The seven best missile cruisers of the Cold War. Albany-class guided missile cruisers Modernization and conversion

In the second half of the twentieth century, 180 independent states appeared on the world map, but out of this wild diversity of countries and peoples, only two superpowers had a powerful ocean fleet - Soviet Union and the USA. For example, no one except us and the Americans built missile cruisers en masse. Four more European countries, in order to maintain their former status as “maritime powers,” made efforts to create their own missile cruisers, but all their attempts ended in the construction of a single ship with predominantly American weapons and systems. “Ships of prestige”, nothing more.

The Americans were pioneers in the field of creating missile cruisers; by the end of the 40s, their military industry had created the first combat-ready air defense systems suitable for installation on a ship. Subsequently, the fate of the US Navy's missile cruisers was determined exclusively by escort functions as part of aircraft carrier groups; American cruisers were never designed for serious sea ​​battle with surface ships.

But missile cruisers were especially respected in our country: during the existence of the USSR, dozens of the most different designs: heavy and light, surface and underwater, with a conventional or nuclear power plant, there were even anti-submarine cruisers and cruiser-aircraft carriers! It is no coincidence that missile cruisers became the main striking force of the USSR Navy. In a general sense, the concept of “Soviet missile cruiser” meant a large multi-purpose surface ship with a powerful anti-ship missile system.

The story of the seven best missile cruisers is just a brief excursion into maritime history associated with the development of this unique class of warships. The author does not consider himself entitled to give any specific ratings or create a rating of “the best of the best.” No, this will just be a story about the most outstanding designs of the Cold War era, indicating their known advantages, disadvantages and interesting facts associated with these death machines. However, the nature of the presentation of the material will help the reader independently determine which of this “magnificent seven” is still worthy of the highest pedestal.

Albany-class guided missile cruiser

1944-1962 Total displacement 17,500 tons. Crew 1200 people.
Full speed – 32 knots. Cruising range - 9000 miles (at 15 knots).
Weapons:
— Talos long-range air defense system (2 launchers, ammunition 104 missiles);
— Tartar short-range air defense system (2 launchers, ammunition 84 anti-aircraft missiles);
— anti-submarine missile system ASROC (ammunition 24 missile-torpedoes);
- 8 Polaris intercontinental ballistic missiles (never installed);
— two universal guns of 127 mm caliber.

Three American monsters, rebuilt from heavy cruisers of World War II. After the first successful experiments with missile weapons, the US Navy decided on a global modernization of the Baltimore-class artillery cruisers - they removed all weapons from the ships, cut off the superstructure and tore apart their insides. And so, 4 years later, an incredible “thug” with a tall superstructure and mast pipes studded with secret electronic equipment entered the sea. The fact that this ship was once a heavy artillery cruiser of the Baltimore class was only reminiscent of the shape of the bow.

Despite its ugly appearance, the “Albany series” of cruisers were cool warships capable of providing high-quality air defense of aircraft carrier formations in the near zone (by the standards of those years) - the firing range of the Talos air defense system was more than 100 km, and two hundred missiles on board allowed fend off enemy aircraft for a long time.

Advantages of Albany:
- 15-centimeter armor belt, inherited from the heavy cruiser Baltimore,
— 8 fire control radars,
— high installation height of radars.

Disadvantages of Albany:
- lack of strike weapons,
- superstructures made of aluminum alloys,
— an archaic, in general, design.

Belknap-class guided missile cruiser

1964 Total displacement 8,000 tons. Crew 380 people.
Full speed – 32 knots. Cruising range - 7000 miles (at 20 knots).
Weapons:
— universal launcher Mk.10 (80 anti-aircraft and anti-submarine missiles);
— automated artillery mount Mk.42 127 mm caliber;
- 3 unmanned anti-submarine helicopters DASH (later replaced by the conventional SH-2 Sea Sprite helicopter);
— two auxiliary guns of 76 mm caliber (later replaced by anti-aircraft ones);
- 8 Harpoon anti-ship missiles (added after modernization in the early 1980s).

A series of 9 light escort cruisers, on which great hopes were pinned - already at birth, the Belknap-class cruisers received a universal complex of naval weapons, including the original computerized BIUS, unmanned helicopters and a new under-keel hydroacoustic station AN/SQS-26, supposedly capable hear the screws Soviet boats tens of miles from the side of the ship.

In some ways the ship justified itself, in others it did not, for example, the daring project of the unmanned helicopter DASH turned out to be of little use for real use on the open sea - the control systems were too imperfect. We had to expand the hangar and helipad to accommodate a full-fledged anti-submarine helicopter.

It is noteworthy that after a short disappearance, 127 mm guns returned to the ship - the American sailors did not dare to completely abandon artillery.

In the 60s...70s, cruisers of this type regularly patrolled off the coast of Vietnam, firing anti-aircraft missiles at North Vietnamese MiGs that carelessly flew into the cruisers’ kill zone. But the Belknap became famous not for its feats of arms - in 1975, the lead ship of this type was crushed in the Mediterranean Sea by the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy.

Its navigational error cost the cruiser dearly - the flight deck of the aircraft carrier literally “cut off” all the superstructures, and a shower of kerosene from the torn fuel lines of the aircraft carrier fell on top of the mangled remains of the ship. The ensuing eight-hour fire completely destroyed the cruiser. The restoration of the Belknap was a purely political decision, otherwise such a stupid death of the ship could undermine the prestige of the US Navy.

Advantages of Belknap:
— computerized combat information and control system NTDS;
— availability of a helicopter on board;
- small size and cost.

Disadvantages of Belknap:
- the only launcher, the failure of which left the ship essentially unarmed;
— fire hazardous aluminum superstructures;
— lack of strike weapons (which, however, is dictated by the purpose of the cruiser).

Project 58 missile cruiser "Grozny"

1962 Total displacement 5,500 tons. Crew 340 people.
Full speed – 34 knots. Cruising range - 3500 miles (at 18 knots).
Weapons:
— anti-ship complex P-35 (2 launchers, ammunition 16 anti-ship missiles);
— short-range air defense system M-1 “Volna” (16 anti-aircraft missiles);
— two automatic twin guns of 76 mm caliber;
— 6 torpedoes of 533 mm caliber;
— 2 x 12 rocket launchers;
- Helipad

Nikita Khrushchev's favorite ship. A small Soviet cruiser with colossal striking power for its size. The world's first warship equipped with anti-ship missiles. Even with the naked eye it is noticeable how overloaded the baby was with weapons - according to the plans of those years, “Grozny” had to almost alone carry out watches in the far latitudes of the World Ocean. You never know what tasks may arise for the Soviet cruiser - “Grozny” must be ready for anything!

As a result, a universal weapon system appeared on board the ship, capable of fighting any air, surface and underwater targets. Very high speed speed - 34 knots (more than 60 km/h), universal artillery, equipment for receiving a helicopter...

But what was especially impressive was the P-35 anti-ship complex - eight four-ton blanks, capable of falling off the guides at any moment and rushing beyond the horizon at supersonic speed (firing range - up to 250 km). Despite doubts about the long-range target designation capabilities of the P-35, powerful electronic countermeasures and anti-aircraft fire from American AUGs, the cruiser posed a mortal threat to any enemy squadron - one of the four missiles from each launcher had a megaton nuclear “surprise”.

Advantages of "Grozny":
— exceptionally high saturation of fire agents;
- great design.

