Kresta I Class Cruiser - Design

Design

Though considerably larger, more effective and reliable than the previous Soviet cruiser class, Kynda, the Kresta I surface warfare cruisers carried only half as many Shaddock launch tubes and one-fourth the total number of missiles. Initially it was planned to fit the SS-N-12 Bazalt missile but the protracted development of this missile led to the older SS-N-3 being shipped. The self-defence armament was considerably increased as were command and communications facilities.

The Kresta I could launch four SS-N-3b SLCMs and 44 SA-N-1 surface-to-air missiles with two twin launchers fore and aft, and have ten 21-inch torpedo tubes. A single Ka-25 Hormone B helicopter is carried for targeting the cruise missile, and mid-course corrections.

Electronics Fit carried :

• Radar:

MR-500 Kliver air search

MR-302 Rubka

MR-310 Angara

Don navigation

• Sonar:

MG-312 hull mounted

MG-26 hull mounted

• Other systems:

Khrom-2M IFF

Yatagan SA-N-1 fire control

MR-103 AK-725 fire control

Binom P35 Progress fire control

Two unbuilt variants were proposed;

• Project 934 - A variant armed with 8 short range anti ship missiles (SS-N-9) otherwise similar to the ships built. This design evolved into the Kresta 2 class

• Project 934 K - This was a larger flagship variant with enlarged command facilities and a bigger hangar for 4-5 helicopters. This variant was cancelled