Neustrashimy (patrol ship)
| "Intrepid" | |
|---|---|
| Service: | Russia |
| Vessel class and type | Project 11540 patrol ships |
| Organization | Russian Baltic Fleet |
| Manufacturer | Amber |
| Construction has started | |
| Launched | |
| Commissioned | |
| Main characteristics | |
| Displacement | 3590 (standard) 4350 tons (full) |
| Length | 129.8 m (largest) 117.2 m (according to the vertical line) |
| Width | 15.6 m (largest) 14.2 m (according to the vertical line) |
| Draft | 8.35 m (overall bulb) 4.8 m (midship) |
| Engines | Twin-shaft gas turbine - 2 propulsion gas turbines and 2 afterburning gas turbines |
| Power | 37,000 l. With. (propulsion gas turbines) + 20,000 l. With. (afterburner gas turbines) |
| Travel speed | 30 knots (full), 18 knots (economic) |
| Sailing autonomy | 30 days |
| Crew | 210 people, including 27 officers |
| Armament | |
| Artillery | 1 AK-100 |
| Missile weapons | 4x8 launcher "Dagger" 2 ZRAK "Dirk" |
| Anti-submarine weapons | 2x3 533 mm TA, 1 x RBU-6000, 2 x “Waterfall-NK” |
| Aviation group | 1 Ka-27 helicopter |
The ship was launched on May 25, 1988. It entered service on December 28, 1990, and has been part of the Baltic Fleet since March 14, 1991.
In 2003, during the official visit of Russian President V.V. Putin to London, he provided security on the Russian side. On board the Neustrashimy, the President signed a number of international treaties.
In August-September 2004, the Neustrashimy was on combat duty in the Mediterranean Sea and made friendly visits to the ports of Cannes (France), Cartagena (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal) and SeeBrugge (Belgium). At the same time, the ship’s visit to Portugal was the first visit since the 18th century and preceded the official visit of Russian President V.V. Putin to this country. In the port of Cannes (France), the ship took part in the celebration of the days of Russian culture in France. In August-September 2005, he carried out a combat watch in the Norwegian Sea.
In September 2006, the ship took part in the reburial of Empress Maria Feodorovna (the patrol ship met and escorted the Danish Navy ship Esbern Snare with the ashes of the Empress).
Fight against Somali pirates
However, in the summer of 2009, in an interview, the general director of the Yantar Shipyard, Igor Orlov, confirmed that after the trip, all four diesel engines, all refrigeration machines, and two turbines were replaced on the ship. The repairs lasted almost six months and were so extensive that they ended with repeated mooring tests. The ship has undergone about 80% of the so-called “average” repairs:
For a ship that had not been repaired for 15 years, the trip to the Gulf of Aden was a serious test - not so much for the people, but for the equipment, which worked under extreme stress.
Awards
The ship's crew was repeatedly awarded various prizes in Russian Navy competitions:
- Prize of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for Air Defense (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000)
- Prize of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for anti-submarine defense (1995)
- Prize of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for artillery training (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001)
The ship took first place among ships of the 1st and 2nd rank in combat training competitions for the Baltic Fleet Championship (2005, 2006, 2007), as well as first place among ships of the 1st and 2nd rank in combat training competitions for the Russian Navy Championship (2007)
In 2000, Neustrashimy was declared the best ship in the Baltic Fleet. The ship repeated this achievement in 2005, 2006, 2007.
Ship commanders
"Fearless" in art
The ship has repeatedly taken part in the filming of films. He can be seen in the films "
The modernization and repair of one of the best ships of the Baltic Fleet, the Neustrashimy SKR, is in full swing. For the second year in a row, the crew is celebrating the ship’s birthday, which is celebrated on January 24, at the berth of the Yantar Baltic Shipyard. The fact is that, within the framework of the contract with the Ministry of Defense, Kaliningrad shipbuilders will carry out a large amount of work to repair and modernize the ship within two years. A significant update will affect the equipment of the electromechanical, navigator and radio combat units, as well as weapons systems.
