Marines and tanks in the belly of the "Rhinoceros"

BDK type "Ivan Rogov" provided the Soviet Navy with the ability to project force to a strategic rangeThe large amphibious ships of the ocean zone of Project 1174 were the largest ships of their class in the Soviet Navy and one of the best in the world at the time.

These giants were created for transportation by sea and landing on the coast of large landing forces with various military equipment, up to the main tanks, equipped or unequipped, with a small slope of the bottom.

The development and construction of a rather complex and new landing craft for the domestic shipbuilding was accompanied by the implementation of comprehensive design and military-economic research, in which, along with the designer – the Nevsky Design Bureau, other research and design organizations of the country, as well as numerous enterprises of the domestic defense industry, took part.

THE BIRTH OF A GIANTThe need to create such a ship was dictated by the military-political situation developing in the 1960s, as well as the growth of the military power of the Soviet Union and ambitious plans for naval construction.

Their main task was to create and bring to the expanses of the World Ocean a Soviet nuclear missile fleet capable of carrying out any combat operations, including conducting large-scale amphibious operations in remote areas of the planet. It was for this purpose that the fleet began to form a large and well-armed marine corps, and the shipbuilding industry of the USSR received tasks for the development of landing ships of new types.

The first, of course, was the problem of ensuring the possibility of conducting amphibious operations in the "line of sight" of Moscow. For this purpose, landing ships and hovercraft were created. Tank-amphibious and medium amphibious ships. And, finally, the large amphibious assault ships (BDK) of project 1171 (code "Tapir", type – "Voronezh Komsomolets").

It is noteworthy that the latter received the designation "Alligator" in the West. There is an opinion that for the characteristic design of the bow, which in the open position – for landing – really resembled the open mouth of this toothy predator.

The BDK of project 1171 could already provide amphibious operations in more remote areas of the World Ocean. The design of such a ship began in the late 1950s and was carried out by a team of specialists from the Central Design Bureau No. 50 under the leadership of Chief Designer I.I. Kuzmin, the Navy was represented by Captain 2nd rank A.N. Belinsky). At the same time, TSKB-50 in 1966 was renamed the Western Design Bureau (PCB), and completed work on the Tapir and carried out author's supervision of the project during its construction already Nevsky PCB (today - as part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC).

The final version of the technical project was approved on February 14, 1962. In the period up to 1975, the Soviet Navy received 14 ships of this type – in four modifications. The fifteenth ship was laid on the slipway of the Baltic Shipbuilding Plant "Yantar" located in Kaliningrad (today it is part of the USC), but then the decision was made at the top to stop its construction, and the hull structures were dismantled for metal.

Loading of equipment on the BDK project 1171 could be carried out on its own (through the bow or stern ramps) or with the help of cargo cranes (through special hatches in the upper deck). In the bow of the ship, behind two huge doors opening to the sides, there was a special ramp leading to the tank deck and allowing any landing equipment to land on the shore at a slope of the latter no more than 3 degrees. Of course, such conditions could not always be present on the enemy's coast, and therefore the ship could land equipment on the float – but only light, for unloading tanks it would still have to approach the shore.

The new ship was quite an impressive means of transporting and landing Marines with all their weapons and the necessary supplies of food and ammunition. In fact, one BDK could take on board a battalion of marines with regular equipment and property – and with a normal supply of diesel fuel for its main power plant, transfer them to a distance of at least two thousand miles. If an additional amount of fuel was poured into the ballast tanks (instead of traditional ballast water), then the cruising range of the Soviet "alligators" more than doubled. At the same time, the autonomy in fuel and provisions, without replenishing them from supply ships or in ports, for the first ships of the series was 15 days, and for the last – already 20 days.

DIFFERENT CONCEPTSHowever, an important problem still remained unresolved:

how to effectively ensure the projection of force and the conduct of amphibious operations in remote areas of the World Ocean, where there are no bases and allies. Of course, in case of urgent need, the BDK of project 1171 could also cope with this task, but they would still perform it with insufficiently high efficiency.

