Russia to scrap nuclear battlecruiser Admiral Lazarev

Kirov-class_battlecruiser Admiral Lazarov
Kirov-class_battlecruiser Admiral Lazarov

Admiral Lazarev, the world’s largest nuclear cruiser, will be sent for disposal this August, according to the Russian Interfax news agency.

The Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom has signed a contract with “30th shipyard” for the recycling of the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Lazarev. The cost of work is 5 billion rubles (67,5m USD).

The recycling work will be commenced by the end of August 2021 by the 30th shipyard. It is expected to be completed by November 30, 2025.

Admiral Lazarev

Admiral Lazarev  is the second Kirov-class battlecruiser. Until 1992 she was named Frunze, later renamed after Russian admiral Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev. The ship was in reserve status so far. “Admiral Lazarev” was transferred to the Navy in 1980. In the 90s, it was mothballed. Since that time, its fate was uncertain, at various times plans were voiced for both modernization and disposal of the cruiser.

In total, four cruisers were built under the Orlan project. The cruiser Admiral Ushakov was decommissioned in 2002 and is also awaiting scrapping. The cruiser Admiral Nakhimov is currently being upgraded. As the commander of the Northern Fleet Nikolai Evmenov told Interfax in 2017, after the completion of the work, it is also planned to send the fourth cruiser of the project, Pyotr Velikiy (Peter the Great), for modernization.

History (Admiral Lazarev)

Laid down 26.07.1978
Launched 26.05.1981
Commissioned 31.10.1984,
Renamed from 27.05.1992 – to Admiral Lazarev.

admiral lazarev ex.frunze - naval post- naval news and information
Kirov’-class cruiser ‘ Admiral Lazarev ’ in 1985.(Ex.Frunze) (Image: Pinterest/marcreo/buque-de-guerra/)

Kirov Class Battlecruisers

The Kirov class, Soviet designation Project 1144 Orlan (sea eagle), is a class of nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers of the Soviet Navy and Russian Navy, the largest and heaviest surface combatant warships (i.e. not an aircraft carrier or amphibious assault ship) in operation in the world. Among modern warships, they are second in size only to large aircraft carriers, and of similar size to a World War I era battleship. The Soviet classification of the ship-type is “heavy nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser” . The ships are often referred to as battlecruisers by Western defence commentators due to their size and general appearance.

Specifications:

Displacement:24,300 tons standard 28,000 tons full load
Length:252 m (827 ft)
Beam:28.5 m (94 ft)
Draft:9.1 m (30 ft)
Propulsion:2-shaft CONAS, 2× KN-3 nuclear marine propulsion with 2× GT3A-688 steam turbines 140,000 shp (100,000 kW)
Speed:32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)

The Kirov class’s main weapons are 20 P-700 Granit (SS-N-19 Shipwreck) missiles mounted in deck, designed to engage large surface targets. Air defense is provided by twelve octuple S-300F launchers with 96 missiles and a pair of Osa-MA batteries with 20 missiles each. Pyotr Velikiy carries some S-300FM missiles and is the only ship in the Russian Navy capable of ballistic missile defence. 

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