Career
Designer:	Nevskoye Planning and Design Bureau
Shipyard:	Nikolayev South
Ordered:	March 3, 1981
Laid down:	February 22, 1983
Launched:	December 5, 1985
Commissioned:	January 21, 1991 Fully operational in 1995
Fate:	Active in service
General Characteristics
Displacement:	43 000 tonnes light 53 000-55 000 tonnes standard 66 600-67 500 tonnes full load
Length:	300 metres overall 270 metres at waterline
Beam:	73 metres overall 38 metres at waterline
Draft:	11 metres
Powerplant	Steam turbines, 8 boilers, 4 shafts, 149 MW 2×37MW turbines 9×1500 kW turbogenerators 6×1500 kW diesel generators
Propellers:	4 with fixed pitch
Speed:	32 knots
Endurance:	45 days 7100 km at 32 knots
Complement:	1960 crew 626 air group 40 flag staff 3857 rooms
Armament: Guns 8 × AK-630 AA guns (6×30 mm, 6,000 round/min/mount, 24,000 rounds) 8 × CADS-1 CIWS (each 2 × 30 mm gatling AA plus 16 3K87 Kortik SAM) Kashtan CIWS gun and missile system (256 missiles, 48,000 rounds; range: 0.5 to 1.5 km) Missiles 12× P-700 Granit SSM 18× 8-cell 3K95 Kinzhal SAM VLS (192 vertical launch missiles; 1 missile per 3 seconds) ASW 2 × RBU-12000 UDAV-1 ASW rocket launchers (60 rockets)
Aircraft: Fixed-wing 12× Su-33 5× Su-25UTG/UBP Helicopters 4× Kamov Ka-27LD32 18× Kamov Ka-27PLO 2× Kamov Ka-27S

Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov (originally named Tbilisi and then Leonid Brezhnev^[1]) is an aircraft carrier (heavy aircraft carrying cruiser (TAVKR) in Russian classification) serving as the flagship of the Russian Navy. She was originally commissioned in the Soviet Navy, and was intended to be the lead ship of her class, but the only other ship of her class, Varyag, has never been commissioned and was sold to the People's Republic of China by Ukraine under the condition she would never be refitted for combat.^[2] Kuznetsov was named after the Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1405x893, 274 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Aircraft carrier Soviet aircraft carrier Kuznetsov List of Russian Navy cruisers ... Image File history File links Naval_Ensign_of_Russia. ... Mykolaiv or Mykolayiv (Ukrainian: ), also known by its Russian name (Nikolaev or Nikolayev) is a city in Southern Ukraine with the population of 514,000 (2001 estimation). ... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 22 is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A AK-630 installation aboard a Soviet built Tarantul I class missile boat. ... Phalanx CIWS A Close-in weapon system (CIWS) is a naval shipboard weapon system for detecting and destroying incoming anti-ship missiles and enemy aircraft at short range (the threat(s) having penetrated the ships available outer defences). ... The Tunguska Integrated Air Defence System. ... A Kashtan Combat Module with All Weather Integrated Control System Kashtan CIWS is the newest addition to the Russian naval air-defense inventory. ... The P-700 Granit (NATO reporting name SS-N-19 Shipwreck) is a Russian naval anti-ship missile. ... A 9K330 TELAR. Photo from Field Artillery Magazine. ... Anti-submarine warfare (ASW or in older forms A/S) is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft or other submarines to find, track and then damage or destroy enemy submarines. ... The UDAV-1 system is a submarine defense system designed to use different types of rockets for highly efficient multi-layer defence of surface ships against torpedoes. ... An Su-33 preparing for take-off from the deck of the aircraft carrierKuznetsov To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Su-25 of the Russian Air Force The Su-25 (NATO reporting name Frogfoot) is a battlefield attack, close air support, and anti-tank aircraft designed by the Soviet Union. ... The Kamov Ka-27 (NATO reporting name Helix) is a military helicopter developed for the Soviet Navy and currently in service in Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, South Korea, China and India. ... Four aircraft carriers, Principe-de-Asturias, USS Wasp, USS Forrestal and HMS Invincible (front-to-back), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier, light V/STOL carriers, and an amphibious carrier. ... A flagship is the ship used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships. ... The Russian Navy (Russian: Военно Морской Флот (ВМФ) - Voyenno- Morskoy Flot (VMF) or Military Maritime Fleet) is the naval arm of the Russian armed forces. ... The Soviet Navy (Russian: Военно-морской флот СССР, Voyenno-morskoy flot SSSR, literally Naval military forces of the USSR) was the naval arm of the Soviet armed forces. ... The Admiral Kuznetsov class aircraft carriers (also known as Project 1143. ... Varyag was to be a Kuznetsov-class multirole aircraft carrier. ... The rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union (Russian: Admiral Flota Sovietskogo Soyuza, Адмирал Флота Советского Союза) was the highest naval rank of the Soviet Union. ... Nikolai Kuznetsov as Admiral of the Fleet Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov (Russian: Николай Герасимович Кузнецов) (July 24, 1904–December 6, 1974) was a Soviet naval officer and Peoples Commissar of the Navy during World War II. // Kuznetsov was born in the village of Medvedki in the Kotlas district of the Arkhangelsk Oblast. ...

