Ticonderoga ship. Missile cruisers of the Ticonderoga class. Literature and sources of information
Armament
Artillery:
- 2 (1 × 1) - 127 mm AU MK-45 Mod. 1.
Flak:
- 12 (2 × 6) - 20-mm ZAU "Falanx";
- 2 (1 × 1) - 25-mm ZAU "Bushmaster";
- 2 to 4 - 12.7mm Browning M2.
Missile armament:
- 8 (2 × 4) - SCRC "Harpoon" MK-141;
- 8 (2 × 4) - PU MK-26;
- 16 (2 × 8) - UVP MK-41.
Mine torpedo armament:
- 2 three-pipe 324 mm MK-32 torpedo tubes.
Air group:
- 2 helicopters - SH60B or SH60R.
Built ships
Ticonderoga, Yorktown, Vincennes, Valley Forge, Thomas S. Gates, Bunker Hill, Mobile Bay, Antietam, Leyte Gulf, San Jacinto, Lake Champlain, Philippine Sea, Princeton, Normandy, Monterey, Chancellorsville, Cowpens, Gettysburg, Chosin, Hué City , Shiloh, Anzio, Vicksburg, Lake Erie, Cape St. George, Vella Gulf, Port Royal.
History of creation
The order for the construction of the first six Ticonderoga-class cruisers was issued in September 1978. Plans called for the construction of 28 such ships, then the Reagan administration increased this number to 30, but later reduced it to 27. The cruiser Ticonderoga entered the fleet in 1983, and the last ship of the type, Port Royal, in 1994 ... The new cruisers were built at Ingalls Shipbuilding (Pascaluga, Mississippi) and Bath Iron Works (Bath, Maine).
Predecessors
Destroyers of the "Spruance" class
In the process of creating ships of the Ticonderoga type, the hull and mechanisms of the destroyer were taken as a basis. "Spruance" , which made it possible to speed up and reduce the cost of production of the new cruiser, as well as to resolve the issue of providing spare parts, and to facilitate the training of personnel. At the same time, ship design methods were further developed as integrated system weapons, including its body, weapons, military and technical means, personnel.
Prerequisites for creation
The main goal of the designers was to create a modern ship that would fight against air and underwater targets when operating as part of a multi-purpose aircraft carrier and ship strike groups. Multipurpose use of the cruiser would allow escorting civilian ships and aircraft carriers. And also to carry out fire support during the landing or reconnaissance. Also, the task was to automate the control of the movement and maneuverability of the ship, weapons systems and power plants.
Design
The task of the ship's designers was to develop such a hull design, in which it was possible to modernize them without large material costs and in a relatively short time. Also, their task was the placement and conditions for the functioning of various systems. One of the main tasks was the optimal placement of radio electronic means, since a large number of antenna devices created mutual interference during operation.
When designing, the task was set to increase the shock and explosion resistance of hull structures and equipment. The semi-automatic emergency system, using special sensors, informs the command about the nature and extent of damage and allows you to remotely close hatches and doors to prevent the spread of fire and water.
Commissioned
In January 1983, the URO cruiser Ticonderoga, the lead ship from a series of 27 units, entered into service. According to journalists, the most modern surface ship, which embodies the latest achievements in the field of shipbuilding, entered the US Navy. "Stand by admiral Gorshkov:" Aegis "- at sea!" - "Beware, Admiral Gorshkov:" Aegis "- at sea!" - it was with such a message that the first "Ticonderoga" went to sea.
Description of construction
Materials and coatings
New durable materials (aluminum alloys, plastics, wear-resistant coatings, etc.) are also widely used in the ship's design. The ammunition chambers are protected by 25 mm steel plates. The most important parts of the superstructure are additionally protected by honeycomb panels. The upper deck is covered with vinyl. To absorb the sound of the engine and other modules, a sound-absorbing coating developed using special technologies was used. The main combat posts located in the superstructure are protected by Kevlar armor.
Housing
A cut of a URO cruiser of the Ticonderoga type.
The hull of the Ticonderoga-class cruiser was built on the production line by the block-section method (the ship is divided into ten blocks and sections) with modular assembly of the component equipment and a preliminary high degree of saturation of the sections with it.
The ship had an elongated bow with forecastle, making up 85% of the entire length of the bow, as well as a clipper bow and transom stern. When designing the hull, the task was to protect the rocket launchers located in the bow of the ship from the effects of waves in stormy weather. For the same purpose, the hull was designed taking into account the decrease in the amplitudes of side and pitching and the resistance of water to the movement of the ship. Also, to protect against waves, a false side with a length of 40 and a height of about 1.4 m was installed by lengthening the bow, the base length of a destroyer of the type "Spruance" increased by approximately 1.1 m.
