Kiev class aircraft carrier
Encyclopedia
The Kiev class carriers (also known as Project 1143 or as the Krechyet (Gyrfalcon
) class) were the first class of fixed-wing aircraft carriers built in the Soviet Union
.
First laid down in 1970 the Kiev class was partially based on a design for a full-deck carrier proposed in Project Orel. Originally the Soviet Navy
wanted a supercarrier
similar to the American
Kitty Hawk class
. However, the smaller Kiev class design was chosen because it was considered to be more cost effective.
Unlike American or British carriers, the Kiev class is a combination of a cruiser and a carrier. In the Soviet Navy this class of ships was specifically designated as a heavy aviation cruiser rather than just an aircraft carrier. Although the ships were designed with an island superstructure
to starboard, with a 2/3 length angled flight deck, the foredeck was taken up with the heavy missile armament. The intended mission of the Kiev class was support for strategic missile submarines, other surface ships and naval aviation; it was capable of engaging in anti-aircraft, anti-submarine and surface warfare.
A total of four Kiev class carriers were built and commissioned, serving in the Soviet and then Russian Navy. The first three were decommissioned, of which, one was scrapped and two were sold as recreational pieces to China. The fourth ship, Admiral Gorshkov, was sold to the Indian Navy in 2004, and is currently being modernized.
Gyrfalcon
The Gyrfalcon — Falco rusticolus — is the largest of the falcon species. The Gyrfalcon breeds on Arctic coasts and the islands of North America, Europe, and Asia. It is mainly resident there also, but some Gyrfalcons disperse more widely after the breeding season, or in winter.Individual vagrancy...
) class) were the first class of fixed-wing aircraft carriers built in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
First laid down in 1970 the Kiev class was partially based on a design for a full-deck carrier proposed in Project Orel. Originally the Soviet Navy
Soviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...
wanted a supercarrier
Supercarrier
Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial...
similar to the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Kitty Hawk class
Kitty Hawk class aircraft carrier
The Kitty Hawk-class supercarriers of the United States Navy were an incremental improvement on the Forrestal-class vessels. Four were built, all in the 1960s, , , and...
. However, the smaller Kiev class design was chosen because it was considered to be more cost effective.
Unlike American or British carriers, the Kiev class is a combination of a cruiser and a carrier. In the Soviet Navy this class of ships was specifically designated as a heavy aviation cruiser rather than just an aircraft carrier. Although the ships were designed with an island superstructure
Superstructure
A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline. This term is applied to various kinds of physical structures such as buildings, bridges, or ships...
to starboard, with a 2/3 length angled flight deck, the foredeck was taken up with the heavy missile armament. The intended mission of the Kiev class was support for strategic missile submarines, other surface ships and naval aviation; it was capable of engaging in anti-aircraft, anti-submarine and surface warfare.
A total of four Kiev class carriers were built and commissioned, serving in the Soviet and then Russian Navy. The first three were decommissioned, of which, one was scrapped and two were sold as recreational pieces to China. The fourth ship, Admiral Gorshkov, was sold to the Indian Navy in 2004, and is currently being modernized.
General characteristics
- Designer: Nevskoye Planning and Design Bureau
- Builder: Nikolayev South (formerly Chernomorsky Shipyard 444)
- Power Plant: 8 turbopressurized boilers, 4 steam turbines (200,000 shp), four shafts
- Length: 273 meters overall (283 m for Vikramaditya)
- Flight Deck Width: 53 meters
- Beam: 32.6 meters
- Displacement: 43,000-45,500 metric tons full load
- Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h)
- Aircraft: 26-30
- 12-13 Yak-38 VSTOL
- 14-17 Ka-25 or Ka-27/29 helicopters
- Crew: 1,200-1,600 (including air wing)
- Armament:
- Kiev and Minsk:
- 4 × twin P-500 Bazalt SSMSurface-to-surface missileA surface-to-surface missile is a guided projectile launched from a hand-held, vehicle mounted, trailer mounted or fixed installation or from a ship. They are often powered by a rocket motor or sometimes fired by an explosive charge, since the launching platform is typically stationary or moving...