It was then that the decision was made to build a new type of amphibious ships capable of operating effectively in the far sea and ocean zones. Moreover, later the Soviet design idea went even further: a project was developed for a huge ocean landing ship of project 11780, which in appearance was very similar to American universal landing ships having an internal docking chamber for landing hovercraft and providing a helicopter group base. However, this project was never implemented.

Meanwhile, in September 1964, the Nevsky Design Bureau was issued a tactical and technical task for the design of a large landing ship of project 1174 (code "Rhinoceros"). P.P. Milovanov was appointed the chief designer of the project, and Captain of the 2nd rank A.V. Bekhterev was appointed the chief observer of the Navy. The draft design of the BDK was approved in October 1965, and the adjusted technical design was approved in May 1968.

In the end, a team of specialists from the Nevsky Design Bureau, in cooperation with representatives of interested organizations and enterprises, developed a landing ship of an original design that had no analogues in domestic shipbuilding practice. He was able to land amphibious units both directly on the shore and without approaching it: floating equipment – on a float, not floating – with the help of amphibious landing craft, and personnel with weapons – and helicopters.

Such a concept, implemented in relation to the BDK of the ocean zone, was new for the world shipbuilding. After all, the Western fleets used then and mostly continue to use for similar purposes and still use landing ships, landing equipment only on the float, and personnel – landing boats or helicopters.

None of the foreign universal landing ships or helicopter carriers can come close to the unequipped coast and are not able to land landing forces at close range. However, this is the result of a completely different approach of our opponents to conducting amphibious operations and the use of marines. Which, it seems, is advisable to consider later in a separate material.

DESIGN FEATURESBDK project 1174 is a multi–deck ship with a forecastle and a developed aft superstructure.

The standard displacement without landing, military equipment and watercraft is 8260 tons, and with landing, military equipment and watercraft taken on board in the dock chamber – 11580 tons. The full displacement with loaded landing craft and watercraft in the dock chamber is 14060 tons . The main dimensions are: length – 157 m, width – 23.8 m, average draft – 6.7 m.

Specialists of the Nevsky Design Bureau and the Central Research Institute named after Academician A.N. Krylov in the experimental pool of the latter worked out the shape of the contours of the hull of the new ship, the distinctive feature of which was the presence of a structural trim on the stern, a bow bulb and waterlines pointed in the bow. That together provided the Rhinoceros with the achievement of a high full speed for a landing ship with a bow landing device – up to 21 knots, with good landing characteristics and almost unlimited seaworthiness.

In the bow of the BDK project 1174 there was a tank hold with a length of 54 m, a width of 12 m and a height of about 5 m, and in the stern there was a water–filled dock chamber with a length of 75 m, a width of 12.8 m and a height of 8.2 m. The slipway deck was one twindeck below the tank deck.

For loading equipment from the pier when mooring the ship with the stern, as well as for receiving watercraft into the dock chamber and unloading them from it, a lapel with a hinged hermetic closure was built in the transom, which in the lowered position served as a gangway for equipment. To move the latter around the ship, there were three special gangplanks equipped with hydraulic drives. The first of them was placed between the dock chamber and the tank hold (in the raised position it served as a bulkhead separating these rooms), and the other two – between the upper and tank decks.

The nose landing device of the Rhinoceros included a double-leaf gate and a retractable gangway about 32 m long, which was located under the upper deck in the marching position and was extended by means of a hydraulic drive.

The main power plant (GEU) of the ship was a two–shaft gas turbine, included two M8K–type gas turbine units with engines of the DO59 series with a nominal capacity of 18 thousand hp each. The units were distinguished by increased efficiency, improved acoustic characteristics and an increased resource of at least 10 thousand hours.

