The Russian Navy’s Black Sea flagship has suffered major damage and the crew has abandoned the ship. Ukrainians claimed to hit the ship with a missile strike.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the damage to the RTS Moskva. The Russian Defense Ministry said that a fire had caused munitions to explode and the crew had been fully evacuated.
Russia’s Navy has not added a ship or submarine over 5400 tons since 1999. They finished up two larger ships they started building before the fall of the USSR. They added two 5400 ton Frigates.
Ukraine used Neptunes missiles. They are based on the Soviet AS-20 ‘Kayak’ anti-ship missile which is similar to the U.S.-built Harpoon missile.
Moskva was commissioned into the Soviet Navy in 1982 and is one of three Slava-class guided-missile cruisers. The three 11,500-ton Slavas were designed around launchers that can hold 16 SS-N-12 Sandbox anti-ship cruise missiles.
The Black Sea Fleet has about five Frigates.
Russia has a 59000 ton aircraft carrier. This is being repaired after a dock sank and a large crane broke through the deck. It then had a big fire.
Russia has one 25000 ton Battlecruiser that is operational and the other is also being repaired.
Russia has the two 11500 ton cruisers.
Russia has six 7500 ton destroyers and four more under repair.
Russia has 9 frigates (1800-5400 tons, most are about 3000 tons).
Russia has nine ships that are destroyer or larger that are active. The USA has over 100 (11 air craft carriers, 11 assault ships – basically smaller air craft carriers, 22 cruisers and 70 destroyers).
If Ukraine can take out the five Black Sea frigates. It would probably take Russia ten years to replace the frigates. Russia has not shown that they retain the ability to make new large ships over 5400 tons in the last 20 years. Russia would have one battlecruiser, two cruisers, six destroyers and four frigates if they lose the Black Sea frigates.
Neptune Missile
Ukrainian Neptune coastal defence system comprises a USPU-360 truck-based mobile launcher, four missiles, a TZM-360 transport/reload vehicle, a RCP-360 command and control vehicle, and a special cargo vehicle. The system is designed to operate up to 25 kilometers (16 mi) inland of the coastline.
A Neptune missile including rocket motor is 5.05 meters (199 in) in length, with a cross-shaped hard wing. Neptune missiles are designed to be housed in transport and launch containers (TLC) with dimensions 5.30 by 0.60 by 0.60 meters (209 in × 24 in × 24 in). The system has a maximum range of about 300 kilometers (190 mi). A single missile weighs 870 kilograms (1,920 lb), of which 150 kilograms (330 lb) is the warhead.
Ukraine’s state-owned Spets Techno Export said the missile was designed to sink naval vessels with a maximum displacement of 5,000 tonnes. It has a range of 280 km, which the company said is so the export model complies with the Missile Technology Control Regime. The missile could therefore have a longer range for Ukraine’s own use and improve.
Four Neptune missiles are carried ready to fire on a KrAZ-7634HE 8×8 truck chassis. The entire complex consists of four launch vehicles, crewed by three personnel each, a 6×6 command-and-control vehicle, and two loading vehicles.
Ukraine has previously successfully attacked Russian ships unloading armored vehicles in the port of Berdyansk. One LST sank at the pier and two others sortied, possibly damaged.
Russia’s frigates can only stay out in the Black Sea for about 30 days and then they need to refuel and resupply. Russia’s ships are vulnerable when they get near the ports or the coast.
SOURCES- Wikipedia, USNI
Written by Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
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Sunk with 400 dead.
Kind of agree, the brutality seen has surprised me.
Obvious downside for Russia is that the sanctions will them become stronger and permanent, EU will want an replacement for Russian gas fast and so on.
Potemkin was sunk,, but the only carriage rolling down steps is Ukrainian. 🙁
A lot of people get divorced. they'd say all marriages are shams. if they're going to do the work, I'd let them stay. it shows that they're creative, resourceful and good team players. plus they know how to save money. we need people like that in America.I do work in that…. .
its all about the Russia's other major players and the population's interest in subverting Putin's perception on the world stage and his ability to break what he can't control… time will tell…
Russia gave up the pretence that it wasn’t a Ukrainian attack when they retaliated against Kiev and on Russian state tv, talk show hosts called for revenge against the Ukrainians.
thought i would see more portable drones… otherwise, very traditional battlefield gear with a few anti-tank-type stuff thrown in…
depends on how long this drags out.. a few weeks is one thing — all summer??? that's pan-east-European misery.
agreed. minefields. booby traps. anti-foliant chamicals — they are but the beginning for a bitter and resentful tyrant – not getting his way… oon the world stage…
Hopefully Moskva will end up being symbolic of Putin's entire Ukrainian invasion.
biggest worry is Putin saying "if I can't have Ukraine, nobody can.." – then its chemical, biological, anti-eco, even local nuclear conflict. salt the earth and poison the groundwater. Hilarious that anyone thinks that Putin cares about being implicated in genocide or warcrimes or cultural eradication… all or nothing.
Ironically enough – it is a great opportunity for new tech, special forces, and various strategizing by NATO, EU, and the US — you know they're all in there. And it certainly is a bonus to see Russia's tech and fight-worthiness on display… dumbest action ever, Putin.
Well, that's some interesting timing.
Russian media is now reporting the Moskva sunk while under tow.
The Ukrainian post office announced their Snake Island commemorative stamp
https://www.ukrposhta.ua/en/news/57585-obrano-eskiz-dlja-poshtovoi-marki-russkij-voennyj-korabl-idi-nauj
which features the Moskva…
And the 21st century's stupidest conflict continues…
As per Russian State Media, the Moskva has sunk.
"You gotta keep em separated"
It already sunk. LOL @ Russia!
Latest news: it just sank, hooray Ukraine.
Putin sinking, so is ship.
Can't wait until they get the shiny new British missiles set to go.
Two sides to this war. The military part and the economic/political part, and it seems like a lot of commentators look at one side or the other. The truth is when you look at the two together you probably have a reinforcing feedback loop ending only when Russia falls into anarchy, Putin is replaced, or Putin stays in and they try to emulate North Korea (probably even less successfully, or should that be more unsuccessfully–wrong size and wrong demographics).
Statement from a Pentagon spokesman: "It's still floating but it's clearly severely damaged and likely a total loss."
It has. It's not just damaged and abandoned, it's at the bottom of the sea.
Last I heard that in Ukraine they are now saying:
WHEN THE WAR IS OVER, NATO WILL BE ASKING TO JOIN UKRAINE
could they ever sink lower?