launchers (8 missiles) - 2 × twin M-11 Shtorm SAMSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
launchers (72 missiles) - 2 × twin 9K33 Osa9K33 OsaThe 9K33 OSA is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system. "9K33" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is SA-8 Gecko.-Description:...
launchers (40 missiles) - 2 × twin 76.2 mm AA guns
- 8 × AK-630AK-630The AK-630 is a Soviet fully automatic naval close-in weapon system based on a six-barreled 30 mm Gatling gun. It is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by radar and television detection and tracking. The system's primary purpose is defense against anti-ship missiles and other...
30 mm CIWSClose-in weapon systemA close-in weapon system , often pronounced sea-whiz, is a naval shipboard point-defense weapon for detecting and destroying at short range incoming anti-ship missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses.... - 10 × 21" torpedo tubes
- 1 × twin SUW-N-1 FRAS Anti-Submarine Rocket launcher
- 4 × twin P-500 Bazalt SSM
- Novorossiysk:
- 4 × twin P-500 Bazalt SSM launchers (8 missiles)
- 2 × twin M-11 Shtorm SAM launchers (72 missiles)
- 2 × twin 76.2 mm AA guns
- 8 × AK-630 30 mm CIWS
- 1 × twin SUW-N-1 FRAS Anti-Submarine Rocket launcher
- Baku:
- 6 × twin P-500 Bazalt SSM launchers (12 missiles)
- 24 × 8-cell 9K330 Tor9K330 TorThe Tor missile system is an all-weather low to medium altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system designed for engaging airplanes, helicopters, cruise missiles, precision guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic targets...
vertical SAM launchers (192 missiles) - 2 × 100 mm guns
- 8 × AK-630 30 mm CIWS
- 10 × 21" torpedo tubes
- Kiev and Minsk:
- Date Deployed: 1975 (KievSoviet aircraft carrier KievKiev was a heavy aircraft carrying cruiser that served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1975 to 1993. It was built from 1970 till 1975 at Chernomorski factory in Nikolayev and was the first ship of its class -Service life:The Kiev was laid down on 21 July 1970 and launched on 26 December 1972...
)
Ships
- KievSoviet aircraft carrier KievKiev was a heavy aircraft carrying cruiser that served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1975 to 1993. It was built from 1970 till 1975 at Chernomorski factory in Nikolayev and was the first ship of its class -Service life:The Kiev was laid down on 21 July 1970 and launched on 26 December 1972...
(1975–1993) Sold to China - MinskSoviet aircraft carrier MinskMinsk is an aircraft carrier that served the Soviet Navy, and later the Russian Navy, from 1978 to 1994. She was the second Kiev-class vessel to be built.- History :...
(1978–1993) Sold to Korea → China - NovorossiyskSoviet aircraft carrier NovorossiyskNovorossiysk was a conventionally powered heavy aircraft carrying cruiser or aircraft carrier that served the Soviet Navy, and later the Russian Navy, from 1982 to 1993. She was the third Kiev class vessel to be built...
(1982–1993) sold to Korea(Scrapped) - BakuSoviet aircraft carrier Admiral GorshkovAdmiral Gorshkov was a modified Kiev class aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy, originally named Baku. Sometimes Gorshkov is considered a separate class due to its improvements including a phased array radar, extensive electronic warfare installations, and an enlarged command and control suite...
(1987–1991), Admiral Gorshkov (1991-1995), now VikramadityaINS VikramadityaINS Vikramaditya is the new name for the former Soviet aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which has been procured by India, and is estimated to enter service in the Indian Navy after 2012....
(Entering Indian service in 2011-12)
See also
- List of aircraft carriers of the Russian Navy
- List of aircraft carriers
- Flight deck cruiserFlight deck cruiserThe flight-deck cruiser was a proposed type of warship, designed by the United States Navy during the period between World War I and World War II. Combining features of aircraft carriers and light cruisers, several designs were proposed for the type, but none were approved for construction...