It was necessary to pay a lot of attention to the optimal placement of a large number of antenna devices that create mutual interference during operation.
Due to the design of the hull and superstructures in which there are no portholes at all, as well as all interior rooms are equipped with an air conditioning system, the ship is able to continue carrying out hostilities in conditions of the use of weapons of mass destruction. For example: chemical or bacteriological.
Battle Information Post
Placement of functional zones in a combat information post.
The combat information post (BIP) of the cruiser is located on platform 01 in the bow of the superstructure. It is divided into six functional zones, in which equipment (consoles, indicators) of subsystems are installed that provide collection, analysis, generalization and display of information for making a decision on the use of weapons against submarines, air targets, surface ships, as well as for monitoring the tactical situation. controlling the actions of both one ship and the entire connection.
Repairs
The modular design of the equipment makes it possible to use the method of aggregate repair and quickly replace faulty units by the personnel of the ship and the floating base serving it.
Power plant and driving performance
The Ticonderoga-class cruisers became the first large ships of the US Navy to have a unit of four General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engines with a total capacity of 80,000 hp as the main power plant. from. (60 MW). The power plant occupies four compartments and is placed in echelon in two engine rooms, separated by two compartments of auxiliary mechanisms. Since General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engines rotate unilaterally, the reverse position of the port and starboard installations was chosen to ensure the opposite rotation of the propellers. The motors and gearbox of each echelon are mounted on a common foundation plate on shock-absorbing bearings. The motors are equipped with protective soundproofing casings, inside which air is supplied to cool the motors. The air intakes are located in the upper part of the superstructure, the engines can be loaded and unloaded through the air ducts. Preheating prevents duct freezing air flow by mixing it with the heated air of the cooling system of the power units. In order to reduce fuel consumption, it is possible to operate each turbine separately.
General Electric LM2500.
The general ship network uses alternating current (frequency 60 Hz), generated by three gas turbine generators with a capacity of 2,500 kW, each of which is made in a single unit (gas turbine, electric generator, gearbox) and is located in the first and fourth power compartments, as well as in the aft part of the ship ... The main power plant is serviced by 54 people, and five are on watch.
Auxiliary equipment
The ship is equipped with belt conveyors and elevators for transferring goods from the upper deck to the lower ones and moving them through the compartments. One of the transporters provides horizontal movement of cargo along the entire length of the ship - from bow to stern. In the bow and stern, there are two posts for receiving cargo delivered by helicopters.
Armament
Aegis
Cruiser type "Ticonderoga" became the first ships of the US Navy on which the basic information control system "Aegis" appeared; its main element is the most powerful AN / SPY-1A radar station, which is capable of automatically detecting, tracking and tracking up to 1000 submarine, surface and air targets within a radius of 300 km. Moreover, the machine is able to independently determine which of the captured targets poses the greatest threat to the ship and attack it. The interception is carried out by the RIM-161 anti-aircraft guided munition of the "Standard" family, with its help you can destroy not only an aircraft or an enemy projectile, but also a ballistic missile and even a warhead at subatmospheric altitudes, and it will take only a few minutes to complete the RIM-161 mission. Other key elements of the Aegis system include the following subsystems: command and control, which provides the command of the ship and the naval strike group with the necessary data on the tactical situation and weapons control.
Armament locations on the Ticonderoga-class ship
Artillery
Mark-42
The artillery armament of the ship is represented by two turret 127 Mark 42 gun mounts, which are located in the bow and stern of the ship. Artillery mounts of the Mark-45 model, in comparison with its predecessor AU Mark-42, it was lighter by 20 tons and had better reliability and maintainability. In order to achieve the lightness of the design, it was necessary to sacrifice the rate of fire. The average projectile weight is 30 kg., Length 66 cm.The installation of this type has been in service with the US Navy since 1971.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Full barrel length | 6858 mm |
| Rate of fire | 20 rounds / min |
| Maximum firing range | 23,130 m |
| Effective firing range | 15000 m |
| Height reach | 8000 m |
| Angle of vertical guidance | from - 15 to + 65 ° |
| ± 170 ° | |
| 20 ° / s | |
| 30 ° / s | |
| Implement weight | 21.6 tons |
| Ammunition | 600 shells |
| Life cycle - 7000 shots | 7000 shots |
| Number of service personnel | 6 people |
Flak
Mark 15 Vulcan Phalanx
The ship was armed with two automatic anti-aircraft guns of the Mark 15 Vulcan Phalanx CIWS type, which are capable of striking cruise missiles and aircraft at close range. CIWS stands for Close-In Weapon System - melee weapon system. It takes up less deck space than other CIWS. The production of installations of this type was started in 1978, and entered service in 1980.
