Small rocket ship(MRK) "Grad Sviyazhsk", built by the Zelenodolsk Shipyard, was towed along the Volga to Astrakhan at the end of June this year and moored at the base of the OVR ships of the Caspian flotilla. This combat unit is still in the testing stage. Our correspondent visited the new ship.
I couldn’t wait to look with my own eyes at the “Grad Sviyazhsk”, which our newspaper wrote about so often. After all, this is the first-born, that is, the lead ship of Project 21631 (code “Buyan-M”).
Our information
The lead ship of Project 21631 received its name “Grad Sviyazhsk” in honor of settlement Sviyazhsk, in the Zelenodolsk region of the Republic of Tatarstan. This town is covered in legends. According to one of them, Sviyazhsk was built in 1551 by Ivan the Terrible in just 4 weeks. This place was used by the Russian Tsar as a stronghold, from where troops later went to besiege the capital of the Kazan Khanate. More than four and a half centuries have passed since then, but Sviyazhsk still exists to this day.
It was Krasnaya Zvezda that was the first to write about the background to the creation of the Grad Sviyazhsk MRK. Let me remind you that in our newspaper, in the issue of December 9, 2009, an interview was published with the pioneer in the development of the Buyan project, the commander of the Astrakhan MAK Vladimir Cherokov. This is how he spoke then about his prototype ship: “I believe that this ship is unique of its kind. The armament on it is good: 100-mm nose cannon, volley fire, autonomous self-defense module, modern air defense systems. The navies of other Caspian states have nothing like this.”
At the same time, Vladimir Cherokov expressed his wish: “What would I like to offer as an improvement of this project? Increase firepower so that the ship has its own missile systems. But since we don’t have missiles, we are still in second place in terms of firepower after the flagship of the Caspian flotilla, the Tatarstan missile ship. And the designers of the ship’s section would like to express the following wish: that the equipment be more reliable and easier to operate.”
In 2010, as part of the program to modernize the Russian Navy, the domestic shipbuilding industry was tasked with creating a missile analogue of the Buyan project. The tender for the construction of Project 21631 ships, in which nine shipbuilding enterprises participated, was won by the Zelenodolsk Shipyard in May 2010. On May 28, a contract was signed for the construction of ships of this series. The talented designer Yakov Kushnir took on the task of national importance to create a missile version of the Buyan. Didn't pass three years, how the Grad Sviyazhsk MRK was launched by shipbuilders.
From the high bank I had a view of the Volga backwater, where the beautiful Grad Sviyazhsk, so to speak, the younger relative of the small artillery ship Astrakhan, stood at the floating pier. There are many similarities between these projects. They can be traced in the contours, outlines, and elements of the superstructure. The main similarity is that the RTOs are equipped with the same diesel engines, as well as water-jet propulsors. But still, in terms of their performance characteristics and purpose, these are different combat units. The main difference is in size. In terms of its parameters, the MRK, which has a displacement of 949 tons, a length of 74 meters, and a draft of 2.6 meters, is superior to its artillery brother, the parameters of which are much more modest.
In its own way striking power the ship of the Buyan-M project is not much inferior to the new 2nd rank missile ship Dagestan, which joined the flotilla last year. But "Dagestan" is the first ship in the Russian Navy, which is armed with the latest missile system"Caliber-NK". The Grad Sviyazhsk MRK also has the Caliber missile system, capable of launching several types of high-precision missiles at both surface and coastal targets at a range of up to 300 kilometers. The ship's artillery is represented by a bow artillery mount, an AK-620 Duet anti-aircraft artillery complex and two pairs of machine gun mounts. The ship is equipped with modern navigation equipment, as well as radar and radio-electronic equipment.
On the upper deck of the ship I was met by the commander of the Grad Sviyazhsk MRK, Captain 3rd Rank Alexey Gordeev. We go around the ship with him, which is still at the finishing stage. The deck and superstructures have not yet been painted everywhere. Representatives of the plant can be seen inside the ship. It is the specialists of the commissioning team, together with the military personnel of the ship’s crew, who are preparing the Grad Sviyazhsk for sea trials.
