Help on Tele2, tariffs, questions

Small missile ship "Passat" of project 12341, code "Gadfly-1", was laid down on the slipway of the Leningrad Primorsky Shipyard in Leningrad and became the 14th in a series of 15 ships built at the plant.

Designed for launching missile attacks on enemy ships.

RTO "Passat" was laid down on May 27, 1988, building number 82. Launched on June 13, 1990. December 06, 1990 handed over to the customer. March 14, 1991 was enlisted in the Baltic Fleet. Currently has tail number 570, previously had tail number 465.

Main characteristics: Full displacement 730 tons. Length 59.3 meters, width 11.8 meters, draft 3.08 meters. Maximum speed 34 knots. Cruising range 3500 nautical miles at 18 knots. Autonomy 10 days. The crew consists of 64 people, including 10 officers and 14 midshipmen.

Power plant: 3 M-507A diesel engines with a total capacity of 30,000 horsepower, 3 shafts.

Armament: 6 Malachite anti-ship missile launchers (6 P-120 missiles), 1 AK-176 76-mm gun mount, 1x6 AK-630 30-mm gun mount, 1x2 Osa-M anti-aircraft launchers (20 missiles).

In 1999 he made a business call at the port of Karlskrona, Sweden.

From July 22 to August 08, 2006 he paid a visit to the ports of Germany with a passage through the Kiel Canal and a call at Bremerhaven and Warnemünde.

In early July 2007, he made a training trip to the North Sea, calling at the Dutch port of Vlissingen to participate in the celebrations on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Admiral de Ruyter.

Was under renovation in 2013.

According to a report dated April 11, 2014, during which he fired cruise missiles at complex targets simulating a detachment of imaginary enemy ships.

According to a message dated May 19, 2014, together with the R-257 missile boat, it successfully imitates warships and air attack weapons of a mock enemy.

According to a report dated February 27, 2015, the crews of the large landing ship "Korolev" and the small missile ship "Passat" of the Baltic Fleet successfully carried out artillery firing in conditions of limited visibility. According to a report dated April 09, artillery firing at various targets was successful.

According to a message dated March 30, 2016, the crew, as part of the first stage of the Sea Cup-2016 professional skills competition in the Baltic Fleet, were tasked with conducting artillery combat and repelling attacks by air attack means of a mock enemy.

According to a report dated April 12, 2019, as part of a naval strike group, electronic missile launches were successfully launched at targets simulating a detachment of mock enemy warships. According to a message dated August 05 for the inter-fleet exercise of the Russian Navy "Ocean Shield - 2019".

The reference book contains information about the ship composition of the USSR Navy as of December 1991. However, it traces the fate of the ships of the Soviet fleet until 2001. Data are given on the warships that were in service, under construction and designed, their names, serial numbers, dates of laying, launching , commissioning, decommissioning of the fleet, modernization or re-equipment, enterprises (factories, firms)-builders and design firms. It is told about the features of projects, design, construction, repairs and upgrades, the most characteristic accidents and important stages of active service. Schemes of appearance, longitudinal sections of all projects and their modifications, numerous photographs are presented. The handbook is published in four volumes: vol. I. Submarines (in two volumes); vol. II. Attack Ships (in two volumes); vol. III. Anti-submarine ships; vol. IV. Landing and mine-sweeping ships. The appendices to each volume provide the main tactical and technical characteristics of the weapons of the ships of the Soviet and Russian Navy: missile, artillery, anti-submarine, radio engineering and aviation. The reference book is based on materials from the open domestic and foreign press. For the first time, the ship composition of the USSR Navy is presented with the greatest possible completeness. It is recommended to everyone who is interested in the state and development of the domestic fleet.

Small rocket ships pr. 1234 and pr. 12341 -136 (34) (1*)

Small rocket ships pr. 1234 and pr. 12341 -136 (34) ()

Displacement, t:

Main dimensions, m:

- the greatest length (on design waterline) 59.3 (54)

- maximum width (on design waterline) 11.8 (8.96)

Main power plant:

– diesel type

- quantity x type DD (total power, hp) 3 x M-507 (30,000)

- number x type of propellers 3 x VFS

– quantity x type

(power, kW) EPS current sources 2 x DG (300 each) + 1 x DG (100)

Travel speed, knots:

– economic 12

Cruising range, miles:

- stroke 34 knots 415

Autonomy in terms of provisions, days 10

Crew (including officers), people 60 (9) (), 64 (10) ()

Armament:

Anti-ship missile complex:

- name Malachite "(P-120)

- number of launchers x guides (type of launcher) 2x3 (deck, non-guided CT with rise to the launch angle)

- ammunition 6 anti-ship missiles

Anti-aircraft missile system.

- number of launchers x guides (PU type) 1 x 2 (deck-guided ZIF-122)

- ammunition 20 SAM 9MZZ

- number of launchers x guides (type of launcher) 2x4 (MANPADS)

– ammunition 16 ZR

Artillery complex:

- number of guns x trunks (type guns) 1 x 2-57/50 (AK-725)(), 1 x 1-76/59 (AK-176) ()

Electronic:

- RLC detection of NTs and target designation "Titanit"

- warning system for laser irradiation "Spectrum-F" ()

- a set of electronic warfare equipment "Vympel-R2" ()

- number of PU x pipes (PU type) SPPP 2 x 16-82 mm (PK-16) + + 4 x 10-122 mm (PK-10) ()

(2*) For ships pr. 1234.

(3*) For ships project 12341.

(4*) For ships pr. 1234.

(5*) For ships project 12341.

(6*) On RTOs Rain and Grad installed in the process of medium repair.

(7*) Mius navigation radar (as a backup) has been installed on ships since 1989.

(8*) Installed on ships pr. 12341 since 1995

(9*) The PK-10 complex has been installed on ships since mid-1992.

The small rocket ship pr. 1234 was developed in the late 1960s under the leadership of I.P. Pegov at the Almaz Central Design Bureau. Designed to combat enemy surface ships and merchant ships.

The KR complex has a coastal firing mode.

The hull is smooth-deck, with a slight sheer, with a longitudinal framing system, made of high-strength steel. It has a double bottom for most of its length. It is divided by watertight bulkheads into 10 compartments.

1 - PU SAM "Osa-M"; 2 - AP SU ADMS "Osa-M"; 3 - launcher KT-120 SCRC "Malachite"; 4 - AP station RTR MRP-11-12; 5 - wheelhouse; 6 - AP radar "Dubrava" (antenna DO-3 RLC "Titanit"); 7 - PU PK-16 NURS SPPP; 8 - main (complex) AP (antenna DO-1) RLC "Titanit"; 9 - AP of the channel for receiving target designation (USBD ()) of the RLC "Titanit" (antenna DO-2); 10 - AP DO-6 RLC "Titanit"; 11 - AP DO-4 and DO-5 RLC "Titanit"; 12 - AP radar "Don"; 13 - AG1 station "Nichrome" (identification systems); 14 - running and signal bridge; 15 - PU PK-10 NURS SPPP (installed on the ships of this project since mid-1992 in the process of carrying out a medium repair); 16 - AP radar SUAO "Bars"; 17 - 57-mm AU AK-725; 18 - PU SAM "Strela-3"; 19 - fenders ZR "Strela-3".

