Engineering:Kara-class cruiser
 Kerch in 2007
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Kara class |
| Builders: | 61 Communards Shipyard, Mykolaiv |
| Operators: | |
| Preceded by: | Kresta II class |
| Succeeded by: | |
| Built: | 1968–1979 |
| In commission: | 1971–2014 |
| Completed: | 7 |
| Retired: | 7 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Guided missile cruiser |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: | 173.2 m (568 ft 3 in) |
| Beam: | 18.6 m (61 ft 0 in) |
| Draught: | 6.7 m (22 ft 0 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 shaft COGAG, 4x DN59 2x DS71 gas turbines, 120,000 hp (89,000 kW) |
| Speed: | 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) |
| Range: | 9,000 nmi (17,000 km) |
| Complement: | 380 |
| Armament: |
|
| Aircraft carried: | 1 × Ka-25 or Ka-27 series helicopter |
| Aviation facilities: | Helipad |
The Kara class, Soviet designation Project 1134B Berkut B (golden eagle), was a class of guided missile cruisers (large anti-submarine warfare ship in Soviet classification) built in the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy. The NATO lists the class as "cruisers" mainly due to the Metel (SS-N-14 Silex) anti-ship missile system capable of striking not only submarines, but also surface vessels.
Design
These ships were enlarged versions of the Kresta II class, with gas turbine engines replacing the steam turbines. These ships were fitted as flagships with improved command, control and communications facilities. These are dedicated ASW ships with significant anti-aircraft capability including both M-11 Shtorm and 9K33 Osa surface-to-air missiles.
The specifications for the class were issued in 1964 with the design being finalised in the late 1960s. The gas turbine engine was chosen instead of steam for greater efficiency and quietness, and because the main Soviet gas turbine plant had a long association with the Nikolayev shipyards.
The cruiser Azov was constructed as a trials ship for the S-300 missile system and was also fitted with the associated Top Dome Radar. During the Cold War she was confined to the Black Sea.
Ships
All the ships were built by the 61 Communards Shipyard in Mykolaiv (Nikolayev).
| Name | Russian | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikolayev | Николаев | 25 June 1968 | 19 December 1969 | 31 December 1971 | 29 October 1992 | Scrapped in India, 1994 |
| Ochakov | Очаков | 19 December 1969 | 30 April 1971 | 4 November 1973 | 12 August 2011 | Purposely sunk in channel of Donuzlav Bay 6 March 2014. Later refloated and scrapped. |
| Kerch | Керчь | 30 April 1971 | 21 July 1972 | 25 December 1974 | 15 February 2020 | Scrapped at Inkerman, Sevastopol in 2020 |
| Azov | Азов | 21 July 1972 | 14 September 1973 | 25 December 1975 | 30 May 1998 | Scrapped at Inkerman in 1999-2000. |
| Petropavlovsk | Петропавловск | 9 September 1973 | 22 November 1974 | 29 December 1976 | 26 February 1992 | Sold for scrap in 1996. |
| Tashkent | Ташкент | 22 November 1974 | 5 November 1975 | 31 December 1977 | 3 July 1992 | Sold for scrap in 1994. |
| Vladivostok
(ex-Tallinn) |
Владивосток (Таллин) |
5 November 1975 | 5 November 1976 | 31 December 1979 | 5 July 1994 | Sold for scrap in 1994. |
See also
- List of ships of the Soviet Navy
- List of ships of Russia by project number
Citations
- ↑ Chant, Chris (2004). Warships Today. Summertime Publishing Ltd. p. 98. ISBN 0-7607-6700-9.
References
- Gardiner, Robert, ed (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. London: Conway Maritime. ISBN 0-85177-605-1. OCLC 34284130. Also published as Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7. OCLC 34267261.
External links
- (in Russian)Article
- (in English)FAS.org
- (in English)Kara Class Kerch Photoalbum
- (in English)warfare.ru page
- (in English)Global Security.org
- (in English) All Russian Kara Class Cruisers - Complete Ship List
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