Kara-class cruiser

The Kara class, Soviet designation Project 1134B Berkut B ("golden eagle"), was a class of guided missile cruisers ("large anti-submarine warfare ship" in Soviet classification) built for the Soviet Navy between 1968 and 1976. NATO classified the type as cruisers mainly due to their size and the presence of the 'Metel' (SS-N-14 Silex) anti-ship missile system, capable of striking both submarines and surface vessels.

The Kara-class cruisers were originally designed as an iteration on the Kresta II class. They were based on the same initial technical drawings, but were modified to include a gas turbine power plant, an enhanced anti-aircraft (AA) armament, and improved artillery systems. This included the addition of the navalized 4K33 'Osa-M' surface-to-air missile system, and the replacement of the AK-725 artillery systems with AK-726 systems. Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and sensors systems remained the same, but modernized communication systems were added later in the design process.

While based on the same hull as the Kresta class, the addition of various systems required a significant increase in size. The hull length increased by 12 metres (39 ft), and the beam by 0.6 metres (2.0 ft), allowing for the superstructure to be increased in volume. The specifications for the class were issued in 1964 with the design being finalised in the late 1960s.^{[citation needed]}

The 61 Communards shipyard in Mykolaiv (Nikolayev) was selected to construct the class, due primarily to previous experience with gas turbines and proximity to the main Soviet gas turbine plant. Initial trials by the lead ship, Nikolayev, required alterations to the gas generator intakes due to water ingestion, and the addition of redundant air compressors for control.

Azov was constructed as a trials ship for the S-300 missile system and was also fitted with the associated 3R41 Volna (Top Dome) radar. During the Cold War she was confined to the Black Sea.

The primary AA armament of the Kara-class consisted of M-11 'Shtorm' surface-to-air missiles. These were initially designed for destroying aircraft at higher altitudes, but were modernized throughout the 1970s and 1980s to increase performance against low flying aircraft and cruise missiles. 4K33 Osa-M missiles were equipped for shorter range air defence against low flying aircraft or missiles. These operated off an independent radar system from the M-11, but could receive cueing from the main search radars.

In the ASW role, the Kara class was primarily armed with the URPK-3 'Metel' complex. This consisted of an AT-2U torpedo mounted to an 85R cruise missile, and was designed to allow for the engagement of submarine contacts up to 50 kilometres (31 mi) away. This was achieved by using the cruise missile to fly the torpedo out to the target area, at which point it would detach and begin locating a target. This was intended to be used alongside target information from other fleet elements, such as friendly warships or ASW aircraft. Each ship carried eight 85R/UPRK-3 missiles, within two angled box launchers on either side of the bridge.^{[citation needed]}

The ships were also equipped with two RBU-6000 launchers on the bow, and two RBU-1000 launchers on the stern. These were designed to saturate a target area with several rocket-launched anti-submarine bomblets. The standard torpedo armament consisted of two five-tube torpedo launchers to the left and right of the forecastle. These typically carried six 53-65K torpedoes for anti-ship use, and four SET-65 torpedoes for ASW use.