1 - forepeak; 2 - chain box; 3 - personnel quarters; 4 - folding beds; 5 - stationary beds; 6 - PU ZIF-122 SAM "Osa-M"; 7 - premises (cellar ZUR) PU ZIF-122; 8 - AP SU SAM "Osa-M"; 9 - cabin commander of the ship; 10 - corridor of officer cabins; 11 - combat posts of the Osa-M air defense system (air defense post); 12 - fuel tanks; 13 - officers' cabins; 14 - wheelhouse; 15 - optical periscopic sight of the wheelhouse; 16 - combat posts of RTV and enclosures of HF units; 17 - vestibule; 18 - GKP; 19 - household premises (latrines, showers, etc.); 20 - wardroom for officers; 21 - the central control room of the machine installation and the partition of the bow main switchboard; 22 - gyropost; 23 - expendable fuel tank; 24 - air intake shaft MO; 25 - nasal MO; 26 - feed MO; 27 - lattices of exhaust shafts MO; 28 - main engines (DD); 29 - DT; 30 - buffet; 31 - canteen of personnel; 32 - galley; 33 - 57-mm gun AK-725; 34 - barbette 57-mm AU; 35 - spare fuel tanks; 36 - bilge water tanks; 37 - pantries of wet provisions; 38 - afterpeak; 39 - tiller compartment.

The main power plant is located in two engine rooms. Each of the main engines consists of two seven-block, star-shaped 56-cylinder diesel engines, the shafts of which are interconnected through a gearbox and work on their own propeller.

The three-tiered superstructure, with the exception of gas fenders, is made of light alloys.

In total, from the beginning of 1967 to the middle of 1992, 36 ships were built for the Soviet fleet, project 1234 (20 units) and 12341 (16 units), and from 1974 to 1984, 10 ships according to project 1234E (with four P-15M anti-ship missiles of the P-20 complex) for the Indian, Algerian and Libyan navies.

As of December 2001, eight RTOs of project 1234 and 14 RTOs of project 12341 remained in the fleet.

Hurricane(plant No. 65). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 05/31/1974; 04/16/1976; September 30, 1976

Belonged to the BF. 08/31/1977 was excluded from the combat strength of the fleet, transferred to the Government of India and renamed Vijay Durg.

Surf(plant No. 66). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 01/22/1975; October 02, 1976; 02/18/1977 He was a member of the Baltic Fleet. 10/06/1977 was excluded from the combat strength of the fleet, transferred to the government of India and renamed Sindhu Durg.

high tide(plant No. 67). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 06/23/1975; 04/14/1977; 09/20/1977 Was a member of the Baltic Fleet. On 10/06/1977, he was excluded from the combat strength of the fleet, transferred to the government of India and renamed Hos Durg.

MRK-21(plant No. 201). Shipyard "Vympel" them. Volodarsky (Rybinsk): 03/10/1978;

08/28/1979; December 31, 1979

Belonged to the BF. 02/22/1980 was excluded from the fleet, 08/04/1980 was transferred to the government of Algeria and renamed Ras Hamidou.

MRK-23(plant No. 202). Shipyard "Vympel" them. Volodarsky (Rybinsk): 08/17/1978;

July 31, 1980; October 31, 1980

Belonged to the BF. 05/21/1981 was excluded from the combat strength of the fleet, transferred to the government of Algeria and renamed Salah Reis.

MRK-9(plant No. 203). Shipyard "Vympel" them. Volodarsky (Rybinsk): 04/21/1979;

January 10, 1981; May 27, 1981

Belonged to the BF. 05/01/1982 expelled from the fleet, transferred to the government of Libya and renamed Tariq Ibn Ziyad.

MPK-22(plant No. 204). Shipyard "Vympel" them. Volodarsky (Rybinsk): 04/04/1980;

08/13/1981; November 30, 1981

Belonged to the BF. 02/08/1982 expelled from the fleet, 05/08/1982 transferred to the government of Algeria and renamed Reis Ali.

MPK-24(plant No. 205). Shipyard "Vympel" them. Volodarsky (Rybinsk): 20.02.1981;

March 26, 1982; May 31, 1982

Belonged to the BF. On January 19, 1983, it was excluded from the combat strength of the fleet, in February 1983 it was transferred to the Libyan government and renamed Ean A1 Gazala.

MRK-25(plant No. 206). Shipyard "Vympel" them. Volodarsky (Rybinsk): 05/27/1981; July 21, 1982; May 31, 1983

Belonged to the BF. 03/15/1984 was excluded from the fleet, transferred to the government of Libya and renamed Ean Zara.

MPK-15(plant No. 207). Shipyard "Vympel" them. Volodarsky (Rybinsk): 03/25/1983; March 31, 1984; 09/10/1984

Belonged to the BF. 01/08/1985 expelled from the fleet, in September 1985 transferred to the government of Libya and renamed Ean Zaquit.

Storm(manufacturer No. 51, project 1234, until 04/25/1970 t.- MRK-3). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 01/13/1967; October 18, 1968; 09/30/1970.

He was a member of the Black Sea Fleet. On February 11, 1991, due to wear and tear of the materiel and lack of funds for repairs, the ship was expelled from the combat strength of the fleet and transferred to the OFI for disposal. In 1992, in Inkerman, RTOs Storm were dismantled for metal.

Monsoon(plant No. 1003, project 1234). Vladivostok Shipyard: July 14, 1975; 07/01/1981; December 30, 1981

He was a member of the TOF. 04/16/1987, during an air defense exercise, a target missile (P-15RM) fired by the RKA pr. RTOs. The ship caught fire and sank five hours later 33 miles from about. Askold (42° 11" N/132° 27" E).

Breeze(plant No. 52, project 1234, until 25.04.1970 T.- MPK-7). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 11/05/1967; October 10, 1969; 12/31/1970.

He was a member of the Black Sea Fleet. In January 1984, in tow through the Strait of Gibraltar around Africa, the ship was transferred from Sevastopol to the port of Cam Ranh (Vietnam) and included in the Indian Operational Squadron. In July 1986, he independently moved from the port of Kam Ran to Vladivostok and on 08/01/1986 was included in the Pacific Fleet.

10/29/92 Breeze due to wear and tear of the material part and lack of funds for repairs, was expelled from the combat strength of the fleet and transferred to SARS for disposal. The ship was completely disarmed and laid up in a bay. Herring, and in 1998 at Shipyard No. 49 (Vilyuchinsk) was dismantled for metal.

Vortex(factory No. 53, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 08/21/1967; July 22, 1970; September 30, 1971

He was a member of the Black Sea Fleet. In July-August 1977, in tow through the Strait of Gibraltar around Africa, the ship was transferred from Sevastopol to Vladivostok and on 08/31/1977 was included in the Pacific Fleet (Kamchatka FRS).

07/05/1994 Due to the wear of the material part and the lack of funds for repairs, Vikhr was expelled from the combat strength of the fleet and transferred to SARS for disposal. In 1997, the ship was dismantled for metal.

