Route of the cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov. Is the march of Russian ships to Syria a show of force or something more? Mithridates the Great - the “wild” king who practically defeated Rome with poison

The cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" returned from Syria to the North Sea roadstead. At the final stage of the long voyage, the ships completed a number of tasks at sea training grounds Barents Sea, Interfax reports with reference to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Earlier, British Defense Minister Michael Fallon, reporting on how the Royal Navy was escorting a Russian military squadron returning from Syria, called the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov “a ship of shame.” The Ministry of Defense did not ignore the offensive statement and advised Fallon to pay more attention to his fleet, which was experiencing better times. We propose, removing emotions, to shift attention from the verbal duel of the two defense departments to the real characteristics of the Kuznetsov and compare it with its NATO competitors in terms of key indicators. Does he deserve even one iota of the definition that Fallon gave him?

Of course, our aircraft carrier is not new. It was designed and created back in the days of the USSR, at the end of cold war. However, it was embodied best ideas and achievements of Soviet shipbuilding. The creators gave him unparalleled durability in battle. In the event of a nuclear explosion with a power of 30 kilotons at a distance of just two kilometers from the Kuznetsov, it must not only survive and remain afloat, but also maintain combat effectiveness. It will probably no longer be possible to use carrier-based aircraft. However, the Granit and Kinzhal under-deck missiles will be able to hit the enemy in water, on land, and in the air.

Photo: Global Look

In his attempts to stigmatize the only Russian aircraft carrier, the British minister apparently forgot that the Royal Navy does not have such a class of ships at all. And the British ships accompanying Kuznetsov - the frigate St. Albans and the landing helicopter carrier Ocean - cannot be compared with it in terms of aircraft-carrying capabilities. The St. Albans can carry no more than two helicopters, and the Ocean can only carry 18. While the Kuznetsov can simultaneously accommodate 28 aircraft and 24 helicopters.

The only NATO ship that can compare with the Kuznetsov in the Old World is the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. But it is also inferior to the Russian heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser both in size and in possible quantity aircraft on board - only 40 versus 52.

Photo: Wikimedia

Oddly enough, bile towards “Kuznetsov” is pouring not only from NATO offices, but also from the vastness of the Runet. The reason for caustic jokes, “photoshops” and other mockery was the thick smoke from the chimney of the Russian aircraft carrier, which supposedly testifies to its technical backwardness. Allegedly, in the West such ships have been operating at nuclear plants for a long time. Although the country - the founder of the nuclear fleet - can hardly be blamed for the lack of technology and the possibility of installing a nuclear reactor on an aircraft carrier if necessary. The reasons for equipping the Kuznetsov with a fuel oil propulsion system were serious. Firstly, the cheapness of fuel and current repairs installations. Even the United States, with its highest defense spending, has had to abandon several nuclear-powered ships due to the high cost of repairing their propulsion systems. Secondly, fuel oil is stored in a layer along the entire hull of the ship, being an element of anti-torpedo protection. A torpedo, hitting the hull of a ship, transfers part of its explosive force and fragments to fuel compartments filled with fuel oil. Thus, Kuznetsov is capable of withstanding an explosion of up to 400 kg of TNT below its waterline.

By the way, thick smoke is also typical for US military ships that were built in the new millennium. American experts considered heavy smoke to be a normal phenomenon, which occurs due to the formation of carbon deposits during long-term parking without moving. When the ship begins to move, the carbon deposits gradually burn out, and the pipe stops smoking.

Photo: Wikimedia

Among other things, Kuznetsov has undeniable advantage in front of all the aircraft carriers in the world. He is the only one allowed passage to the Black Sea.

The fact is that Article 11 of the Montreux Convention allows only battleships, but not aircraft carriers, to pass through the Bosporus and Dardanelles. By aircraft carriers she means ships built and converted primarily for aviation operations. Since an aircraft-carrying cruiser carries the Granit anti-ship missile system and can be a full-fledged combat unit, completely deprived of aviation, it, from the point of view of the Convention, cannot be considered a “pure” aircraft carrier. It turns out that only Russia has the right to operate an aircraft carrier in the strategically important Black Sea region. And it is precisely thanks to the features of the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov.

