The class of coastal guard patrol ships in the USSR is the very “holy place” that has been empty for decades. Why did this happen, well explains история ship project 12441 type "Novik".
In 1991, the 12440 project, which was designed using the latest technology, was approved: a gas turbine powerplant with two cruise and two afterburner engines; hull and superstructures made with the use of composite materials and taking into account the requirements of low radar visibility (Stealth technology); the most up-to-date and promising anti-aircraft missile system Polyment / Redut at that time, a hangar for the permanent deployment of an anti-submarine helicopter.
In 1994, the project adjustment was completed, caused by the collapse of the USSR: many prospective suppliers were suddenly in foreign countries. The project was repeatedly upgraded during construction. Its driving characteristics and fighting qualities improved, but along with them the ship's displacement grew, which significantly exceeded the originally indicated in the task. "Novik" is very close to the ships of the marine zone, capable of long-term patrols and escort ships at sea crossings, but with redundant characteristics for combat off the coast.
As a result, the most technically advanced ship of Russia was retrained in the training and was not completed.
A similar story happened to the Fearless, developed in 1970's, the 11540 project. Conceived as a small anti-submarine ship with a displacement of 800 t, in a matter of years he “sorted out” to 1500, then to 2000, and in the version with a helicopter he reached 2500 t and moved to the sea zone. The result is similar: only one “Fearless” entered the service in 1987.
Of course, a fast, well-protected and armed Novik would easily have coped with any tasks in the coastal zone. Its critical flaw is price. But for the protection of maritime borders and timely response in local territorial conflicts, patrol ships should be plenty.
Therefore, towards the end of 1990, a competition was announced for the development of a lighter and cheaper escort ship, which was won by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau, the one that Novik designed.
Ships of Project 20380 of the Steregushchiy type promise to become the main force of the naval fleet Russia in the coastal zone. And despite the lower cost compared to Novik, this is without a doubt one of the most innovative and technically advanced Russian fleet vehicles.
Notable innovations include recycled hull lines with almost a quarter of reduced hydrodynamic resistance, and a helicopter hangar, first placed on such a small ship. The most important breakthrough is the use of a unified information system for controlling weapons and all electronic equipment of a machine.
Finally, the ship received a new class designation in full accordance with the time and international terminology. Now it is no longer a patrol ship, but a corvette.
Unnoticed, streamlined
In comparison with its predecessors, the 20380 project can already be called successful. We were lucky to climb aboard Boikii, the third ship of the project, stationed at the berth of the Severnaya Verf plant in St. Petersburg. He is at the final stage of factory testing. The other two, the Guardian and the Savvy, are already adopted by the Russian Navy. Four more corvettes were laid on the berths of the Severnaya Verf and the Amur Shipbuilding Plant; in total, 20 ships were ordered, and perhaps this is not the limit.
The main components of the success of the project 20380 - a carefully crafted body design and a single electronic automation system. These terms determine the fighting qualities, the composition of the weapons, the working conditions of the crew, as well as the reliability, maintainability and the possibility of upgrading the vehicle.
The lines of the ship's steel hull were developed from scratch and so successfully that the hydrodynamic resistance at full speed (27 nodes or 50 km / h) decreased by 25%. This allowed the use of a less powerful and lighter main power plant (GEM), thereby freeing up more than 15% displacement to increase the combat load. Hence, an impressive array of weapons for the 1500-ton ship, and even a helipad, a hangar and an 20-ton fuel reserve for the Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopter.
The improved seaworthiness of the corvette makes it possible to use its armament in the presence of waves with a force of up to five points (two points more than the previous analogues). In addition, a less powerful GEM is quieter, helping to reduce the visibility of the ship in the hydroacoustic range. To reduce the noise of engine mechanisms, technologies previously used in submarines were used.
The power plant consists of two diesel-diesel units DDA12000, specially developed by OAO Kolomensky Zavod based on a proven D49 diesel engine with microprocessor control. Each unit consists of two X-NUMX-cylinder V-shaped diesel engines and a summing gearbox and drives a fixed pitch propeller. The total power of the twin-shaft power unit reaches the 16 24 HP Four diesel generators of 000 kW each provide on-board power supply.