Wave(plant No. 54, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 09/27/1968; July 20, 1971;

Belonged to the SF. From 08/10/1988 to 10/01/1989, the ship underwent an average repair at Shipyard No. 177 (Arkhangelsk).

In November 1989, he was taken to the reserve and into the bay. Sayda was laid up, and on June 30, 1993, he was expelled from the combat strength of the fleet and transferred to SARS for disposal. In 1994, in Murmansk, RTO Volna was dismantled for metal.

hail(plant No. 55, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 11/29/1967; 04/30/1972;

Belonged to the BF. From 11/01/1989 to 02/07/1990, at Shipyard No. 177 (Ust-Dvinsk), the ship underwent an average repair. On 06/30/1993, Grad was expelled from the combat strength of the fleet, transferred to SARS for disposal, and in 1994 in Baltiysk was dismantled for metal.

Thunderstorm(plant No. 56, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 09/27/1968; July 20, 1971; December 26, 1972

He was a member of the Black Sea Fleet. 09/01/1982 the ship was taken to the reserve, mothballed and in the bay. Quarantine (Sevastopol) was laid up. In November 1992, he was expelled from the combat strength of the fleet and handed over to SARS for disposal. In 1993, in Inkerman, RTOs were dismantled for metal. Its mechanisms and equipment were used to repair the remaining ships of the same type.

Thunder(plant No. 57, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 01.10.1969; October 29, 1972;

He was a member of the Black Sea Fleet. 09/01/1988 the ship was taken to the reserve, mothballed and in the bay. Quarantine (Sevastopol) was laid up. 06/01/1991 it was reactivated and re-introduced into the Black Sea Fleet.

05/24/1995 Thunder due to wear and tear of the materiel and lack of funds for repairs was expelled from the combat strength of the fleet and transferred to SARS for disposal. In 1996, in Inkerman, it was dismantled for metal.

Zarnitsa(plant No. 58, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): July 27, 1970; 04/28/1973;

Part of the Black Sea Fleet.

Lightning(factory No. 59, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 09/30/1971; 08/27/1973;

Part of the BF. From 10/21/1987 to 03/04/1988, at Shipyard No. 177 (Ust-Dvinsk), the ship underwent an average repair.

Squall(plant No. 60, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 05/17/1972; December 28, 1973;

Part of the BF. From 09/26/1978 to 02/22/1980 and from 12/12/1980 to 07/18/1985 at Shipyard No. 177 (Ust-Dvinsk) the ship underwent a medium repair. 10/01/1988 Flurry was withdrawn to the reserve, mothballed and laid up in Liepaja. In August 1992, he was towed to Baltiysk.

Dawn(plant No. 61, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 10/18/1972; May 18, 1974; September 28, 1974

Belonged to the SF. 09/11/1986 the ship was taken to the reserve, mothballed and in the bay. Long Western (settlement Granitny) was laid up. In August 1988, he was towed to the bay. Sayda. 07/05/1994 RTOs were expelled from the fleet and transferred to SARS for disposal. In 1995, in Murmansk, it was dismantled for metal. The mechanisms and equipment of RTOs were used to repair the remaining ships of the same type in service.

Blizzard(plant No. 62, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): February 19, 1973; 08/10/1974;

Belonged to the SF. From September 28, 1990 to August 27, 1992, the ship underwent a medium repair at Shipyard No. 82 (Roslyakovo settlement). 03/16/1998 Due to wear and tear of the material part and lack of funds for repairs, Blizzard was expelled from the combat strength of the fleet and transferred to SARS for disposal.

Storm(plant No. 63, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 10/20/1973; 03/03/1975;

Belonged to the BF. 03/03/1993, the ship was put into reserve and put into medium repair at Shipyard No. 33 (Baltiysk). On March 16, 1998, due to lack of funds to continue repairs, he was expelled from the combat strength of the fleet and transferred to SARS for disposal. The storm was completely disarmed and in November 1998 they sold ZAO Litan.

Rainbow(manufacturer No. 64, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 01/16/1974; 06/20/1975; December 1, 1975

Belonged to the BF. From 10/11/1991 to 10/01/1993, at Shipyard No. 33 (Baltiysk), the ship underwent an average repair.

07/05/1994 RTOs Raduga, due to wear and tear of the materiel and lack of funds for repairs, were expelled from the combat strength of the fleet and transferred to SARS for disposal.

1 - PU SAM "Osa-MA"; 2 - AP SU ADMS "Osa-MA"; 3 - launcher KT-120 SCRC "Malachite"; 4 - wheelhouse; 5 - main (complex) AP (antenna DO-1) RLC "Titanit"; 6 - navigation bridge; 7 - AP radar "Pechora"; 8 - AP station "Nichrome" (identification systems); 9 -AP DO-4 and DO-5 RLC "Titanit"; 10 - AP channel for receiving target designation (USBD) RLC "Titanit" (antenna DO-2); 11 - AP of the RTR station of the Vympel-R2 electronic warfare complex; 12 - AP of the station for setting active jamming of the Vympel-R2 electronic warfare system; 13 - signal bridge; 14 - sighting column SUAO "Vympel"; 15 - PU PK-10 NURS SPPP; 16 - AP radar SUAO "Vympel"; 17 - PU PK-16 NURS SPPP; 30 mm gun AK-630M; 19 - 76-mm gun AK-176.

1 - forepeak; 2 - chain box; 3 - personnel quarters; 4 - folding beds; 5 - stationary beds; 6 - PU ZIF-122 SAM "Osa-M"; 7 - premises (cellar ZUR) PU ZIF-122; 8 - AP SU SAM "Osa-M"; 9 - cabin commander of the ship; 10 - corridor of officer cabins; 11 - combat posts of the Osa-M air defense system (air defense post); 12 - fuel tanks; 13 - officers' cabins; 14 - wheelhouse; 15 - navigation cabin; 16 - combat posts of RTV and enclosures of HF units; 17 - vestibule; 18 - GKP; 19 - household premises (latrines, showers, etc.); 20 - wardroom for officers; 21 - the central control room of the machine installation and the partition of the bow main switchboard; 22 - gyropost; 23 - expendable fuel tank; 24 - air intake shaft MO; 25 - nasal MO; 26 - feed MO; 27 - lattices of exhaust shafts MO; 28 - main engines (AD.); 29 - DT; 30 - buffet; 31 - canteen of personnel; 32 - galley; 33 - 76-mm AU AK-176; 34 - barbette 76-mm AU; 35 - spare fuel tanks; 36 - bilge water tanks; 37 - pantries of wet provisions; 38 - afterpeak; 39 - tiller compartment; 40 - 30 mm gun AK-630M.

Burun(manufacturer No. 68, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 11.1975; 07.1977;

Part of the BF. From 11/09/1990 to 03/03/1993, the ship underwent a medium repair at the PO SF "Almaz" (St. Petersburg).

Wind(plant No. 69, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): February 27, 1976; 04/21/1978;

Belonged to the SF. From 10/09/1986 to 02/27/1987, at Shipyard No. 82 (Roslyakovo settlement), the ship underwent an average repair. 12/01/1987 he was taken to the reserve, mothballed and in the bay. Long Western (settlement Granitny) was laid up. In August 1988, Veter was towed to the bay. Said, and 08/04/1995 was expelled from the combat fleet and transferred to SARS for disposal.

