The oceans of the Cold War were the scene of a hidden confrontation, with the main role played by the invisible submarines of the potential enemy. Large Anti-Submarine boats (BPC)Project 1155, codenamed Udaloy by NATO, was a unique experiment to create a specialized submarine hunter, devoid of powerful surface missile weapons, but possessed a perfect sonar complex.
Unlike their predecessors and contemporaries, these boats were designed to operate in all weather conditions, including stormy areas of the Arctic and Pacific Oceans, and their architecture and filling were subordinated to one main goal - to ensure dominance in the underwater environment. Project 1155 It was the first production boat in the world to implement the concept of placing 130 mm artillery units in towers with an elevation angle that allows firing at air targets, which was a revolutionary step for its time.
Today, decades after the launch of the lead boat, these machines continue to serve, having undergone deep modernization and changed class to frigates. Their story is the story of engineering thought that tried to combine the incompatible: huge autonomy, powerful sonar equipment and versatility of application. Project 1155 BOD A unique phenomenon in the shipbuilding of the XX century.
The concept of creation and architectural appearance
The development of the new anti-submarine boat began at the Northern Design Bureau in Leningrad in the early 1970s, and was appointed Chief Designer V. P. Mishin, the engineers had a daunting task: to create a platform that would surpass the American boats of the Spruance type in the efficiency of submarine search, but could operate as part of the squadron. Project 1155 was the first Soviet boat originally designed for a gas turbine power plant (GEU) with full capacity.This allowed to achieve high speeds and significantly reduce deployment time.
The boat's architectural design was determined by the requirements for the placement of a huge sonar complex and two helicopters, and to ensure seaworthiness, a semi-batch structure was chosen with an elongated half tank that occupies more than half the length of the hull, which allowed the placement of a powerful bow in the bow. bulb-antenna The high side and significant height of the freeboard provided the boats of Project 1155 with excellent seaworthiness, allowing the use of weapons even when the sea is turbulent up to 7-8 points.
The important feature was the modular superstructure design, which not only accelerated construction, but also allowed future equipment upgrades without completely reworking the hull, made of steel with enhanced strength and corrosion resistance, which is critical for boats operating in salt water for decades, designed to ensure that any two adjacent compartments would not sink.
Power plant and driving specifications
The heart of the boat was a KOGEU (combined gas turbine) gas turbine system, which was driven by the need to ensure the boat’s high full speed and efficiency at cruising speeds, including four gas turbine engines: two full-speed M-21 afterburners and two M-7s for economical use, a scheme that allowed for speeds of up to 35 knots, which was necessary to intercept high-speed nuclear submarines.
The arrangement of the machinery was also designed in terms of survivability, with four engine rooms spaced along the length of the boat, reducing the risk of the entire power grid being knocked out by a torpedo or rocket, and the GEU was operated automatically from the main command post, although manual duplication was maintained on each unit. Gas turbines provided a quick exit to full speed, but they were distinguished by high fuel consumption and complexity of maintenance in pitching conditions.
To power all of the boat’s systems, including powerful hydroacoustics and missile users, four gas turbine generators were installed, providing a voltage of 380 V at 50 Hz. The autonomy of the voyage was 30 days, and the economic range reached 8000 miles, which allowed the BPC Project 1155 to perform tasks in remote areas of the world’s oceans without frequent visits to bases.
Gas turbines require very clean air, so the BOD of Project 1155 has powerful filtration systems that prevent salt crystals from entering the turbines.
Hydroacoustic complex - eyes and ears of the boat
The Udaloy's main asset has always been its sonar, and the Polinom-T, which was unparalleled in the world at the time of its creation, housed a giant Polinom-T antenna in active and passive modes, and allowed it to detect underwater targets at extreme ranges and classify them by the noise of screws and mechanisms.
In addition to the bow antenna, the boat carried a towed flexible extended antenna (GPA), a device resembling a long cable with hydrophones, sank behind the stern at a depth of several hundred meters. towed antenna It allowed us to peer under the temperature surge layer where submarines often hid, and to pinpoint the target coordinates for the anti-submarine weapon, making the Project 1155 BPC a formidable hunter from whom it was difficult to escape.
The acoustics were processed in the central sonar station using a computer system, and operators could not only hear the rotor noise, but also visualize the target, determine its course, speed and depth of immersion. The efficiency of the complex was enhanced by the low noise of the boat itself, special measures to vibration insulation mechanisms allowed to reduce their own noise without interfering with the work of the sonar.
⚠️ Attention: Polinom-T is extremely sensitive to the boat's own noise, and at speeds above 14-16 knots, the GPA's efficiency is drastically reduced by the noise of the water flow, so search is often done at low speeds or feet.
Armament: Strike power and air defense
Although the boat’s primary mission was to fight submarines, its weapons were effective against other threats, including two 533 mm four-pipe torpedo tubes and a RBU-1000 Smerch-3 rocket launcher, which could be both anti-submarine and anti-boat, which gave some flexibility. The RBU-1000 was designed to destroy enemy torpedoes and attack submarines at close ranges or under a hop layer.