Each of the units worked on its own fixed-pitch propeller. Organizationally, the GEU was placed one by one in two onboard compartments, and auxiliary mechanisms were placed between them under the slipway deck. The sources of electricity are six diesel generators with a capacity of up to 500 kW.

The GEU and the normal fuel supply on board provided the ship with a cruising range of about 4 thousand miles at a speed of 18 knots, and with a maximum fuel supply – almost 1.8 times more. The economic speed was 14 knots, which, with a normal fuel reserve, provided a cruising range of up to 7.5 thousand miles.

The ship's autonomy in terms of provisions, depending on the number of troops taken on board, reached 15-30 days – with 500 and 250 paratroopers, respectively. At the same time, the base crew included about 250 people, including 37 officers. The ship was also equipped with a system for receiving liquid and solid cargo at sea.

WEAPONS FOR SELF-DEFENSE AND AMPHIBIOUS SUPPORTA distinctive feature of the BDK project 1174 was the presence of sufficiently powerful rocket and artillery weapons, which could be used not only for self-defense, but also to provide fire support to the landing troops.

The missile armament included an anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) "Osa-M" or "Osa–MA" as part of one two-boom launcher (ammunition - 20 anti-aircraft guided missiles 4K33), as well as a set of portable air defense systems. The shooting of the latter could be carried out either by a traditional shooter from his shoulder, or from turret–mounted quadruple launchers located on the ship.

To defeat areal coastal targets on ships of the Ivan Rogov type, one launcher of the 122-mm multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) MS-73 Grad-M with 40 guides was installed on the starboard side in front of the superstructure (ammunition – 320 rockets, firing range – about 20 km).

The artillery armament was represented by two systems. The main caliber was one paired 76.2-mm AK-726 artillery mount, coupled with the MR-105 radar firing control system (ammunition – 1000 rounds with shells with contact and contactless fuses, firing range – up to 16 km, rate of fire – up to 100 rounds per minute). Shooting from it could be carried out by calculation in automatic mode, in semi-automatic mode with the use of an optical sight "Prism" or in fully manual mode under the control of the operator.

The second artillery system included four 30-mm six-barrel automatic rapid-firing artillery installations AK-630M, arranged in pairs side-by-side and coupled with two radar systems for firing control MP-123 "Pennant", one on each side, as part of a radar station (radar), a TV and a sighting column. The total ammunition of all AK-630M artillery installations was 16 thousand rounds.

The air group of ships of the Ivan Rogov type could include up to four Ka-27 or Ka-29 helicopters, which were located in a covered hangar and fed to the upper deck immediately before takeoff. Structurally, the helicopter hangar was located in the superstructure of the ship between two runways.

The BDK of project 1174 was equipped with a three-coordinate general detection radar of the MR–310A type (on the last ship of the series - the Fregat-MA radar), two navigation radars and various means of communication. Passive electronic warfare (EW) systems and means of detecting and destroying combat swimmers were also provided – a small-sized MG-7 hydroacoustic station and a 55-mm multi-barrel anti-sabotage rocket launcher MRG-1 "Ogonek".

FROM THE SEA TO THE SHOREThe BDK of project 1174 could transport and land troops numbering up to a battalion – 440 marines and 79 pieces of equipment (armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, cars, etc.) – or a tank unit with 46-50 main tanks.

In the tank hold, on the upper deck and in the dock chamber, provided that there were no watercraft in it, the Rhinoceros could take up to 50 main tanks, or up to 80 armored combat vehicles of various types (armored personnel carriers, IFVs), or up to 120 units of various vehicles or other mobile equipment in any combination. The personnel of the landing force was housed in several cabins and four-person officer cabins.

The landing with conventional, non–floating, equipment was carried out at an emphasis, that is, directly on the unequipped coast, subject to a minimum bottom slope of 2-3 degrees - depending on the total mass of the payload received on the ship, as well as at a ford depth on the gangway no more than 1.2 m.

