Project 1134 Berkut Kresta - Program
Samples of "creativity" in the annals of Soviet shipbuilding are found in the "stagnant" and "perestroika" periods. Here are some of them. In a series of 20 BOD Project 61, it was contrived to make 5 transformations: in fact, Project 61, Project 61 radar Mr-500 "Cleaver", Project 61-m, Project 61-mp, Project 61-e is not believing, naturally, 61-Mer export variant for India. Any of the 4 nuclear missile cruisers of Project 1144 ("Eagle") was so significant differences consistent with the armament that the leading "Admiral Ushakov" (formerly Kirov) and ultra-lsrge "Peter the great" (formerly "Andropov ') it is permitted without busting belief that they were different ships classes.
Such practices had their own ideological origins. One of the most authoritative admirals referred to this as "modernization during construction" and sincerely believed it impartial want introduction of the fruits of scientific and technological progress. But the event, which in consequence thereof, quasi-random progressive solutions fleet eventually became "vinaigrette" from ships in different projects and "sub-options", top echelons, apparently not bothered a bit. It is difficult to fathom the real motivation of the appearance of the ships of Project 1134.
In 1960 there was a shift in priorities in the domestic shipbuilding. While the construction of surface ships for the fleet was conducted in two general directions: "shock" [attack] and "anti-submarine". The deployment by the US in the 1960s of the "Polaris" put forward the task of combating SSBN likely opponent on the cutting edge. In this regard, even far from the naval affairs political and government leaders, the term "anti" was perceived with a positive understanding that almost guaranteed beforehand "green light" to any program under the slogan "anti-submarine".
The Kresta class ships were designed for antisubmarine and surface warfare operations, and to provide additional air defense coverage for Russian task forces. There were two variations of the Kresta class ships. Though considerably larger, more effective and reliable than the previous Kynda, the Kresta I surface warfare cruisers carried only half as many Shaddock launch tubes and one-fourth the total number of missiles. The Kresta I could launch four SS-N-3b SLCMs and 44 SA-N-1 surface-to-air missiles, and have ten 21-inch torpedo tubes. A single Ka-25 Hormone B is carried for targeting the cruise missile, and mid-course corrections.
Responding to urgent ASW requirements, the SS-N-14 Silex anti-submarine system was employed on the much more capable Project 1134.B (Kresta II), replacing the four SS-N-3 Shaddock anti-ship missiles used on the Kresta I. A helicopter hanger, designed to house one Ka-27PL (Helix) is located on the stern. The Kresta II carried a single nuclear-capable Ka-25 Hormone A helicopter, which could probably deliver nuclear depth bombs. Alterations in hull dimensions provided these ASW cruisers with 38% more below-deck space, allowing the Kresta II to carry more Shtorm and Osa-M air-defense missiles than the Kresta I -- a total of 72 SA-N-3 surface-to-air missiles are carried. The Kresta II was equipped with 76 mm gun mounts, which replaced the 57 mm mounts found on Kresta I ships. The Kresta II class uses a gas-turbine propulsion system that is lighter and more compact than the boilers used on the Kresta I.
Evaluating the technical project established in 1134 by the post-war criteria, there was nothing fundamentally new in comparison with the Project 58. It was assumed that the ships of this type will be built quite large series (at least 10 units in different factories). However, due to the fact that for a number of specified circumstances the ship missed its appearance in the world for at least 2-3 years, these ships had become, as it were, a transitional, intermediate type of a new generation of 1960-1970. In fact, the Project 1134 was built inonly 4 units at the shipyard Zhdanov (now - AO «Severnaya Verf"). They did not take place as in the original antisubmarine role, especially because of weak sonar, and antisubmarine weapons. Thus, the development of "shock" class missile cruisers was interrupted for more than ten years, and that was not for reasons of economic or technical nature, but due to subjective reasons.
Total plans were to build ten large anti-submarine ships of the Project 1134 Berkut Kresta I, but in the end customer - Navy - was limited to the construction of four units with simultaneous processing of the project for the first specialized project large antisubmarine ship, designated as the BOD Project 1134-A. In 1968, the main constructor of the lead ship G.V. Filatov and responsible commissioning engineer I.M. Ponds were awarded the USSR State Prize.
Four Kresta I class cruisers became operational during 1967-1969, and ten Kresta II cruisers entered service during 1969-1978. There is rather considerable disagreement among various sources as to the construction sequence and chronology of the units of this class [to the extent that sources disagree as to whether the Admiral Zozulya was the first or the fourth of the Kresta-I class, and as to whether it was launched in 1965 or in 1967].
All Kresta class ships had been stricken by 1994, and as of early 2000 most were believed to have been sold to foreign shipbreakers. Enhanced exploitation and quite rare (far from the planned dates) repair, and most importantly, the misfortune that befell the country and its armed forces, had done their job. Not having served 25-years, on 28 May 1990 "Sevastopol"e was dismissed from the Navy's , a month later it was followed by "Vladivostok", and a year later, in 1991 - "Vice-Admiral Drozd" sank when towing. The name "Vladivostok" was soon transferred to the Pacific to a Project 1134B, which was wearing the name "Tallinn". Oddly enough, was the longevity of the oldest (head) ship "Admiral Zozulya." This happened due to the fact that the ship had to pass a very long overhaul at Kronstadt sea plant before the collapse of the USSR, after which he was written off almost immediately.
Ships of Project 1134 marked the beginning of a large series of subsequent new BOD Project 1134A and 1134B, based on which, in turn, was created the rocket cruiser "Atlanta" (Project 1164). It is important to mention once again that the ships of the project in 1134 became the first surface ships of the Navy with fixed-base of the helicopter. In this respect, they can be safely called a milestone.
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