Komsomolets of Mordovia(manufacturer No. 70, project 1234, until 04/13/1982 t. ~ 3yb, since February 15, 1992~ Calm). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 06/28/1976; October 23, 1978; 12/31/1978 Part of the Black Sea Fleet.

Iceberg(manufacturer No. 71, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 11/11/1976; 04/20/1979;

Part of the SF. From 09/20/1989 to 11/14/1990, at Shipyard No. 82 (Roslyakovo settlement), the ship underwent an average repair.

Cloud(manufacturer No. 72, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 05/04/1977; 04/29/1980;

Part of the SF.

Hurricane(manufacturer No. 73, project 1234). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 08/01/1980; May 27, 1983;

Part of the SF.

Surf(plant No. 74, project 12341). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 11/25/1978; 04/20/1984;

Part of the SF. From February 4 to September 1, 1994, at Shipyard No. 82 (Roslyakovo settlement), the ship underwent an average repair.

high tide(plant No. 75, project 12341). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 04/29/1982; 04/26/1985;

Part of the BF.

Mirage(plant No. 77, project 12341). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 08/30/1983; 08/19/1986;

Part of the Black Sea Fleet.

Meteor(manufacturer No. 78, project 12341). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 11/13/1984; September 16, 1987;

Part of the BF. From 10/12/1995 to 06/20/1996, the ship underwent an average repair at the Riga Shipyard (Latvia).

Dawn(manufacturer No. 79, project 12341). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 09/29/1986; 08/22/1988;

Part of the SF.

Swell(plant No. 80, project 12341). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 08/26/1986; February 28, 1989;

Part of the BF.

Geyser(manufacturer No. 81, project 12341). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 12/21/1987; 08/28/1989;

Part of the BF.

trade wind(manufacturer No. 82, project 12341). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 05/27/1988; 06/13/1990;

Part of the BF.

Shower(manufacturer No. 83, project 12341). Primorsky Shipyard (Leningrad): 09/28/1988; 05/08/1991;

Part of the BF.

roll(plant No. 84, project 12341). Primorsky Shipyard: 09.1988 -, -.

In November 1991, due to lack of funding, the construction of the ship was suspended. In mid-1992, the order for it was canceled, and the hull was dismantled for metal on the slipway.

Cyclone(plant No. 1001, project 12341). Vladivostok Shipyard: 09/22/1973; May 24, 1977; December 31, 1977

He was part of the Pacific Fleet (Kamchatka FRS). On 01/17/1995, the ship was expelled from the combat strength of the fleet due to wear and tear of the materiel and lack of funds for repairs and transferred to SARS for disposal. He was completely disarmed and in Lake Bogorodskoye (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky) was put on the sludge.

Soon the Cyclone sank due to a malfunction of the bottom-outboard fittings. In 1998, the ship was raised and at Shipyard No. 48 (Vilyuchinsk) was dismantled for metal.

Typhoon(plant No. 1002, project 12341). Vladivostok Shipyard: May 10, 1974; 08/14/1979; December 30, 1979

He was a member of the TOF. On 08/04/1995, the ship was expelled from the combat strength of the fleet due to wear and tear of the materiel and lack of funds for repairs and transferred to SARS for disposal.

In December 1995, he was completely disarmed and in the boo. Herring put on the sludge. In 1998, at Shipyard No. 49 (Vilyuchinsk), Typhoon was dismantled for metal.

Tornado(plant No. 1004, project 12341). Vladivostok Shipyard: November 16, 1981; 11/16/1984; December 30, 1984

Included in the TOF.

XX Congress of the Komsomol(plant No. 1005, project 12341, until 04/14/1987 - Shower, from February 15, 1992 - Frost). Vladivostok Shipyard: 07/06/1983; October 5, 1986; December 25, 1987

Included in the TOF.

Freezing(manufacturer No. 1006, project 12341). Vladivostok Shipyard: February 17, 1985; September 23, 1989; December 30, 1989

Spill(plant No. 1007, project 12341). Vladivostok Shipyard: 11/01/1986; 08/24/1991; December 31, 1991

It is part of the Pacific Fleet (Kamchatka FRS).

From its birth in 1967, Project 1234 turned out to be extremely controversial and elevating the Soviet desire for specialized ships to an absolute - it was not without reason that a separate class was created specifically for it. Previously unseen "ship hunters" immediately attracted the attention of military experts around the world, who vigorously discussed the question: what is the Soviet "toothy baby" in fact - a "pistol at the temple of capitalism" or an easy target? These controversies do not subside to this day, when the domestic fleet is at a crossroads: whether to continue the Soviet tradition or switch to the Western paradigm of multifunctional ships?

Our fleet inherited 15 small missile ships (RTOs) from the Soviet Union: 13 Project 12341 RTOs and two Project 1239 Hovercraft RTOs. and four - to the Black Sea Fleet (two ships of project 12341 and two of project 1239). As a result, today this class of ships is one of the most numerous in the fleet. It is noteworthy that every single one is in service.

However, the need for these ships is the subject of much debate and controversy. Many believe that in the modern concept of the fleet, such highly specialized ships should be replaced by multi-purpose corvettes. The combat effectiveness of RTOs in the face of powerful electronic countermeasures and the presence of ground attack aircraft in the enemy is also questioned. In addition, today the tasks of RTOs in the same way can be performed by fighter-bomber aircraft and coastal missile systems. How justified are these doubts and is the age of RTOs really over?

Advantages and disadvantages

To begin with, you should understand the advantages and disadvantages of small missile ships, applying them to modern realities.

The first and most basic advantage is powerful missile weapons. The main caliber of MRK project 1234 - six missiles P-120 "Malachite" reach a speed of M = 1 and have a maximum range of up to 150 km, the guidance system is active radar with a "safety net" IR sensor. With a powerful warhead (WB) and impressive speed, these missiles are capable of taking out quite large ships, such as a destroyer (EM) and, with several hits, even a missile cruiser (RKR).

For example, during the Krym-76 exercise, two missiles were enough to sink a decommissioned Project 30 bis destroyer with a displacement of 2,300 tons, thereby demonstrating excellent guidance accuracy. An important advantage is the relatively large ammunition load, which makes it possible to produce massive volleys.

However, the P-120 missiles also have significant shortcomings.. First of all, we can note the insufficient launch range compared to some classmates, for example, for the closest competitors - Exocet and Harpoon missiles, it is 180 and 315 km, respectively. In addition, the considerable size of the rocket itself imposes significant restrictions: on the experimental Nakat RTO of project 1234.7, armed with relatively small P-800 Oniks missiles, it was possible to place twice as many launchers.

Further, the very ability to use weapons at maximum range depends on reliable target designation (TA). The capabilities of the airborne radar do not allow to give a clear control center at extreme ranges, therefore it was initially assumed that RTOs would receive more accurate information from reconnaissance aircraft Tu-95RTs and other ships.

