The largest warship in the history of mankind. Top largest ships in the world
At different times, these giants terrified the enemy. But the world will remember them not only as a formidable weapon of war. The names of the largest warships of their time are forever inscribed in golden letters in world history.
7. Nuclear cruiser project 1144 "Orlan"
country Russia
length: 250 m
width: 28.5 m
displacement: 25,860 tons (full)
crew: 1035 people
"Peter the Great" - this is the proud name of the only heavy nuclear missile cruiser of project 1144 "Orlan" to date (four such ships were built in total). Project 1144 is iconic in every sense. Now "Peter the Great" is the largest warship in the world, not counting aircraft carriers. But the cruiser is famous not only for its size. In open combat, it outperforms any non-aircraft carrier. P-700 Granit cruise missiles with a range of up to 625 km pose a threat even to aircraft carriers (although, to be honest, the ship itself is a convenient target due to its size). Soon, Peter the Great may receive new Zircon hypersonic missiles, thus becoming even more dangerous.
"Peter the Great"
6. Universal landing ships of the type "America"
Country: USA
length: 257.3 m
width: 32.3 m
displacement: 45,700 tons (gross)
crew: 1059 crew members + troops
Universal landing ships, as you might guess, were created for landing operations. But the Americans have thoroughly expanded this definition. The new UDC of the "America" type is, in fact, a mini-aircraft carrier that is capable of carrying a solid aviation group of 22 fifth-generation F-35B fighters. These aircraft will take off from the deck using a short takeoff run and land vertically. But there are other configurations: the UDC can carry many V-22 convertiplanes, which can deliver troops by air much faster than conventional helicopters. The lead ship of the USS America (LHA 6) series was commissioned into the US fleet in 2014, and in total the Americans want to get twelve such ships. In the future, they will replace the UDC of the Wasp type.
UDC type "America"
5. Wasp-class amphibious assault ships
Country: USA
length: 257.30 m
width: 42.67 m
displacement: 40,532 tons (gross)
crew: 1147 crew members + troops
Until the advent of "America", ships of the "Wasp" type had no competitors in size among the UDC. They were created specifically to ensure transportation by sea and landing on an unequipped coast of an expeditionary battalion of marines, the number of which can reach almost 1900 people. Support for the paratroopers can be provided by AV-8B Harrier II vertical takeoff and landing combat aircraft (their number can reach 20). The Marines also have AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters at their disposal. In the aft part of the Wasp there is a large room where equipment used for landing operations can be located. In total, the US Navy received eight such ships.
UDC type "Uosp"
4. Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers
country: Brazil
length: 265.0 m
width: 51.2 m
displacement: 32,780 tons (full)
crew: 1338 people
In fact, aircraft carriers of the Clemenceau type were created not in Brazil, but in France, and back in the 50s. After the advent of the much more modern Charles de Gaulle, they were removed from service, and one of the ships was transferred to the Brazilian Navy, where it continues to serve to this day. In Brazil, the ship was named "São Paulo". Even today, it remains a fairly formidable combat unit that can carry up to 40 aircraft, including fifteen French Super Étendard carrier-based attack aircraft.
3. Aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle"
country: France
length: 261.5 m
width: 64.36 m
displacement: 42,000 tons (gross)
crew: 1200 people
This is the only nuclear aircraft carrier of the French Navy: the authorities wanted to lay down another one, but this idea was abandoned, given the huge cost of a warship. In any case, we have before us the largest European aircraft carrier. The basis of the power of this ship is the 4++ Rafale M generation fighters. In total, it can carry up to 40 aircraft. In terms of its combat potential, Charles de Gaulle loses to American aircraft carriers (they are larger in size and can carry a greater number of winged vehicles). However, the "Charles de Gaulle" also proved its combat capability more than once, in particular during the operation in Syria. British aircraft carriers of the Queen Elizabeth class will soon replace the Charles de Gaulle: when they are put into operation, they will become the largest warships in Europe.
Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle
2. Aircraft-carrying cruisers of project 1143
(characteristics correspond to TAVKR "Admiral Kuznetsov")
country Russia
length: 306.45 m
width: 71.96 m
displacement: 59,100 tons (full)
crew: 1980 people
Let's clarify: under the definition of "project 1143" there are several subtypes of aircraft carriers. Four of them ("Kyiv", "Minsk", "Novorossiysk", "Baku") could use Yak-38 vertical takeoff and landing attack aircraft. Later, on the basis of project 1143, the ship of project 1143.5 "Admiral Kuznetsov" was built, as well as two more aircraft-carrying cruisers ("Varyag" and "Ulyanovsk"), which received an expanded take-off deck and the ability to use aircraft with conventional takeoff and landing, such as the Su- 33. The fate of all these ships was different. "Admiral Kuznetsov" became the only Russian aircraft carrier. But the Varyag turned into the Chinese Liaoning. The ship "Baku" was modernized and joined the ranks of the Indian Navy under the name "Vikramaditya". "Ulyanovsk" was never completed, although conceptually it was the most advanced of the entire series: it had a steam catapult and, in theory, could use AWACS aircraft.
TAVKR "Admiral Kuznetsov"
1. Nimitz-class aircraft carriers
Country: USA
length: 332.8 m
width: 78.4 m
displacement: 106,300 tons
crew: 5680 people
Finally, the well-deserved first place in our rating went to the American giant Nimitz, the largest and most powerful warship of all that are currently in operation. It can accommodate almost 90 aircraft on board! For comparison, "Admiral Kuznetsov" can carry no more than 50 aircraft. The Nimitz air group includes F / A-18 fighters, EA-6B electronic warfare aircraft, E-2C early warning aircraft and other aircraft. The Americans commissioned ten such ships: they were actively used, in particular, during the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. But the Nimitz is not eternal, and soon this type of ship will be replaced by other aircraft carriers of the Gerald R. Ford type. They will be just as huge, and in addition, they will be able to carry fifth-generation F-35C fighters. In general, Ford will become more economical than its "big brother" while maintaining high combat capabilities.
Nimitz-class aircraft carriers
One of the main indicators of the military power of the state, as well as its influence and wealth, is the navy. Each country that has a navy strives to take a leading position in this area, and to surpass its opponents in this respect. Two of the well-known leaders - the United States and Russia, are armed with the largest ships in the world, which are presented in this rating.
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10. Izumo
A country: Japan
Displacement: 19500 tons (standard)
Our list opens with a squadron destroyer of the type " Izumo", which was created to detect and destroy submarines and other objects.
The main Japanese helicopter carrier began operating in 2015. The length of the destroyer is 248 meters, the allowable number of people on board is about 1000. The ship is capable of carrying twenty helicopters. Izumo is one of the largest ships built by the Japanese.
In the near future (2017), another Kaga helicopter carrier is expected to be commissioned.
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9. Nuclear cruiser "Peter the Great"
A country: Russia
Displacement: 23750 tons (standard)
The most powerful maritime power - Russia has created four nuclear-powered cruisers of the project 1144 - Orlan. The main cruiser currently in service with the Russian Federation was the cruiser " Peter the Great“, the length of which is 251 meters. Three other cruisers are currently under reconstruction ("Admiral Lazarev", "Admiral Nakhimov" and "Admiral Ushakov").
The main combat mission of "Peter" is the destruction of enemy aircraft carriers. The number of military on the flagship is 1035 people. The flagship is armed with six hundred combat missiles and a large number of other ammunition. And the heart of the cruiser is 2 nuclear reactors of the KN-3 type, producing 300 MW each. The cruiser has two turbines of 70,000 hp each. each, 4 power plants, 4 steam turbine generators and 4 gas turbine generators.
