In the 1990s, the American fleet underwent a monstrous looting and reduction: more than 400 warships were sent for scrap. The process of the global reduction of the Navy has even affected the holy of holies - amphibious forces. In less than a decade, the fleet has lost 20 Newport-class amphibious assault ships (an analogue of Soviet large landing ships with a bow ramp), 5 Anchorage-class amphibious assault ships, 10 Austin-class amphibious dock transports, as well as 5 Charleston-class amphibious transports »For the delivery of materials and heavy equipment to the landing zone.
Observing the degradation of the first largest fleet, strategists from the Pentagon feverishly scrolled through their minds possible solutions to the problem: is it possible to replace dozens of decommissioned ships with 10-12 highly efficient designs, thereby preserving their former power at a lower cost? The answer to the question was LSD (X) - a project of a promising transport and landing platform, created taking into account all the requirements of the new time and the most modern achievements in the field of science and technology. The concept of the new ships turned out to be close to the transport-docks of the "Austin" type - unlike the European "Mistrals" and "Juan Carlos", the main emphasis was placed on the capacity of cargo decks and the number of crew quarters. A capacious "ferry" for the delivery of expeditionary forces to the combat zone with subsequent unloading using its own means or landing equipment from other ships.
In addition to its main task - transoceanic transportation - the new transport dock was supposed to ensure the presence of the US Navy in the troubled regions of the oceans, to participate in counter-terrorist operations and humanitarian missions. Among other mandatory requirements is unification with all existing and promising amphibious assault vehicles of the Marine Corps: light and heavy helicopters, converters, amphibious tracked transporters, high-speed boats and air-cushion landing vehicles. The ship must be able to stand up for itself in battle, but its cost must remain within the $ 800 million range.
USS San Antonio (LPD-17) and USS New York (LPD-21). 6, 4 tons of steel from the ruins of the World Trade Center are symbolically used in the construction of the "New York" hull.
As a result, on December 9, 2000, the USS San Antonio was laid down - the lead ship of the same type, which became a representative of the new generation Landing platform dock (LPD-17). The most noticeable feature of the San Antonio was the widespread introduction of stealth technology - despite the deliberately impossible task of camouflaging a 200-meter ship against the background of the sea surface, the Yankees used a whole range of simple and ingenious solutions that made it possible to reduce the detection range of the dock transport several times enemy radars.
Simple and clean lines of settings, the upper part of the side is piled up "inward", a minimum of openings and radio-contrast details. Particular attention was paid to details - a special shaped anchor hawse, a stealth casing for a folding crane, widespread use of radio-absorbing materials …
Of particular interest are the unusual pyramidal masts Advanced Enclosed Mast / Sensor System (AEM / S) - 28-meter hexagonal structures made of composites, balsa and carbon fiber reinforced plastic, inside which a complex of antenna devices is hidden. In addition to a significant decrease in the ship's radar signature, the use of AEM / S allowed reducing the number of mutual interference during the operation of many electronic devices, as well as increasing the resource of the equipment, protecting the antenna devices from the influence of adverse weather conditions.
Hidden inside the fantastic masts are the AN / SPS-48E general detection radar, the AN / SPQ-9B two-dimensional radar for tracking the horizon, satellite communications equipment, and the TACAN helicopter drive and landing radio navigation system. Another AN / SPS-73 navigation radar is installed under the nose fairing.
All means of detecting the ship are combined into a single information network AN / SPQ-14 Advanced Sensor Distribution System (ASDS).
Responsible for communication is AN / USQ-119E (V) 27 - Global Command and Control System - Maritime (GCCS-M).
For logistics during the disembarkation / unloading of personnel, equipment and equipment - AN / KSQ-1 Amphibious Assault Direction System. It is a server that automatically maintains communication with the landing craft and calculates their current position in space.
The three-coordinate surveillance radar AN / SPS-48E is another modification of the well-known radar with a phased array, created at the turn of the 60-70s. Similar systems are used on aircraft carriers such as "Nimitz".
