The route of the cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov to Syria. Is the march of Russian ships to Syria a show of force or something more? Putin laid out the route for Admiral Kuznetsov

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Despite the fact that the KAG Northern Fleet consisting of the TAVKR "Admiral Kuznetsov", TARKR "Peter the Great" and support vessels have not yetarrived at the permanent base(s) (expected 08-09.02.2017 − link 1 , link 2 ), there is already enough information to summarize the results of the eighth long-distance cruise (combat service) of our aircraft carrier and draw some conclusions.

01. Transit route of KAG "Kuznetsova"Severomorsk-Gibraltar, 15-25.10.2016 (screenshot from the 2nd part of “First combat exit” program "Military Acceptance" TRC Zvezda)

1. Achievements

The indisputable positive results achieved as a result of the almost four-month BS "Kuznetsov" (preliminarily - 117 days or 3,84 months), can be called seven:

1) contrary to all the gloomy forecasts (including those contained in the comments of some of my blog guests), the aircraft carrier came out after all on a long-distance military campaign and went out not with just one BOD, as often happened before, but accompanied by a very impressive (and not only by our standards) squad of escort ships (I hope that soon we will find out who was covering the KAG from under the water) ; For this purpose, shipbuilders (ship repairers), military sailors and deck pilots have made truly titanic efforts that deserve state awards;

2) as far as is known, the boiler-turbine power plant of an aircraft carrier, not unreasonably considered his “Achilles heel”, worked out without failures (at least without serious failures), which is the best evidence of high-quality pre-cruise repairs (by the forces of SRZ 35 and 82 and their contractors); at the Severomorsk-Gibraltar crossing (15-25.10.2016, 2 890 miles) KAG walked at an average speed 12,0 knots, i.e. the “flawed” “Kuznetsov” was not inferior to the nuclear-powered “Peter the Great” (22.10-01.11.2013 TARKR, while on a solo voyage, covered the same distance in the same time); in the Mediterranean Sea the group's progress slowed down significantly (10.25-08.11, 2 030 miles, 6,5 nodes), which was caused, among other things, the need to replenish supplies (one refueling with fuel and water takes about a day − link 3 , 36:35); average speed at the Severomorsk-Syria crossing ( 4 920 miles, 24 day) amounted to 8,5 node;

3) previously, "Admiral Kuznetsov" combined the duties of an air defense aircraft carrier (long-range air defense) and an anti-submarine helicopter carrier, starting from 11/08/2016 (from the date of the start of combat work along the coast) it It has every right classified as multi-purpose AB, and such a diverse air group has never been seen on board - heavy fighter-bombers (now exactly like this) Su-33, light MiG-29K(UB), attack helicopters Ka-52K, landing (transport-combat) Ka-29, AWACS Ka-31, anti-submarine Ka-27PL and search and rescue Ka-27PS;

4) the fact that the Su-33 will be able to effectively work against ground targets, came as a real surprise to the public(even for the author of the blog, who assumed the possibility of such a turn of events - ); results of the air group's combat work "Kuznetsova" for two months (59 days - 11/08/2016-01/06/2017), voiced by the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces V. Gerasimov, make an impression: 420 sorties ( 7,1 per day), of which - 117 at night ( 27,9 %), 1252 damaged terrorist facility ( 21,2 per day) (link 5 ) - most likely, this could not have happened without SVP-24-33;

5) the involvement of military sailors in the operation to combat terrorist groups allowed as soon as possible release from the militants the economic capital of Syria Aleppo" (V. Gerasimov, suspect him of deceit and exaggeration the role of the Russian Navy in the Battle of Syria, only possible with a hangover) (link 5);

6) despite the flow of swear words (mainly from the British Isles), the campaign of our CAG is clearly demonstrated to the world that Russia has combat-ready oceanfleet − not yet as numerous as we would like, but if necessary capable of gathering his forces into a fist and projecting them to any region of the planet;

7) there is confidence that after the end of the BS KAG "Kuznetsova" the attitude towards the navy and maritime service in Russia will change in better side, and it will change qualitatively, and there will no longer be a need to build new aircraft carriers cause doubts, bewilderment and accusations in squandering people's money to "bomb penguins" (from a remark one of my guests).

02. Transit route of the KAG "Kuznetsova" from Gibraltar to Syria, 10.25-11.08.2016 (screenshot from the 3rd part of the “First Combat Exit” of the “Military Acceptance” program of TRC Zvezda)

2. Big PR

Let me remind you that PR (from English.PR − Public Relations) is information purposefully disseminated by the media in order to attract attention to someone (something), and ultimately to form public opinion about someone (something) (wordingGoogleedited by the blog author).