It was no accident that Alexey Gordeev was appointed to the position of commander of the newest lead ship of the Buyan-M project. This officer is in a special regard with the flotilla command. When approving his candidacy at the beginning of the year for the post of commander of the new small missile ship, it was taken into account that Gordeev, during his officer service in the flotilla since 2005, successfully commanded ships of various classes. During his command, MAK "Astrakhan" repeatedly won the title of the best during the training period and during the academic year in his formation and in the flotilla, and completed all the tasks of sea voyages without accidents or breakdowns. The Astrakhan crew was awarded by the higher command based on the results of the naval part of the joint strategic exercise Center-2011, and last year the MAK distinguished itself at the Kavkaz-2012 maneuvers.
Alexey Gordeev readily answered the questions of the Krasnaya Zvezda correspondent.
To master a new ship, the crew is usually formed, as they say, from scratch. Which ships of the flotilla delegated their specialists to the RTOs?
The crew of the Grad Sviyazhsk MRK is one hundred percent staffed by contract military personnel who previously served on warships of the surface ship formation, which is stationed in Makhachkala. On "Tatarstan", "Dagestan", missile boats. The personnel have good maritime practice and experience in ship service, which is very important when accepting a ship at the plant, during development new technology and weapons.
Which of your subordinates is your support during the acceptance and development of the material part of the ship?
A large amount of work, together with industry representatives, on the upper deck, superstructures and sides of the ship is carried out by boatswain, petty officer 2nd class Rasul Abdumenzhidov. Among the ship's mechanics, I would like to mention the warhead-5 engineer, Lieutenant Dmitry Popovich. Under his leadership are the machinist, senior sailor R. Zamanov, and senior technician R. Gasanov. People understand perfectly well that any unresolved defect or undetected deviation in the operation of a mechanism is fraught at sea with a prerequisite for an accident, a failure to complete the assigned combat mission. Therefore, now, in preparation for sea trials, the serviceability of each component and mechanism, all sections of pipelines are checked for leaks and resistance to vibration.
Our conversation was interrupted by a factory specialist who arrived at the commander’s cabin to check the ship’s intercom console. After checking the operation of the device, he asked the ship’s commander to test its readiness for operation himself. And then Gordeev’s many times amplified voice was heard throughout the ship, inviting one of the shipbuilding engineers into his cabin.
In August, the small artillery ship "Grad Sviyazhsk" should make the transition across the Caspian Sea to Makhachkala, to the base of the brigade of surface ships, where it will undergo state tests and be accepted into the flotilla. Perhaps for the first time in the post-Soviet history of the Caspian Flotilla, sea and state tests of a new ship are being carried out in the Caspian Sea.
"Grad Sviyazhsk". Photo: Zelenodolsk plant named after. Gorky
"Grad Sviyazhsk" is a small rocket ship of Project 21631 (code "Buyan-M"), the lead ship of the series.
Location
Caspian flotilla.Name, building
The MRK was laid down on August 27, 2010 at the Zelenodolsk plant named after. Gorky, launched on March 9, 2013, entered the fleet on July 27, 2014.Milestones
In October 2014, a voyage calling at the ports of Kazakhstan, Iran and Azerbaijan.On July 26, 2015, he took part in the naval parade on Navy Day in Astrakhan. In August he won the Caspian Cup international competition.
In July 2017 in the Caspian Sea.
