World Navies Today: Russian Surface Combatants

This list includes all major surface combatants, including aircraft carriers.

Ships not yet commissioned, or in long-term overhaul/conversion, are listed in italics. Navigation and surface-search radars are not listed. All classifications are purely unofficial and are based on an attempt to use standard classifications throughout all navies; they may or may not correspond to "official" designations.

This list identifies those units believed to remain operational, but most of these units are unable to deploy for the reasons cited above. Ships in refit are listed only when there is a reasonable chance of them returning to service. Ships laid up pending refit generally are listed, as they could return to service if funding became available.

Many ships, especially auxiliaries, have been operating in commercial or charter freight or passenger service to raise operating funds. These are listed as active units, as they could rapidly return to naval roles if required.

Fleets: The following abbreviations are used to indicate fleet assignements:
NOR: Northern Fleet, headquarters at Severomorsk.
PAC: Pacific Fleet, headquarters at Vladivostok.
BLK: Black Sea Fleet, headquarters at Sevastopol.
BALT: Baltic Sea Fleet, headquarters at Kaliningrad.
CASP: Caspian Flotilla.
RIV: Units assigned to service on inland rivers.

Aircraft Carrier
Large Cruisers
Cruisers
Destroyers
Frigates

Concept/Program: The first true aircraft carrier designed and built by the Soviet Union. Intended to operate navalized versions of several standard Soviet tactical aircraft, using a skijump instead of catapults. In addition to a heavy SSM battery she carries the largest self-defense SAM suite ever fitted in a ship. Machinery is essentially the same as the Kiev class, and has a proven record of unreliability. The Mars-Passat/Sky Watch phased array air search radars were a failure and are believed to be inoperable.

Made delivery voyage from Black Sea to Northern Fleet in 1991, although her electronics and combat systems were not yet complete at the time. Spent 1992-1994 in trials and flight training; major overhaul 1995 and made a brief Mediterranean deployment 12/95 to 3/96. Was inactive awaiting overhaul until November 1998. Russia has no facilities with which to carry out major repairs on this ship, as the building yard is in the Ukraine.

Classification: Tyazholiy Avionosnyy Kreyser (TAKR); heavy aviation cruiser.

Builders: Nosenko SY 444, Nikolayev, Ukraine.

Disposals/Reserve: Incomplete sister Varyag was abandoned in 1992 and sold to Chinese interests, finally departing the Black Sea 1 November 2001.

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Kuznetsov	1991	NOR	Kolskiy Ostrov

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Concept/Program: Extremely large cruisers, often identified as battlecruisers. Intended to act as primary carrier escorts or independent offensive surface units. There are considerable variations in electronics and weaponry in these two units, and in the earlier (now inactive) units of the class. Fitted with very luxurious officers' accommodations. The later units carry a particularly massive self-defense SAM and gun battery. All units renamed in 1992. Velikiy was completed in 1995 but funds to complete trials and final outfitting were lacking; she remained inactive until commissioned in the Northern Fleet 4/1998. She has been seen at sea during 2001. Nakhimov was refitted in 1994.

Classification: Raketnyy Kreyser (RK); missile cruiser.

Builders: Bal'tiyske Ob'yedineniye, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Disposals/Reserve: The first two units of the class are in reserve: Admiral Ushakov (ex-Kirov) inactive but nominally in commission in the Northern Fleet since suffering a nuclear accident in 1990. She entered a shipyard for overhaul in 1999, but funds are lacking; it is very unlikely that she will return to service. Admiral Lazarev (ex-Frunze) has been inoperable in the Pacific Fleet since the early 1990's; the Navy is reportedly asking for donations to fund her repair, but she is unlikely to see further service.

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Admiral Nakhimov	1988	NOR		In Overhaul; ex-Kalinin
Petr Velikiy	1998	NOR		ex-Yuri Andropov

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Concept/Program: A smaller contemporary to the Kirov class design; it has been speculated that this class was intended as a smaller, cheaper back-up to the larger ships. These are primarily surface strike ships but are well equipped for AAW and have some ASW capability. Generally thought to be deficient in damage control, but are fitted with very luxurious officers' accommodations.

Classification: Raketnyy Kreyser (RK); missile cruiser.

Builders: 61 Kommunara SY 445, Nikolayev, Ukraine.

Disposals/Reserve: Ukraine intended to completed the final ship, formerly Lobov, for its own fleet, but has now offered to sell the ship back to Russia.