So the remark about the “ship of shame” expresses not so much a mockery of the Russian aircraft carrier, but the annoyance of the head of the British armed forces at his own powerlessness before the Kuznetsov: before its power, its capabilities, its freedom.

.
Despite the fact that the KAG Northern Fleet consisting of the TAVKR "Admiral Kuznetsov", TARKR "Peter the Great" and support vessels have not yetarrived at the permanent base(s) (expected 08-09.02.2017 − link 1 , link 2 ), there is already enough information to summarize the results of the eighth long-distance cruise (combat service) of our aircraft carrier and draw some conclusions.

01. Transit route of KAG "Kuznetsova"Severomorsk-Gibraltar, 15-25.10.2016 (screenshot from the 2nd part of “First combat exit” program "Military Acceptance" of TRC Zvezda)

1. Achievements

The indisputable positive results achieved as a result of the almost four-month BS "Kuznetsov" (preliminarily - 117 days or 3,84 months), can be called seven:

1) contrary to all the gloomy forecasts (including those contained in the comments of some of my blog guests), the aircraft carrier came out after all on a long-distance military campaign and went out not with just one BOD, as often happened before, but accompanied by a very impressive (and not only by our standards) squad of escort ships (I hope that soon we will find out who was covering the KAG from under the water) ; For this purpose, shipbuilders (ship repairers), military sailors and deck pilots have made truly titanic efforts that deserve state awards;

2) as far as is known, the boiler-turbine power plant of an aircraft carrier, not unreasonably considered his “Achilles heel”, worked out without failures (at least without serious failures), which is the best evidence of high-quality pre-cruise repairs (by the forces of SRZ 35 and 82 and their contractors); at the Severomorsk-Gibraltar crossing (15-25.10.2016, 2 890 miles) KAG walked at an average speed 12,0 knots, i.e. the “flawed” “Kuznetsov” was not inferior to the nuclear-powered “Peter the Great” (22.10-01.11.2013 TARKR, while on a solo voyage, covered the same distance in the same time); in the Mediterranean Sea the group's progress slowed down significantly (10.25-08.11, 2 030 miles, 6,5 nodes), which was caused, among other things, the need to replenish supplies (one refueling with fuel and water takes about a day − link 3 , 36:35); average speed at the Severomorsk-Syria crossing ( 4 920 miles, 24 day) amounted to 8,5 node;

3) previously, "Admiral Kuznetsov" combined the duties of an air defense aircraft carrier (long-range air defense) and an anti-submarine helicopter carrier, starting from 11/08/2016 (from the date of the start of combat work along the coast) it has every right to be classified as multi-purpose AB, and such a diverse air group has never been seen on board - heavy fighter-bombers (now exactly like this) Su-33, light MiG-29K(UB), attack helicopters Ka-52K, landing (transport-combat) Ka-29, AWACS Ka-31, anti-submarine Ka-27PL and search and rescue Ka-27PS;

4) the fact that the Su-33 will be able to effectively work against ground targets, came as a real surprise to the public(even for the author of the blog, who assumed the possibility of such a turn of events - ); results of the air group's combat work "Kuznetsova" for two months (59 days - 11/08/2016-01/06/2017), voiced by the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces V. Gerasimov, make an impression: 420 sorties ( 7,1 per day), of which - 117 at night ( 27,9 %), 1252 damaged terrorist facility ( 21,2 per day) (link 5 ) - most likely, this could not have happened without SVP-24-33;

5) the involvement of military sailors in the operation to combat terrorist groups allowed as soon as possible release from the militants the economic capital of Syria Aleppo" (V. Gerasimov, suspect him of deceit and exaggeration the role of the Russian Navy in the Battle of Syria, only possible with a hangover) (link 5);

6) despite the flow of swear words (mainly from the British Isles), the campaign of our CAG is clearly demonstrated to the world that Russia has combat-ready oceanfleet − not yet as numerous as we would like, but if necessary capable of gathering his forces into a fist and projecting them to any region of the planet;

7) there is confidence that after the end of the BS KAG "Kuznetsova" the attitude towards the navy and maritime service in Russia will change in better side, and it will change qualitatively, and there will no longer be a need to build new aircraft carriers cause doubts, bewilderment and accusations in squandering people's money to "bomb penguins" (from a remark one of my guests).