Quote from a loved one (from an entry dated 03/05/2016 - one of many “FOR the hike”): “In conclusion, it’s worth saying (once again) that the next combat service of "Admiral Kuznetsov" in the Mediterranean Sea gives a rare chance to the ocean component of the Russian the navy to show itself in all its glory and strength. I really hope that Navy Commander-in-Chief and the country's leadership won't miss this opportunity" ( )... And they didn't miss .

I don’t remember such grandiose PR for the Russian Navy in my entire life. On the flight deck, in the pilothouse and In other rooms of the aircraft carrier, there were almost more journalists and cameramen of Russian media than there were full-time crew members of the ship. State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Russia, Channel 1,RT, NTV, Ren-TV, TRC Zvezda, T24 - everyone considered it their duty (and, presumably, great journalistic success) to be accredited on "Kuznetsov" during his historical voyage (I wouldn’t be surprised if on his The film crew from Dozhd was also on board. Numerous reports and at least two documentaries were produced frompen"Military Acceptance" lens and T(exno)24.

If what was said in paragraph 7 of the previous section corresponds (will correspond) to reality, the country and its Navywe must thank for this, first of all, those purely civilian “paratroopers” with cameras and microphones who landed on the deck of “our only one” throughout his entire combat service.

3. Envy of the Britons

The frenzied persecution of the Russian aircraft carrier by the British media (“rust trough”, “ship of shame”), in my opinion, has quite The obvious reason is envy. On the one hand, this is the envy of the subjects of the former empire, which nevercan't become an empire again, to another former empire that retained not only imperial ambitions, but also real opportunities again (for the third time) to put them into practice. On the other hand, this is the envy of the admiralsRoyal Navythat have not yet received from their military-industrial complexthe first large aircraft carrier in many years, but when the Kuznetsov entered the English Channel (with two Su-33s ready to jump onforward launch positions) suddenly realized that their F-35Bs were nothing more than “heavenly whatnots” that had no chance in full-fledged (maneuverable) air combat With Russian fighters even the previous generation, not to mention those that will replace them, and that the NavyGreatBritain will never again be the Grand Fleet.

4. Composition of the air group: revision

This audit of the composition of the Kuznetsov air group (which affected mainly its aircraft component) was intended to confirm the number of aircraft on board during combat service and to identify (confirm) tail numbers lost vehicles (MiG-29K 11/13/2016 and Su-33 12/03/2016). For this purpose, video and photographic materials were carefully reviewed, made after 12/03/2016 - during visits to the TAVKR by the Chief of the General Staff of the Syrian Armed Forces A. Ayyub (01/06/2017) and the Commander of the Libyan Armed Forces H. Haftar (01/11/2017), as well as on board the aircraft carrier and in Severomorsk-3 during the flight of the air group to a coastal airfield (02/03/2017).

Video reports from the press service of the Syrian Ministry of Defense and the Arab branch RT dated 01/06/2017, made just before departure"Kuznetsov" to Russia, allow you to track its aircraft fleet down to the machine. In the screenshots below can be seen: in the hangar - Su-33 b/n 88 and b/n xx; at launch positions No. 1 and No. 2 - Su-33 b/n 84 and xx; in technical positions TP6-TP15 (from bow to stern) − Su-33 b/n xx, 85, xx, 78, 66; on TP19-TP22 − MiG-29K(UB) no. 53, 52, 49, 41; a total of 9 Sukhoi and 4 MiGs (video 720 −link 7 , link 8 ) (technical item numbers - from Pavel Polikarpoff).

The absence of Su-33 b/n 67 and MiG-29K b/n 47 confirms their loss ( charly015 turned out to be right).

Helicopter component (compared to the previous entry on this topic − ) left unchanged for except for confirmation by a colleague milinfolive participation in the campaign of two Ka-52K (based on materials documentary film T24 TV channel −link 10 ). No new vehicles were identified, except for the Ka-27PL b/n 47 in Severomorsk-3, which most likely just "flying by". As a result, with a high degree of probability it can be argued that in the period 10/15/2016-02/03/2017 the following vehicles were on board the Kuznetsov:

Su-33 - 62 , 66 , 67 (lost) 71 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 84 , 85 , 88 ;
MiG-29KUB − 52 , 53 ;
MiG-29K − 41 , 47 (lost) 49 ;
Ka-52K − 2 cars without registration numbers;
Ka-27PS − 52 , 55 , 57 , 60 ; Ka-27PL − 32 , 45 ; Ka-29 − 23 , 75 ; Ka-31 − 90 .

