In the fifties of the last century, the leading countries actively developed nuclear technologies. After atomic weapons and power plants, power plants for submarines appeared. Attempts have begun to use nuclear power plants (NPP) on ground equipment and even on airplanes. However, none of these projects ended in success. But certain achievements in the field of nuclear power for submarines quickly led to the emergence of a new concept. By the mid-fifties, both the Soviet Union and the United States, with a small time difference, came to the conclusion that it was in principle possible and necessary to create a nuclear reactor suitable for use on surface ships. Such systems are not only alive to this day, but also managed to partially replace diesel or gas turbine power plants. It is worth noting that even in the countries participating in the Cold War, the number of ships with nuclear power plants is significantly different and there are many reasons for this.
Project 63
The development of the first Soviet ship with a nuclear power plant began in accordance with the Council of Ministers Decree No. 1601-891, which required, in the period from 1956 to 1962, to create new types of ships with new weapons and new types of power plants. In accordance with this document, almost all enterprises in the industry received their assignments. The Central Design Bureau No. 17 (now the Nevsky Design Bureau) was instructed to develop a project for a light missile cruiser with the code "63". TsKB-16 (in the seventies became part of SPBMB "Malachite"), in turn, was to deal with the subject of an air defense cruiser - project 81. Both of these projects had a number of features. Approximately equal displacement of the order of 11-13 thousand tons, similar running characteristics and, most importantly, a nuclear power plant.
According to the draft versions, the armament of the new ships was supposed to look like this. It was planned to equip the Project 63 cruiser with P-6 missiles (modification of the P-35 for submarines) or P-40 in an amount of 18 to 24 units. Also considered was the option of using P-20 missiles, which were being developed at that time in the design bureau of S. V. Ilyushin. For self-defense, the cruiser was supposed to carry anti-aircraft missiles of the M-1 complex. The air defense cruiser, according to the draft design, had a less wide range of missile weapons: it was planned to equip it only with the M-3 air defense system. Both ships provided for artillery installations of various calibers, anti-aircraft guns, etc.
By the beginning of the summer of 1957, TsKB-16 and TsKB-17 prepared draft designs for new cruisers and submitted them for consideration to the command of the navy. An interesting fact is that by this time there was not even a draft design of a nuclear power plant for new ships. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, but the opinion is often expressed according to which the command of the Navy and nuclear designers preferred to first determine the requirements for such a nuclear power plant and only then begin its development in order to fit into the finished ship design. Based on the results of consideration of two projects, the top management of the fleet decided to close the project 81. In the opinion of the admirals, including the commander-in-chief of the Navy S. G. Gorshkov, the construction of separate ships intended only for air defense of formations was not advisable. In the future, this idea was not returned and all new ships were equipped with their own anti-aircraft systems. Part of the developments on project 81 was used in project 63.
In the middle of 1957, in accordance with the requirements of the preliminary design of the cruiser "63", at NII-8 (now NIKIET named after N. A. Dollezhal), the creation of the reactor and related equipment began. The exact parameters of this project have not yet become public, but from some sources it is known that at maximum power, the nuclear power plant could provide the new cruiser with a speed of up to 32 knots.
As of the beginning of 1957, it was planned to hand over to the fleet the lead cruiser, built at the Leningrad plant number 189 (now the Baltic plant), in the 61st year. The next three years were devoted to the construction of a series of seven cruisers. In mid-1958, all project documentation was sent to the State Shipbuilding Committee under the Council of Ministers. As a result of consideration of the submitted papers, as well as some related issues, the officials decided to terminate the project. The main reason for this was the unpreparedness of industry and design organizations. The fact is that by the time the documentation was provided, a whole set of systems important for the ship existed only in the form of projects that were in the early stages of development. The completion of the creation of missile systems, a nuclear power plant and a number of other systems required a lot of time, which was not. Some sources mention that Project 63 looked like a kind of diagram, which roughly indicated the locations for this or that unit. Naturally, the completion of such a project would take a lot of time, effort and money. In the spring of 1959, all work on Project 63 was stopped.
Start of project 1144
Simultaneously with project 63, project 61 was created. It meant the development of a ship with a gas turbine power plant, designed to combat enemy submarines. By the second half of the fifties, it became clear that the greatest danger to the Soviet Union was posed by American nuclear submarines with strategic missiles on board. Therefore, work was launched to create an echeloned anti-submarine defense system. In the near and middle zone, the search and destruction of enemy submarines were to be carried out by patrol ships of Project 61. It is worth noting that soon after the start of serial construction - around the mid-sixties - these ships changed their class. Due to their technical characteristics and tactical niche, they were transferred from patrol boats to the newly formed category of large anti-submarine ships (BOD).
