Kara-class cruiser

The Kara class, Soviet designation Project 1134B Berkut B (golden eagle), was a class of guided missile cruisers (large anti-submarine warfare ship in Soviet classification) built in the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy. The NATO lists the class as "cruisers" mainly due to the Metel (SS-N-14 Silex) anti-ship missile system capable to strike not only submarines but also surface vessels.

Kara-class cruiser Kerch.
Class overview
Name: Kara class
Builders: 61 Communards Shipyard
Operators:
Preceded by: Kresta II class
Succeeded by:
Built: 1968–1979
In commission: 1971–2014
Completed: 7
Retired: 7
General characteristics
Type: Guided missile cruiser
Displacement:
  • 8,200 tons standard
  • 9,700 tons full load[1]
Length: 173.2 m (568 ft 3 in)
Beam: 18.6 m (61 ft 0 in)
Draught: 6.7 m (22 ft 0 in)
Propulsion: 2 shaft COGAG, 4x DN59 2x DS71 gas turbines, 120,000 hp (89,000 kW)
Speed: 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range: 9,000 nmi (17,000 km)
Complement: 380
Armament:
  • 2 × quad SS-N-14 'Silex' anti-submarine missiles
  • 2 × twin SA-N-3 'Goblet' surface-to-air missile launchers (80 missiles)
  • SA-N-4 'Gecko' surface-to-air missile launchers (40 missiles)
  • 2 × twin 76 mm (3 in) AK-726 naval guns
  • 4 × 30 mm (1 in) AK-630 CIWS
  • 2 × 5 533 mm (21 in) PTA-53-1134B torpedo tubes
  • 2 × RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers
  • 2 × RBU-1000 anti-submarine rocket launchers
  • 24 × SA-N-6 'Grumble' surface-to-air missiles (Azov)
Aircraft carried: 1 × Ka-25 or Ka-27 series helicopter
Aviation facilities: Helipad

Design

These ships were enlarged versions of the Kresta II class, with gas turbine engines replacing the steam turbines. These ships were fitted as flagships with improved command, control and communications facilities. These are dedicated ASW ships with significant anti-aircraft capability including both SA-N-3 and SA-N-4 surface-to-air missiles.

The specifications for the class were issued in 1964 with the design being finalised in the late 1960s. The gas turbine engine was chosen instead of steam for greater efficiency and quietness, and because the main Soviet gas turbine plant had a long association with the Nikolayev shipyards.

The cruiser Azov was constructed as a trials ship for the SA-N-6 missile system and was also fitted with the associated Top Dome Radar. During the Cold War she was confined to the Black Sea.

Ships

All the ships were built by the 61 Communards Shipyard in Mykolaiv (Nikolayev).

Name Russian Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Notes
Nikolayev Николаев 25 June 1968 19 December 1969 31 December 1971 29 October 1992 Scrapped in India, 1994
Ochakov Очаков 19 December 1969 30 April 1971 4 November 1973 12 August 2011 Purposely sunk in channel of Donuzlav Bay 6 March 2014.
Kerch Керчь 30 April 1971 21 July 1972 25 December 1974 15 February 2020 Decommissioned, towed to scrap yard 24 April 2020
Azov Азов 21 July 1972 14 September 1973 25 December 1975 30 May 1998 Scrapped at Inkerman, Sevastopol in 1999-2000.
Petropavlovsk Петропавловск 9 September 1973 22 November 1974 29 December 1976 26 February 1992 Sold for scrap in 1996.
Tashkent Ташкент 22 November 1974 5 November 1975 31 December 1977 3 July 1992 Sold for scrap in 1994.
Vladivostok

(ex-Tallinn)

 Владивосток
(Таллин)		 5 November 1975 5 November 1976 31 December 1979 5 July 1994 Sold for scrap in 1994.

See also

References
  1. Chant, Chris (2004). Warships Today. Summertime Publishing Ltd. p. 98. ISBN 0-7607-6700-9.
  • Gardiner, Robert (ed.) (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. London: Conway Maritime. ISBN 0-85177-605-1. OCLC 34284130.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link) Also published as Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7. OCLC 34267261.
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