URPK-3 Metel
NATO: SS-N-14 Silex | URPK-4 Metel
Introduction
URPK-3 Metel
Close-up of a KT-M-1135A quadruple launcher. Note the host missile on top and AT-2UM torpedo as payload.
Source: www.topwar.ru -
© Copyright lies with original owner
1971 - 1972 (Soviet state trials)
Soviet Union - Altair design bureau
Metel (official nickname)
Russian for "snowstorm"
Russia
Description
Introduction
The URPK-3 Metel is a late Cold War era anti-submarine missile system of Soviet origin. The Metel is a stand-off delivery system for an anti-submarine acoustic homing torpedo using a large guided missile to carry the aerial torpedo to the target area. The NATO reporting name for this system, and its successor URK-5 Rastrub, is SS-N-14 Silex.
Design
The URPK-3 Metel system is based on a guided missile derived from the P-120 Malakhit (NATO: SS-N-9 Siren) which carries an aerial torpedo on a pylon underneath. These missiles are launched from large box launchers on dedicated anti-submarine warfare cruisers, destroyers and frigates. The parachute retarded torpedo is released over the target area. A guided missile is used to ensure the torpedo is dropped as close to the target submarine as possible. Unlike its direct successor, the URK-5 Rastrub, the Metel system does not possess any anti-ship capability.
Firepower
The Metel system fires the 85R missile with torpedo payload. Maximum range of these missiles is 55 km. Minimum range is 6 km. These missiles are subsonic and fly at Mach 0.95, close to the speed of sound. The AT-2U or UM torpedo is released in the target area. These can engage submarines up to a depth of 400 m. Alternatively the payload is what the Soviets called a "special charge", which is a 5 kiloton nuclear depth charge.
Fire control
When introduced the fire control of the URPK-3 was unified with the 4R60 Grom radar and fire control systems of the M-11 Shtorm (NATO: SA-N-3 Goblet) medium range SAM system used on large cruisers. The 85R missile is controlled in flight using radio command guidance from the 4R60 Grom radar set. This allows for corrections in flight in accordance with the targets maneuvers. This is essential for the system since in active mode the maximum effective range of the sonar on the AT-2U torpedo is 1 to 1.5 km in optimal conditions. For the smaller Project 1135 (NATO: Krivak) frigates the Musson fire control system was developed.
Platforms
The Metel system became first operational in 1969 on the Project 1134A Berkut-A (NATO: Kresta II) class of anti-submarine warfare cruisers. These use the 4R60 Grom fire control for missile guidance. The same applies to 6 out of 7 Project 1134B Berkut-B (NATO: Kara) class cruisers. Furthermore, about 27 vessels of the Project 1135 and 1135M Burevestnik (NATO: Krivak I & II) frigates were fitted with KT-106 quadruple launchers and the Musson fire control systems. Three early ships of the Project 1155 Fregat (NATO: Udaloy I) class destroyers were fitted with the last URPK-3 Metel systems to be produced. A single MS-82 twin launcher was built for use on the lead ship of the Project 1144 Orlan (NATO: Kirov) class battlecruiser.
Users
The main operator of the URPK-3 Metel system was the navy of the Soviet Union. Due to the cost and complexity of these systems and their host vessels these were not exported.
System composition
85R missile
The 85R is the host missile with AT-2UM torpedo as payload. There seem to be no variants of this missile other than the 85RU used in the URK-5 Rastrub, the successor to the Metel system.
AT-2UM torpedo payload
Parachute dropped aerial torpedo with passive / active acoustic seeker.
KT-M-1134A (KT-100) quadruple launcher
Quadruple launchers located at a fixed 18° angle on either side of the superstructure. Used on the Project 1134A Berkut-A (NATO: Kresta II) and Project 1134B Berkut-B (NATO: Kara) class cruisers. Also known as the KT-100.
KT-M-1135 (KT-106) quadruple launcher
Quadruple launcher for use on the Project 1135 (NATO: Krivak) class frigates. The four launch tubes are arranged horizontally. This launcher can rotate over the frontal arc, allowing for a faster launch than rotating the vessel.
MS-82
Trainable twin tube launcher with additional 8 missiles in storage. Only a single launcher was ever operational. This was installed on the lead ship of the Project 1144 Orlan (NATO: Kirov) nuclear powered battlecruiser.
4R60 Grom-M
The 85R missiles use radio command guidance. On the large cruisers this is provided by the 4R60 Grom-M radars associated with the M-11 Shtorm medium range surface to air missile system.
Details
Media
URPK-4 Metel on Project 1135 Burevestnik class frigate
KT-106 quadruple launcher of the URPK-4 system on a Project 1135 Burevestnik (NATO: Krivak I) class frigate during a collision with a US Navy Ticonderoga class cruiser in 1988.
Source: US Navy
Copyright: Public domain
MS-82
Aerial view of the the lead ship of the Project 1144 Orlan (NATO: Kirov) nuclear powered battlecruiser. Note the twin tube MS-82 launcher in front of all the vertical launch systems.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
MS-82
Close-up of the bow of the lead ship of the Project 1144 Orlan (NATO: Kirov) nuclear powered battlecruiser at sea in 1985. Note the twin tube MS-82 launcher in front of all the vertical launch systems.
Source: US Navy
Copyright: Public domain
85R missile launcher
A 85R missile of the URPK-4 Metel system being launched from a Russian navy Project 1135 Burevestnik (NATO: Krivak I) class frigate.
Source: www.mil.ru
Copyright: CC BY 4.0
Platforms
Project 1135 Burevestnik class
Soviet class of ASW frigate. NATO reporting names Krivak I and Krivak II for those fitted with URPK-4 Metel using the Musson fire control system.
Project 1155 Fregat class
Soviet class of ASW destroyer. NATO reporting name Udaloy I. The first three ships in class were fitted with the URPK-4 Metel system with Musson fire control before production switched to the intended URK-5 Rastrub system.
Project 1134A Berkut-A class
Soviet class of ASW cruiser. NATO reporting name Kresta II. All 10 ships in class were built with the URPK-3 Metel systems using the 4R60 Grom radars as fire control for the 85R missiles. Four ships in class saw upgrades to the URK-5 Rastrub and a 5th upgrade was never completed.
Project 1134B Berkut-B class
Soviet class of ASW cruiser. NATO reporting name Kara class. Six out of 7 ships in class were built with the URPK-3 Metel systems using the 4R60 Grom radars as fire control for the 85R missiles. Two ships in class were upgraded to the URK-5 Rastrub, which was already fitted to the last ship in class during construction.
Project 1144 Orlan class
The lead ship of the Project 1144 Orlan (NATO: Kirov) class nuclear powered battlecruiser was armed with the twin tube MS-82 launcher.
Related articles
P-120 Malakhit
The 85R missile is reportedly a derivative of the P-120 Malakhit (NATO: SS-N-9 Siren) anti-ship missile.