Performance characteristics and dimensions
Displacement - 949 tons, length - 74.1 m, width - 11 m, height - 6.57 m, draft - 2.6 m. Crew - 32 people. Maximum speed - 25 knots. Cruising range - 2500 miles (at a speed of 12 knots). Autonomy - at least 10 days.Power plant
Diesel, propulsion - water jet.Armament
Vertical launch launcher 3R14UKSK manufactured by the MIS Agat concern of the Kalibr-NK complex or the Oniks complex for 8 missiles, located in the superstructure; 100-mm artillery mount AK-190-01 / A-190M with Laska fire control system, located in the bow of the ship; 30-mm AK-630M-2 “Duet” mount, located on the aft part of the superstructure; 2 x 14.5 mm MTPU naval machine gun mounts with KPV machine guns; 2 x 3M47 “Gibka” air defense missile systems with 4-8 x “Igla” or “Igla-1M” missile defense systems, installed on the stern and on the bow of the superstructure, remote control; 3 x 7.62 mm machine guns; anti-sabotage depth charge hand grenade launcher; mines (2 release points).In 2014, an event occurred whose importance for the Russian Navy is difficult to overestimate. For the celebration of Russian Navy Day, domestic shipbuilders handed over to the sailors two new combat units - small missile ships of Project 21631 "Buyan-M", which were named in honor of the ancient Russian cities "Grad Sviyazhsk" and "Uglich". They became the first signs of a whole series of ships that Russian sailors expect to receive by 2022.
Of course, these ships with a displacement of less than one thousand tons do not inspire such respect as huge cruisers or nuclear missile carriers. But in the future they will undoubtedly play an important role in protecting the maritime borders of our Motherland.
Project 21631 is a series of small multi-purpose missile and artillery ships of the river-sea class. With a displacement of 950 tons, a shallow draft and rather low sides, it is hard to dream of conquering the ocean spaces - the ships of the Buyan-M project were initially conceived for service in the waters of closed seas, of which there are three in Russia: Azov, Caspian and Black. Thanks to the presence of water-jet propulsion, Buyany-M are capable of operating in river mouths and in shallow seas.
They differ from their prototype - the artillery boat of Project 21630 - by almost twice the displacement and the presence on board of a powerful complex missile weapons, allowing them to strike at surface and ground targets.
Their main task is to protect the economic zone of the state, but the Buyanov weapons complex gives these vessels much broader capabilities. This was clearly demonstrated on October 7, 2015, when three ships of this project from the Caspian Sea launched a missile attack on targets located in Syria.
Specialists from the Zelenodolsk Design Bureau worked on the development of this project, and the 1st Central Research Institute of Moscow Region supported it. The first ship of the Grad Sviyazhsk series was laid down at the Shipyard named after. Gorky on August 27, 2010, its launch took place in early 2013.
At the end of 2015, the fifth MRK of this series, the Serpukhov ship, was accepted into the fleet. Currently, Vyshny Volochek, the sixth RTO of this project, is undergoing state tests.
In total, thirteen Buyanov-Ms are planned to be transferred to the Russian fleet. Currently, the Shipyard named after. Gorky is building five RTOs, and a contract has already been signed between the enterprise and the Ministry of Defense for one more ship. Moreover, the last three ships of this series will have a more powerful weapon system - they are planned to be equipped with a new radar and Pantsir-SM air defense system, which will significantly increase the level of protection of the ships from threats from the air.
History of the creation of the Buyan-M MRK
The history of Project 21631 began in August 2002, when it was decided to build seven similar ships to strengthen the Caspian flotilla. A tender was announced, in which nine Russian shipbuilding enterprises took part. The winner was the Zelenodolsk plant named after. Gorky. On May 28, 2010, a contract was signed between him and the Ministry of Defense for the construction of five ships of this project.
The ship was initially developed taking into account the characteristics of the Volga delta and the Caspian Sea. The cruising range of the MRK was designed in such a way that it could make long journeys along the entire length of the river. It was planned to build up to ten ships of this project to strengthen the Caspian Flotilla and the Black Sea Fleet. Then the number 9 RTOs appeared in the media - six of which were supposed to be part of the Black Sea Fleet, and three were to go to the Caspian Sea.
The lead ship "Grad Sviyazhsk" was laid down with great fanfare on August 27, 2010, and a year later, with an interval of one month, the construction of two small missile ships began at once - the ships "Veliky Ustyug" and "Uglich". The first two ships of the series were launched in March 2013 and, after successful completion of mooring tests, were sent to Astrakhan, the main base of the Caspian flotilla. Having successfully passed state tests, both ships were accepted into the fleet in July 2014.