Total in the air group : 10 Su-33, 2 /3 MiG-29 (KUB/K), 2 Ka-52K, 1 Ka-31, 2 Ka-29, 2 /4 Ka-27 (PL/PS), total 26 LA minus 2 = 24 LA. ■

Note 1 . Where did they come from on the way back?more than 40 aircraft naval aviation used to strike international terrorist groups" known only to I. Konashenkov (link 11 ), because even taking into account the three regular Peter the Great helicopters, there are only 27 of them.

Note 2 . In addition to combat sorties, carrier-based aircraft of the KAG SF carried out "750 mission sortiessearch and rescue, aviation and transport support, aerial reconnaissance and maintaining a favorable operational regime" (V. Gerasimov, link 5). Let's add here the demonstration flights of the Su-33 specifically for Syrian and Libyan distinguished guests.

03. Hangar "Kuznetsov" - Su-33 b/n 88 (in the foreground) and b/n xx, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from mod.gov.sy video)

04. Hangar "Kuznetsov" - Su-33 b/n 88 (in the foreground) and b/n xx, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from mod.gov.sy video)

05. Starting positions No. 1 and No. 2 - Su-33 b/n 84 (left) and b/n xx, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

06. Technical positions TP6-TP15 - Su-33 b/n 66 and 78, landing b/n 84, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

07. Technical positions TP6-TP15 - Su-33 b/n 66, 78 and b/n xx, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

08. Technical positions TP6-TP15 - Su-33 b/n 66, 78, b/n xx, b/n 85, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

09. Technical positions TP6-TP15 - Su-33 b/n 78 and b/n xx, lands b/n 84, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

10. Technical positions TP6-TP15 - Su-33 b/n xx, b/n 85 and b/n xx, lands b/n 84, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

11. Technical positions TP19-TP22 - MiGs b/n 53, 52, 49 and 41, landing Su-33 b/n 84, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from mod.gov.sy video)

12. Su-33 b/n 62 takes off from the TAVKR with the 3rd joint venture, heading to Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the Ministry of Defense video)

13. Su-33 b/n 62, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the Ministry of Defense video)

14. Su-33 b/n 66 and 77, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the video of TRC Zvezda)

15. Su-33 b/n 71 on the TAVKR stern lift, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the Ministry of Defense video)

16. Su-33 b/n 71 is preparing to take off from the TAVKR heading towards Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from Ren-TV video)

17. Su-33 b/n 76, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (photo of the Ministry of Defense from facebook.com)

18. Su-33 b/n 77 and 85, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the Ministry of Defense video)

19. Su-33 b/n 78, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the Ministry of Defense video)

20. Su-33 b/n 78, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (photo of the Ministry of Defense from facebook.com)

21. Su-33 b/n 84 on the deck of the TAVKR off the coast of Syria, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

22. Su-33 b/n 84, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (photo of the Ministry of Defense from facebook.com)

23. Su-33 b/n 85 and 84, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the video of TRC Zvezda)

24. Su-33 b/n 88 in the Kuznetsov hangar off the coast of Syria, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from arabic.RT video.com)

25. Su-33 b/n 88 in the Kuznetsov hangar off the coast of Syria, 01/06/2016 (screenshot from mod.gov.sy video)

26. MiG-29K b/n 41, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (photo of the Ministry of Defense from facebook.com)

27. MiG-29K b/n 49 takes off from TAVKR, heading to Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from Ren-TV video)

28. MiG-29K b/n 49, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from video of TV Russia 24)

29. MiG-29KUB b/n 52, MiG-29K b/n 49 (closer - b/n 53, further - b/n 41), 01/06/2016 (screenshot from the video of TRC Zvezda)

30. All four MiG-29K(UB) (w/n 52, 53, 41, 49) before departure to Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from Ren-TV video)

31. MiG-29KUB b/n 52, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from Ren-TV video)

32. MiG-29KUB b/n 53, Severomorsk-3, 02/03/2017 (screenshot from the NTV program “Segodnya”)

Illustration copyright Norway armed forces Image caption The aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov was photographed from a Norwegian aircraft on Monday

The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, as part of a strike group, will soon pass past the British coast on its way to Syria.

This is the largest group of Russian warships to appear off the coast of Europe since 2014.

