The great anti-submarine boats (BPCs) of Project 1155, designed to search for and destroy the submarines of a potential enemy, have become a symbol of the power of the Soviet Navy. BPC Admiral KulakovIt is named after twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Admiral of the Fleet Nikolai Gerasimovich Kulakov.
The boat, which was laid down in 1973 at the Zvezda plant in Severodvinsk, has been in service for a long and busy period, launched in 1974 and commissioned in 1975. "Admiral Kulakov" He was on duty as part of the Northern Fleet, performing tasks in various points of the World Ocean, from the Barents Sea to the Mediterranean.
Today, the boat is not just a decommissioned skeleton, but a unique object for studying the evolution of marine engineering and engineering, and its design, armament and modernization history provide insight into how the priorities of the Navy changed in the late twentieth century. In this article, we will examine in detail the technical features, combat path and current state of this legendary boat.
Project 1155: Concept and design features
Project 1155 was developed in response to the growing threat from NATO nuclear submarines, unlike its predecessors, which focused on missile strikes against surface targets. BOX The hull was designed as a specialized submarine hunter, and was optimized to provide high speed and stability in storm conditions in northern latitudes.
The basis of the power plant was the gas turbine circuit, which was a revolutionary solution for boats of such displacement. GTU It achieved the outstanding speed performance required to intercept high-speed submarines, but it required complex maintenance and significant fuel consumption, which affected the range of navigation.
- 🚢 The total displacement was about 7,500 tons, making the boat one of the largest in its class.
- ⚓ The maximum speed reached 35 knots, providing superiority over most underwater targets in the surface position.
- 🌊 The autonomy of navigation allowed to stay at sea for up to 30 days without calling at the port.
⚠️ Attention: The gas turbine plant had a high sensitivity to the quality of fuel and salinity of off-shore water, which required strict compliance with the maintenance regulations of filters and cleaning systems.
The most important element of the design was the rolling stabilization system, which allowed the effective use of weapons and aircraft equipment even in the face of severe sea disturbance, and the boat's hull had an advanced superstructure that housed numerous radar posts and fire control systems. "Admiral Kulakov" A complex engineering complex requiring a highly qualified crew.
Armament and on-board systems
The boat's main caliber was the 100mm AK-100 universal artillery system, designed to fire at surface, air and coastal targets. "Blizzard" (later upgraded to the Metel-M) allowed for depth bombs and torpedoes to be delivered up to 35 kilometers away, using jet engines to overcome the air environment.
For short-range defense and low-flying missiles, the boat was equipped with two twin AK-630s, which created a tight veil of fire that could destroy the threat in the last seconds before the attack, and carried RBU-6000 rocket-propelled bombers that were effective against torpedoes and underwater saboteurs.
The aircraft group consisting of one Ka-27PL helicopter was placed in a hangar at the stern. The helicopter significantly expanded the area of submarine search, allowing to detect targets beyond the horizon of visibility of boat's sonar stations. "The Tiger."A car on the deck in a severe storm.
| Weapons system | Type | Range of action | Appointment |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK-100 | Artillery installation | 20 km | Universal shooting |
| "Breather-M" | Anti-submarine complex | 35 km | Defeat of the PL |
| RBU-6000 | Bomb-launching rocket | 6 km | Combating torpedoes and submarines |
| AK-630 | Anti-aircraft gun | 4km | Air defence |
The main feature of the armament of the BOD project 1155 was the ability to simultaneously conduct combat with underwater, surface and air targets, which made the boat a universal fighter.
History of service and military campaigns
Service biography "Admiral Kulakov" The boat was commissioned by the Northern Fleet, and in its early years of service, it made a series of long-distance expeditions to show off the Soviet flag in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and the crew won numerous prizes for best training and service.
In the 1980s, the boat was actively involved in monitoring the actions of the navies of NATO countries. Anti-submarine service The boat was conducted in the difficult hydrological conditions of the Barents and Norwegian Seas, providing safe access for Soviet strategic missile submarines to patrol areas, creating a security zone around them.
- 🌍 In 1979, the boat made a long voyage to the Atlantic Ocean, staying at sea for more than 100 days.
