Aircraft carrier of blacksmiths. Takr "Admiral Kuznetsov": history of service. Powertrain and ride quality

The doctrine of the Russian Navy is such that it practically does not provide for the use of aircraft-carrying ships. There are many reasons for this, but one of the main ones is the huge financial costs of maintaining such vessels. During the USSR, the first steps were taken towards their creation, but the only ship of this class in our country is the Admiral Kuznetsov. This aircraft carrier has a rather complex and interesting history of creation and operation.

Surely not everyone knows that a total of five aircraft-carrying cruisers were built in the USSR. Where did the other four ships go? We will answer these questions and also discuss the main specifications ship "Admiral Kuznetsov". This aircraft carrier began to be designed shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union (together with other similar ships).

Basic information

The start of work on the project dates back to 1978. The Leningrad Design Bureau was responsible for design activities. At first, engineers proposed Project 1143 to military specialists, which envisaged the construction of a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser. The basis was based on long-standing work on the 1160 cruiser with a nuclear power plant.

There are the following projects, implemented in the form of built ships or existing in the form of models and sketches:

Sketch 1160, providing for the laying of an aircraft carrier with a displacement of 80,000 tons.
Type 1153. The displacement of this aircraft carrier was supposed to be 70,00 tons; the project provided for powerful armament of the ship (in addition to the aviation group itself). There are no ships built or laid down.
The project, the adoption of which was insisted by the Ministry of Justice and Industry. As in the first case, the displacement was supposed to be 80,000 tons. It was envisaged that at least 70 aircraft and combat helicopters would be based on board.
Project 1143 M. It was planned that the ship would be armed with supersonic aircraft vertical take-off Yak-41. The third aircraft carrier of type 1143 is 1143.3. The ship was laid down in 1975. It was put into service seven years later, but already in 1993 it was decommissioned and cut into metal. The reason is “the economic inexpediency of operation.”
Type 1143 A. Similar to Project 1143M ships, but with increased displacement. This is the fourth aircraft carrier built in the USSR. She was laid down in 1978 and officially entered the fleet in 1982. In 2004, an agreement was concluded to lease the ship to the Indian Navy, and it was modernized to suit their needs. It became part of the Indian Navy three years ago, in 2012.
Project 1143.5 heavy aircraft carrier. As you might guess, this is another modernization of type 1143. The fifth and last aircraft-carrying ship built.

So where is Kuznetsov?

It is the last ship that is the Admiral Kuznetsov. This aircraft carrier began to be developed by order of the Council of Ministers at the end of 1978.

This was project 1143.5. Final technical project The ship was ready by mid-1980. It was originally assumed that construction of the new ship would be completely completed by 1990. The laying was carried out on the stocks of the Nikolaev Shipyard. But “Admiral Kuznetsov” did not appear so easily. The aircraft carrier, before its “birth,” went through many obstacles, since the deadlines for its construction and commissioning were constantly pushed back.

History of development and construction

Initial, preliminary design engineers prepared it by 1979. Almost immediately, the document was approved by the commander of the Navy, who at that time was Admiral S. Gorshkov. IN next year D. Ustinov (the head of the entire army department) signs another document in which he asserts the need for radical changes to project 1143.5. Because of this, the actual start of construction of the ship was almost immediately pushed back to 1986-1991.

But already in April 1980 S. Gorshkov claims new project, in which all the necessary changes have already been made. Finally, in the summer of the same year, all parties who participated in the development of the new ship recognized the development of the 1143.5 type cruiser as finally completed.

But the improvements to the project have not yet been completed. The snag came up in the list of necessary aviation weapons that should have been on the ship: it had to be worked out in full accordance with the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, which left a certain imprint on the speed of work. At the end of the year, the design of the ship 1143.5 is again subject to adjustment.

Some experts at that time expressed the opinion that it would be more expedient to build a second cruiser according to project 1143.4 (1143 A), rather than waste time and money on finalizing the drawings of a new one. However, this idea was soon abandoned, and project 1143.4 itself was finalized to stage 1143.42.

New delays

At the beginning of the spring months of 1981, the Nikolaev Shipyard received a long-awaited order for the construction of a new cruiser. But already in the fall, significant changes were again made to the long-suffering project: the ship’s displacement had to be increased by 10 thousand tons at once.

As a result modern meaning this figure is 67 thousand tons. Among other things, the designers considered it necessary to add the following innovations to the sketches:

It was necessary to install the Granit anti-ship missile system on board the vessel.
The need to increase the aviation group to 50 units at once.
The most important thing is that the planes had to be launched without using a catapult, using a simple springboard method. This not only reduced the cost of construction, but also significantly extended technical resource cruisers.

The final model of the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov was ready only in 1982. It was laid down in September of the same year at the Nikolaev shipyards, initially giving the name “Riga” and the number (according to the factory catalog) 105. Just two months later the ship was renamed, after which it turned into “Leonid Brezhnev”. Already in December, the installation of the first structural block was in full swing. In general, this was the first cruiser in the history of Soviet shipbuilding, which consisted entirely of blocks (24 pieces).

The length of each was about 32 meters, the height was 13 meters. The weight of each element sometimes reached 1.7 thousand tons. By the way, all the superstructures of the huge ship are also made according to a block design. But this is not the only thing that makes Admiral Kuznetsov unique. The aircraft carrier, the characteristics of which we describe in this article, could be built in three to four years with normal operation of the supply plants, which is an absolute record for ships of this class.

