The most powerful and powerful in the Black Sea is the Turkish fleet, both in the number of ships and in total combat power.
The basis of the battle line of the Turkish fleet is 8 MEKO 200 frigates belonging to 2 different generations.
The most modern among them are 2 frigates of the MEKO 200 TN-IIB class "Barbarossa"
These ships have a total displacement of 3,350 tons. Two of them were built in Germany, and two - directly in Turkey. For their size, these small ships are quite well armed. The basis of their armament is a 16-round MK-41 launcher, designed for 16 RIM-162 ESSM (Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile) missiles. These anti-aircraft missiles were designed specifically to intercept low-flying maneuvering targets such as supersonic cruise missiles. The range of their action at a speed of almost 4 M is about 50 km, and a very perfect programmed guidance system allows them to have a high probability of intercepting modern missiles of any class.
The frigates' anti-ship armament is represented by 8 Harpoon missiles in 2 4-charge containers.
The ship's artillery consists of a standard 50-caliber 5-inch cannon and 3 (unusual for such a small ship) automatic 25-millimeter "Sea Zenith" cannons. Oerlikon cannons are considered to be very advanced systems of this class.
Anti-submarine armament of ships is limited by TA and a helicopter (which is not surprising, given that only Turkey has developed submarine forces in the Black Sea)
4 frigates of the Yavuz class (MEKO 200 TN-I) are smaller and weaker. Their main armament is limited to 8 ESSM air defense missile systems, which makes their anti-aircraft capabilities severely limited.
Eight large "G" class frigates complete the line of the Turkish fleet. They are heavily upgraded Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates transferred from the US Navy. Although these large ships are not young, they have nevertheless been significantly modernized.
The Turkish modernization of the ships provided for the installation of a 32-charge MK-41 launcher for ESSM self-defense missiles in the bow. This made it possible to significantly improve the frigates' capabilities to repel anti-ship missile salvo attacks and intercept modern missiles.
The main armament of the frigate is still the 32-charge beam launcher Mk-13 - one of the most advanced launchers in its class. Although this system belongs to the outdated generation of beam launchers and is not capable of firing more than one missile in a salvo, it is still capable of firing a missile every 8 seconds. Two 20-round drum magazines can hold long-range SM-1 MR Block III missiles.
Thus, the air defense of the frigates is two-echelon and very powerful.
The fire control system has undergone significant changes. The modernization of GENESIS has given it all the features of a modern system, in particular, the ability to track almost 1000 targets, a multifunctional radar, modern integration of weapons components and highly efficient control. In fact, these are now powerful and modern units that are powerful enough to participate in combat operations.
The anti-ship armament consists of 8 Harpoon missiles in the MK-13 launchers.
Corvettes Turkey has
Two of them are new, high-performance units built using Stealth technology. They belong to the Milgem series.
With a displacement of 2300 tons, these corvettes carry an arsenal of 8 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, a 21-charge RAM self-defense SAM system, and a 76-mm automatic cannon. Anti-submarine weapons are represented by a TA and a helicopter, which is supposed to be replaced by a UAV. At the moment, these ships are the only units on the Black Sea created using the Stealth technology.
Only two of these ships are already ready, but it is assumed that there will be more than 12 of them.
The 6 old B-class corvettes are much more primitive.
As a matter of fact, they represent large advice notes of "D'Estaing d'Orve" transferred to Turkey. They are armed with Otomat anti-ship missiles (which gives rise to problems with the procurement of spare parts), but generally do not have air defense systems and active air defense systems in excess of the 100-mm 55-caliber. Their combat capabilities are limited to escorting larger ships to enhance the volley.
The number of light units in the Turkish fleet is very large, and all of these are quite powerful missile boats.
The most modern are 9 German-built Kilik-class missile boats. Built in 1998-2010, these boats have a displacement of 552 tons, which gives them quite satisfactory seakeeping performance. A speed of 40 knots and a range of 1900 km at 30 knots makes it possible to attack any objects in the Black Sea. The ships are armed with 8 Harpoon missiles and an Oto Melara 76-mm automatic cannon, as well as a 40-mm anti-aircraft gun at the stern.
2 boats "Ildiz", 4 boats "Ruzan" and 4 boats "Dogan" are slightly older and less high-speed. Their maximum travel is about 38 knots. Otherwise, they are almost identical to the "Kilik" -class. They are almost as powerful units, the only drawback of which is the lack of air defense systems. In the Black Sea conditions, this may turn out to be a problem.
