The history of the construction of patrol ships in Russia has glorious and strong roots. Most of the ships that were in service with the Soviet Navy were ships of this particular class. On the shoulders of the guards laid the task of protecting the economic sea zone of the USSR and the defense of the coastal maritime borders. Not less responsible functions and tasks are confronting ships of this class in our time. The patrol ships of the project 11356 remain today the most modern and efficient ships that descend from the stocks of domestic shipyards. Now the frigates of the project 11356 no longer proudly carry the flag of St. Andrew on the southern borders of Russia and make up a significant part of the naval forces of other countries.
New frigates "Admiral Grigorovich" and "Admiral Essen" joined the ranks of the Black Sea Fleet, greatly enhancing the appearance of the Black Sea Fleet. At the final stage is the construction of four other ships of this type, which also soon will take their place in the battle formation of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia.
The appearance of frigates in the domestic fleet
In the Soviet Union, unlike the fleets of other countries, the main tactical core of the fleets consisted of patrol ships. This class of warships is a Soviet invention, despite the fact that in the West ships with similar characteristics have long been classified as frigates. With the collapse of the USSR, the classification of warships changed in the Russian Navy. In accordance with the new naval doctrine of Russia, all the guard ships, old and those built on domestic shipyards, were transferred to the frigate class.
For the Russian fleet, this change was not a novelty. In terms of their tactical and technical characteristics, the patrol crew fully corresponded to the combat tasks that the frigate is capable of solving. Moreover, the construction of frigates under export contracts was in full swing at Russian shipyards. The main buyer of Russian ships of this class are the Indian Navy. Since 2000, 6 Talvar-type frigates were built, which became part of the Indian fleet.
It was the Indian order that became the base platform, thanks to which it was possible not only to keep the entire domestic shipbuilding industry in working order, but also to gain experience in the construction of ships of this class to equip domestic fleets. Russian designers have refined the basic design of Talvar frigates, creating an improved version of the warships of this project. The frigate "Admiral Grigorovich" project 11356 was laid on the stocks of the shipbuilding plant "Yantar" by the curtain of 2012. The lead ship of the project marked the beginning of a new series of domestic frigates of 6 units designed to equip the Black Sea Fleet.
Ships of the project received the cipher "Petrel". In Western countries, new Russian frigates received the code "Krivak V".
History of the frigate project 11356
Description of the history of the emergence of the project 11356, as always, is connected with the fact that a successful project could once again be beyond the means. Back in the Soviet Union, there was a fierce struggle between specialists and military experts who supported the construction of the new generation of patrols. According to the sailors, the new ships were to become universal combat units capable of solving a variety of combat missions. In this vein, and was the development of project documentation. The existing at the time concept of implementing two projects at once, the project 22350 guard and project 11356 ships, turned out to be erroneous. The fleet could receive different types of ships, maintenance that could later cause certain difficulties and economic difficulties.
The modern naval doctrine of Russia was based on the standardization policy, so it was decided to continue work on the project 11356, which had already been mastered by the shipbuilding industry. It will be appropriate here to remind you that the new frigates were the result of a deep modernization of the Petrel-type guard patrols, which were built in large series in previous years.
Soviet watchdogs of projects 1135 and 1135M turned out to be successful ships. It was the Petrels that became the workhorses on whose shoulders all the main work on the defense of the sea lines of our Motherland lay. A total of 28 vessels of this class were built, of which 2 ships, the TYP "Pytlivy" and the TFR "Ladny" still remain as part of the existing Black Sea Fleet. The Russian designers took into account the combat experience and practical operation of the ships of projects 1135 and 1135M and the TFR of project 11351. As a result of the painstaking work, a completely new ship appeared.
It should be noted that the new project was successfully implemented during the execution of the Indian contract. The six frigates for India built at the Baltic Plant and at the Yantar CVD successfully passed all stages of testing and continue to serve successfully in the Indian Navy. However, unlike the export version, the Russian ships of the project 11356 will have to get a completely different stuffing. In other words, the ship's construction is the same, but the equipment and weapons systems on Russian frigates will be radically different from the Indian project.
The implementation of project 11356 is primarily aimed at building warships for the Black Sea Fleet, the composition of which is in dire need of replenishment with new combat units. Characteristics of the new frigates fully meet the goals and objectives of the ships on the Black Sea theater.
Construction of frigates project 11356
All the main work on the development of the project fell on the shoulders of SKB. The basic technical material was the documentation of the export contract 1135.6. The main task assigned to the designers was to create a project optimally adapted to the power of domestic shipbuilders. It was necessary as soon as possible to transfer to the fleet new ships capable of increasing the defensive capability of the southern borders. The lead ship of the series "Admiral Grigorovich" was laid in 2010, when the fifth frigate for the Indian Navy was still being completed at the shipyards. Further, with a difference of one year, four more ships were laid at the facilities of the Kaliningrad shipbuilding plant Yantar: the Admiral Essen, the Admiral Makarov, the Admiral Butakov and the Admiral Istomin, named after the famous admirals of the Russian fleet.
The lead ship received a rapid steel hull, having an elongated forecastle. The bow of the ship and the hull of the underwater part of the hull have optimal hydrodynamic parameters that increase the ship’s seaworthiness and stability of the ship. The superstructure on the frigate is divided into three separate units. A characteristic feature of the project is the presence on the ships of structural elements built using Stealth technology. This was done to increase the secrecy of the ship and increase its protection from the attacks of the anti-ship missiles and aircraft.
