Find Soviet aircraft carrier: submarine HMS Swiftsure and cruiser "Kyiv"
Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Kyiv", 1986. Photo by the US Department of Defense
During the years of the Cold War, a potential adversary in the person of the leading NATO countries carefully followed the development of the armed forces of the USSR, incl. naval fleet. When new ships appeared, they tried to study them by all available methods and draw conclusions. The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Kyiv", accepted into the fleet in 1975, was no exception. To study its design and determine its capabilities, the Royal Navy of Great Britain conducted a complex and risky operation.
Subject of interest
At the end of the sixties, the USSR developed a project for the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "1143" or "Krechet". In the middle of 1970, the lead ship of this type, the Kiev, was laid down at the Black Sea Shipyard (Nikolaev). He was launched in the last days of 1972, and at the very end of 1975 he was accepted into the Navy. The following year, the ship arrived in Severomorsk and began service with the Northern Fleet.
The development and construction of the first Soviet heavy aircraft carrier with aircraft on board did not go unnoticed abroad. The probable adversary tried to get any available information about the 1143 project and about the Kyiv under construction. To this end, the United States, Great Britain and other countries used various means and approaches.
So, NATO ships and planes, when a Soviet aircraft carrier entered the sea, tried to follow it and record movements and maneuvers. In addition, when possible, photographs were taken and filmed. All this made it possible to see certain design features, determine approximate characteristics, etc.
Submarine HMS Swiftsure. Photo by Globalsecurity.org
However, some of the most interesting information remained inaccessible. In particular, the potential enemy did not have the opportunity to study the underwater part of the ship, as well as to make high-quality recordings of the noise it made. Such materials would make it possible to draw some conclusions, and would also help in the further development of submarine forces and in the training of sailors.
Underwater operation
The CVMF of Great Britain undertook to solve the new task of reconnaissance and extract important data. An operation plan was worked out with the involvement of one of the newest nuclear submarines. She had to find the Soviet cruiser "Kyiv" in the sea, approach it at a minimum distance and make the necessary records.
The opportunity to conduct such an operation appeared in April 1977. In the middle of the month, ships and aviation The Northern Fleet of the USSR Navy participated in the major exercises "North-77". They had to work out the solution of combat and other tasks, as well as test their interaction skills. Against the backdrop of these events, the British CVMF began its operation.
At the time of the Soviet exercises, the British nuclear submarine HMS Swiftsure (S126) of the same project was in the Barents Sea. In this regard, the crew under the command of Captain John Speller was ordered to find the Soviet TAVKR and collect the necessary data.
Helmsman in the center post of the Swiftshur. Photo by the British Ministry of Defense
It was assumed that "Swiftshur" will cope with such a task. This boat was the head hull of the project of the same name and was laid down in 1969. It was accepted into the combat strength of the KVMF in 1973. The nuclear submarine was intended to patrol in different areas of the oceans and search for ships and submarines of a potential enemy. The Swiftsure project used new technical solutions and modern equipment, which was supposed to increase the efficiency of the search and use of weapons.
A few meters
According to British sources, the crew of the submarine managed to detect a Soviet ship detachment led by the Kiev aircraft carrier. Using all the capabilities of their ship, the British submariners went to the wake of the detachment and began a covert pursuit.
Over the next few hours, HMS Swiftsure (S126) moved behind the ships and gradually closed the gap. At the same time, the submarine had to keep clearly behind the warrant in order to remain in the dead zone of the ship's sonar systems. In addition, the optimal speed was maintained, which made it possible to catch up with the ships, but without causing excessive noise.
As a result, the submariners managed to catch up with the Kyiv TAVKR and find themselves practically under it, and it was possible to start collecting information. However, serious risks arose at this stage. The crew of Swiftsure had to carefully monitor the movement and maneuvers of the cruiser. Due to the minimum distance to the ship, a collision could occur at any moment. A ship with a total displacement of 41 thousand tons could easily fatally damage and sink a nuclear submarine with a displacement of 4,9 thousand tons.
Underwater part of "Kyiv", filmed through the Swiftsure periscope. The picture quality leaves much to be desired. Photo by the British Ministry of Defense / Thedrive.com
However, the problem was solved. The acoustics of the Swiftshur made the necessary noise recordings - in almost ideal conditions, without interference from other ships. In addition, several photographs of the underwater part of the aircraft-carrying cruiser were taken through the periscope. Fragments of the bottom, propellers and shafts got into the lens. However, the quality of images taken at a depth of about 7-9 m leaves much to be desired.
After completing filming and recording, Swiftsure slowed down and fell behind the Soviet squad. The withdrawal was also carried out in the dead zone and under the cover of the wake and took some time. After collecting data and solving other problems in the northern seas, the submarine returned to its base in the UK.
Results and questions
For obvious reasons, the operation to track the Kyiv TAVKR was secret. The very fact of its implementation and the results of exploration remained a secret for a long time. Only in the recent past were the main data and memories of the participants from the British side published.
According to known data, the recording of noise made it possible to clarify some characteristics of the aircraft-carrying cruiser. In addition, she helped further the development of British and foreign sonar systems, as well as submarines and their weapons.
Underwater elements of the ship. Photo by the British Ministry of Defense / Thedrive.com
According to the memoirs of British submariners, the whole "chase" for the aircraft carrier went smoothly. HMS Swiftsure (S126) did not unmask itself and was not detected by the Soviet anti-submarine defense. However, there are references to the contrary. So, according to some sources, Soviet hydroacoustics nevertheless discovered the submarine and maintained contact for some time. For obvious reasons, they did not attack her or take other risky actions.
In addition, the entire story generally. The arguments against it are quite simple. With typical options for organizing a warrant, it is almost impossible to approach an aircraft-carrying cruiser under water. In addition, the published pictures of the underwater part of the "Kyiv" raise questions: the configuration of propellers, shafts, etc. does not quite coincide with the known images and diagrams of the ship.
Apparently, the Swiftshore nuclear submarine was indeed able to find the Soviet naval detachment during the exercises and get closer to it. They could also conduct surveillance and collect this or that information, up to the noise signatures of specific ships. At the same time, it cannot be ruled out that the well-known stories and memories of this operation are partially untrue, and there is some element of fiction or stories in them.
However, the penetration of a submarine into the center of someone else's ship order is not impossible. Soviet submariners also did this, and their “target” was the aircraft carriers of the US Navy, which always had good ship and anti-submarine cover. It was shown that with the competent actions of the crew and with a certain amount of luck, even such a defense can be overcome.
One of the aircraft carrier's propellers. Photo by the British Ministry of Defense / Thedrive.com
Distant past
The submarine HMS Swiftsure (S126) continued to serve until 1992. After that, she was withdrawn from the combat strength of the KVMF due to damage to the nuclear power plant and a significant depletion of the resource. The decommissioned ship was laid up, where it remained for many years awaiting disposal.
The first Soviet TAVKR "Kyiv" continued full-fledged service and went to sea until the end of 1991. After the next return from the campaign, his future fate was in question. Due to lack of funding and general problems of the fleet, in 1993 the cruiser was decommissioned. Subsequently, it was sold to a private organization, and in 2000 the ship was towed to China to be rebuilt into a museum. Later it was converted into an unusual hotel.
The Soviet and British ships ended their service long ago and were decommissioned. However, they left a mark on the history of their fleets, and also influenced their development to one degree or another. In addition, in their "biography" there was a common episode showing the specifics of the interaction of the navies of opponents in the Cold War.
Information