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 20 × 102 mm |
| Barrel length | 7752 mm |
| Number of trunks | 6 |
| Rate of fire | 3000 rounds / min |
| Projectile weight | 0.102 kg |
| starting speed shell | 1036 m / s |
| Maximum elevation angle | from - -28 to + 85 ° |
| Horizontal guidance angle | ± 170 ° |
| Vertical guidance speed | 92 ° / s |
| Horizontal guidance speed | 126 ° / s |
| Reaction time | 2-3 s |
| Effective firing range | 1.47 km |
| Height reach | 1470 m |
| Projectile type | OFZ, Z-T, BPS-T |
| Ammunition | up to 1470 |
| Installation weight | 5.42 t |
Mark 38 Bushmaster
The 25mm Mark 38 artillery mount is a single-barreled automatic shipborne gun based on the 25mm M242 Bushmaster cannon developed by McDonnell Douglas and manufactured by Alliant Techsystems. Cooling - air, no stabilization, manual guidance. Shooting in semi-automatic (single shots) and automatic modes.
Browning M2
M2 Browning - American heavy machine gun is the most widely used in all countries of the world. Designed to introduce fire at close range and at small ships. A machine gun of this type has been in service with US Navy ships since 1933.
Rocket armament
Mark 141
Mk 141 (Mark 141) - American shipborne launcher for Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Used on ships of the US Navy and other countries. The installation is a frame on which from 1 to 4 transport and launch containers with missiles are installed with a fixed angle of elevation.
- Installation weight - 5900 kg.
- Installation angle of containers - 35 °.
- It has been in service since 1978.
Mark 26
The first five ships of the Ticonderoga class were equipped with two MK-26 universal launchers for launching Harpoon anti-aircraft missiles, Standard anti-aircraft missiles and ASROK anti-submarine missiles. They are located in the bow and aft of the superstructure. But since 1986, the US Navy has received MK-41 vertical missile launchers with container cells.
Mark 41
Mk 41 (Mark 41) is a unified American shipborne vertical launch system for guided missiles. It is used on ships of the US Navy and other countries of the world.
The use of UVP made it possible to increase the survivability of the installation, increase the ammunition and the range of missiles launched, and reduce the reaction time. Typical loading of UVP on the sixth and subsequent cruisers of the Ticonderoga type - 26 Tomahawk cruise missiles, 16 ASROC PLURs and 80 Standard-2 missiles - a total of 122 missiles in two modules.
Mine torpedo armament
Mark 32
Mark 32 is an American torpedo tube. It has been in service with the US Navy since 1960 to the present. The device is a fiberglass pipe or a fiberglass liner in a metal casing. The body of the device is waterproof, with regular maintenance long-term storage of the torpedo inside the vehicle is possible. The three-pipe apparatus weighs about 1010 kg. Designed to launch torpedoes Mark 44, Mark 46, Mark 50 (starting with Mod 17), and Mark 54. Appatates are designed for remote launching of torpedoes, however, the possibility of manual launch is retained for all vehicles, except for Mod 15, installed on destroyers of the Spruence ... The torpedo is ejected by compressed air from a pressure vessel at the rear of the vehicle.
SPS-55 navigation and surface target detection radar
Air group
Sikorsky SH-60 Sea Hawk is an American multipurpose helicopter. The SN-60 was developed on the basis of the UH-60 helicopter in accordance with competition program US Navy LAMPS Mk.3 (Light Airborne Multipurpose System - light multipurpose aviation system) for operation from warships. The first helicopter flight took place in 1979 and was adopted by the US Navy in 1984.
Disadvantages and advantages
Disadvantages:
- disadvantage 1 limited size, and, as a result, dangerous congestion of the ship ;;
- disadvantage 2 the widespread use of aluminum in the design of the cruiser. ...
Advantages:
- dignity 1 unprecedented versatility at the lowest cost ;;
- dignity 2 huge impact power ;;
- dignity 3 the ability to solve missile defense problems and destroy satellites in low orbits. ...