Alas, the unhurried work of the factories several times slowed down its introduction into the Soviet Fleet.

Installation of on-board systems

The order for all power and energy units was made for 1983-1984. The factories failed: they fell far behind schedule, as a result of which the hull had to be partially dismantled and the upper deck removed in some areas to install engines and turbines. The French first captured images of the ship from a spy satellite in 1984. At that time, its readiness was already at least 20%.

The cruiser was launched from the stocks at the end of 1985. The weight of the hull and the systems installed at that time did not exceed 32 thousand tons. Experts assessed the readiness of the aircraft carrier at 38.5%.

The following year, changes again affected the Admiral Kuznetsov (aircraft carrier). The designer of project 1143.5 has changed, it is P. Sokolov. By mid-1987, the ship was renamed for the third time. This time it is the Tbilisi TAKR. Readiness was approaching 57%. By that time, the cruiser could have been completed by approximately 71%, but due to equipment suppliers, the project was repeatedly rudely stopped. Only by the end of 1989 did readiness begin to reach 70%.

The cost of the ship in those years was estimated at 720 million rubles, and the increase in price by 200 million was caused precisely by delays by suppliers. In response to this, the chief designer was changed again, who this time became L. Belov. The ship was approximately 80% complete. By that time, more than half of all radio-electronic equipment had been installed on the ship, and most of it could only be delivered by 1989 (and delivery was planned for 1984).

First trip to sea

The first trip to sea dates back to October 20, 1989. It was officially authorized and approved by all project participants. In principle, by that time the ship was finally completely ready, but the aviation group had not yet been deployed. The campaign lasted a little longer than one month. When was the first landing on the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov made? This happened on the first of November 1989. The Su-27 K aircraft was the first to begin testing. Immediately after landing, the MiG-29 K left the deck, with which there were also no problems.

All weapons and radio systems were installed only in 1990. But still, the cruiser’s readiness reaches 87%. In the spring and summer of the same year, sea trials of the ship began. Finally, in October of the same year, the ship acquired its final name. Now this is the same Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.

During the first stage of testing alone, the cruiser covered more than 16 thousand nautical miles under its own power, and aircraft took off from its deck almost 500 times. Not a single landing on the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov resulted in an emergency, which is simply an excellent indicator for ships being tested for the first time!

The first tests were completed at the end of 1990. Until 1992, the final stage of State acceptance took place (as part of the Black Sea Fleet), after which the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov was included in the Northern Fleet.

Basic information on ship design

As we have already said, the ship consists of exactly 24 blocks, each of which weighs about 1.5 thousand tons. The hull was made by welding and has seven decks and two huge platforms. To lift parts of this size and weight, Soviet engineers had to use Finnish Kane cranes, each of which could lift up to 900 tons to the required height. Another special feature of the ship is that its entire hull is covered with a special coating that effectively absorbs enemy radar signals.

By the way, about the recent modernization that the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov underwent. Last news they say that this composition has been significantly improved, so that the ability of a huge ship to literally “dissolve” in the open spaces of the sea has become even more impressive.

Other figures

If (very conditionally) we divide the ship into the average floors of a residential building, then their number will be equal to 27. In general, inside the cruiser there are 3857 rooms at once, which serve the most different functions. It is worth noting that there are 387 cabins alone (which are divided into four classes), 134 sailor quarters, six huge dining rooms, and fifty well-equipped showers for personnel. Thus, Russian aircraft carrier"Admiral Kuznetsov" is a real floating city! Its autonomy is one and a half months.

It may seem that this is not enough. But this is until you know the number of crew and flight personnel. There are more than 1.5 thousand personnel on board. Pilots - 626 people. Just imagine the difficulty of providing food and drink to more than two thousand people for a month and a half on the high seas! So the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the size of which can truly amaze the imagination, is truly monumental.

In total, when building the ship, engineers used more than four thousand (!) kilometers of cable, 12 thousand kilometers of pipes for the circulation of liquids for various purposes. The through deck area is 14,000 m². It ends with a springboard, the slope of which is 14.3 degrees in its steepest part. The springboard at its highest point rises 28 meters above the water. Maximum speed movement - 32 knots. In economy mode, the ship accelerates to 16 knots.

Deck and runways

Special fairings are installed on the edges of the deck and the bow ramp itself. Aircraft are delivered to the cruiser's runway deck using lifts, each with a lifting capacity of 40 tons. Aircraft units are delivered to the stern and bow. The deck width is 67 meters. The total length of the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is 304.5 meters.

The draft depth of the giant cruiser is 10.5 meters.

A section of deck 250 meters long and 26 meters wide is intended directly for landing. It is located with a slope of seven degrees. To cover this area, scientists at one time developed a special composition “Omega”, which prevents slipping and protects the deck material from extremely high temperatures. For the areas from which the Yak-41 vertical planes take off and land, AK-9FM heat-resistant plates are used.

The total number of launch strips is two, and they converge at the highest point of the springboard, which generally distinguishes the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov from other ships of a similar class. The star located on its stem emphasizes the majestic and formidable features of the huge cruiser.

On the left side there is an emergency runway, the length of which is already 180 meters. To protect the operating personnel, deflectors equipped with powerful cooling systems are installed throughout the deck. To ensure the safe landing of flight units, Svetlana-2 aerofinishers are used. In case of an emergency, there is an installation (emergency barrier) with the “speaking” name “Nadezhda”. The Luna-3 telemetry and control system is responsible for landing aircraft.

