January 1996 Being only 14 years old, the aircraft carrier "Novorossiysk" was sold to a South Korean company for scrap, taken to the port of Busan and subsequently dismantled for scrap.
The story of the appearance of the third Soviet aircraft carrier cruiser is not entirely common. At first, its construction was not envisaged at all. Moreover, in parallel with the development of the PKR 1143 project in the USSR, research was carried out on the creation of classic aircraft carriers with ejection launch and landing aircraft (R&D "Order"). But with the appointment in 1976 to the post of Defense Minister D. F. Ustinov, a well-known supporter of vertical take-off and landing aircraft (VTOL), it was still decided to direct the main efforts "to further improve the ships - carriers of VTOL aircraft." By a decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR of February 1, 1977, the construction of the third (delivery date - 1979), as well as the fourth anti-ship missile system (delivery date - 1982) was approved with some changes (increase in the number of LAC to 30, abandonment of the torpedo weapons) and the maximum use of the documentation of the lead ship (project 1143M).
When developing the abbreviated project 1143M, it was assumed that promising VTOL Yak-38P (fighters) would already be based on the third anti-ship missile system, hydroacoustics were replaced and, for the first time in the domestic fleet, it would be provided for the deployment on board the landing force under simplified conditions (for a period of 10 - 15 days), as well as the possibility of receiving on the runway and temporary basing on the upper deck of heavy transport helicopters.
It was planned to name the ship "Baku", according to the tradition of giving aircraft-carrying ships the names inherited from the leaders of the destroyers - in honor of the capitals of the Union republics. But at the suggestion of the Minister of Defense of the USSR A. A. Grechko, the cruiser received the name "Novorossiysk". On June 24, 1975, he was enlisted in the lists of ships of the USSR Navy. In this case, there was officially no continuity in the name of the cruiser with the Black Sea battleship Novorossiysk (formerly Giulio Cesare). Apparently, the Main Political Directorate and other "authorities" were guided by the geographical "binding" of the ship's name to "Malaya Zemlya" - the name of the book of the then General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee widely propagated in those years.
Abbreviated technical project 1143M (chief designer - A. V. Marinich) was developed in January and approved by the Navy and SME in July 1975. On September 30, the laying of the ship (S-103) took place on the slipway "0" of the ChSZ.
The cruiser provided for the basing of 28 Yak-36M VTOL aircraft (Yak-38) and / or Ka-252PL helicopters and two Ka-252PS rescue helicopters. GAS "Orion" was replaced by the automated sonar complex (AGAK) "Polynom", and the torpedo armament was abolished. By reducing the gaps between the aircraft in the hangar, their number was increased to 24. Six more machines were in the technical position of the flight deck (starboard side), the bypass bridge in the starboard area was made 1, 2 m lower in height than on the aircraft carrier of project 1143. If necessary, all 30 LACs were located in the hangar with some restrictions.
Taking into account the replacement of hydroacoustics and the abolition of torpedo armament, the ship was equipped with a new Purga anti-submarine weapon control system. The "Salgir" navigation complex was replaced by a more modern, modernized model - "Salgir-V". In addition, the project provided for the possibility of installing on board, already during the construction of the ship, a backup radar for general detection and target designation "Topaz-IV" (upon completion of its tests and development on the "Bedovy" DBK). The volumes of the premises on the 5th deck, obtained as a result of the abandonment of torpedo armament, were used to equip additional three-tier crew quarters and landing rooms for 90 people with weapons and supplies.
The ship was equipped with the Alley-2K BIUS (collecting, processing, storing and displaying information as part of providing the flagship functions of a compound consisting of nine surface ships), as well as a prototype of the Podkat radar complex for detecting small-sized cruise missile-type targets with small EPR, following at low altitudes (up to 100 m) at a distance of up to 33.7 km (with the possibility of automatic tracking of targets, determination of movement parameters, generation and delivery of target designation data for 15 air defense systems of the aircraft carrier itself and ships of the formation). This was to increase the capabilities of the air defense missile cruiser in the new conditions. Finally, the previous 89-1 active dampers were replaced by more advanced 89-3 with an increased area of the side rudders.
