Kresta I-class cruiser

Last updated
Vitse-admiralDrozd1986a.jpg
Vitse-Admiral Drozd in 1986
Class overview
NameKresta I class
Builders Zhdanov Shipyard, Leningrad
Operators
Preceded by Kynda class
Succeeded by Kresta II class
Built1964–1967
In commission1967–1994
Planned35
Completed4
Cancelled31
Retired4
General characteristics
Type Cruiser
Displacement
  • 6,000 tons standard
  • 7,500 tons full load
Length159 m (521 ft 8 in)
Beam17 m (55 ft 9 in)
Draught6 m (19 ft 8 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 steam turbines
  • 68,000–75,000 kW (91,000–100,000 shp)
Speed34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range10,500 nautical miles (19,400 km; 12,100 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement343-360
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar:
  • MR-500 Kliver air search
  • MR-302 Rubka
  • MR-310 Angara
  • Don navigation
  • Sonar:
  • MG-312
  • MG-26
  • Fire control:
  • Yatagan (SA-N-1)
  • MR-103 (AK-725)
  • Binom P35 Progress
  • Others:
  • Khrom-2M IFF
Armament
  • 2 × twin SS-N-3 'Shaddock' anti-ship missiles
  • 2 × twin SA-N-1 'Goa' surface-to-air missile launchers (44 missiles)
  • 2 × twin 57 mm (2.2 in)/70 AK-725 anti-aircraft guns
  • 2 × quintuple 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried1 × Ka-25 series helicopter
Aviation facilitiesHelipad and hangar

The Kresta I class, Soviet designation Project 1134 Berkut (golden eagle), was a class of guided missile cruiser built in the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy. The ships were designed for a surface warfare role, but Soviet priorities were changed to an anti-submarine role and only four ships were built in this configuration. They were followed by the Kresta II class, an anti-submarine warfare variant.

Contents

Design

Though considerably larger, more effective and reliable than the previous Soviet cruiser class, the Kynda class, the Kresta I surface warfare cruisers carried only half as many Shaddock launch tubes and one-fourth the total number of missiles. Initially it was planned to fit the SS-N-12 Sandbox (P-500 Bazalt) missile but the protracted development of this missile led to the older SS-N-3 being shipped. The self-defence armament was considerably increased as were command and communications facilities.

The Kresta Is could launch four SS-N-3b SLCMs and 44 SA-N-1 surface-to-air missiles with two twin launchers fore and aft, and had ten 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes. A single Ka-25 Hormone B helicopter was carried for targeting the cruise missile, and mid-course corrections.

Variants

Ships

The initial plan was for a single squadron of seven ships armed with long range missiles and two squadrons of fourteen ships armed with shorter range missiles. Only four ships were built before production switched to the anti-submarine variant the Kresta II class.

All the ships were built by the Zhdanov Shipyard in Leningrad.

NameRussianLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissioned
Admiral Zozulya Адмирал Зозуля26 July 196417 October 19658 October 196715 December 1994
Vladivostok Владивосток24 December 19641 August 19661 August 19691 January 1991
Vitse-Admiral Drozd Вице-Адмирал Дрозд26 October 196518 November 196627 December 19681 July 1990
Sevastopol Севастополь8 June 196628 April 196725 September 196915 December 1989

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Submarine-launched cruise missile</span> Seaborne weapon

A submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) is a cruise missile that is launched from a submarine. Current versions are typically standoff weapons known as land-attack cruise missiles (LACMs), which are used to attack predetermined land targets with conventional or nuclear payloads. Anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) are also used, and some submarine-launched cruise missiles have variants for both functions.

<i>Moskva</i>-class helicopter carrier Soviet helicopter carrier class

The Moskva class, Soviet designation Project 1123 Kondor (condor) and S-703Project 1123M Kiev, was the first class of operational aircraft carriers built by the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy.

Krivak-class frigate Class of frigates built for Soviet/Russian navy

The Krivak class, Soviet designation Project 1135 Burevestnik, are a series of frigates and guard ships built in the Soviet Union primarily for the Soviet Navy since 1970. Later some sub-branches, like the Nerey (Nereus) were designed for coastal patrol by the KGB Border Troops. Until 1977, the ships in the class were considered to be large anti-submarine warfare vessels.

