Russian Navy: Status and News #5

Big_Gazza wrote:I suspect that the RuN doesn't know what it wants yet regrading the Kerch.  She's an unmodernised Soviet-era cruiser so her weapons and sensors will be obsolete, plus she's a one-of-a-kind.  Not really worth upgrading, and probably not repairting given her limited combat capabilities.

They have better things to spend money on so will leave her tied up at wharf and thereby defer both a final decision and funds for breaking.

Maybe they will turn her into a museum ship?

That is the plan apparently. Read that at least one engine is fairly new and will be salvaged.

Kerch Officially Retired

On the morning of February 15, 2020, in a festive atmosphere, in accordance with the order of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 812 on the large anti-submarine ship "Kerch" of project 1134B, serial number C-2003 of 1974 of construction was lowered a naval flag. The ship was part of the 30th division of surface ships of the Black Sea Fleet, and is now transferred to the category of military property of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. It is worth noting that this is the last ship of this series - project 1134B / BF code "Berkut-B". In August 2011, the Ochakov PKK of project 1134B was also excluded from the Black Sea Fleet (today its corps continues to remain off the coast of Lake Donuzlav after participating in the operation to return Crimea). The BCP “Kerch” went through a glorious military history, I will not describe many of its campaigns and military services completed before 1990, but I would like to say more about the last years of the ship’s life. The last exit of the ship to the far sea zone took place in November 1998 when he paid an official visit to France, after which all tasks were solved in the Black Sea. From 1994 to 1997, the ship was the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet. In the period 2000-2010, he took an active part in the exercises and maneuvers of the Black Sea Fleet. In 2005, a scheduled repair was carried out in Novorossiysk whose entrance was eliminated by many comments. Beginning in September 2014, a gradual repair of the ship’s armament began, but the tragic event (November 4, 2014) resulting in the burning out of a large area in the engine room with damage to the stern of the ship determined its future fate. After the fire, the ship underwent dock repair, after which it was put on a regular place in Holland Bay. In 2015, the commission of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, assessing the damage and the further inexpediency of restoring the ship, concluded that it was withdrawn from the fleet. Beginning in August 2015, the ship was withdrawn from the design team of the Navy with the further disbandment of the crew. Subsequently, a gradual dismantling of the ship at its own pier began. Part of the armament was dismantled and sent to some museums in Sevastopol. He served 45 years as part of the Navy BPC “Kerch”! About 220,000 nautical miles have been covered during this time. This was the last BOD, which is part of the Black Sea Fleet, now only one rank 1 ship remains at the Black Sea Fleet - the Nakhimov Order of the GRKR “Moscow” whose service life is extended until 2030.