02. Transit route of the KAG "Kuznetsova" from Gibraltar to Syria, 10.25-11.08.2016 (screenshot from the 3rd part of the “First Combat Exit” of the “Military Acceptance” program of TRC Zvezda)

2. Big PR

Let me remind you that PR (from English.PR − Public Relations) is information purposefully disseminated by the media in order to attract attention to someone (something), and ultimately - to form public opinion about someone (something) (wordingGoogleedited by the blog author).

Quote from a loved one (from an entry dated 03/05/2016 - one of many “FOR the hike”): “In conclusion, it’s worth saying (once again) that The next combat service of "Admiral Kuznetsov" in the Mediterranean Sea gives a rare chance to the ocean component of the Russian the navy to show itself in all its glory and strength. I really hope that Navy Commander-in-Chief and the country's leadership won't miss this opportunity" ( )... And they didn't miss .

I don’t remember such grandiose PR for the Russian Navy in my entire life. On the flight deck, in the pilothouse and In other rooms of the aircraft carrier, there were almost more journalists and cameramen of Russian media than there were full-time crew members of the ship. State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Russia, Channel 1,RT, NTV, Ren-TV, TRC Zvezda, T24 - everyone considered it their duty (and, presumably, great journalistic success) to be accredited on "Kuznetsov" during his historical voyage (I wouldn’t be surprised if on his The film crew from Dozhd was also on board. Numerous reports and at least two documentaries were produced frompenlens" Military acceptance" and T(exno)24.

If what was said in paragraph 7 of the previous section corresponds (will correspond) to reality, the country and its Navywe must thank for this, first of all, those purely civilian “paratroopers” with cameras and microphones who landed on the deck of “our only one” throughout his entire combat service.

3. Envy of the Britons

The frantic persecution of the Russian aircraft carrier by the British media (“rust trough”, “ship of shame”), in my opinion, has quite The obvious reason is envy. On the one hand, this is the envy of the subjects of the former empire, which nevercan't become an empire again, to another former empire that retained not only imperial ambitions, but also real opportunities again (for the third time) to put them into practice. On the other hand, this is the envy of the admiralsRoyal Navythat have not yet received from their military-industrial complexthe first large aircraft carrier in many years, but when the Kuznetsov entered the English Channel (with two Su-33s ready to jump onforward launch positions) suddenly realized that their F-35Bs were nothing more than “heavenly whatnots” that had no chance in full-fledged (maneuverable) air combat With Russian fighters even the previous generation, not to mention those that will replace them, and that the NavyGreatBritain will never again be the Grand Fleet.

4. Composition of the air group: revision

This audit of the composition of the Kuznetsov air group (which affected mainly its aircraft component) was aimed at confirming the number of aircraft on board during combat service, and identifying (confirming) the side numbers of lost aircraft (MiG-29K 13.11.2016 and Su-33 03.12. 2016). For this purpose, video and photographic materials were carefully reviewed, made after 12/03/2016 - during visits to the TAVKR by the Chief of the General Staff of the Syrian Armed Forces A. Ayyub (01/06/2017) and the Commander of the Libyan Armed Forces H. Haftar (01/11/2017), as well as on board the aircraft carrier and in Severomorsk-3 during the flight of the air group to a coastal airfield (02/03/2017).

Video reports from the press service of the Syrian Ministry of Defense and the Arab branch RT dated 01/06/2017, made just before departure"Kuznetsov" to Russia, allow you to track its aircraft fleet down to the machine. In the screenshots below can be seen: in the hangar - Su-33 b/n 88 and b/n xx; at launch positions No. 1 and No. 2 - Su-33 b/n 84 and xx; in technical positions TP6-TP15 (from bow to stern) − Su-33 b/n xx, 85, xx, 78, 66; on TP19-TP22 − MiG-29K(UB) no. 53, 52, 49, 41; a total of 9 Sukhoi and 4 MiGs (video 720 −link 7 , link 8 ) (technical item numbers - from Pavel Polikarpoff).

The absence of Su-33 b/n 67 and MiG-29K b/n 47 confirms their loss ( charly015 turned out to be right).

