Russian destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov
 Vice-Admiral Kulakov on 24 August 2012 visiting Portsmouth Naval Base, UK. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
  Russia | |
| Name: | Vice-Admiral Kulakov |
| Launched: | 1980 |
| Christened: | Fyodor Kulakov |
| Commissioned: | 1982 |
| Refit: | 1991–2010 |
| Status: | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Udaloy-class destroyer |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: | 163 m (535 ft) |
| Beam: | 19 m (62 ft) |
| Draught: | 7.8 m (26 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 2 shaft COGAG, 4 gas turbines, 89,000 kW (120,000 hp) |
| Speed: | 35 knots (65 km/h) |
| Range: | 10,500 nautical miles (19,400 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Complement: | 300 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
|
| Armament: |
|
| Aircraft carried: | 2 x Ka-27 'Helix' series helicopters |
| Aviation facilities: | Helicopter deck and hangar |
Vice-Admiral Kulakov (Russian: «Вице-адмирал Кулаков») is a Udaloy-class destroyer of the Russian Navy. As of 2016, the ship was in active service.
History
Vice-Admiral Kulakov was commissioned in 1982 and was in service with the Northern Fleet until March 1991, when she was retired for repairs that lasted more than 18 years. The ship travelled to Severomorsk base on 7 December 2010 in preparation for the vessel's return to active duty.[1] On 5 January 2011, a fire broke out in one of the ship's mess-rooms. It was reported to be caused by a short circuit. The damage was minimal and did not reduce the combat effectiveness of the ship.[2]
On 3 September 2011 the destroyer conducted the first underway landings tests for the new Ka-52K helicopter.[3]
In 2012 the destroyer escorted commercial convoys as part of the anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden.[4] In July 2012, Vice-Admiral Kulakov led a flotilla of the Northern Fleet to the Eastern Mediterranean to conduct naval drills, close to the Syrian coast.[5] In August 2012 she paid a 5-day visit to Portsmouth Naval Base, England. In September 2012 Vice-Admiral Kulakov visited Cobh, Ireland.
Vice-Admiral Kulakov was part of the 70th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of the Atlantic in Liverpool, England in May 2013.[6]
In April 2014, a British destroyer, HMS Dragon, was deployed to waters north of Scotland to track Vice-Admiral Kulakov as the destroyer sailed near the United Kingdom amid heightened tensions between Russia and the UK.[7]
In 2016, she was sent to the eastern Mediterranean, to back the air campaign in Syria and fly the flag [8] In March 2016, as she and supporting Russian ships entered the United Kingdom's exclusive economic zone, they were intercepted and escorted by the British frigate HMS Somerset.[9]
Gallery
Vice-Admiral Kulakov in 1985- Vice-Admiral Kulakov arriving at Portsmouth, UK in August 2012.
Vice-Admiral Kulakov arriving at Portsmouth, UK in August 2012.
Vice-Admiral Kulakov leaving Portsmouth, UK in August 2012.
Vice-Admiral Kulakov's upperworks and Top Plate radar.
SS-N-14 Silex missiles aboard Vice-Admiral Kulakov.
100 mm/70 cal DP guns of Vice-Admiral Kulakov.
Stern & flight deck of Vice-Admiral Kulakov.
References
- ↑ ""Admiral Kulakov" returns to Severomorsk (in Russian)". Northern Fleet website. 19 December 2010. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012.
- ↑ "Fire at Vice Admiral Kulakov did no harm to the ship's battle-worthiness". Rusnavy.com. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Defense ministry to buy over 100 Ka-52 helicopters". Rusnavy.com. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Russian Destroyer Escorts Fifth Convoy Thru Gulf of Aden". Rusnavy.com. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Russian warships arrive in the Eastern Mediterranean". The Voice of Russia. TASS. 2 August 2012. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ Elson, Peter (24 May 2013). "Liverpool's Battle of Atlantic anniversary under way as special naval fleet fill up docks". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "RAF fighter jets scrambled to investigate Russian planes". BBC. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ Isachenkov, Vladimir (21 January 2016). "Russia displays naval might off Syria's Mediterranean coast". Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ↑ "HMS Somerset escorts Russian task group". Royal Navy. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.