Running six thousand horses
Ship turbines
Transferred to the power of the leaders -
Compass and rudder.
In the west there is an influx of darkness, To the east - rain as a wall;
The gloomy shafts are shaking
Our altar is at night.
(Inspired by Kipling, “The Destroyers”)
A destroyer is a generalizing characteristic of large warships for solving a wide range of offensive and defensive missions. The destroyers are designed to operate in the far sea zone. They differ in size and purpose.
In the process of evolution, Soviet destroyers degenerated into “large anti-submarine ships” (BOD). On the contrary, the American “destroyers URO” (with guided missile weapons) followed the path of strengthening air defense, and with the advent of cruise missiles they finally turned into strike missile launchers. In the West, this is what this class is called “the destroyers”.
The "destroyer" "Zamvolt" surpassed in size the battleships of the Russo-Japanese War, becoming one of the largest warships of our time. Only the Peter the Great TARKr can be compared with it.
What has the modern "destroyer" become? A cruiser? Battleship? Marine missile platform?
Now the only reason for the construction of surface warships with a total displacement of over 4 thousand tons is the creation of an "air defense / missile defense umbrella" over the naval theater of operations. Ships of other classes (corvettes, LCS, SKR, frigates) perfectly cope with simpler tasks. That is why only a few of the most advanced fleets in the world have full-fledged "destroyers".
It makes sense to place strike missile weapons on submarines. Those, due to their secrecy and multiplicity, always have a better chance of reaching the launch line than any surface ship.
So, why all the same air defense and missile defense?
As practice shows, to place onboard fire detection and control equipment (high-power radars, whose antennas reach 10 meters in diameter), as well as ammunition from several dozen long-range missiles, a ship with a displacement of at least 7-8 thousand tons is required.
Due to its size, it must be accompanied by good seaworthiness and ocean cruising range. The dimensions of the destroyer must ensure a high installation height of the antenna posts (which is especially important when intercepting low-flying missiles).
Finally, the volumes and displacement of the destroyer make it possible to achieve some reasonable versatility (hydroacoustic complex, multipurpose helicopter, etc.).
By the summer of 2015, the Russian Ministry of Defense had finally decided on the appearance of the promising destroyer pr. 23560 "Leader".
In view of the irresistible desire to have the most powerful strike weapons (in the absence of a universal installation for launching anti-ship missiles, missiles and SLCMs), serious artillery (a la “Zamvolt”) and a nuclear power plant (YSU), the displacement of the “Leader” flew in a total of 18 thousand tons. The promising "destroyer" approached in size to the "Orlan", surpassing the latter in the entire spectrum of combat characteristics.
What is the importance of pr. 23560?
Within the framework of the Leader project, work is underway to create the most complex, large and expensive warship since 1989. Magnificent ocean frother - a symbiosis of the best achievements of scientific and technological progress, ready to lead our squadrons around the Cape of Good Hope
Over the past 20 years, Russia has, in fact, missed out on an entire generation of ships. During this period, the large fleets of the world managed to acquire many large and well-armed ships with multifunctional information and control systems, powerful missile defense and air defense, anti-ship and cruise missiles. It's time for us to connect.
- Naval expert Dmitry Boltenkov (Izvestia, 2013)
It took several years to argue about the choice of the type of power plant - conventional or nuclear.
Gradually, the appearance of a new ship took shape - 18 thous. ton giant with YSU.
And finally, at the international military-technical forum "Army-2015" a detailed model of the destroyer pr. 23560 was presented. Artistic design, high art.
The exact characteristics and composition of weapons are still a secret. In this review, we will pay attention to the most interesting features of the "Leader", visible to the naked eye.
1. Layout
The destroyer is made in the best traditions of the Russian fleet. High "clipper" bow, curved upper deck, swiftness in outline. The slope of all lines of superstructures towards the bow or stern, giving the impression of being active and ready for action.
2. Radio engineering appearance
Domestic engineers offer their own independent version, with the integration of flat antenna devices into the design of a huge pyramid-shaped foremast.
Let me remind you that the first, American version, provides for the placement of antenna posts on the walls of the superstructure (used on all Aegis destroyers and their foreign clones - Atago, Alvaro de Basan, Hobart, etc.). The scheme contributes to a decrease in radar signature, the disadvantage is an unacceptably low installation height of the antennas.
The second, classic version, provides for the presence of two main radars with rotating HEADLIGHTS, placed on improvised masts in the front and rear of the superstructure.
The creators of "Leader" offer their own version - fixed HEADLIGHTS, placed one above the other on the walls of the superstructure, gradually turning into a tall foremast. The entire "pyramid" rises 50 meters above the sea (from a 16-storey building!), Which increases the detection range of low-flying objects up to 20 nautical miles (NLC at sea level).
What the radar complex of the new destroyer will be is difficult to predict now. The layout shows a large "square" long-range phased array and, above it, a system of small phased antennas. Obviously, centimeter-band radar for tracking the horizon.
The second, slightly less high mainmast, will be designed to accommodate communication systems.
3. Stealth
In the design of the "Leader", traces of the technology of reducing the visibility are clearly traced. It is also a form of superstructure. And pyramid-shaped masts. And a specific blockage of the sides, starting almost at the stem (to reflect the radio beams upwards - in order to avoid their repeated reflection from the water surface). And the shape of the gun mount with many facets. And even a protective cover above the deck in the bow of the destroyer, which hid the anchor device.
In general, “stealth” did not play a decisive role in the design of the destroyer. The "Leader" superstructure is replete with various protrusions, architectural delights and housings for additional antennas, which clearly did not fit inside the multifunctional masts.
4. Chimneys
In the rear part of the foremast, specific protrusions are noticeable, in their shape and location exactly resembling the casings of gas exhaust pipes (as on the atomic Orlan). Obviously, the nuclear destroyer will be equipped with a standby power plant on conventional fuel.
5. Nuclear power plant
Advantages:
- Russia is the world leader in the field of nuclear technology. Our reactors have always been better than gas turbines;
- increasing the cruising range. Even in spite of the fact that the autonomy of the ship is limited by the fatigue of the crew and the state of its mechanisms (as well as ammunition and food supplies), the YSU removes the main problem on long voyages with the provision of ships with thousands of tons of fuel;
- in some cases - increased combat stability. The enemy will think 100 times before attacking the “nuclear destroyer”. No one will allow a new "Fukushima" at their side.
(The only case of an attack by a ship with nuclear weapons on board was the shelling of the destroyer Osborne off the coast of Vietnam: the shell hit the cellar where the Mk.17 nuclear depth charges were stored. However, those who fired at Osborne did not know anything about this.)
Disadvantages:
- an increase in the size of the ship, the cost of its construction and maintenance;
- impossibility of entering the Black Sea;
- Problems with calling at some foreign ports in connection with the pretentious attitude towards nuclear energy by Western politicians and the media.
This is what your humble servant saw when he first met the destroyer pr. 23560.
The next series of observations will be presented in the next part of the article.
