Reading articles about the State Defense Order, every time I am convinced that the Russian media work in the genre of "news in the future tense", telling about events and plans that are most likely never destined to come true, but today they have become news and are imposed on society as a subject for discussion. And so, among these information phantoms, on February 1, there was information about a real event - the laying of the Vladivostok universal amphibious assault ship-helicopter carrier in France. On this day at the shipyard in Saint-Nazaire began cutting metal for the first Russian UDC of the Mistral type.
"Mistral" only outwardly resembles traditional dock-ships, helicopter carriers or universal amphibious ships. In fact, they have much more potential. It is no coincidence that the French singled them out into a separate class - "force projection and command vessel" Distinctive features of such structures are the flight deck located along the entire length of the hull and the aft dock camera. The Mistral also houses a command center for 150 operators and, equipped with the most modern equipment, a hospital for 70 beds. The concept of such ships is not new - even during the Vietnam War, the US Navy was faced with the problem of managing diverse amphibious assault groups involved in the landing. Then the idea was born to combine them in one universal body.
Compared to its contemporaries - the American LPD type "San Antonio" - "Mistral" looks more attractive: the French ship is operated by a team of only 160 people, while the American landing dock ships require 350 crew members. The future Russian ship also has an advantage in the composition of the air group: 16 helicopters against 4 helicopters and 2 convertiplanes of the "Americans". Summarizing all of the above, we can give an unambiguous answer: the Mistral-class UDC is a modern amphibious assault ship with a high combat potential, one of the best representatives of its class in the world.
Underwater rocks
Many articles, publications and scientific papers have already been written about the fact that the Mistral does not fit into the concept of the combat use of the Russian Navy, about its inconsistency with the conditions in which the Russian Navy operates, its vulnerability and difficulties in servicing. Indeed, does the Russian Navy need such a ship? For example, it is widely believed that this ferry-like structure was built to civilian shipbuilding standards and would not be able to withstand the hydrodynamic shock of a nearby underwater explosion. As far as I know, such a calculation is mandatory when designing ships for the Russian Navy. It is difficult to say how much this myth corresponds to reality, but it leaves an unpleasant aftertaste behind.
I will no longer bore the reader by listing unverified (or, conversely, overly known) figures, facts and rumors. As an amateur, I am interested in more obvious points:
The visit of the Mistral in November 2009 to St. Petersburg was not without embarrassment. Domestic rotary-wing aircraft Ka-52 and Ka-27 landed on its deck without any problems (of course! The Mistral's flight deck is 199 meters long, 32 meters wide), but, as it turned out later, Russian helicopters did not fit into the opening in size elevator, so they could not be lowered into the hangar. The scandalous story did not receive wide publicity, but did not escape public attention.
Further - even more fun. In connection with the basing of Russian helicopters with coaxial propellers on the Mistral, the height of the under-deck hangar will have to be increased by at least one meter compared to the original design, which, naturally, will entail an increase in the ship's “side”. Excessive windage has always been one of the drawbacks of the Mistrals, and in the Russian series it will increase even more. Also, this will inevitably entail a decrease in the metacentric height. What is the threat when fully loaded and in stormy conditions? That's right, rollover.
As already noted, helicopter lifts that lift equipment from the hangar to the flight deck are unsuitable for transporting the Ka-29 with suspended weapons. We will either have to buy Eurocopter helicopters from France, or radically rebuild the lifting mechanisms.
The problems with aviation technology do not end there. Fuel for refueling helicopters is supplied from two tanks, which are located below the waterline in the stern of the ship - fuel lines stretch from afar through 3 decks filled with people, ammunition and equipment. A very dubious decision of the French, affecting the survivability of the UDC in the most negative way. It may be necessary to change the entire fueling and storage system according to domestic requirements.
The transport deck for armored vehicles does not meet Russian requirements. It is designed for a mass not exceeding 32 tons for each combat unit. In turn, this means that there will be no Russian main battle tanks on the Mistral's transport deck. In total, the ship will fit no more than five MBTs: three on the platform in front of the dock chamber and two on landing boats of the project 11770 "Serna".