The next indisputable advantage of the 1234 project is its excellent speed and mobility.. The relatively small displacement and powerful engine allow it to reach a top speed of 35 knots along with good agility. In combination with a relatively large navigation autonomy (10 days), this gives RTOs advantages both at the operational level - you can quickly transfer combat units to the right directions, and in battle, where good maneuverability allows, for example, to evade a torpedo or be the first to take a position for rocket launch. However, these qualities inherited from the boat turn into very mediocre seaworthiness. Nevertheless, for operations in the coastal and near-ocean zone, it is quite sufficient.

Another important factor is production. Project 1234 ships are relatively inexpensive, can be built at almost any military shipyard capable of producing a ship with a displacement of up to a thousand tons, and the construction period under emergency circumstances and under the stress of all possibilities will be within three to four months. This combination distinguishes RTOs from all other classes, except for boats.

But along with these advantages, RTOs are not without very significant drawbacks:

- the first and most important - the almost complete defenselessness of such a ship from air attacks. Of the anti-aircraft artillery weapons, it has only one six-barreled 30-mm AK-630 installation and one 76-mm AK-176 (very conditional as an air defense weapon), and from the missile - the Osa-M air defense system, which has a firing range of no more 10 km. As experience shows, including real combat, the probability of intercepting an enemy anti-ship missile (ASM) by these means is small, not to mention the possibility of fighting directly with strike aircraft.

- The second drawback is the low survivability of RTOs: as shown by the tragic experience of the "Monsoon", who died during the exercises when hit by a P-15 rocket with an inert warhead, the ship is very fire hazardous due to the hull material - aluminum-magnesium alloy. Small sizes cause insufficient buoyancy and safety margin. As a result, many consider RTOs to be "disposable" ships - for one volley.

Application possibilities

Paradoxically, for all its narrow specialization, the Project 1234 small rocket ship is relatively versatile. In the conditions of a large-scale conflict in the ocean theater, several options for using RTOs are possible:

- due to their powerful armament, these ships are able to support overcoming the air defense of a large enemy naval formation, making a significant contribution by launching six P-120 missiles;

- using their speed and mobility, RTOs can operate as part of the "hit and run" tactics, making surprise attacks on transport convoys, landing craft and destroyers of anti-aircraft defense and anti-missile defense;

— escort and protection of own convoys.

All three of these options run into the already identified drawback: the firing range. It is difficult to assume that RTOs will be able to approach, for example, an aircraft carrier strike group at a distance of 120 km and survive: even on the approaches, it will be guaranteed to be detected and destroyed by carrier-based aircraft, unlike carriers of large anti-ship missiles of the P-500 and P-700 types, capable of opening fire for 500 km.

The second tactic also has vulnerabilities. The first of these could be the return fire of more long-range anti-ship missiles (for example, the Harpoon widely used on NATO ships). On board destroyers and escort frigates, a helicopter armed with short-range anti-ship missiles is possible (Penguin and Sea Skua missiles can be launched at a range of 28 and 25 km, respectively). As noted above, the anti-aircraft capabilities of a small missile ship are not enough to guarantee the repulsion of such an attack.

A similar situation develops with the use of RTOs in defense: in modern conditions, an attack on a convoy will be carried out with a high probability with the help of strike aircraft. Only our own fighter-interceptors can effectively deal with this threat.

But the main factor limiting the use of a small missile ship in the conditions described is the need for accurate target designation, and, consequently, active interaction with other parts of the fleet, including in conditions of powerful electronic suppression. For full-fledged work, it is necessary to provide AWACS or support a larger surface ship armed with a target designator helicopter.

Another logical role for RTOs could be coastal defense. In many ways, ships of this type fit well into the requirements for a guard ship: good artillery armament, decent speed, and autonomy. However, as sailors note, RTOs with their missile weapons are “redundant” for such tasks - missile boats and small artillery ships are quite enough to protect the sea border.

All these concepts originate in the 70s of the last century, when small rocket ships were created. Today, all of the above tasks can be performed by the Air Force. Light cruise missiles Kh-31 and Kh-35 were created for strike missions, which are suspended even on light fighters. Moreover, the X-31 product is superior to the P-120 both in speed (M = 2) and in range (160 kilometers). The X-35 "Uranus" missile is capable of reaching the target along a combined trajectory, has a smaller size, which allows you to increase ammunition and produce more massive volleys, and also provides a smaller effective dispersion surface (ESR).

Coastal defense against a serious enemy, which will be too tough for a missile boat (RKA) and a small artillery ship (MAK), can be produced by coastal missile systems and the same aviation. There are several factors on the side of the air force at once.:
- less vulnerability to enemy oncoming fire (recall that the range of aviation anti-ship missiles allows you not to enter the enemy air defense zone);
— high speed and mobility;
— no need to spend a long time in the threatened zone;
- Flexibility and versatility.

Many believe that modern designs of multifunctional corvettes, combining the strike power of Project 1234 with a developed air defense system, anti-aircraft defense capabilities, the presence of a helicopter, better survivability and seaworthiness, are deprived of the shortcomings of RTOs. Almost all countries that had analogues of RTOs in service went this way: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany withdrew 25, 20, 15 and 20 units of missile boats from the Navy over the 90s, respectively. Instead, it is the corvettes of increased displacement that are being put into operation.

Moreover, for domestic realities, a corvette with an anti-submarine bias is more preferable, since it is enemy submarines that pose a great potential threat in our vast territorial waters. Working together with aviation, such corvettes (if built in sufficient numbers, of course) can significantly reduce the danger.

As a result, it turns out that small missile ships really remain out of work: today more advanced means of destroying enemy ships have been created, capable of attacking faster and more efficiently. However, everything is not as clear as it seems at first glance.

Let's begin with that MRK is a very unpretentious ship. A few floating piers, a fuel depot and an electrical network are enough to equip a temporary base. A modern attack aircraft, on the other hand, needs a much more developed infrastructure, not to mention the fact that the airfield is a primary target for attack, and therefore, in the conduct of hostilities, it is likely to require frequent repairs.

Further, an aircraft cannot, like a ship, conduct long-term passive tracking of a target during a period of heightened confrontation or when a potential enemy ship invades territorial waters (recall the incident with the American cruiser Yorktown in 1988). The main thing in this case is the ability to immediately strike at the target upon receipt of such an order, and the RTO that has entered the firing line in advance will have an advantage over the aircraft that has just taken off from the base.

But the decisive factor is that today, compared to new corvette projects and, to a lesser extent, fighter-bombers, small missile ships have a fully developed weapons system, well-developed tactics, and there are trained staffs that provide structures and full-fledged ship formations.

In other words, Project 1234 MRK is a very reliable and proven ship, guaranteed to be able to perform its tasks with maximum efficiency. It is a completely different matter - which are still a novelty - both the class of the ship itself, which did not exist in the Soviet naval doctrine, and in terms of installed weapons, which have not yet been tested in exercises.

In no way denying the need to move forward and build a new generation of ships, it must be admitted that now Russia needs a combat-ready and provided with all the necessary RTOs than a completely new corvette, but undeveloped in the fleet and in production. Of course, it is pointless to continue building old Soviet projects, but it is also impossible to just leave the accumulated rich experience overboard. The best way out seems to be a significant increase in the potential of existing buildings through modernization with the installation, for example, Onyx missiles in the 2x9 version, the Kashtan air defense system and new electronic equipment. The sailors would not have given up on an unmanned aerial vehicle for reconnaissance and target designation.