It is worth noting that repair work of this magnitude has not been carried out at the plant for the last 25 years, and the ship has not undergone such a comprehensive renovation since its construction. The fact that repairs are in full swing on the ship can be seen from afar. The stern, sides, and superstructures are strewn with patches painted with marker paint. Boxes with spare parts and welding equipment are piled up on the deck, and out-of-date water and steam pipes of the guard ship lie. As the acting commander of the warhead, Senior Lieutenant Artem Sirotkin, said, work is in full swing not only on the upper deck, but also inside the ship. Last year, preliminary docking of the ship was carried out and its technical condition was determined. Currently, equipment on the Neustrashimy is being dismantled and sent to enterprises and service organizations, as well as the installation of already repaired systems and units. “Two main engines have been mothballed and are on the ship,” the officer specified. — Representatives of the plant have already inspected them. Two afterburning engines were unloaded and sent for repairs. Of the five auxiliary diesel-electric power units, some have already been repaired and installed on the ship. Repair is a concern not only for enterprise representatives. The personnel of the Neustrashimy TFR ensures that all hot work is carried out. There is always a soldier with fire extinguishers next to the workers, and a fire line is also connected here. Crew members also participate in ship repairs themselves. Thus, the foreman of the motor team, midshipman Andrei Belinsky, together with his subordinates, supervises the execution of work on diesel generators. If necessary, seafarers help representatives of counterparty enterprises. Such interaction allows military personnel to thoroughly understand the design features of the equipment and study the features of its operation. In the aft engine room, where the gearboxes are being repaired, the senior officer is the foreman of the engine team, midshipman Sergei Penyaev. In the diesel generator compartment of the ship, personnel are preparing to receive and install new repaired diesel engines. Here the work is carried out under the leadership of senior contract service sailor Anton Meshkov. The scale of the work is also evidenced by the following fact - for example, approximately 200 valves will have to be replaced in the fresh water supply system. Pipeline sections and electric pumping units are also being replaced. Two fire pumps were sent for repair. Two are waiting their turn. All corridors and combat posts, as well as most of the cabins, will be redecorated. The factory workers will completely replace the ship's lighting system. Navigation, communications and weapons systems are being repaired in accordance with the schedule... Of course, with such volumes of repair work, there are no difficulties. Thus, according to the commander of the ship, Captain 3rd Rank Evgeniy Ovsyannikov, the peculiarity of the current repair is that for the first time the turbines of the patrol ship’s power plants are being repaired at the aircraft plant in Samara. In January, turbines from Neustrashimy were sent to the enterprise. The naval commission and naval specialists of the warhead-5 will also arrive there to ensure the completeness and quality of the repairs carried out. After all, the plant in Samara is fulfilling such an unusual order for the first time. As you know, previously repair work was carried out at a plant in the Ukrainian city of Nikolaev. And for the Baltics, this is also the first experience of cooperation with an aircraft repair company. It is clear that the greatest burden of responsibility and volume of work, of course, lies with the personnel of the electromechanical combat unit of the ship, the commander of which is Senior Lieutenant Vyacheslav Openchenko. The acting senior assistant to the ship's commander, Lieutenant Commander Vladislav Galitsky, has a lot on his mind. A real specialist in hull and welding work, midshipman Andrey Kuzmenko, deserves kind words. In general, the entire crew of the Neustrashimy TFR works as one whole organism - together and harmoniously. However, it doesn’t happen any other way in the navy. As for the annual holiday, Captain 3rd Rank Evgeny Ovsyannikov said that it will pass almost unnoticed. “The day of raising the St. Andrew’s flag will be celebrated by the crew in a narrow circle,” the officer clarified. — We won’t invite guests. Moreover, there is nothing to show them yet. Work on the ship is in full swing. At the moment, the repair plan is approximately 30% complete. Much remains to be done. I believe that the real celebration on the ship will take place in January 2016, when the Neustrashimy TFR, after repairs and modernization, will return to the combat composition of the surface ships of the Baltic Fleet. Vladimir Dashevsky, “Guardian of the Baltic.”
"Intrepid" - patrol ship of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy. The first one built from the Project 11540 Yastreb ships. The ship is designed to search, detect and track enemy submarines, to provide anti-ship and anti-submarine defense of warships and vessels at sea, strike ships and vessels at sea and bases, support combat operations of ground forces, ensure amphibious landings and solve other tasks.
Construction
The ship was laid down on March 25, 1987 at the Yantar shipyard.
The ship was launched on May 25, 1988. It entered service on December 28, 1990, and has been part of the Baltic Fleet since March 14, 1991.
On January 24, 1993, the flag of the Russian Navy was raised over the ship. Since February 2, 1993, the ship has been part of a brigade of anti-submarine ships.
At 1988 prices, Neustrashimy cost 80 million rubles.