Survivability service

To store most of the air group, there is a special protective hangar 153 meters long and 26 meters wide. The height of this office space equals 7.2 meters. The hangar houses approximately 70% of all flight units of the ship. In addition, it also houses fire engines and emergency tractors. Airplanes are taken out of the hangar in a semi-automatic mode, and they are driven along the deck by tractors. The entire hangar is divided by four special “curtains”, which are installed to improve fire safety.

To increase the “survivability” of the ship, its internal partitions are made according to a sandwich design - with alternating layers of steel and fiberglass. The yield strength of the metal used for the construction of partitions is 60 kgf/mm². All tanks of refueling trucks, premises and vehicles for transporting ammunition are protected by a layer of armor.

"Kuznetsov" is also unique in that it (for the first time in the history of domestic shipbuilding) uses underwater combined protection. Its depth is about five meters. The ship can withstand the flooding of five adjacent compartments at once, the total length of which is approximately 60 meters.

"Reports from the fronts"

By the way, where is the famous aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov located now? News reports that the ship and its crew are currently in Severomorsk, having returned from a long training cruise in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. During its course, carrier-based aircraft and helicopters repeatedly practiced air combat and preventive target interception techniques.

This is where the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is now. It should be taken into account that at any time it can be removed from the parking lot and once again go on a long hike.

The Russian Federation is one of the nine countries in the world that have aircraft carriers in service. But in the Russian Navy the only such ship is the aircraft carrier " Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" It will be in service with the fleet until 2025.

The first Soviet "real" aircraft carrier was laid down at the Black Sea Shipyard in the city of Nikolaev in September 1982 as a heavy aircraft carrier « Riga» project 1143.5. Within two months the ship received a new name " Leonid Brezhnev", and on December 6 of the same year, the installation of the first block with a new embedded board began on the site near the slipway. The installation of this block was carried out on February 22, 1983, this day is considered the official laying date. It was launched on December 4, 1985 and after completion it was tested under the new name “ Tbilisi».

Only in the summer of 1989 did state tests of heavy aircraft carrier cruiser new generation " Tbilisi" To test the operational capabilities of the ship's aviation technical equipment, as well as to test ship aviation and train flight and technical personnel, a ground-based test and training complex "NITKA" was created at the airfield of the military airfield in the city of Saki. The complex is equipped with a springboard, aerofinishers and an emergency barrier.

In November 1989, during flight design tests, Su-27K and Mig-29K naval fighters landed on the deck of the cruiser for the first time. The tests practically confirmed the possibility of aircraft landing on the flight deck and taking off from a Project 1143.5 ship with a conventional aerodynamic configuration.

During state tests in September 1990, by decision of the Council of Ministers, it received a new name “ Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" The heavy aircraft carrier cruiser is the most big ship domestic shipbuilding. The flight deck area is 14,700 square meters. m. The main features of the ship's architecture are due to the use of a short take-off run and take-off from a springboard, as well as landing on aerofinishers of aircraft with a conventional aerodynamic configuration. The presence of developed sponsons and the displacement of the superstructure made it possible to significantly increase the width of the flight deck, which created favorable conditions for increasing the safety of takeoff and landing operations.

Main goals aircraft-carrying cruiser- provide support to submarines carrying ballistic missiles, surface ships and missile-carrying naval aviation of the fleet. In other words, the Project 1143.5 heavy aircraft carrier cruiser is designed to provide combat stability to naval formations navy in operationally important areas of ocean and sea theaters of military operations.

There are at least two reasons why a warship with all the features was classified as heavy aircraft carrier. The first is purely formal: in accordance with the convention concluded in 1936 in the city of Montreux, aircraft carriers were prohibited from passing through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. Thus, the one built in Nikolaev could no longer leave the Black Sea. The second reason was purely ideological. At one time, Soviet propaganda branded the aircraft carrier as such as an instrument of imperialist aggression. Against this background, the deployment of aircraft carrier construction created a very unpleasant situation for the CPSU Central Committee on the ideological front.

The creation of an aircraft carrier was also hampered by numerous subjective factors. Some very influential people in the Ministry of Defense and other departments believed that vertical take-off and landing aircraft should be based on it. In the opinion of others, ejection-launched aircraft were more acceptable, while still others suggested using a ski-jump for take-off of aircraft. This and much more led to the fact that the project 1160 nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, created by the Nevsky PKB in the early 70s, which was, in essence, an analogue of the American strike class Nimitz and had a displacement of about 100,000 tons, was transformed into the project 1153 nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a displacement of up to 70,000 tons, but it was laid down and built heavy aircraft carrier project 1143.5 with a displacement of 58,500 tons with a conventional power plant.

Project 1143.5 is formally a variant of Project 1143, according to which the first Soviet type " Kyiv" At the same time, the changes made to the basic design were of a fundamental nature: the aircraft became the main weapon of the ship, and almost its entire upper deck, with the exception of the area occupied by the superstructure, is used as a flight deck. with these characteristics are classified as aircraft carriers.