The future large anti-submarine ships of Project 61 at the end of the fifties looked interesting and promising. However, for all their advantages, they also had disadvantages. First of all, it is the cruising range. In economical operating modes of the engine, one refueling was enough for 2,700-3,000 miles. At the same time, the supply of provisions for the crew of more than 260 people provided only a trip lasting ten days. Thus, the patrol / BOD of Project 61 could not operate at a great distance from their native shores, which significantly reduced their combat potential. In this regard, the idea appeared to modernize the ships of Project 61 by installing a nuclear power plant on them. After such an improvement, it would be possible to conduct patrols at a great distance from the bases, and in addition, to remain at sea for a long time.
The new project received the index 1144 and the code "Orlan". It is worth noting that at that time it had practically nothing to do with its modern state. In just a few years, the project not only received a lot of technical adjustments, but even changed its class. In the early sixties, Project 1144 was a patrol ship, somewhat similar to Project 61, but equipped with a nuclear power plant. As a result of the analysis of threats and opportunities, it was decided to equip it with anti-submarine guided weapons, as well as an anti-aircraft missile system. Anti-ship missiles were not envisaged, since such weapons no longer fit into the dimensions and displacement parameters set by the technical specifications. The fact is that at that time the concept dominated, according to which large warships no longer have prospects. Therefore, the recommended displacement value of the "Eagles" was at the level of 8-9 thousand tons.
However, the new ship could not remain protected only by anti-aircraft missiles and guns. It was required to provide security and means of attack. To do this, shortly after the start of Project 1144, Project 1165 Fugas was deployed. This cruiser was supposed to carry guided missiles to attack enemy surface targets. Initially, they were going to arm it with P-120 "Malachite" or P-500 "Basalt" missiles, but in the course of further design, for a number of reasons, they were abandoned. Ultimately, the new P-700 Granit missiles were to become the main weapon of the Fugasovs. Thus, to search for and destroy enemy submarines, two ships had to go out to sea. One of them (BOD project 1144) had as its purpose the detection and destruction of submarines, and the second (cruiser project 1165) - its protection from enemy ships.
By the mid-sixties, there was a tendency to increase the displacement of both ships. Keeping within the given eight to nine thousand tons was quite difficult, so TsKB-53 (now the Northern Design Bureau) took advantage of the first opportunity that arose and began to increase the combat potential of ships at the cost of an increase in displacement. This opportunity was the next version of the technical task, which did not indicate the required displacement. After that, the size of the ships slowly but surely began to change upward. It is worth noting that a special nuclear power plant for both projects until a certain time existed only as a project at a very early stage. Thanks to this, all the changes in the appearance of the BOD and the cruiser did not have a negative impact on the course of its development.
By the end of the sixties, the history of projects 1144 and 1165 took on more than an interesting form. The appearance of the ships that had formed by this time spoke not only of the good combat potential of the compound from the BOD and the cruiser. The unreasonably high cost of such an approach was clearly visible. To ensure full-fledged combat work, it was necessary to build two ships at once, and this, under certain circumstances, could result in too high costs. As a result, Project 165 "Fugas" was closed, and it was decided to install all of its anti-ship component on the "Orlan" after appropriate modifications. So the former patrol, and then a large anti-submarine ship became a nuclear missile cruiser, capable of performing all the tasks that arise in front of ships of this class.
It is worth noting that the approach to creating projects 1144 and 1165 is often harshly criticized. First of all, the objects of the "attack" are the specific views of the fleet command and the country's leadership on the appearance of promising warships, namely, displacement restrictions, the desire to provide maximum capabilities with minimum dimensions, etc. In addition, there are claims about the formation of the appearance of the ship simultaneously with its development, which clearly did not benefit the economic part of the program.
"New" project 1144
And yet, despite the existing problems, the result was a competent and viable concept of a nuclear missile cruiser designed to solve several problems. At the same time, it took a lot of effort and time to create such a ship."Orlan" had every chance of becoming the first domestic project of a surface warship with nuclear power, but it needed serious study.