Helicopter component (compared to the previous entry on this topic - ) left unchanged for except for confirmation by a colleague milinfolive participation in the campaign of two Ka-52K (based on the documentary film T24 TV channel −link 10 ). No new vehicles were identified, except for the Ka-27PL b/n 47 in Severomorsk-3, which most likely just "flying by". As a result, with a high degree of probability it can be argued that in the period 10/15/2016-02/03/2017 the following vehicles were on board the Kuznetsov:

Su-33 - 62 , 66 , 67 (lost) 71 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 84 , 85 , 88 ;
MiG-29KUB − 52 , 53 ;
MiG-29K − 41 , 47 (lost) 49 ;
Ka-52K − 2 cars without registration numbers;
Ka-27PS − 52 , 55 , 57 , 60 ; Ka-27PL − 32 , 45 ; Ka-29 − 23 , 75 ; Ka-31 − 90 .

Total in the air group : 10 Su-33, 2 /3 MiG-29 (KUB/K), 2 Ka-52K, 1 Ka-31, 2 Ka-29, 2 /4 Ka-27 (PL/PS), total 26 LA minus 2 = 24 LA. ■

Note 1 . Where did they come from on the way back?more than 40 aircraft of naval aviation used to strike international terrorist groups" known only to I. Konashenkov (link 11 ), because even taking into account the three regular Peter the Great helicopters, there are only 27 of them.

Note 2 . In addition to combat sorties, carrier-based aircraft of the KAG SF carried out "750 mission sortiessearch and rescue, aviation and transport support, aerial reconnaissance and maintaining a favorable operational regime" (V. Gerasimov, link 5). Let's add here the demonstration flights of the Su-33 specifically for Syrian and Libyan distinguished guests.

03. Hangar "Kuznetsov" - Su-33 b/n 88 (in the foreground) and b/n xx, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from mod.gov.sy video)

04. Hangar "Kuznetsov" - Su-33 b/n 88 (in the foreground) and b/n xx, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from mod.gov.sy video)

05. Starting positions No. 1 and No. 2 - Su-33 b/n 84 (left) and b/n xx, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

06. Technical positions TP6-TP15 - Su-33 b/n 66 and 78, landing b/n 84, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

07. Technical positions TP6-TP15 - Su-33 b/n 66, 78 and b/n xx, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

08. Technical positions TP6-TP15 - Su-33 b/n 66, 78, b/n xx, b/n 85, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

09. Technical positions TP6-TP15 - Su-33 b/n 78 and b/n xx, lands b/n 84, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

10. Technical positions TP6-TP15 - Su-33 b/n xx, b/n 85 and b/n xx, lands b/n 84, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

11. Technical positions TP19-TP22 - MiGs b/n 53, 52, 49 and 41, landing Su-33 b/n 84, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from mod.gov.sy video)

12. Su-33 b/n 62 takes off from the TAVKR with the 3rd joint venture, heading to Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the Ministry of Defense video)

13. Su-33 b/n 62, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the Ministry of Defense video)

14. Su-33 b/n 66 and 77, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the video of TRC Zvezda)

15. Su-33 b/n 71 on the TAVKR stern lift, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the Ministry of Defense video)

16. Su-33 b/n 71 is preparing to take off from the TAVKR heading towards Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from Ren-TV video)

17. Su-33 b/n 76, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (photo of the Ministry of Defense from facebook.com)

18. Su-33 b/n 77 and 85, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the Ministry of Defense video)

19. Su-33 b/n 78, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the Ministry of Defense video)

20. Su-33 b/n 78, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (photo of the Ministry of Defense from facebook.com)

21. Su-33 b/n 84 on the deck of the TAVKR off the coast of Syria, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

22. Su-33 b/n 84, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (photo of the Ministry of Defense from facebook.com)

23. Su-33 b/n 85 and 84, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the video of TRC Zvezda)

24. Su-33 b/n 88 in the Kuznetsov hangar off the coast of Syria, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

25. Su-33 b/n 88 in the Kuznetsov hangar off the coast of Syria, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from mod.gov.sy video)

26. MiG-29K b/n 41, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (photo of the Ministry of Defense from facebook.com)

27. MiG-29K b/n 49 takes off from TAVKR, heading to Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from Ren-TV video)

28. MiG-29K b/n 49, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from video of TV Russia 24)

29. MiG-29KUB b/n 52, MiG-29K b/n 49 (closer - b/n 53, further - b/n 41), 01/06/2016 (screenshot from the video of TRC Zvezda)