To unload non-floating equipment without approaching the shore, amphibious landing vehicles placed in the dock chamber of the ship were used. According to the design data, the BDK of project 1174 could take up to six standard displacement amphibious boats of projects 1785 ("T-4") or 1176 ("Muskrat") into its dock chamber. Either three amphibious hovercraft (DCAVP) of project 1206 ("Kalmar"), or the same number of amphibious boats on the air cavity of project 11770 ("Chamois"). Any of these types of amphibious landing vehicles had the ability to transport one main tank or other armored vehicles and vehicles.

According to eyewitnesses, the process of the plant and the release of the Kalmar-type DCAVP, created in general specifically for the BDK of project 1174, was quite troublesome. Mainly due to the fact that with the main engines running, these boats simply did not "fall" into the dimensions of the dock chamber. They had to be wound up in the displacement position: the boat was placed directly in front of the dock chamber, two steel cables were wound up on it, which were selected using two spires installed on the platform in the bow of the dock chamber.

To remove the boat, the cables were additionally carried through blocks in the aft part of the dock chamber, and only after the boat came to clean water, the engines were started. If necessary, according to the memoirs of officers and sailors who served at the BDK, the power to the DCAVP engine starters was supplied from the backup rectifier of the VACEP 140-70 PV of the main BDK engines.

An important advantage of the ships of the Ivan Rogov type was that the landing of landing personnel – especially those in the advanced echelon of amphibious assault groups and engineering reconnaissance groups - could be carried out with the help of helicopters on board. According to the project, four Ka-29 transport and combat helicopters capable of receiving 16 paratroopers each could be based on the BDK. Moreover, this helicopter was also capable of providing fire support. It was also possible to deploy other types of helicopters – search and rescue or anti-submarine Ka-27, as well as radar patrol and guidance helicopters Ka-31.

COMBAT SERVICE IN THE WORLD OCEANFor the serial construction of the BDK of project 1174, the Baltic Shipbuilding plant "Yantar" was identified (SSZ No. 820, Kaliningrad, today – as part of the USC).

The lead ship of the Ivan Rogov series (factory No. 101) was laid down on the slipway in September 1973, handed over to the customer in June 1978 and included in the Red Banner Pacific Fleet (KTOF).

The lead ship was named after Ivan Vasilyevich Rogov (1899-1949), a Soviet military commander, colonel–general of the coastal service. A graduate of the Kazan Provincial School of Social Sciences, he joined the Red Army after party mobilization in 1919, took part in the battles of the Civil War. Since 1921, he has been engaged in party and political work in various divisions and units. In 1937-1938, he was a military commissar of the rifle division, served in the General Staff of the Red Army, was a member of the Military Council of the Belarusian Special Military District. Since March 1939 – Head of the Political Directorate of the Navy (since 1940 – the Main Directorate of the Political Propaganda of the Navy), at the same time – Deputy People's Commissar of the USSR Navy. During the Great Patriotic War, he was also simultaneously a member of the Military Council of the Black Sea Fleet (December 1943 – February 1944). In 1946-1949, he was a member of the Military Council of the Baltic Military District.

The large landing ship "Ivan Rogov", which entered the combat structure of the KTOF, from February 27 to July 3, 1979, together with the heavy aircraft carrier "Minsk", made the transition around Europe and Africa to Vladivostok. During the transition, business calls were made to Luanda (Angola), Maputo (Mozambique), Port Louis (Mauritius) and Aden (NDRY). In 1996, the ship was excluded from the Navy's combat crew and cut into metal.

The second ship of project 1174 "Alexander Nikolaev" (factory No. 102) was laid down on the slipway in March 1976 and joined the Navy at the end of 1982. The ship was also sent for further service to the Far East.