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Moskva	1983	BLK		ex-Slava
Marshal Ustinov	1986	NOR		ex-Lobov
Varyag	1989	PAC		Reduced Manning; ex-Chervona Ukraina

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Concept/Program: A modified version of the Udaloy class ASW destroyer. The major change is substitution of SS-N-22 for SS-N-14; this represents a significant improvement in anti-ship capabilities and a decrease in emphasis on ASW. Self defense is greatly improved by addition of the gun/SAM CIWS systems. It has been reported that this class was intended for the Maritme Border Guard, but the major upgrades in armament make this seem unlikely. This ship was completed late in 1993 or early in 1994, but remained inactive until commissioned 1/1999.

Classification: unknown.

Builders: Yantar Zavod 820, Kaliningrad, Russia.

Disposals/Reserve: Second unit of the class cancelled and scrapped incomplete; third unit never laid down.

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Admiral Chabanenko	1999	NOR	Severomorsk

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Concept/Program: A derivation of the 'Kresta' series designs; intended primarily for surface warfare, i.e. antiship strike, shore bombardment, limited AAW defense. ASW for self defense only. Last three units listed below, plus several cancelled and sold units, are an improved verion, Project 956A.

Classification: Eskhadrennyy Minonsets (EM); Destroyer.

Builders: Severnaya Verf 190, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Disposals/Reserve: Vnushitel'nyy hulked incomplete as a storage barge, Buynyy, Vechniy and one other cancelled prior to start of construction. Vazhniy and Aleksandr Nevskiy were sold to China. Several units have been stricken: Sovremenyy, Otlichnyy, Otchayannyy, Okrylennyy. Bezuprechnyy is derelict, Stoykiy sank in reserve, Osmotritel'nyy is derelict pending scrapping, Bystryy is unservicable in reserve.

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Boyevoy	1986	PAC
Burnyy	1988	PAC
Gremyashchiy	1988	NOR
Rastoropnyy	1989	NOR
Bezboyaznennyy	1990	PAC
Bezuderzhanyy	1991	NOR
Bespokoynyy	1991	BALT	Bal'tiysk
Nastoychibyy	1993	BALT	Bal'tiysk
Besstrashnyy	1994	NOR

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Concept/Program: Large ASW-oriented destroyer; Soviet equivalent of the US Spruance class. Have an extremely large bow-mounted sonar dome. There are several variations in SAM and air search radar outfit; the first 4 units of the class (3 now out of service) have no SAMs. The improved 'Udaloy-II' class is listed separately.

Classification: Bol'shoy Protivolodochnyy Korabl' (BPK); Large Antisubmarine Ship.

Builders: Yantar Zavod 820, Kaliningrad, Russia, and Severnaya Verf Zavod 190, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Disposals/Reserve: Admiral Zakharov burned in 1992 and scrapped, Vitse-Admiral Kulakov in overhaul since 1990 and unlikely to return to service, Admiral Tributus burned in 1991 and in 1995 and will not return to service, Udaloy and Admiral Spiridonov both stricken.

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Marshal Vasil'yevskiy	1983	NOR
Marshal Shaposhnikov	1985	PAC
Severomorsk	1987	NOR
Admiral Lechenko	1988	NOR
Admiral Vinogradov	1988	PAC
Admiral Kharlamov	1989	NOR
Admiral Panteleyev	1991	PAC

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Concept/Program: Last survivor of six standard 'Kara' class ships. The 'Kara' design was the first new, large Soviet surface warship in many years, and was evidently intended to boost blue-water ASW capabilities. Although often grouped with cruisers, these ships are destroyers by role. Kerch' is the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet. May not be capable of getting underway.

Classification: Bol'shoy Protivolodochnyy Korabl' (BPK); Large Antisubmarine Ship.

Builders: 61 Kommunara Zavod, Nikolayev, Ukraine.

Disposals/Reserve: Petropavlovsk in reserve in the Pacific; Vladivostok in reserve in the Black Sea; neither will return to service. Nikolayev and Tashkent began overhauls in the late 1980's but were sold for scrapping in 1994. Azov decommissioned and stripped. Ochakov suffered a fire while being overhauled in 1993 and has not returned to service.

