Kara Class Kerch

[GaryM]

Some photographs you may find interesting :)

[Joseph]

They are impressive Gary.

Regards Charles

[designeraccd]

Superb shots! When and where were they taken? Sure would have loved pics like this years ago when I was scratch building my Kara class model. DFO :D

[GaryM]

The photographs were taken in Russia over the last couple of years, the latest images on board back in February.

[ozpirate]

Superb shots! When and where were they taken? Sure would have loved pics like this years ago when I was scratch building my Kara class model. DFO :D

If your interested and you don't have them yet. My dad before he died drew up some model ship plans of the Kara Class at scale 1/100 if you or anyone is interested contact me.
ozpirate at gmail.com
Great images by the way, got any more?
Mick

[mik43]

Excellent pix Gary, especially liked the painted anchor chains - don't think even the RN got round to doing that!!!

Mik

[GaryM]

Superb shots! When and where were they taken? Sure would have loved pics like this years ago when I was scratch building my Kara class model. DFO :D

Perhaps you could post some photographs of your scratch built Kara Class model, which ship is it and what scale is it built too?

[designeraccd]

I built her so long ago...don't remember!! The scale was the one JFS used to use: 1"=128'......TINY, but didn't know that it was an "oddball" scale when I started building them in 1959. Several years later when I found that out...had about 100 built; so continued up to # 444...IIRC. DFO ;)

The KIEV (in photo) was the last one I ever finished...in 1976.

[designeraccd]

Here's a interesting shot of her in drydock..........DFO ;)

[Dave Hutson]

Great shots and the Drydock one - wow.

Looking at it from an Ex Comms Man's perspective it must have been a nightmare maintaining the Comms and Radar Systems. You cannot move for Aerial Displays - a real Xmas present for little h.

Dave H

[designeraccd]

Azov and Kerch....... Azov was test fitted with a new SAM system SA-N-6, IIRC..........DFO :D

[emason]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what type of vessel is she that requires such an array of radar, communications and other aerials? Seems to be more than required for her own use.

[Krieg1981]

^She's considered a Cruiser, however the Russians classify her a large ASW Ship.
I wonder what the ETA is on the refit of Ochakov, Kerch's sister ship.....

[designeraccd]

She was scrapped; refit cut short: lack of $$$?.........DFO :eek:

She was under tow for scrapping per the info that I originally saw with this pic, dated 2008.
From a Russian blog:
Fair well, Ochakov.

Thus, on the 21st of September, the hull of the BPK Ochakov was towed to the dock for preparations for towing to the breakers. And so ends the epoch of a great raid on the treasury for the Black Sea Fleet, started by Admiral Kasatonov. Using his position, this bad man (and on this I insist that Kasatonov is a bad man) sent the BPK Azov to the breakers in the 90s, which was in much better condition and, most importantly, functioned!!, which was very uncharacteristic for the 90s. The decommissioning of the Azov allowed Kasatonov to allocate money for the repair of the Ochakov which should have become a "miracle-ship" with all new armament. She didn't and all the money was looted. And the Azov, the only BPK with a modern long range naval SAM, was cut into razor blades...And now Ochakov has been launched down the same path. (scrapping, per pic...)..wicked isn't too strong a term...

[Krieg1981]

She was scrapped; refit cut short: lack of $$$?.........DFO :eek:

She was under tow for scrapping per the info that I originally saw with this pic.
That's probably for the best, I understand she suffered a major fire in the '90's. They should have hung on to the Azov!:p

[designeraccd]

Yes..another of the amazing # of ENGINE ROOM fires that seem to have plagued Sov/Russian ships..........DFO :eek:

[emason]

^She's considered a Cruiser, however the Russians classify her a large ASW Ship.
I wonder what the ETA is on the refit of Ochakov, Kerch's sister ship.....

Thanks for that. ASW = Anti Submarine Warfare?

It still seems an awful lot for one ship though.

[designeraccd]

The Soviets loved to CRAM their ships full of weapons, etc.............