The preferred measure would be to build up the RTO group by producing a modernized version. For example, the capacities of the Vostochny shipyard and the Almaz shipbuilding company can produce up to four RTOs per year. This measure will help plug significant gaps in the naval defense, including in the middle sea zone, which is not covered by lighter ships. In the future, with proper modernization of shipyards and development of production, RTOs at the end of their service life should be replaced by corvettes, provided that the number of new ships will at least not be inferior to those decommissioned.

Of course, one cannot remain silent about the relatively new one, which is the development of the river MAK project 21630 "Buyan". Armed with UVP for eight Caliber or Onyx missiles, as well as 100-mm A-190M and 30-mm guns, it is nevertheless not an alternative to the heavier project 1234, since it can operate exclusively in the near sea zone. But it is precisely in interaction that these two types of RTOs can provide an acceptable level of security for our borders and economic zones.

Summing up, let's say that today our fleet needs, first of all, a completely clear and well-thought-out concept of warfare, which ensures the setting of tasks and requirements for each class of ships. And although the system for the interaction of old specialized ships with new ones built according to the Western model of application has not been developed, it is at least unreasonable to neglect the RTOs left over from the USSR.

Do not forget that the combat effectiveness of these ships was confirmed during the "five-day war" in South Ossetia. Under the current conditions, when the fate of the fleet is still unclear, it is better to rely only on proven and reliable solutions, and as a result, several old RTOs may be preferable to a mythical promising destroyer.

During the Cold War, an arms race unparalleled in its scale unfolded. The economy of the USSR worked at the limit of its capabilities and the armed forces of the country, without interruption, received more and more advanced types of weapons, mastered new methods of conducting armed struggle. The Soviet navy, as an integral part of the armed forces, also did not go unnoticed by the leadership of the state.

appeared warships that determined a different nature of warfare at sea. They were incomparable, anti-submarine ships with a fundamentally new power plant, nuclear submarines with a hull made of titanium alloys, nicknamed "" in the fleet. The list can be continued for a long time, but let's add to it an epoch-making, fundamentally new warship project 1234 . It was during this period that the efforts of Soviet scientists, designers and workers created warships in terms of characteristics, they were not only not inferior to foreign ones, but often surpassed them.

AT warships project 1234 paradoxically combined small displacement and huge strike power, low cost and expected high combat effectiveness. They were meant to be destroyed large warships the enemy, to defeat the caravans of ships and ships of the enemy at the sea crossing and the destruction of enemy landing groups. The term " carrier killers". The leadership of the USSR Navy had great hopes for them, and once the Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy, Admiral S. G. Gorshkov, admire these warships, said with pathos: These RTOs are a pistol at the temple of imperialism". The brainchild of Admiral Gorshkov in the west was called "missile corvettes", and according to the NATO classification they received the code designation " Nanuchka».

the history of the creation of RTOs of project 1234 code "Gadfly"

The accumulated experience in the operation and construction of the first Russian missile boats made it possible to start designing small missile ships(RTOs), which were called "medium missile carriers". The fleet needed a small, but seaworthy ship with more "long-range" than boats, missiles with over-the-horizon target designation, with enhanced artillery and anti-aircraft weapons.

Terms of reference for the design of a new RTOs received the design bureau " Diamond". Chief designer warship, which received the cipher " Gadfly"And project number 1234 was assigned to I.P. Pegov. It was required to place two three-container launchers in the hull " Malachite", a radar complex for target designation of missile weapons" Titanite”, electronic warfare equipment, the Osa-M anti-aircraft missile system and the AK-725 artillery mount with the Bars control radar. Attempts to place a gas turbine plant on the boat were unsuccessful, since they had large dimensions, there was no time to create a new one, and the designers decided to use the existing three-shaft main power plant on the new ship with two M-504 type diesel engines running on each shaft. The shafts were connected through a gearbox, and the engine had 12 cylinders.

small rocket ship according to NATO classification "Nanuchka"

The leadership of the Navy decided to transfer the built warship from the class of missile boats to a special class small missile ships. There are no foreign analogues in the world and still remain unsurpassed in terms of the "price-quality" criterion. An export version was also created later. RTOs project 1234E(export) with the placement of four single-container P-20 launchers.

According to the improved project 1234.1, 47 ships were built at shipyards for the Soviet Navy.

design features RTO project 1234 code "Gadfly"

Architecturally smooth-deck hull warship project 1234 has boat contours, not much sheer and is made of high-strength ship steel. RTOs have very good maneuverability associated with agility and a quick stop.

MRK project 1234

MRK project 1234-1

For electronic warfare purposes RTOs are equipped with two or four passive jamming launchers, which are a package with sixteen guide tubes with cantilever mounts on the trunnion and vertical wall. False radar targets can be set at a distance of up to 3.5 km from the ship. Radio engineering complex system " Titanite» provides active and passive target detection, reception of information from aviation air surveillance and direction finding systems, and also ensures the development and issuance of target designations to the command post, control of joint combat operations and provides navigational tasks. Navigational radar station " Don"and electronic intelligence" gulf". Infrared equipment « Khmel-2"allows for joint navigation and covert communications at night, with complete blackout of the ships, as well as to observe and find infrared lights.

head RTO and armament

Head RTOs was laid down on the slipway of the Leningrad Primorsky shipbuilding plant under the designation " MRK-3 January 13, 1967. The ceremonial launching took place on October 28, 1968. He was impressed by the strength and power of such a small warship. The descent was attended by the Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union A. G. Gorshkov, who decided to assign names to different weather elements. " MRK-3"was named" Storm"and became part of the USSR Navy, while in the port of Novorossiysk. During the transition from the factory RTOs worked out a large number of training tasks and conducted firing from all complexes. Until 1972, he left 3823 miles astern. In 1982 RTOs« Storm" together with RTOs« Thunder"performed tracking the US strike aircraft carrier CVA-67" "" in the Mediterranean Sea. For military service, the rating was "excellent" and 4956 miles were covered.

RTO "Moroz"

RTO "Passat"

RTO "Rain"

To combat low-flying anti-ship missiles on improved projects 1234.1 RTOs were placed automatic installation "AK-630-M" with the artillery fire control system "MP-123/176".

launcher ZIF-122 and missiles 9M-33 SAM Osa-M

shooting SAM Osa-MA

cold sighting of AK-176 and AK-630 artillery mounts

artillery firing AK-725

RTOs projects 1234 and 1234.1 occupied their niche in the strategy and tactics of the Soviet Navy in the early 70s. The surface fleet was replenished with powerful warships, whose strike capabilities made it possible to solve the tasks of destroying large enemies. The destruction of convoys and so on. RTOs Improving the tactics of combat use as part of homogeneous and heterogeneous tactical groups significantly increased the capabilities of the fleet in the fight against the alleged enemy. RTOs began to perform combat service in the Mediterranean Sea, and forced the command of the US Navy's 6th Fleet to reconsider the concept of defensive operations of air strike groups in this direction. Combat capabilities RTOs were in full demand in the Pacific Ocean in the South China Sea.