8 missile boats "Catral" - old ships of the 1970s. They have a displacement of only 206 tons and are armed with 8 short-range Penguin missiles. These ships do not have modern artillery and are of dubious value. In fact, they can only be effectively used in coastal defense; nevertheless, they have mine-laying systems, which makes it possible to use them as fast mine-layers.
There are 14 submarines in Turkey, all of which belong to the Type 209 series of German construction.
The most modern of them are 4 submarines Type 209T2 / 1400. These submarines, built in the 2000s, are the most modern submarines on the Black Sea. Their total displacement is 1586 tons. The underwater speed reaches 22 knots with a range of 700 km under water. The immersion depth is 500 m. Their main armament is 8 torpedo tubes with a diameter of 533 mm, which makes it possible to use them for placing mines and Harpoon missiles.
4 PL Type 209T1 / 1400 almost do not differ from the first, but are considered somewhat more noisy.
6 older submarines Type 209/1200, built in the 1970s, are somewhat outdated and unnecessarily noisy. Their speed is less, and the crew is more numerous. Nevertheless, taking into account the weakness of the submarines of other Black Sea powers, even these old submarines are very dangerous, especially operating in areas covered from aviation.
The landing force consists of 5 large amphibious assault ships and 40 small amphibious assault ferries.
Thus, the total strength of the Turkish squadron is determined at 16 frigates (total salvo - 128 Harpoon anti-ship missiles), 8 corvettes (general salvo - 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and 48 Otomat missiles), 21 modern missile boats (total salvo - 168 missiles "Harpoon") and 8 old (general salvo - 64 anti-ship missiles)
The Russian Black Sea Fleet ranks second in the Black Sea. Although it surpasses the Turkish in terms of the total tonnage of large units, most of these ships are rather outdated or have a number of shortcomings.
The most powerful ship of the Russian fleet is the cruiser Project 1164 "Moskva"
A fairly large and powerful ship (comparable in class to modern destroyers), it is the result of a chain of evolution of Soviet attack missile carriers. Its main armament - 16 P-1000 Vulkan missiles of increased range - can hypothetically hit a target anywhere in the Black Sea (in practice,due to difficulties with target designation - the absence of aerospace target designation systems that existed in Soviet times - this possibility is only hypothetical)
At the same time, the air defense of the cruiser is completely insufficient for a ship of this size. The S-300F air defense system is good enough, but there are only 64 missiles, which is completely insufficient to repel a sufficiently massive salvo from aircraft or surface ships. The Osa-M short-range air defense system is outdated and does not provide effective destruction of high-speed targets like the AGM-84 HARM. Six 30-mm automatic cannons are powerful enough, but due to problems with the guidance system, they are inferior to similar Vulcan-Falanx systems.
The main drawback is that there is only one cruiser in service, and if it fails for technical or military reasons, there is nothing to replace it with.
The second large ship is the Project 1134-B Kerch BPK. With its large dimensions (8,800 tons), the ship has a rather unsatisfactory air defense of 2 two-beam launchers of the Shtorm air defense missile system (a total of 80 missiles) and 2 Osa air defense systems. The ship's anti-ship armament is limited by PLUR "Rastrub-B" in the amount of 8 pieces. These PLURs, although good enough against submarines, are completely useless against surface ships, since they have an effective radius of 90 km, which is much less than the range of anti-ship missiles.
BOD "Ochakov" project 61 is hopelessly outdated.
Despite the modernization and armament of the ship with 8 X-35 "Uran" missiles, this ship is too weak and worn out to pose any danger to modern units. Its Volna air defense system does not pose a threat even to single aircraft.
Two MPK project 1135 are small frigates with a displacement of about 3200 tons.
Their main armament - 4 PLUR "Rastrub-B", which actually makes it impossible for them to conduct a naval battle. Two air defense systems "Osa" are able to repel only single attacks and do not pose any threat to aircraft due to their short range.
Russia has about 10 small units. The most modern of them are two Project 1239 air-cushioned missile launchers.
MRK project 1239 - powerful and modern units. Possessing a very high travel speed, they can deliver powerful blows with their supersonic Mosquito anti-ship missiles (8 pieces each). In the Black Sea, these ships, having the ability to move on flat ground, can be very dangerous for any enemy. Unfortunately, due to the limited range of the Moskit anti-ship missile system (120 km) and the high fragility of the structure, these ships are forced to approach the enemy very closely. Complexes "Osa-M" can be considered only as partial protection, they are not capable of hitting air targets at a distance of more than 15 km and at an altitude of more than 4.5 km, which makes it possible for aircraft and helicopters to successfully hit MRK.
Two RTOs of project 12341 are smaller and more primitive.
