Soviet aircraft carrier Novorossiysk

"Novorossiysk" was a conventionaly powered heavy aircraft carrying cruiser or aircraft carrier that served the Soviet Navy, and later the Russian Navy, from 1982 to 1993. She was the third "Kiev" class vessel to be built. She was designed to engage in offensive actions as a guided missile cruiser mostly using her deck mounted missiles as well as support anti-submarine and surface actions with her embarked air group.

History

"Novorossiysk" was laid down at the former Soviet Black Sea Shipyard in Mykolaiv, Ukraine on 30 September 1975, launched on 24 December 1978, commissioned on 12 September 1982, and decommissioned in June 1993. The third ship in her class she served in the Soviet Pacific Fleet.

In March of 1984, the "Novorossiysk" and escorting battle group departed the Sea of Japan, sailed to the south of Okinawa and then east across the Pacific. After approximately eight days, the ships turned and headed northwest toward the Kuril Islands, simulating an enemy carrier strike against the Soviet Union. As the "Novorossiysk" approached the islands, about 700 miles east of Japan, Soviet Bear bombers flew reconnaissance missions near the battle group and helped vector some 20 Backfire bombers to their targets, practicing the Soviet strategy of bomber launched anti-ship missile warfare. A U.S. Navy description of the "Novorossisysk" exercise notes that "The force was hit by simulated air strikes and probably by submarines firing torpedoes and cruise missiles from 1120km east of Japan, on 14 April. They came at it with submarines and aircraft--everything they had." [ [http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj90/sum90/5sum90.htm The Transformation of Soviet Maritime Air Operations ] ]

In 1995 the "Novorossiysk" hulk, which had suffered a serious engine room fire, [ [http://www.hazegray.org/faq/smn5.htm sci.military.naval FAQ, Part E - Aircraft Carriers ] ] was sold for scrapping, and was broken up in 1997 at Pohang, South Korea. [ [http://www.hazegray.org/features/russia/carrier.htm Haze Gray & Underway Photo Feature: Soviet & Russian Navy - Aviation Cruisers and Carriers ] ]

References

ee also

* List of aircraft carriers of Russia and the Soviet Union

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/1143.htm Kiev Class Aircraft Carriers]