It has been repeatedly noted that in the Navy of the USSR there was an amazing dependence: the smaller the warship was, the more useful it was.
It is still not clear what the heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers of the USSR Navy were. Huge ships with a displacement of 50 thousand tons left behind only a bitter annoyance: the high complexity and high cost, the lack of coastal infrastructure for their deployment and, in general, the unclear purpose made the TAVKRs ineffective and, simply put, useless - none of the tasks originally assigned to them TAVKRs could not solve, and those tasks that were within their power were solved in much cheaper and more efficient ways.

Soviet cruisers and BODs acted much more confidently. The ships carried out military service in all corners of the oceans, were regularly in combat zones and vigilantly watched the forces of the "probable enemy". Some even managed to “touch” the enemy live: in 1988, a modest BOD of the 2nd rank (guard) “Selfless” fell on the deck of the USS Yorktown missile cruiser with a steel flurry, demolished half of its side, a crew boat and the Mk-141 installation for launching the Harpoon anti-ship missiles . American sailors had to postpone their Black Sea cruises until better times.

Today, the “Selfless” rests on the bottom, and US Navy ships are free to conduct Sea Breeze exercises in the Black Sea. The Montreux Convention prohibits the presence of warships of non-Black Sea states in the Black Sea for a period of more than 21 days, but the formality does not bother the Americans much - once every three weeks the ships go to the Sea of ​​Marmara, and after a few hours they return back. Thus, the rescue ship "Gresp" of the US Navy has been carrying out diving operations in the port of Odessa since May 2012.

If the ships of the main classes adequately represented the interests of the USSR in the vastness of the ocean, then the Soviet-built missile boats, to put it in Internet jargon, were simply burned. In the literal sense, they burned destroyers, transport ships, boats ... Any enemy was allowed to go to waste. Small boats were actively supplied to the navies of third world countries, which further increased the likelihood of their combat use.
Sometimes it seems to me that the sinking of the destroyer Eilat is given too much importance - missile boats have other great victories. For example, the daring raids on Karachi by missile boats of the Indian Navy (Soviet Project 205) in December 1970. Several Pakistani warships and three transports were sunk. In conclusion, a magnificent firework was given - P-15 rockets blew up 12 huge tanks located on the shore of an oil storage facility.
The development of electronics and rocket technology has made it possible to create an even more formidable. The evolution of missile boats in the USSR led to the creation of a completely new class of warships - a project of a small missile ship with an easy-to-remember code 1234.

Gadfly

A clot of combat matter with a total displacement of 700 tons. Full speed 35 knots. The cruising range of the economic course allows you to cross the Atlantic Ocean (4000 miles at 12 knots). Crew - 60 people.
It is no coincidence that MRK pr.1234 was called "a pistol at the temple of imperialism." The main caliber is six launchers of P-120 Malachite anti-ship missiles! The name of the complex directly indicates the estimated firing range - 120 km. The starting weight of the monstrous ammunition is 5.4 tons. The mass of the warhead is 500 kg, some of the missiles were equipped with a special warhead. The marching speed of the rocket is 0.9M.

Also, the armament complex of a small rocket ship included:
- Osa-M air defense system for self-defense of the ship (20 anti-aircraft missiles, effective firing range - 10 km, launcher reload time - 20 seconds. Weight of launcher without ammunition - 7 tons).
- twin artillery system AK-725 caliber 57 mm (later replaced by 76 mm single-barreled AK-176)
- modernized RTOs pr.1234.1 were additionally equipped with a 30-mm AK-630 assault rifle installed in the aft part of the superstructure.

Even with the naked eye, you can see how overloaded the ship is with weapons and combat systems. As for the sober assessment of RTOs pr.1234, the sailors were ambivalent about these ships: on the one hand, the salvo is equal in power to several Hiroshima, on the other hand, low survivability, poor seaworthiness and very little chance of reaching the distance of a missile attack. The command of the US Navy was skeptical about the "missile frigates": AUG aviation surveys 100 thousand square kilometers of space in an hour - the Russians must be great optimists in order to expect to approach unnoticed. The situation was aggravated by the standard problem in naval combat - target designation and guidance. RTOs' own radio-electronic means make it possible to detect surface targets at a distance of the radio horizon (30-40 km). Firing missiles at full range is possible with the presence of external means of target designation (for example, Tu-95RTs aircraft). And yet, the enormous power of these small ships forced even the US 6th Fleet to reckon with them. Since 1975, small missile ships have been regularly included in the 5th operational squadron of the Black Sea Fleet: numerous and ubiquitous, they created many problems for American sailors.
Despite its direct purpose - the fight against the ships of the "probable enemy" in the closed seas and the near ocean zone - RTOs pr. 1234 successfully completed the tasks of protecting the state border, provided combat training for aviation and the fleet, and were even used as anti-submarine ships, while, without having on board specialized means to combat submarines.

SAM "Osa-M"

In total, 47 small missile ships of various modifications were built under project 1234: 17 according to the basic design, 19 according to the improved pr. 1234.1, 10 RTOs in the export version of pr. rockets "Onyx" were installed).
In addition to the appearance of new weapon systems and a jamming station, one of the differences between RTOs pr.1234.1 imperceptible from the outside from the basic version was the presence of flame ovens on board - now the sailors were provided with freshly baked bread.

The dimensions of the hull of export ships pr.1234E remained the same. The power plant consisted of three diesel engines with a capacity of 8600 liters each. s, providing a full speed of 34 knots. (on the basic project there were engines with a capacity of 10 thousand hp) The crew was reduced to 49 people. Air conditioners and an additional refrigerator were installed for the first time on export modifications of RTOs to improve the living conditions of the crew.

RTOs of the Algerian Navy "Reis Ali" pr. 1234E

The strike armament has changed: instead of the Malachite anti-ship missiles, the ships received the P-15 anti-ship missiles in two twin launchers located side by side. In addition, to increase combat stability, two PK-16 launchers were added to set up passive jamming. Instead of the Titanit radar, the old Rangout radar was installed, at the same time, the impressive cap from the Titanit radar was retained for solidity.
All small missile ships were assigned "weather" names, traditional for the heroic patrol ships of the Great Patriotic War - "Breeze", "Monsoon", "Fog", etc. For this, the formations of RTOs were called the "bad weather division."

Results in dash: Ivanov → milk, Petrov → milk, Sidorov → Petrov

Many of the expired P-15 missiles ended their careers as aerial targets to provide combat training for anti-aircraft gunners. When the missile was transformed into the RM-15M target, the homing head was turned off on it, and the warhead was replaced with ballast. On April 14, 1987, the Pacific Fleet conducted combat training exercises to practice repelling a missile attack. Everything happened in all seriousness: RTOs "Musson", RTOs "Whirlwind" and MPK No. 117 formed a warrant on which missile boats fired from a distance of 21 km.
It is still not clear how this could happen. The means of self-defense failed to repel the attack, and the target missile with an inert warhead hit the superstructure of the Monsoon RTO. Some witnesses of the tragedy had the impression that the homing head of the target missile was not turned off. This was evidenced by the flight path of the rocket and its "behavior" on the final stage. From this, the conclusion was drawn: criminal negligence was committed at the base, forgetting to turn off the missile seeker. The official version says that somehow by chance, flying along a ballistic trajectory, the rocket hit the Monsoon RTO without aiming. The invisible hand of providence, the ship was destined to die on this day.