Disadvantages of "Grozny":
Most of the shortcomings of the Grozny were in one way or another connected with the desire of the designers to place the maximum number of weapons and systems in the limited hull of the destroyer.
— short cruising range;
— weak air defense;
- imperfect weapon control systems;
— fire hazardous design: aluminum superstructure and synthetic interior finishing.

Missile cruiser Long Beach

1961 Total displacement 17,000 tons. Crew 1160 people.
Full speed - 30 knots. Cruising range - 360,000 miles.
Weapons:
— Terrier medium-range air defense system (2 launchers, ammunition 102 missiles)
— Talos long-range air defense system (1 launcher, 52 missiles ammunition)
- anti-submarine missile system ASROC (ammunition 24 missile torpedoes)
— two universal guns of 127 mm caliber;
- two Phalanx anti-aircraft guns, 8 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, 8 Tomahawk missiles (modernized in the early 1980s).

First in the world nuclear cruiser, undoubtedly worthy of mention in the list of the best ships of the twentieth century. In combination, Long Beach became the world's first specialized missile cruiser - all previous designs (Boston-class missile cruisers, etc.) were just improvisations based on artillery cruisers of World War II.

The ship turned out to be gorgeous. Three missile systems for various purposes. The unusual “box-shaped” shape of the main superstructure, dictated by the installation of SCANFAR phased radars, also unique radio systems of its time. Finally, the nuclear heart of the cruiser, which made it possible to accompany the nuclear aircraft carrier Enterprise everywhere, for interaction with which this miracle was created.

However, an incredible price was paid for all this - 330 million dollars (about 5 billion at the current exchange rate!), In addition, the imperfection of nuclear technology did not allow the creation of a compact nuclear power system of the required power in the 50s - the cruiser rapidly “grew” in size, finally reaching 17 thousand tons. Too much for an escort ship!

In addition, it turned out that Long Beach did not have the opportunity to realize their advantage in practice. Firstly, the ship's autonomy is limited not only by its fuel reserves. Secondly, the aircraft carrier’s retinue included many ships with conventional power plants, which made it difficult for the nuclear cruiser to move quickly.

Long Beach served honorably for 33 years. During this time, he left a million nautical miles astern, while managing to fight in Vietnam and Iraq. Due to its exceptional complexity and cost, it remained the lonely “white elephant” of the fleet, however, it had a significant influence on the development of world shipbuilding (including the birth of our next “hero”).

Advantages of Long Beach:
— unlimited autonomy in terms of fuel reserves;
— radars with phased array;
- versatility.

Disadvantages of Long Beach:
- monstrous cost;
- less survivability compared to conventional cruisers.

Heavy nuclear missile cruiser Project 1144.2 "Orlan"

1998 Total displacement 26,000 tons. Crew 635 people.
Full speed – 32 knots. Cruising range is not limited by fuel reserves.
Weapons:
- anti-ship (20 launchers, ammunition 20 missiles);
— long-range air defense system S-300F “Fort” (6 launchers, ammunition 48 missiles);
— long-range air defense system S-300FM “Fort-M” (6 launchers, ammunition 46 missiles);
— short-range air defense system “Dagger” (12 launchers, ammunition 128 missiles);
— anti-submarine complex “Waterfall” (ammunition of 20 missile torpedoes);

— 6 anti-aircraft missile and artillery complexes “Kortik”;
— three rocket launchers;
- three helicopters.

For comparison, the TAVKR "Peter the Great" was chosen - the last and most advanced of the heavy atomic ones. A real Imperial cruiser with an amazing array of weapons - the entire range of systems in service with the Russian Navy is collected on board.

Theoretically, in one-on-one combat, the Orlan has no equal among all the ships in the world - a huge ocean killer will be able to deal with any enemy. In practice, the situation looks much more interesting - the enemy against whom the “Eagles” were created does not go alone. What awaits the Orlan in a real battle with an aircraft carrier and its escort of five missile cruisers? Glorious Gangut, Chesma or the terrible Tsushima pogrom? Nobody knows the answer to this question.

The appearance of the first "Orlan" in 1980 greatly excited the whole world - in addition to its cyclopean size and heroic stature, the Soviet heavy cruiser became the world's first warship with below-deck vertical launch systems. Caused a lot of fears anti-aircraft complex S-300F - nothing like this simply existed in any country in the world at that time.

In fact, the first ship with the S-300F experimental complex installed was the Azov BOD. In addition, the S-300F guides are not installed completely vertically, but at an angle of 5° to the normal to prevent the rocket from falling onto the deck if the launch engine fails.

As in the case of the American Long Beach, when discussing Orlan, opinions are often heard about the adequacy of creating such a Miracle. Firstly, for the destruction of AUGs, nuclear-powered missile submarines Project 949A look more attractive. The submarine's stealth and security are an order of magnitude greater, the cost is lower, and the 949A salvo contains 24 Granit missiles.

Secondly, 26 thousand tons of displacement is a direct consequence of the presence of nuclear reactors, which do not provide any real advantages, only wasting space, complicating maintenance and worsening the survivability of the ship in battle. It can be assumed that without the YSU, the displacement of the Orlan would have been reduced by half.

By the way, a paradoxical coincidence, the bald eagle is the national emblem of the USA!

Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser

1986 Total displacement 10,000 tons. Crew 390 people.
Full speed – 32 knots. Cruising range – 6000 (at 20 knots).
Weapons:
— 122 vertical launchers Mk.41 (launch of almost all types of missiles in service with the US Navy, with the exception of submarine-launched ballistic missiles);
— 8 anti-ship missiles “Harpoon”;
— two lightweight universal artillery systems Mk.45 of 127 mm caliber;
— six anti-submarine torpedoes of 324 mm caliber;
- two Phalanx anti-aircraft guns;
- two Bushmaster automatic cannons of 25 mm caliber.

“Stand by admiral Gorshkov: “Aegis” - at sea!” - “Beware, Admiral Gorshkov: Aegis is at sea!” — it was with this message that the first Ticonderoga, an unsightly ship from the outside, with the most modern electronic filling, set out to sea. For comparison, the cruiser CG-52 “Bunker Hill” was chosen - the lead ship of the second series of “Ticonderogas”, equipped with Mk.41 UVP.

A modern ship thought out to the smallest detail with unique fire control systems. The cruiser is still focused on providing air defense and anti-submarine defense for aircraft carrier formations, but can independently launch massive strikes along the coast using Tomahawk cruise missiles, the number of which can reach hundreds on board.

The highlight of the cruiser is the combat information and control system. Coupled with stationary phased radar panels AN/SPY-1 and 4 fire control radars, the ship's computers are capable of simultaneously tracking up to 1000 air, surface, and underwater targets, while automatically selecting them and, if necessary, attacking 18 of the most dangerous objects. At the same time, the energy capabilities of the AN/SPY-1 are such that the cruiser is capable of detecting and attacking even fast-moving point targets in low Earth orbit.

Advantages of Ticonderoga:
— unprecedented versatility at minimal cost;
- enormous striking power;
— the ability to solve missile defense problems and destroy satellites in low orbits.

Disadvantages of Ticonderoga:
- limited dimensions, and, as a result, dangerous overloading of the ship;
— wide application aluminum in the design of the cruiser.

