Soviet battlecruiser Kirov
Encyclopedia
Kirov, the lead ship
of her class
of nuclear-powered missile cruisers, is one of the major and biggest surface warships of the Russian Navy, though it was originally built for the Soviet Navy
. It is similar in size to a World War II
battleship
. Although commissioned as a missile cruiser Kirov' s size and weapons complement have given her the unofficial designation of a battlecruiser
throughout much of the world. The appearance of the Kirov class was a significant factor in the U.S. Navy recommissioning the Iowa class
. She was named after Sergey Kirov
, a Bolshevik hero.
in Leningrad
, launched on December 26, 1977 and commissioned on December 30, 1980, part of Soviet Northern Fleet. When she appeared for the first time in 1981, NATO observers called her BALCOM I (Baltic Combatant I). She was placed in reserve in 1990 following a reactor accident. Kirov was renamed Admiral Ushakov after the 18th century admiral Fyodor Fyodorovich Ushakov
in 1992 for political reasons. New photos show that it has reverted to its original name. An overhaul was started in 1999, but the ship was written off in 2001 and was slated to be dismantled in 2003.
In 2010 the Russian navy again announced new plans for a overhaul of the cruiser. The plans are now to modify and reactivate all of the Kirov battlecruisers by 2020.
antenna is mounted on its foremast and called "Top Pair" by NATO. Kirov' s main weapons are 20 × P-700 Granit
(SS-N-19 Shipwreck) missiles mounted on deck, designed to engage large surface targets, and air defense is provided for with 12 × S-300F (SA-N-6) launchers with 96 missiles, 2 × Osa-M
(SA-N-4 Gecko) with 40 missiles and the Kashtan
air-defence missile/gun system.
Other weapons are the automatic 130 mm AK-130 gun system, 30 mm AK-630, 10 × torpedo/missile tubes, Udav-1 (SS-N-14 Silex) with 40 anti-submarine rockets and the 2 × RBU-1000 six-tube launchers.
Kirov suffered a reactor accident in 1990 while serving in the Mediterranean Sea
. Repairs were never carried out, due to lack of funds and the changing political situation
in the Soviet Union
. She may have been cannibalized
as a spare parts cache for the other ships in her class.
In June 2004 the name Admiral Ushakov was transferred to the Sovremenny class destroyer
Besstrashny. In September 2004 it was revealed that the Severodvinsk-based Design Bureau Onega had been tasked with developing the dismantlement project for the cruiser, currently moored at the Severdovinsk Zvezdochka plant. According to the Zvezdochka plant, dismantlement of the former Admiral Ushakov would cost $40 million, all of which was allocated by Norway
. This plans now seems to been halted as the Russian navy plans to bring the class back to service.
Lead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
of her class
Kirov class battlecruiser
The Kirov-class battlecruiser is a class of nuclear-powered military ships of the Russian Navy, the largest and heaviest surface combatant warships currently in active operation in the world. The Russian designation is heavy nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser...
of nuclear-powered missile cruisers, is one of the major and biggest surface warships of the Russian Navy, though it was originally built for 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...
. It is similar in size to a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
. Although commissioned as a missile cruiser Kirov
Battlecruiser
Battlecruisers were large capital ships built in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed in the first decade of the century as the successor to the armoured cruiser, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleship...
throughout much of the world. The appearance of the Kirov class was a significant factor in the U.S. Navy recommissioning the Iowa class
Iowa class battleship
The Iowa-class battleships were a class of fast battleships ordered by the United States Navy in 1939 and 1940 to escort the Fast Carrier Task Forces which would operate in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Six were ordered during the course of World War II, but only four were completed in...
. She was named after Sergey Kirov
Sergey Kirov
Sergei Mironovich Kirov , born Sergei Mironovich Kostrikov, was a prominent early Bolshevik leader in the Soviet Union. Kirov rose through the Communist Party ranks to become head of the Party organization in Leningrad...
, a Bolshevik hero.