The project of the ship 1143.5 was developed by the Nevsky Design Bureau in the city of Leningrad. Construction was carried out using the aggregate-modular large-block method using progressive types of metal structures and synthetic materials. Features of the hull compared to previously built ones aircraft-carrying cruisers is a significantly improved underwater and surface structural protection, which has been tested on full-scale compartments. The total area of the flight deck is 14,700 square meters. m, its total length is 304.5 m, and the length of its section located at an angle of 5.5° to the centerline plane of the ship is 220 m. A ski-jump with a landing angle of 15° is mounted in the bow of the flight deck, and an aerofinisher is located at the stern. The deck is equipped with 10 take-off and landing pads for helicopters and 3 launching positions for aircraft; from two aircraft take off with a take-off run of 105 m, and from one - 195 m. It should be noted that the presence of three launch positions for aircraft take-off using a springboard is partly compensates for the lack of catapults on the ship, providing, for example, on American aircraft carriers the launch of up to four aircraft per minute. To protect the aircraft carrier cruiser from overheating, water-cooled deflector flaps are installed in the launch position area, and the launch is carried out using special devices that hold the aircraft at the launch position until its engines develop full thrust.

Based on operating experience aircraft-carrying cruisers in northern conditions, the flight deck is equipped with a heating system that prevents the formation of condensation in the spaces below deck.

The hangar located below the deck has dimensions of 7.2x26x153 m. In total, 50-52 aircraft and helicopters can be accommodated on the deck and in the hangar. To submit aircraft There are two side lifts from the hangar to the flight deck with a lifting capacity of 40 tons each. The size of the platform of each lift allows the simultaneous delivery of two helicopters or one aircraft with a tractor.

Although Projects 1160 and 1153 were supposed to be equipped with a main nuclear power plant, the Project 1143.5 aircraft carrier built instead has a boiler-turbine power plant, made according to the same design scheme as on heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers projects 1143-1143.4. This installation includes 8 KVG-4 boilers and 4 TV-124 main turbo-gear units with a total power of 200,000 hp. on four shafts. Highest speed the speed is 29 knots. The cruising range at 29 knots is 3,850 miles, at 18 knots - 8,000 miles, and at 10 knots - 12,00 miles. Autonomy in terms of boiler fuel reserves is 3100 tons, provisions - 45 days.

The electric power plant includes 9 turbogenerators with a capacity of 1500 kW and 6 diesel generators of the same power. The total power is 22,500 kW, which is an order of magnitude greater than the electrical installation power of any American aircraft carrier with a typical power plant, but almost three times less than the power of a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

The main weapon is its air group. Up to 52 aircraft can be based on the ship. The air group includes 24 Su-33 naval fighters, 16 Ka-27PL anti-submarine helicopters, 3 Ka-31 AWACS helicopters and 2 Ka-27PS search and rescue helicopters. Lighting equipment ensures flights at night.

A feature of the aircraft carrier's weapons system is the presence in its composition of powerful strike missile weapons in the form of anti-ship missile complex"Granite". It consists of 12 individual below-deck vertical launch units located in the forward part of the flight deck.

The complex fires P-700 long-range anti-ship cruise missiles. The maximum firing range of the complex is 550 km, the mass of the missile warhead is 750 kg.

Defensive weapons aircraft carrier includes four anti-aircraft missile systems self-defense "Dagger", the vertical launch systems of which contain 192 9M332-2 anti-aircraft guided missiles. Six Kortik anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems and six 30-mm six-barreled AK-630M anti-aircraft artillery systems are also designed to combat air targets. The aircraft carrier's anti-torpedo protection is provided by two 10-charge launchers of the RBU-12000 "Udav" anti-torpedo complex.

Its architecture acquired a more “aircraft carrier” appearance: a continuous flight deck (75 m wide) with a springboard, an arresting device and an emergency barrier, and two on-board aircraft elevators. “The Island” remained almost the same. Surface structural protection was improved, autonomy was increased, and underwater hull protection was installed.

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"Admiral Kuznetsov" - heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser of Project 1143.5

"Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" - heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser of Project 1143.5

In the spring of 1982, the first “real” aircraft carrier was laid down in Nikolaev. The Project 1143.5 aircraft carrier was laid down under the name “Riga”; November 26, 1982 renamed “Leonid Brezhnev”; sea trials in 1987 it took place under the name “Tbilisi”; entered service as "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov". Although it retained the design number of the first aircraft-carrying ship, Kuznetsov has little in common with it, with the exception of its power plant. Its architecture acquired a more “aircraft carrier” appearance: a continuous flight deck (75 m wide) with a springboard, an arresting device and an emergency barrier, and two on-board aircraft elevators. “The Island” remained almost the same. Surface structural protection was improved, autonomy was increased, and underwater hull protection was installed.

The PTZ system has a depth of 4.5 m and consists of three chambers: expansion, absorption (filled with fuel), and filtration. Between the last two there is a protective bulkhead of variable thickness, made of high-strength ductile steel Ak-25. Steam TPAs are similar to those installed on the Baku.
According to the project, the air group was supposed to consist of 24 carrier-based aircraft and 42 helicopters, but the regular number of aircraft was not achieved due to lack of funds. Aircraft landing control was provided by the Luna optical system. In the bow of the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov there are 12 under-deck launchers for P-700 Granit strike cruise missiles. Four six-missile modules of the Kinzhal air defense system are located in the bow and stern on the side sponsons.

