Cuisers

Soviet Navy Cruisers

Cruisers are key warships in the Soviet Navy’s arsenal; they provide both area air defence with Surface to Air Missiles (SAM) and area Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) systems and striking power in the form of Surface to Surface missiles (SSM). These ships often act as flagships of ASW groups or Surface Action Groups (SAG) but are fully capable of operating alone in low threat enviornments.

Kirov class Battle Cruisers (BCGN)

These three impressive ships are literally in a class of their own. They were slightly smaller than the US Navy’s Iowa class Battleships, only half the displacement, but much more modern and significantly more capable of surviving. These nuclear powered ships were designed to do two things; hunt and kill American aircraft carriers, or conduct commerce raiding on a grand scale. With 20 Shipwreck (SS-N-19) missiles capable of engaging out to 300 nautical miles with a 750kg (1,650lb) conventional or a nuclear warhead, the idea is to hit hard and withdraw. If attacked the Kirov class is more than capable of defending itself with three layers of air defence: 96x SA-N-6 area air defence SAMs, 128x SA-N-9 short range SAMs, and 40x SA-N-4 point defence SAMs as well as six Close in Weapons System (CIWS) Kashtan gun/missile systems. These ships will normally operate three Ka-27 helicopters, when operating separate from air support one of these will be an AEW variant. A fourth ship is under construction but will be at least a year before commissioned (Yuri Andropov, named Petr Veliky by Russia). Although these ships will often lead powerful SAGs, when combined with an aircraft carrier, their ability to penetrate NATOs defences is greatly improved with the added air superiority cover.

Slava Class

Designated at Missile Cruiser these ships are powerful, adaptable and have significant armament. They are designed to replace many of the older Kynda and Kresta classes but are much more formidable. The primary offensive weapons system is the SS-N-12 Sandbox, with 16 of these able to reach 550 nautical miles. Defensively, the Slava class is only marginally less capable than the Kirov class fielding a mix of 64x SA-N-6 area air defence SAMs, and 40x SA-N-4 point defence SAMs as well as six CIWS gun systems. They carry one Ka-27 helicopter and have an impressive ASW suite of sensors and weapons. The original Soviet plan was to build 20 of these ships which were reduced to four. In Northern Fury there has been a reduction but to 12 hulls, six of which have already been commissioned.

Kara Class

This seven ship class entered service in the mid ‘70s and were essentially a gas turbine powered version of the previous Kresta II class with improved air defences. The ships have substantial ASW capabilities but by 1994 it is quite dated, although some carry the newer Ka-27 vice the Ka-25 helicopter. These are potent air defence ships, six of the class have a mix of SA-N-3 Goblet (80 missiles) and SA-N-4 Gecko (40 missiles) SAMs, while the Azov was the testbed for the SA-N-6 Grumble (24 missiles) in addition to the standard suite. These ships form the core of the Black Sea Fleet and all are still in service in the Northern Fury world.

Kresta II Class

These 10 ships were fitted to be an ASW variant of the Kresta I class. They were completed in the early to mid ‘70s and are all still in service for Northern Fury. Equipped with the new (for the time) SS-N-14 Silex ASW system, and SA-N-3 Goblet (40 missiles) air defence SAM, these were quite capable for the time. They operated one Ka-25 helicopter primarily for ASW work.

Kresta I

This class was originally intended to have 21 ships but the Navy’s priorities changed in the late ‘60s and the ship was redesigned resulting in the ASW focused Kresta II. The focus for the Kresta I was Anti-surface warfare, but the SSM intended for the class (SS-N-12) was not ready and they were fitted with four SS-N-3 Shaddock SSMs. They were equipped with 44 SA-N-1 Goa SAMs which were completely inadequate by 1994. A Ka-25B helicopter was carried for targeting. ASW defences were limited to hull mounted sonar and torpedoes.

Kynda

Developed in the late ‘50s and commissioned in the early ‘60s these ships were the Soviet Navy’s first missile cruisers and represented a significant leap in capability. By 1994, although all four are still serving, they are long overdue for retirement. They have a similar armament to the Kresta I but no helicopter and older sonar. They are able to fire eight Shaddock missiles then reload for another volley, unfortunately with only 16 SA-N-1 SAMs they may not have a chance. The Grozny is the Flagship of Baltic Fleet.