Earlier, a Russian strike group passed several hundred miles west of the Norwegian city of Trondheim. Photos of the Admiral Kuznetsov and the ships accompanying the aircraft carrier were published by the Norwegian Armed Forces.

A group of ships leaving Severomorsk Northern Fleet will pass through the English Channel, heading to Gibraltar and further into the Mediterranean Sea to Syria.

Why is Russia strengthening its naval presence off the coast of Syria? There is clearly some theatricality in this - to show the West that it is still capable of playing the role of a great sea power.

However, Moscow has already flexed its naval muscles since the beginning of the Russian operation in Syria - for example, by launching cruise missiles from ships in the Caspian and Mediterranean seas. But naval participation was never critical important factor Russian campaign - most targets could be hit from aircraft based in Syria or even Russia.

The dispatch of a strike group of ships to Syria also underscores Moscow's clear intention to maintain its small naval base at Tartus.

Until now, Russian warships off the coast of Syria belonged to Black Sea Fleet. At the beginning of October, for example, two missile corvettes class "Buyan-M" - "Serpukhov" and "Green Dol" - left the base in Sevastopol and headed through the Bosphorus to the Mediterranean Sea.

Illustration copyright AFP PHOTO/Forsvaret Image caption Russian submarines escorting a strike force off the coast of Norway

The current deployment is much larger - it involves the largest ships in the fleet. Russian fleet. The flagship of the strike group is a single Russian aircraft carrier, accompanied by six other ships. Among them is the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser "Peter the Great", the world's largest warship of this class.

The group includes large anti-submarine ships "Severomorsk" and "Vice Admiral Kulakov", as well as support ships. The group will likely be accompanied by Russian submarines.

Under NATO supervision

This strike group should supplement the Russian group of 10 warships already deployed off the coast of Syria.

Her route remains unannounced, but she is expected to pass either through the English Channel south of England or west of Ireland in the Atlantic. It is likely that during the voyage the actions of carrier-based aircraft will be practiced.

For promotion Russian group The ships are closely monitored by planes and ships of NATO countries.

Illustration copyright Norway armed forces Image caption The heavy missile cruiser "Peter the Great" is the world's largest warship of this class

Tensions between the West and Russia have reached a high point. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria have ended in failure. In Washington they started talking about the possibility of a military solution to the problem.

The growing Russian military presence in Syria strengthens Moscow's position and makes Western military intervention seemingly unthinkable.

Russia has strengthened its air defense in Syria by deploying S-400 anti-aircraft systems there. The arrival of new ships there will strengthen the ability to counter threats from the air and from under water. Planes and helicopters aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov will also strengthen the Russian air force in Syria.

This new step by Russia also serves as a counterargument to those Western politicians who are demanding the introduction of a no-fly zone over Syria, backed by the threat of missiles being launched from Western ships in the Mediterranean. The deployment of a Russian Navy strike force raises the stakes in this dangerous game.

Risky game

However, the launch of such large ships as the Admiral Kuznetsov and Pyotr Velikiy on a long voyage is associated with considerable technical and organizational problems.

In fact, this is the first long-distance combat cruise of the 26-year-old aircraft carrier, which rarely goes to sea without a special powerful tug in case of breakdown.

This is also the first combat mission for the MIG-29K carrier-based aircraft deployed on board. These planes do not take off using a catapult, as in American aircraft carriers, but using a special take-off ramp. This means they can carry a smaller load of fuel and weapons, and the carrier itself will cruise closer to the Syrian coast for operations.

However, possible skepticism in this regard should be somewhat moderated. The very fact that the strike force is committing long voyage, means that Russia is one of the few countries in the world that are capable of deploying such significant naval forces.

When Moscow intervened in the Syrian conflict, there were many Western experts who believed that the campaign would end in failure due to Russia's inability to organize and maintain a significant expeditionary force.

However, Russia showed these experts to be wrong. The Russian military has demonstrated the ability to deploy and supply such forces, as well as support the operations of Russian tactical air and missile forces abroad. Moreover, they were able to carry out ground operations in support of Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Actions Russian aviation- primarily the choice of goals - raises serious objections in the West. But from the point of view of demonstrating military capabilities, the Russian intervention in Syria should be considered a success.

Alexander Gelovani

The history of the campaign of "Admiral Kuznetsov" to the shores of Syria in the media and in social networks became a thriller.

