Kara class cruiser

Kerch
Class overview
Builders:	61 Kommunara Zavod Black Sea Shipyard
Operators:	Soviet Navy  Russian Navy
Preceded by:	Kresta
Succeeded by:	Udaloy / Slava
In service:	1971
In commission:	1969
Completed:	7
Active:	Kerch Ochakov
Laid up:	Petropavlovsk Vladivostok
Retired:	Azov
General characteristics
Displacement:	9,900 tons
Length:	173.2 m
Beam:	18.6 m
Draught:	6.7 m
Propulsion:	2 shaft COGAG, 4 gas turbines, 120,000 hp (88 MW)
Speed:	32 knots
Range:	9,000 miles
Complement:	380
Armament:	2 quad SS-N-14 Silex anti-submarine missiles 2 twin SA-N-3 Goblet surface to air missile launchers (80 missiles) SA-N-4 Gecko surface to air missile launchers (40 missiles) 2 twin 76mm AK-726 dual purpose guns 4 30mm AK-630 CIWS 2 RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers 2 RBU-1000 anti-submarine rocket launchers 24 SA-N-6 Grumble surface to air missiles [on Azov]
Aircraft carried:	1 Kamov Ka-25 'Hormone-A'

The Kara is a class of Cold War era Soviet guided missile cruisers. The Soviet designation is Project 1134B Berkut B - Беркут Б (Golden Eagle) and the Soviet mission description is "large anti-submarine warfare ship" (BPK) and not "cruiser".

Design

These ships were enlarged versions of the Kresta II class, with gas turbine engines replacing the steam turbines. These ships were fitted as flagships with improved command, control and communications facilities. These are dedicated ASW ships with significant anti-aircraft capability including both SA-N-3 and SA-N-4 surface to air missiles.

The Specifications for the class were issued in 1964 with the design being finalised in the late 1960s. The gas turbine engine was chosen instead of steam for greater efficiency, quietness and because the main Soviet gas turbine plant had a long association with the Nikolayev shipyards.

The cruiser Azov was constructed as a trials ship for the SA-N-6 missile system and was also fitted with the associated Top Dome Radar. During the cold war she was confined to the Black Sea.

Ships

These ships were built by the 61 Kommunar Shipyard at Mykolaiv (Nikolayev) on the Black Sea.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nikolaev class cruiser

• Gardiner, Robert (ed.). Conway's all the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. London: Conway Maritime. ISBN 0851776051. OCLC 34284130.  Also published as Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław. Conway's all the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1557501327. OCLC 34267261. 

• (Russian)Article
• (English)FAS.org
• (English)Kara Class "Kerch" Photoalbum
• (English)warfare.ru page
• (English)Global Security.org