The fate of warships is different. Some die in battle. Others slowly and inevitably collapse at the pier from old age. The nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Lazarev served in the Pacific Fleet.
Confrontation concept
For several decades of the twentieth century in the world, the confrontation of two states: the USSR and the USA. In various forms, competition and rivalry were observed on land, in heaven and at sea. According to an unofficial classification, America was considered a sea power, and the Soviet Union was a land one. However, since the reign of Emperor Peter I, Russia began to establish itself in the vast expanses of the globe. For this "statement" for a long period of time it was necessary to create a powerful production base.
The heavy nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Lazarev was laid on the stocks of the Baltic Shipbuilding Plant in July 1978. This enterprise had all the necessary conditions for the construction of modern ships for the needs of the Navy. The laying of the ship was preceded by events that led to another aggravation in the confrontation of countries on the ocean expanses. The appearance at the likely theater of operations of the American cruiser with the Long Beach nuclear power plant was perceived by the Soviet General Staff as a serious threat.
The terms of reference for the design of a heavy nuclear missile cruiser - TARK - were adjusted several times. Specialists tried to create a ship with a powerful strike complex and a reliable system of protection against existing threats. The American fleet was armed with aircraft carriers that were used to destroy targets, both at sea and on land. The Soviet cruiser was created with effective protection from aircraft, surface ships and submarines. At the same time, on board it was necessary to place ammunition for conducting military operations, the necessary resources to power the crew and fuel for power plants.
The Orlan project adopted for implementation provided for the construction of four ships. In the early 60s, the naval forces of the Soviet Union were based on four support bases. The first cruiser was intended to serve in the Northern Fleet. The second brother, who received the name "Frunze" during the laying, was preparing for combat duty in the Pacific Ocean. It should be emphasized that in April 1992 the missile carrier was renamed Admiral Lazarev. According to the design system adopted at that time, updates and additions were made to the design of each next ship.
Design features
The design process, and then the production of structural elements and assembly of the ship stretches for several years. This feature has to be taken into account by the staff of the General Staff who are developing military strategic plans. For the three years during which the ship’s hull is going, more advanced and effective types of weapons are being adopted. In air defense at Admiral Lazarev, obsolete installations were replaced with new systems. On the cruiser installed anti-aircraft missile system "Dagger" and anti-aircraft artillery complex "Dagger". The created density of fire does not allow enemy aircraft to approach the ship for targeted bombing.
Submarines pose a serious threat to surface objects. The most durable ship’s hull is “stitched” by a direct hit by a torpedo. In a combat situation, it is very important to timely detect the threat and neutralize it. To solve this problem, a search complex "Waterfall" and a rocket launcher for deep bombing were installed on the cruiser. As a result of the update, the effectiveness of anti-submarine defense has increased significantly.
The military technical council decided to modernize the stern of the ship. They equipped a landing pad for helicopters and a hangar for three cars. Heavy helicopters are able to carry out reconnaissance and search operations and conduct bombing on underwater targets. Under the deck there is a fuel storage and ammunition storage area. Separate cabins are fenced off for pilots and maintenance personnel.
The main strike force of Admiral Lazarev is the Granit anti-ship missile system. Twenty of these installations are located in the bow of the ship. Cruise missiles with a launch weight of seven tons are capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 600 km. Low-flying cruise missiles after launch fly offline. It is very difficult to detect a missile by air defense systems. The probability of hitting a designated target is more than fifty percent. The naval forces of a potential enemy are still not able to achieve this level of efficiency.
On a combat shift
In October 1984, TARK "Admiral Lazarev" took up combat duty. After sea trials and verification of the control system, the missile carrier took part in large-scale exercises in the North Sea. The next important stage was the transition from the port of Severomorsk to the place of permanent registration in Vladivostok. This difficult route passed many Soviet ships. Having circled the African continent, the cruiser crossed the Indian Ocean and arrived at the Pacific Fleet base at the port of Fokino. After short-term parking and routine maintenance, the missile carrier received its first combat mission.
In the spring of 1985, the cruiser went to the open sea to conduct training firing in the indicated square. At that time, it was important for the naval forces of the Soviet Union to fix their presence in the central part of the Pacific Ocean. Until this time, the US Navy held a dominant position here. The demonstration of military force is a common occurrence in the vast oceans. The US Seventh Fleet conducted exercises at these latitudes at any time convenient for this. The presence of ships of a potential enemy created certain difficulties for the American admirals.
The Admiral Lazarev missile carrier area of responsibility included the ocean east of the Japanese islands. It is important to emphasize that battle cruisers go to the open sea only when accompanied by support ships. In addition to escort vessels, the leader of the Pacific Fleet interacted with the aircraft carrier cruiser Novorossiysk and the large anti-submarine ship Tashkent. Joint exercises allowed to improve the combat training of the crew, to maintain the combat effectiveness of the main and auxiliary systems of the ship.