It is not for nothing that the “guarding” is called invisibility, although following the principles of the Stealth technology is an indispensable attribute of modern ships of this class. The superstructure of the ship, wide from side to side, is made of slow-burning, radio-absorbing glass and carbon plastics. Antenna posts and missile weapons, if possible, are removed in the case. Four-tube 330-mm torpedo tubes of the Package-NK anti-torpedo defense complex are hidden in lazport. In general, the average circular effective scattering surface of the ship was reduced threefold compared with previous counterparts, due to which the probability of targeting anti-ship cruise missiles at it was reduced from 0,5 to 0,1.
Shoulder to shoulder
A single combat information and control system is perhaps the main innovation of the 20380 project, which in one way or another influences the tactical characteristics of the ship, the crew’s life, the reliability of all technical means, and even the speed of weapons modernization.
“If before the systems were scattered throughout the ship and all the work on their coordination fell on the crew members, now the ball is ruled by an integrated bridge system, which contains a description of the current state of all ship systems, from mechanics to use weapons", - said the deputy chief builder of the plant" Severnaya Verf "Yuri Alexandrov.
In addition to the ship's controls, the integrated bridge system includes two components: a section for controlling missile and anti-submarine weapons and a section for radar combat and air, surface and underwater lighting. The first section consists of three posts located side by side right on the bridge. Here work commanders of combat units (CU). The first is responsible for the anti-submarine warfare, the second is responsible for the anti-ship complex. Outwardly, their posts look the same: they are large screens that display information about the goals and state of combat systems. The same screens are in the corvette commander, who can at any time request any information on the ship, and from the watch officer, who also has access to a variety of data - from the parameters of diesel engines to provisions supplies.
The tasks of the third warhead commander include coordinating all weapons systems and issuing recommendations to the ship's commander for the use of weapons. It is important that the commander of the ship, the helmsman, the watch officer, and the CU commanders work in the same room and can make coordinated decisions with lightning speed and execute them.
On the corvette there is a system capable of coordinating the work of weapons and the detection systems of several ships operating as part of a division. On the technical aspects of its work, plant employees prefer not to dwell, noting, however, that with each new ship the system is becoming more powerful.
Its essence is that information on air, surface and underwater conditions, on the detected targets and connections is concentrated in a single center and processed. Here, the degree of danger of the targets is determined, a decision is made on the type of weapon used, after which information is instantly sent to the ships, helicopters and airplanes of the group for coordinated actions.
The use of such a system is especially logical in combination with a helicopter, which, being invulnerable to submarines and using active means of hydro-acoustic detection, has indisputable advantages over ships in terms of covering the underwater environment.
So far, the division management system is a very weighty stationary equipment placed on the ship, but in the near future it will become portable: figuratively speaking, all tactical information will be concentrated in the admiral's suitcase.
A section of the radar combat and air, surface and underwater lighting is located in the navigational cabin, next to the bridge.
Target detection tools are managed by several officers. There is also a map server on which the navigator downloads maps of sea areas in accordance with the trip plan. Thanks to the unified management system, these cards are available at all posts where necessary, from the bridge to the helicopter hangar.
Maximum automation of all systems of the ship allowed to repeatedly reduce the time required for making decisions, as well as facilitate the work of the crew and reduce its number to 100 people.
Ready to upgrade
The presence of integrated information networks on the ship entails a number of additional benefits related to the reliability, maintainability and speed of equipment upgrades. According to Yuri Alexandrov, over a thousand industrial and research enterprises scattered throughout Russia are involved in the construction of the corvette. When the next component comes to the factory, the moment of truth comes: it must demonstrate perfect compatibility with all systems of the ship.
Problems with compatibility in shipbuilding are not uncommon. Fortunately, thanks to modern electronic technology, many components have become smaller and lighter than before. Now it is possible to return them to the manufacturer for revision or to invite specialists to the plant with the necessary spare parts.
A single ship network, on the one hand, means a certain unification of communication protocols of various devices. Components are initially created just for them, so the probability of "rejection" becomes less. On the other hand, supplier companies can test their components in advance using computer simulators.
For example, if a radar station is being tested, a computer can play the role of both the rest of the ship and its weapons, and the target that is required to be detected.
