. There are currently three Slava-class cruisers in service with the Russian Navy, the Moscow cruiser is the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet. Varyag cruiser is the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, the remaining cruiser, Marshal Ustinov, operated in the North Sea Fleet.
Background
Back in the 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union planned to build the Kirov-class battlecruiser to counterbalance Western aircraft carriers. However, these nuclear-powered battlecruisers have huge operating costs, therefore, the Slava class was born as a less expensive conventional alternative.
The Slava class, otherwise known as the 1164 Atlant project. Initially the Soviet Union planned to build 10 cruisers, but after political events in the Soviet Union in 1990, only three were actually completed and currently serving in the Russian navy.
Moscow, with the hull number 121 is the lead ship of the class, her name was given in honor of the Russian capital Moscow. Before being renamed in 1995, the ship had another name Slava, meaning “glory”.
Her keel was laid down in 1976 by 61 Kommunara Shipbuilding Plant, she was launched in 1979 and was officially commissioned for the Soviet Navy in January 1983.
Design
The Moscow has an overall length of 186.4m (611.54 ft), a beam of 20.8m (68.24 ft), a draught of 8.4m (27.55 ft) and the displacement is 12,490 tons.
The vessel can accommodate from 476 to 529 crew members including the small air detachment.
The design of Moscow as common as any other warship, an upward-sloping bow, behind the bow is the superstructure and at the stern is a small helicopter landing deck that served the operation of a Kamov Ka-25 or Ka-27 navy helicopter or similar.
The ship features 16 majestic missile launchers arranged along both sides of the port and starboard sides. The bridge is mounted high on the top of the superstructure for a sweeping view ahead.
The main mast contains the main radar and sensors are also located at the forward superstructure. The rear superstructure area contains two smoke funnels and an auxiliary mast. A crane is installed on the ship for handling boats.
Propulsion
Moskva cruisers are equipped with a combined gas or gas propulsion system, four M8KF two-turbine gas turbines that provide a total capacity of about 120,000 shaft horsepower. This configuration allows for better management of limited fuel stores and more flexibility in travel modes over older engine arrangements.
The propulsion system enabled the ship to reach a maximum speed of 32 knots, a range of 2500 nauticalmiles at 30 knots and a maximum of 6,500 nauticalmiles at a speed of 18knots.
Sensor and Electronic systems
The Moscow is equipped with a range of advanced electronic control systems, including the Voskhod MR-800 multi-function 3D long-range search radar in conjunction with the Fregat MR-710 3D search radar to cope with aerial threats.
In addition, there are Top Dome SA-N-6 fire control radar, Pop group SA-N-4 fire control radar, high-frequency and ultra-high sonar, which can detect and locate the position as well as technical information, tactics of enemy submarines and surface ships within a range of several hundred nautical miles.
Electronic warfare and decoy included Rum Tub and Side Globe Early-warning antennas, two PK-2 DL 140mm chaff.
Armament
The Russian cruiser is equipped with a powerful weapon system, which can undertake a variety of tasks in defensive and offensive operations. Even many experts believe that, with the Moscow cruiser of the Black Sea Fleet, the Russian navy can destroy the entire Ukrainian navy, which has been greatly weakened since the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Featured in this cruiser’s weapon system are the 16 P-500 Bazalt long-range supersonic anti-ship missile launchers, with a range of 550 km and up to 700 km for the P.1000 improved variant. These missiles are capable of carrying a conventional warhead weighing 1 ton or a 350 kiloton nuclear warhead. At mach 2.5, this is considered one of the most effective anti-submarine and anti-carriers weapons in the world today. During the flight to the target, this anti-ship missile was guided by a combination of inertia and active radar; The target parameters are automatically adjusted via the data link control system with the Tu-95D aircraft or Ka-27B helicopter.
In addition to the anti-ship weapons system, the cruiser is also equipped with a modern long-range surface-to-air missile system. In particular, 8 S-300F long-range air-to-air missile launchers, anti-aircraft combat range is 150km and 30km for ballistic missiles.
Two OSA-MA surface-to-air missile systems, one at the front and the other at the rear, have a maximum range of 15 km and a maximum altitude of 12 km.
The Moskva cruiser is also equipped with a twin AK-130 130mm dual purpose guns, with a maximum range of 23km against surface targets, 15km with aerial targets, and an average rate of fire is 40 rounds per minute. T
here are also six AK-630 close-in weapon systems installed on the ship, provides self defence against anti-ship missiles and other guided weapons, with a rate of fire of 5,000 rounds per minute.
Together with 5 533mm dual torpedo tubes, 2 RBU-6000 anti-submarine mortars. The rockets can be launched against submarines within a range of 6km.
Conclusion
With comprehensive defense capabilities, the Moscow cruiser is considered the pride of the Russian navy. In the event of a conflict, the Slava class will be the first Russian warships to enter the war. Once these warships launched fire, the possibility of the enemy being completely destroyed is possible.
Thank you for visiting Military-wiki.com. I’m Dung Tran, the person behind all this content. I know some websites are copying my articles. Stop this, or at least respect me by citing the source from Military-wiki.com. Thank you.