Another distinctive feature of the Novorossiysk was the shape of the leading edge of the so-called small sponson, located forward of the corner deck - it lacked the double ledge characteristic of Kiev and Minsk, which caused strong splashing and the formation of vortex air currents above the flight deck. On the upper deck of the ship, they installed (albeit already in Sevastopol) leveling devices (VU) - three vertical screens for straightening air flows.
The complexes of electronic, artillery and missile weapons, as well as the power plant, were initially supposed to be kept the same as in project 1143. However, during the construction of the ship, it was decided to make a number of improvements. So, in connection with the adoption by the US Navy in the summer of 1977 of a new low-altitude anti-ship missile "Harpoon", the Nevskoe Design Bureau, on behalf of the leadership of the SME and the Navy command, urgently prepared proposals for the modernization of ships of projects 1143 and 1143M in order to increase their combat stability. It turned out that for the successful solution of the task, it is necessary, first of all, to increase the depth of the air defense zone of naval formations with the enhancement of naval anti-aircraft and electronic weapons. The possible scope of work on the third and fourth "gyrfalcones", taking into account the time to create new types of weapons and the timing of the delivery of the ships themselves, were discussed at a special meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. To strengthen the air defense of the third aircraft carrier, it was supposed to equip it with two built-in modules of the newest air defense missile system "Dagger" (instead of the air defense missile system DB "Osa-M") and missile and artillery complexes "Kortik" (instead of the AK-630M), as well as the radar complex "Podkat" (instead of the radar "Topaz-IV"). It was necessary to modify both the electronic armament and the means of communication of the ship - mainly due to the change in the composition of its aviation and missile-artillery armament. The volumes for the implementation of these measures were obtained due to the exclusion of the cellar of spare anti-ship missiles "Basalt". Taking into account the adjustments of those. of the project on the adopted changes, the descent of "Novorossiysk" was postponed to 1978.
But the changes in the project affected not only air defense systems. Along the way, it was decided to provide on the ship the basing of 36 aircraft *, including the developed deck-based vertical takeoff and landing fighters Yak-41, attack aircraft Yak-38 and Ka-252 helicopters of three modifications (PLO, PS and RLD), as well as equip on the runway there are three gas venting devices (GOU) - to protect the flight deck from hot gas jets up to 1200 ° during the vertical launch of the Yak-41.
In addition, it was required to increase the stocks of aviation fuel by 50%. The mines of the GOU, closed in the upper part with heat-resistant gas-dynamic grids, were provided under the starting positions No. 3, 4 and 5, had a variable diameter of 3 - 5 m and passed from the flight deck downward and further under the corner deck (sponson) overboard. There were difficulties with the development of a constructive solution and the choice of material for these gratings, as well as a heat-resistant coating of the flight deck. These alterations entailed the postponement of the delivery date of the ship from 1979 to 1982.
With the exception of a number of differences in the composition and placement of radar antenna posts and electronic warfare equipment, the appearance of the aircraft carrier of the project 1143M has changed slightly, although the redevelopment of the general arrangement was very significant and covered about 1000 (up to 40% of the total) rooms in which, as a result of the re-adjustment of the project it was necessary to carry out "live" dismantling and installation work.
Technical project 11433 (originally 1143.3; chief designer V. F. Anikiev) was developed in December 1977 and approved in May 1978, when the formation of the Novorossiysk hull on the slipway was already completed - even all the mines of the GOU were mounted, covering them with gratings. On December 26, 1978, the aircraft carrier was solemnly launched and put on completion
Shooting SAM "Storm" aircraft carrier "Novorossiysk"
Meanwhile, the attitude towards GOU continued to be ambiguous. The experiments carried out in Zhukovsky did not give grounds for particular optimism about their application. In the end, according to the joint decision of the MAP, SME, Navy and Air Force of the USSR dated October 10, 1979, the mines and gratings of the GOU, "as not justifying their purpose according to the test results," were dismantled, and the premises through which they passed were restored according to the original project, which also entailed a lot of additional alterations.