Disputes between designers, military and industrialists concerned almost all topics. For example, at the insistence of the commander-in-chief of the Navy S. G. Gorshkov, a backup power plant with two boilers was provided on the cruiser. Of course, it looked ambiguous against the background of foreign ships, but in the end they chose functionality and survivability, not prestige. The reactors themselves did not raise any big questions. It was decided to make the nuclear power plant for the cruiser on the basis of the systems used on the new nuclear icebreakers. This saved a lot of time.
Where big controversy went around weapons. There were constant proposals to remove the shock or anti-submarine function from the 1144 project. Already after the start of construction of the lead nuclear cruiser, there was a proposal for its completion in the form of a missile cruiser armed only with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles (project 1293), and all anti-submarine weapons were to be “transferred” to the new project of the atomic BOD “1199”. Ultimately, the composition of Orlan's weapons underwent certain changes, and both new projects gradually faded into the shadows and ceased to exist.
In the course of the final development of Project 1144, previous work continued with respect to increasing the protection of the ship. Back in the fifties, the armor of ships was considered ineffective against modern weapons of destruction, but the Orlan, nevertheless, had to receive additional protection. It was proposed to place armor modules around the cellars with missile ammunition and reactors. This proposal still raises questions. Such protection could cover the ship's units only from missiles with high-explosive fragmentation warheads, which by that time were gradually leaving the arsenals of leading countries, giving way to penetrating ones. It is worth noting that warships abroad are still equipped with such protection, although in the case of American aircraft carriers of the Nimitz type, Kevlar blocks are used.
In the spring of 1973, the construction of the lead ship of Project 1144, named "Kirov", began at Plant No. 189 in Leningrad. As a result of all the disputes around the requirements and nuances of the appearance, it began to look like this. With a length of 250, a width of 28 and a draft of 10 meters, the ship has a standard displacement of 23750 tons or a total displacement of 25860. It has two double-circuit pressurized water reactors KN-3 with a thermal power of 170 MW each. Secondary steam is supplied to steam turbine units with a total capacity of 70 thousand horsepower. To keep running in case of problems with the nuclear power plant "Kirov" is equipped with two automated boilers KVG-2. If necessary, they can supply steam to steam turbine plants, so that the ship is able to maintain its course.
The main armament of the Kirov cruiser was the P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles. 20 launchers are located below deck, in front of the superstructure. With the help of these missiles, it is possible to defeat surface targets at a distance of up to 550 kilometers. In addition to anti-submarine missiles, the lead ship received the Osa-M and S-300F anti-aircraft systems, as well as several types of artillery mounts: two AK-100 (100 mm automatic cannon) and eight six-barreled AK-630 assault rifles. To combat enemy submarines, the Kirov was equipped with RBU-6000 rocket-propelled bombs, five 533-mm torpedo tubes and the Metel anti-submarine missile system.
Subsequently, project 1144 underwent some changes, as a result of which project 1144.2 appeared. In accordance with it, three more nuclear cruisers were built: Frunze (now Admiral Lazarev), Kalinin (now Admiral Nakhimov) and Yuri Andropov (laid down as Kuibyshev, now Peter the Great) … All built ships differ from each other in some structural elements and equipment, but the most noticeable differences are noticeable in armament. For example, all the cruisers of the 1144.2 project do not have a separate launcher for anti-submarine missiles and therefore must launch ammunition from the Waterfall complex through torpedo tubes. The lead ship had two AK-100 gun mounts, but the subsequent ones were equipped with one AK-130 with two 130 mm guns. The third and fourth ships of the series, instead of the RBU-6000 bomb and AK-630 anti-aircraft guns, were equipped with RBU-12000 and Kortik missile and artillery systems, respectively. Finally, "Peter the Great" differs from its predecessors by the presence of the "Dagger" anti-aircraft complex instead of the "Osa-M".
The lead heavy nuclear missile cruiser of Project 1144 entered the Navy on New Year's Eve 1981. The next two ships are October 31, 1984 and December 30, 1988. The fourth cruiser, laid down in the mid-eighties, was launched back in 1989. However, subsequent events in the life of the country led not only to the renaming of the ship. Due to the difficult economic situation, the cruiser "Peter the Great", which managed to be "Kuibyshev" and "Yuri Andropov", entered the fleet only in 1998. During this time, the most unpleasant events happened to the rest of the "Eagles". The need for constant repairs, coupled with the lack of appropriate opportunities, led to the fact that Kirov was sent to the reserve in 1990, and Admiral Lazarev and Admiral Nakhimov went to suck in the late nineties. It was planned to repair and modernize these ships, but more than ten years later, the necessary work did not begin. Recently, information has appeared on the study of the issue of restoration and renovation of the ships "Kirov" and "Admiral Lazarev". Work will begin in the coming years. Thus, only one Project 1144 heavy nuclear cruiser remains in service: Peter the Great.
