Where can I get frigates for the Black Sea?
And we return again to the problems of the Black Sea fleet. Simply because, unfortunately, their numbers are not decreasing at all. Today we will talk about attack ships that must bear the brunt of military operations at sea - frigates.
Today, after the fleet lost its only cruiser and one large landing ship, and a number of ships were undergoing scheduled repairs, some with damage, and even one large landing ship and a submarine generally went into long-term restoration repairs, the fleet obviously has a shortage of warships. And now the grain trucks began to walk quite calmly along the Black Sea, as if at home.
Considering that the straits are closed by Turkey to both participants in the hostilities, the transfer of ships from other fleets is almost impossible. Build? There are certain doubts about this, since the idea of building ships directly on the Black Sea is good, but its implementation is a very difficult matter.
Our specialized media said that the capabilities of the Crimean shipyards are clearly insufficient to build 1st rank ships “on site.” This is true. The years of Ukrainian independence greatly weakened the potential of the factories of Kerch and Feodosia, machine tools were exported, structures were handed over for metal. But this is not even the main thing; there are a number of other problems that we will now examine.
Indeed, shouldn’t we wait until the end of the Northern Military District and the opening of the straits to add new ships to the fleet? We definitely need to somehow get out of it in other ways.
What large ships does the Black Sea Fleet have left today? Forty-year-old large landing ships of Project 775, the effective use of which raises some doubts, and patrol ships of Project 11356R, which belong to the URO frigates.
Project 11356R frigates are a completely separate matter that needs to be thought through carefully. In fact, this is a further development of the patrol aircraft of projects 1135 “Burevestnik” and 11351 “Nereus”. And yes, the hull is indeed the same practically unchanged, and all the modernizations concerned weapons and engines.
The project is not new. Project 1135 patrol ships were designed back in the sixties of the last century, and the first ship entered service in 1970. And still two ships (“Ladny” and “Pytlivy” are in service in the ranks of the same Black Sea Fleet). Project 11351, border, that's all. The last ship of this type was sunk in 2022 (Hetman Sahaidachny).
But Project 1135 itself turned out to be very balanced, with good driving and seaworthiness and decent autonomy (although autonomy in the Black Sea is not particularly important - everything is at hand). Moreover, the ships were able to satisfy even such armory capricious, like Indians, Project 11356 “Talvar” was developed especially for them.
By the way, there were no plans to purchase such ships for the Russian fleet. We dreamed of project 22350, but when in 2009-2010 project 22350 frankly stalled, we began to look at whether it was possible to do something like this, quick and inexpensive? And by that time, the first three Talwars had already served for ten years, so all the tests and approbations were already behind us and the Indians were completely satisfied with the frigate, otherwise they would not have purchased three more.
An adaptation was made to our requirements (the displacement increased slightly) and the result was almost a piece of candy, which was called project 11356R “Burevestnik”.
And since by that time the tensions of 2014 had already begun, and the Black Sea Fleet did not have a single modern ship at all, and the situation around Crimea was heating up worse than the RBMK reactor, the first three Burevestniks quite expectedly ended up in the Black Sea.
The ships immediately came under fire from critics. I must say - reasonably, but here it is worth understanding the situation: “I molded him from what was.” On the one hand, the Black Sea Fleet received new attack ships, which were generally sad at that time, on the other hand, the criticism had a basis.
Reading the articles of that time, one might have formed the opinion that the ships were generally uncombat-ready. This is exactly how the expert community perceived them. But here it is worth understanding calmly and carefully. The performance has already been mentioned above, it is quite seaworthy, the maximum speed is 30 knots, the cruising range at maximum speed is 1 miles. And 600 miles at an economical speed of 4 knots.
Weapons... Yes, there are nuances here. It seems to be quite, but... Judge for yourself.
The main caliber is a 100-mm gun mount and 8 3S14 launchers for Caliber missiles or Otvet missile-torpedoes. “Caliber” is not bad, but, as the practice of the SVO has shown, “Onyx” is better. But “Onyxes” are not planned for the frigate, alas. But in principle, 8 “Calibers” is quite enough for a strike. Let's just say that this is good, but, as we know, the best is the enemy of the good. The question here is the skill of those who will resist him in terms of enemy air defense.
