At the end of the Cold War (1947-1991), the Soviet Union invested heavily in the construction of a new conventionally powered battlecruiser, the Slava class. The group was intended to have a total of 10 ships to replace the role of the Kara-class guided missile cruiser, but the end of the Soviet Empire limited the class to only 3 active ships, while the remaining 7 were axed. In service were Slava, Admiral Flota and Chervona Ukraine.
In the inventory of the reborn Russian Navy, the ships were renamed Moscow, Marshal Ustinov and Varyag, respectively.
In 1979, Varyag, the third of the group, witnessed the laying of the keel at the 61 Kommunara shipyard, which was launched in July 1983. She was officially commissioned and assigned to the Pacific Fleet on October 16, 1989, and is still active today (2017).
An overhaul in 2008 made her a viable weapon of war on today's complex battlefields.
Varyag had a displacement of 11,500 tons when built. The overall length is 611.5 feet, the beam (width) is 68.2 feet, and the draft is 27.5 feet.
Their propulsion scheme is a COGOG (combined gas or gas) arrangement, using one or the other engine block for such maneuvers and general or high speed cruise. Therefore, the scheme consists of 2 x M70 gas turbines (for cruising) and 4 x M8KF gas turbines (for sprinting).
These drive over 121,000 hp on 2 shafts below the stern and propel the battleship to 32 knots for a range of 3,000 nautical miles.
With a crew of 480 on board, the Air Force manages a Kamov Ka-25 or Ka-27 "Helix" naval helicopter.
In a more modern layout, the warship is equipped with a variety of processing systems and sensors, including the Voskhod MR-800 3D search radar and the Fregat MR-710 3D search radar. The rum barrel and side earth antenna are suitable as part of Electronic Warfare (EW).
The heart of the warship remains its weapons. This is spearheaded by 16 x P-500 Bazalt anti-ship missile launchers. Air defense/denial is provided by 64 x S-300F "Fortress" (8x8 cells) long-range surface-to-air missiles and 40 x OSA-MA (2x20 cells) short-range surface-to-air missiles.
6 x AK-630 for close-in weapon systems (CIWS) Air Defense Mission. Above the forecastle is a 130mm AK-130 deck gun with two cannons and two RBU-6000 mortar launchers as a defense against long-range submarines.
In addition, no less than ten 533 mm torpedo tubes were installed in two quintuple launchers.
In addition to this projectile- and missile-based weapons suite, there is the aforementioned helicopter, which provides valuable services in an anti-ship/anti-submarine role, serving as maritime reconnaissance and search and rescue (SAR). platform.
With the development of warships, the Varyag is usually equipped with a bridge deck as part of the overall main structure. A pyramid-shaped main mast is located at the stern of the bridge section, and a pair of funnels are placed side by side amidships. These have a flat design. Secondary masts are located in front of these structures.
Near the stern is a secondary superstructure with various systems. The flight deck forms the stern area of ??the boat.
Varyag is relatively fast and well equipped, making him a formidable opponent in modern Russian naval ranks. Modernization has undoubtedly helped the ship continue to be a decisive factor in Russian naval operations.
In June 2010, the Varyag made its first visit to a US port in 147 years, when it docked in San Francisco. In January 2016, with its leadership in trouble in the Mediterranean Sea near war-torn Syria, it boosted the Russian navy and added valuable training to its crew in a wartime environment.
- Blue Water Operations
- Fleet Support
- Hunter
- direct attack
611.5 ft (186.39 m)
68.2 ft (20.79 m)
8.38m
11,500 tons
32 knots (37 mph)
10,428 nautical miles (12,000 miles; 19,312 km)
16 x P-500 Bazalt (SS-N-12 "Sandbox") Anti-Ship Missile (ASM).
64 x (8x8 cells) S-300F (SA-N-6 "Grumble") long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM).
40 x (2x20 cells) OSA-MA (SA-N-4 "Gecko") short-range SAM.
1 x 130mm AK-630 Dual Purpose (DP) Weapon System with two cannons.
6 x AK-630 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS).
2 x RBU-6000 Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC) Mortar Launchers.
10 x 533 mm torpedo tubes in two quintuple launchers.
1 x Kamov Ka-25 or Ka-27 "Helical" naval helicopter.