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8. Landing ships of the "UOSP" type
A country: USA
Displacement: 28233 tons (standard)
These landing ships were created for the landing of American troops directly on enemy territory. In total, eight ships of this type were built, and they have been operating since 1989 to the present.
The length of the UOSP is 257 meters. This ship is capable of carrying about 2,000 naval personnel and about 40 aircraft with military air specifics.
In 1945, after the expulsion of the Japanese colonialists, the Koreans lived poorer than the natives of New Guinea. There was not a single person with a higher education in Seoul, and the American interim authorities could not find a Korean who could drive a tram. The outbreak of fratricidal war finally turned the south of the Korean Peninsula into a region of total chaos and devastation. The country was tormented by an acute energy crisis - all hydroelectric power stations remained on the territory of the DPRK. By the end of the 1950s, a third of the country's able-bodied population had no job, and per capita GDP was $79, less than in Africa and Latin America.
Now, looking at the shining skyscrapers of Seoul, it is hard to believe that half a century ago everything was different here. The remote outskirts of the world has become the world's leading exporter of marine and automotive equipment, electronics and consumer goods.
Shipbuilding is considered one of the locomotives of the South Korean industry. For example, Hyundai is known in the world not only as a manufacturer of cheap cars, but also as a leader in large-tonnage shipbuilding - ocean-going container ships, supertankers, ferries ... In total, Hyundai Heavy Industries accounts for 17% of the total world shipbuilding and 30% of marine engine production!
Koreans do not sit still and aggressively conquer new markets, absorbing their competitors. It is no secret that the Russian Mistral is de facto built by the South Korean corporation STX, which owns the shipyard in Saint-Nazaire.
The inhabitants of the Korean Peninsula provide a good half of the world with marine technology. At the same time, they never forget about their own interests: the navy of the Republic of Korea is the fourth most powerful in the Asia-Pacific region. "Advanced" technologies have been chosen as the key vector of development - without prejudice to the size of the ship's composition. The fleet is powerful, modern and numerous. Unlike the Japanese, who adhere to a strictly defensive concept of the development of their navy, South Korean sailors are actively experimenting with sea-based cruise missiles. Work is underway in the field of creating anti-ship missiles and anti-submarine missile torpedoes, a vertical launch installation of its own design and an analogue of the Tomahawk (SLCM Hyunmoo-IIIC) have been adopted.
The efforts of the Koreans were generously rewarded - in 2008, a ship considered the most heavily armed ship in the world was adopted by the South Korean Navy.
Sejong the Great (DDG-991). Project Korean Destroyer eXperimental-III (KDX-III)
Of course, from a strategic point of view, the destroyer "Sejong the Great" must be compared with the ships of the DPRK - the main geopolitical enemy of South Korea. For obvious reasons, it is difficult to make such a comparison. The South Korean super destroyer categorically does not look like wooden feluccas and patrol boats built in the 60s.
In terms of the number of missiles installed on it, the Sejong the Great makes sense to compare with another sea monster - the nuclear cruiser Peter the Great (both ships undoubtedly deserve the prefix "great").
144 missiles for various purposes against 124 missiles "Peter" (not counting the self-defense air defense systems - "Dagger", "Kortik", RIM-116). If we take into account all short-range anti-aircraft missiles, then the ratio will be 165 missiles from the "Korean" against 444 missiles of our cruiser.
Of course, comparing ships in terms of the number of missiles looks like a curiosity. How can the 7-ton P-700 "Granit" and the subsonic anti-ship missile Hae Sung, which has 10 times less launch weight, be put in one row?
However, the ammunition capacity of the South Korean ship is a third larger than the b / c of any American or Japanese Aegis destroyer. And in terms of the number of long-range anti-aircraft missiles, anti-submarine missile torpedoes, anti-ship missiles and SLCMs, Sejong the Great leaves behind even the Russian super cruiser. In fact, according to this indicator, it has no equal in the world (before the modernized TARKR "Admiral Nakhimov" entered service).