30. All four MiG-29K(UB) (w/n 52, 53, 41, 49) before departure to Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from Ren-TV video)

31. MiG-29KUB b/n 52, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from Ren-TV video)

32. MiG-29KUB b/n 53, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the NTV program “Segodnya”)

The death of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who died on September 2 from a cerebral hemorrhage, raised the question of a change of power in the country. Located in Central Asia, Uzbekistan occupies a strategic location in the center of Eurasia. Its role as the geographic, demographic and agricultural hub of the Middle East makes Uzbekistan important to both regional players and global actors. And the border with Afghanistan defines it as […]

The American publication Defense News published exclusive material from Christopher P. Kavas, the first journalist to visit the revolutionary US Navy destroyer Zumwalt (DDG 1000), called by experts the “battleship of the 21st century.” The report contains a lot of new information about the ship and a number of exclusive photos. We provide an exclusive review of this material, supplementing it with information that provides the most complete information about the vessel. […]

"Flying Butt" took off on its first flight

In the UK, the giant airship Airlander 10, which is almost one hundred meters long, took off on its first flight. Airlander 10 (full name Hybrid Air Vehicles HAV 304 Airlander) is a hybrid airship created by Hybrid Air Vehicles for the US Army under the Long Endurance Multi-intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) project, for which Northrop Grumman was the prime contractor. In the LEMV program, the airship was intended to […]

Mithridates the Great - the “wild” king who practically defeated Rome with poison

Rome had many enemies. But this one was the most dangerous. His name was Mithridates the Great. King of Pontus, who reigned from 120-63 BC. e., he became the greatest enemy of the most powerful generals and dictators of the Roman Republic, who fought with the help of poisons he himself invented. The incredible story of Mithridates the Great, the king of Asia who shook the mighty Roman Republic in the first […]

Battle of Dubno: tank armageddon

The Battle of Dubno-Lutsk-Brody is one of the largest tank battles in history, taking place during the Great Patriotic War in June 1941. Within a week, two tank armadas with a total number of about 4,500 armored vehicles converged in the triangle between the cities of Dubno, Lutsk and Brody. Also known as the Battle of Brody, the tank battle of Dubno, Lutsk, Rivne, the counterattack of the mechanized corps […]

Meet the great and terrible A2/AD

Recently, leading Western publications have been delighting Russian readers with loud headlines with equally scandalous content. First: “Russian military forces in their current state are capable of capturing Tallinn and Riga in less than 60 hours”, then: “NATO forces are unable to defend the eastern borders of the EU in the face of Russia”, and recently Bild decided to go even further […]

Putin laid out the route for Admiral Kuznetsov

Shipborne aircraft carrier group of the Russian Navy, led by a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser The Admiral Kuznetsov, next in the Mediterranean, entered the English Channel on Friday on its way to the Atlantic, the BBC reports. In the published security video, taken from a long distance, two fighter jets are visible on the deck of the aircraft carrier, ready to take off.

The special piquancy of the situation is that the aircraft carrier group of the Russian Navy is heading to the shores of Syria precisely through the English Channel. The route is clearly not a combat one, since in war conditions such large ships would be instantly destroyed in these narrow passages. Moreover, there is another route - bypassing the British Isles from the north - past Iceland, which Russian ships usually use. It was there that one could calmly go out into the vastness of the Atlantic without attracting much attention.

And, therefore, it was precisely in order to attract maximum attention that such an indicative route was chosen. The decision is undoubtedly not so much a navigational one as a political one. Moreover, probably accepted in fact high level. Therefore, applause for Vladimir Putin personally in this case will clearly not be out of place.

The artistry with which he squeezes the maximum possible out of any situation, turning it to the maximum benefit of Russia, cannot but evoke justified admiration. Special thanks to the BBC television company, which did its best and, with the help of helicopters, showed the whole world the power of the Russian fleet.

Thus, the West has been given the opportunity to make sure in the most visual way that Russia is far from being the cardboard scarecrow that some people continue to portray it as in the old fashioned way. And quite real powerful military force which, like it or not, will have to be taken into account. Yes, Russia currently has only one ship of this class. But this is also a lot. Especially considering the fact that at present the fleet of the same “mistress of the seas” Great Britain does not have a single aircraft carrier in its combat formation, France has only one elderly Charles de Gaulle, and the rest of Europe does not even have that. There is also, of course, the United States with its aircraft carrier armada. But today it is time for this country to think not so much about confrontation with Russia at sea, but rather about solving world problems together with it and for mutual benefit. For now, as they say in Odessa, trams are running...

