Slava-class cruiser explained

The Slava class, Soviet designation Project 1164 Atlant (Russian: Атлант|Atlant|[[Atlas (mythology)|Atlas]]), is a class of guided-missile cruisers designed and constructed in the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy, and currently operated by the Russian Navy.

Design and history

The design started in the late 1960s, based around use of the P-500 Bazalt missile. The cruiser was intended as a less expensive conventionally powered alternative to the nuclear-powered s. All are now armed with P-1000 Vulkan AShM missiles, developed in the late 1970s to late 1980s. There was a long delay in this programme, while the problems with the Bazalt were resolved.

These ships acted as flagships for numerous task forces. All ships were built at the 61 Kommunar yard in Mykolaiv (Nikolaev), Ukrainian SSR. The class was a follow-up to the, which the Soviet Navy typed as a Large Anti-submarine Ship (Russ. BPK), constructed at the same shipyard and appears to be built on a stretched version of the Kara-class hull.[1]

The Slava class was initially designated BLACKCOM 1 (Black Sea Combatant 1) and then designated the Krasina class for a short period until Slava was observed at sea. The SS-N-12 launchers are fixed facing forward at around 8° elevation with no reloads available. As there was nothing revolutionary about the design of the class, western observers felt they were created as a hedge against the failure of the more radical Kirov class.[2] The helicopter hangar deck is located a half deck below the landing pad with a ramp connecting the two.[3]

Originally ten ships were planned, but with the collapse of the Soviet Union, only three were completed. A fourth vessel was launched, but final construction remains incomplete, and the ship has not been commissioned into service.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the three finished ships commenced service in the Russian Navy, while the uncompleted fourth vessel, renamed, had its ownership transferred to Ukraine. Efforts have been made to complete and update the unfinished ship. In 2010, Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych stated that Russia and Ukraine would work together on the project.[4]

Russia has also expressed interest in purchasing the vessel, which Ukraine had previously offered for sale. However, as of early 2011, no final agreement had been concluded between the two countries.[5]

The Russian Navy had plans to extensively upgrade all of their Slava-class vessels during the 2010s; completing work on Ukraina may have served as a test-bed for this. As of April 2022, the fourth hull remains afloat at a Ukrainian shipyard, uncompleted.One of the vessels, Moskva, sank in the Black Sea on 13 April 2022 following an explosion during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian military officials claimed this was the result of a Neptune missile strike by Ukraine, while Russian military officials claimed the vessel suffered an explosion to its ammunition depot and sank while being towed to port.[6]

Gallery

Ships

NameLaid downLaunchedCommissionedStatusPictureNotes
Moskva
(ex-Slava)		197619791982Sunk on 14 April 2022[7] Overhauled from 1991 to 1998. Was involved in the 2008 South Ossetia war.[8] In 2010 the vessel participated in military exercises in the Indian Ocean and Russia's Vostok 2010 military drills in the Sea of Okhotsk in July 2010.[9] Sent to Syria in 2013.[10] Sunk on 14 April 2022 during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[11]
Marshal Ustinov
(ex-Admiral Flota Lobov)		197819821986In service with the Northern FleetOverhaul completed in October 2016.[12] [13] [14]
Varyag
(ex-Chervona Ukraina)		197919831989In service with the Pacific FleetListed as under reduced manning since 2002. Operating with a caretaker crew at reduced readiness since arrival with the Soviet Pacific Fleet in 1990. Re-entered service in the Russian Pacific Fleet in early 2008 after an overhaul. In 2010, the Varyag visited San Francisco, California coincident with the visit of Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev to Silicon Valley during his trip to the U.S.
Ukraina
(ex-Komsomolets, ex-Admiral Flota Lobov)		19831990UnfinishedMoored unfinished in Mykolaiv, Ukraine.
Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya1988Cancelled and disassembled on the way in 1990
Admiral Flota Sovetskovo Soyuza Gorshkov Planned for 1990Cancelled
VaryagCancelled
Sevastopol Cancelled

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: GlobalSecurity.org . Project 1164 Atlant Krasina/Slava class Guided Missile Cruiser . 6 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070425235416/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/1164.htm . 25 April 2007 . live.
  2. Book: Modern Naval Combat . David . Miller . Chris . Miller . 150 . London; New York . Salamander Books . c. 1986 . 0-86101-231-3.
  3. Book: Cullen, Tony . Encyclopedia Of World Sea Power . Crescent . 1988 . 86 . 0-517-65342-7 .
  4. Web site: The Future of the Russian Navy Part 1: Large Combat Ships . Russian Military Reform . Gorenburg . Dmitry . 24 August 2010 . 28 December 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120313130620/http://russiamil.wordpress.com/2010/08/24/the-future-of-the-russian-navy-part-1-large-combat-ships/ . 13 March 2012 . live.
  5. Web site: The Future of the Russian Navy Part 1: Large Combat Ships . Russian Military Reform . Gorenburg . Dmitry . 24 August 2010 . 28 December 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120313130620/http://russiamil.wordpress.com/2010/08/24/the-future-of-the-russian-navy-part-1-large-combat-ships/ . 13 March 2012 . live.
  6. News: 2022-04-15 . Russian warship: Moskva sinks in Black Sea . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-04-15.
  7. Web site: Новости . Р. И. А. . 2022-04-14 . Минобороны заявило, что при шторме затонул крейсер "Москва" . 2022-04-14 . РИА Новости . ru.
  8. Web site: The Moskva, sunk off Ukraine, served in wars hot and cold . Gambrell . Jon . AP News . 14 April 2022 . 7 March 2022.
  9. Web site: Black Sea Fleet flagship heading to Pacific Ocean . Kyiv Post . 9 March 2010 . 7 March 2023.
  10. News: Russia sends missile cruiser to Mediterranean . . 4 September 2013 . 7 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130907173009/http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/09/04/russia_sends_missile_cruiser_to_mediterranean_report.html . 7 September 2013 . live.
  11. News: Moskva sinking: US gave intelligence that helped Ukraine sink Russian cruiser - reports . BBC News . 6 May 2022 . 19 July 2022.
  12. Web site: Sea trials for Northern Fleet missile cruiser . Atle . Staalesen . 31 October 2016 . The Barents Observer . 2016-11-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161120010518/http://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2016/10/sea-trials-northern-fleet-missile-cruiser . 2016-11-20 . live.
  13. Web site: Missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov moves to Pacific Fleet . Rusnavy.com . 24 March 2011 . 28 December 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111015065908/http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=11830 . 15 October 2011 . live.
  14. Web site: Refitted Slava class guided missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov to rejoin Russian Fleet in 2015 . Navyrecognition.com . 16 December 2013 . 6 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141008090040/http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2013-news/december-2013-navy-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-security-global-news/1427-refitted-slava-class-guided-missile-cruiser-marshal-ustinov-to-rejoin-russian-fleet-in-2015.html . 8 October 2014 . live.

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