Smoke "Kuznetsova" recalls his "sick heart"
For several days now, Europe and Russia have been discussing the campaign of the only domestic aircraft carrier to the shores of Syria. One of the most noticeable, in the literal and figurative sense, of its features was the thick smoke left by the ship, along which the movement of the Admiral Kuznetsov cruiser can be easily traced even from space. Why does a modern aircraft-carrying cruiser smoke like old ships?
All weekend Russian blogosphere discussed the passage flotilla led by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov through the English Channel, which took place on Friday evening. The most heated debate on the Web was caused by thick smoke - both dark and light in color, which the aircraft carrier emitted in view of the British coast. The press service of the Navy has not yet explained the reasons for this - it is possible that the contingency situation on board.
As she wrote on the eve of "Lenta.ru," many web users laughed at the aircraft carrier. "Users paid attention to the fact that the ship left behind him streams of thick black smoke, and compared it with the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyyafyadlaylyukudl in 2010 year," - said the portal. The blogger Sergey Sigachev wrote the day before how the English Channel was puzzled by this smoke, seeing in this action a violation of the ecological balance of flora and fauna. “Social networks are also in complete panic. And some particularly sensitive English-minded citizens of the Russian Federation even sent a petition to the authoritative portal change.org demanding to change the color of the smoke. The petition will be delivered to the head of the TC-5 TAVKR demanding immediate execution, ”the blogger sneered.
A TV channel "Tsargrad", relying on the opinion of the chief military adviser of the Ministry of Defense, Admiral Ivan Vasilyev, on Monday unveiled a very original version: "The smoke column that stirred many people over Admiral Kuznetsov" is not connected with breakage, but with a tribute to maritime traditions. " The admiral made it clear that the mechanics of the aircraft carrier smoked deliberately - to let the English know about their appearance: "We will assume that these are elements of the tradition understood by the sailors."
What really happened to the Russian aircraft carrier? There is no consensus on this score, but experts agree on some things.
"My heart is contracting"
The chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy in 1992 – 1997 years, Vice Admiral Peter Svyatashov considers a thick column of smoke to be the result of several factors. “There is a possibility of a weak working out of the boiler room of the team, which is only added to after the ship leaves, which has long been at the plant. It has an imprint. There should be no constant smoking. Yes, strong smoke is possible when the ship changes speed, making a maneuver, that is, it can temporarily lift, but not constantly, ”Svyatashov told the newspaper LOOK.
In addition, the vice-admiral did not rule out that, even at the design or manufacturing stage of the ship’s propulsion system, there were flaws that still affect. It is possible, however, that the equipment was not properly adjusted before the trip. “As a result,” the vice-admiral said, “the fuel oil supplied to the combustion chamber does not have time to completely ignite, and the unburned mixture is thrown out by the fans, which causes such strong smoke. And the third factor - the equipment is already outdated. But he shouldn't smoke all the time. My heart is contracting, it should not be so. I served on an older ship, and this was not. It is ugly, ”admitted Svyatashov.
According to the first vice-president of the Academy of geopolitical problems of Captain I rank Konstantin Sivkov, it seems that “the personnel of the ship just made mistakes” in servicing the machine-boiler installation, which resulted in enhanced fuel injection - he could not completely burn. “I don’t think that the smoke is connected with the breakdown of the machinery,” Sivkov told the VIEW newspaper, noting that a long pause in the use of the ship could have affected the appearance of smoke.
As Sivkov put it, “only an idiot can send a ship with a faulty machine-boiler installation on such a long journey.” “Our naval command is reasonable and prudent people. They are well aware that if the ship goes with a faulty installation, then the transition can happen trouble - it will fail. Then towing a ship of such a displacement and with such a sail will be very problematic somewhere. So no, it's not about the installation, ”he said.
"Charles de Gaulle" is already ten years old "
However, Admiral Valentine Selivanov, commander of the Mediterranean squadron, told 12 years ago to the newspaper “Tomorrow”: “The Kuznetsov was built on a kink, in 1989, it was the time of the decline of the Soviet Union. And Kuznetsov, figuratively speaking, had a “bad heart” from birth. From the very beginning, substandard pipes were installed in its boilers. ”
Selivanov recalled how he personally sent a team to the Urals to make tubes there. "Then with a sin in half in sovereign Ukraine in Nikolaev the pipes were bent appropriately. But still they continued to flow. Therefore, we could not bring the boilers to full capacity, - the admiral complained, adding: - During the 1996 campaign, I often had only two boilers, and how many times I stayed on one boiler at all, which is a speed of no more than four knots. With such a speed, the aircraft carrier does not obey the helm, it is blown away by the wind ”.
Fund manager historical research "Foundation", physicist Alexei Anpilogov echoes the commander: "Admiral Nikolai Kuznetsov" - a ship with an unfortunate fate from the very beginning. We can say that Kuzya was literally saved from Ukraine by a miracle, at the last moment, by the efforts of enthusiasts, they overtook the unfinished ship from the quay wall of the shipyard in Nikolaev to its present base near Murmansk. "
“Blue smoke is oil, white is water”
“When I worked with ships, ship mechanics taught me a simple rule of ship smoke classification:“ Blue smoke is oil, white is water, black smoke is fuel, ”the blogger recalls in his LiveJournal. The "old man" was asked to give full speed - the "grandfather" tried. Well, as I could, - suggests Anpilogov. - With smoke and with burning into the atmosphere of a huge amount of excess fuel. But - he gave the necessary move and managed for “Peter the Great”. What is, of course, positive news". Other options for the fate of "Kuzi" could be much worse than his current situation, he believes. "Could catch up near the mooring wall in Nikolaev, like the missile cruiser" Ukraine ".
Anpilogov also believes that the mechanics before the hike did not put in order the GEM (main power plant), or did not repair the GTPA (the main turbo-gear unit) and the boilers in scheduled repair before the hike. “But I am not the Admiral of the Northern Fleet and not the Minister of Defense of Russia. So ask them why the pride of the Russian Navy is still fired from the chimney and there is an emergency fire brigade on the deck, ”summarizes Anpilogov.
“I served at Admiral Kuznetsov.” In 1990, it was also called “Tbilisi” and passed sea trials by the Black Sea. And now he’s going through the English Channel, ”recalls the author of Dozhd TV channel Alex Dubas on Monday on Facebook, admitting that,“ unlike network experts, ”he doesn’t know why there is such smoke over him. “When we had sea trials - this was not, although fire engines stood from the very beginning of the history of the aircraft carrier. Other, of course, cars. But, probably, it should be so according to the staff list. ”
It is noteworthy that the author of a liberal television channel gives an emotional rebuff to all those who mock the aircraft carrier. “Imagine the most uncomfortable house you have lived in for a long time. I do not know what it could be: a boarding school, a barracks, a hospital, a maternity hospital in an urban-type settlement ... But this is your home. Part of you, whatever one may say, your history, your destiny. Imagine, now he is shown on all channels and laughing at him, ”the journalist lists, admitting that he is experiencing conflicting feelings. “They make fotozhaby on him. The haulers are glued to it ... And this can still be understood, but ... when the captain sketches the person with soot. When they publish photos of dirty freaks and sign that they are Russian sailors, warriors ... Suddenly you get hurt. They have something to do with it? ”Dubas rhetorically asks.
“I am writing this for one purpose only. To show respect to the crew: to the captain, pilots, officers, midshipmen and sailors, who in spite of everything, under the laughter of the “enlightened” world, fulfill their military duty, ”concludes Dubas.
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