Design
The ship's hull is a forecastle, with an extended forecastle and a bow bulb, in which the antenna of the hydroacoustic complex is located, there are two masts and two chimneys.
The hull is divided into 12 compartments by waterproof bulkheads. Both the hull and superstructure are made entirely of steel, created using technologies to reduce acoustic signature. The ship is equipped with pitch stabilizers, as well as bilge keels, which help improve seaworthiness.
Devices are provided for receiving liquid and dry cargo from supply vessels at sea.
Armament
Anti-submarine weapons
The ship is equipped with the Vodopad-NK anti-submarine missile and torpedo system, consisting of two three-tube horizontal launchers, each of which is installed along the side of the ship towards the bow with a fixed angle of 18°. Ammunition: 6 missiles with a range of up to 40 km.
Another means of combating submarines is the rocket launcher. RBU-6000, consisting of 12 radially placed pipes. Installed on the upper deck, controlled using the fire control system of the Onega-11540 PLO complex. Ammunition - 60 missiles, maximum firing range - 6000 m, maximum target depth - 500 m.
Air defense systems
The ship's main air defense system is the Kinzhal air defense system with 32 missiles. The complex consists of four vertical launch modules installed in the bow.
An alternative means of defense is 2 modules of the Kortik anti-aircraft missile and artillery system. Ammunition - 64 anti-aircraft missiles and 600 rounds. "Kortik" provides defense against precision weapons, including missiles and aerial bombs.
Artillery
Artillery on Neustrashimy is represented by one artillery mount AK-100 with ammunition of 350 shells. Guidance is carried out using the MP-145 “Lev” control radar. The system is installed in the bow of the ship and is designed to destroy air, sea and coastal targets, including anti-ship missiles.
It is also possible to use 30-mm guns of the “Kortik” system to fire at aircraft and small ships.
Other
To protect the ship from weapons with thermal guidance heads, eight ten-pipe installations were installed PK-10 for firing 120 mm thermal interference shells. To protect against guidance systems using radar and optics, two 16-pipe installations are designed PK-16 caliber 82 mm. The firing range of the latter ranges from 200 to 1800 m.
Aviation
The ship is equipped with a standard anti-submarine helicopter Ka-27, for which there is a hangar.
Missile weapons
The initial design of the ship had to be modified to increase displacement for the express purpose of allowing the ship to carry a modern anti-ship missile launcher.
Anti-ship missile system "Uranus" was repeatedly mentioned in the media as the weapon of the Neustrashimy, however, since its adoption into service in 2003, it has remained not installed on the ship. Thus, throughout its existence, the Neustrashimy was not equipped with main weapons.
Service
The ship has repeatedly participated in various exercises, including joint exercises with NATO BALTOPS (1994, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007). In 2006, Dauntless received high praise from the exercise commander, US Admiral Joseph Kilkenny.
In 2003, during the official visit of Russian President V.V. Putin to London, he provided security on the Russian side. On board the Neustrashimy, the President signed a number of international treaties.
In 2004, Neustrashimy was on combat duty in the Mediterranean Sea. In August-September 2005, he carried out a combat watch in the Norwegian Sea.
In September 2006, the ship took part in the reburial of Empress Maria Feodorovna (the patrol ship met and escorted the Danish Navy ship Esbern Snare with the ashes of the Empress).
Fight against Somali pirates
On September 24, 2008, the Neustrashimy set sail for the shores of Somalia to ensure the safety of shipping from Somali pirates.
In 2008, Somali pirates hijacked more than 30 ships flying the flags of different countries. The pirates released some of the ships after receiving a large ransom. The Somali authorities are unable to cope with the pirates on their own, since the country has been in civil war for many years.
On October 27, Neustrashimy, accompanied by the supply tanker Yelnya, arrived in the Horn of Africa peninsula and joined the flotilla of NATO warships near the Somali coast.
On October 28, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed the hope that the Neustrashimy, together with warships of other countries, will help free the Faina ship.
On November 12, the Baltic Fleet patrol ship Neustrashimy repelled a pirate attack on the Danish ship Powerfull. The operation was carried out jointly with the British frigate Cumberland.
(In the early morning of January 1, 2009, the tanker Yelnya, which was accompanying the patrol ship, also entered into a “New Year’s” shootout with a pirate ship.)
On February 8, Neustrashimy returned to Baltiysk.