The ship's defense is provided by 8 Kortik anti-aircraft artillery systems, 6-30 mm AK-630M gun mounts, and 2 Udav anti-torpedo defense systems. In parallel with the construction of the ship, development of deck aircraft for it and aviation technical equipment was underway. In Crimea, at the Novo-Fedorovka airfield, a training ground with a steel airfield in the form of a ship’s deck was built, called “Nitka”. In the summer of 1982, it carried out the first takeoffs of the Su-27 and MiG-29 from a ground jump at an angle of 8.5 degrees. A year later, testing of the Svetlana-2 aero arresting device began. On September 1, 1984, the first Su-27 landing took place using an arresting aid.
In 1985, conventional aircraft began to take off from a steeper ramp (angle of 14 degrees), adopted for TAKR. On September 1, 1989, test pilot Viktor Pugachev made the first landing on the deck of the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. On the same day, test pilot Takhtar Aubakirov took off from the ship on a MiG-29 aircraft. Before the completion of state tests of the ship, more than 300 flights were performed from it. However, combat pilots began to master the deck of the Kuznetsov much later.

01/20/1991 "Kuznetsov" became part of the Northern Fleet. The state's declining economy significantly complicated and delayed the development of the ship, the equipping of its air group with serial Su-27K fighters and the training of flight crews. Only in 1993 did the aircraft intended for the aircraft carrier arrive in the Northern Fleet, and only the following year was it possible to train ten combat ship pilots.
At the end of August 1995, they made their first landings on a TAKR, and in September, Kuznetsov took part in fleet exercises, during which the practical development of its aircraft weapons began.
As for the basing problem, it remained unresolved. True, a floating pier was built for Kuznetsov in Ura Guba, but they could not build a coastal power station and a boiler house. To ensure its life, the ship has to constantly “drive” two main boilers.

Even during the operation of “Kyiv” in the North, one thing became clear: interesting feature. The aircraft-carrying ship has a huge upper deck, which is actively cooled during cold times (eight months of the year). Since the heating system in the harsh conditions of the Arctic fails to cope with its responsibilities, condensation constantly forms, causing corrosion of decks, bulkheads, cable routes, and failure of devices. In addition to premature aging of ships, low temperatures and high humidity significantly worsen the living conditions of the crew. So, on the Kuznetsov, in the cockpits located at the ends of the ship, the temperature in winter does not rise above 10-12 degrees.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov"
Displacement 55,000 (70,500) tons
Dimensions 304.5 x 38 x 10.5 m

Four-shaft power plant power 200,000 hp: 4 PT
Speed 32 knots

Cruising range 8000 miles at 18 knots

Armament: 12 Granit anti-ship missile launchers, 4 Kinzhal air defense missile systems, 8 Kortik missile launchers, 6-30 mm AK-630M assault rifles, 2 RBU-12000
Air group (March 1996) 15 Su-27K fighters, 1 Su-25UTG, 11 Ka-27 helicopters, 1 Ka-31 helicopter

The great Russian commanders created the glory of Russian weapons on land, in the air and at sea. Peter I planned the development of the country as a maritime power, establishing the first shipyards and attracting foreign engineers. His works made it possible for Russia to win many high-profile victories at sea. Ushakov and Nakhimov are the first naval commanders whose names our country can be proud of. In the USSR, Admiral Kuznetsov became the successor of their victories; his life was inextricably linked with the naval forces.

Biography

According to Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov himself, the experience of operating a ship is not given right away, it must be gained by going from a sailor. This is how the rapid career of a young boy from the village of Medvedki began Astrakhan region. The future admiral Kuznetsov joined the fleet at the age of 15, adding two years to his age, he volunteered for the Civil War. In 1919, he fought as a sailor on a ship in the North Dvina Flotilla. After graduating from the Naval School and then the Academy with honors, Kuznetsov is sent to serve in the Black Sea Fleet. The cruiser "Chervona Ukraine" became a sailor's school for him, which began with the position of watch commander. Since 1933, he became the commander of the cruiser; over the next five years of service, the ship was noted as exemplary in military training, discipline, and shooting performance. The navy started talking about creating the Kuznetsov system, which became a method of military training for ships in all fleets of the USSR. The youngest was awarded the Order of the Red Star in 1935. During his service on the cruiser, Kuznetsov develops new tactical techniques sea battle, recognizes the importance of aerial reconnaissance. His theoretical calculations say that the interaction of everyone should give good results during military operations. The most important role in it was assigned to aviation. Subsequently, this theory was not only confirmed, but also, thanks to Kuznetsov, saved many lives, making a tangible contribution to the victory of the USSR on the fronts of World War II.

Spain

In 1936, the tasks of volunteer sailors in the fight against fascism were the timely delivery and unloading of aid coming from the USSR. Kuznetsov, as a naval attache in Spain, is convinced in practice of the correctness of his theory. Enemy aircraft sank transport ships on the approaches to ports; their actions significantly complicated unloading, which affected the effectiveness of military operations. Kuznetsov creates a new branch of the military - naval aviation, which is based in the port area and repels attacks by enemy fighters. For this work he was awarded the Orders of the Red Banner and Lenin. Returning from Spain in 1937, Kuznetsov was appointed first as deputy, and then as the main rule, which he learned from the fighting in Spain, is the constant readiness of each ship and the fleet as a whole.