But the problems did not end there. Due to the lag in terms of development and manufacture of prototypes provided for by the Kinzhal SAM and Kortik SAM project, Novorossiysk did not receive this weapon. Instead, the proven 30-mm AK-630M assault rifles were mounted, while they decided not to return to the standard Osa-M air defense systems for its predecessors - as a result, the ship was left without short-range air defense systems at all!
Due to problems with the creation of new aircraft, the air group of the third aircraft carrier had to be completed from the Yak-38 (later replaced by the Yak-38M). This was partially offset by the presence of more advanced second-generation helicopters, the Ka-27. In addition, promising LACs and helicopters weighing up to 15 tons could be based on Novorossiysk, and Mi-8, Mi-14 and even Mi-6 helicopters weighing up to 37 tons could be taken on the deck (without being placed in the hangar) for the prompt delivery of cargo or landing troops. It was also possible to start the engines from the ship's power supply system. The total reserve of aviation fuel was 1500 tons, the largest - up to 1650 tons.
Mooring tests of the aircraft carrier "Novorossiysk" (tail number 137) took place from September 1 to December 27, 1981. On November 24, the crew settled on the basis of the 7th OPESK in Severomorsk. January 5, 1982 ship
left for Sevastopol, where until the 25th he was docked for cleaning and painting the underwater part and adjusting the equipment. From January 29 to April 12, "Novorossiysk" successfully passed the factory sea trials (the main responsible deliverer G. I. Zhurenko, commander - Captain 1st rank B. P. Chernykh). At the very beginning of the tests on the ship, the turbocharging unit TNA-3 of one of the main boilers failed, which jeopardized the timely delivery of the cruiser. Usually, the replacement of this unit takes several months, but in this case, the plant workers did it in a few days. The emergency THA was moved through temporary cutouts to the hangar, and from there to the upper deck. The unique operation ended when a similar TNA-3 was delivered in reverse order from the Baku-based aircraft carrier that was being completed.
State tests of "Novorossiysk" were held at the Black Sea Fleet training ranges from April 12 to May 28, with a break to participate in the parade of ships dedicated to Victory Day. On May 12, the aircraft carrier entered the range - the strike complex "Basalt-11433" (launchers No. 1, 2 and 6) was tested by firing a single rocket and a two-rocket salvo. In both cases, the target - BKShch (69x13 m) and the target of project 1784 were hit by direct hits at a distance of 88 km. The Commission noted cases of damage to light structures on the deck of the ship due to the impact of rocket launch booster torches.
Launch of a cruise missile Basalt from the aircraft carrier "Novorossiysk"
The AK-726 and AK-630M artillery complexes were tested by firing at the MKSCh, the RM-15 target, mock-ups of floating mines and a simulated air target, and the RBU-6000 installation was tested at the limiting guidance angles on the 53-56 practical torpedo going to the ship. They successfully passed the firing tests, and the commission also accepted the 140-mm complex for setting false targets PK-2 and the anti-submarine complex RPK-1.
On May 20-27, 11 shots of the Shtorm missile launcher took place at the M-6 parachute targets, the maritime target (BKShch) and the La-17M radio-controlled target. True, in three cases at once the facts of departure from a given trajectory and the fall into the water of missiles fired from the bow launcher were noted - as a consequence of a general design flaw. The commission recommended to increase the sectors of fire, especially in the "low-flying target" mode, for which the angle of launch of the missile defense system in the vertical plane was increased. Re-shooting after completing this work was credited.
During the state tests of VTOL aircraft Yak-38 and Yak-38U performed from the ship 112, helicopters Ka-27 - 108, Ka-25 - 51, Mi-6 - 10 and Mi-8-139 flights, including those provided for testing. Unfortunately, it was not without an accident - in April a Ka-27 helicopter fell on the deck, one sailor was killed by a fragment of a propeller.
On May 28 "Novorossiysk" arrived in Nikolaev and was delivered to the embankment of the Big Bucket of ChSZ for revision and painting. According to the conclusion of the commission, the program of state tests was completed in full; as a supplement, it was only recommended to determine the possibility of takeoff and landing at night in a group of four helicopters
at an air flow rate up to 20 m / s, rolling up to 10 ° and pitching up to 3 °.
