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Soviet cruiser Vladivostok

Summary

Vladivostok (Russian: Владивосток) was the second Soviet Navy Project 1134 Berkut Large Anti-submarine Ship (Russian: Большой Противолодочный Корабль, BPK) also known as a Admiral Zozulya-class guided missile cruiser or by the NATO reporting name Kresta I. Launched on 1 August 1966, the ship was reclassified a Large Rocket Ship (Russian: Ракетные крейсера проекта, RKR) on 3 August 1978 to reflect the wide-ranging capability of the vessel. Serving primarily in the Pacific Fleet during the Cold War, Vladivostok took part in exercises and tours that demonstrated Soviet naval power in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The ship played a part at a number of points of potential escalation in the Cold War, including the Indo-Pakistani War of December 1971, the Mozambican Civil War in 1980 and the collision between the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk and the submarine K-314 in March 1984. Vladivostok was taken out of service to be modernised and updated on 28 September 1988 but there were insufficient funds to complete the work. Instead the ship was decommissioned on 19 April 1990 and, the following January, sold to an Australian company to be broken up.

Vladivostok in 1971.
History
Soviet Union
NameVladivostok
NamesakeVladivostok
BuilderA.A. Zhdanov, Leningrad
Yard number792
Laid down24 December 1964
Launched1 August 1966
Commissioned1 August 1969
Decommissioned19 April 1990
FateSold to be broken up January 1991
General characteristics
Class and typeProject 1134 Berkut-class cruiser
Displacement5,340 tonnes (5,260 long tons; 5,890 short tons) standard, 7,170 tonnes (7,060 long tons; 7,900 short tons) full load
Length156.2 m (512 ft 6 in)
Beam16.8 m (55 ft 1 in)
Draught5.6 m (18 ft 4 in)
Propulsion2 shaft; 4 x KVN-98/64 boilers, 2 x TV-12 GTZA steam turbines, 46,000 shp (34,000 kW)
Speed34 knots (63 km/h)
Range10,500 nmi (19,446 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement30 officers, 282 ratings
Sensors and
processing systems		1 x MR-500 and 1 x MR-310 Angara-A air/surface search radars, 1 x MRP-11-12, 2 x MRP-13-14 Uspekh-U and 1 x MRP-15-16 Zaliv reconnaissance radars, 1 x Volga navigation radar, 1 x Binom-1134, 2 x 4R90 Yatagan and 2 x MR-123 Vympel fire control systems, 3 x Nickel-KM and 2 x Khrom-KM IFF, 1 x ARP-50R radio direction finder, 1 x MG-312M Titan and 1 x GAS-311 Vychegda sonars, 1 x MG-26 Khosta underwater communication system, 1 x MI-110R and 1 x MI-110K anti-subrmarine search stations, 1 x Planshet-1134 combat information control systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • 2 x Gurzuf ESM radar system
  • 1 x ZIF-121 launcher for PK-2 decoy rockets
Armament
  • 4 × KT-35-1134 P-35 launchers with 4 4K44 (SS-N-3 'Shaddock’) anti-ship missiles (2x2)
  • 4 × ZIF-102 M-1 launchers with 64 V-600 (SA-N-1 ‘Goa’) surface to air missiles (2x2)
  • 4 × 57 mm (2 in) AK-725 guns (2×2)
  • 2 × RBU-1000 Smerch-3 Anti-Submarine rockets
  • 2 × RBU-6000 Smerch-2 Anti-Submarine rockets
  • 10 × 533 mm (21 in) PTA-53-1134 torpedo tubes (2x5) for 10 53-65, 53-65K or SET-65 torpedoes
Aircraft carried1 Kamov Ka-25 'Hormone-A' or KA-25T 'Hormone-B'
Aviation facilitiesHangar and helipad

Design and development edit

Design edit

Vladivostok was the second Project 1134 Berkut-class vessel launched. The class were envisioned as a more balanced follow-on to the specialist Project 58 and Project 61 classes, combining the attributes of both in a single hull.[1] The vessels were approved by Nikita Khrushchev as part of Sergey Gorshkov's buildup of the Soviet Navy.[2] Termed Kresta I cruisers by NATO, and also named the Admiral Zozulya class after the lead ship, the class were initially called Large Anti-submarine Ships (Russian: Большой Противолодочный Корабль or BPK) but this was changed to Large Rocket Ship (Russian: Ракетные крейсера проекта, RKR) on 3 August 1978 to reflect their wider role.[3]

Vladivostok displaced 5,340 tonnes (5,260 long tons; 5,890 short tons) standard and 7,170 tonnes (7,060 long tons; 7,900 short tons) full load, stretching 156.2 m (512 ft) in length.[a] Beam was 16.2 m (53 ft 2 in) on the waterline and average draught 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in). The hull was made of steel upon which was mounted a large aluminium-magnesium alloy superstructure dominated by a radar complex including MR-500, MR-310 Angara-A, MRP-11-12, MRP-13-14 Uspekh-U and MRP-15-16 Zaliv search radars and a Volga navigation radar.[5]