Before the war

In the 30s, the USSR began creating a new, more powerful fleet, which was destroyed during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. In 1937, the future Admiral Kuznetsov became a member of the command staff of the Main Military Council of the Navy, which was created under the People's Commissariat. At 34, he becomes the youngest People's Commissar of the Navy. Under his command were young, not very experienced officers, but striving to double the glory of Russian weapons. Kuznetsov reported directly to Stalin, which greatly complicated his work. The commander-in-chief was going to build new fleet from large ships - battleships, cruisers. Kuznetsov, on the contrary, insisted on the production of naval vessels of various classes, including aircraft carriers. He argued to the leader the need to create coastal aviation capable of conducting rapid reconnaissance and ensuring the safe movement of ships. Kuznetsov assigned an important role to the training of personnel; combat situations and the readiness of each ship for a surprise attack were regularly practiced in the active forces. Between 1938 and 1948, many educational institutions to create qualified naval officers and sailors. Kuznetsov personally visited each ship, monitored compliance with the ship's and disciplinary regulations, and assessed the actions of the ships in the exercises. By the time the war began, despite disagreements with Stalin, the young People's Commissar achieved the fulfillment of many of his plans and created a new combat-ready Soviet fleet.

The Great Patriotic War

TASS reports refuting the possibility became a signal to action for Kuznetsov. The ships were supplied with fuel reserves, a complete inventory of materiel and ammunition was carried out, patrols and reconnaissance were strengthened. Since May 1941, personnel were prohibited from going ashore, while at the same time, the political training of soldiers was intensified. The fleet met the beginning of fascist aggression in full combat readiness, which made it possible to avoid losses. The plan of protective measures created before the war unfolded on the orders of Kuznetsov without direct intervention Commander-in-Chief. Barrages of mines were installed, submarines were deployed, and enemy aircraft were destroyed as they approached the fleet's bases. On June 24, the threat of blockade arose over the ships of the Baltic Navy; on the orders of Kuznetsov, he broke through to Kronstadt, leaving Tallinn. Naval artillery helped significantly in the defense of Leningrad and its liberation from the siege. The sailors took part in land operations, helping to contain the fascist armada. The bombers of the Baltic Fleet in August 1941 carried out several massive attacks on Berlin; they did not cause significant damage to the German capital, but raised the morale of our troops. Since 1944, by order of the Commander-in-Chief, Kuznetsov N.G. - Admiral of the Fleet, this rank was awarded for the first time and was equivalent to a marshal.

Result

Active military operations of the Soviet fleet led to heavy losses on the part of the enemy. Fleet Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov personally developed all ongoing operations, which were then approved by the Commander-in-Chief, and acted in constant consolidation with other branches of the military. During the war, ships and submarines destroyed 1,200 enemy units (transport, security). Navy aviation destroyed more than 5,000 German aircraft in battles and at airfields. At the same time, the forces carried out security and transportation of goods from allied states. Hundreds of thousands of people were taken along the road of life from besieged Leningrad, more than 10 tons of cargo were delivered to the starving city. More than 200 enemy ships were destroyed in minefields. Fleet Admiral Kuznetsov was awarded 1st degree, "Red Banner" and "Lenin". More than 70 ships were awarded the Guards title, 513 sailors became Heroes of the Soviet Union. As Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Kuznetsov of the Soviet Union participated in international conferences, negotiations and meetings with allies.

After the war

The main task in peacetime was the restoration of the fleet. Projects for shipbuilding (including aircraft carriers) and the development of naval forces were presented to Stalin personally by the People's Commissar. N. G. Kuznetsov, an admiral who became famous during the war years, insisted on his plans and demands, which often differed from the opinion of the leader. Because of these disagreements and confidence in his rightness, in 1948 Kuznetsov was demoted to the rank of rear admiral and almost sat in the dock. He spent six months without service, suffered a heart attack, but was able to begin work as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Far East. It was there that he received the next rank of vice admiral for the second time. In 1951, by personal order of Stalin, he returned to Moscow and was completely rehabilitated. Admiral N. Kuznetsov received his next rank in 1953; he actively got involved in the work and sought a revision of the shipbuilding program.

Three times admiral

The further fate of Nikolai Gerasimovich is connected with the transformation of the fleet; his close cooperation with relevant departments and the USSR Academy of Sciences made it possible to create nuclear submarines. He attached great importance to equipping ships with missiles. They were placed on submarines and surface vehicles. The idea of creating aircraft carriers did not find its implementation until 1972, when this need was dictated by the conditions of the Cold War with America. Kuznetsov's persistence helped advance the fleet's modernization program, but it strained his relationship with the ruling elite. Under Khrushchev, Admiral N. Kuznetsov was once again demoted in rank. His illness made it possible to remove him from the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy and effectively remove him from the business to which he devoted his whole life. But the fruits of his labors yielded results - the aircraft carrier of Admiral Kuznetsov was built. In retirement, Kuznetsov wrote a lot about the fleet, translated foreign literature and assessed his victories and defeats. He died on December 6, 1974, and was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow. For the third time, Kuznetsov became admiral of the fleet after his death; this title was returned to him in 1988 under pressure from colleagues and the family of Nikolai Gerasimovich.

Aircraft carrier of Admiral Kuznetsov

In 1982, the fifth heavy cruiser. Its deck was intended for basing, landing and take-off of SU and MiG type aircraft. From the moment the ship was laid down until the end of all types of tests, it had four names: “Riga”, “Leonid Brezhnev”, “Tbilisi”. And only in 1990 the ship began to bear the name “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov”. The ship was launched in 1985, and while afloat it continued to be completed, equipped and armed. In 1989, the crew boarded it, and the pilots began testing the runway's runway characteristics. Mig 29 successfully completed the assigned tasks, after which the ship was transferred to the dock for completion.

