Project 956 Sarych class
NATO: Sovremenny class
Overview
Project 956A class
Russian navy Project 956A class destroyer Nastoychivy seen at sea in 2005.
Source: US Navy -
© Public domain
Russia - Severnaya Verf, St. Petersburg
4 Project 956A
2 Project 956E
2 Project 956EM
Sarych (official nickname)
Russian for "buzzard"
Project 956E (export model)
Russia
China
Description
Introduction
The Project 956 Sarych is a late Cold War era class of guided missile destroyers of Soviet origin. In the West these are known as the Sovremenny class. Project 956 was developed as a dedicated platform for supersonic anti-shipping missiles and medium range air defense. The Project 1155 Fregat (NATO: Udaloy) class destroyer was designed to complement the Project 956 in the anti-submarine warfare role.
Design
The Project 956 is a typical Cold War era Soviet large surface combattant: bristling with weapons and sensors and producing thick black smoke. Propulsion is provided by high pressure steam boilers and geared turbines, a rather old but safe choice at time of construction. Large fixed angle anti-ship missile launchers are located on either side of the superstructure. A gun turret and SAM system are located at the bow and the stern. A helicopter deck is located behind the large funnel.
Firepower
Main armament of consists of the eight very large Moskit supersonic anti-ship missiles. Two medium range Uragan surface to air missile systems with semi-active radar homing missiles provide medium range air defense against aircraft and inbound missiles. Gun armament is significant by having two double barrel 130mm AK-130 gun mounts. These dual purpose guns have a high rate of fire. ASW rocket launchers are fitted for self-defense. Heavyweight torpedoes are for use against submarines and even surface vessels.
Sensors
Air and surface search is carried out by the Fregat series of radar. Updated models were installed throughout construction. There are dedicated fire control radars for the main guns, the close-in weapon systems and surface to air missiles. Sonar suite consisted at first of only a large hull mounted sonar. From the 6th vessel onward a new system with towed array was included. Both ESM and ECM systems are fitted. Two types of decoy launchers are present.
Mobility
Propulsion of the Project 956 consists of twin boilers with geared turbines. These are connected to two shafts with fixed pitch propellers. This less modern setup was chosen to reduce risk in the design and build process. These provide a lot of power at the cost of long term reliability. This design had specific requirements on the quality of the feed water that the water treatment systems could not provide, greatly reducing the service life of the boilers. When fully operational the combined 100.000 hp allowed for a speed of 32 knots. In testing a maximum of 33.4 knows was even achieved. Autonomy at sea is about one month.
Users
The Project 956 was adopted by the Soviet navy as the primary anti-surface warfare and medium area air defense destroyer. A total of 17 were acquired. All vessels ended up in the Russian navy upon the fall of the USSR. Two batches of two vessels were exported to China. The first batch included long range variants of the Moskit missile. The second batch featured a fixed hanger instead of the rear turret and SAM system.
Variants
Project 956 class
The first 13 ships of this class are designated Project 956, although they differ in various subsystems throughout the construction. Differences include type of boiler, three variants of Fregat radar, inclusion of a variable depth towed sonar, etc. Later ships were fitted with longer launch tubes to facilitate the Moskit-M missile. These missiles fly faster and have a longer range.
Project 956A class
The project 956A designates an upgrade of the onboard electronics and the more capable Yezh SAM system with its 9M317 missiles. The last four Soviet vessels were built to this standard.
Project 956E class
Two Project 956 exported to China. Mostly similar to the Project 956A class. Armed with the long range 3M80MVE missile.
Project 956EM class
Two modified Project 956E class destroyers with rearranged helicopter facilities. The rear AK-130 gun turret has been removed to fit a hangar and relocate the helicopter pad. Close-in weapon systems were changed to two Kashtan instead of the four AK-630.
Details
Media
Project 956 class
Soviet navy vessel Bezuprechny, which is the fifth Project 956 (NATO: Sovremenny) class destroyer, seen at sea in 1986.
Source: US DOD
Copyright: Public domain
Project 956 class
Soviet navy lead ship of the Project 956 (NATO: Sovremenny) class Sovremenny seen at sea in 1982.
Source: US Navy
Copyright: Public domain
Project 956 class
Russian navy Project 956 (NATO: Sovremenny) class destroyer Bystryy seen at sea in 2014.
Source: Alex omen
Copyright: CC BY 3.0
Project 956EM class
Chinese navy Taizhou seen in 2005. This is a Project 956EM class with improved helicopter facilities instead of the rear gun and SAM system.
Source: Astrowikizhang
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
Project 956 class
Aerial view of Soviet navy vessel Osmotritelny, which is the fourth Project 956 (NATO: Sovremenny) class destroyer, seen at sea in 1989.
Source: US Navy
Copyright: Public domain
Project 956
Aerial view of Sea Harrier passing Sovremenny class destroyer.
Source: unknown author @ www.imageshack.us
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
Project 956
Frontal view of Sovremenny class destroyer.
Source: www.globalsecurity.org
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
Sovremenny class
Chinese Project 956ME Sovremenny class destroyer.
Source: Chinese internet
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
Project 956A class
Former Soviet and Russian navy Project 956A (NATO: Sovremenny) class destroyer Bespokoyny acting a museum vessel in Kronstadt as seen in 2024.
Source: MBH
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
Subcomponents
P-270 Moskit
2x4 KT-190 launcher for 3M80 Moskit in Project 956 and 3M82 Moskit-M in Project 956A class. Known by NATO as SS-N-22 Sunburn.
M-22 Uragan
2x 3S90 single arm launcher for medium range 9M38M1 surface to air missiles. Each launcher has 24 missiles in a below deck magazine. Six 3R90 Orekh (NATO: Front Dome) fire control radars illuminate the target. On Project 956A the 9M317 missile was introduced.
130mm AK-130
2x2 130mm AK-130 dual purpose main gun. Located on the bow and on the stern.
30mm AK-630
4x 30mm AK-630 close-in weapon systems. Two at bridge, two on hanger deck. There are two fire control radars, each controls a pair of AK-630.
RBU-1000 Smerch-3
2x RBU-1000 Smerch-3 naval ASW rocket launcher. These can be used against submarines, but are mainly intended as close-in defense against inbound anti-ship torpedoes.
SET-65
2x2 533mm DTA-533-956 torpedo tubes. Supports several types of 533mm torpedoes, of which SET-65 is most commonly used.
Type 53-65
The Type 53-65 heavyweight torpedo can also be launched from the DTA-533-956 torpedo tubes.
Kamov Ka-27PL
A single Ka-27 naval helicopter can be carried. This can be stored in a telescopic hangar.
Related articles
Project 1155 Fregat class
The Project 1155 Fregat (NATO: Udaloy) class destroyer was designed to complement the Project 956 in the anti-submarine warfare role.