In 2012 and 2013, the ships “Green Dol”, “Serpukhov” and “Vyshny Volochek” were laid down - all of them have already been launched and accepted or are preparing to join the Russian Navy.
Currently on the stocks of the Shipyard named after. Gorky's ships "Orekhovo-Zuevo", "Ingushetia", "Grayvoron" and "Naro-Fominsk" are in varying degrees of readiness. It is planned that all of them will be part of various Russian fleets by 2022.
In 2014, after the adoption of anti-Russian sanctions, the German company MTU refused to supply engines for new ships of the Buyan-M project. However, this did not become a disaster for the project - a replacement was found quite quickly. For the next Buyanov-M, the power plant will be manufactured in Russia, most likely using Chinese components. In this regard, the St. Petersburg Zvezda plant and OJSC Kolomensky Plant are most often named.
In 2016, a contract was signed between the Russian military department and shipbuilders for the construction of three additional ships of this series. Moreover, some changes will be made to the composition of their weapons. It is possible that the construction of this type of MRK will continue and in the future they will be part of other fleets, for example, the Northern or Pacific.
Description of the design of ships of project 21631
The ships of this project are relatively small in size. Their displacement is 949 tons, maximum length is 74 m, width is 11 m, and draft is 2.6 m. Maximum ships is 25 knots.
The design of the MRK body was developed taking into account the reduction of radar signature. The Buyanov-M's autonomy is 10 days, and its range is 2,500 nautical miles. The water-jet propulsion systems of Buyan-M type ships allow them to operate freely in shallow waters and at river mouths.
The crew of the ships of this project is 30-36 people.
Initially, it was planned to use four diesel engines produced by German company MTU Friedrichshafen, resistant to significant vibrations. Its total power is 7355 kW. But in 2014, due to the imposed sanctions, this supplier refused further cooperation, so ships laid down after this year will be equipped with domestic power plant with Chinese components.
The project 21631 MRK artillery system consists of a Universal A-190M mount (100 mm caliber) and a 30-mm AK-630M-2 Duet artillery mount with twelve rotating barrels. In addition, on board each Buyan-M there are five more machine gun mounts: two 14.5 mm and three 7.62 mm.
As air defense systems, Buyany-M uses two Gibka missile defense systems, which are based on reliable and proven Igla MANPADS. The ships of the project, laid down after 2017, are planned to be equipped with the Pantsir-SM complex and a new phased array radar.
The main weapons of the ships of this project are Caliber cruise missiles, which are placed in a vertical launcher. Buyany-M can carry up to eight such missiles on board. The ship's launcher has somewhat limited capabilities: it cannot accept Onyx and Zircon missiles, but the use of Caliber turns these small ships into practically strategic weapons. This was brilliantly proven during the strikes on Syrian territory. From the Caspian Sea, Project 21631 ICBMs are capable of launching a missile attack on targets located in the Persian Gulf, Red or Mediterranean Sea.
Operation and combat use of project ships
Despite the short service life of the Buyanov-M, they have already managed to take part in real combat operations. On October 7, 2015, the ships Veliky Ustyug, Uglich and Grad Sviyazhsk fired a missile salvo at targets located in Syria. The ships fired 26 Calibers and, according to statements Russian ministry defense, they all hit their targets.
On October 20, a second strike was carried out, 18 Caliber missiles were fired at seven targets. On August 19, 2016, two MRKs “Serpukhov” and “Green Dol” launched a missile attack on Syrian territory. The target of the attack was the targets of the terrorist organization Jabhat al-Nusra.
General assessment of the project and its possible prospects
Ships of the Buyan-M type are ideal for performing the tasks for which they were designed. The small size and draft of RTOs allows them to easily fit into the dimensions of river locks, pass under bridges and operate in shallow water. In this case, ships will always be able to be protected by powerful ground-based air defense systems without fear of being attacked from the air.
The “river-sea” class of these ships allows them to move freely across the vast expanse of our country, using numerous river channels. Thus, the Project 21631 RTOs can be in as soon as possible transferred from one theater of operations to another. Moreover, during relocation along inland waterways, these vessels will be completely safe.