Project 1164 Atlant missile cruiser

1983 Total displacement 11,500 tons. Crew 510 people.
Full speed – 32 knots. Cruising range – 6000 (at 18 knots).
Weapons:
— anti-ship missile system P-1000 “Vulcan” (8 twin launchers, ammunition 16 missiles);
— anti-aircraft missile system S-300F “Fort” (8 drum launchers, ammunition 64 missiles);
— two short-range anti-aircraft missile systems “Osa-MA” (2 beam launchers, ammunition 40 missiles);
— anti-submarine complex “Waterfall” (ammunition of 10 missile torpedoes);
— one twin automated artillery mount of 130 mm caliber;
— three batteries (total 6 guns + 3 fire control radars);
— two rocket launchers;
— an anti-submarine helicopter and a hangar for its long-term storage.

With 2.25 times less displacement than the huge nuclear-powered Orlan, the Atlant cruiser retains 80% of its strike power and up to 65% of its anti-aircraft weapons. In other words, instead of building one Orlan supercruiser, you can build two Atlantas!

Two Atlant missile cruisers, which, by the way, are 32 Vulcan supersonic anti-ship missiles and 128 S-300F anti-aircraft missiles. As well as 2 helipads, 2 AK-130 artillery mounts, two Fregat radars and two hydroacoustic stations. And all this instead of one “Orlan”! That is, an obvious conclusion arises - the missile cruiser Project 1164 is the “golden mean” between the size, cost and combat capabilities of the ship.

Even despite the general moral and physical obsolescence of these cruisers, the potential inherent in them is so high that it allows the Atlanteans to still operate on an equal footing with the most modern foreign missile cruisers and guided missile destroyers. For example, the S-300F complex, which has no analogues, even modern anti-aircraft missiles of the US Navy, due to the limited size of the standard Mk.41 UVP cells, are inferior in energy characteristics to the missiles of the Fort complex (in other words, they are twice as light and half as slow).

Well, all that remains is to wish that the legendary “grin of socialism” is modernized as often as possible and remains in combat service for as long as possible.

Advantages of "Atlanta":
— balanced design;
— excellent seaworthiness;
— missile system S-300F and P-1000.

Disadvantages of Atlanta:
— the only fire control radar of the S-300F complex;
— lack of modern self-defense air defense systems;
— overly complex design of the gas turbine unit.

Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia

Albany-class guided missile cruisers- three ships, originally built as heavy cruisers of the Baltimore and Oregon City classes, rebuilt into guided-missile cruisers (CG) in 1958-1964.

The ships underwent a radical reconstruction, all weapons were removed, and the superstructure was completely reconstructed, taking on a characteristic tower-like shape. To reduce weight and improve stability, structural materials based on aluminum alloys were widely used in superstructures.

Modernization

Initially, the CA-122 Oregon cruisers were selected as reconstruction objects. (English)Russian(Oregon type), CA-136 Chicago and CA-131 Fall River (English)Russian(Baltimore type). After reconstruction, they were to become missile cruisers CG-10, CG-11 and CG-12, respectively. Over time, it was decided to replace the Oregon with the same type CA-123 Albany. (English)Russian, since the latter was in better technical condition. For the same reason, the Fall River was replaced by the same type CA-74 Columbus. (English)Russian .

Initial plans also included the conversion of the CA-124 Rochester. (English)Russian type "Oregon" and CA-130 "Bremerton" (English)Russian type "Baltimore" in CG-13 and CG-14, however, due to the high cost, the reconstruction of these ships was canceled in favor of specially built frigates.

Design

When the ships were converted into missile cruisers, all of their previous artillery and part of the armor protection were removed from the hulls. The ships' superstructures were also completely dismantled and replaced with new ones, constructed (to reduce overhead weight) from light aluminum alloys.

The modernized ships had a distinctive, easily recognizable silhouette. In front of the hull stood a massive, very tall rectangular superstructure topped with an AN/SPS-30 radar antenna. Directly in front of the superstructure, on conical bases, there was a group of four radars of the Talos bow air defense system. At the base of the bow superstructure there was a hangar where anti-aircraft missiles were equipped before launch.

On the sides of the bow superstructure, four AN/SPG-51 radars were located on protrusions, used to guide the Tartar air defense system.

A high mast-pipe was mounted directly behind the bow superstructure, which served as the basis for the AN/SPS-48 three-dimensional radar antenna, the AN/SPS-10 navigation radar and a set of communication antennas. The aft mast-pipe, similar in design, was topped with a rotating antenna for the AN/SPS-43 air target detection radar. In the gap between the pipe masts, an ASROC container PU PLUR was installed.

On the sides of the aft mast-pipe there were two 127-mm guns in barbette mounts, above which there were optical artillery fire directors.

Booking

The cruisers retained elements of the armor belt and the main armored deck. The Talos hangars and cellars had 30 mm anti-fragmentation protection. The ships were protected from weapons of mass destruction by sealing the hull and installing flushing systems.

Armament

Anti-aircraft weapons

The main armament of the Albany-class missile cruisers was the RIM-8 Talos ultra-long-range anti-aircraft missile system. Equipped with ramjet engines, the missiles of the complex ensured the destruction of aerodynamic targets - including supersonic ones - at a distance of 105-150 kilometers from the ship.

Two twin Mk 12 beam launchers were located in the bow and stern of the cruiser. The installations were reloaded from hangars located in the superstructure, where missiles were supplied from the below-deck magazine. Before delivery to the launch site, mechanics in the hangar manually mounted wings and stabilizers on the rockets, which were stored separately to save space. The total capacity of each magazine was 52 missiles, that is, the cruiser's ammunition standard consisted of 104 RIM-8 Talos missiles. The ammunition load included both missiles with conventional and nuclear warheads, as well as modifications of missiles for hitting ground/surface targets.

The Talos missiles had a dual control system: a “ridden beam” in the mid-flight section of the trajectory, and semi-active radar homing in the terminal section. The missiles were aimed at the target using two groups of radars, in the bow and stern. Each group included two AN/SPW-2 radars, used to control the missile during the cruising phase, and two AN/SPG-49 radars, which served to “illuminate” the target in the terminal phase. The entire missile control procedure was carried out using the Mk 77 control system, which used two computers to control the missile and calculate the trajectory.

For self-defense, the cruiser was also equipped anti-aircraft missile system short-range "Tartar". Two twin Mk 11 launchers, reloaded from vertical below-deck drums, were located on either side of the cruiser's massive bow superstructure. Missile guidance was carried out using four AN/SPG-51 radars (two on each side), which illuminated the target for semi-active seekers. The system's ammunition load was 42 RIM-24 "Tartar" missiles per installation. Thus, the total ammunition of the Albany-class cruisers consisted of 188 missiles, while eight targets could be simultaneously accompanied: four Talos air defense systems, and another four (but no more than two on each side) Tartar air defense systems.

Anti-submarine weapons

In the center of the hull, between the pipe masts, the cruisers carried an 8-round launcher for the RUR-5 ASROC anti-submarine missile system. The complex could be used to defeat submarines light anti-submarine torpedoes or deep nuclear charges at a distance of up to 15-20 km. The container launcher was reloaded through hatches in the aft superstructure.

Additionally, all cruisers carried two three-tube 324 mm Mk32 torpedo tubes (English)Russian for Mk46 anti-submarine torpedoes (English)Russian.