Two artillery mounts AK-100
Reactor and aircraft
A nuclear-powered heavy ship with anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles is certainly a good thing. But in the conditions of recent decades, the presence of only such ships is not enough. For example, the United States' naval doctrine has been based on the use of aircraft carrier strike groups (AUG) for many years. As part of such a connection there are one or two aircraft carriers, several cruisers and destroyers of cover, as well as auxiliary vessels. Thanks to this composition, the AUG can solve a wide range of tasks using a variety of weapons. The core of the AUG - aircraft carriers - clearly demonstrated their effectiveness during the Second World War, and during the Vietnam War they only proved their capabilities.
In the Soviet Union, the creation of aircraft carriers began quite late. The development of full-fledged aircraft-carrying ships began only in the fifties (project 53), which accordingly affected the overall appearance of the navy. Nevertheless, over the next years, domestic designers have created several aircraft carrier projects. Among them were ships with nuclear power plants: projects 1160/1153 "Eagle" and 1143.7 "Krechet".
Research on the creation of an aircraft carrier with nuclear power plants began at the Nevsky Design Bureau back in 1969. The possibility of building a modern ship capable of transporting and ensuring the operation of aircraft and helicopters was considered. In case of successful completion, it was planned to build a series of three such ships, which received the designation "1160" and the code "Eagle". During the preliminary work, eight design options were considered at once with various layout options, different power plants, etc. In addition, all the options had different dimensions and displacement: the latter ranged from 40 to 100 thousand tons.
Aircraft Yak-44 and Su-27K on the deck of the ATAKR "Ulyanovsk"
In accordance with the ready-made preliminary design, the new aircraft carriers were supposed to have a displacement of about 80 thousand tons and be equipped with four reactors. The ship could accommodate up to 60-70 aircraft and helicopters. A variety of options for completing the aircraft wing were considered. First, it was proposed to arm the Eagles with specially modified MiG-23A and Su-24 aircraft, as well as Ka-25 helicopters. After 1973, the composition of the aviation group was adjusted. Now on board was to be based on a dozen Su-27K and Su-28K (one of the earliest designations of the strike modification of the Su-27), as well as reconnaissance aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters. In addition, it was planned to equip the ships with launchers for P-700 Granit missiles.
The fleet command reviewed the project 1160, but noted in it a number of characteristic points that could interfere with further operation. In this regard, in 1976, the development of its updated version with the index "1153" began. In accordance with the new assignment, the aircraft-carrying cruiser was supposed to be slightly smaller (displacement up to 70 thousand tons) and carry fewer aircraft - no more than fifty. The defensive armament remained the same, as well as the "Granit" anti-ship missile system. Under the flight deck, from 20 to 24 launchers were provided for the latter. By the time the design of the updated "Eagle" was completed, there was a proposal to use on it not only the previously proposed aircraft, but also the Su-25K attack aircraft.
It is worth noting an interesting feature of both versions of the "Eagle". They provided for the use of steam catapults: four in the "1160" version and two on the "1153". The possibility of using these units was due to the presence of a nuclear power plant capable of producing the required amount of steam. In the case of other types of power plant, the presence of a steam catapult caused a lot of questions and problems. At the same time, the catapult, in comparison with the springboard, made it possible to launch a wider range of aircraft from an aircraft carrier.
However, even such a technical solution could not have a beneficial effect on the fate of the entire project. In 1977, at the insistence of the Ministry of Defense, Project 1153 was closed. According to the initial plans, the head "Eagle" was to enter service in the Navy in 1981. However, as a result of comparison, the command of the fleet chose Project 1143 "Krechet" as the main path for the development of domestic aircraft carriers. On the basis of the very first project 1143, several new ones were created, which reached the stage of building ships.
Nuclear "Ulyanovsk"
The last project based on the "Krechet" was "1143.7". It was a radical revision of the existing technical and conceptual solutions, the purpose of which was to create a ship with a significantly increased combat potential. In terms of a number of possibilities, the new ship would not be inferior to the American "supercarriers" of the Nimitz class.