Role

Su-33 'Flanker-D' on board Admiral Kuznetsov

Admiral Kuznetsov sailing 1991 in the Mediterranean Sea with USS Deyo.

While designated an aircraft carrier by the West, the design of the Admiral Kuznetsov' class implies a mission different from that of either the United States Navy’s carriers or those of the French Navy. The term used by her builders to describe the Russian ships is tyazholiy avianesushchiy kreyser (TAKR or TAVKR) - “heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser” - intended to support and defend strategic missile-carrying submarines, surface ships, and maritime missile-carrying aircraft of the Russian fleet. This designation allows the Soviet/Russian navy to circumvent the refusal by Turkey to let aircraft carriers pass the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Image File history File links Su27K_(Su33)_DD-SD-99-06153. ... Image File history File links Su27K_(Su33)_DD-SD-99-06153. ... An Su-33 preparing for take-off from the deck of the aircraft carrierKuznetsov To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Image File history File links USS_Deyo_with_Admiral_Kuznesov. ... Image File history File links USS_Deyo_with_Admiral_Kuznesov. ... USS Deyo (DD-989), a Spruance-class destroyer, was a ship of the United States Navy named for Vice Admiral Morton L. Deyo (1887–1973), a veteran destroyerman and distinguished naval gunfire support task force commander of World War II. Deyo was laid down on 14 October 1977 by Ingalls... Four aircraft carriers, Principe-de-Asturias, USS Wasp, USS Forrestal and HMS Invincible (front-to-back), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier, light V/STOL carriers, and an amphibious carrier. ... USN redirects here. ... The French Navy, officially called the National Navy (French: Marine Nationale) is the maritime arm of the French military. ... USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser (really an uprated guided missile destroyer), launched in 1992. ... Four aircraft carriers, Principe-de-Asturias, USS Wasp, USS Forrestal and HMS Invincible (front-to-back), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier, light V/STOL carriers, and an amphibious carrier. ... Map of the Dardanelles The Dardanelles (Turkish: Çanakkale BoÄŸazı, Greek: Δαρδανέλλια, Dardanellia), formerly known as the Hellespont (Greek: Eλλήσποντος, Hellespontos), is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. ... Bosphorus - photo taken from International Space Station. ... For the landmasses surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, see Mediterranean Basin. ... Map of the Black Sea. ...

Fixed-wing aircraft on Admiral Kuznetsovs are essentially constrained to air superiority operations. The carrier also carries for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations, as well as anti-ship missiles. Air superiority is the dominance in the air power of one side air forces of another side during a military campaign. ... Anti-submarine warfare (ASW or in older forms A/S) is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft or other submarines to find, track and then damage or destroy enemy submarines. ... RBS-15 missile launched from a Sisu missile carriage. ...

