Project 1123 Kondor

Project 1123 "Condor"
View of the flight deck of Moskva
Summary
Type	Antisubmarine cruiser/helicopter carrier
Flag state	USSR
Accessory	Soviet Navy
Preceded by	Ship X
Succeeded by	Project 10 200 Khalzan
Shipyard	Black Sea Shipyard, Nikolayev, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of the Soviet Union
The current status of	In service
Options
Displacement	12,750 tons (standard) 14,950 tons (normal) 17,500 tons (full)
Length	176.0 m at the waterline 189.0 m maximum
Width	34.0 m maximum
Height	Amidships 17.1 m
Draft	Average (from OP) in the normal displacement of 7.5 m at full displacement 7.7 m
Booking	None
Technical data
Power plant	Steam turbine-shaft 2 GTZA TV-12-1 4 boilers KVN 98/64
Power	Steam turbine: 2 × 45 000 hp Turbo: 2 × 1500 kW Diesel Generators: 2 × 1500 kW
Screws	2, with three
Rate	24 knots full speed 28.5 knots maximum stroke
Cruising Range	9000 miles at 15 knots 6,000 miles at a speed of 18 knots 3900 miles at a speed of 29 knots
Endurance	15 days
Crew	700 people, including: 130 officers 160 petty 410 sailors
Armament
Electronic equipment	ASG "Orion" CEO "Vega" CEO "Host"
Armament	2 × 2 AK-725
Antisubmarine armament	1 × 2 RPK-1 "Whirlwind" (8 missiles) 2 × 12 RBU-6000 (240 bombs)
Anti-aircraft Missiles	2 × 2 SAM M-11 "Storm" (96 missiles)
Torpedo-mine equipment	2 × 5 PTA-53-1123 (later removed)
Air group	14 helicopters: 12 × Kamov Ka-25PL 1 × Kamov Ka-25TSU 1 × Kamov Ka-25PS

The Moskva class, officially known as Project 1123 Condor (Russian: Крейсера проекта 1123) were the first operational Soviet Navy helicopter carriers. The Soviet designation is Project 1123 Condor.

These ships were laid down at Nikolayev South Shipyard (Shipyard no. 444). The lead vessel was launched in 1965 and named Moskva; she entered commission two years later. Moskva was followed by Leningrad, which was commissioned in late 1968; there were no further vessels built, reportedly due to the poor handling of the ships in rough seas. A third ship, Kiev, was laid down on February 20 1968 and launched in 1970 but was not officially commissioned until 1975. All three were conventionally-powered.

The Moskvas were not true "aircraft carriers" in that they did not carry any fixed-wing aircraft; the air wing was composed entirely of helicopters. They were designed primarily as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessels, and her weapons and sensor suite was optimized against the nuclear submarine threat. Their strategic role was to defend the Soviet ballistic missile submarine bastions against incursions by Western attack submarines, forming the flagships of an ASW task force.

History

Development of anti-draft cruisers in 1123 was conducted in early 1960. in the CDB-17 (Nevsky PKB). The project was code "Condor".

The frame structure

The hull is made of steel with a double bottom throughout the ice and reinforcements. The housing consists of 16 compartments separated by watertight bulkheads that extend up to the hangar deck. Double bottoms designed to hold water and fuel.

The design of the flight deck and superstructure

In constructions superstructures widely used aluminum-magnesium alloys.

Design

The operational requirement was issued by Admiral Sergey Gorshkov in 1959. The aim of the ships was to counter North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Polaris submarines and act as a flagship for anti-submarine warfare. Initially it was hoped to operate 10 helicopters from an 8000 ton ship. The design evolved into a larger vessel capable of operating up to 14 helicopters with self defence armament.

Armament

Shipboard ASW armament included a twin SUW-N-1 launcher capable of delivering a FRAS-1 projectile carrying a 450 mm torpedo (or a 5 kiloton nuclear warhead); a pair of RBU-6000 ASW mortars; and a set of torpedo tubes. For self-defence, the Moskvas had two twin SA-N-3 SAM launchers with reloads for a total of 48 surface-to-air missiles, along with two twin 57 mm/80 guns.

Sensors

Radar

• Top Sail (air warning)
• Head Net
• 2 x Head Light (SAM guidance)
• 2 x Muff Comb (gun fire control)
• 2 x Don 2 (navigation)

Sonar

• Moose Jaw (low frequency bow mounted)
• Mare Tail VDS

Propulsion

Gas turbines were considered but were as yet untried in such a large vessel. Instead a high pressure steam plant similar to that used by the Kynda class cruisers was used. The machinery of the Moskva had severe problems and had to be rebuilt in 1973 following a fire. Operational performance was disappointing with a practical maximum speed of 30 knots and 24 knot maximum sustainable speed. Sea keeping was also disappointing.

Vessels

All three vessels are now serving in the Soviet Black Sea Fleet. The Moskva class helicopter carriers were in turn succeeded by Project 1143 Krechyet, the first true fixed-wing aircraft carriers.

• Soviet helicopter carrier Moskva
• Soviet helicopter carrier Leningrad
• Soviet helicopter carrier Kiev