Development of the 1143.7 project began in 1984, using developments from previous projects of the 1143 family, as well as the old 1160. However, the new aircraft-carrying cruiser, according to the final project, was much larger and heavier than the previous ones. With a total length of 323 meters and a maximum width of the flight deck of 78 meters, its standard displacement should have been at least 60 thousand tons, and the total displacement was about 80 thousand tons. For comparison, the maximum displacement of the ship "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" (project 1143.5) is only 61 thousand tons.
The huge ship was to be equipped with an appropriate power plant. Four KN-3-43 reactors with thermal power up to 305 MW each with steam turbine units and turbo-gear units were placed in the cruiser's holds. Maximum shaft power: 4х70000 hp This power, according to calculations, was enough for a maximum speed of 30 knots.
When designing the flight deck of a new aircraft-carrying cruiser with an area of about 150 thousand square meters. meters, the designers made a kind of compromise: it was equipped with a springboard and two steam catapults "Mayak". In addition, there were aerofinisher units. Under the flight deck on the new ship, there was to be a hangar for aviation equipment measuring 175 x 32 x 8 meters. There were three freight elevators for lifting aircraft to the deck. Inside the hangar and on the flight deck, up to 70 aircraft could fit: 25-27 Su-33 or MiG-29K fighters each, as well as 15-20 Ka-27 and Ka-31 helicopters. Also, for basing on the project 1143.7 ship, the Yak-141 vertical take-off fighter and the Yak-44 long-range radar detection aircraft were created.
In addition to aviation, the new aircraft-carrying cruiser was to be equipped with systems for self-defense and attacking enemy targets. These are 12 (according to other sources, 16) launchers for Granit missiles, the Kinzhal anti-aircraft missile system with an ammunition load of up to 192 missiles, eight modules of the Kortik missile and artillery system with an ammunition load of up to 48 thousand shells and 256 missiles, eight anti-aircraft AK-630 assault rifles, as well as two RBU-12000 rocket launchers. Thus, the existing tendency of equipping ships was clearly visible in the armament of project 1143.7: a wide range of anti-aircraft weapons and a couple of types of anti-submarine and anti-ship weapons.
In 1988, the laying ceremony of a new aircraft-carrying cruiser named Ulyanovsk took place at the Chernomorsky shipyard (Nikolaev). According to the plans of this time, the ship was to be launched in 1992-93, and in 1995 it could have become part of the fleet. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the events that preceded it led to a strong slowdown in the pace of construction, and then to its complete cessation. In early 1992, the leadership of the already independent Ukraine decided to cut the constructed structures into metal. According to a number of sources, the ship was 18-20% ready. In the early eighties, the command of the USSR Navy and the leadership of the shipbuilding industry were going to build a series of four cruisers of Project 1143.7, but these plans did not come true even by a quarter.
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As a result of the extremely unfortunate and disastrous events of the eighties and nineties, the Soviet and Russian navies received only four surface ships with nuclear power plants. At the same time, only one of them, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Peter the Great, has survived to this day in the fleet's combat strength. On the other hand, nuclear power plants turned out to be much more in demand in the submarine fleet.
It is worth noting that the use of nuclear reactors on surface ships is still controversial from time to time. For all its advantages, such power plants are not without drawbacks. Thus, the relative fuel economy is more than offset by the cost of the nuclear power plant itself and the fuel assemblies for it. In addition, a relatively small reactor requires a lot of complex and expensive protection systems, which seriously affects the overall dimensions of the entire power plant. Gas turbine and diesel systems are not as demanding on the level of training of service personnel as nuclear ones. Finally, if damaged, the nuclear power plant is capable of inflicting fatal damage to the ship, and in some circumstances even destroying it, which specifically affects the survivability in combat conditions.
Probably, the combination of all these factors was the reason that in recent years the number of new warships with nuclear reactors in the world has significantly decreased. Almost all new surface ships are built with diesel or gas turbine power plants. Nuclear power plants are mainly used on submarines. In this case, their use is fully justified, since it allows you to limit the duration of patrolling, including in a submerged position, only by the supply of provisions. Therefore, nuclear submarines undoubtedly have a great future. As for surface warships with similar power plants, their prospects do not look so obvious. Therefore, the missile cruisers of the Orlan project may well remain the only representatives of their class in the Russian Navy in the near and distant future.