History
She was laid down on March 27, 1974 at the Baltiysky Naval ShipyardBaltic Shipyard
The Baltic Shipyard is one of the oldest shipyards in Russia. It is located in Saint Petersburg in the south-western part of the Vasilievsky Island. It is one of the three shipyards active in Saint Petersburg...
in Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, launched on December 26, 1977 and commissioned on December 30, 1980, part of Soviet Northern Fleet. When she appeared for the first time in 1981, NATO observers called her BALCOM I (Baltic Combatant I). She was placed in reserve in 1990 following a reactor accident. Kirov was renamed Admiral Ushakov after the 18th century admiral Fyodor Fyodorovich Ushakov
Fyodor Fyodorovich Ushakov
Fyodor Fyodorovich Ushakov was the most illustrious Russian naval commander and admiral of the 18th century.- Life and naval career :...
in 1992 for political reasons. New photos show that it has reverted to its original name. An overhaul was started in 1999, but the ship was written off in 2001 and was slated to be dismantled in 2003.
In 2010 the Russian navy again announced new plans for a overhaul of the cruiser. The plans are now to modify and reactivate all of the Kirov battlecruisers by 2020.
Armament
This ship had an armament of missiles and guns as well as electronics. Its largest radarRadar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
antenna is mounted on its foremast and called "Top Pair" by NATO. Kirov
P-700 Granit
The P-700 Granit is a Soviet and Russian naval anti-ship cruise missile. Its GRAU designation is 3M45, its NATO reporting name SS-N-19 Shipwreck...
(SS-N-19 Shipwreck) missiles mounted on deck, designed to engage large surface targets, and air defense is provided for with 12 × S-300F (SA-N-6) launchers with 96 missiles, 2 × Osa-M
9K33 Osa
The 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:...
(SA-N-4 Gecko) with 40 missiles and the Kashtan
Kashtan
Kashtan is surname of:* Dror Kashtan , Israeli footballer and manager* William Kashtan , general secretary of the Communist Party of Canada- See also :* Kashtan CIWS * Kasztanka* Castanea* Kastania...
air-defence missile/gun system.
Other weapons are the automatic 130 mm AK-130 gun system, 30 mm AK-630, 10 × torpedo/missile tubes, Udav-1 (SS-N-14 Silex) with 40 anti-submarine rockets and the 2 × RBU-1000 six-tube launchers.
Fate
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. Repairs were never carried out, due to lack of funds and the changing political situation
History of the Soviet Union (1985-1991)
The history of the Soviet Union from 1982 through 1991, spans the period from Leonid Brezhnev's death and funeral until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Due to the years of Soviet military buildup at the expense of domestic development, economic growth stagnated...
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....
. She may have been cannibalized
Cannibalization of machine parts
Cannibalization of machine parts, in maintenance of mechanical or electronic systems with interchangeable parts, refers to the practice of removing parts or subsystems necessary for repair from another similar device, rather than from inventory, usually when resources become limited...
as a spare parts cache for the other ships in her class.
In June 2004 the name Admiral Ushakov was transferred to the Sovremenny class destroyer
Sovremenny class destroyer
The Sovremenny class destroyer is the principal anti-surface warship of the Russian Navy. Soviet designation for the class was Project 956 Sarych ....
Besstrashny. In September 2004 it was revealed that the Severodvinsk-based Design Bureau Onega had been tasked with developing the dismantlement project for the cruiser, currently moored at the Severdovinsk Zvezdochka plant. According to the Zvezdochka plant, dismantlement of the former Admiral Ushakov would cost $40 million, all of which was allocated by Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. This plans now seems to been halted as the Russian navy plans to bring the class back to service.
See also
- Soviet cruiser KirovSoviet cruiser KirovKirov was a Project 26 of the Soviet Navy that served during the Winter War, World War II and into the Cold War. She attempted to bombard Finnish coast defense guns during action in the Winter War, but was driven off by a number of near misses that damaged her...
, a Kirov class cruiser, lead ship of a Soviet 1930-1940s class of conventional cruisersKirov class cruiserThe Kirov-class cruisers were six vessels built between 1935 and 1944 for the Soviet Navy: Kirov, Voroshilov, Maxim Gorky, Molotov, Kalinin, and Kaganovich. After the first two ships, armor protection was increased and subsequent ships are sometimes called the Maxim Gorky class...
. - Admiral Ushakov (warship)Admiral Ushakov (warship)Several Russian and Soviet warships were named Admiral Ushakov in honour of Fyodor Fyodorovich Ushakov:* Russian battleship Admiral Ushakov, Coast Defence ship, sunk at the Battle of Tsushima...
for other ships named for Fyodor Fyodorovich Ushakov.