Of particular importance during construction was attached to the power plant, which was to provide the ships with a greater cruising range and high speed. The result of the design work and subsequent construction was the installation of a combined twin-shaft gas turbine unit of the COGAG type. The propulsion system consisted of two propulsion gas turbine propulsion engines, which set in motion two screws with a fixed pitch. In addition, the ship was equipped with two forced engines, providing a rapid increase in cruising speed. The total power of the ship's propulsion system was 56 thousand hp, so that the frigate could reach speeds of up to 30 knots. The ship’s power supply system was provided by four diesel generators with a total capacity of 3200 kW.
The sailing range of the ship with an economic stroke (14 knots) is 4500 km. At the same time, the autonomy of the frigates of the new series was increased to 30 days.
Unlike the ships of previous projects, modern weapons and modern electronic stuffing appeared on modern ships. The frigates had not only a landing pad for the helicopter, but were also equipped with a hangar for the aircraft. All ships were equipped with Ka-27 helicopters, performing the role of an air reconnaissance aircraft. Combat equipment and ship controls are designed to perform various combat missions, including countering enemy surface ships, repelling an air attack, searching for and destroying submarines.
The first two ships of the series "Admirals Grigorovich and Essen" were laid in accordance with the conditions and actions in the first installment of one large contract. The third ship of the first batch should be the frigate Admiral Makarov. The total cost of construction of frigates of six frigates of the project 11356 is 80 billion rubles. Following the first batch, consisting of three ships, the construction of the second batch was started, which included the frigates Admiral Butakov, Admiral Istomin and Admiral Kornilov. The last ship has just been presented as part of the working draft and is awaiting its bookmark.
All ships of the series were laid, built and were launched on the capacities of the Yantar plant. Ships of the first batch "Admiral Grigorovich" and "Admiral Essen" managed to get a complete set, and the system was promptly introduced. Some delays occurred in the frigate "Admiral Makarov", which received the main GTE with a delay. Subsequent frigates are waiting for their turn to supply propulsion systems. The termination of gas turbine engine deliveries from Ukraine slowed down the timing of the commissioning of combat ships.
The armament of the Russian frigate project 11356
Relying on the versatility of the new ships, the Supreme Naval Command set the task for the designers to equip the ship with the existing types of weapons.
The main armament of the frigates of the new project is the Caliber anti-ship missile systems. Launchers have a vertical location and can be used simultaneously for both types of Onyx and Caliber missiles. Launchers were created on the basis of the export version of the Club-N missile complex. The attack missile system is designed to destroy surface ships and submarines of all types and classes, as well as for attacking coastal targets to tactical depth. On the frigates Admiral Grigorovich, Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov, Kalir-NK rocket launchers were set up skim targets at a distance of 400 km. The rocket ZM-14 can be re-equipped for firing at ground targets. Firing range missile this modification of 2000-2500 km.
Analogues of the Club-N missile system among foreign anti-ship systems currently do not exist. All work on the guidance and prelaunch preparation is carried out automatically.
Traditionally, ships have artillery weapons. The new AU A-190 artillery complex is represented by an automatic 100 mm cannon capable of effectively firing at air, sea and land targets. The gun complex was successfully tested on frigates built for the Indian Navy. Effective fire can be fired from a cannon to a distance of 20 km. The new gun mount has a lightweight design, which was specially created to equip ships with a small displacement.
Anti-submarine armament of ships consists of two paired torpedo tubes, for launching torpedoes with a caliber of 533-mm. Launchers of the "Club-N" system can be used to launch anti-submarine versions of the Caliber missiles. In addition to them, frigates are equipped with RBU-6000 jet bombers.
To repel an air attack, new Russian ships are equipped with a multi-channel Shtil-1 air defense system. This weapon is able to provide all-round defense against attacks from the air. As an auxiliary tool for fighting low-flying targets, the ship is equipped with the Kashtan rocket-artillery complex. The system includes guided missiles and two six-barrel AO-18K guns. The system is able to effectively combat cruise missiles and low-flying small targets.
As for the electronic filling of the frigates of the project 11356, all the newest developments were implemented here. Fire control is carried out by the cougar control system, capable of providing long-range search, target capture and tracking. The ship's control system is represented by the new Demand-M complex, through which all information coming from the ship’s posts passes. Automation fully controls the combat use of weapons, based on the assessment of the situation and the level of probable danger.
Management of all ship systems and maintenance of the main mechanisms and units is carried out by a crew of 180 people. For the first time on the ships of the Russian fleet it is planned to deploy a unit of marines in the amount of 18 fighters.
Epilogue
New Russian frigates have become a real find for the naval command. Project 11356 ships arrived in time for the Black Sea Fleet’s armaments, greatly enhancing the combat power and tactical capabilities of connecting naval ships on the southern flank.
The heightened situation on the Black Sea maritime theater, the unpredictability of the situation in Syria, set new tasks for the new ships. Powerful and high-speed ships are able to provide control of the situation in the entire Black Sea basin. Impact armament installed on ships is capable of delivering tactical strikes against targets that are far beyond the responsibility of the Russian Navy.