To combat surface targets and strikes on the shore, late-built and post-modernized boats were equipped with missile systems. Initially, the BOD carried only anti-aircraft weapons. Two Kinzhal anti-aircraft missile systems (8 vertical launchers with 32 missiles) provided protection from air attack. 9M330 missiles could hit targets at ranges of up to 12 km and altitudes of up to 3 km, operating automatically according to boat radar data.
The artillery is represented by two twin 130-mm AK-130 guns: universal high-speed guns (up to 90 rounds per minute), capable of engaging surface targets, shore installations, and even low-flying aircraft. The presence of this caliber made the BOD project 1155 formidable opponent in close combat.
☑️ Key elements of BPC weaponry
Aircraft armament
The presence of a permanent air force is a hallmark of Project 1155, with two Ka-27PL (anti-submarine) or Ka-27PS (search and rescue) helicopters based on the boat, a two-seat hangar located in the aft, and helicopters significantly expand the submarine search area, allowing for surveys within a radius of 200 km from the boat.
The Ka-27 is equipped with its own radar, magnetometer and dropable radio-hydroacoustic buoys, the data is transmitted to the boat in real time, and the helicopter can carry torpedoes and depth bombs to attack the detected target on its own, and the presence of two helicopters allows you to organize continuous air duty or simultaneous performance of different tasks.
Takeoff and landing in storm conditions are provided by the system of automatic fixation of the helicopter on the deck and guides on the landing pad, which allows the use of aviation even in severe sea unrest, when manual landing of the pilot would be impossible or extremely risky. Helicopter equipment The Project 1155 BPC is a separate search and strike group.
⚠️ Warning: The operation of helicopters on a boat requires strict safety, and the operation of propellers in deck-rolling and salt fog conditions puts an increased strain on the helicopter's machinery and requires frequent maintenance.
Modernization and current status
With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the changing geopolitical situation, many of the Project 1155 BODs were unclaimed, but the most capable units underwent a deep modernization. The main change was the re-equipment of boats with new missile systems. In place of the old installations, the 3S14 universal launchers for the Uranium missile system (anti-boat missiles) or even the Caliber and Onyx in the later stages of modernization to the Project 1155.1 frigates were installed.
The boats have a new battle control system, advanced radar stations and improved communications, and have been reclassified from the Large Anti-Submarine boat to the Frigate, more accurately reflecting their versatility in today's environment, and are now not just submarine hunters, but multi-purpose platforms capable of solving a wide range of tasks.
Today, several boats of this project (for example, Severomorsk, Vice Admiral Kulakov, Admiral Tributz) continue to serve in the Northern and Pacific fleets of Russia, regularly participating in exercises and long-distance campaigns, confirming the high resource design and potential laid by Soviet engineers.
Why is BOD 1155 called "Removed"?
The NATO code name for Project 1155 boats is Udaloy, which comes from the name of the main boat of the series, the BPC Udaloy, which is often named after the first representative of the project in Soviet and Russian tradition.
specifications comparison table
To better understand the scale and capabilities of the boat, we compare the main tactical and technical specifications of the BOD project 1155 with its American contemporary - the Spriance-class destroyer, which was also created as an anti-submarine platform.
| Characterization | BPC 1155 (USSR/RF) | Spruance-type EM (USA) |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement, t | 7500 (full) | 8100 (full) |
| Length, m | 163,5 | 171,6 |
| Speed, knot. | 35 | 33 |
| Artillery | 2×2 – 130 mm AK-130 | 2 × 1 - 127 mm Mk 45 |
| Helicopters | 2 × Ka-27 | 2 × LAMPS (SH-2/SH-60) |
As you can see from the table, the boats are comparable in size and speed, but the Soviet project put more emphasis on artillery and sonar, while the Americans initially laid the possibility of installing more diverse missile weapons (VLS), which allowed them to more easily upgrade the Spruens in the future. Project 1155 BOD They are among the most powerful anti-submarine boats in history.
BPC project 1155 is a unique specialized platform, where the efficiency of submarine search was put above the tasks, which is confirmed by the presence of two helicopters and a powerful sonar complex.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the main difference between the BPC project 1155 and frigates?
Initially, the BPC (Large Anti-Submarine boats) were classified as highly specialized submarine hunters with limited missile weapons, frigates are a class of boats of the 2nd rank with more balanced weapons. After the modernization and installation of universal missile systems (Uranus, Caliber), the boats of the Project 1155 actually began to perform the functions of frigates, which led to a change in their classification in the Russian Navy.
How many helicopters can be based on the BPC 1155?
The boat is permanently based on two Ka-27 helicopters (submarine or PS versions) in a double hangar in the aft, and the presence of two vehicles allows for complex search operations or continuity of duty.
What is the maximum speed of the boat?
The maximum full speed of the BOD project 1155 is 35 knots (about 65 km / h), this speed is achieved with all four gas turbine engines and is necessary for maneuvering in the attack of high-speed submarines.
Why is there such a powerful 130 mm artillery on the boat?
The 130mm AK-130 was chosen to provide high firepower with support from landing forces and to combat lightly armored surface targets, and because of its high elevation angles, it can be used as a near-range air defense, creating a tight curtain of fire against air targets.
Are there any other boats left in service?
Yes, several Project 1155 and its upgraded version 1155.1 continue to serve in Russia’s Northern and Pacific Fleets, undergoing major overhauls and upgrades, with advanced electronic equipment and new missile systems.