Anti-ship weapons

Initially, ships of the Albany type did not carry specialized anti-ship weapons at all. During the construction stage, two 127 mm 38-caliber Mk-24 guns were added to the original design (English)Russian in open manually controlled installations, located on the sides at the base of the aft mast-pipe of cruisers. These outdated short-barreled guns could only be considered as auxiliary weapons.

At the same time, although the Albany-class cruisers did not carry specialized anti-ship weapons, all three of their missile systems - Talos and Tartar and ASROC - could normally be used for firing at surface targets within the radio horizon. The impact energy of a one and a half ton RIM-8 Talos missile diving at a speed of about 2.8 Mach was comparable to the impact energy of a battleship’s main caliber projectile, and even without a warhead was sufficient to sink a destroyer or seriously damage capital ship. Taking into account the possibility of using nuclear warheads, Talos could be effectively used to destroy almost any surface ships, including battleships and heavy cruisers.

In the 1980s, it was planned to equip the cruisers with Harpoon anti-ship missiles, but for economic reasons the project was not implemented.

Strategic strike weapons

In the middle part of the ship, space was reserved for the installation of eight silos for Polaris medium-range missiles, but due to the successful deployment of missile-carrying submarines, the concept of arming surface ships with ballistic missiles was abandoned in mid-1959.

Aviation weapons

The Albany-class cruisers had a helicopter flight deck at the stern; however, no hangar was provided.

Service history

All three ships saw heavy use during the 1960s and 1970s. Chicago had long been the flagship of the 3rd Fleet in the Pacific, and Albany served similar duties in the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. Both of these ships underwent modernization of the Talos missile control system in the late 1960s. Columbus did not undergo modernization; in 1976 it was withdrawn from the fleet and scrapped.

"Chicago" and "Albany" served until 1980, when their further modernization was considered inappropriate.

Photo

USS Albany (CG-10) firing missiles 1963.jpg

Launch of Talos and Tartar missiles from the cruiser Albany, 1963

USS-Columbus-Talos-Missiles.jpg

Launcher for the Talos air defense missile system on the cruiser Columbus, 1962

USS Columbus (CG-12) Tartar.jpg

Launch of the Tartar missile defense system from the cruiser Columbus, Mediterranean Sea, 1965

ASROC launcher USS Columbus 1962.jpg

PU PLUR ASROK on the cruiser Columbus, 1962

USS Columbus (CG-12) 1974.jpg

Cruiser Columbus

USS Albany (CA-123) underway 1955.jpg

The cruiser Albany before reconstruction, 1955

Composition of the series

The table contains information about ships before reconstruction (top lines) and after it. The "Shipyard" column indicates the place of original construction and the place of reconstruction. In the column “laid down” the dates of the laying of the ships as artillery cruisers and the dates of the start of reconstruction are given. In the “Decommissioned” column – the dates of withdrawal from the fleet before reconstruction and the date of final withdrawal to the reserve.

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Notes

Literature

• James Charles Fahey.. - 7th ed.. - Naval Institute Press, 1980. - 71 p. - ISBN 0870216465, 9780870216466...

Links

• . NVR.
• . DANFS.
• . NVR.
• . DANFS.
• . NVR.
• . DANFS.

Excerpt characterizing the Albany-class guided missile cruisers

Countess Rostova with her daughters and already a large number of guests was sitting in the living room. The Count led the male guests into his office, offering them his hunting collection of Turkish pipes. Occasionally he would go out and ask: has she arrived? They were waiting for Marya Dmitrievna Akhrosimova, nicknamed in society le terrible dragon, [a terrible dragon,] a lady famous not for wealth, not for honors, but for her directness of mind and frank simplicity of manner. Marya Dmitrievna was known by the royal family, all of Moscow and all of St. Petersburg knew her, and both cities, surprised by her, secretly laughed at her rudeness and told jokes about her; nevertheless, everyone without exception respected and feared her.
In the office, full of smoke, there was a conversation about the war, which was declared by the manifesto, about recruitment. No one had read the manifesto yet, but everyone knew about its appearance. The Count was sitting on an ottoman between two neighbors who were smoking and talking. The Count himself did not smoke or speak, but tilting his head, now to one side, now to the other, looked with visible pleasure at those smoking and listened to the conversation of his two neighbors, whom he pitted against each other.
One of the speakers was a civilian, with a wrinkled, bilious and shaved thin face, a man already approaching old age, although dressed like the most fashionable young man; he sat with his feet on the ottoman with the air of a domestic man and, throwing amber far into his mouth from the side, impulsively inhaled the smoke and squinted. It was the old bachelor Shinshin, the countess's cousin, an evil tongue, as they said about him in Moscow drawing rooms. He seemed to condescend to his interlocutor. Another, fresh, pink, guards officer, impeccably washed, buttoned up and combed, held amber in the middle of his mouth and lightly pulled out smoke with his pink lips, releasing it in ringlets from his beautiful mouth. This was Lieutenant Berg, an officer of the Semenovsky regiment, with whom Boris rode together in the regiment and with whom Natasha teased Vera, the senior countess, calling Berg her fiancé. The Count sat between them and listened attentively. The most enjoyable activity for the Count, with the exception of the game of Boston, which he loved very much, was the position of listening, especially when he managed to pit two talkative interlocutors against each other.
“Well, of course, father, mon tres honorable [most venerable] Alfons Karlych,” said Shinshin, laughing and combining (which was the peculiarity of his speech) the most popular Russian expressions with refined French phrases. - Vous comptez vous faire des rentes sur l "etat, [You expect to have income from the treasury,] do you want to receive income from the company?
- No, Pyotr Nikolaich, I just want to show that cavalry has much less benefits against infantry. Now figure out, Pyotr Nikolaich, my situation...
Berg always spoke very precisely, calmly and courteously. His conversation always concerned himself alone; he always remained calmly silent while they were talking about something that had nothing directly to do with him. And he could remain silent in this way for several hours without experiencing or causing the slightest confusion in others. But as soon as the conversation concerned him personally, he began to speak at length and with visible pleasure.
- Consider my position, Pyotr Nikolaich: if I were in the cavalry, I would receive no more than two hundred rubles a third, even with the rank of lieutenant; and now I get two hundred and thirty,” he said with a joyful, pleasant smile, looking at Shinshin and the count, as if it was obvious to him that his success would always be main goal the desires of all other people.
“Besides, Pyotr Nikolaich, having joined the guard, I am visible,” Berg continued, “and vacancies in the guards infantry are much more frequent.” Then, figure out for yourself how I could make a living out of two hundred and thirty rubles. “And I’m putting it aside and sending it to my father,” he continued, starting the ring.
“La balance y est... [The balance is established...] A German is threshing a loaf of bread on the butt, comme dit le proverbe, [as the proverb says],” Shinshin said, shifting the amber to the other side of his mouth and winked at the count.
The Count burst out laughing. Other guests, seeing that Shinshin was talking, came up to listen. Berg, not noticing either ridicule or indifference, continued to talk about how by transferring to the guard he had already won a rank in front of his comrades in the corps, how in wartime a company commander can be killed, and he, remaining senior in the company, can very easily be company commander, and how everyone in the regiment loves him, and how his daddy is pleased with him. Berg apparently enjoyed telling all this, and did not seem to suspect that other people might also have their own interests. But everything he told was so sweetly sedate, the naivety of his young egoism was so obvious that he disarmed his listeners.
- Well, father, you will be in action in both the infantry and the cavalry; “This is what I predict for you,” said Shinshin, patting him on the shoulder and lowering his legs from the ottoman.
Berg smiled happily. The Count, followed by the guests, went into the living room.