Equipment

The aircraft carrier of Admiral Kuznetsov underwent several reconstructions. Its radar, navigation, and electronic weapons must be constantly modernized. A ship of this size and class is very difficult to re-equip and is quite expensive to maintain in a state of combat readiness, but to this day it is in service and is on duty as part of the Northern Fleet forces. Its displacement (maximum) is 61 tons, length - 306 m, width - 71 meters. Overall height is 65 meters, maximum draft is 10 m. Four five-blade propellers are used as propulsion, which are driven by diesel generators (6), steam turbines (4) and turbogenerators (9). The armament consists of Granit, Dirk, and Kinzhal missiles, AK-630 anti-aircraft artillery mounts, and RBU anti-submarine bombs. The basic aviation group includes fifty airplanes and helicopters.

Development

Today it is the largest ship of its type. Its analogues are not produced; the Navy's long-term plans in this direction are secret. But the leadership of the modern Russian fleet recognizes the fact that the development project created by N. G. Kuznetsov 50 years ago remains relevant at the present time. It is possible that soon new aircraft carriers will be laid down at modern shipyards, which will better meet modern requirements. This applies to both weapons and ship engines. New sea vessels under the command of young naval commanders they will conquer the vastness of the ocean and show the world the power of Russian weapons, but we should not forget about the people who wrote the first pages of this book.

The second half of the 20th century marked a change in leadership in the vast oceans. The battleships left the front stage. These steel and armored leviathans had dominated the seas for the previous 100 years. After the end of World War II, battleships were forced to fade into history, giving way to ships of a different class. Gone are the days when for display military force armored ships with powerful artillery were perfect for the sea. In the 20th century, aviation entered the scene and became one of the decisive weapons at sea. The era of aircraft carriers has arrived.

Floating airfields are becoming a convenient tool for the manifestation of international politics. Aviation—the main armament of an aircraft carrier—together with missile weapons now constitutes the main striking force at sea.

The place of the aircraft carrier in naval strategy

Ended Second World War clearly showed with what weapons it is possible to achieve supremacy at sea. The geopolitical picture in the world has also changed. Britain, due to large military losses at sea and the difficult post-war economic situation, lost its status as the Mistress of the seas and oceans. The Royal Navy, the French, Italian and Japanese navies ceased to be a serious force in the post-war period sea power. The leading naval power, which managed not only to preserve, but also to increase its naval forces during hostilities, became the United States of America. By the end of the war, the US Navy consisted of 1,500 ships of all classes, of which there were 99 aircraft carriers alone.

It should be noted that the US military was the first to come to the conclusion that the future of the navy belonged to aircraft carriers. It is much more convenient to carry out your own policy in the world not with battleships and cruisers, but with the help of aircraft carriers. The gunboat policy was replaced by an aircraft carrier strategy. Naval forces possessing ships of this class become a convenient and flexible military instrument, capable of solving tactical and strategic problems in the zone of free access to the coast.

For reference: TAVKR "Admiral Kuznetsov" is the only aircraft-carrying ship in the world that can freely operate in the Black Sea, enter and exit through the Black Sea straits of the Bosporus and Dardanelles. The Montreux Convention prohibits the passage of aircraft carriers into the Black Sea. Soviet aircraft-carrying cruisers became a successful military-technical solution that allowed the Soviet Union to have ships of this class in this area.

Subsequent military conflicts, the Korean War, and military operations in Indochina demonstrated the leading role and place of aircraft carriers in naval strategy. This was well known not only in Washington and London, where the construction of aircraft carriers did not stop. The need to have aircraft carriers in their fleet was quickly realized by the governments of France and Italy, where after the war they began building their own ships of this class. Following the leading world powers, third world countries joined this process. Aircraft carriers, although of old construction, appear in the fleets of Brazil, Argentina and India.

The Soviet Union also considered the idea of building aircraft-carrying ships with particular interest. The naval confrontation between the USA and the USSR that emerged in the post-war years only accelerated the work of domestic design bureaus in this direction. However, the first Soviet full-fledged aircraft carrier, the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov or TAKR, entered service only in the winter of 1991, when the USSR had already disappeared from the political map of the world. The main reasons for such a protracted start were the policies of the Soviet leadership, which initially relied on the creation of a nuclear missile system. submarine fleet, lack of experience in building ships of this class in the Soviet Union.

The first signs in the Soviet navy were aircraft-carrying ships of Project 1123.1-3 class anti-ship missiles. These were helicopter-carrying cruisers, which received the code “Condor” according to NATO classification. The main means of combat of these ships was a dozen Ka-25 helicopters. The main function of ships of this class is search and destruction submarines enemy on ocean communications.

Further development of the aircraft-carrying component in the Soviet Navy was the Project 1143.1-4 aircraft-carrying cruiser of the “Kyiv” class. These were already ships that vaguely resembled aircraft carriers, both in terms of tactical and technical characteristics and functionality. The lead ship of this project, the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Kyiv, entered service in December 1975. On this ship, the main weapon was the air wing, consisting of 12 Yak-38 aircraft and 12 Ka-25 helicopters. In terms of displacement and size, these were large military vessels in the ocean zone, capable of operating as part of large formations of ships at a considerable distance from fleet bases. In total, 4 heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers of the Kyiv class were commissioned in the USSR. These warships for the first time demonstrated to the world the ability of Soviet shipyards to build aircraft-carrying ships.

It should be noted: In terms of the number of aircraft carriers launched and put into operation, the USSR was second only to the United States. Great Britain, which for a long time used aircraft carriers built during the Second World War, managed to build and commission only 4 ships of this class in the post-war period. In France, the construction of ships of the same type was limited to the construction of 3 units. Italy commissioned two aircraft carriers into its fleet, and Japan generally switched to building combined ships, aircraft-carrying destroyers and large landing ships.

