Project 1174 "Rhino". Large landing ship

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Struggle for supremacy in sea zones has the same meaning as gaining air superiority.

Landing from the sea

The control of the water area is not limited to the free maneuver of warships and the safe movement of transport ships. It becomes possible to support our own ground forces by landing from the sea. Sometimes there is no alternative to amphibious assault. The well-known operations in Sicily and Normandy, in which the Allies carried out the capture of bridgeheads by amphibious assault forces in German-occupied territory, visibly demonstrate the strategic importance of such operations. There are enough examples of the use of amphibious assault in Russian military history. Although Russia did not conduct strategic landing operations, it was preparing the landing of an expeditionary force in the Istanbul region in 1917.

Soviet landing ships

The first specialized landing ships appeared in the Soviet fleet after World War II. The transformation of the fleet from a coastal to an ocean fleet required a revision of the concept of its manning. Soviet shipbuilders did not have enough experience to create ships of this purpose. Therefore, the first landing ships were laid down in Poland, at the Gdansk shipyard. Shipbuilding capacitiesthe shipyards of Shihau of the former German Danzig made it possible to quickly expand the production of a new type of ships. Project 701 tank landing ships became the first and most massive series. They served in many countries of the Soviet bloc, having proven themselves from the best side.

Problems and Solutions

Medium landing ships were well suited to the tasks of the coastal zone. But the Soviet Navy was increasingly acquiring an oceanic look. There was an urgent need for landing craft capable of operating as part of squadrons making ocean raids, allowing the transfer of support forces over considerable distances. This task required ships of larger displacement, with significant navigation autonomy. In 1964, the design bureau of the Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant began the project 1174 "Rhino". This code was received by a new series of large landing ships (BDK). The names of warships traditionally corresponded to a theme. A series of BDK "Rhino" was named after the heroes of the Great Patriotic War.

Rhino Series

The execution of the project required the solution of a significant amount of technical and conceptual issues. It was necessary to ensure the landing of a significant amount of equipment and personnel in conditions that could not be foreseen in advance. The ship forces to which the new BDK was attached could vary significantly. The need was identified not only for the high combat stability of the landing platform, but also the ability toprovide support and cover for the troops being landed. For these and other reasons, Project 1174 "Rhino" dragged on for a long time. However, everything happened 14 years after the start of development. The first large landing ship entered service in 1978. In total, three units of this project were built. Currently, only the Mitrofan Moskalenko large landing ship is in service with the Russian Navy.

Design features

The displacement of the new ship was about 12,000 tons. Project 1174 "Rhino" allows you to transport and land up to an infantry battalion and about fifty pieces of heavy equipment. With a cruising range of up to 4,000 nautical miles, the crew and landing forces can autonomously stay on it for a month. Three decks of the ship and a large stern superstructure create comfortable conditions for accommodating soldiers and storing equipment. The decks are equipped with devices for moving the transported equipment.

Equipment

Landing capabilities allow for landing on an unequipped and unsuitable coast. Project 1174 "Rhino" provides for several options for this task. For landing on the beach or shallow water, a sliding bow gate with a retractable ramp can be used. Through them, it is also possible to launch floating military equipment without approaching the coastline. There is a dock chamber in the stern of the vessel. It is designed for loading non-floating equipment onto landing craft and self-propelled platforms. SoThus, the delivery of the military contingent from ship to shore did not depend on the depth of the raid and the accessibility of the coast. Simultaneously with the surface means of transferring forces, the Ivan Rogov large landing craft, the first of the series, provided for the possibility of using landing helicopters for the rapid landing of light assault groups and support forces. The helicopter group is capable of delivering up to 64 armed paratroopers to the bridgehead in one flight, providing them with fire support or evacuation.

Armaments

It was assumed that the BDK operates as part of a squadron that ensures its use. Nevertheless, the project 1174 "Rhinoceros" provided for quite serious weapons. The ship could support the landings with artillery and rocket fire. To do this, he was equipped with a 76-mm rapid-fire cannon mounted in a gun turret on the tank. In addition to the medium-caliber gun, four six-barreled artillery mounts provide firepower.

The system with a rotating block of barrels of 30 mm caliber creates an enormous density of fire. Its task is to protect the object from air and sea attacks. The air defense of the BDK is carried out by a short-range anti-aircraft complex and portable anti-aircraft missile systems, for the launch of which special turrets are provided. Fire support for the landing unit can also be provided by the naval-based Grad missile system. Four Ka-29 naval helicopters should also be included in the armament of Ivan Rogov-class ships.basing located on the upper deck. In addition to the tasks of defense and landing support, these helicopters are capable of conducting anti-submarine warfare and reconnaissance.

An alternative to Mistral

The order in France for four Mistral-class amphibious assault ships was accompanied by an active discussion among specialists and the public. A tense discussion was caused by the fact of buying large warships abroad, which caused bewilderment. The Soviet Union built much more complex technical systems and weapons. Both sides of the discussion had substantiations for their views on the problem. Indeed, Russia has the capacity to build a ship of any class.

But the very history of the 1174 project, which lasted almost fifteen years, shows the complexity and ambiguity of the issue. The ships of Russia are again returning to the World Ocean, and again the question arises of the appearance of the amphibious component of the squadron, a tool for projecting sea power onto land. At the headquarters of the Navy, the desire to obtain not only a landing ship, but also an operations center for the entire squadron, from which it is possible to control the actions of the group, prevailed.

A landing ship has obvious advantages over a conventional combat ship for this. The advantages of "Mistral" include a perfect control and communication system. In addition to a comparable amphibious load, it can carry 16 multi-purpose helicopters, which significantly increases the capabilities of the strike force of the Marine Corps. Warship class names"Mistral" reflected the names of Russian hero cities. Opponents put forward a reasonable objection that the acquisition of weapons by a country that is a member of an opposing military bloc carries unforeseeable risks. And so it happened.

Revival of the project

The disappearance of the Soviet Union and the ensuing economic difficulties have chained the fleet to bases. The BDK "Alexander Nikolaev" was also decommissioned. It was the second ship in the series. Only one large landing craft remained in service.

The development of landing craft continued to be plagued by setbacks. The lead ship of the Ivan Gren series was also stuck on the stocks due to constant changes in the project. France's refusal to supply four Mistral UDCs left virtually no choice for the Navy command. Russian ships operating in the ocean zone need a landing component. The sad experience of buying a key weapon system from foreigners warns against repeating it. The development of a new project may be delayed indefinitely. Therefore, today they say that instead of the Mistral, the production of large landing craft of the Rhino cipher will be relaunched. Of course, it is not consistent with the ambitions of the naval headquarters, who want to have a more developed and versatile landing platform, but so far there is no other solution.