They are oversized missile boats of high seaworthiness. Their armament is 6 Malakhit anti-ship missile launchers, subsonic anti-ship missiles with a range of up to 150 km, which makes them insufficiently powerful for modern naval combat. Nevertheless, these ships have the Osa-M air defense system and are generally superior to any Turkish missile boat.
There are 5 missile boats, all project 12411.
4 of them are armed with Moskit anti-ship missiles (4 each) and one with Termit anti-ship missiles (which makes it completely useless). A number of boats underwent modernization and received a new air defense system "Broadsword", which dramatically increased their efficiency.
The only Russian submarine on the Black Sea - project 877V "Alrosa"
In the 2000s, the submarine "Alrosa" was equipped with a water jet, which sharply reduced its noise level. However, this submarine is only one, which makes it of little use.
The Russian navy, in general, is a very dangerous force. He is the only one with supersonic anti-ship missiles. Nevertheless, in general, the number of combat-ready large units is very small. Of the 3 ships, only Project 1164 RRC has powerful anti-ship missiles and powerful air defense.
The light forces of the navy are generally quite dangerous, but few in number. Their effectiveness can be severely limited in the conditions of enemy aviation domination. Mosquito-class anti-ship missiles are certainly very dangerous, but their radius does not exceed (or even inferior) the radius of the latest modifications of the Harpoon anti-ship missile system.
The Romanian Navy is the third most powerful in the Black Sea.
The backbone of the Romanian fleet is 3 frigates.
The frigate Marazesti, built in Romania in the 1980s, is a rather unusual ship.
Built using civilian shipbuilding technologies, it has a displacement of almost 5,500 tons, which allows it to be classified as a destroyer. Its armament is quite outdated - these are 8 P-20 anti-ship missiles (modified P-15), 4 76-mm autocannons and 430-mm automatic cannons. The ship does not carry anti-aircraft missiles, making it usable only under the protection of other units. In general, its combat capabilities are low.
Two Type-22 frigates are the backbone of Romania's forces.
Each of them, with a displacement of 5300 tons, is armed with the Sivulf self-defense air defense system. This small missile with a launch range of 10 km can effectively engage low-flying targets. The main armament is 4 "Otomat" anti-ship missiles, quite powerful.
Romania has 4 corvettes, none of them has air defense systems or anti-ship missiles. In fact, these are large patrol ships of the Almirate Petre Barbuniani class. They have helicopters, which makes them applicable for anti-submarine warfare, but without air defense systems, their survival in modern warfare is impossible within the range of aircraft.
IRAs and missile boats Romania has 7, all armed with anti-ship missiles P-15. They are copies of the Soviet units of a similar class and do not differ in anything.
The Romanian navy is generally quite weak. He absolutely lacks ships with powerful air defense. Although only 2 frigates have some kind of air defense, it can only protect against small attacks.
The Bulgarian Navy is strong enough.
It is based on 4 Belgian-built frigates.
These ships with a displacement of only about 2,200 tons carry the Exocet anti-ship missile system (4 pieces) and the Sea Sparrow air defense missile systems (8 pieces), which makes them powerful enough for their small size. Although the anti-ship weapons of the ships are rather weak, they are nevertheless capable of performing their functions.
An old Soviet corvette of project 1159, armed with anti-ship missiles P-15 and SAM "Osa", is also in the fleet.
The fleet is supplemented by 4 small corvettes of class 1241.2 "Molniya-2". These small units are 500-ton Soviet ships with powerful artillery weapons. They are only suitable for patrolling, since they are not equipped with either anti-ship missiles or air defense systems.
The fleet also includes an old Project 633 submarine (outdated and noisy) and 3 old Osa missile boats
In general, the Bulgarian fleet is well balanced. Taking into account the small coast of Bulgaria, it is quite capable of fulfilling its tasks to protect it.
The Ukrainian Navy is in a very poor condition due to a lack of funding. Its real combat capability is low. However, there have been signs of an improvement in the situation lately.
The only large ship of the Ukrainian Navy is the Project 1135 frigate "Getman Sagaidachny"
A fairly large, 3300-ton ship frigate is armed only with the Osa air defense system and 100-mm artillery. He does not carry the RCC. The presence of powerful anti-submarine weapons (2 5-pipe torpedo tubes) and a helicopter makes it a good patrol unit.
4 MPK project 1241M form the basis of the Ukrainian line. All of them are armed with the Osa air defense system and artillery.
Two Project 12411T missile boats with Termit missiles and two Project 206 missile boats are the only missile launchers in the Ukrainian Navy.