Kresta II-class cruiser Soviet guided missile cruisers ship class

The Kresta II class, Soviet designation Project 1134A Berkut A, was a class of guided missile cruiser built by the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy. The NATO lists the class as "cruisers" mainly due to the Metel anti-ship missile system capable to strike not only submarines but also surface vessels.

Kara-class cruiser Class of Guided missile cruisers of the Soviet later Russian navy

The Kara class, Soviet designation Project 1134B Berkut B, was a class of guided missile cruisers built in the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy. The NATO lists the class as "cruisers" mainly due to the Metel anti-ship missile system capable of striking not only submarines, but also surface vessels.

Kanin-class destroyer Soviet destroyer built 1957-1960

The Kanin class were a class of destroyers of the Soviet Navy during the Cold War. The Soviet designation was Project 57AGnevny. These ships were the first Soviet guided missile destroyers and were initially designated Project 57bis and known to NATO as the Krupny class. Their primary mission was anti-surface warfare using the SS-N-1 anti-ship missile.

Kynda-class cruiser 1961 guided missile cruiser class of the Soviet Union

The Project 58 missile cruisers, known to NATO as the Kynda class and sometimes referred to as the Grozny class, from the name of the first ship of the series to be constructed, were the first generation of Soviet missile cruisers and represented a considerable advance for the Soviet Navy. Their main role was anti-surface warfare using the SS-N-3b 'Shaddock' missile. The design proved to be top-heavy and was soon succeeded by the larger Kresta I class, but the Kyndas stayed in service until the fall of the Soviet Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SS-N-3 Shaddock</span> Submarine-launched cruise missile

The P-5 "Pyatyorka", also known by the NATO codename SS-N-3C Shaddock, is a Cold War era turbojet-powered cruise missile of the Soviet Union, designed by the Chelomey design bureau. The missile entered service in 1959. Pyatyorka is a common name for the missile as the "digit 5", corresponding to the R-7 Semyorka, the digit 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metel Anti-Ship Complex</span> Anti-submarine/ship missile

Metel Anti-Ship Complex is a Russian family of anti-submarine missiles. There are different anti-submarine variants ('Metel') for cruisers and frigates, and a later version with a shaped charge ('Rastrub') that can be used against shipping as well as submarines.

Soviet cruiser <i>Kronstadt</i> Soviet Navys Kresta II-class cruiser

Kronstadt was a Project 1134A Kresta II-class cruiser of the Soviet Navy, named for the Kronstadt naval base. The first ship of her class, the ship served during the Cold War, from 1969 to 1991. She served with the Northern Fleet, with her shakedown cruise being through the Mediterranean Sea. After colliding with a destroyer in 1975, she spent five years being repaired and modernized. She was decommissioned in 1991 before being sold for scrap two years later due to reduced naval funding and deteriorating conditions.

Soviet frigate <i>Zadornyy</i> Krivak-class frigate

Zadornyy was a Project 1135 Burevestnik-class guard ship or Krivak-class frigate that served with the Soviet and Russian Navies. Displacing 3,200 tonnes full load, the vessel was built around the Metel anti-submarine missile system. Zadornyy was launched on 25 March 1979 in Leningrad, the last of the class to be built by the A.A. Zhdanov shipyard, and served with the Northern Fleet. After taking part in exercises Avangard-81, Sever-81 and Okean-83, and cruising as far as Havana, Cuba, the vessel was upgraded between 11 June 1990 and 23 May 1995 with missiles that added anti-ship capability. While serving with the Russian Navy, the ship took part in joint exercises with frigates of the Royal Navy, including a commemoration of the first Arctic convoy of the Second World War with HMS Campbeltown. After more than twenty-five years service, the ship was decommissioned on 3 December 2005.

Soviet cruiser <i>Admiral Isakov</i> Soviet Kresta II-class cruiser

Admiral Isakov was a Kresta II-class cruiser of the Soviet Navy and briefly of the Russian Navy, named for Soviet admiral Ivan Isakov. The second ship of her class, she served mostly during the Cold War from her commissioning in 1970.

Admiral Nakhimov was a Project 1134A Kresta II-class cruiser of the Soviet Navy, named for Russian naval commander Pavel Nakhimov. The third ship of her class, the ship served during the Cold War, from 1971 to 1991. She served with the Northern Fleet for the duration of her career, often operating in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean in order to show the flag. She was decommissioned in 1991 before being sold for scrap due to reduced naval funding in 1993.