These are nothing-visually-compared to their "battle cruisers", like Petr Veliky. This class was the largest surface warships, outside of carriers, built since WW 2. Currently only the PV is operational, after all it did make it all the way to the glorious peoples paradise of Venezuela. The Russians are now saying they will overhaul and recomission the other 2 that are left. DFO :D

[harry.gibbon]

Dave H ... oh dear all this bait;)

re your:- You cannot move for Aerial Displays - a real Xmas present for little h.

Her radar fit includes:-
Flat Screen 3D air search
Head NetC; 3D surface search
various Don types Nav search
Head Light B's & C's and Pop Group for the various Missile systems
Owl Screech and Bass Tilt for gunnery
High Pole types for IFF

and poss others?

However the radio fit is of course a different matter, but note the similarity of their aerials on the yard arms and around the various superstructers, to those of the RN AJC AJD ANC ANZ types; also the 'paired' whips with connecting (insulated?) jointing/spacing spars fwd port side on the 'funnel'.

Bill/emason; the fit of course reflects that as well as being a principal ASW vessel she is a lead ship and has an extensive command and control comms systems fit/aerials.

Anybody know what the 'air-raid warning siren' type-looking things are on the bridge wings?????


Little h

[Dave Hutson]

Harry, For all that you have got to hand it to them - they are pretty impressive looking ships.

What a pity so many of them are laid up rotting.

Dave H

[r.morrison]

The KERCH apparently did not take part in the conflict with GEORGIA, it was in dry dock at the time.

It is worthy of note that she has reputedly the most effective ASW and torpedo drill in the whole Russian navy.

"....best soup in old pots...."

[13thredarmy]

First ever post on this excellent site.

Can anyone ID the small gun right in front of the bridge ? It looks completely out of place and I'm sure these ships had nothing like it.

Some kind of saluting gun perhaps ?

[designeraccd]

Two views of Kerch...the signaling guns are visible...37mm? Gee...those two popguns-alone-made her @ as well armed as the USN's po$ LC$!!! These "Karas" sure did "bristle"...the old French "fierce face" look of 1880s-1890s had nothing on modern Soviet warships!!! DFO :D

[r.morrison]

The gun is a 45 mm saluting gun (thanks Alex shenec)

You'll find ample details in the thread "Russian small craft"

Best regards

:cool:

[designeraccd]

Should have checked my JFS, re the saluting guns!! oopzz...........DFO :o

How about a nice stern view, too? Also, let's not forget the previous cruiser to carry the name!

[13thredarmy]

Thanks for confirming saluting/signal gun theory.

The interesting thing for me about that is,

A - Why are there 2 when 1 is more than enough ?

B - Given the way the SU packed their ships with weapons, if there is room for a saluting gun then surely they would have fitted an actual gun in that location. Even just a heavy MG or something ?

[hucks216]

The problem with having so many aerials, radar and comms, is that along with the Russians lack of a Radhaz concept they cause alot of mutual interference so causing a degrading of their performance, and can also be a danger to the health of the crew. There have been reports of sailors standing on the bridge wings on the Sovremenny's getting headaches if the Kitescreech radar on the bridge roof radiated for prolonged periods.

[designeraccd]

Guess they don't have an OSCHA???? oopz...........DFO :eek:

[designeraccd]

Here are 2 views of her steaming into Sevastopol. Also, a third that shows her rakish bow and hull form quite well; note CG Moskva behind her....DFO :D

[Shinysheff]

That is a lovely stylish bow.

[designeraccd]

Yes indeed...I'm a sucker, being an Industrial Designer, for sleek forms! DFO ;):D

[r.morrison]

In the same vein, KERCH at SEVASTOPOL :cool:

[rd77]

Word on the street is now that the KERCH will be decommisioned, along with the SMETLIVIY (final remaining Kashin class DDG), and indeed the hulk of the OCHAKOV is to be finally scrapped.

Let's see if it all really happens...

[r.morrison]

KERCH at her best for the Victory Day celebrations along with some old salts...........:)