People who were very far from the navy and military topics in general, with enthusiasm worthy of better use, argued about whether an aircraft-carrying cruiser should smoke and what kind of smoke, how many planes and helicopters could fit on board and in its holds, whether it needed refueling, and so on. Let's leave those frolicking on social networks alone. It is much more interesting to answer the question - what is the Admiral Kuznetsov doing off the coast of Syria? Why is he there? I'm afraid that a simple answer - in order to fight, there is no way around this.

First, let's figure out what "Admiral of the Fleet" is Soviet Union Kuznetsov", this is the full name of the aircraft-carrying cruiser.

The decision to build its own aircraft carrier was made by the Soviet leadership on March 3, 1981. Over the years of its existence, the first and only Soviet aircraft-carrying cruiser changed its name several times. During the design period, the name of the cruiser sounded like “Soviet Union”. The aircraft-carrying cruiser was designed in Leningrad by the Nevsky Design Bureau under the leadership of Yu.D. Sergeeva. When it was laid, it was given the name of the capital of then Soviet Latvia, “Riga”.

© REUTERS / Norwegian Royal Airforce

Russian aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov"

Construction of the cruiser was completed at the Black Sea shipyard in the City of Nikolaev in December 1987. Then the cruiser was called "Leonid Brezhnev".

Later, during testing, the cruiser bore the name of the capital of Georgia - “Tbilisi”.

And finally, upon commissioning, the cruiser was named after Fleet Admiral Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, who headed the USSR Navy during the Great Patriotic War. Patriotic War and in the post-war period. In 1993, the first production bombers began to arrive for his air group, the same ones that struck targets in Syria yesterday.

Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Of course, the decision to have its own aircraft carrier was made by the Soviet leadership for a reason. In general, the battle between the USSR and the USA was often portrayed as a battle between Behemoth and Leviathan, between land forces and sea forces. The USSR was perceived as the main continental power, and the USA as the main maritime one. That was enough deep meaning, after all, the United States began its first steps as a world power with “gunboat diplomacy.” This is the name given to the actions of the Americans during the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion in China, as well as the war with Spain over Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. The USSR, as the legal successor of the Russian Empire, on the contrary, was perceived exclusively as a continental, that is, land power. Thus, the decision of the Kremlin leadership to build the first Soviet aircraft carrier can be regarded as an attempt to play on the enemy’s field.

Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" and the TSR "Admiral Grigorovich" are involved in the operation in Syria for the first time

Playing does not mean winning, because it is clear that one aircraft-carrying cruiser could not compete with the aircraft carriers of the United States, of which the United States had fifteen by that time. And the basis of the USSR Navy during the period cold war were not surface ships at all, but nuclear submarines with nuclear weapons on board. However, the political significance this decision It's clear. In addition, the USSR should have had a tool for its “gunboat diplomacy”, if necessary, of course.

"Admiral Kuznetsov" was commissioned several months before the end of the Soviet Union and there was no opportunity to use it for its intended purpose. And today a Russian aircraft-carrying cruiser appeared in the eastern Mediterranean.

Many military experts were very skeptical about this move by the Russian aircraft carrier group - after all, what is the point when the Russian Federation has a ground-based air force base on the territory of Syria, where it can accommodate as many aircraft as it wants. Meanwhile, there is a meaning, only it is not military, but military-political.

First, let's return to the nature of the war in Syria. On the one hand, of course, this is a religious war of our time within the framework of Islamic civilization. In addition, this war is the end of the Sykes-Picot colonial system, which in the distant twenties divided the Middle East into mandated territories of Great Britain and France. However, the war in Syria can rightfully be called a war for the “Soviet legacy.” Moreover, this is the first war for this very inheritance in which she decided to intervene Russian Federation as the legal successor of the Soviet Union.

Indeed, almost all countries that were in the Soviet zone of influence, and among them there were countries of Eastern Europe, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya were, to put it mildly, reformatted without the direct participation of Moscow. Syria turned out to be the first country that the Kremlin decided to defend to the end with almost all means at its disposal, including military ones. Considering this circumstance, such a military-political step as the appearance of a Russian aircraft-carrying cruiser in the waters of the eastern Mediterranean becomes understandable. In fact, this is another confirmation of the fact that for the Kremlin, Syria is the very red line beyond which it will not move.

Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" and the TSR "Admiral Grigorovich" are involved in the operation in Syria for the first time

A squadron in the eastern Mediterranean, consisting of two of the strongest surface ships of the Russian fleet - heavy missile cruiser"Peter the Great" and the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov", with escort ships (large anti-submarine ships "Severomorsk" and "Vice Admiral Kulakov" and three submarines), this is not just a military action, it is an application for the status of a country that can build your construct in international politics.

