BDK project 11711: is the mine layer option needed?
Source: Wikipedia.org
The Russian media last week published information that the new Project 11711 large landing craft of the Ivan Gren type could be used as minelayers. The information, I must say, was presented unambiguously, as "be afraid of us, we are out there."
However, here it is worth taking and figuring out whether this is really so.
In fact, the ships of project 11711 of the Ivan Gren type and 11711u of the Vladimir Andreev type may well be used as minelayers. This was originally laid down during the development of the project. Ever since Soviet times, large landing ships had the ability to plant mines through the aft ramp, and project 11711 large landing ships were no exception.
Source: mil.ru
Mina, despite the apparent simplicity of the design, is still relevant as a means of destroying ships, blocking straits and water areas.
There is nothing better than a quiet and almost innocent device on the approaches to, say, a port or harbor. Mines are still difficult to find, you still need to have specialized ships for search and neutralization.
And still, a mine is the easiest and cheapest way to destroy a ship. Here's a look at a snapshot of San Diego Harbor. One of the most famous US Navy bases.
Or Pearl Harbor.
Agree, it is very tempting to slowly throw mines at the exit from the harbor and then wait for the results. Naturally, the Americans also understand the essence of such temptations and regularly conduct mine-finding exercises in their waters.
And what could arrange a minefield set up, say, in the Persian Gulf? If one tanker, running aground, caused a small oil crisis, then what can two or three ships do when half a ton of explosives exploded under their bottoms?
We are simply silent about the narrow straits of the Sulu Sea or the Sulawesi Sea.
In general, the mine is not at all obsolete, despite its long history... It's still fatal to the ship weaponcapable of destroying or fatally damaging a ship of any class.
Mines became more sensitive, acquired "brains", formed several deadly families: magnetic, acoustic, hydrodynamic, induction. Or combining several principles of work at once.
Naturally, minelayers, that is, ships capable of placing mines in any area of the World Ocean, seem to be relevant as well.
The BDK of project 11711 can take on board several hundred sea mines, it is a rather large ship capable of solving such a problem as setting up an obstacle capable of blocking not only a port or a strait, but also a vast area of the sea.
“Can accept” and “can deploy” are still different things, and here's why: the large landing craft “Ivan Gren” is able to take on board a cargo of sea mines from setting off. Where is the question.
At a speed of 16 knots, the Ivan Gren is capable of covering 3500 miles. Is it a lot or a little? We use a calculator. 3500 miles is 6500 km. That is, 3250 km one way without refueling.
If Ivan Gren leaves Murmansk (and Gren and Morgunov are part of the Northern fleet), then 3500 km is in the UK region. Yes, there is where the minelayer can turn around, but the question arises: will he be allowed to do this?
Definitely not.
NATO intelligence will find the ship even when it crawls past the territorial waters of NATO member Norway.
And it is doubtful that the landing ship, confidently going somewhere in the direction of Great Britain, will not arouse suspicion. A landing ship is an amphibious assault ship. And he can go either to where the landings will be practiced or the landing forces will actually land, or ...
Or it is a minelayer disguised as an amphibious assault ship.
Of course, there may be options, but NATO is not stupid either. Therefore, it is doubtful that the Grenoux will be given the opportunity to slowly gurgle mines into the English Channel. The threat is too great that it will work out. And planting mines in the middle of the ocean is nonsense.
"Gren" or "Morgunov", which will be loaded with mines, say, in Kronstadt, will be able to block the Baltic Sea anywhere. But the Baltic, filled with mines, is already such an old story that it’s even unpleasant to remember. In any case, a mine war in the Baltic Sea is leading to the isolation of Russian ships.
And it is doubtful that the combined fleets of Germany, Denmark, Poland and other countries will provide an opportunity for such an operation. Project 11711 is too visible to be able to plant several hundred mines and not get in the field of view of NATO allies. A bit of a wrong time, you must agree.
Orbital satellites, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, more modern radars - all this will play against the BDK in the role of a mine-loader.
And most importantly, in war / conflict conditions, the BDK is an excellent target for anyone, a ship or an attack aircraft. AK-630M-2 "Duet" is, of course, a weapon, but designed to work at the closest distance. Igla-V is also a good MANPADS, but you understand, not for long range.
That is, the patrol aircraft will "lead" the Gren with complete impunity, and the same (for example) frigates "Baden-Württemberg" will launch their "Harpoons". The Duet may or may not knock down the Harpoon.
What is all this for? "Ivan Gren" needs cover. From planes, from ships, submarines, from the same mines. That is, it is no longer a single ship, but a compound. And already there is absolutely no question of disguise.
Total: BDK as a minelayer can only be good when it comes to laying mines in their waters, at a short distance from their bases. Only then can a more or less secretive setting of mines be ensured.
And not secretive is not interesting to anyone. It makes sense to risk the crew and the ship if it immediately becomes clear that Gren is laying mines in the area and to stop it in any way, from a rocket to a torpedo. And the mine setting itself will be uncovered, and its price will be zero.
Placing mines at a distance from bases is not a matter for the project 11711 large landing craft. The fact that some of our media have voiced the possibility of using amphibious ships as mine layers is not a bad thing. The BDK can be used to distract the enemy's attention from real performances.
And the real setting of mines can not be done with the help of surface ships, which yell at the whole ocean that they are laying mines.
Submarines or airplanes are used for hidden mine installations, which are really very dangerous precisely because they are placed secretly.
The mines that the submarine put out of their torpedo tubes are so dangerous that no one knows about their presence in the area. Especially if the boat is not "lit up" anywhere.
An airplane flying at low altitude and dropping mines is also a very, very unpleasant phenomenon. And both methods of laying mines can be much more effective than dropping mines from a surface ship.
The fact that in the functions of the Ivan Gren-class ships there is such an option as setting mines from the stern ramp is not bad. But ships can only use this function in their own waters, under reliable protection. aviation and other ships. Any other attempt to lay mines will be unambiguously stopped by enemy means.
Information