During its seven-month combat service, the ship covered over 40 thousand miles, provided escort for up to 60 civilian ships through a dangerous area, actively used an onboard helicopter, and used weapons three times; made business visits to Tripoli (Libya) and Aden (Yemen).
In the history of the Russian Navy, one of the leading places is occupied by the combat service of patrol ships. This type of warship is considered the most popular in the fleet. The range of tasks performed by ships of this class is also enormous. Watchmen have always been at the forefront, protecting the safety of sea communications and the maritime borders of our country.
In the Soviet Union, a naval strategy was on the agenda, providing for the active defense of its own sea borders. Patrol boats, which were mainly used for the defense of coastal waters, were best suited for this purpose. To carry out combat missions, the ships did not require either greater autonomy or powerful weapons. However, the appearance at sea of a large number of attack formations of the American fleet and ships of NATO countries forced the Soviet naval command to look for new technical means of combat. Project 11540 patrol ships were supposed to be the answer to strengthening the naval power of a potential enemy.
The main goals of the new watchmen Yaroslav the Wise and Neustrashimy
The new patrol ships, which were planned to be transferred to the Baltic Fleet, were to become the strongest and most powerful ships in the Baltic maritime theater. The main goal that was set for them was to control the Baltic Sea. It was not excluded that patrol ships would enter the ocean to ensure the safety of navigation and intercept enemy ships at distant shores.
The set goals required an increase in the size and displacement of warships. It was necessary to create a patrol ship capable of being at sea for a long time and which would have superior firepower. The ships of the previous Project 1135 clearly demonstrated the design features of the new type of patrol ships, which needed to be either improved or modernized. The introduction of a number of technical innovations into the project and an increase in the ships' displacement became the reason for the transition of Project 11540 ships to the class of frigates.
The terms of reference for the construction of new patrol boats were received in 1981. The developer of the design documentation was Zelenodolsk Design Bureau. At that time, the shipbuilding capacity of the Soviet Union made it possible to build large quantities of warships with a displacement of up to 4 thousand tons. The patrol ship of the new project had to be built taking into account all the design features and innovations that similar ships in foreign fleets had. The American Oliver Perry-class frigate and the German Bremen-class ship were chosen as reference points. In its final form, Project 11540 received the code “Hawk”. According to NATO classification, the new patrol ships were considered frigates, i.e. long-range multi-purpose combat ships.
After entering service, the new combat units were supposed to replace Project 1135 patrol ships on combat duty. The Yastreb-class frigates were entrusted with the task of searching for enemy submarines and destroying them. The presence of powerful anti-ship weapons and an air defense system ensured that the new ships performed the following tasks:
- protection of maritime communications;
- anti-submarine warfare and long-range patrol;
- carrying out attacks on coastal targets;
- support of ground forces during landing operations.
Being part of the operational formations of the fleet, frigates of Project 11540 were supposed to provide protection of the marching order from attacks by ships and submarines of a potential enemy.
Design features of SKR project 1540
The patrol ship, created by Soviet shipbuilders at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, became a logical continuation of the Project 1135 TFR, which successfully carried out combat service in various naval theaters. The new ship was supposed to become a universal combat vessel, capable of simultaneously performing security and attack functions. The main design feature of the new ship is the use of materials with a weak reflective surface in the construction of the ship.
The first Yastreb-class ship in a series of three ships was laid down in 1987.
For reference: it was originally planned that ships of this type would become the most popular in the Soviet Navy. Plans called for the construction of 70 ships over 10 years. For this purpose, the capacities of the country's 7 shipbuilding enterprises should be used.
The ship received serial number 401 and a year later, in May 1988, it was launched. Over the next two years, the ship was completed, including the installation of weapons elements and equipping the ship with main components and assemblies. In December 1990, the new patrol vessel entered service. The ship's combat service under the name Neustrashimy in the Baltic Fleet began in the spring of 1991.
The second ship of the series with serial number 402 under the name “Unapproachable” never managed to enter service on time. Laid down in 1988, it was launched in 1990, but due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, further construction and fine-tuning of the ship was delayed for as long as 19 years. Only in 2009 was the construction finally completed, and the ship entered service with the Baltic Fleet, receiving the sonorous name Yaroslav the Wise.
The third ship, which was named “Fog,” was laid down already in 1993, but insufficient funding for construction led to the fact that the ship was never completed. In 2019, it was decided to dispose of the unfinished hull of the vessel.