Unlike the Russian ship, the Sejong the Great is capable of carrying precision-guided strikes against targets deep in the coast. The second advantage of the Sejon is that, like any Aegis destroyer, it is equipped with a powerful AN / SPY-1 radar (the most modern modification of “D”), ideal for controlling airspace at long distances, incl. at atmospheric altitudes. However, unlike the Japanese Navy, the Koreans do not yet plan to equip their destroyers with SM-3 space interceptor missiles.
In general, the capabilities of the Aegis destroyers' air defense system are noticeably exaggerated. The universal AN / SPY-1 radar and low antenna arrays are an unrecoverable drawback of all Orly Burks and their Japanese and South Korean clones. The radar, as it turned out, is not at all “universal” and does not distinguish low-flying missiles well.
Fire control systems are no less doubtful - Sejon is equipped with a standard set of three AN / SPG-62 illumination radars with mechanical scanning in azimuth and elevation. The system is reliable, but 30 years have passed since its inception. Much more advanced SLAs appeared on many fleets based on radars with phased arrays and active radars for anti-aircraft missiles. Only the Yankees and their allies continue to "twist the old hurdy-gurdy."
In addition to standard radars, the Sejon detection system includes the French Sagem IRST infrared detection system.
Anti-aircraft ammunition "Sejon" consists of 80 long-range missiles SM-2MR Block IIIB made in the USA. A comparison of these ammunition with the Petra anti-aircraft missiles gives the following result: the SM-2MR is superior in firing range to the S-300F and approximately corresponds to the S-300FM in this parameter. The American rocket is more compact and has half the mass, as a result - its flight speed is almost half that of the domestic 46H6E2 rocket, in addition, the SM-2MR is equipped with a warhead of a smaller mass. At the same time, the SM-2MR Block IIIB, in addition to the conventional RLGSN, has an active guidance mode in the IR range (the mode is designed to fire stealth and other targets with low EPR).
Of the other anti-aircraft weapons on board the Sejon, there is a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile self-defense air defense system - a 21-charge launcher on a moving carriage, in the bow of the superstructure. Technically, RAM missiles are Sidewinder short-range aviation missiles with infrared seekers from Stinger MANPADS. Max. launch range - 10,000 meters. It is curious that the Sejon was the first of the Aegis destroyers to be armed with such a system.
The stern corners are covered by another self-defense system - the seven-barreled automatic gun "Goalkeeper". Thanks to high-quality drives and fire controls, high rate of fire and the power of 30 mm shells, the Dutch Goalkeeper is considered one of the best systems for this purpose.
Structurally, "Sejong" is an enlarged "Berk" series IIA with enhanced ammunition and enhanced combat capabilities. The South Korean destroyer is 10 meters longer and a meter wider than its American "progenitor". The total displacement of the Sejon has reached 11 thousand tons and corresponds to the / and missile cruiser "Moskva"!
Appearance with stealth technology elements, layout, weapons and power plant as part of four LM2500 gas turbines - Sejon inherited most of the features of a typical Aegis destroyer. With all its undoubted advantages and disadvantages.
The displacement reserve was rationally spent on increasing the ammunition and fuel supply on board: the cruising range of the Sejon at a cruising, 20-knot nodal course increased by 600 miles (5500 miles versus 4890 for the most modern Berks).
Of particular interest are below-deck vertical launch units (UVP/VLS). Compared to the original design, the nose section of the UVP was increased from 32 to 48 Mk.41 cells. The aft launch missile system has also undergone major changes - the number of Mk.41 cells has been reduced to 32 units. Instead, a little further aft, there were 48 K-VLS UVP cells of our own Korean production. Thus, the total number of UVP cells on the missile destroyer reached 128 units.
Ammunition is placed as follows: according to open sources, all 80 original Mk.41s are used to store and launch SM-2MR anti-aircraft missiles. In the cells of the Korean K-VLS, 32 Hyunmoo IIIC cruise missiles and 16 Red Shark anti-submarine missiles (also known as K-ASROC) “stretched into the front”.