In addition, the commission did not accept the AGAK "Polynom" (its acceptance was expected only in December 1982 on the lead nuclear missile cruiser of the project 1144 "Kirov" built at the Baltic Shipyard). The ship also did not have the Privod-SV complex for landing aircraft (later, its installation on Novorossiysk was completely abandoned). The Commission noted that when the ship's stern draft is less than 8.8 m, the POU-3 lifting and lowering device does not provide reliable sampling of the “towed body” (lowered antenna) of the GAS. Even in the absence of rough seas, this operation took a long time. It was also noted that the operation of the Podkat radar is negatively affected by such factors as shading of the visibility zones by the superstructure of the aircraft carrier, interference due to signal re-reflection and distortion of the directional patterns of both antennas located on the side walls of the superstructure.
Among the less significant, but rather curious and curious remarks were such as, for example, the installation of shut-off valves on fresh water tanks, due to which there were cases of flooding the cabins with water (in order to avoid this, it was recommended to install self-closing valves in the future - so, by the way, and was done on previous ships).
On August 12, the elimination of comments was completed, and two days later the acceptance certificate was signed. 6 years, 10 months and 14 days have passed from the moment of laying down to the delivery of the ship.
On August 15, 1982, the naval flag was solemnly raised on the Novorossiysk aircraft carrier, and the ship moved to Sevastopol. On November 24, the aircraft carrier was enrolled in the Pacific Fleet and began preparations for the transition to the Pacific Ocean (with a preliminary call to Severomorsk to participate in the celebrations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Northern Fleet). On one of the autumn days, while staying at the Coal Wall, a strong squall suddenly fell on the Novorossiysk - the ship was held in place only thanks to the help of an approaching tug. Later it turned out that the tugboat had damaged the titanium fairing of the GAS "Polynom", and the aircraft carrier had to be docked for repairs. By December 24, the crew had passed all the course tasks, and the Novorossiysk was enrolled in the permanent readiness ships.
It is important to note here that during the test of the cruiser, the Anglo-Argentine war began, and its first lessons confirmed the correctness of specialists about the need to strengthen the air defense and missile defense of ships. "Novorossiysk" in this respect was inferior even to "Kiev" and "Minsk". Despite the ability to detect air targets in advance with the help of the Podkat radar, especially attacking cruise missiles, the cruiser did not have firepower to defeat them - there was only a way out to broadcast the received data to the escort ships.
Minsk and Novorossiysk were based in the Pacific Ocean. In 1991, Minsk began to prepare for the transition to the shipyard in Nikolaev for repairs (50% of the cruiser's propulsion system did not work). On August 31, 1992, the flag of the Navy was lowered on the "Minsk" and in October the cruiser arrived at the place of conservation (in a layover) in Postovaya Bay in Sovetskaya Gavan. October 20, 1995 "Minsk" was taken by tug to South Korea for cutting into metal. And in 1998 the TAKR "Minsk" was resold to a Chinese company and after a complex of works from 27.09.2000 is used as a museum and entertainment center in the port of Shenzhen (Hong Kong region). Second Chinese Museum of the Soviet Navy! Remember the remark of one of the presenters on Radio Day, directed into the corridor?
In 1990, Novorossiysk underwent a two-year repair;
January 28, 1991 - underwent tests after repair, having completed some tasks, but it was not possible to fully return the ship to service after repair …
May 1991 - the ship was laid down by the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy. Point.
January 1993 - a fire broke out in the engine room while in the sludge on the ship.
June 30, 1993 - the aircraft carrier "Novorossiysk" is disarmed and expelled from the Russian Navy.
January 1996 - the aircraft carrier "Novorossiysk" was sold to a South Korean company for scrap, taken to the port of Busan and subsequently dismantled for metal …
The last of the Mohicans:
Left - "RIGA" (in the future "VARYAG", sold to China), on the right "TBILISI" (in the future "ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV")