International treaties prohibit the deployment of land-based cruise missiles of the Kalibr type, but sea-based carriers of these weapons are permitted. So the ship of the Buyan-M project is a real mobile missile system that can be easily moved across a vast territory.
The disadvantages of ships of this project include insufficient seaworthiness and a rather limited cruising range. However, this is not critical to the combat missions for which these ships are intended.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the ships of the project
Below are the main performance characteristics of the Buyan-M type MRK:
- crew, people – 30-36;
- length, m – 74.1;
- width, m – 11;
- draft, m – 2.6;
- total displacement, t – 949;
- Max. speed, knots – 25;
- range, miles – 2500;
- autonomy, days – 10.
The launching and commissioning of a new ship into the Russian Navy is always an event. The larger the displacement, the more diverse the weapon systems and the more impressive the seaworthiness, the brighter the ceremony is illuminated by means mass media. In 2014, to celebrate the Day Navy The delivery of two new units to the defense department, strengthening the Caspian flotilla, was timed. Small missile ships of Project 21631 “Buyan-M”, named after the ancient Russian cities “Uglich” and “Grad Sviyazhsk”, at first glance, do not inspire such respect as nuclear cruisers and missile submarines. But their role in Russia’s defense capability has yet to be fully appreciated.
Ship for closed seas
The Buyan-M project was initially conceived as a type of ship intended not for ocean space, but for operations in closed seas. This is known today from open sources, but it is already clear to a ship specialist that a displacement of 950 tons with fairly low sides and a shallow draft does not imply navigation in waters with possible waves of more than five points. Closed seas washing the shores Russian Federation, only three: Caspian, Black and Azov. The last two water bodies, by the way, were recently presented in the aspect national security quite a bit of interest. An increase in the activity of NATO fleets in the Black Sea basin is observed only in lately, after the start of well-known events in Ukraine.
Situation in the Caspian Sea
As for the flotilla responsible for the stability of the maritime situation in the region, of course, it needed updating and strengthening. It was for this operational sector that the Project 21631 Buyan-M ships were intended. At the same time, it was not the Republic of Kazakhstan that was considered as a potential enemy - strategic partner Russia and pursues a friendly foreign policy. At the moment, Azerbaijan (also not hostile) has practically no naval potential. Turkmenistan purchases equipment from the Russian Federation and, pursuing an independent foreign policy, is interested in mutually beneficial trade and economic relations and cooperation in the defense sector. These countries, which in the historically recent past were republics of the Soviet Union, do not pose a threat to the security of our borders. Only Iran remains. It is in economic isolation, and it is also very difficult to suspect it of aggressive attempts towards its great northern neighbor. As they say, I have enough worries of my own.
One could conclude that there are no regional threats to Russia in the Caspian region. So why is the Project 21631 small rocket ship needed here? To answer this question, one should study the characteristics of its weapon systems, seaworthiness and design features.
River-sea
A project was created and the ship was built in Tatarstan. Plant named after A. M. Gorky is located in the glorious Volga city of Zelenodolsk. This fact in itself speaks volumes. The ship's hull allows it to sail not only across the seas, but also to easily travel along the blue arteries of the rivers that run through the entire country from North to South and from West to East. River flotillas are also theoretically important for defense; they fought during the Great Patriotic War, but since then the military doctrine has undergone serious changes. The Project 21631 Buyan-M MRK is not suitable for use as a monitor (the class of ships designed to support infantry is actually a floating artillery battery). This is evidenced by the rather modest cannon armament: only two hundred-millimeter guns. In addition, for operations in river channels among islands, such serious measures to maintain secrecy are not required, and the speed is too high (25 knots). And the composition of the missile armament speaks eloquently in favor of its predominantly naval character. The ability for river navigation of the Buyan-M ships of Project 21631 implies wide possibilities for the transfer of these combat units to almost any likely theater of military operations. If necessary, of course.
Artillery and air defense
Radius combat use relatively small. Autonomy is ten days. The Project 21631 small rocket ship can sail no more than two and a half thousand miles. In addition to the already mentioned 100-mm Universal guns (A-190M), the onboard artillery is represented by a twin Duet installation at the stern, two 14.5 mm MTPU machine gun pedestals and three more rapid-firing 7.62 mm barrels.