Power was provided by two TV-12 steam turbines, fuelled by four KVN-98/64 boilers and driving two fixed pitch screws that provided 46,000 horsepower (34,000 kW).[6] Electricity was provided by a TD-760 driven off steam drawn from the main boilers which powered a 380 V AC circuit at a frequency of 50 Hz.[7] The ship carried 1,690 tonnes (1,660 long tons; 1,860 short tons) of fuel which gave a range of 10,500 nmi (19,446 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h).[8] Maximum design speed was 34 knots (63 km/h). Complement was 30 officers and 282 ratings.[6]

Armament edit

Vladivostok was originally intended to mount the P-500 Bazalt (NATO reporting name SS-N-12 'Sandbox') but protracted development meant that instead the same 4K44 missiles (SS-N-3 'Shaddock') as the Project 58 warships mounted were retained.[9] However, they were launched from two specially designed twin KT-35-1134 P-35 launchers mounted midships.[1] The missiles could each carry a 900 kg (2,000 lb) warhead over a range in excess of 500 km (270 nmi) and were designed for attacking US Navy carrier battle groups. An aft landing pad and hangar was fitted for a ranging Kamov Ka-25 helicopter to enable mid-course guidance.[10]

Similarly, anti-aircraft defence was to be based around the new M-11 Shtorm (SA-N-3 'Goblet') system but this did not become operational until 1969.[1] Instead, protection was enhanced by mounting two twin ZIF-102 M-1 Volna-M launchers, one forward and the other aft, and up to 64 4K91 (SA-N-1 'Goa') surface-to-air missiles, which was supplemented by two twin 57 mm (2 in) AK-725 guns mounted on the aft superstructure.[8]

Defence against submarines was provided by two quintuple 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes, complemented by a pair each of six-barrelled RBU-1000 Smerch-3 launchers for 300 mm (12 in) anti-submarine rockets and twelve-barrelled RBU-6000 Smerch-2 launchers for 213 mm (8 in) anti-submarine rockets.[5]

Sensors edit

The ship was equipped with an extensive electronics suite. A MR-500 early warning air search radar with a range of between 270 and 300 km (170 and 190 mi) was mounted on the funnel and a MR-310 Angara-A radars with a range of 150 km (93 mi) on the mast. A Volga navigational radar were also fitted.[11] Fire control for the main missile armament was directed by two Binom-1134 radars[12] while the 4K91 anti-aircraft missiles were guided by two 4R90 Yatagan units.[13] Gun fire control was managed by MP-123 Vympel which had a range of up to 7 km (4.3 mi) against aircraft of the size of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21.[14] Three Nickel-KM and 2 x Khrom-KM systems were installed for IFF.[11]

Electronic warfare equipment included a combination of one MRP-11-12, two MRP-13-14 Uspekh-U and one MRP-15-16 Zaliv direction finding systems and two MPS-150 Gurzuf radar jamming devices. Two ZIF-121 launchers for PK-2 decoy rockets were mounted on the superstructure. Threat response was coordinated with a Planshet-1134 combat information control system and communications between ships coordinated through the MVU-200 More-U computer. A vastly improved anti-submarine sensor suite was also fitted, with MG-312M Titan and GAS-311 Vychegda sonars, the MG-26 Khosta underwater communication system and both MI-110R and MI-110K anti-submarine search stations.[11]

In the early 1970s, Vladivostok was upgraded with a MR-212 Vaygach navigation radar added and the missiles updated to 4M44.[15]

Construction and career edit

Vladivostok was laid down on 24 December 1964 at A.A. Zhdanov in Leningrad with yard number 792, and launched on 1 August 1966. Commissioning took place exactly three years later, on 1 August 1969.[4] The total cost of construction was 32 million rubles.[16]

On commissioning, Vladivostok travelled with the Project 61 ship Strogy and other Soviet vessels on a long tour, via the Black Sea, Lagos in Nigeria, Somalia, the port of Aden in South Yemen and operations in the Indian Ocean from Baltic Sea to the ship's name port of Vladivostok, arriving on 11 February 1970. The ship was then attached to the 175th Missile Ship Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, and visited by delegations from Bulgaria on 26 May 1970 and Poland five days later. During October, joining Project 58 ship Varyag, Vladivostok undertook test firing of the main missiles. More tests were undertaken with the Project 675 submarine K-23 during August the following year.[17]

Between 10 and 27 August, 1971, the vessel, accompanied by Project 58 ship Admiral Fokin and supported by a fleet that included Strogy and Odaryonny, took part in a large exercise in the Pacific Ocean. It was during these manoeuvres that the main missiles were fired for the first time. The exercise was followed by an investigation of the testing areas used by the United States Navy between the Aleutian Islands and Hawaii, a distance of 13,800 nautical miles (25,600 km; 15,900 mi). The mission, which was completed on 3 October, was well received by the Soviet High Command.[18]

