How to recognize the Varyag rocket cruiser in the ocean

Meeting with the Varyag missile cruiser on the ocean, American warships will semaphore him the phrase "You're Looking Good!", Meaning "Look good!" Forgetting that the ship is a probable enemy, they express admiration for this formidable vessel , Nicknamed "the killer of aircraft carriers."

A special feature of this ship (Project 1164) are eight upward angled large double containers, four on each side. They, certainly, not for beauty, in everyone the complex "Volcano" П-100 is placed. This is a terrible weapon.

The volley that the Varyag rocket cruiser can produce is deadly to the whole squadron that makes up the aircraft-carrying group of ships. The "wolf pack" of eight five-ton rockets rushes to this goal, controlled by the electronic brain. As expected, this "group of comrades" has its own leader, giving commands to the remaining seven participants in the attack. It is he who chooses the biggest goal for himself - the flagship aircraft carrier - and gives instructions on where to fly to another. In case of premature death of the main missile, the command takes the following, which at this moment will be at the highest altitude. Only this is unlikely, to knock down an aircraft flying at a speed of almost 3000 km / h and making deceptive maneuvers is very difficult. And if you consider that there are eight of them, and each has a nuclear charge ...

The Varyag rocket cruiser, the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, was built in Nikolaev more than thirty years ago. Until 1996 it was called "Chervona Ukraine".

The initial project envisaged six double launch containers (three from each side). The intervention of Admiral Gorshkov led to a change in the initial design in the direction of increasing firepower. The Navy Commander also influenced the artillery armament: instead of the automatic ship gun A-100, a double-barreled AK-130 was installed on the tank. The displacement has increased, the running characteristics have deteriorated somewhat, we had to reduce ammunition. As far as all these measures have improved the combat qualities of the ship, it is difficult to judge, but the fact remains, and today the Varyag missile cruiser is one of the most formidable combat units in the world.

The Pacific Fleet had a chance to participate in a campaign against the shores of Somalia (2011). Pirates near the African coast prevented shipping, creating a threat to the safety of merchant seamen. The squadron of several ships was headed by the Varyag missile cruiser. Photos of Russian courts have published all the printed publications of the world after conducting successful operations, which stopped the activity of the newly emerged corsairs. Anti-ship complexes in this campaign were not needed, using them would be as rational as shooting cannons on sparrows. But the artillery was very handy.

In 1991, Ukraine, like all other republics of the USSR, ceased to be red. Five years later, the crew offered to give the ship a name that was glorified back in 1904. Then, during the Japanese War, the unconquered Russian cruiser did not lower the flag of St. Andrew and send to the bottom, without getting to the enemy. The feat of the last parade impressed the German poet Rudolf Greitz, who composed the lyrics of the song, which became an unofficial anthem of the Russian Navy. A proud and expensive name was inherited by the Guards missile cruiser Varyag, which cuts its oceanic waves in the 21st century.