The frigate's air defense was also criticized. Here it got ridiculous, some would-be experts didn’t care whether “Shtil” or “Shtil-1”, and the difference is very large, because “Shtil” is an export version of the “Uragan”, which is the “Buk-M1” with a single-beam launcher.
Exactly what was on the Talvars. But we don’t have “Talvar”! We have “Burevestnik” or “Admiral Grigorovich”, if you like. Therefore - “Calm-1” for 24 cells. And the base from the Buk-M3.
In general, the complex is very strong! Capable of hitting air targets flying at speeds up to 10M at ranges from 2,5 to 70 km and altitudes from 5 m to 35 km. And very angry rockets. The disadvantage of Shtil-1 is the lack of long- and short-range missiles, but this is a matter of necessity in principle.
In one material they tried to compare Shtil-1 with Redoubt in order to show that Redoubt is much better. That’s possible, but Redut is an S-300, and Shtil-1 is a Buk. It is worth understanding the difference, including in terms of size. “Admiral Gorshkov”, which is project 22350, on which “Redut” is located, is 1200 tons thicker than “Grigorovich” in terms of displacement, if that.
But this is the difference between rank 1 ships and rank 2 ships.
Of course, the 2nd rank frigate of Project 11356R will be inferior in everything to the 1st rank frigate of Project 22350, from displacement to living conditions. The same can be said about weapons. But in our case, the Project 11356R frigate has a very big advantage: the Kaliningrad Yantar plant can produce these ships like pizza, because they are mastered to the rivets.
And indeed, why is Yantar building frigates for India, while we really need them ourselves?
And this is where Problems with a capital “P” emerge.
In general, our fleet is not very eager to purchase Project 11356R frigates. And you can understand the logic of the admirals: why do we need two types of frigates, one of which is obviously weaker. True, the tasks of frigates of ranks 1 and 2 may be different, but in general practice in the navies of world powers are usually content with one type of frigate, as it is easier to maintain.
Of course, frigates of different generations can serve simultaneously, like the Germans, for example. There are generally three types of frigates serving there, the very old Brandenburg, the old Saxony and the new Baden-Württenberg. And nothing. Nobody worries to death about this moment. It’s just that the tasks are planned for the old “Brandenburg”, and for the “Baden-Württenberg” (by the way, the displacement is more than 7 tons, if anything, almost the “Arleigh Burke”, which is a destroyer) - others.
In our case, it would easily be possible to build small frigates for the Black and Baltic Seas, where they would be quite convenient to operate and use.
So what is the main problem of the Project 11356R frigate? Tested and ready for mass production at the same Yantar?
The evil hero of the entire Russian shipbuilding industry (and not only). Engine.
Project 11356 (like the previous ones) was designed for Ukrainian engines of the Zorya-Mashproekt association. Accordingly, in 2014, a ban was imposed on the supply of Ukrainian engines for Russian ships. Thus, the Russian fleet lost its traditional supplier of main ship power plants.
In general, songs should be written and told about the exploits of Russian diesel engines, because it was a legendary job of replacing Ukrainian power plants with domestic ones. And that’s where, and in the same Rybinsk they were able to import substitution, and turbines appeared just for Project 22350 frigates (M90FR) and for landing ships, the less powerful M70FRU.
But there is one more problem: M90FR and M70FRU are not interchangeable with turbines assembled in Nikolaev. At all. Therefore, despite the breakthrough, ships of projects 1135, 11351 and 11356 of all variants were left without engines.
And at the shipyards by that time three frigates were laid down: “Admiral Butakov”, “Admiral Istomin” and “Admiral Kornilov”. As a result, “Admiral Butakov” and “Admiral Istomin” will be completed in Kaliningrad under the new names “Tushil” and “Tamala” according to the project for India, increasing the total number of Project 11356 frigates in the Indian Navy to eight. Ukraine sold engines to India directly and without problems.
One unfinished frigate of Project 11356R (“Admiral Kornilov”) still stands in Kaliningrad at the Yantar plant. And it has few prospects; the propulsion system of the Project 22350 frigate is designed for a large ship, and will not fit on the 11356R.
And in general, creating a propulsion system for a specific ship in order to fit it into all dimensions of an existing ship is a very difficult and very expensive matter.
Therefore, the Navy settled on the Project 22350 frigate. Childhood illnesses seem to have been cured and there are no problems with the propulsion system.