The new ships of the Yastreb type were distinguished by increased displacement. In accordance with the design documentation, the frigate was supposed to have a nominal displacement of 3.5 thousand tons. The Neustrashimy SKR, launched in 1990, had a waterline length of 117 m and a width of 14 m. In terms of displacement, the ship corresponded to the parameters of Project 1135 patrol boats. The cost of building the new frigate amounted to 80 million rubles (1988 prices).
For the first time in the Soviet fleet, new technologies were used on the ship, which were aimed at reducing the noise level of operating propellers and increasing the seaworthiness of the ship. Even at the design stage, changes were made to the project regarding the power plant, the types and quantity of the ship's weapons, and the layout of the main units. The main changes made to the project led to the creation of ships of modification 11541 of the “Corsair” type, designed as an export version.
Ship hull and propulsion system
The hull of the lead ship had 12 compartments and an elongated forecastle, and was made of steel. The hull design has a bulb on the nose, which houses a sonar station. An innovation can be considered pitch dampers and additional keels installed on the side cheekbones. The ship was equipped with the necessary devices and devices for refueling and receiving cargo from support vessels directly at sea.
The hull design was created in such a way that when three adjacent compartments were flooded, the ship retained its buoyancy and stability.
The characteristic distinctive external features of the Hawk-class ships were two masts and two chimneys. The main control units and life support units were concentrated in four separate citadels. The upper superstructures of the ship, as mentioned earlier, had a special angle of inclination of 8-100, which noticeably reduced the reflectivity of the ship under the influence of radar waves.
All patrol boats were planned to be equipped with four gas turbine engines. Two propulsion units of the M-70 design provided the patrol ships with marching speed, while two other engines of the M-90 type could ensure the movement of the ship at full speed. The main power plant was divided into two groups independent from each other. The main engines were located closer to the bow of the patrol boat. More powerful, high-speed engines were placed closer to the stern of the ship. This arrangement of the propulsion group significantly increased the survivability of the ship, ensuring it could move even with critical damage. The power of the main engines was 37 thousand hp. With the afterburner engines turned on, the total power of the power plant reached 55-57 thousand hp.
The operation of the power plant provided the ship with economical speed at a speed of 18 knots. With the afterburner group operating, the ship could reach a maximum speed of up to 31 knots. Moving at an economical speed, the new patrol ship had a cruising range of 3.5 thousand miles. The ship could continuously remain at sea for up to 30 days. According to the combat schedule, the ship's crew consisted of 214 sailors and officers.
Armament of Project 11540 patrol ships
Initially, Project 11540 ships were planned to be armed only with anti-submarine and artillery weapons. The first ship of the series, the frigate Neustrashimy, was armed only with mine and artillery weapons, mainly designed to combat enemy submarines. The Vodopad anti-submarine missile system was a system capable of firing both torpedoes and anti-submarine missiles at a range of up to 120 km. Anti-submarine warfare was to be carried out using the RBU-6000 "Smerch-2", a multi-barrel rocket launcher.
As an auxiliary weapon, a 100 AK-100 semi-automatic artillery gun was installed on the main deck in the forecastle area. To conduct long-range reconnaissance, the Yastreb-class ships included an aviation group, which consisted of a Ka-27 helicopter.
Subsequently, trying to increase the combat capabilities of the patrol ships and trying to turn them into universal warships, the High Naval Command demanded that the ships' armament be strengthened. The second ship of the Yaroslav the Mudry series, which entered service in 2009, was armed with the Uran anti-ship missile system. The frigate now has the opportunity to successfully resist a superior enemy at sea.
Missile containers were installed in the middle part of the hull. This required increasing the length of the ship's hull. All other armament of the ship remained the same. The capabilities of the ship's radar equipment and communications equipment have increased.
Modern life of Project 11540 patrolmen
Under current conditions, Yastreb-class patrol ships are an isolated case. Instead of mass production, the fleet saw only two completed ships. The first-born of the TFR series “Neustrashimiy” is currently undergoing repairs. Commissioning is scheduled for late 2019 or early 2019.
The second ship of the SKR 727 series, Yaroslav the Wise, is part of the Baltic Fleet and is at combat duty.
The subsequent construction of ships of the "Yastreb" type was considered inappropriate due to the emergence of new technical and innovative trends in the development of the fleet. Today, the emphasis is on the construction of another class of ships - corvettes. The new vessels are smaller in size, but due to their technical equipment and the perfection of navigation equipment, they are designed to solve a wider range of combat missions.
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