Built ships
| room | Name | construction firm | laid | deflated | entered service | Decommissioned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CG-47 | Ticonderoga | Ingalls | 21.01.1980 | 25.04.1981 | 22.01.1983 | 30.09.2004 |
| CG-48 | Yorktown | Ingalls | 19.10.1981 | 17.01.1983 | 04.07.1984 | 10.12.2004 |
| CG-49 | Vincennes | Ingalls | 19.10.1982 | 14.04.1984 | 16.07.1985 | 29.06.2005 |
| CG-50 | Valley forge | Ingalls | 14.04.1983 | 23.06.1984 | 18.01.1986 | 30.08.2004 |
| CG-51 | Thomas S. Gates | Bath | 31.08.1984 | 14.12.1985 | 22.08.1987 | 15.12.2005 |
| CG-52 | Bunker hill | Ingalls | 11.01.1984 | 11.03.1985 | 20.09.1986 | 2021 (plan) |
| CG-53 | Mobile bay | Ingalls | 06.06.1984 | 22.08.1985 | 21.02.1987 | 2022 (plan) |
| CG-54 | Antietam | Ingalls | 15.11.1984 | 14.02.1986 | 06.06.1987 | 2022 (plan) |
| CG-55 | Leyte gulf | Ingalls | 18.03.1985 | 20.06.1986 | 26.09.1987 | 2022 (plan) |
| CG-56 | San jacinto | Ingalls | 24.07.1985 | 14.11.1986 | 23.01.1988 | 2023 (plan) |
| CG-57 | Lake champlain | Ingalls | 03.03.1986 | 03.04.1987 | 01.06.1988 | 2023 (plan) |
| CG-58 | Philippine sea | Bath | 08.04.1986 | 12.07.1987 | 18.03.1989 | 2024 (plan) |
| CG-59 | Princeton | Ingalls | 15.10.1986 | 02.10.1987 | 11.02.1989 | 2024 (plan) |
| CG-60 | Normandy | Bath | 07.04.1987 | 19.03.1988 | 09.12.1989 | 2024 (plan) |
| CG-61 | Monterey | Bath | 19.08.1987 | 23.10.1988 | 16.06.1990 | 2025 (plan) |
| CG-62 | Chancellorsville | Ingalls | 24.06.1987 | 15.07.1988 | 14.11.1989 | 2024 (plan) |
| CG-63 | Cowpens | Bath | 23.12.1987 | 11.03.1989 | 09.03.1991 | 2026 (plan) |
| CG-64 | Gettysburg | Bath | 17.08.1988 | 02.07.1989 | 22.06.1991 | 2026 (plan) |
| CG-65 | Chosin | Ingalls | 02.07.1988 | 01.09.1989 | 12.01.1991 | 2026 (plan) |
| CG-66 | Hué City | Ingalls | 20.02.1989 | 01.06.1990 | 14.09.1991 | 2026 (plan) |
| CG-67 | Shiloh | Bath | 01.08.1989 | 08.09.1990 | 24.04.1992 | 2027 (plan) |
| CG-68 | Anzio | Ingalls | 21.08.1989 | 02.11.1990 | 02.05.1992 | 2027 (plan) |
| CG-69 | Vicksburg | Ingalls | 30.05.1990 | 07.09.1991 | 21.09.1992 | 2027 (plan) |
| CG-70 | Lake erie | Bath | 06.03.1990 | 13.07.1991 | 24.07.1993 | 2028 (plan) |
| CG-71 | Cape St. George | Ingalls | 19.11.1990 | 10.01.1992 | 13.04.1993 | 2028 (plan) |
| CG-72 | Vella Gulf | Ingalls | 22.04.1991 | 13.06.1992 | 12.07.1993 | 2028 (plan) |
| CG-73 | Port royal | Ingalls | 18.10.1991 | 20.11.1992 | 09.07.1994 | 2029 (plan) |
see also
Literature and sources of information
- Wikipedia
- Foreign military review 1984 # 1
The United States Navy is a Ticonderoga-class missile cruiser. The ships of this project, capable of carrying a large number of missile, artillery and mine-torpedo weapons, have been in service since the early eighties and solve a wide range of combat missions. Nevertheless, some of these cruisers are already quite old, and therefore should complete their service in the near future. The decommissioning of warships can lead to certain losses in the context of the overall combat capability of the fleet.
The lead cruiser USS Ticonderoga (CG-47), after which the entire series was named, was laid down in 1980 and handed over to the Navy in early 1983. In the summer of 1994, the fleet received the last 27th ship of the project. An interesting feature of the Ticonderoga project was the processing of the weapons complex. So, the first five cruisers had specialized launchers for missiles of different types. All subsequent ships, starting with the USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), were equipped with the Mk 41 universal vertical launchers.
The cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) is one of the first ships to be decommissioned from the Navy
In 2004-2005, the first five ships of the series, which were distinguished by less advanced means of storing and launching missiles, were decommissioned from the fleet. Others, equipped with universal launchers, continued their service. Nevertheless, in the foreseeable future, the fleet will have to abandon them too. Cruisers' service lives are approaching their maximum permissible values, which accordingly affects their prospects.
In 2020, the ships USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) and USS Mobile Bay (CG-53), which entered the US Navy in 1985, will celebrate 35 years of service. In this case, the maximum service life of cruisers of the "Ticonderoga" type is determined precisely at the level of 35 years. In this way, uS Navy you will have to write them off and then send them for cutting. In addition, the pace of shipments in the eighties of the last century should lead to the gradual abandonment of some of the remaining ships.
Not so long ago, the American edition of Defense News was able to get access to a number of documents stipulating the further development of the surface fleet of the United States Navy. According to these papers, the command intends to write off 11 Ticonderoga missile cruisers by 2026 inclusive. Other ships, however, will have to undergo repairs and upgrades, according to the results of which they can continue to serve for the next several decades.
According to Defense News, ships USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) and USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) will be sent on pins and needles in 2020. In the next 2021, USS Antietam (CG-54) and USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55) will be withdrawn from the fleet. In 2022, the service of the cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG-56) and USS Lake Champlain (CG-57) will end. 2023 will be held without reductions, but already in next year the fleet will remain without the ships USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) and USS Princeton (CG-59). USS Normandy (CG-60) and USS Monterey (CG-61) will graduate in 2025. The proposed Ticonderogo decommissioning program will end in 2026 with the decommissioning of the USS Chancellorville (CG-62).
As a result of such a reduction, only 11 cruisers out of 27 built will remain in the naval forces. As required, they will undergo repair and modernization, which will extend the service life beyond the 35 years established for the first ships of the series. According to current plans, the remaining ships, starting with the USS Cowpens (CG-63), will remain in service until at least the mid-thirties. The last ships can only be decommissioned in the mid-forties or later.
For a variety of reasons, the current plans to withdraw some of the cruisers from the fleet have caused controversy at various levels. Such plans, directly related to the state of technology, can have serious consequences in the field of national security. There are certain risks in terms of the quantity and quality of weapons. In addition, economic problems are possible. The obvious way out a similar situationallowing to get rid of possible problems, is to keep the existing cruisers in service.
Jerry Hendrix, a former US Navy officer and current analyst at the Center for a New American Security, commented on the situation and plans as follows. He considers the inclusion of the oldest Ticonderoga cruisers in the Service Life Extension Program the correct option for the development of events. This, at a minimum, will be cheaper than building new ships with the required characteristics.
USS Mobile Bay (CG-53)
In addition, J. Hendrix noted certain difficulties associated with the ammunition load of modern ships. The vertical launchers of the Ticonderoga cruisers can simultaneously carry up to 122 missiles of various types. The only real replacement for such ships is currently the Arleigh Bukre-class destroyers, also equipped with Mk 41 mounts. However, the destroyers' ammunition consists of only 96 missiles.
This means that when a cruiser is replaced by a destroyer, the fleet will lose a quarter of the available missile slots. According to J. Hendrix, the naval forces really need these cells. "We need mass - we need capacity."
Defense News quoted Brian McGrath, a security specialist at the FerryBridge Group, a security think tank. He also believes that the decommissioning of old missile cruisers could hit the combat capability of the US Navy's surface forces. He agrees that the inclusion of 11 ships in the Service Life Extension Program is the best solution to the problems.
Also B. McGrath touched upon the topic of finance. He notes that the current plans to reduce surface forces clearly speak of the economic problems of the fleet. To draw up a balanced program for modernization, maintenance, procurement, etc. serious sums are needed. At the same time, however, the command, figuratively speaking, now cuts off not the skin or fat, but the bones of the fleet. The reasons for this lie in the ambiguous policy of the authorities. The new owners of the White House talk about the need to build a fleet of 350 surface ships, but they do not allocate adequate funding. B. McGrath called such actions of the authorities sad and irresponsible, and also called for stopping them.
In accordance with the existing plans, all 22 Ticonderoga-class missile cruisers remaining in service will continue to serve until 2020, after which the gradual decommissioning of the oldest representatives of this group will begin. Until 2026, 11 ships that have served their allotted 35 years will be withdrawn from service. In parallel, the modernization of other cruisers will be carried out, according to the results of which they will be able to continue service until the mid-forties.