And as for the fact that our “Kuzya” smokes, it’s “the smoke of the fatherland.”

And the “non-brothers” who are especially vomiting over that smoke (“THE HORROR OF THE RUSSIAN FLEET. “ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV” WORKS ON CAR TIRES!”) are vomiting in vain.

Even our hedgehogs answer them:

“I just don’t know how to live now. Everything is so bad.

The aircraft carrier runs on tires. How can you look people in the eye now? I'll go lie in the bushes alone. No! I’ll give up everything and go to Ukraine. They just say that a residence permit in Ukraine is given under the condition of those who take with them a couple of kilos of paint - in order to paint “Ukraine” at least a little.

And the West may regret making jokes about “Admiral Kuznetsov”

The Russian carrier group of the Northern Fleet, led by the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, continues to move towards the Mediterranean Sea. In the comments under the video of the sea procession, which is rapidly spreading online, foreign users make fun of the strong clouds of smoke that the cruiser emits into the air. Federal agency News spoke with an expert about why such a reaction is commonplace and why such “smoky” behavior of “Kuznetsov” is the norm.

The video shows how power point"Kuznetsova" is vigorously releasing smoke into the sky. There were immediately wits online who joked about environmental damage and the fact that the aircraft carrier caught fire.

“There’s wild laughter at NATO headquarters. To find and destroy a Russian aircraft carrier, alliance pilots won’t even need radars, since the smoke can be seen 50 kilometers away. Easy prey,”- this is the approximate tone and level of comments from the “experts”. Who seem to be trying to hide their fear inspired by “Admiral Kuznetsov” behind attacks on smoke screens. It, like most Soviet warships, looks aggressive, impressive and many times more dangerous than American ones.

Let's start with the fact that this is a heavily armed cruiser. It carries 12 Granit anti-ship missiles with a range of 600 kilometers, 256 Kortik missiles, 192 Kinzhal missiles, 48 ​​thousand shells for six-barreled guns and several dozen aircraft and helicopters as a nice bonus. The cruiser has four steam turbines, eight boilers the size of two floors and a whole bunch of diesel generators. It would be strange if, despite all this, such a colossus did not release smoke in significant volumes.

"This is a diesel steamer, it smokes and smokes. What's wrong? For military equipment This - ordinary thing, no one here has ever thought about environmental standards. They have a completely different task. Well, the ship was created in the early 90s, it is clear that no one paid attention to such things. In addition, in the 90s we ran out of money for the shipbuilding program. In the ship group next to it is the Peter the Great, from which no smoke comes out at all, and two modern destroyers, from which no steam comes out either. It is clear that if we can even talk about analogues of “Admiral Kuznetsov” in the USA, then American cruisers atomic, they don't smoke"- comments military expert Dmitry Litovkin.

The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" is the only ship of this class in the Russian Navy.

It is clear that Russia does not yet have another “Kuznetsov”, and even a newer one. But in the future everything will be fixable. Now our fleet, at a minimum, needs experience in operating an aircraft carrier and especially carrier-based aircraft.

“Remember that the aircraft-carrying cruiser Kuznetsov would be followed by nuclear cruiser"Ulyanovsk", which would not have smoked either, but due to the difficult economic situation, it was dismantled on the slipway in the early 90s. But the next aircraft carrier, the Storm, which is planned to be laid down after 2020, will also be nuclear-powered and will not smoke. For the first time, the ship comes out with a full air wing and can be used for its intended purpose. There are modernized Su-33s that can use high-precision weapons, the latest MiG-29s that can sink the NATO fleet with anti-ship missiles. This is what is most important in maritime affairs, and not the philistine reaction,"- adds the FAN expert.

Now the cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" is heading to the shores of Syria to help carry out the anti-terrorist operation.

So the West would do well to remember “He who laughs last laughs best”...

Yuri Selivanov,

Illustration copyright Norway armed forces Image caption The aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov was photographed from a Norwegian aircraft on Monday

The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, as part of a strike group, will soon pass past the British coast on its way to Syria.