In the USSR, after the commissioning of heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers of the "Kyiv" class, there was a tendency towards the transition to a full-fledged warship capable of providing basing for aircraft with horizontal takeoff and landing. The aircraft carrier cruisers of Project 1143.1-4 served as a technological platform for the subsequent development of the Soviet aircraft carrier fleet. In this regard, the country's top military leadership had grandiose plans. It was planned to build larger and more powerful aircraft-carrying ships for the USSR Navy. An improved version of the project was the heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers of Project 1143.5-6, of which only the Admiral Kuznetsov TAVKR was launched and put into operation.

The first ship of the improved project 1143.5 was laid down on September 1, 1982, receiving the name “Riga” in 1983. New Soviet aircraft carriers were to bear names consonant with the names of Soviet cities. Subsequently, the political situation influenced the fate of the ship. Already in the process of launching the ship received the name “Leonid Brezhnev”, in honor of the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee L.I. Brezhnev. After launching in August 1987, the ship received the name "Tbilisi".

Mooring tests began on the ship only two years later, in 1989. At the same time, the ship received its crew, and the process of equipping the ship's systems with the main means of detection, tracking and weapons began. Over the next period of time, the take-off and landing of deck-based Su-27 and Mig-29 aircraft were practiced on the ship for test purposes. After short trips to sea, the ship returned to the factory wall for modifications. In October 1990, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the ship received its next and last name - “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov.” In January 1991, the Admiral Kuznetsov TAVKR, the first full-fledged aircraft carrier, was assigned to the Northern Fleet. Russian Federation. The name of the new ship was not given by chance. It was in those years that the real facts of Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov’s enormous contribution to the process of increasing the defense capability of the Russian Navy during the Great Patriotic War were first revealed.

It is important to note that no less than 12 years passed from the time the project was developed until the ship was put into operation. During this time, the vision of the place and role of the aircraft carrier in the fleet has changed significantly. The United States has completely switched to the construction of aircraft-carrying ships with a nuclear power plant. In France and Great Britain, work was actively underway to create conceptually new aircraft carriers capable of carrying a large number of aircraft for various purposes. In Russia, which at the beginning of the 90s entered a period of protracted political and economic crisis, there was no understanding of the concept of the role of the aircraft carrier fleet in modern conditions.

The USSR disappeared from the political map of the world, resulting in the end of the Cold War. The huge naval economy inherited from the Soviet Union required colossal forces and resources. In such conditions, the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov began its combat service.

What is the first domestic aircraft carrier?

The ship is an aircraft-carrying self-propelled platform capable of receiving and sending aircraft with a traditional takeoff and landing pattern. Unlike previous aircraft-carrying vessels of the Kyiv class, the aircraft carrier Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov had an extended runway deck instead of an upper deck. There was a springboard in the bow of the flight deck, which increased lift airplane taking off. This scheme replaced the usual steam catapults for ships of this class, which act as a starting accelerator.

The ship was designed to operate Soviet 3rd generation Mig-29 fighters and Su-27 fighter-bombers in the naval version.

Basic performance characteristics the ships were as follows:

standard displacement - 45 thousand. tons (full displacement 60 thousand tons);
the length of the ship along the flight deck is 305 m;
the width of the ship along the flight deck is over 70 m;
power of the propulsion gas turbine unit is 200 thousand l/s;
speed – maximum 29 knots, with economical speed – 14 knots;
economical cruising range 8400 miles;
autonomy is 45 days.

It should be noted that the ship has a combined reservation system. Inside the ship there are “dry compartments” and layered anti-torpedo protection. Up to 50 aircraft should be based on the ship. The main attack wing is represented by 26 MiG-29K or Su-27K aircraft. The helicopter group consisted of 18 Ka-27, Ka-29 anti-submarine helicopters, four electronic reconnaissance vehicles and 2 rescue helicopters. In addition to combat aircraft, the TAVKR aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov had powerful anti-ship weapons represented by 12 Granit anti-ship missiles. Anti-aircraft missile artillery complex "Kortik" together with launchers"Dagger" provided air defense.

The composition of the weapons suggests that the ship is quite comparable in terms of combat power missile cruiser. In terms of the aviation component, the Russian aircraft carrier performs rather auxiliary functions. The presence of a springboard significantly limits throughput take-off deck, which does not allow rapid launch and acceptance of aircraft in combat conditions.

To this day, the Project 1143.5 aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov remains the only operational aircraft carrier. Even despite the presence of serious shortcomings in its design, the ship continues to carry out combat service as part of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Federation. The small size of the aviation group affects the combat effectiveness of the ship. Anti-ship missiles "Granit" can be called an anachronism for ships of this class, deliberately making the ship's design heavier and limiting its technological space.

At the moment, the main combat load on the ship fell during the Syrian crisis. An aircraft-carrying cruiser from November 2016 to January 2017 as part of an operational-tactical group of ships of the Russian Navy in operations on the territory of the Syrian Republic. After a long voyage, the Russian aircraft carrier returned to Severomorsk, where it is preparing to undergo another scheduled repair.

New generation aircraft carriers in Russia are only at the design stage. Painstaking work is being done to find the optimal design of an aircraft-carrying ship that could go into production and be a universal and modern combat ship.

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