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Kerch'	1974	BLK	Sevastopol

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Concept/Program: Probably the last active unit of the original 'Kashin' class, this unit underwent an extensive upgrading during a 1987-1996 overhaul. This was not the standard 'Mod Kashin' upgrade. Major improvements included fitting of new sonar, new EW systems, and a new and modern SSM outfit. Although probably laid up in caretaker status, this ship likely could return to service in the future, and probably is in much better condition than many other ships.

Classification: Bol'shoy Protivolodochnyy Korabl' (BPK); Large Antisubmarine Ship.

Builders: 61 Kommunara SY 445, Nikolayev, Ukraine.

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Smetlivyy	1969/96	BLK	Sevastopol	Reduced Operating Status

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Concept/Program: A new, modern, relatively heavily armed multirole frigate design. Primarily intended as an ASW ship, but provision for modern SSMs allows ASuW role; the SSMs, however, were not fitted at completion, probably due to funding problems. Design incorporates some stealth features. Completed 1989 but not commissioned until 1993. Originally meant as a successor to the much smaller (1000 ton) 'Grisha' class, but the design grew and they have essentially become successors to the 'Krivak' line. Only one unit completed; two others started but scrapped incomplete.

Classification: Probably Storozkevoy Korabl' (SKR); Patrol Ship.

Builders: Yantar Zavod 820, Kaliningrad, Russia.

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Neustrashimyy	1993	BALT

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Note: The 'Krivak-III' class frigates are operated by the Maritime Border Guard, and are listed with that organization.

Note: The Novik class frigate project has been cancelled.

Concept/Program: Modernized 'Krivak-I' class frigates. Major changes include new SSM in place of old ASW RL, improved electronics and sonars.

Classification: Storozkevoy Korabl' (SKR); Patrol Ship.

Builders: Severnaya Verf 190, St. Petersburg, Russia; modernizations by Severnaya Verf and Yantar Zavod 820, Kaliningrad, respectively.

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Legkiy	1977/90	NOR
Pylkiy	1978/94	BALT

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Concept/Program: Improved version of the 'Krivak-I'; main difference is substitution of 2 single 100 mm guns for 2 dual 76.2 mm.

Classification: Storozkevoy Korabl' (SKR); Patrol Ship.

Builders: Yantar Zavod 820, Kaliningrad, Russia.

Disposals/Reserve: Ships stricken as follows: Gordelivyy in 1995, Grozyashchiy, Rezkiy and Bessmennyy in 1996, Gromkiy and R'yanyy in 1998

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Rezvyy	1975	NOR
Neukrotimyy	1978	BALT
Revnostnyy	1980	PAC
Pytlivyy	1982	BLK

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Concept/Program: Was a compeletely new design, apparently intended primarily as a defensive ASW ship. Originally classified as ASW destroyers (BPK), and believed by the west to be offensive surface warfare units; this was not the case.

Classification: Storozkevoy Korabl' (SKR); Patrol Ship.

Builders: Severnaya Verf 190, St. Petersburg, Russia, Yantar Zavod 820, Kaliningrad, Russia, and Zalin Zavod 532, Kerch', Ukraine.

Disposals/Reserve: Ships discarded as follows: Razyashchiy and Dolbestnyy stricken 1992 and sold, Dostoynyy stricken 1993, Sil'nyy and Svirepyy sold 1994, Poryvistyy museum 1995, Deyatel'nyy stricken 1995, Retivyy, Bodryy, Bezzavetnyy and Bditel'nyy stricken 1996, Bezukoriznennyy to Ukraine 1997, Razumnyy stricken by 1998.

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Storozhevoy	1973	PAC
Zharkiy	1975	NOR
Druzhnyy	1975	BALT
Letuchiy	1978	PAC
Zadrnyy	1979	BALT
Ladnyy	1980	BLK

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Concept/Program: New small frigate, apparently intended primarily for the export market. Offered in several versions; the first unit is built to the basic design, the second is optimized for patrol. The first unit was nearly complete by 1995 but was not commissioned for lack of funds. These ships are effectively the successors to the smaller (corvette-sized) 'Koni', 'Parchim' and 'Grisha' designs.

Classification: Probably Malyy Protivolodochnyy Korabl' (MPK); Small Antisubmarine Ship.

Builders: Zelondol'sk Zavod, Tatarstan, Russia.

Name	Year	FLT	Homeport	Notes
Tatarstan				Suspended - Fitting Out
Albatros				Suspended - 67% Complete
Burevestnik				Suspended - 40% Complete

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