Further, Russian sailors will not be able to effectively use the docking chamber space. "Mistral" - a French ship and its dock chamber was designed in accordance with the parameters of NATO landing craft. Therefore, despite the solid dimensions of the docking chamber (57, 5m x 15, 4m x 8, 2m, area 885 sq. M.), Only 2 landing craft of project 11770 can be accommodated in it. And landing craft on air cushion of project 1206 " Kalmar "and so on. 12061" Murena "will not be able to be based on the" Mistral "at all - DKVP do not pass through the gates of the dock chamber in height! It turns out that we will have to create new amphibious assault vehicles for the Mistral.
French engineers have prepared a great surprise for Russian sailors. The North Sea residents will be especially "delighted", as well as all those who try to operate the Mistral in the northern waters of the Pacific Ocean. The fact is that the sides of the French UDC have wide openings that provide natural ventilation on the helicopter and transport decks. A great idea for the tropics turns into a nightmare for the northern latitudes - icing is guaranteed for all equipment. It is not so easy to brick up these openings; first, it is necessary to design an extensive forced ventilation system.
Continuing the "ice theme", I will say that the Mistral's hull has no ice reinforcement, and this, given the conditions in which the Russian Navy operates, practically excludes the basing of French ships in the Baltic, the Pacific Ocean, and even more so in the North. There are especially many problems with the nasal bulb, which is designed to improve driving performance. Those. it will not be possible to get rid of a simple thickening of the side. According to experts, this means the development of a new project ship.
A separate conversation is the propulsion system of the "Mistral" with the use of submerged main electric motors. Propeller-driven steering columns of the "Azipod" type provide ease of maneuvering, but this system also has serious drawbacks:
- first of all, it is a low speed (18 knots compared to 22-24 knots for the US Navy's San Antonio-type UDC);
- the operation of ships with "Azipods" requires regular docking to inspect the rudder drives. And there is an opinion that there are no docks for such large ships in Russia, especially in the Pacific Ocean today. I can assume that the "Russian Mistrals" will receive traditional propellers and rudders.
Unarmed and not dangerous
Yes, the Mistral is almost completely devoid of defensive weapons. Machine guns and two twin Mistral MANPADS (this is not a misprint, obviously the French really like this name), which are analogs of the Russian Needle or the American Stinger, can hardly be taken seriously.
On the one hand, this cannot please me as an adherent of carrier-based aviation. The purchase of a Mistral-type UDC means a change in the shipbuilding paradigm of the Russian Navy. Simply put, the Navy is adopting the concept of a Western-style aircraft carrier fleet. It is possible to use Mistrals in landing operations only if there is a powerful air cover, otherwise the entire landing will turn into a bloody mess. The naval version of the Ka-52 attack helicopter is effective only against ground forces. Neither in range nor in combat capabilities, it will not be able to replace carrier-based fighter-bombers. Accordingly, for this entire strike grouping, escort and supply ships are needed. It turns out that Russia plans to create a powerful and balanced ocean-going fleet.
If this is not the case, then buying a Mistral is like an adventure. Either the naval command does not intend to use French ships in amphibious operations, i.e. for their intended purpose.
Money down the drain?
Mistral is the French name for a cold wind blowing in the Rhone Valley. Will the UDC with this name become a waste of money "down the drain" in the literal and figurative sense? According to one radical internet user, Russian admirals bought themselves two foreign cars, each worth $ 2 billion.
It seems strange: for the Russian fleet, in general, useless ships have been acquired, which have no place in the modern concept of using the Russian Navy, without escort ships and, most importantly, without the presence of numerous marines and means of landing them.
Maybe I shouldn’t exaggerate. With the purchase of the Mistral, the domestic shipbuilding industry will have access to the latest world technologies. Perhaps this is true, but then it is not clear why 4 ships of this type were needed.
In principle, the conversation is not about the fact that it is bad to acquire foreign military equipment. It’s just not bad that we are trying to borrow the best solutions and designs. The point is that these billions could be spent more efficiently by purchasing other models of European ships instead of UDC, which are really necessary for the fleet. As an option - Spanish frigates of the "Alvaro de Bazan" class. Even without the Aegis system (the sale of which is out of the question), they represent a powerful and modern complex of naval weapons. Most likely, the dimensions played here - the Mistral looks much more solid than a frigate with a displacement of 6,000 tons.
In my personal opinion, the Russian Navy is now in such a state that any warship is of value to it. Better to let the seamen get the Mistral than these funds go offshore.
Bon voyage!