So the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov is off the coast of Syria today, which is not as illogical as it seems to some military experts. Louis XIV's cannons bore the inscription "The Last Argument of Kings." In Syria, and therefore in today’s world politics, these arguments have been spoken for a long time, and they are spoken quite loudly.

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The cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" returned from Syria to the North Sea roadstead. At the final stage of the long-distance voyage, the ships completed a number of tasks at sea ranges in the Barents Sea, Interfax reports with reference to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Earlier, British Defense Minister Michael Fallon, reporting on how the Royal Navy was escorting a Russian military squadron returning from Syria, called the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov “a ship of shame.” The Ministry of Defense did not ignore the offensive statement and advised Fallon to pay more attention to his fleet, which was experiencing better times. We propose, removing emotions, to shift attention from the verbal duel of the two defense departments to the real characteristics of the Kuznetsov and compare it with its NATO competitors in terms of key indicators. Does he deserve even one iota of the definition that Fallon gave him?

Of course, our aircraft carrier is not new. It was designed and created back in the days of the USSR, at the end of the Cold War. However, it was embodied best ideas and achievements of Soviet shipbuilding. The creators gave him unparalleled durability in battle. In the event of a nuclear explosion with a power of 30 kilotons at a distance of just two kilometers from the Kuznetsov, it must not only survive and remain afloat, but also maintain combat effectiveness. It will probably no longer be possible to use carrier-based aircraft. However, the Granit and Kinzhal under-deck missiles will be able to hit the enemy in water, on land, and in the air.

Photo: Global Look

In his attempts to stigmatize the only Russian aircraft carrier, the British minister apparently forgot that the Royal Navy does not have such a class of ships at all. And the British ships accompanying Kuznetsov - the frigate St. Albans and the landing helicopter carrier Ocean - cannot be compared with it in terms of aircraft-carrying capabilities. The St. Albans can carry no more than two helicopters, and the Ocean can only carry 18. While the Kuznetsov can simultaneously accommodate 28 aircraft and 24 helicopters.

The only NATO ship that can compare with the Kuznetsov in the Old World is the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. But it is also inferior to the Russian heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser both in size and in the possible number of aircraft on board - only 40 versus 52.

Photo: Wikimedia

Oddly enough, bile towards “Kuznetsov” is pouring not only from NATO offices, but also from the vastness of the Runet. The reason for caustic jokes, “photoshops” and other mockery was the thick smoke from the chimney of the Russian aircraft carrier, which supposedly testifies to its technical backwardness. Allegedly, in the West such ships have long been nuclear installations walking. Although the country is the ancestor nuclear fleet one can hardly blame the lack of technology and installation capabilities nuclear reactor to an aircraft carrier if necessary. The reasons for equipping the Kuznetsov with a fuel oil propulsion system were serious. Firstly, the cheapness of fuel and ongoing repairs of the installation. Even the United States, with its highest defense spending, has had to abandon several nuclear-powered ships due to the high cost of repairing their propulsion systems. Secondly, fuel oil is stored in a layer along the entire hull of the ship, being an element of anti-torpedo protection. A torpedo, hitting the hull of a ship, transfers part of its explosive force and fragments to fuel compartments filled with fuel oil. Thus, Kuznetsov is capable of withstanding an explosion of up to 400 kg of TNT below its waterline.

By the way, thick smoke is also typical for US military ships that were built in the new millennium. American experts considered heavy smoke to be a normal phenomenon, which occurs due to the formation of carbon deposits during long-term parking without moving. When the ship begins to move, the carbon deposits gradually burn out, and the pipe stops smoking.

Photo: Wikimedia

Among other things, Kuznetsov has an undeniable advantage over all aircraft carriers in the world. He is the only one allowed passage to the Black Sea.

The fact is that Article 11 of the Montreux Convention allows only battleships, but not aircraft carriers, to pass through the Bosporus and Dardanelles. By aircraft carriers she means ships built and converted primarily for aviation operations. Since an aircraft-carrying cruiser carries an anti-ship missile system"Granit" can be a full-fledged combat unit; having lost all aviation, it, from the point of view of the Convention, cannot be considered a "pure" aircraft carrier. It turns out that only Russia has the right to operate an aircraft carrier in the strategically important Black Sea region. And it is precisely thanks to the features of the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov.

So the remark about the “ship of shame” expresses not so much a mockery of Russian aircraft carrier, how much the head of the British armed forces is annoyed at his own powerlessness before “Kuznetsov”: before his power, his capabilities, his freedom.