The main problem of the planned cruiser reduction program is the reduction of the total ammunition load of the surface fleet with the corresponding consequences in the context of its combat effectiveness. Ships of the Ticonderoga class feature multiple launchers with 122 cells for various missile types - 26 more than the Arleigh Burke destroyers. It is easy to calculate that during the decommissioning of 11 cruisers, the fleet as a whole will lose 1,342 launch cells. During the construction of 11 new destroyers "Arlie Burke", most of these losses will be compensated for, but the total ammunition load will be reduced by two and a half hundred conventional missiles.
Losses of this kind can to some extent be compensated for with the help of new multipurpose nuclear submarines carrying cruise missiles of the Tomahawk family. However, the potential for such "compensation" is not too great. Submarines of the Virginia type, which are under construction in series, regardless of the modification, carry only 12 cruise missiles. In addition, submarines, for obvious reasons, cannot carry anti-aircraft missiles of various types that are included in the ammunition load of surface ships. As a result, destroyers and submarines - with all their advantages - will not be able to fully replace the decommissioned Ticonderoga-class ships.
The Mk 41 universal launcher can be used to fire various types of missiles. Among others, the ammunition load of such a system may include interceptor missiles used in missile defense. It is curious that the upcoming reduction in missile cruisers will not have a negative impact on the development of the American naval strategic missile defense system.
USS Chancellorville (CG-62); his service will end in 2026
In the past, even at the stage of developing the necessary projects, the command made a fundamental decision: despite a certain unification of the onboard systems of the Ticonderoga cruisers and the Arleigh Burke destroyers, the latter will become the main carriers of the Aegis BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) anti-missile system. However, several cruisers also received similar equipment. Five Ticonderoga ships equipped with missile defense systems are not yet subject to the reduction program and will be able to continue service in the future.
Even at the design stage, the service life of the Ticonderoga missile cruisers was limited to 35 years. The first ships of the series were decommissioned long before the designated resource was exhausted, while the rest are already approaching the indicated dates. In accordance with the new plans of the Pentagon, half of the existing cruisers will be upgraded and continue to serve, while the rest will have to leave the fleet and go further for recycling.
The move to abandon aging ships nearing the end of their service lives is neither unexpected nor surprising. At the same time, however, such logical steps can have serious consequences for the combat effectiveness of the surface fleet. How exactly it is proposed to solve them is not yet completely clear. Obviously, the lack of deployed missiles will have to be compensated for by new ships.
Another interesting consequence of the current plans will be certain difficulties in the course of the desired development of the Navy. In accordance with the instructions of the authorities, in the foreseeable future, the surface group of the US naval forces should include more than three and a half hundred warships. The implementation of such plans is associated with certain difficulties, and the reduction in the number of available ships will further complicate the solution of the task.
It is obvious that the existing group of missile cruisers of the Ticonderoga type has noticeable problems, and some of these ships may need to be replaced. However, there is no equivalent replacement for cruisers. Thus, the American command now faces several specific problems and challenges, on the solution of which the further development of the naval forces depends. Several years remain before the start of the withdrawal of cruisers from service. During this time, the Pentagon can find the best methods for solving existing problems that can reduce the negative consequences and lead to the desired results. Nevertheless, negative scenarios cannot be ruled out yet. Time will tell how events will develop.
Based on materials from sites:
https://defensenews.com/
https://executivegov.com/
http://naval-technology.com/
http://globalsecurity.org/
http://navy.mil/
https://news.usni.org/
The ship is based on the hull and GEM Main power plant destroyer Spruens, which made it possible to speed up and reduce the cost of its construction, simplify the operation and provision of spare parts, and facilitate the training of personnel. At the same time, the methods of designing a ship as an integrated weapon system, including its hull, weapons, combat and technical means, and personnel, were further developed. Much attention was paid to the placement and operating conditions of various systems. First of all, this affected radio electronic means, since a significant number of various antenna devices that create mutual interference during operation required the creation of optimal conditions for their placement.
One of the most serious tasks assigned to the designers of the ship was the development of such an architecture of the hull, the structures of its sections and blocks, so that they could be modernized without large material costs and in a relatively short time. A similar task, the foreign press notes, stems from the experience of operating ships Navy Naval forces USA, which shows that during their 25 to 30-year service life, they usually undergo two upgrades.
