The Ministry of Defense has determined the place of service of the vessel "Sergey Ushakov"
The Northern Fleet will strengthen the ice tug "Sergei Ushakov", sources told Izvestia in the Russian Defense Ministry. It is able to provide wiring of ships and vessels even in the most difficult weather conditions, including in ice. In addition, the tug can be used to provide remote Arctic garrisons. "Sergey Ushakov" will become one of the most important elements in the system of protection of the Northern Sea Route, experts believe.
Will go north
The new sea tug "Sergey Ushakov" of project 23470 will become part of the Northern Fleet — such a decision was made in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, sources told Izvestia in the military department. Currently, the ship is being completed, the crew has already been prepared for it.
The exact time of the transfer of "Sergei Ushakov" to the fleet, the sources could not name. But they noted that the vessel will become an important element of ensuring the Russian military presence in the Arctic. In addition to conducting ships, it will, if necessary, transport material supplies to remote Arctic garrisons.
Tugboat "Sergey Ushakov" at the shipyard of the Yaroslavl Shipbuilding Plant
Image source: Photo: Social networks
The vessels of project 23470 are being built at the Yaroslavl Shipyard. They have a length of 60.75 m, a width of 15 m, a displacement of 3.2 thousand tons. The cruising range is 3 thousand miles. Equipped with a helicopter deck, as well as a hydraulic crane with a lifting capacity of 20 tons.
The head tug of the project 23470 "Sergey Balk" was originally supposed to be commissioned in 2016. However, the processing of the project within the framework of the import substitution policy has shifted this deadline to the beginning of 2020. Before that, it was completed and completed in Sevastopol at the Persey ship repair plant.
"Sergei Balk" became part of the Black Sea Fleet. The second representative of the series — "Andrey Stepanov" — was transferred to the Pacific Fleet in June 2020.
Starting from the third, tugs are being built according to the updated project. "Captain Found" joined the Black Sea Fleet last year. Two vessels remain at the construction stage — "Captain Sergeev" and "Sergey Ushakov".
For different tasks
The tugs of project 23470 can be called ocean-class vessels, Captain of the I rank Vasily Dandykin told Izvestia.
— "Sergey Ushakov" can take helicopters on deck, it has a sufficiently large displacement so that it can take on board a lot of cargo, which means it performs the functions of a supply vessel, — the expert explained. — If necessary, it can extinguish fires, evacuate ships.
According to Vasily Dandykin, the state of the auxiliary fleet in Russia is worse than the combat one. Such vessels have not been built for a long time, and now the defense industry is catching up.
The model of the sea tug of project 23470 "Sergey Balk" at the 3rd international specialized exhibition "Import Substitution" in Moscow. 2017
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Ramil Sitdikov
— There is enough work for this tug in the Northern Fleet. I think he will be engaged in providing the fleet in the area of the Kola Peninsula — there is the Gulf Stream and the sea does not freeze. Along the Northern Sea Route, where the ice situation is difficult, he can walk accompanied by icebreakers. If necessary, he can participate in long-distance campaigns, accompanying our warships. Its characteristics correspond to such tasks," explained Vasily Dandykin.
Tugs of the 23470 series are universal supply vessels that can perform the functions of a tugboat and solve many other tasks, military expert Dmitry Boltenkov told Izvestia.
— The vessel is adapted for the transportation of containers, a helicopter can land on it if necessary, — the expert said. — The Fleet has already received several such vessels. They work in Kamchatka and in the Black Sea Fleet. Now it's time to strengthen the Northern Fleet with such a ship. The main task is to supply remote garrisons and outposts, to provide military infrastructure along the Northern Sea Route on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. If necessary, they will be able to provide certain actions of the main forces of the fleet. It is here that these ships will be able to realize all their capabilities.
The tugboat of the newest project 23470 "Sergey Balk", which became part of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation. 2020
Image Source: Photo: TASS/Karina Sapunova
The expert noted that the auxiliary fleet of the Russian Navy still needs new auxiliary vessels.
— A fairly large volume has already been carried out, new vessels have been received, — he noted. — But nevertheless there are a lot of ships that need updating.
Earlier, Izvestia reported that the Russian Navy will receive a line of auxiliary vessels. At the same time, all new "pennants" should be built only from domestic components. The series will include tugs, light tankers, auxiliary and keel vessels, among others. According to sources in the military department, the main tactical and technical characteristics, as well as the preliminary appearance of the new units of the fleet have already been formed and approved.
In total, it is planned to build two lines of auxiliary vessels. The first is a universal hull, on the basis of which various vessels will be built, in particular a floating workshop and a hospital. The second line includes vessels of different hulls, including a small tanker, a tugboat, a keel and a universal ship for removing physical interference and demagnetization.
Since the middle of the last decade, Russia has been actively building infrastructure in the Arctic and deploying forces to cover the Northern Sea Route. Coastal missile systems "Bal" and "Bastion", air defense systems are located on the Arctic islands. The polar airfields have been reconstructed, fighters are serving on them. In addition, the transfer of forces to the Arctic from other regions is regularly practiced.
Roman Kretsul
Bogdan Stepovoy
Alexey Ramm