The ship's air defense systems are equipped with two "Gibka" installations, which are based on the common and effective anti-aircraft missile systems"Needle". This weapon may not be enough to repel a massive air attack; it is designed to combat attack aircraft and attack helicopters. The main bet is on other techniques to avoid an airstrike, but more on that later.
Main caliber
The Project 21631 Buyan-M missile launcher was designed to fire missiles at ships and coastal bases of a potential enemy. This is what its main armament is designed for, which together makes up the UKSK (universal ship-based firing complex). The hull contains eight silos from which vertical launch of missiles can be carried out, both subsonic (anti-ship 3M54, surface-to-land class 3M14, anti-submarine 91RT) and supersonic (Onyx 3M55). Thus, with very modest sizes and a small crew (approximately 35 people), small guided missile cruisers"Buyan-M" of project 21631 can turn out to be very dangerous adversaries for naval targets of much larger tonnage.
Strategic corvette
The Caliber complex, the platform for which can be Project 21631 missile ships, is equipped with cruise missiles with a combat range of 2,600 km. From a geographical point of view, this means that Onyx, launched from points located in the waters of the Caspian and Black Seas, can theoretically reach targets located in the Persian Gulf, Red and Mediterranean Seas and in other places outlined on the map of Eurasia by the circle of the indicated radius, including the strategically important Suez Canal.
Traditionally, corvettes, the class of which Project 21631 (code “Buyan-M”) belongs to, are considered tactical-level combat units. The characteristics of the weapons of the Grad Sviyazhsk and Uglich, currently in service with the Caspian Flotilla, subtly hint at their strategic nature.
Stealth ship
The outline of a modern small rocket ship combined with its high speed, a water cannon and relatively small size (74 meters), give reason to expect that it will not be easy to detect it in waters saturated with a wide variety of vessels. On the radar screen it is difficult to distinguish the Buyan-M Project 21631 from a fishing seiner or even a large yacht. In addition, it, like all those built in Russia warships, is equipped with a full range of electronic countermeasures capable of disabling communication systems and radars of weapons of destruction of a potential enemy. High-frequency radiation-absorbing coatings and inclined planes of the silhouette further reduce the likelihood of detection of this fast and maneuverable ship with powerful missile weapons.
Situation on the Black Sea
Five Buyan-M ships of Project 21631 are currently in the process of construction or sea trials. These are Veliky Ustyug, Vyshny Volochek, Serpukhov, Orekhovo-Zuevo and Zeleny Dol. Initially, all of them were intended for service in the Caspian Sea, but the rapidly changing geopolitical picture in the Black Sea region in the last year prompted the command Russian fleet reconsider these intentions. "Serpukhov" and "Green Dol" will be sent to Sevastopol. Naval forces The Black Sea Fleet needs to be replenished with the latest units capable of countering the so-called “NATO mine-sweeping group,” which constitutes a considerable force. Of course, in the event of a military conflict, Crimea would not remain defenseless, and in the current state of affairs, its cover could be provided by the “Bal” and “Bastion” complexes, capable of controlling the entire water area right up to the Bosphorus Strait, but to reliably ensure peace, the constant presence of combat units is required and demonstration of their capabilities. The main burden of performing this task will fall on the frigates “Admiral Grigorovich”, “Admiral Essen” and RK “Moscow”, but “Buyanam” will have enough work.
Coastal ships with a long sight
From the history of fleets and naval battles, a thoughtful politician can conclude that there is no universal weapon that is suitable for all cases and capable of operating successfully in any conflict scenario. In some situations you need powerful cruisers and large battleships, in others it is impossible to do without aircraft carrier formations, in others the most effective means can only be submarines. In our turbulent age, mobile missile ships “Buyan-M” of Project 21631 also take their place in the naval formation, protecting the interests of Russia in the immediate vicinity of its shores, but with a long-range view.
Five more ships of this type are on order.
Loading...