The "Red Shark" is a typical PLUR with an anti-submarine torpedo as a warhead. The main difference from the American ASROC-VL is a small-sized torpedo: instead of the Mk.50, a 324 mm torpedo of its own design K745 "Blue Shark" is used.
SLCM Hyunmoo IIIC - an analogue of the Tomahawk. According to the statement of the Koreans, the missile is capable of launching at a distance of 1000-1500 km. It is equipped with a 500-kg warhead, but, unlike the Ax, it is capable of reaching supersonic (1.2M). March flight altitude - 50 ... 100 m Guidance - INS and GPS.
Launch of the Hyunmoo SLCM from one of the Republic of Korea Navy ships
Also, the armament of the Korean destroyer includes:
16 SSM-700K Hae Sung anti-ship missiles. Small-sized subsonic anti-ship missiles, another "national" clone of the American Harpoon. The missiles are placed in quadruple launchers in the middle part of the ship;
127 mm universal gun Mk.45 (the latest Mod.4 modification with a barrel length of 62 calibers);
Two anti-submarine systems with small-sized Blue Shark torpedoes (six in total);
Helipad, hangar for two helicopters - British Super Links or Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk are used.
Epilogue
The phenomenon of the transformation of a backward agrarian country into one of the world's leading economies has been called the "Miracle on the Hangang River." Another fact will sound no less surprising: in the period from 2007 to 2012, the Koreans managed to build three super destroyers!
Sejong the Great (DDG-991) and Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong (DDG-993) were built at the facilities of Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Yulgok Yi I (DDG-992) was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering.
In the near future, the Koreans plan to build six more Aegis destroyers under the KDX-IIA project. Unlike the large "Sejon", the new ships will have a total displacement of 5500 ... 7500 tons and will be focused on combat operations in the coastal zone. The transfer of the ships to the fleet will take place in the period 2019 - 2026.
The navy of each state is an indicator of its wealth, power and authority. Since the Second World War, an arms race has begun that has not ended to this day. Almost every maritime power is trying to outdo its rival. The emerging two leaders Russia and the United States do not give up their positions. They own the largest warships in the world. The rating includes 10 positions, taking into account the length of vessels of various types.
10. Destroyers-helicopter carriers of the Izumo type open the top ten largest warships. They are designed to track down submarines and destroy them. The lead Japanese destroyer Izumo entered service in 2015. Another Kaga helicopter carrier is on the way, which will be put into service in 2017. The length of the first warship is 248 m, and the crew capacity is about 1000 soldiers. The Japanese is able to transport up to two dozen helicopters. This is the largest warship built by Japan.
9. Project 1144 Orlan cruisers are four heavy nuclear missile cruisers belonging to the Russian Navy. Three of them are currently under modernization ("Admiral Ushakov", "Admiral Lazarev", "Admiral Nakhimov"). The Russian fleet is armed with the cruiser Pyotr Veliky, whose length reaches 251 m. The main purpose of the flagship is to destroy enemy aircraft carrier objects. It has several hundred combat missiles and many other ammunition in stock. The crew capacity is 1035 people.
8. Universal amphibious assault ships of the Wasp type are designed for the landing of US Navy troops on foreign territory. In total, eight vessels of this type were built, which are in service from 1989 to the present day. The length of the universal ship reaches 257 m. It is capable of transporting up to 40 military aircraft, and is intended for more than two thousand crew members.
7. The amphibious assault ships of the "Amerika" type are intended for the gradual replacement of military vessels of the "Wasp" type. The mission of the ships remains the same: to ensure the landing of troops along with military equipment on the unequipped coasts of the enemy. At present, the lead ship "America" has been put into service and another one has been built. According to the project of aircraft carriers of this type, 11 more ships are planned. The length of the head "landing" is just over 257 m. The military vessel is designed for approximately 3,000 military crews. The America is designed to carry larger military equipment than the Wasp and other aircraft carriers of the same size. Warships of this type are among the largest universal ships.