Soviet cruiser <i>Admiral Makarov</i> (1970) Soviet Kresta II-class cruiser

Admiral Makarov was a Project 1134A Berkut A class cruiser of the Soviet Navy and briefly of the Russian Navy. The fourth ship of her class, the ship served mostly during the Cold War, from 1972 to 1992. She served with the Northern Fleet for the duration of her career, often operating in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean in order to show the flag, and was refitted between 1983 and 1985. She was decommissioned in 1992 due to deteriorating conditions which reduced naval funding prevented from being addressed before being sold for scrap in 1994.

Soviet cruiser <i>Marshal Voroshilov</i> Soviet Kresta II-class cruiser

Marshal Voroshilov was a Project 1134A Berkut A class cruiser of the Soviet Navy, which briefly became part of the Russian Navy after being renamed Khabarovsk in 1991. The fifth ship of her class, the ship served mostly during the Cold War, from 1973 to 1992.

Soviet cruiser <i>Admiral Oktyabrsky</i> Soviet Kresta II-class cruiser

Admiral Oktyabrsky was a Project 1134A Berkut A -class cruiser of the Soviet Navy, which briefly became part of the Russian Navy. The sixth ship of her class, the ship served mostly during the Cold War, from 1973 to 1993.

Soviet cruiser <i>Marshal Timoshenko</i>

Marshal Timoshenko was a Project 1134A Berkut A class cruiser of the Soviet Navy. The eighth ship of her class, the vessel served during the Cold War with the Northern Fleet, often operating in the Atlantic Ocean but also travelling to various ports in the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The cruiser was taken out of service to be modernised in 1988 but a lack of funds meant the work was not completed. Instead Marshal Timoshenko was decommissioned in 1992.

Soviet cruiser <i>Vasily Chapayev</i> Soviet Navys Kresta II-class cruiser

Vasily Chapayev was a Project 1134A Berkut A class cruiser of the Soviet Navy named for the naval commander Vasily Chapayev. The Project 1134A vessels were envisaged as a counter to the attack and ballistic missile submarines operated by the members of NATO. To that end, they were equipped with two KT-106 quadruple launchers for eight 85R anti-submarine missiles in the URPK-3 Metel system. The ninth ship of the class, Vasily Chapayev was launched in 1974 and served during the Cold War with the Pacific Fleet. Based at Vladivostok, the ship travelled extensively in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, visiting a large number of friendly ports in Angola, Ethiopia, India, Mozambique and Yemen. In 1978 and 1979, the vessel formed part of a Soviet flotilla, including the Project 68bis cruiser Admiral Senyavin, that supported Vietnam in the aftermath of the Sino-Vietnamese War. In 1982, Vasily Chapayev was allocated to support the BOR-4 spaceplane programme, and two years later, the vessel participated in a search for a US Navy submarine that was suspected of being near the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. In 1985, the ship took part in a simulated joint operations attack on the US base at Pearl Harbor that involved the coordinated use of aircraft, ships and submarines. During the following year, the vessel took part in first joint exercises that involved both the Soviet and North Korean Navies. Taken out of active service in 1992, Vasily Chapayev was decommissioned and transferred to be broken up in 1993.

Soviet destroyer <i>Sposobny</i> (1970) Soviet destroyer

Sposobny was a Project 61 destroyer of the Soviet Navy, which briefly became part of the Russian Navy. The ship served during the Cold War from 1971 to 1989.

Soviet cruiser <i>Admiral Isachenkov</i> Soviet Navys Kresta II-class cruiser

Admiral Isachenkov was a Project 1134A Berkut A large anti-submarine ship of the Soviet Navy. The seventh ship of the class, the vessel was launched in 1972 and served during the Cold War with the Northern Fleet, often operating in the Atlantic Ocean but also travelling to various ports in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship acted as flagship for the Minister of Defence, Marshal of the Soviet Union Andrei Grechko, during the exercise Okean-75 in 1975 and operated alongside the newly launched Project 1143 Krechyet aircraft carrier Kiev in 1977 and 1978. The ship also shadowed the NATO aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal, USS Independence and USS John F. Kennedy. The cruiser was taken out of service for repairs in 1981 and substantially upgraded with new weapons and communications systems, re-entering service in 1982. With the end of the Cold War, the Navy reassessed its need for large warships and, after a career stretching nearly twenty years, Admiral Isachenkov was decommissioned in 1992 and sold to be broken up.

References