Ancient history

Sovremenny-class missile destroyer

The Sovremenny/Sarych (or Project 956) class ships were Soviet missile destroyers operating in tandem with the Udaloi class destroyers. This class was intended primarily for anti-ship warfare.

History - The genesis of Project 956

The Sovremenny-class Missile Destroyers (Project 956/Sarych) were designed as replacements for the Kotline, and despite having cruiser dimensions and construction in the Kresta shipyards, were classed as destroyers by the Soviets (Destroyers missiles). According to some sources they are classified as cruisers, but that would be to think that the construction of destroyers in the USSR stopped with the last Kashin, in 1973. The problem is the same with the Udaloys. Within the naval task forces, the Sovremenny complete the Udaloy missile destroyers (Project 1155) dedicated to anti-submarine warfare. The Sovremenny have great anti-aircraft and anti-ship capability.

Description

The Sovremenny class destroyers were built in Zhdanov, as soon as the slipways were released in 1976 by the Yumachev (Kresta II). They had the same hull and identical thrusters.

The Sovremenny-class destroyers were built by the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg.

Roles

The Sovremenny class missile destroyers (Project 956 "Sarych") are ships dedicated primarily to anti-surface warfare and ship escort in addition to the Udaloy missile destroyers (Project 1155) dedicated to anti-surface warfare. -underwater. The anti-submarine capabilities of the Sovremenny are therefore limited to their self-defense. But their 130 mm guns also allow fire support against the ground. They were to act in tandem with the AEGIS-type Oudaloï ASMs, as in the US Navy.

Armament

Its main armament includes 8 SS-N-22 “Sunburn” anti-ship missiles (3M80 Moskit with 110 km range), arranged in quadruple launchers on each side of the ship. In addition, there are two high-firing 130 mm twin-barrel gun turrets, torpedo launchers and anti-submarine rocket launchers. The ship's anti-aircraft defense is provided by an SA-N-7 system (25 km range) and four 30 mm multi-tube cannons.

On the Project 956A, the armament is improved with an SA-N-12 system (38 km range), instead of the SA-N-7, and a modernized version of the SS-N-22 (3M82 "Moskit" 160 km range).

A Ka-25 helicopter, later replaced by a Ka-27, can take place on a dedicated platform with a telescopic hangar.

The crew consists of 344 men including 31 officers.

Units

The USSR had planned to build 50 Udaloi and Sovremenny class destroyers but following the breakup of the USSR only 17 Sovremenny were completed and recovered by the Russian Navy. Two others were completed for China and delivered in 1999 and 2000. The Russian Navy has also given up the construction of 3 other copies.

Among the 17 Russian destroyers, 7 have already been decommissioned, two of which have been sold to China. The export version is designated Project 956E, these are the last unfinished units, Vajny and Nevsky. An improved Project 956EM export version was also developed. The People's Republic of China bought two copies of the 956EM version delivered in 2005 and 2006 and remains for the moment the only export customer of the Sovremeny. It is not impossible that others will be sold abroad (project 956E), to India for example, or to North Korea.

Sovremenny class

Project 956/Sarych

Technical features

Type Missile Destroyer
Length 156.4 m
Maître-bau 17.2 m
Draft 7.8 m
Displacement 6,500 tonnes
Deadweight 7,940 tonnes
Propulsion 2 TV-12 45,000 hp gas turbines driving 2 propellers
Power 110,000 hp
Speed 35 knots

Military features

Aircraft 1 Ka-27
Range of action 14,000 nautical miles at 14 knots

Other features

Crew 344 including 31 officers

Manufacturers Severnaya Verf, Leningrad
Served in Soviet Navy Russian Navy People's Liberation Army Navy
Sponsor Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Command start date 1976
Construction period 1977 - 1996
Period of service 1980 - current
Ships built 20
Cancelled ships 3
Ship in operation 13
Laid up ships 7