The first ships of the series, Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Kasatonov, are part of the Northern Fleet, the third, Admiral Golovko, is completing tests, five more are at varying degrees of readiness, and two have been ordered. A total of 10. In all respects, they are superior to the Project 11356R ships, which is not surprising considering the difference between them is a whole generation.
But ten frigates - how much is this enough for our fleets? The same Germans have 11 frigates and 5 corvettes for two operational flotillas (in Kiel and Wihelmshaven). Considering that we have 4 fleets and 1 flotilla, even 5 frigates per fleet - already 20. In the Caspian, okay, frigates are not really needed. So yes, two tens.
But there is another problem: where to build?
So far, Project 22350 frigates have been commissioned at Severnaya Verf. It is clear that from St. Petersburg the newly built frigates will travel under their own power anywhere... except the Black Sea! There are no Turkish roads through the straits yet, and it is not clear when there will be one. Transfer across inland waters? It's a difficult task, but... not impossible!
You say: frigate. 5400 tons full displacement, 4500 empty. 135 meters long. 4,5 meters of draft. And where?
Well, here we have a miracle of Russian ship construction, Mustai Karim, a five-star hotel on the water, running from St. Petersburg to Anapa. Displacement 4500 tons (like an empty frigate), length 141 meters, draft 3 meters.
Draft? Yes, it's a problem, but not that bad. The lightest possible frigate can also be placed on pontoons. And it will pass.
Along the same path, through lakes and canals. And to the Sea of Azov. And there it’s already a stone’s throw from Cherny. And in principle, there is room to complete the ship.
It’s just that if we consider options for building frigates at factories in Feodosia or Kerch, then this is a sad matter. Factories need to be not only modernized, but restored after Ukrainian reality. And this will require huge amounts of money and resources. In general, it’s tempting, but it doesn’t look serious. While the Kerch shipyard is fighting with a landing ship, there is no time for frigates there at all.
It would be realistic to refocus the same “Yantar” on the construction of Project 22350 frigates. Moreover, since the contracts with the Indian Navy have almost been completed, why not start saturating the Russian fleet with modern ships?
Another question will arise: what to do with Kornilov.
The last frigate of Project 2013R, laid down in 11356, remains in question. It seems that there is a project for completion, even shown in the mock-up at Army 2023, but the mock-up is just a mock-up, you understand. But this suggests that the United Shipbuilding Corporation does not plan to cut the ship into metal. And this is good, given the high degree of overall readiness of the hull.
It makes direct sense to complete this ship and transport it to the Black Sea Fleet, since all similar ships serve there and only there.
But the same engine problem arises. It is clear that we have no analogues to the Ukrainian DS-71 economical engine, and our M-90FR turbines are larger and more powerful than the Nikolaev DT-59 turbine.
Our specialists are doing everything possible to replace Ukrainian equipment. There was an interesting project for an all-mode gas turbine unit MA4, consisting of four gas turbine engines of the M70FRU type with a maximum power of 14 hp. every. The engines have been developed specifically for this type of work. However, they need new gearboxes; they still need to be developed. That is, again, money and time, and no one can say how much time is needed and whether there will be a result. But the road can only be mastered by those who walk.
There are, of course, options for importing. You can risk repeating the sad experience with Chinese engines, you can certainly find something suitable there, but the quality after all the incidents with the engines on Buyan says that it’s not worth it.
The Indians have turbines. LM2500. The production of these turbines was mastered in India under a license from General Electric; in general, the development is very successful; many ships of the Indian fleet are equipped with such turbines. The only question is whether it will fit or not and whether the Indians will sell such a kit. There is no need to talk about Indians purchasing Ukrainian installations for us.
But the issue of import comes down precisely to the problem of making adjustments to the original design of the ship.
But this is the only ship that would be nice to complete, but even if it is not possible to adapt it to another power plant, it can be shelved while waiting for new Russian engines.
As for everything else, the prospect is visible. And this cannot but rejoice. 10 frigates at the Northern Shipyard are half the battle. But there is somewhere to focus our efforts. And it is not so important where the frigates will be assembled, the main thing is that they be there.
Today the Black Sea Fleet is going through perhaps the most difficult times ever since its Russian stories. And there is only one way to help him - by building new modern ships that can perform any tasks in the Black Sea.
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