Project 1164, Atlant, Slava, Moskva, BLK-COM-1
and Krasina are all designations given to the
first ship of a new class of Soviet Rocket Cruiser.
As is true with all Soviet and modern Russian
warship designs the new cruiser was known by a
project number, in this case Project 1164 Russian
Code Name Atlant. To the west analysts saw a new
shape emerging in the slipway of 61 Kommunara
Shipyard 445 in the city of Nikolayev on the Black
Sea. Clearly it was the first of a new class of
major Soviet combatant. The first NATO code name
was BLK-COM-1 (Black Sea-Combatant-Design 1) and
then briefly the NATO Code name Krasina. However,
soon after NATO learned the Soviet name for the
initial ship, Slava, a traditional Russian name
meaning Glory, and the class was called the Slava
Class Missile Cruiser.
Slava, renamed Moskva on July 7, 1995, was laid
down on November 5, 1976. As the initial ship
of a new class, building time was slower than
those of the sisterships. She was launched three
years later on July 27, 1979 and almost another
four years would pass until Slava was commissioned
on February 7, 1983. Moskva ex-Slava was the first
of a planned six ship class of the most impressive
surface action warship, with the exception of
the Kirov Class RKR, to be built by the Soviet
Union or the modern Russian Navy. Three are in
service with Russian Fleet, Moskva in the Black
Sea, Marshall Ustinov in the Northern Fleet and
Varyag (Viking) ex-Cheryona Ukraina in the Pacific
Fleet. A forth unit Admiral Flota Lobov has been
renamed Ukrayina for service in the Ukrainian
Navy. A fifth ship, Rossiya, then Oktyabrskaya
Revolutsia and a sixth, Admiral Flota Sovetskogo
Soyuza Gorshkov were both cancelled on October
4, 1990.
Displacing 9,380 tons (11,490 tons full load)
the Moskva is a large ship, measuring 186.4m (oa)
170m (wl) in length, 20.8m (19.2m wl) in beam
and 6.23m (8.4m at sonar) in draught. The class
bristles with weapons systems and sensors, giving
it a modern version of the Fierce Face look, so
notable in Cold War Soviet warship designs. Overpowering
all else are the sixteen P-500 Bazalt Surface
to Surface Missile (SSM) canisters with their
4K80 missiles, NATO Code name SS-N-12 Sandbox.
Designed to be carrier killers, the cruisers of
the class were designed like the other classes
of Soviet Rocket Cruisers (RKR) to offset the
strength of the NATO fleets, the carrier. Behind
the twin stacks are eight cylinders, resembling
the end of a revolver handgun cylinder. Each cylinder
has eight Fort (SA-N-6) Surface to Air (SAM) missiles.
These missiles are 64S-300MPU/3R41 or 5V-55, NATO
Code name Grumble missiles, in their vertically
stored and launched (VLS) cylinders. Two cylinders
for short range SAMs are found at the stern. One
cylinder is on each side of the hangar with twelve
B-203A VLS SA-N-4 Osa SAM with a total of 40 9MK-33M-5,
NATO Code name Gecko Missiles. One twin Dual-Purpose
130mm/70 (AK-130) gun position is found at the
bow and six CIWS AK-30/54 six-barrelled 30mm gatling
guns for point AA defense. Rounding out the weapons
fit are ten 533mm (5x2) torpedo tubes and two
RBU-6000 ASW rocket mounts with a total of 144
rockets. Helicopter support comes in the form
of one Ka-27PL ASW or one Ka-2RTS Helix targeting
helicopter. Anyway you slice it, the Moskva packs
a punch.
The cruisers of the class are powered by four
gas turbines each producing 27,500 shp. There
are also two cruise turbines, each of 10,000 shp
for economical cruising on the two propeller design.
The very hot exhaust from the turbines vents through
the twin stack structure amidships. The designers
of the class used this exhaust to power other
auxiliary turbines. There are two exhaust gas
cruise turbines each of 1,500 shp, two boost turbine
exhausts and two gas turbine exhaust generators
to provide steam to auxiliary turbines. Capable
of 32.5 knots (30 knot sustained), Moskva has
a range of 8,070 nm at 18 knots or 2,200 nm at
32 knots. The complement is 66 officers, 64 michmen
(petty officers) and 355 enlisted men.
Construction of Admiral Lobov cruiser of Project
1164 was launched in 1984 at Nikolaev shipyard
but stalled at the final stage (the 90-percent
readiness) in late 1980s due to the sharp reduction
in military costs. It was launched into the water
in 1990. In 19993, when it was 75% complete, it
was taken off the books of the Russian Navy and
transferred to the Ukraine. The cruiser was renamed
to Ukraina after 1992. The government of Ukraine
first intended to complete construction to have
the cruiser in its own Navy but thought better
afterwards.
The 61 Communards Navy Yard, which constructed
the cruiser, has been ordered to compute its losses
pertaining to the ship's construction and maintenance,
as well as suggest likely sources for covering
the losses. It has presently reached 96% completion.
It has not undergone tests; missiles have not
been installed on it. About USD 30 million is
required to complete its construction.
Specifications |
Builder: |
Nikalayev North (
61 Kommuna ) |
Year:
|
1984 |
Displacement:
|
11,500 tons full
load |
Speed: |
32 knots |
Dimensions:
|
186 x 20.8 x 9.3
meters / 610.2 x 68.2 x 30.5 feet |
Propulsion:
|
COGOG: 2 M70 cruise
gas turbines, 20,000 shp, plus 2 exhaust gas
boilers, 2 cruise steam turbines; 4 M8KF boost
gas turbines, 4 shafts, 110,000 shp, |
Crew: |
454 + 51 flag |
Radar: |
MR-800 Voshkod/Top
Pair 3-D long range air search
MR-700 Fregat/Top Steer 3-D air search |
Sonar: |
MG-332 Tigan-2T/Bull
Nose hull mounted LF
Platina/Horse Tail MF VDS |
Systems: |
Volna/Top Dome SA-N-6
SAM control
MPZ-301 Baza/Pop Group SA-N-4 SAM control
Argument/Front Door-C SSM control |
Missiles:
|
16 x P-500 / SS-N-12 Bazalt / Sandbox SSM
(not been installed)
8 x B-303A VLS systems (64 S-300MPU / SA-N-6
Fort / Grumble SAM)
2 x Osa-MA SAM systems (40 4K-33 / SA-N-4
Gecko SAM)
|
Guns: |
1 - Twin 130 mm.
/ 70 cal. AK 130. DP
6 - AK-630 CIWS. Gatling Guns
2 - 45 mm. / 85 cal Gun |
Aviation: |
Aft helicopter
deck and hangar for 1 Ka-25/26/27 series helicopter |
Ect. armament: |
2 - Quin 533 mm Launchers.
Reloads
2 - RBU 6000 Rocket Mortar launchers |
|