There was that time before a dinner party when the assembled guests do not begin a long conversation in anticipation of the call for appetizers, but at the same time consider it necessary to move and not remain silent in order to show that they are not at all impatient to sit down at the table. The owners glance at the door and occasionally glance at each other. From these glances, guests try to guess who or what else they are waiting for: an important relative who is late, or food that is not yet ripe.
Pierre arrived just before dinner and sat awkwardly in the middle of the living room on the first available chair, blocking everyone's path. The Countess wanted to force him to speak, but he naively looked through his glasses around him, as if looking for someone, and answered all the Countess’s questions in monosyllables. He was shy and alone did not notice it. Most of the guests, who knew his story with the bear, looked curiously at this big, fat and humble man, wondering how such a hulk and modest man could do such a thing to a policeman.
-Have you arrived recently? - the countess asked him.
“Oui, madame,” he answered, looking around.
-Have you seen my husband?
- Non, madame. [No, madam.] - He smiled completely inappropriately.
– You, it seems, were recently in Paris? I think it's very interesting.
- Very interesting..
The Countess exchanged glances with Anna Mikhailovna. Anna Mikhailovna realized that she was being asked to occupy this young man, and, sitting down next to him, began to talk about her father; but just like the countess, he answered her only in monosyllables. The guests were all busy with each other. Les Razoumovsky... ca a ete charmant... Vous etes bien bonne... La comtesse Apraksine... [The Razoumovskys... It was amazing... You are very kind... Countess Apraksina...] was heard from all sides. The Countess got up and went into the hall.
- Marya Dmitrievna? – her voice was heard from the hall.
“She’s the one,” a rough female voice was heard in response, and after that Marya Dmitrievna entered the room.
All the young ladies and even the ladies, with the exception of the oldest ones, stood up. Marya Dmitrievna stopped at the door and, from the height of her corpulent body, holding high her fifty-year-old head with gray curls, looked around at the guests and, as if rolling up, slowly straightened the wide sleeves of her dress. Marya Dmitrievna always spoke Russian.
“Dear birthday girl with the children,” she said in her loud, thick voice, suppressing all other sounds. “What, you old sinner,” she turned to the count, who was kissing her hand, “tea, are you bored in Moscow?” Is there anywhere to run the dogs? What should we do, father, this is how these birds will grow up...” She pointed to the girls. - Whether you want it or not, you have to look for suitors.
- Well, what, my Cossack? (Marya Dmitrievna called Natasha a Cossack) - she said, caressing Natasha with her hand, who approached her hand without fear and cheerfully. – I know that the potion is a girl, but I love her.
She took out pear-shaped yakhon earrings from her huge reticule and, giving them to Natasha, who was beaming and blushing for her birthday, immediately turned away from her and turned to Pierre.
- Eh, eh! kind! “Come here,” she said in a feignedly quiet and thin voice. - Come on, my dear...
And she menacingly rolled up her sleeves even higher.
Pierre approached, naively looking at her through his glasses.
- Come, come, my dear! I was the only one who told your father the truth when he had a chance, but God commands it to you.
She paused. Everyone was silent, waiting for what would happen, and feeling that there was only a preface.
- Good, nothing to say! good boy!... The father is lying on his bed, and he is amusing himself, putting the policeman on a bear. It's a shame, father, it's a shame! It would be better to go to war.
She turned away and offered her hand to the count, who could hardly restrain himself from laughing.
- Well, come to the table, I have tea, is it time? - said Marya Dmitrievna.
The count walked ahead with Marya Dmitrievna; then the countess, who was led by a hussar colonel, the right person, with whom Nikolai was supposed to catch up with the regiment. Anna Mikhailovna - with Shinshin. Berg shook hands with Vera. A smiling Julie Karagina went with Nikolai to the table. Behind them came other couples, stretching across the entire hall, and behind them, one by one, were children, tutors and governesses. The waiters began to stir, the chairs rattled, music began to play in the choir, and the guests took their seats. The sounds of the count's home music were replaced by the sounds of knives and forks, the chatter of guests, and the quiet steps of waiters.
At one end of the table the countess sat at the head. On the right is Marya Dmitrievna, on the left is Anna Mikhailovna and other guests. At the other end sat the count, on the left the hussar colonel, on the right Shinshin and other male guests. On one side of the long table are older young people: Vera next to Berg, Pierre next to Boris; on the other hand - children, tutors and governesses. From behind the crystal, bottles and vases of fruit, the Count looked at his wife and her tall cap with blue ribbons and diligently poured wine for his neighbors, not forgetting himself. The countess also, from behind the pineapples, not forgetting her duties as a housewife, cast significant glances at her husband, whose bald head and face, it seemed to her, were more sharply different from his gray hair in their redness. There was a steady babble on the ladies' end; in the men's room, voices were heard louder and louder, especially the hussar colonel, who ate and drank so much, blushing more and more, that the count was already setting him up as an example to the other guests. Berg, with a gentle smile, spoke to Vera that love is not an earthly, but a heavenly feeling. Boris named his new friend Pierre the guests at the table and exchanged glances with Natasha, who was sitting opposite him. Pierre spoke little, looked at new faces and ate a lot. Starting from two soups, from which he chose a la tortue, [turtle,] and kulebyaki and to hazel grouse, he did not miss a single dish and not a single wine, which the butler mysteriously stuck out in a bottle wrapped in a napkin from behind his neighbor’s shoulder, saying or “drey Madeira", or "Hungarian", or "Rhine wine". He placed the first of the four crystal glasses with the count's monogram that stood in front of each device, and drank with pleasure, looking at the guests with an increasingly pleasant expression. Natasha, sitting opposite him, looked at Boris the way thirteen-year-old girls look at a boy with whom they had just kissed for the first time and with whom they are in love. This same look of hers sometimes turned to Pierre, and under the gaze of this funny, lively girl he wanted to laugh himself, not knowing why.
Nikolai sat far from Sonya, next to Julie Karagina, and again with the same involuntary smile he spoke to her. Sonya smiled grandly, but apparently was tormented by jealousy: she turned pale, then blushed and listened with all her might to what Nikolai and Julie were saying to each other. The governess looked around restlessly, as if preparing to fight back if anyone decided to offend the children. The German tutor tried to memorize all kinds of dishes, desserts and wines in order to describe everything in detail in a letter to his family in Germany, and was very offended by the fact that the butler, with a bottle wrapped in a napkin, carried him around. The German frowned, tried to show that he did not want to receive this wine, but was offended because no one wanted to understand that he needed the wine not to quench his thirst, not out of greed, but out of conscientious curiosity.

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Albany class guided missile cruisers USA
- three ships, originally built as heavy cruisers of the Baltimore and Oregon City classes, rebuilt into guided-missile cruisers (CG) in 1958-1964.

The ships underwent a radical reconstruction, all weapons were removed, and the superstructure was completely reconstructed, taking on a characteristic tower-like shape. To reduce weight and improve stability, structural materials based on aluminum alloys were widely used in superstructures.