6. "Charles de Gaulle" - the first nuclear-powered ship and aircraft carrier of the French Navy, which replaced the "Clemenceau". The length of the flagship reaches 261 m, it is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft structures. Crew capacity on board is 1900 people. The ship has been in use since 2001 and takes part in military exercises and conflicts. This is the only aircraft carrier and the largest warship in France.
5. French aircraft carriers of the Clemenceau type were considered one of the most powerful warships in France. Two such vessels were built: Clemenceau and Foch. The first was withdrawn from service with the French Navy, and the second was sold to Brazil at the beginning of this century. Now the ship is called "Sao Paulo" and is in service with the Brazilian Navy. The aircraft carrier is capable of accommodating 39 aircraft on deck. Its length is 265 m. The ship can accommodate more than 1300 crew members.
4. "Krechet" - a project of 1143 aircraft-carrying cruisers. Only four aircraft carriers of this type were created: "Kyiv", "Minsk", "Novorossiysk", "Baku". The last of the series, "Baku" has the largest length, which is almost 274 m. This vessel completely passed into the possession of India in 2004, and was renamed "Vikramaditya". The modernized combat aircraft carrier is currently part of the Indian Navy. At its site, it is capable of transporting up to 36 aircraft and 1,300 crew members. Vikramaditya is one of the largest warships.
3. "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" is one of the largest domestic warships at the present time. It is designed to protect maritime borders from possible attacks from other countries and is capable of hitting large surface targets. The length of the vessel is about 306 m. It is part of the Northern Fleet and has been in use since 1991 to the present day. Kuznetsov is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft and can accommodate up to 2,000 people. This is the first and only large aircraft carrier in our country.
2. Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are the largest warships in service with the United States. The type of American aircraft carriers is designed to destroy large surface targets and provide air defense. The military giant is capable of carrying 90 aircraft at a time, which is many times the capacity of other aircraft carriers. The maximum length of the huge vessel is more than 332 m, it can accommodate up to 3200 people on one ship alone, not counting the air wing. The mass of combat stocks on board is about two tons. There are ten Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in total. The cost of one "Nimitz" is about four and a half billion dollars. The first lead ship "Nimitz", which was named after the type of aircraft carriers, was released in the 70s of the last century. For all the time in operation, the ships took part in the wars that took place in Yugoslavia, Iraq, etc. The series includes ships: Nimitz (1975); "Eisenhower" (1977); "Vinson" (1982); Roosevelt (1986); "Lincoln" (1989); "Washington" (1992); "Stennis" (1995); Truman (1998); Reagan (2003); "Bush" (2009). The service life of each of these vessels is 50 years.
1. The aircraft carrier Enterprise is one of the largest warships in the world. Its length is 342 m. According to the project, 5 more aircraft carriers of this type were planned. But due to the large financial costs that went to the first ship, the project was suspended. The ship was in service with the US Navy from 1961 to 2012. The ship's ammunition reached two and a half thousand tons. The area of the giant ship was able to accommodate 90 helicopters and planes on its site, as well as up to 5,000 crew members. The warship participated in many military conflicts and went to sea twenty-five times. Currently, work is underway to dismantle the aircraft carrier. It will be replaced by the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, whose length will be 337 m. Its construction was completed in 2013. Commissioning is planned for 2016.
The world's largest warship was designed in Russia. This reconnaissance vessel was called "Ural".
The unique development has become a real floating disaster for the domestic fleet. And it all started with a number. Surprisingly, the 1941 option was chosen from hundreds of combinations. It is not even worth explaining what associations these numbers evoke in millions of people. It’s mystic or not, but the Ural project, on which more than one billion Soviet rubles were spent, in the end did not bring any benefit.
What was he for?