On 3 December, the Bangladesh Liberation War was followed by an outbreak of war between India, suppored by the Soviet Union and Pakistan, supported by the United States.[19] The conflict quickly involved naval vessels, with the Indian Navy sinking the destroyer Khaibar, minesweeper Muhafiz and MV Venus Challenger on 4 December in Operation Trident using Soviet-built P-15 Termit anti-ship missiles.[20][21] Shortly afterwards on 9 December, the US-built submarine Hangor of the Pakistan Navy sank the Indian frigate Khurki, the submarine then disappearing in mysterious circumstances.[22] The threat of further escalation and the intervention of the United States Navy led to the Soviet Union dispatching a substantial fleet to the Indian Ocean.[23] Vladivostok joined Varyag, Strogy and other vessels under the command of Dmitry Pozharsky dispatched on 13 December and remained on station until 6 March the following year. Following the success of the operation, the ship returned to Vladivostok. The ship was made open to the public during April 1972 and On 30 June, sailed on a tour with Minister of Defence Andrei Grechko, Admiral of the Fleet Sergey Gorshkov and other officials.[24]

The next two decades were taken up with tests and exercises. While returning from one of these on 14 June 1973, the ship collided with the science research vessel Akademik Berg, which then sank killing 27 of the crew. Vladivostok took part in the rescue effort.[24] The ship closed the 1970s with a tour of the Indian Ocean, visiting allies in Port Louis, Mauritius, Victoria, Seychelles, Maputo, Mozambique, Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, the Dahlak Archipelago, which was at that time part of Ethiopia, and Aden, finishing in August 1978. Further tours took place in 1980. Port Louis was visited again on 15 August and Kochi from 17 to 21 October. In between, the ship revisited Beira, Mozambique between 16 and 25 August as a gesture of solidarity with FRELIMO in their war with rebels backed by South Africa.[25] In March 1984, the ship tracked the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, calling the submarine K-314 which then, while tailing the American vessel, collided with the larger ship in an incident that risked escalation into war.[26]

On 28 September 1988, the ship was taken out of service to be upgraded at Vladivostok. Lack of funding meant that work was only 90% complete when, instead, Vladivostok was decommissioned on 19 April 1990.[25] The ship was sold to be broken up by an Australian company during January 1991.[27]

The ship was assigned the temporary tactical numbers 563, 565, 542, 106, 139, 017, 029 and 034.[25]

Notes edit

  1. ^ NATO estimates vary. For example, the US Navy quoted 6,140 tons standard displacement, 7,600 tons full load and 155.6 m length.[4]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c Averin 2007, p. 9.
  2. ^ Sondhaus 2004, p. 302.
  3. ^ Kostev 2004, p. 248.
  4. ^ a b Hampshire 2017, p. 26.
  5. ^ a b Averin 2007, p. 10.
  6. ^ a b Averin 2007, p. 14.
  7. ^ Averin 2007, p. 40.
  8. ^ a b Averin 2007, p. 11.
  9. ^ Averin 2007, p. 8.
  10. ^ Hampshire 2017, p. 11.
  11. ^ a b c Averin 2007, p. 21.
  12. ^ Averin 2007, p. 15.
  13. ^ Averin 2007, p. 17.
  14. ^ Averin 2007, p. 19.
  15. ^ Prézelin & Baker 1990, p. 566.
  16. ^ Averin 2007, p. 23.
  17. ^ Averin 2007, pp. 25–26.
  18. ^ Averin 2007, pp. 26–27.
  19. ^ Petrie 2005, p. 109.
  20. ^ Hiranandani 2000, p. 193.
  21. ^ Petrie 2005, p. 110.
  22. ^ Till 2018, p. 157.
  23. ^ Hiranandani 2000, p. 164.
  24. ^ a b Averin 2007, p. 27.
  25. ^ a b c Averin 2007, p. 28.
  26. ^ Hoare 2020.
  27. ^ Hampshire 2017, p. 45.

Bibliography edit

  • Averin, A.B. (2007). Адмиралы и маршалы. Корабли проектов 1134 и 1134А [Admirals and Marshals: Ships Project 1134 and 1134A] (in Russian). Moscow: Voennaya Kniga. ISBN 978-5-90286-316-8.
  • Hampshire, Edward (2017). Soviet Cold War Guided Missile Cruisers. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-47281-740-2.
  • Hiranandani, G.M. (2000). Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy, 1965-1975. New Delhi: Lancer. ISBN 978-1-89782-972-1.
  • Hoare, Callum (15 February 2020). "World War 3: How US risked 'all-out war' after horrendous nuclear blunder at sea". Daily Express. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  • Kostev, George G. (2004). Военно-морской флот Советского Союза и России, 1945-2000 [The Soviet and Russian Navy, 1945-2000] (in Russian). Moscow: Peterof. ISBN 978-5-87579-038-6.
  • Petrie, John N. (2005). American Neutrality in the 20th Century: The Impossible Dream. Honolulu: University Press of the Pacific. ISBN 978-1-41021-849-0.
  • Prézelin, Bernard; Baker, A.D. (1990). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/91. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-250-5.
  • Sondhaus, Lawrence (2004). Navies in Modern World History. London: Reaktion. ISBN 978-1-86189-202-7. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  • Till, Geoffrey (2018). Seapower: A Guide for the Twenty-first Century. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-13865-767-0.

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