This BDK received its name in honor of Alexander Andreevich Nikolaev (1905-1949) – Vice Admiral, deputy chief of the Main Political Directorate of the USSR Armed Forces. Alexander Andreevich entered military service in 1927, graduated from the diving school, and in 1938 - the Military–Political Academy named after Lenin. Since 1938 – Military Commissar of the General Staff of the Navy, since 1940 and during the Great Patriotic War – a member of the Military Council of the Northern Fleet. After the war, he was a member of the Military Council of a number of fleets, and since 1947 – Deputy chief of the Main Political Directorate of the USSR Armed Forces.

BDK "Alexander Nikolaev" in the period from October 17, 1983 to February 27, 1984, together with the heavy aircraft carrier "Novorossiysk" made the transition around Europe, Africa and Asia to Vladivostok. Along the way, calls were made to Luanda (Angola), Victoria (Socotra Island), Maputo (Mozambique) and Madras (India). During the period of aggravation of the military-political situation in the Persian Gulf region in the late 1980s - early 1990s, the Alexander Nikolaev BDK, together with other ships, ensured the safety of civilian vessels in the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. In 1997, the ship was placed in reserve, and in December 2006, it was excluded from the Navy's combat composition.

The third ship of project 1174 "Mitrofan Moskalenko" (factory No. 103) was laid down on the Yantar slipway in May 1984 and entered service at the end of 1989. The naval flag of the USSR was raised on it on September 23, 1990. But unlike the two brothers, this ship entered the combat structure of the Red Banner Northern Fleet. Unlike his predecessors, he received a number of new models of combat and radio equipment.

BDK "Mitrofan Moskalenko" is named after Mitrofan Ivanovich Moskalenko (1896-1966), a Soviet military commander, colonel-general of the coastal service.

Mitrofan Ivanovich entered military service in 1918, during the Civil War he was secretary of party organizations of construction units, military commissar of military field construction. Since 1924 - assistant to the military commissar of the district (sector) of the coastal defense of the Black Sea Fleet, later the military commissar of the Dnieper military Flotilla, assistant to the commander of the Amur military Flotilla. He graduated from the Voroshilov Naval Academy in 1935.

Since May 1937 – Chief of Staff, since December – Acting Head of the Dzerzhinsky Naval Engineering School, and since June 1938 - First Deputy Chief of the Voroshilov Naval Academy. In 1939-1945 – Commander of the Main Military Port of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, head of the Baltic Fleet's rear department. In 1947-1949 - Head of the Rear Department, and then – Deputy Commander–in-Chief of the USSR Navy for the rear. Subsequently, he was the head of the Rear of the USSR Navy.

After leaving the factory of the BDK "Mitrofan Moskalenko" in 1990 made the transition around the Scandinavian Peninsula to Severomorsk and in March 1991 was included as a flagship in the 37th separate division of the marine amphibious forces of the KSF.

In 1991-1992, the ship made five inter-fleet crossings from the Baltic to the North, performing the tasks of transporting military equipment and equipment of the Baltic Fleet, released as a result of the reduction of the fleet and the withdrawal of its units from the Baltic republics of the USSR. In 1994, he joined the Atlantic Squadron of Surface Ships.

For participation in the naval parade dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Victory, the ship was awarded a diploma of the President of the Russian Federation. Since June 2001, he was part of the Kola Flotilla of heterogeneous forces, but in 2002 he was withdrawn to the reserve, and in 2006 he left the combat staff of the Russian Navy.

In the new millennium, the baton of "Tapirs" and "Rhinoceroses" was taken by landing ships of a new generation – BDK project 11711 (head – "Ivan Gren"), the construction of which is engaged in the Baltic shipbuilding plant "Yantar". As well as the universal amphibious ships of the 23900 project being built by the Kerch Shipbuilding Plant named after Butoma. Which, symbolically, were given the names "Ivan Rogov" and "Mitrofan Moskalenko".

But the story about these ships is already a topic of a separate material.

Vladimir Shcherbakov

Deputy Executive Editor of HBOVladimir Leonidovich Shcherbakov is a military expert, historian, and writer.