History and current status

Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov, which was constructed at Nikolayev South Shipyard in Nikolayev, was launched in 1985, and she became fully operational in 1995. An official ceremony of construction starting was on September 1, 1982, in fact she was laid down in 1983. The vessel was first named Riga, but in November 1982 the name was changed to Leonid Brezhnev, in August 1987 to Tbilisi, and finally on October 4, 1990 to Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov, in short referred to as Admiral Kuznetsov. In summer of 1989 the ship was completed in 71%. In November 1989 she undertook first trials of aircraft operations. In December 1991 she sailed from the Black Sea to join the Northern Fleet. Only from 1993 she started to be equipped with planes. Kuznetsov made a brief Mediterranean training cruise early in 1996. At the end of 1997 she remained immobilized in a Northern Fleet shipyard, awaiting funding for major repairs that were halted when only 20% complete. The overhaul was finally completed in July 1998, and the ship was formally returned to active service in the Northern fleet on November 3, 1998. Apparently, the ship remained in port for about two years. In late 2000, the Kuznetsov went to sea for operations related to the rescue and salvage operations of the submarine Kursk. Plans for further operations were postponed or cancelled. In late 2003 and early 2004, the Kuznetsov went to sea for inspection and trials. In late October 2004, she participated in a fleet exercise of the Russian navy in the Atlantic Ocean. Admiral Kuznetsov later participated again in September 2005. During the 2005 exercise one of its Su-33 fighters had an accident, and fell from the carrier into the Atlantic Ocean. Mykolaiv or Mykolayiv (Ukrainian: ), also known by its Russian name (Nikolaev or Nikolayev) is a city in Southern Ukraine with the population of 514,000 (2001 estimation). ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 58 days remaining. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... K-141 Kursk (Russian in full: Атомная подводная лодка Курск [АПЛ Курск] - nuclear submarine Kursk) was a Project 949A Антей (Antey, Antaeus; also known by its NATO reporting name of Oscar-II class) nuclear cruise missile submarine named after the Russian city Kursk, where one of the biggest battles of World War II took place (Battle of...

Although financial shortages and technical problems have resulted in limited operations, it is expected that Admiral Kuznetsov will remain in active duty until at least 2030.

On September 27, 2006 it was announced that Admiral Kuznetsov will return to the Northern Fleet by the end of the year. The ship will undergo another modernization refit, in an attempt to correct some of its many technical issues. Admiral Vladimir Masorin, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, also stated that several Su-33 fighters assigned to the aircraft carrier would return to the ship after undergoing maintenance and refits of their own. September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Vladimir V. Masorin Vladimir Vasilievich Masorin (Russian: Владимир Васильевич Масорин) (born August 24, 1947) is a Russian admiral who commanded the Caspian Flotilla in 1996-2002 and the Black Sea Fleet in 2002-2005. ... The Russian Navy (Russian: Военно Морской Флот (ВМФ) - Voyenno- Morskoy Flot (VMF) or Military Maritime Fleet) is the naval arm of the Russian armed forces. ...

References

The Naval War College Review is a quarterly publication of the United States Navys Naval War College for the discussion of public policy matters of interest to the maritime services, established in 1948. ... The Naval War College Review is a quarterly publication of the United States Navys Naval War College for the discussion of public policy matters of interest to the maritime services, established in 1948. ...

See also

• List of aircraft carriers
  • List of aircraft carriers of Russia and the Soviet Union

External links

• Article on GlobalSecurity.org about the Kreml class aircraft carrier.
• A Foolhardy Naval Exercise - Critical article about the Fall 2004 exercise in which Kuznetsov participated.
• General information and images on www.naval-technology.com
• [1]
• "A Brief Look at Russian Aircraft Carrier Development," Robin J. Lee.
• Su-33 - A video clip with Su-33 operating on the deck of Kuznetsov.
• [2] - RIA Novosti article on the Kuznetsov rejoining the Northern Fleet

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Admiral Kuznetsov

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...