• 1 Modernization
• 2 Construction
  • 2.1 Anti-aircraft weapons
  • 2.2 Anti-submarine weapons
  • 2.3 Anti-ship weapons
  • 2.4 Strategic strike weapons
  • 2.5 Aircraft weapons
• 3 Service history
• 4 Photos
• 5 Composition of the series
• 6 Notes
• 7 Literature
• 8 Links

Modernization

Initially, the cruisers CA-122 "Oregon" (English) Russian were chosen as reconstruction objects. (Oregon type), CA-136 Chicago and CA-131 Fall River (English) Russian. (Baltimore type). After reconstruction, they were to become missile cruisers CG-10, CG-11 and CG-12, respectively. Over time, it was decided to replace the Oregon with the same type CA-123 Albany (English) Russian, since the latter was in better technical condition. For the same reason, the Fall River was replaced by the same type CA-74 Columbus (English)Russian..

Initial plans also included the conversion of the CA-124 Rochester. type "Oregon" and CA-130 "Bremerton" (English) Russian. type "Baltimore" in CG-13 and CG-14, however, due to the high cost, the reconstruction of these ships was canceled in favor of specially built frigates.

Design

When the ships were converted into missile cruisers, all of their previous artillery and most of the armor protection were removed from the hulls. The ships' superstructures were also completely dismantled and replaced with new ones, constructed (to reduce overhead weight) from light aluminum alloys.

The modernized ships had a distinctive, easily recognizable silhouette. In front of the hull was a massive, very high rectangular superstructure topped with an AN/SPS-30 radar antenna. Directly in front of the superstructure, on conical bases, there was a group of four radars of the Talos bow air defense system. At the base of the bow superstructure there was a hangar where anti-aircraft missiles were equipped before launch.

On the sides of the bow superstructure, four AN/SPG-51 radars were located on protrusions, used to guide the Tartar air defense system.

A high mast-pipe was mounted directly behind the bow superstructure, which served as the basis for the AN/SPS-48 three-dimensional radar antenna, the AN/SPS-10 navigation radar and a set of communication antennas. The aft mast-pipe, similar in design, was topped with a rotating antenna for the AN/SPS-43 air target detection radar. ASROC container PU PLUR was installed in the gap between the pipe masts.

On the sides of the aft mast-pipe there were two 127-mm guns in barbette mounts, above which there were optical artillery fire directors.

Anti-aircraft weapons

The main armament of the Albany-class missile cruisers was the RIM-8 Talos ultra-long-range anti-aircraft missile system. Equipped with ramjet engines, the missiles of the complex ensured the destruction of aerodynamic targets - including supersonic ones - at a distance of 105-150 kilometers from the ship.

Two twin Mk 12 beam launchers were located in the bow and stern of the cruiser. The installations were reloaded from hangars located in the superstructure, where missiles were supplied from the below-deck magazine. Before delivery to the launch site, mechanics in the hangar manually mounted wings and stabilizers on the rockets, which were stored separately to save space. The total capacity of each magazine was 52 missiles, that is, the cruiser's ammunition standard consisted of 104 RIM-8 Talos missiles. The ammunition included both missiles with conventional and nuclear warheads, as well as modifications of missiles for hitting ground/surface targets.

The Talos missiles had a dual control system: a “ridden beam” in the mid-flight section of the trajectory, and semi-active radar homing in the terminal section. The missiles were aimed at the target using two groups of radars, in the bow and stern. Each group included two AN/SPW-2 radars, used to control the missile during the cruising phase, and two AN/SPG-49 radars, which served to “illuminate” the target in the terminal phase. The entire missile control procedure was carried out using the Mk 77 control system, which used two computers to control the missile and calculate the trajectory.

For self-defense, the cruiser was also equipped with the Tartar short-range anti-aircraft missile system. Two twin Mk 11 launchers, reloaded from vertical below-deck drums, were located on either side of the cruiser's massive bow superstructure. Missile guidance was carried out using four AN/SPG-51 radars (two on each side), which illuminated the target for semi-active seekers. The system's ammunition load was 42 RIM-24 "Tartar" missiles per installation. Thus, the total ammunition of the Albany-class cruisers consisted of 188 missiles, while eight targets could be simultaneously accompanied: four Talos air defense systems, and another four (but no more than two on each side) Tartar air defense systems.

Anti-submarine weapons

In the center of the hull, between the pipe masts, the cruisers carried an 8-round launcher for the RUR-5 ASROC anti-submarine missile system. The complex could be used to destroy submarines with light anti-submarine torpedoes or deep nuclear charges at a distance of up to 15-20 km. The container launcher was reloaded through hatches in the aft superstructure.

Additionally, all cruisers carried two three-tube 324 mm Mk32 torpedo tubes. for anti-submarine torpedoes Mk46 (English)Russian..

Anti-ship weapons

Initially, ships of the Albany type did not carry specialized anti-ship weapons at all. During the construction stage, two 127 mm 38-caliber Mk-24 guns were added to the original design. in open manually controlled installations, located on the sides at the base of the aft mast-pipe of cruisers. These outdated short-barreled guns could only be considered as auxiliary weapons.

At the same time, although the Albany-class cruisers did not carry specialized anti-ship weapons, all three of their missile systems - Talos and Tartar and ASROC - could normally be used for firing at surface targets within the radio horizon. The impact energy of a one and a half ton RIM-8 Talos missile diving at a speed of about 2.8 Mach was comparable to the impact energy of a battleship’s main caliber projectile, and even without a warhead was sufficient to sink a destroyer or severely damage a large ship. Taking into account the possibility of using nuclear warheads, Talos could be effectively used to destroy almost any surface ships, including battleships and heavy cruisers.

In the 1980s, it was planned to equip the cruisers with Harpoon anti-ship missiles, but for economic reasons the project was not implemented.

Strategic strike weapons

In the middle part of the ship, space was reserved for the installation of eight silos for Polaris medium-range missiles, but due to the successful deployment of missile-carrying submarines, the concept of arming surface ships with ballistic missiles was abandoned in mid-1959.

Aviation weapons

The Albany-class cruisers had a helicopter flight deck at the stern; however, no hangar was provided.

Service history

All three ships saw heavy use during the 1960s and 1970s. Chicago had long been the flagship of the 3rd Fleet in the Pacific, and Albany served similar duties in the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. Both of these ships underwent modernization of the Talos missile control system in the late 1960s. Columbus did not undergo modernization; in 1976 it was withdrawn from the fleet and scrapped.

"Chicago" and "Albany" served until 1980, when their further modernization was considered inappropriate.

Photo

Launch of Talos and Tartar missiles from the cruiser Albany, 1963

Launcher for the Talos air defense missile system on the cruiser Columbus, 1962

Launch of the Tartar missile defense system from the cruiser Columbus, Mediterranean Sea, 1965

PU PLUR ASROK on the cruiser Columbus, 1962

Cruiser Columbus

The cruiser Albany before reconstruction, 1955

Composition of the series

The table contains information about ships before reconstruction (top lines) and after it. The “Shipyard” column indicates the place of original construction and the place of reconstruction. The “laid down” column gives the dates of the laying of the ships as artillery cruisers and the start date of reconstruction. in the “Decommissioned” column – the dates of withdrawal from the fleet before reconstruction and the date of final withdrawal to the reserve.

Notes

1. Anthony Preston. Cruisers: an Illustrated History. - PRC Publishing Ltd., 1980. - 194 p. - (Thr Military Book Club). - ISBN 7-164-35728-3..
2. 1 2 Moore, John. Janes American Fighting Ships of the 20th Century. - BDD Promotional Books Company, 1991. - 320 p. - ISBN 0792456262, 978-0792456261..

