Invisible in a skirt
Can sea ships fly? For the commander of the only skeletal type catamaran in the world, Dmitry Efremov, this is not a rhetorical question at all. His ship is named after the rapid, very cold and terribly destructive wind of the northern Black Sea coast - "Bora".Just like the wind, it can suddenly appear out of nowhere at speeds inaccessible to any other ship, launch a crushing missile strike with lightning speed and dissolve in the open spaces of the sea just as suddenly. But why is this ship alone?
The catamarans of the skeg type "Sivuch" ("Dergach" in NATO terminology) class is the last word in marine engineering.
These are two hulls united by a common platform with a length of 65 meters and a width of 18, forming the letter “P” - like in ordinary catamarans. But in front and behind they are equipped with a special elastic and very durable rubberized “skirt”. Because of her ship is also called "catamaran in a skirt." If necessary, it falls and rises, increasing or decreasing the speed. With the "skirt" lowered under the bottom of the catamaran, a pair of special fans are forced under air pressure under immense pressure. The ship rises above the wave to a height from 30 to 100 centimeters, thereby reducing the area of contact with water.
Powerful, in 70 thousand horsepower, engines - two gas turbines and six screws, three each
on each case, and one of them is stationary, and two can be lowered and raised on special columns — they give Bor a speed of more than 50 nodes (more than 100 kilometers per hour). This is almost one and a half times higher than that of most modern nuclear cruisers and aircraft carriers capable of reaching 35 nodes at maximum regimes - about 60 kilometers per hour. Hence the comparison of the catamaran with the sea wind.
- Our ship is an operational tool fleet- says the commander of the "Bora" captain 2nd rank Dmitry Efremov. - We are ready for immediate access to the sea. At full speed, we can reach anywhere in the Black Sea in 6-8 hours.
Speed is one of the main tactical advantages of the Bora. Its task, without getting involved in hostilities, is to keep watch at the turn of the attack, beyond the reach of enemy fire and radio equipment. And then suddenly fly up at speed to his strike force at a launch distance, make a knockout volley from the main complex of supersonic cruise missiles from all eight containers at once and immediately leave.
“The ship’s signature coloring, the gray-black pattern of the design perfectly conceals the ship against the coastline,” Efremov said. “So it’s very difficult to visually find us.” Well, then everything is speed.
The swiftness of the "Bora" is emphasized by the ship's wheelhouse. Its design, ergonomics are not "marine" at all, but rather aviation: the commander, helmsman and navigator are sitting in a row in almost “flight seats”, and instead of the usual sea wheel with handles - an aviation helm.
Will take the "Sunstroke"
The fleet of the lead ship of the series "Sivuchey" - "Bora" came in 1990 year. Since then, despite the fact that it has long been accepted into the fleet, it is in trial operation.
“The ship is unique,” says Dmitry Efremov. - All its potential has not yet been revealed. Therefore, we constantly have scientific work. Once a year, the constructor "Bora" comes to us without fail. We ourselves make suggestions for improvement. I firmly believe that the future of modern shipbuilding is behind the ships of similar design.
The captain of the 2 rank argues his views simply - according to the “Bor” weapon set, it is comparable to the 956 destroyer of the “Modern” type project. But on the destroyer 200 man crew, on the "Bor" - only 80. The only difference is the absence of anti-submarine complexes. They were unable to place because of the peculiarities of the movement "Sivuch", when most of the ship's hull is above the water.
“In my opinion, it is also important that I have several power plants,” emphasizes Efremov. - If two of them are damaged, I still save the move. Even on a single air cushion, I can go at the speed of a 4 node. Few. But I will move!
Due to the enormous speed for warships, Boru practically does not pump even on a four-point wave (in general, the ship can also operate during the 8-point storm), which creates quite comfortable conditions for both the crew and for weapons. Speed creates another effect - when moving the ship envelops a cloud of water splashes, because of which it becomes indistinguishable for enemy radar facilities.
On the "Bor" are 8 launchers of the most modern Russian supersonic anti-ship cruise missile 3M-80U "Mosquito". Today it is the only rocket in the world, the speed of which at low altitudes exceeds two maha - 2800 kilometers per hour. Such speeds are not monitored today by any shipborne radar station.
The rocket goes over the sea at altitudes from 3 to 6 meters, making intensive maneuvers both in height and horizon. That is, to find the "Mosquito" is almost impossible. How impossible and avoid meeting him. The enemy will notice the rocket approach only three or four seconds before its direct attack. And this time is negligible in order to make an anti-missile maneuver or to take some other emergency measures of self-defense. "Sunburn" is able to burn through the hull of any ship, followed by an explosion inside it. Such a blow can sink not only a middle class warship, but also a cruiser. And the 15-17 "Mosquito" - even the ship group.
In addition to the shock complex. The Bora carries on itself the Osa-MA anti-aircraft missile system. His system of reconnaissance, detection, capture and tracking of air targets, as well as fire control, due to the almost complete absence of longitudinal and lateral oscillations in firing, works very precisely, ensuring the defeat of any air target, from cruise missiles to enemy aircraft and helicopters. Especially in combination with the AK-630 artillery. Its rate of fire is four thousand rounds per minute. Sailors call it "metal cutter".
“When the second ship of our Samum series came to us in 2002, the Western press wrote that the combat potential of the Black Sea Fleet increased 4 times.” Dmitry Efremov specifies.
Why "Sivuch" does not go to the fleet
According to the results of rocket firing, "Bora" and "Samum" invariably occupy the first places in the Black Sea Fleet. However, the Russian fleet cannot expect new ships of this class. Despite its conceptual novelty and power, “Bora” is the “fleeting day” of the fleet. The ship was created as a weapon to counter the shock groups of foreign fleets. Today the Russian fleet solves completely different tasks - the protection of territorial waters, the fight against maritime piracy. “Bora” and “Samum” are not quite suitable for this - they have a very short margin of autonomy. Therefore, the Black Sea Fleet is waiting for the "ordinary" frigates of the project 1135.
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