To understand the purpose for which the Soviet designers created the world's largest warship, let's turn our eyes to the South Pacific. It is there that the top-secret American test site is located, where the intercontinental type MX and Miniman land, starting from California for testing. Since 1983, this place has also played the role of one of the US research centers implementing the strategic defense initiative. The idea of its creation belongs to Ronald Reagan, who planned to disarm. Soon, missiles began to be launched from this test site, the purpose of which was to intercept and destroy Soviet nuclear warheads. Telemetric data from such tests could shed light on Reagan's intrigues, but how could they be obtained? Civilian ships like the Academician Korolyov or the Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin were not suitable for reconnaissance purposes. Although these ships were equipped with special monitoring and measuring systems for monitoring space objects, they could not obtain intelligence about what was happening at the Kwajalein base described above.
The main reason was that they did not have functioning radars and only received signals sent by domestic satellites. That is why the idea arose to build a powerful warship capable of capturing all available information about any subspace object on any part of the trajectory in all areas of the World Ocean. So there was a project numbered 1941 - "Titan". It was developed on the basis of the Leningrad Design Bureau under the name "Iceberg", and the ship was built at the Ordzhonikidze Baltic Shipyard.
Painstaking work
In order to create the world's largest warship, equipped with the latest technology, powerful electronics were needed, otherwise collecting a huge amount of information on test launches of American missiles was not possible. Eighteen ministries worked on the creation of the equipment necessary for the Ural, with the active participation of their own design bureaus and research institutes. To equip the ship with equipment, specialists from the Leningrad Production and Technical Enterprise created for this purpose were involved.
Labor results
The world's largest warship was equipped with a powerful Coral surveillance system. It was based on seven highly efficient radio-electronic systems. The information was processed by computers unique for those times. They made it possible to decipher the characteristics of any space objects at a distance of up to one and a half thousand kilometers. According to the creators, the Ural crew had the opportunity to determine the secret fuel components by the composition of the exhaust gases of moving objects. In addition, the largest Russian warship had outstanding defensive performance. So, it was equipped with artillery that approximately corresponded to the armament of the destroyer. The ammunition was enough for at least twenty minutes of continuous combat. At the stern there was an aviation hangar, in which the Ka-32 helicopter was waiting in the wings.
The crew of the combat vehicle
To manage the Ural, a team of a thousand people was needed, of which at least four hundred midshipmen and officers. At the same time, it was supposed to divide the crew of the reconnaissance complex into six services.
The designers also took care of the conditions for the rest of the ship's crew. Thus, the Urals provided for a smoking room, a cinema and a gym, a billiard room, slot machines, a swimming pool and two saunas, as well as a nature salon.
Naturally, to accommodate equipment and everything else, a body of the appropriate size was needed. The design of the project 1144 "Kirov" (nuclear missile cruiser) was taken as a basis. As a result, "Ural" could boast of a length of two football fields and a height from keel to klotik with a twenty-eight-story building!
Big plans
The hopes placed on the Ural by the USSR Ministry of Defense were simply enormous. This is evidenced by the fact that the chief designer of the project, Arkharov, who had nothing to do with military service, after the completion of work was awarded the title of not only Hero of Socialist Labor, but also Rear Admiral.
The Ural was launched in 1983. Six years later, he entered the combat structure of the USSR. In the same year, the ship went to its permanent base in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Everything went well at first. The crew successfully tested all the possibilities of the unique equipment. "Ural" easily found the launching American space shuttle "Columbia", located a thousand kilometers away. From the ship came more and more information about the movements of enemy military equipment. However, it was very difficult to work with constantly failing systems. The situation worsened when the "Ural" arrived in the Pacific - at the place of permanent deployment.