These cruisers are built on the production line by the block-sectional method (the ship is divided into ten blocks and sections) with modular assembly of component equipment and a preliminary high degree of saturation of the section. The ship has a hull with a forecastle extended aft, extending 85%. Its length, clipper bow and transom stern. The hull lines are designed taking into account the decrease in the amplitudes of side and pitching motion and the resistance of water to the movement of the ship. Based on the operating experience of the Spruens-class destroyers, the total length of the ship was increased by 1.1 m due to the lengthening of the bow section, a bulwark with a length of about 40 m and a height of 1.4 m was installed on it to reduce the effect of waves and splashes on bow mounts in stormy weather artillery and universal missile launcher. For the same purpose, the cruisers are equipped with a roll stabilization system and side keels. According to the project, the ship must maintain a speed of 20 knots for a long time at a sea state of 7 points. Chimneys are spaced along the sides and length of the ship. Lattice masts rise behind the bridge and in the middle of the superstructure. When designing, the task was to increase the shock and explosion resistance of hull structures and equipment. The semi-automatic emergency system, using special sensors, informs the command about the nature and extent of damage and allows you to remotely close hatches and doors to prevent the spread of fire and water.
The project provides for the use of various noise-absorbing devices and coatings, low-noise power equipment manufactured using a specially developed technology. A five-blade variable-pitch propeller (CPP) with air supply to the incoming blade edges to reduce cavitation noise was selected as the propeller. As a result of these innovations, the ship's noise level is expected to be lower than that of other surface ships. Navy Naval forces USA.
New durable materials (aluminum alloys, plastics, wear-resistant coatings, etc.) are also widely used in the structure of the ship. The ammunition chambers are protected by 25 mm steel plates. The most important parts of the superstructure are additionally protected by honeycomb panels. The upper deck is covered with vinyl. Compared to other ships, the area of \u200b\u200bliving quarters has been increased, which are located in the middle part of the hull and in the superstructure. The berths are grouped in blocks of six and separated by light bulkheads. There are special rooms for rest and study.
The ship is adapted for operations in conditions of the use of weapons of mass destruction. There are no portholes in the hull and superstructure. All indoor areas are equipped with air conditioning.
The ship is equipped with belt conveyors and elevators for transferring goods from the upper deck to the lower ones and moving them through the compartments. One of the transporters provides horizontal movement of cargo along the entire length of the ship - from bow to stern. In the bow and stern parts, there are two posts for receiving cargo delivered by helicopters.
The modular design of the equipment makes it possible to use the method of aggregate repair and quickly replace faulty units by the personnel of the ship and the floating base serving it.
Automation of control of movement and maneuvering of the ship, weapons systems and power plant allowed to reduce the number of personnel.
The combat information post (BIP) of the cruiser is located on platform 01 in the bow of the superstructure, which raises doubts among foreign experts about its sufficient protection and survivability. It is divided into six functional zones, in which equipment (consoles, indicators) of subsystems is installed that provide collection, analysis, generalization and display of information for making decisions on the use of weapons against submarines, air targets, surface ships, as well as for monitoring the tactical situation. , controlling the actions of both one ship and the entire connection.
After the entry into service of the cruiser URO Guided missile weapon "Ticonderoga" in the foreign press published a number of articles critical of the series of new ships. First of all, there was an increase in comparison with the design displacement (from 8900 to 9600 tons), which is approaching the maximum (10200 tons) for this hull. This is due to the fact that the weight of the vertical launch unit is 225 tons more than that of the Mk26 launchers. It is also indicated that the weight Radar Radar station AN / SPS-49, which is a reserve in case of failure of the AN / SPY-1A station, is 17 tons (at the same time, foreign experts note, it cannot even partially replace Radar Radar station AN / SPY-1A, since it does not determine the altitude of the air target). As a result, the center of gravity moved 0.152 m higher, which led to a decrease in the stability of the ship and reduced its already small buoyancy reserve. To compensate for this negative impact, at least 70 tons of ballast were added. The increase in displacement reduced the ship's cruising range, keeping it at the same level requiring an additional 150 tons of fuel. Since the power plant remained unchanged, there are concerns that the cruiser will not be able to maintain the speed required to perform the task of guarding aircraft carriers in full swing. All taken together, the foreign press emphasizes, will seriously affect the combat capabilities of the new ship.
Considered as a platform for the Aegis anti-aircraft missile system of zonal air defense at minimal cost to build in large numbers, the Ticonderoga class is based on the hull of the popular Spruance-class destroyer. Initial plans - to build 30 units, but then this value was reduced to 27. The hull and the layout of machine mechanisms are analogous to the base class "Spruence", but the greater displacement led to a noticeable decrease in speed. In this regard, some criticism was expressed regarding the maximum displacement of the ship, but tests of the lead ship Ticonderoga (CG47) in 1983 showed that its stability is sufficient.