Death of the Monsoon

The components of the rocket fuel caused a volumetric explosion and an intense fire in the interior of the ship. In the first second, the commander and most of the officers were killed, as well as the first deputy commander of the Primorsky Flotilla, Admiral R. Temirkhanov. According to many experts, the reason for such a violent fire and poisonous smoke was the material from which the structures of not only the Monsoon, but also almost all modern warships are made. This is an aluminum-magnesium alloy - AMG. The killer material contributed to the rapid spread of fire. The ship was de-energized, lost intra-ship and radio communications. The fire pump stopped. Jammed almost all the hatches and doors. The fire system and irrigation systems for the bow and stern magazines of ammunition were destroyed. In order to avoid a premature explosion, the sailors managed to slightly open the lids of the cellar with anti-aircraft missiles in order to reduce internal pressure.

After checking the temperature of the bulkheads in the area of ​​the 33rd frame, behind which there was a cellar with anti-aircraft missiles, and making sure that the bulkheads were hot, the sailors realized that there was nothing to help the ship.
At night, the Monsoon RTO sank 33 miles south of about. Askold, taking the burnt bodies of 39 people to a depth of 3 kilometers.

After the death of the Sheffield URO destroyer in 1982 from an unexploded Exocet missile, Western military experts concluded that a large number of various combustible materials, in particular aluminum alloys, contributed to the rapid spread of fire. Since 1985, the superstructures of American ships have been insulated with silicate felt combined with fiberglass. English engineers developed an insulation called "counterflame" to protect structures from fire. However, AMG alloys are still widely used in shipbuilding.

And this could be called an accident, but apparently once was not enough. On April 19, 1990, training and combat firing was carried out in the Baltic to practice repelling a missile attack. Under similar circumstances, the target missile hit the Meteor RTO, knocking down several antennas on the ship's superstructure. Fly it a little lower - and the tragedy could happen again.

"Missile corvettes" in battle

During the incident in the Gulf of Sidra (1986), the American cruiser USS Yorktown (the same Black Sea "hero") discovered a small target 20 miles from Benghazi. It was the Libyan RTO "Ein Zakuit", crept up to the Americans in radio silence, simulating a fishing boat. Even a short-term (only two turns of the antenna) inclusion of the radar unmasked a small missile ship and thwarted the attack. The launch of two missiles "Harpoon" RTO was set on fire and sank after 15 minutes. There is still no exact description of that battle: some sources attribute the death of RTOs to the successful actions of carrier-based aircraft. The Americans also call another small missile ship destroyed by aircraft "Entrance". It is reliably known that another Ein Mara RTO was damaged in this battle - it had to undergo emergency repair with the elimination of combat damage at the Primorsky Plant in Leningrad, in 1991 it returned to the Libyan fleet again under the name "Tariq ibn Ziyad ".

"Ein Zakuit"

If, on the basis of these data, dear readers have concluded that RTOs pr.1234 are weak and useless, then I suggest that you familiarize yourself with the following.

The naval battle off the coast of Abkhazia on August 10, 2008 was the first serious combat clash of the Russian Navy in the 21st century. Here is a brief chronology of those events:
On the night of August 7-8, 2008, a detachment of ships of the Black Sea Fleet went to sea from the Sevastopol Bay and headed for Sukhumi. The detachment included the large landing ship "Caesar Kunikov" with a reinforced company of marines on board, and its escort - MRK "Mirage" and a small anti-submarine ship "Muromets". Already in the campaign, they were joined by the large landing ship Saratov, which set off from Novorossiysk.
On August 10, five high-speed Georgian boats left the port of Poti to meet them. Their task is to attack and sink our ships. The attack tactics are known: fast small boats equipped with powerful anti-ship missiles suddenly strike at a large landing craft and leave. With a successful scenario, the result is "shock and awe." Hundreds of dead paratroopers, a burned-out ship and Saakashvili's victorious reports: "We prevented the intervention", "The Russians do not have a fleet, they are not capable of anything." But it turned out the opposite. Vesti managed to collect detailed information from the participants in this battle:
18 hours 39 minutes. Russian radar reconnaissance discovered several fast-moving targets on a combat course towards the formation of our ships.
18.40. Enemy boats approached a critical distance. Then from the flagship "Caesar Kunikov" a volley was fired from the MLRS A-215 "Grad". This does not stop the Georgians, they increase their speed and try to reach the so-called "dead zone" where rocket weapons are useless. The Mirage small missile ship is ordered to destroy the enemy. The distance to the target is 35 kilometers. Preparation for the strike, calculations - everything was done in just a few minutes. Naval combat is always fleeting.
18.41. The commander of the "Mirage" gives the command "Volley!". The first rocket went to the target. A few seconds later - the second. Flight time to the Georgian boat "Tbilisi" is only 1 minute 20 seconds. The distance between the opponents is about 25 kilometers.
The hit of the first rocket in the engine room of the boat "Tbilisi". A second later - another report - hitting the second in the wheelhouse. On the radar of our ship for 30 seconds there was a strong flare, which means the complete destruction of the target, accompanied by a large release of thermal energy.
18.50. The commander of the Mirage gives the command to change position. The ship at high speed leaves towards the coast, makes a U-turn and again falls on the combat course. The radar shows only 4 targets. One of them, a Georgian boat, having increased its speed, is again approaching our ship. "Mirage" opens fire from the "Osa" air defense system.
At this time, the distance was reduced to 15 kilometers. The missile hit the side of the Georgian boat, which immediately began to smoke, slowed down and tried to leave the line of fire. The rest of the Georgian ships disengage from the battle, turning sharply in the opposite direction. Mirage does not pursue a downed enemy, there is no order to finish off.

From the report of the commander of the Mirage MRK to the flagship: “Of the five targets, one was destroyed, one was damaged, three were out of combat. The consumption of missiles: anti-ship - two, anti-aircraft - one, there are no losses among the personnel. There is no damage to the ship."

As of 2012, the Russian Navy has 10 RTOs pr.1234.1 and 1 RTOs pr.1234.7. Given the difficult state of the domestic Navy, these modest ships are a good support - their operation does not require large expenses, at the same time, they fully retained their combat qualities, which once again confirmed the naval battle off the coast of Abkhazia.
The main thing is not to set impossible tasks for small missile ships; other means should be used to counter aircraft carrier strike groups.

RTO "Zyb" at the parade in St. Petersburg

The traditions of creating highly effective naval weapons have not been forgotten - in Russia it is planned to build a series of 10 small missile ships pr. 21631 "Buyan". The total displacement of RTOs of the new type will increase to 950 tons. The water jet provides a speed of 25 knots. The strike armament of the new ship will be strengthened by the appearance of the Universal Shipborne Firing Complex (UKKS) - 8 launch cells for launching missiles of the Caliber family. The lead RTO pr.21631 "Grad Sviyazhsk" has already been launched, in 2013 it will replenish the combat strength of the Caspian flotilla.