Literature

• James Charles Fahey. The ships and aircraft of the United States fleet, 1958. - 7th ed.. - Naval Institute Press, 1980. - 71 p. - ISBN 0870216465, 9780870216466...

Links

• RIM-24 Tartar Surface-to-Air Missile
• RIM-8 Talos Surface-to-Air Missile
• ASROC Anti-Submarine Rocket
• CG10. NVR.
• Albany. DANFS.
• CG11. NVR.
• Chicago. DANFS.
• CG12. NVR.
• Columbus. DANFS.

Albany class guided missile cruisers USA

Albany-class guided missile cruisers Information About

In the second half of the twentieth century, 180 independent states appeared on the world map, but out of this wild diversity of countries and peoples, only two superpowers had a powerful ocean fleet - the Soviet Union and the United States. For example, no one except us and the Americans built missile cruisers en masse. Four more European countries, in order to maintain their former status as “maritime powers,” made efforts to create their own missile cruisers, but all their attempts ended in the construction of a single ship with predominantly American weapons and systems. “Ships of prestige”, nothing more.

The Americans were pioneers in the field of creating missile cruisers; by the end of the 40s, their military industry had created the first combat-ready air defense systems suitable for installation on a ship. Subsequently, the fate of the US Navy's missile cruisers was determined exclusively by escort functions as part of aircraft carrier groups; American cruisers were never designed for a serious naval battle with surface ships.

But missile cruisers were especially respected in our country: during the existence of the USSR, dozens of different designs appeared in the vastness of the World Ocean: heavy and light, surface and underwater, with a conventional or nuclear power plant, there were even anti-submarine cruisers and aircraft carrier cruisers! It is no coincidence that missile cruisers became the main striking force of the USSR Navy.

In a general sense, the concept of “Soviet missile cruiser” meant a large multi-purpose surface ship with a powerful anti-ship missile system.

About the seven best missile cruisers - just a brief excursion into maritime history associated with the development of this unique class of warships. The author does not consider himself entitled to give any specific ratings or create a rating of “the best of the best.” No, this will just be a story about the most outstanding designs of the Cold War era, indicating their known advantages, disadvantages and interesting facts associated with these death machines. However, the nature of the presentation of the material will help the reader independently determine which of this “magnificent seven” is still worthy of the highest pedestal.

Albany-class guided missile cruisers

1944/1962 Total displacement 17,500 tons. Crew 1200 people.
Full speed – 32 knots. Cruising range - 9000 miles (at 15 knots).
Weapons:
- Talos long-range air defense system (2 launchers, ammunition 104 missiles);
- Tartar short-range air defense system (2 launchers, ammunition 84 anti-aircraft missiles);
- anti-submarine missile system ASROC (ammunition 24 missile torpedoes);
- 8 Polaris intercontinental ballistic missiles (never installed);
- two universal guns of 127 mm caliber.

Despite its ugly appearance, the “Albany series” of cruisers were cool warships capable of providing high-quality air defense of aircraft carrier formations in the near zone (by the standards of those years) - the firing range of the Talos air defense system was more than 100 km, and two hundred missiles on board allowed fend off enemy aircraft for a long time.

Advantages:

15-centimeter armor belt, inherited from the heavy cruiser Baltimore,
- 8 fire control radars,
- high installation height of radars,

Flaws:
- lack of strike weapons,
- superstructures made of aluminum alloys,
- archaic, in general, design.

Baltimore-class heavy artillery cruiser - this is what the Albany cruisers looked like before modernization

Belknap-class guided missile cruisers

1964 Total displacement 8,000 tons. Crew 380 people.
Full speed – 32 knots. Cruising range - 7000 miles (at 20 knots).
Weapons:
- universal launcher Mk.10 (80 anti-aircraft and anti-submarine missiles);
- automated artillery mount Mk.42 127 mm caliber;
- 3 unmanned anti-submarine helicopters DASH (later replaced by the conventional SH-2 Sea Sprite helicopter);
- two auxiliary guns of 76 mm caliber (later replaced by Phalanx anti-aircraft guns);
- 8 Harpoon anti-ship missiles (added after modernization in the early 1980s).

In some ways the ship justified itself, in others it did not, for example, the daring project of the unmanned helicopter DASH turned out to be of little use for real use on the open sea - the control systems were too imperfect. We had to expand the hangar and helipad to accommodate a full-fledged anti-submarine helicopter.
It is noteworthy that after a short disappearance, 127 mm guns returned to the ship - the American sailors did not dare to completely abandon artillery.

In the 60s...70s, cruisers of this type regularly patrolled off the coast of Vietnam, firing anti-aircraft missiles at North Vietnamese MiGs that carelessly flew into the cruisers’ kill zone. But the Belknap became famous not for its feats of arms - in 1975, the lead ship of this type was crushed in the Mediterranean Sea by the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy.

Its navigational error cost the cruiser dearly - the flight deck of the aircraft carrier literally “cut off” all the superstructures, and a shower of kerosene from the torn fuel lines of the aircraft carrier fell on top of the mangled remains of the ship. The ensuing eight-hour fire completely destroyed the cruiser. The restoration of the Belknap was a purely political decision, otherwise such a stupid death of the ship could undermine the prestige of the US Navy.

Advantages of Belknap:
- computerized combat information and control system NTDS;
- availability of a helicopter on board;
- small size and cost.

Flaws:
- the only launcher, the failure of which left the ship essentially unarmed;
- fire hazardous aluminum superstructures;
- lack of strike weapons (which, however, is dictated by the purpose of the cruiser).

Burnt out "Belknap"

Project 58 missile cruisers (code "Grozny")

1962 Total displacement 5,500 tons. Crew 340 people.
Full speed – 34 knots. Cruising range - 3500 miles (at 18 knots).
Weapons:
- anti-ship complex P-35 (2 launchers, ammunition 16 anti-ship missiles);
- short-range air defense system M-1 “Volna” (16 anti-aircraft missiles);
- two automatic twin guns of 76 mm caliber;
- 6 torpedoes of 533 mm caliber;
- 2 x 12 RBU-6000 rocket launchers;
- Helipad

As a result, a universal weapon system appeared on board the ship, capable of fighting any air, surface and underwater targets. Very high speed - 34 knots (more than 60 km/h), universal artillery, equipment for receiving a helicopter...
But what was especially impressive was the P-35 anti-ship complex - eight four-ton blanks, capable of falling off the guides at any moment and rushing beyond the horizon at supersonic speed (firing range - up to 250 km).

Despite doubts about the long-range target designation capabilities of the P-35, powerful electronic countermeasures and anti-aircraft fire from American AUGs, the cruiser posed a mortal threat to any enemy squadron - one of the four missiles from each launcher had a megaton “surprise”.

Advantages:
- exceptionally high saturation of fire agents;
- great design.

Flaws:
Most of the shortcomings of the Grozny were in one way or another connected with the desire of the designers to place the maximum number of weapons and systems in the limited hull of the destroyer.
- short cruising range;
- weak air defense;
- imperfect weapon control systems;
- fire hazardous design: aluminum superstructure and synthetic interior finishing.