Finally, the ship’s modular concept provides for the possibility of installing the latest weapons as they become operational. For example, while on the title ship of the 20380 “Steregushchy” project, the Kortik-M anti-aircraft missile system was in charge of anti-aircraft defense, then the third one, born to the light, was replaced by a more modern and incomparably more powerful “Redut” air defense system. .
Three blocks of four cells (total 12 cells) can carry from 12 9М96Х2 missiles with a 135 km launch range and a height of damage to 35 km to 48 9М100 self-defense missiles with a range to 12 km in various combinations. Defense from the air attack "Redut" will help the portable anti-aircraft missile systems "Igla" (launch from the shoulder) and two fodder six-barrel 30-mm artillery installations AK-630М.
Serial and different
As befits a new project, the ship met on its way a lot of criticism. Perhaps, attacks against an insufficiently long cruising range are caused by the absence of the corvette class itself previously in service with the Russian Navy. Skeptics should recognize that the tasks facing the fleet have changed, and nowadays having a few dozen corvettes is more relevant than a few ocean destroyers.
Discussions arose about the composition of the weapons of the ship, its security and survivability, however, these qualities are also difficult to consider in isolation from the tactical schemes characteristic of the class of corvettes.
For several years of service at the “Steregushchy”, there were twice problems in the main power plant, which was the reason for comparing the diesel-diesel unit with gas turbine engines, more reliable and light, but incomparably more expensive.
At the time of publication of this material in print, “Boky” could already be in service if it were not for problems with the Universal's 100-mm artillery installation, which refused to work in normal mode not only on the 20380 project, but also on Indian frigates of the Russian Talwar , Trishul and Tabar.
However, the main advantage of ships of the type "Steregushchy" is flexibility. Diesel engines can be modified, the gun mount is replaced, but the ships will not remain on the stocks and will not turn into unfinished. “Not a single ship repeats the previous one,” confirms Yuri Alexandrov. “The“ smart ”was a lot different from the“ Watchman ”,“ Boky ”also looks a little different.” It is flexibility, availability, seriality and, in the long run, mass character that the 20380 project is a great success of the Russian fleet.
The photo captured the second corvette of the project 20380, received the name "Savvy". Behind the 100-mm artillery, you can see the cover of the launch cells of the Redoubt missile system.
1. The post of commander of the ship occupies the left part of the bridge. For the most part, it consists of screens to which the commander can display almost any information about the state of the ship’s systems and weapons, targets, environment, and navigation. 2. The helmsman’s post is a navigation screen, a steering wheel, and a GEM control panel (full speed, slow speed, etc.). The ship can independently maintain a given course, but even on autopilot, a sailor is always on duty at the helm. On the right hand side of the helmsman, you can notice the handle of an autonomous communication device, which will enable you to send a message to any post in the event of a power outage. 3. The post of watch officer allows you to simultaneously monitor the operation of all ship systems, from the state of the GEM to the reserves of provisions. The watch officer has at his disposal an advanced communication system and can promptly contact any post on the ship.
SCHEME OF ARMAMENT 1. 100-mm gun mount A-190 "Universal" 2. The combat module of the Kortik-M air defense missile system (on subsequent ships - 12 launch cells of the Redut air defense missile system) 3. Anti-ship missile system "Uran" (later will be replaced by "Onyx" or "Caliber") 4. 30-mm six-barreled anti-aircraft guns AK-630М 5. Lence of 6 package-NK anti-torpedo protection complex. Shooting noise complex PC-10 7. Podkilnaya antenna hydroacoustic complex "Dawn-2" 8. Hydroacoustic target designation system for the 9 anti-torpedo protection complex. Navigation radar "Pal-N" 10. Navigation radar MR 231-2 11. Optical-electronic device MTK-201 М2.2 12. Antenna radar targeting 5P-10 "Puma" 13. Antenna radar "Monument-A" in the radio transparent housing 14. Three-coordinate radar general detection "Furke-2" 15. Lowered sonar station "Anapa-M" 16. Stations of the electronic warfare complex TK-25-2 17. Hangar for anti-submarine helicopter Ka-27 18. Runway 19. Long towed sonar station "Minotaur-M"