- 🤝 In the 1990s, despite the reduction of funding, the BPC continued to carry out combat watches, participating in exercises together with the navies of the Warsaw Pact countries, and later with the navies of NATO countries.
- 🎖️ During the years of service, the boat and its crew were awarded numerous thanks by the Navy Command.
The collapse of the Soviet Union was a major challenge for the Navy, with funding cut sharply, resulting in fewer outlets. "Admiral Kulakov" The boat remained in service, performing tasks to protect the economic zone and the state border, and became one of the symbols of the resilience of the North Sea during the difficult 90s.
Modernization and extension of the resource
In the early 2000s, the fate of the Project 1155 boats was questioned, and the decision was made to upgrade the best-preserved units, including the ones that were left behind. "Admiral Kulakov"The purpose of the work was to extend the service life and upgrade the electronic equipment, the boat was repaired at the 35th shipyard in the city of Severomorsk.
The upgrades have replaced some of the navigation and communications systems, and older analog systems have given way to more advanced digital solutions, which have improved interoperability with other squadron boats, and have also reinforced the hull and replaced parts of the power plant.
Why not replace the missile?
The complete replacement of the missile system with the BOD of Project 1155 was considered economically impractical due to the high cost of work and the residual life of the hull.
Special attention was paid to the conditions of the crew, the living quarters, the galley and the medical compartments were updated, which increased the comfort of the service of sailors on long trips, and despite the age, after the modernization, the boat was able to perform its tasks effectively for several years.
⚠️ Attention: When upgrading old boats, there is always a risk of disruption of alignment and stability when installing new heavy equipment, so all changes require careful calculations.
Decommissioning and disposal
By the mid-2010s, the hull' resource BPC Admiral Kulakov The wear of the machinery and the structures has reached critical levels, making further operation impossible and economically unjustified, and in 2014 the boat was lowered and officially retired from service.
The process of disposing of large warships is a complex engineering task, and the boat was towed to a cutting base, primarily to dismantle weapons, electronics and equipment that represent state secrets or reusable value. hull It was cut into pieces to melt the metal.
- 🔧 Dismantling gas turbine engines required special equipment and safety measures.
- ☢️ Special attention was paid to the disposal of radioactive waste and contaminated oils accumulated over decades of service.
- ♻️ The metal obtained during the cutting was sent for remelting for civilian use.
With death. "Admiral Kulakov" The Project 1155 boats, built at the height of the Cold War, accomplished their mission of ensuring naval parity, and their departure from the scene marked a shift to new technologies and new generation boats, such as the Project 22350 frigates.
☑️ Criteria for assessing the state of the decommissioned boat
Technical heritage of the project
Despite the fact that "Admiral Kulakov" The oceans are no longer traversed, its technical legacy lives on, and the experience of operating gas turbines on boats of this class has been incorporated into the design of modern boats, and the principles of anti-submarine defense, developed by the crews of the BPC, are the basis of modern doctrines of the Russian Navy.
Many technical solutions applied to Project 1155 BODThey've become classics in shipbuilding, and they've been about power plant design, stabilization systems, and crew life on long, autonomous voyages, and engineers and designers are still learning from the experience of building these boats.
A unique feature of the 1155 project was the ability to carry two helicopters (although one was based), which theoretically doubled the capabilities of the search team, but in practice was rarely used due to space shortages.When studying the history of boats, pay attention to the onboard numbers - their change often indicates the transfer of the boat to another division or brigade, which helps to restore the route of its service.
Tonight, "Admiral Kulakova" It's a boat that has gone through the heyday and decline of the Soviet Navy, and honestly served, and that history is important to understanding how our nation's naval power evolved in the second half of the twentieth century.
What was the maximum speed of the Admiral Kulakov BPC?
The boat's full speed was 35 knots, allowing it to effectively chase submarines in surface position, and in economical mode, the speed was about 14-18 knots.
Where was the Admiral Kulakov built?
The boat was laid down and built at the Zvezda shipyard in the city of Severodvinsk (Arkhangelsk region), which specialized in the construction of large warships for the USSR Navy.
Why is the project called the “Big Anti-Submarine”?
The BPC classification was used in the USSR to designate boats whose primary purpose was to fight submarines, but which had a displacement and capabilities comparable to cruisers or destroyers of other fleets.