This is the largest group of Russian warships to appear off the coast of Europe since 2014.

Earlier, a Russian strike group passed several hundred miles west of the Norwegian city of Trondheim. Photos of the Admiral Kuznetsov and the ships accompanying the aircraft carrier were published by the Norwegian Armed Forces.

A group of ships of the Northern Fleet leaving Severomorsk will pass through the English Channel, heading to Gibraltar and further to the Mediterranean Sea to Syria.

Why is Russia strengthening its naval presence off the coast of Syria? There is clearly some theatricality in this - to show the West that it is still capable of playing the role of a great sea power.

However, Moscow has already flexed its naval muscles since the beginning of the Russian operation in Syria - for example, by launching cruise missiles from ships in the Caspian and Mediterranean seas. But participation naval forces was never critical important factor Russian campaign - most targets could be hit from aircraft based in Syria or even Russia.

The dispatch of a strike group of ships to Syria also underscores Moscow's clear intention to maintain its small naval base at Tartus.

Until now, Russian warships off the coast of Syria belonged to Black Sea Fleet. In early October, for example, two Buyan-M class missile corvettes - Serpukhov and Zeleny Dol - left their base in Sevastopol and headed across the Bosphorus to the Mediterranean Sea.

The current deployment is much larger, involving the largest ships in the Russian fleet. The flagship of the strike group is a single Russian aircraft carrier, accompanied by six other ships. Among them is the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser "Peter the Great", the world's largest warship of this class.

The group includes large anti-submarine ships"Severomorsk" and "Vice Admiral Kulakov", as well as support ships. The group will likely be accompanied by Russian submarines.

Under NATO supervision

This strike group should supplement the Russian group of 10 warships already deployed off the coast of Syria.

Her route remains unannounced, but she is expected to pass either through the English Channel south of England or west of Ireland in the Atlantic. It is likely that during the voyage the actions of carrier-based aircraft will be practiced.

The progress of the Russian group of ships is closely watched by planes and ships of NATO countries.

Tensions between the West and Russia have reached a high point. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria have ended in failure. In Washington they started talking about the possibility of a military solution to the problem.

The growing Russian military presence in Syria strengthens Moscow's position and makes Western military intervention seemingly unthinkable.

Russia has strengthened its air defense in Syria by deploying anti-aircraft systems S-400. The arrival of new ships there will strengthen the ability to counter threats from the air and from under water. Planes and helicopters aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov will also strengthen the Russian air force in Syria.

This new step by Russia also serves as a counterargument to those Western politicians who are demanding the introduction of a no-fly zone over Syria, backed by the threat of missiles being launched from Western ships in the Mediterranean. The deployment of a Russian Navy strike force raises the stakes in this dangerous game.

Risky game

However, the launch of such large ships as the Admiral Kuznetsov and Pyotr Velikiy on a long voyage is associated with considerable technical and organizational problems.

In fact, this is the first long-distance combat cruise of the 26-year-old aircraft carrier, which rarely goes to sea without a special powerful tug in case of breakdown.

This is also the first combat mission for the MIG-29K carrier-based aircraft deployed on board. These planes do not take off using a catapult, as on American aircraft carriers, but using a special take-off ramp. This means they can carry a smaller load of fuel and weapons, and the carrier itself will cruise closer to the Syrian coast for operations.

However, possible skepticism in this regard should be somewhat moderated. The very fact that the strike force is committing long voyage, means that Russia is one of the few countries in the world that are capable of deploying such significant naval forces.

When Moscow intervened in the Syrian conflict, there were many Western experts who believed that the campaign would end in failure due to Russia's inability to organize and maintain a significant expeditionary force.

However, Russia showed these experts to be wrong. The Russian military has demonstrated the ability to deploy and supply such forces, as well as to support Russian tactical air and missile forces overseas. Moreover, they were able to carry out ground operations in support of Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Actions Russian aviation- primarily the choice of goals - raises serious objections in the West. But from the point of view of demonstrating military capabilities, the Russian intervention in Syria should be considered a success.

home » How to earn » Route of the cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov. Is the march of Russian ships to Syria a show of force or something more? Mithridates the Great - the “wild” king who practically defeated Rome with poison