USSR naval power

Missile cruiser Long Beach

1961 Total displacement 17,000 tons. Crew 1160 people.
Full speed - 30 knots. Cruising range - 360,000 miles.
Weapons:
- Terrier medium-range air defense system (2 launchers, ammunition 102 missiles)
- Talos long-range air defense system (1 launcher, 52 missiles ammunition)
- anti-submarine missile system ASROC (ammunition 24 missile torpedoes)
- two universal guns of 127 mm caliber;
- two Phalanx anti-aircraft guns, 8 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, 8 Tomahawk missiles (modernized in the early 1980s).

The ship turned out to be gorgeous. Three missile systems for various purposes. The unusual “box-shaped” shape of the main superstructure, dictated by the installation of SCANFAR phased radars, also unique radio systems of its time. Finally, the nuclear heart of the cruiser, which made it possible to accompany the nuclear aircraft carrier Enterprise everywhere, for interaction with which this miracle was created.

However, an incredible price was paid for all this - 330 million dollars (about 5 billion at the current exchange rate!), In addition, the imperfection of nuclear technology did not allow the creation of a compact nuclear power system of the required power in the 50s - the cruiser rapidly “grew” in size, finally reaching 17 thousand tons. Too much for an escort ship!
In addition, it turned out that Long Beach did not have the opportunity to realize their advantage in practice. Firstly, the ship's autonomy is limited not only by its fuel reserves. Secondly, the aircraft carrier’s retinue included many ships with conventional power plants, which made it difficult for the nuclear cruiser to move quickly.

Advantages of Long Beach:
- unlimited autonomy in terms of fuel reserves;
- radars with phased array;
- versatility.

Flaws:
- monstrous cost;
- less survivability compared to conventional cruisers.

Heavy nuclear missile cruiser pr. 1144.2 (code "Orlan")

1998 Total displacement 26,000 tons. Crew 635 people.
Full speed – 32 knots. Cruising range is not limited by fuel reserves.
Weapons:
- anti-ship complex "Granit" (20 launchers, ammunition 20 missiles);
- long-range air defense system S-300F “Fort” (6 launchers, ammunition 48 missiles);
- long-range air defense system S-300FM “Fort-M” (6 launchers, ammunition 46 missiles);
- short-range air defense system "Dagger" (12 launchers, ammunition 128 missiles);
- anti-submarine complex “Waterfall” (ammunition of 20 missile torpedoes);

- 6 anti-aircraft missile and artillery complexes “Kortik”;
- three rocket launchers;
- three helicopters.

Theoretically, in one-on-one combat, the Orlan has no equal among all the ships in the world - a huge ocean killer will be able to deal with any enemy. In practice, the situation looks much more interesting - the enemy against whom the “Eagles” were created does not go alone. What awaits the Orlan in a real battle with an aircraft carrier and its escort of five missile cruisers? Glorious Gangut, Chesma or the terrible Tsushima pogrom? Nobody knows the answer to this question.

The appearance of the first Orlan in 1980 greatly excited the whole world - in addition to its cyclopean size and heroic stature, the Soviet heavy cruiser became the world's first warship with below-deck vertical launch systems. The S-300F anti-aircraft complex caused a lot of fear - nothing like it simply existed in any country in the world at that time.

In fact, the first ship with the S-300F experimental complex installed was the Azov BOD. In addition, the S-300F guides are not installed completely vertically, but at an angle of 5° to the normal to prevent the rocket from falling onto the deck if the launch engine fails.

As in the case of the American Long Beach, when discussing Orlan, opinions are often heard about the adequacy of creating such a Miracle. Firstly, nuclear missile submarines Project 949A look more attractive for destroying AUGs. The submarine's stealth and security are an order of magnitude greater, the cost is lower, and the 949A salvo contains 24 Granit missiles.

Secondly, 26 thousand tons of displacement is a direct consequence of the presence of nuclear reactors, which do not provide any real advantages, only wasting space, complicating maintenance and worsening the survivability of the ship in battle. It can be assumed that without the YSU, the displacement of the Orlan would have been reduced by half.
By the way, a paradoxical coincidence, the bald eagle is the national emblem of the USA!

Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser

1986 Total displacement 10,000 tons. Crew 390 people.
Full speed – 32 knots. Cruising range – 6000 (at 20 knots).
Weapons:
- 122 vertical launchers Mk.41 (launching almost all types of missiles in service with the US Navy, with the exception of submarine-launched ballistic missiles);
- 8 anti-ship missiles "Harpoon";
- two lightweight universal artillery systems Mk.45 of 127 mm caliber;
- six anti-submarine torpedoes of 324 mm caliber;
- two Phalanx anti-aircraft guns;
- two Bushmaster automatic cannons of 25 mm caliber.

A modern ship thought out to the smallest detail with unique fire control systems. The cruiser is still focused on providing air defense and anti-submarine defense for aircraft carrier formations, but can independently launch massive strikes along the coast using Tomahawk cruise missiles, the number of which can reach hundreds on board.

The highlight of the cruiser is the Aegis combat information and control system. Coupled with stationary phased radar panels AN/SPY-1 and 4 fire control radars, the ship's computers are capable of simultaneously tracking up to 1000 air, surface, and underwater targets, while automatically selecting them and, if necessary, attacking 18 of the most dangerous objects. At the same time, the energy capabilities of the AN/SPY-1 are such that the cruiser is capable of detecting and attacking even fast-moving point targets in low Earth orbit.

Advantages of Ticonderoga:
- unprecedented versatility at minimal cost;
- enormous striking power;
- the ability to solve missile defense problems and destroy satellites in low orbits;

Disadvantages of Ticonderoga:
- limited dimensions, and, as a result, dangerous overloading of the ship;
- widespread use of aluminum in the design of the cruiser.

Missile cruiser pr. 1164 (code "Atlant")

1983 Total displacement 11,500 tons. Crew 510 people.
Full speed – 32 knots. Cruising range – 6000 (at 18 knots).
Weapons:
- anti-ship missile system P-1000 “Vulcan” (8 twin launchers, ammunition 16 missiles);
- anti-aircraft missile system S-300F “Fort” (8 drum launchers, ammunition 64 missiles);
- two short-range anti-aircraft missile systems "Osa-MA" (2 beam launchers, ammunition 40 missiles);
- anti-submarine complex "Waterfall" (ammunition of 10 missile torpedoes);
- one twin automated artillery mount of 130 mm caliber;
- three batteries of automatic anti-aircraft guns AK-630 (total 6 guns + 3 fire control radars);
- two rocket launchers;
- an anti-submarine helicopter and a hangar for its long-term storage.

Even despite the general moral and physical obsolescence of these cruisers, the potential inherent in them is so high that it allows the Atlanteans to still operate on an equal footing with the most modern foreign missile cruisers and guided missile destroyers.
For example, the S-300F complex, which has no analogues, even modern anti-aircraft missiles of the US Navy, due to the limited size of the standard Mk.41 UVP cells, are inferior in energy characteristics to the missiles of the Fort complex (in other words, they are twice as light and half as slow).

Well, we can only wish that the legendary “grin of socialism” is modernized as often as possible and remains in combat service for as long as possible.

Advantages of "Atlanta":
- balanced design;
- excellent seaworthiness;
- missile complex S-300F and P-1000.

Flaws:
- the only fire control radar of the S-300F complex;
- lack of modern self-defense air defense systems;
- overly complex design of the gas turbine unit.

Maltese sunset, November 1989. The stern of the cruiser "Slava" is visible, in the foreground is the bow end of the cruiser "Belknap"

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