Capacious, high-speed, modern – in the shipbuilding industry they have revealed some characteristics of the Project 23900 universal amphibious assault ships. Two pennants have already been laid on the stocks of the Zaliv plant in Kerch. Previously, ships of this class were not built in Russia. Thanks to them, the fleet will receive unique opportunities for expeditionary operations.
Build from scratch
Only a few fleets of the world have universal amphibious assault ships (AAS). Not every state can afford them, and not everyone needs it. AAS combines most of the functions inherent in other amphibious assault ships. In fact, these are the floating bases of the Marine Corps. The main tasks are the landing of expeditionary forces on the equipped and unequipped coast, support of their actions with aviation, delivery of heavy armored vehicles to the battle zone. In addition, AASs often perform the role of headquarters – they control amphibious assault forces.
In Russia, the need for such ships was realized at the end of the 2000s. At that time, they could not create their own from scratch, so they decided to study Western proposals. In December 2010, we signed a contract with France for two Mistral-class universal amphibious assault helicopter carriers of the first rank.
These AASs would provide the marines with their own transport capable of providing a long-term presence of military contingents in remote areas of the world, giving them air support and full control. AAS, which received the names “Vladivostok” and “Sevastopol”, Russia was supposed to receive in the fall of 2014, however, due to the situation around Crimea, Paris, under pressure from allies, suspended the contract. As a result, Moscow was paid compensation, and Egypt bought Mistral.
Since the conclusion of this deal, disputes around the AAS have not abated in the Russian expert community. Critics insisted that the large landing ships already in service were able to carry out their tasks.
In addition, Russia at that time did not conduct and did not intend to conduct expeditionary operations abroad. However, the military operation in Syria put everything in its place. AAS would be very useful in the Middle East for the transfer of military equipment and military personnel to Tartus. And the air groups of ships would help in the fight against terrorists.
Forty thousand tons
Project 23900 universal landing ships were developed at the Zelenodolsk Design Bureau. The first two AASs – Ivan Rogov and Mitrofan Moskalenko – were laid down in Kerch in July 2020. According to plans, they should be built, run in tests and transferred to the fleet by 2027-2028. The Kerch specialists are faced with an extremely non-trivial task: according to the project, the displacement of each AAS is about 40 thousand tons. Such large ships have never been laid in post-Soviet Russia.
The length of the promising AAS is 220 meters, the width is 38 meters. The powerful diesel-gas turbine unit will provide a speed of 22 knots. Range – six thousand nautical miles, autonomy – 60 days, crew – 320 people. The body will be made according to the block-modular principle with the simultaneous manufacture of large elements and their subsequent connection.
The design includes a navigating bridge, command and staff rooms, compartments for the crew and troops, helicopter and cargo hangars, technical areas. AAS project 23900 will be able to take on board up to a marine regiment (one thousand servicemen) and up to 75 units of military equipment. For the landing of troops, speed boats will be placed in the dock chambers. Strike weapons are not expected, and Pantsir-ME anti-aircraft missile systems will protect against air threats. In addition, quite powerful air groups will be based on board.
“We are talking about helicopters of the Kamov Design Bureau,” a source in the shipbuilding industry told RIA Novosti. “Attack Ka-52K and other models, including the Ka-27. Capacity – 15-16 machines. In addition, four drones. requirements for the appearance of the AAS The final project in terms of functionality is not worse, and maybe even better than the French “Mistrals”.
Force projection
There are multipurpose landing ships in the American, French, South Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Australian, Spanish and Turkish fleets. The US Navy is considered the trendsetter. During the Vietnam War, the American fleet experienced serious difficulties in coordinating the actions of various landing pennants.
Dock ships carried landing craft, tank landing ships carried military equipment, the Marines were on helicopter carriers, they were airlifted ashore, the command ships controlled the landing and operations on the shore. As a result, the US Navy ordered a new type of amphibious assault ships that combine all these functions. The fleet received a series of Tarawa-class AASs. Today the Americans have a family of AASs of the more advanced type “Wasp” and one AAS of the “America” project. These ships are involved in all operations with the Marine Corps.
China is also actively developing the landing fleet. In terms of the number of AASs, the PRC is second only to the United States, however, according to experts, in the near future it will come out on top in the world. The PLA Navy has six AAS type 071 with a displacement of 19 thousand tons each, two more are under construction.
Dock ships carried landing craft, tank landing ships carried military equipment, the Marines were on helicopter carriers, they were airlifted ashore, the command ships controlled the landing and operations on the shore. As a result, the US Navy ordered a new type of amphibious assault ships that combine all these functions. The fleet received a series of Tarawa-class AASs. Today the Americans have a family of AASs of the more advanced type “Wasp” and one AAS of the “America” project. These ships are involved in all operations with the Marine Corps.
China is also actively developing the landing fleet. In terms of the number of AASs, the PRC is second only to the United States, however, according to experts, in the near future it will come out on top in the world. The PLA Navy has six AAS type 071 with a displacement of 19 thousand tons each, two more are under construction.
In addition, two of the three ordered AAS type 075 with a total displacement of 36-40 thousand tons are undergoing sea trials. China is increasingly paying attention to the use of its armed forces for what they call “protecting foreign interests” – far from the PRC’s borders. These are mainly Africa and the Middle East. In addition, the AAS may be needed for landing in Taiwan if Beijing decides to return the island by force.
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