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Admiral Chabanenko (DD-650)

1999 MODERN NAVY

History of Admiral Chabanenko (DD-650)

To accommodate the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke-class multirole guided missile destroyers, Soviet engineers were asked in 1982 to develop a modern solution using the existing Udaloy-class battleships. This work resulted in the related "Udaloy II" class, which effectively turned the anti-submarine group into an anti-ship destroyer platform.

The upgraded class gets an all-new suite of anti-ship missiles, as well as upgraded local defense capabilities and a Fire Control System (FCS).

The product of this class became the Admiral Chabanenko (DD-650), with two other ships planned to join. However, the fall of the Soviet Empire severely limited the expansion of the program, resulting in only Chabanenko completing it. The ship was launched on February 28, 1989, launched on June 16, 1994, and officially commissioned on January 28, 1999.

Despite its Cold War origins, it is still in service with the Russian Northern Fleet today (2014).

Her planned sister ships - Admiral Basisty and Admiral Kucherov - were both inaugurated in 1991, but were never completed and eventually scrapped in 1994 and 1993, respectively, making the Udaloy II class of strength one.

A major change in the design of the Udaloy class that produced the Udaloy II was the introduction of an updated M-2 series "Zvezda" sonar system. The original pair of 100mm deck guns were replaced by twin 130mm AK-130s mounted on the forecastle to provide improved mid-range defense against incoming surface threats. The RBU-Udav anti-torpedo kit (dual launcher) improves the ship's standard survivability in the face of emerging anti-submarine threat capabilities from the West, while the original SS-N-14 "Silex" anti-submarine missiles were abandoned for the SS-N- 22 "Sunburn" missiles are used against surface threats at long range. Torpedo tubes are placed near the midship. An 8 x 8 group of SA-N-9 "Gauntlet" surface-to-air missiles in a VLS (Vertical Launch System) arrangement can counter air threats.

Close-range defenses are supported by 4 x 6 Gatling 30mm AK630 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) cannons capable of attacking incoming air threats including cruise missiles.

The vessel is powered by a conventional gas turbine arrangement - this is carried over from the original class, consisting mainly of 4 gas turbines in a combined gas and gas unit (COGAG) powering 2 shafts of 120,000 hp . COGAG connects two gas turbines to a single shaft, allowing the gearbox to adjust the drive power from one or both turbines depending on the power required. This would allow the vessel to use two or all four turbines simultaneously for general cruises or short, quick jumps.

As a result, a maximum speed of 35 knots can be achieved under ideal conditions and a range of up to 10,500 nautical miles (12,100 miles).

The shape of the Admiral Chabanenko became typical of the Udaloy class, with its uneven superstructure design, showing a relatively low profile mast. On the forecastle are 130 mm deck guns with turrets and two rows of two cylindrical horizontally mounted launchers, located forward of the bridge superstructure. Between the launchers is the Vertical Launch System (VLS).

The bridge itself is identified by the large rectangular windows on the front and sides of its design. Different masts contain equally different arrays of communications and sensors for optimal vessel service in the vast ocean space. Midship are two pairs of low profile smoke funnels.

A full-service helideck and hangar are added aft to support up to 2 Kamov naval helicopters for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue (SAR) or transport missions. The ship's standard operator is listed as about 300.

Dimensions include a length of 163 meters, a width of 19.3 meters and a draft of 6.2 meters. Displacement reaches 6,930 tons under standard load and 7,570 tons under full load.

To date, the only notable operation related to Admiral Chabanenko was the passage of the Panama Canal in 2008, the first time that a warship of the Russian fleet passed through the area since World War II (1939-1945).