The ship is based on the Aegis computerized zonal air defense system, which has an SPY-1A radar station with two pairs of phased array antennas, capable of both controlling its aircraft and simultaneously providing observation, detection and tracking of targets throughout the upper hemisphere above and around ship. The missiles used - "Standard" SM2-ER on two Mk 26 launchers are considered an effective means of countering massed attacks by highly maneuverable aircraft interacting with high-altitude and low-altitude anti-ship missiles launched both from the surface and from under the water, under conditions of intensive electronic warfare. From the sixth ship, two Mk 26 launchers and their ammunition magazines will be replaced by two vertical Mk 41 launchers designed to accommodate 122 Tomahawk, Harpoon, Standard SM2-ER missiles and anti-submarine missiles instead of 104 missiles, which carried the first ships. The last ship in the class, the Shiloh, entered service in 1994. Princeton was severely damaged by an Iraqi mine during the 1991 Gulf War.
The performance characteristics of the cruiser "Ticonderoga"
- Displacement, t: full 9600;
- Dimensions, m: length 172.8; width 16.8; sediment 9.5;
- Main power plant: four gas turbine units LM 2500 from General Electric, operating on two shafts, power, hp. from. (kW): 80,000 (59,655);
- Travel speed, knots:30;
- Aircraft: two multipurpose helicopter SH-2D Seasprite or SH-60B Seahock;
- Armament:two eight-round launchers with 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, two twin launchers for the Standard SM2-ER anti-aircraft guided missile and ASROC anti-submarine missiles (ammunition, respectively, 68 missiles and 20 missiles), two single-barreled 127-mm artillery mounts, two 20 -mm anti-aircraft artillery complex of self-defense "Falanx", two three-tube torpedo tubes Mk 32 caliber 324 mm with ammunition 14 torpedoes Mk46;
- Electronics: two combined phased antenna arrays SPY-1A Aegis, an SPS-49 air target detection radar, an SPS-10 surface (ground) target detection radar, an SPQ-9A fire control system, four SPG-62 fire control radars for an anti-aircraft guided missile "Standard", one set of radio reconnaissance equipment SLQ-32, four launchers Mk 36 Super RBOC for setting dipole reflectors, satellite navigation system NAVSAT, one hydroacoustic station SQS-23, hydroacoustic station SQR-19 with a towed antenna array, satellite communication system SATCOMM;
- Crew, pers .: 360.
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The Ticonderoga-class cruisers were conceived as a relatively inexpensive carrier of modern air defense systems, suitable for mass construction, but over time they became perhaps the most advanced warships of our time. The design of these ships was based on the hull of the Spruens-class destroyer, so the lead ship, the Ticonderoga, was originally considered a destroyer, but in 1980 it was reclassified as a cruiser and received the tail number CG 47. The plans envisaged building 28 such ships, then the administration Reagan increased this number to 30, but later reduced it to 27. The cruiser Ticonderoga entered the fleet in 1983, and the last ship of the type, Port Royal, in 1994.
These cruisers were the first warships to be equipped with the AEGIS multifunctional weapon system, the most advanced air defense system in the world. The basis of this system is the SPY-1A radar with four phased antenna arrays, which is able to automatically detect and track targets at a distance of more than 300 km.
The main purpose of the AEGIS system is to repel a missile strike against a US Navy ship group using air defense and electronic warfare systems. The system is capable of simultaneously tracking the movement of friendly aircraft, detecting, identifying and tracking air targets in the upper hemisphere, as well as directing air defense systems at them. In addition, on the basis of the system, the command center of the joint air defense system of the ship group can be created.
On the first five cruisers, two twin Mk 26 launchers of the Standard SM-2MR missile system were installed, which were supposed to ensure the defeat of aircraft and various cruise missiles during massive raids in conditions of active use of electronic warfare systems.
Starting with the cruiser Bunker Hill (CG 52), instead of the Mk 26 launcher and their charging magazines, the Mk 41 UVP were installed. 127 cells of the two UVPs on each ship accommodate the Standard SAM, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, ASROC PLUR and Tomahawk KR ", Which allows the ship to hit air, surface, ground and underwater targets.
The Ticonderoga-class cruisers are designed to protect carrier and amphibious assault groups, as well as conduct independent operations. Over the past twenty-odd years, they have participated in all operations of the US Navy, including the two wars against Iraq, as well as the Tomahawk missile attacks on Yugoslavia and Afghanistan.