The first campaign of the unique ship turned out to be the last. The mooring wall was not prepared for it, so it was not possible to supply electricity, fuel, or water from the shore. The boilers and diesel generators of the Ural never turned off, reducing the precious motor resource, which was supposed to be spent only during campaigns. We can say that the ship "ate" itself. In addition, in 1990, a fire broke out at the Ural, as a result of which the aft engine room was out of order. For more than a year, the bow machine replenished the power reserves, but then it burned down too. After that, the only sources of power were emergency generators. There were no funds for repairs.
inglorious end
In 1992, the ship's nuclear reactors were shut down. It was placed at a remote pier and turned into a huge officers' dormitory. SSV-33 "Ural" began to be caustically called a cabin carrier, and the abbreviation was deciphered as "special sleeping car."
The current state of affairs
Russian warships fully comply with the classification adopted in the world. Obsolete ships are being replaced by modernized models. The fleet is constantly being improved.
"Admiral Kuznetsov"
The largest military, of course, are represented by the class of aircraft carriers. The pride of the fleet is the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov. Fifty helicopters and aircraft of various types are placed on its seventy-meter-wide decks. The ship's hull is armored. He is able to withstand a direct hit of a charge weighing up to four hundred kilograms.
"Peter the Great"
Russian warships are also joining the ranks of cruisers. Thus, the attack missile ship "Peter the Great" embodies the power of the modern fleet. Its nuclear power plant is designed for fifty years of operation. This is the flagship of the Northern Fleet - a thunderstorm for strike air groups. A speed of thirty-two knots can be maintained indefinitely in a nuclear facility. The autonomous life support of the crew will last for sixty days.
The strike systems of cruise missiles are designed for a range of more than five hundred kilometers. The group guidance system is truly unique: it was built on a multi-variant intelligent control algorithm.
"Varangian"
Modern warships are represented by another powerful cruiser - the Varyag. It is similar to the American missile ships of the Ticonderoga series, but develops greater speed and has impressive firepower.
The newest warships will soon be represented by a class of universal landing craft. Russian specialists plan to launch these new items closer to 2020. In the process of creation, corvettes and frigates are being improved more and more.
The largest warships of the "Guarding" type provide confidence in the forces of the Navy. Russian ships are becoming world leaders in terms of the following indicators: the presence of airborne aircraft, the versatility of the tasks performed, firepower, autonomy, cutting-edge electronics, and excellent driving performance.
Most modern projects are characterized by low cost of creation and operation, which is in line with global trends. According to statistics, at present the number is at least two hundred units. Unfortunately, some ships are physically and morally obsolete, do not meet the latest requirements for naval combat, and need to be modernized or at least repaired. In addition, hydrographic services, marine units and auxiliary vessels require additional funding.
The largest sailing warship
The Santisima Trinidad is a real giant among sailing military vessels. It was launched in Havana back in 1769. He was listed in the Spanish fleet for thirty-five years. The entire hull of the ship was made of very durable and expensive material - Cuban redwood. The thickness of the sides reached sixty centimeters, which made the ship almost unsinkable.
The armament of this sea giant consisted of one hundred and thirty guns of various calibers. After the modernization, there were already one hundred and forty-four most powerful guns on the deck. The crew of the ship included from eight hundred to one thousand two hundred people.
important mission
During the American Revolutionary War, the Santisima Trinidad was tasked with scaring off the ships of British opponents in the English Channel. During the battle near Cape St. Vincent, the ship narrowly escaped English captivity.
final chord
The last battle for Santisima Trinidad was the Battle of Trafalgar. It was the largest sailing battle of the nineteenth century. The described ship played the role of the flagship of the Franco-Spanish forces. The leading English ship was the Victoria. It concentrated all its power on "Santisima-Trinidad" as the most dangerous rival. The ship was simultaneously attacked by eight British battleships. Each of them had at least seventy-two guns, but they did not cope with the assigned task: the Santisima Trinidad remained afloat. was boarded after about four hundred crew members were wounded and about the same number were killed. Two days after the end of the battle, the ship was decided to be flooded. So the unique creation of human hands went into oblivion.