The complex of self-defense equipment Mk.1 Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS), in addition to the above detection means, includes:
- 2 SAM self-defense Mk.31 RAM - 21-charge launchers with melee missiles;
- 2 automatic cannons Mk.46 caliber 30 mm with remote guidance;
- system for shooting passive interference Mk.36 SBROC;
- electronic warfare system AN / SLQ-32 (V) 2.
In addition, on board there is a towed anti-torpedo trap-rattle "Nixie" and another system for shooting dipole reflectors Mk.53 NULKA.
To participate in serious conflicts in the bow of the LPD, it is possible to install 16 UVP Mk.41 with ammunition of 64 ESSM anti-aircraft missiles, but at the moment none of the ships of this class carry such weapons.
In general, despite the abundance of beautiful names and abbreviations, the San Antonio self-defense complex is not able to protect the ship from modern means of attack. All hope is only for the destroyers that are part of his escort.
Transport and landing capabilities
As noted above, "San Antonio" has a different purpose than the European UDC - a continuous flight deck and a helicopter hangar were sacrificed to the cargo decks and quarters of the Marines.
According to official statements, the LPD-17's interior spaces provide unprecedented space and comfort for personnel. The ship was designed taking into account the current trends of the US Navy - special attention is paid to the accommodation of persons of both sexes: there are separate women's and men's quarters and restrooms on board. The great achievement of the designers is called the increased inter-tier distance between the bunks of the paratroopers, the presence of its own ventilation system at each berth. The bunks have folding tables / cup holders, and there is WiFi internet in each cubicle. There is a gym on board, as well as dedicated lounges and briefings …
Despite such a "glaring" level of comfort, which does not allow feeling all the hardships and hardships of the army service, on board the San Antonio, it was possible to provide space for 396 crew members and 700 marines (with the possibility of increasing the landing group due to the use of additional premises). For comparison, the estimated capacity of the Mistral is 450 paratroopers.
Also on board the amphibious transport dock there are:
- three cargo decks for trucks and armored vehicles with an area of 2229 sq. meters;
- two cargo holds with a volume of 963 cubic meters m;
- fuel tanks (kerosene JP-5) with a volume of 1190 cubic meters. m;
- tank with diesel. fuel with a volume of 38 cubic meters. meters.
The landing capabilities of the LPD-17, on the contrary, are poorly expressed. The aft dock chamber has a capacity of two hovercraft (LCAC). The aircraft hangar can accommodate only one heavy helicopter (CH-53E) or a V-22 Osprey tiltrotor. Or two medium-sized CH-46 "SeaNight" helicopters. Or three light Iroquois.
The flight deck in the aft part of the San Antonio allows preparation for departure of two tiltrotors or up to four light helicopters at the same time.
There is an onboard crane for launching / lifting landing craft and RHIB semi-rigid boats from the water.
Finally, issue price.
During the construction and retrofitting of the ship with additional systems, its cost exceeded the calculated figure by two times - to date, the average cost of a San Antonio-class LPD is $ 1.6 billion. The cost of the last ships in the series has already exceeded $ 2 billion. Northrop Grumman to keep the cost of the works within the agreed schedule, the series of transports-docks was limited to 11 units. To date, the US Navy has 8 LPDs of this type, three more transport docks are at the stage of completion.
For comparison, the Russian "Mistrals" cost the treasury at a price of 800 million dollars for each ship (the total cost of the contract for the construction of two UDCs is 1.2 billion euros). Such a great difference in the cost of European and American amphibious assault ships is explained by the cardinal differences in their design and construction.
Compared to the Mistral, the American transport dock has a better chance of surviving in a war zone. Unlike the "European", which was designed according to the standards of civil shipbuilding, the "San Antonio" was created as a real warship, which is why it is able to withstand a powerful hydrodynamic shock, is more durable and tenacious. Three knots faster. More perfect means of detection and self-defense. Stealth - all other things being equal, the enemy will spot the Mistral earlier.
