Tango with helicopter carriers
“A ship similar to a helicopter carrier.” Yes, the Russian language is great and powerful, especially in the performance of officials who are obviously far from military industry and technology.
What analogues can be? For a long time I turned around in my head like this: “a ship similar to an aircraft carrier”? Battleship? The submarine?
Ryazantsev seems to be hinting that this is some OTHER ship. It seems like with the same functions, but not a helicopter carrier. I hope this is not PLARK.
But, as was further stated, the creation of the UDC for the Navy was included in the state armament program, and work is being carried out as planned.
Let's recall a little. This is sometimes useful and brings peculiar results.
In the 90-ies of the last century, our fleet was waiting for the ships of the 11780 project. This is the so-called UDC “Kherson”, or “Ivan Tarava”, as it was designed as an analogue of the American UDC like “Tarava”.
According to the project, the ship could transfer up to 1 marines and up to 000 units of heavy equipment, for example, tanks. In addition, there was an air group of 30 helicopters for various purposes, on board there were 4 project 1176 landing craft or 2 project 1206 hovercraft.
In terms of its characteristics, the UDK of the 11780 project was similar to the UDK “Tarava” or the UDK “America”, but our project was superior to American ships at maximum speed - 30 knots against 22, but inferior in range - 8 000 against 9 500 miles.
And, perhaps, the weapons were stronger at Kherson: the twin artillery mount AK-130 and medium-range air defense systems (Daggers and Daggers), which theoretically increased its potential to support the landing. “Tarava” at best could brush aside enemy helicopters; there was no talk of supporting the landing from the ship at all.
And let’s remember one more figure: the displacement of Kherson was planned in the area of 25 000 tons.
Year 2017. Just in time for one large-scale event in the military life of the country, information appeared that the United Shipbuilding Corporation will build two ships according to the design of UDC “Priboy”. The contract value was estimated at 40 billion rubles.
But the construction of UDC "Priboy" was originally laid down in the armament program until 2020 (GPV-2020), and then transferred to GPV-2027.
According to the characteristics, “Surf” looks weaker than “Kherson”. Displacement is about 24 000 tons, but takes on board up to 500 paratroopers and up to 50 units of military equipment. And all this can carry a distance of 5 000 miles with a maximum speed of 22 knots.
With arming order, there is an 100-mm gun mount A-190, 3 ZRAK "Broadsword" and 2 ZRAK "Armor-M". And a group of 16 helicopters.
In general, something is still not working out, and the conceptual Surf remains a project for now.
And here is the thunder: the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov and Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov talked about the fact that helicopter carriers would still be built.
The question is where and which.
On September 11 it became known that the first two Russian UDCs will be laid at the Zaliv shipyard in Kerch in May 2020.
The Gulf. Kerch. It’s strange.
This is strange why: although the plant once built huge vessels (tankers of the Crimea series in 150 000 tons), and warships, all this was a long time ago. Today, of course, it is not realistic to build such monsters; the plant is more focused on vessels of lesser displacement.
And here are the numbers for UDC: displacement up to 15 000 tons. The landing group is up to 200 people, up to 20 units of equipment, 10-12 helicopters in the wing. Dock camera on 2-3 boats. So far, there is no information on their own weapons, apparently, it was not even a project, but some kind of TK.
Have you noticed a sharp decrease in displacement and the amount of transported? And I noticed.
And (perhaps some readers will be very surprised right now) this cannot but rejoice.
The question immediately arises: why?
The answer is simple: because for "Kherson" or "Surf" we really do not have any combat missions. Absolutely none!
If we proceed from the tactics of UDC, then, since we do not plan to land on the US coast or in Europe ... Well, in Europe it’s definitely easier in the old fashioned way, by dry route. Remain islands in the Pacific and adjacent seas.
Is there a mistraloid truncheon there, given the size of the islands? According to unverified information, these UDCs are again being prepared for the Pacific Fleet, so ... So, it all fits together. And any landing operation in the region that in the Sea of Okhotsk and in the Bering Sea is more convenient to carry out with such ships.
Certain logic can be traced. All that remains is to wait and observe the process if it begins.
But we certainly do not need a thirty-four-ton UDC like the same Mistral in the Baltic or the Pacific Ocean. But twice as small, but more mobile UDC - why not?
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