But that's in theory. In practice, the American's advantage is not so obvious - indeed, the San Antonio has a better chance of avoiding serious consequences when detonated on a bottom mine, but an anti-ship missile hit can become equally fatal for both ships. Ultimately, the safety and security of any UDC or transport dock is determined by the capabilities of their escort. So, was it worth investing an extra billion in a slightly stronger case and stealth technology? From the point of view of the US Navy, with its immense budget, it was worth it. After all, they can afford it.
It is noteworthy that the San Antonio LPD is the first major US Navy ship, whose design was carried out in the metric system (instead of the traditional American feet / pounds / inches)
Big money is not always a guarantee of success. For example, the head USS San Antonio (LPD-17) became famous for a large number of technical faults.
A year after entering service, the ship went to Post Shakedown Availability (short repairs and upgrades after the first months of service, correcting all identified deficiencies). The standard procedure for US Navy ships was unexpectedly delayed - in July 2007, the Northrop Grumman office received an irritated letter from the Pentagon, signed by the Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter: ship.
The renovation was completed by the end of the year, but the troubles did not end there.
In August 2008, "San Antonio" was not able to go on time to a military campaign due to a breakdown of the drive of the stern wall of the docking chamber. Two months later, while in position in the Persian Gulf, LSD-17 again required urgent repairs in Bahrain (problem with fuel lines). In February 2009, while passing through the Suez Canal, one of the engines suddenly switched to reverse mode - as a result, the newest ship was nearly smashed against the bottom and walls of the canal.
The process of entering San Antonio into operation was accompanied by a two-year series of repairs at the Norfolk shipyards, scandals with the dismissal of responsible persons and the breakdown of contracts with unscrupulous suppliers.
In principle, this is a typical situation for any of the fleets when testing new equipment. The US Navy is no exception. Money is important, but even money cannot solve all problems.
Perspectives
The very fact of the appearance of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock testifies to a simple and obvious situation: despite all the colorful descriptions of the tactics of using amphibious groups, the US Navy does not plan to conduct amphibious operations. All stories about the "over-the-horizon landing" are nothing more than fairy tales for impressionable inhabitants. A landing from the side of the sea will be, at best, a distraction or turn into a "point" sortie of a special forces group. Using San Antonio in a major war is pure suicide. But why do the Yankees continue to build such ships? The Pentagon is well aware of the purpose of "San Antonio" - if you call a spade a spade, then LPD-17 should be called a "comfortable ship".
All major wars of our time are conducted according to a single scenario - the Yankees unload equipment, soldiers and equipment in the port of a nearby state for several months, and then, breaking through the land border, proudly enter the territory of the chosen victim. It is much easier, safer and more rewarding than sailing on a flimsy boat, fearing a stray shell, and then crawling out knee-deep in water to the shore, overgrown with thorns under the fire of enemy tanks and machine guns. No cover with their heavy armored vehicles. With a multiple numerical superiority of the enemy. This is madness.
Americans act differently.
Tanks, materials and fuel will be delivered to the nearest port by Maritime Command transports. But what about the personnel in this case? The American contractors will flee after learning that they have to spend a month in the stuffy hold of the ship. For these cases, there is "San Antonio" - a comfortable motor ship that will deliver to the other end of the Earth a couple of battalions of marines, with personal weapons, equipment and heavy equipment. Cheap, convenient, effective. And then it will go on the next flight on the Norfolk - Persian Gulf route.
That is why there is only one helicopter on board and a clear disregard for amphibious means. Why would San Antonio haul dozens of helicopters when it plans to unload onto the dock using a ramp? And if necessary, helicopters will help, which will arrive from the nearest coastal base.
But these are plans for the future … In the meantime, 2 billion ships are chasing feluccas of Somali pirates and provide the US naval presence in the most troubled corners of the world.
A couple of pictures of the interior of "San Antonio"
