The Azov was the fourth member of
the Kara Class, Project 1134B
Berkut, but with Azov, it was Project
1134BF, the only one of the seven ships in the class to carry that
designation. Azov carried a separate
designation because she was the most extensively modified of any of the ships in
the class.
The ships of the class served from building as trial vessels for a number of
different weapon, sensor and other electronic systems. Azov
served as the test bed for the SA-N-6 Grumble (NATO Code Names), VPU ZRK "Fort"
vertically launched missile system (VLS). The system had been designed for the Kirov
and Slava classes of large rocket
cruisers (RKR) but before investing in an untried system for two expensive
classes, Soviet designers decided to try it out first on Azov.
The SA-N-6 replaced the aft SA-N-3 system on the Azov.
The aft portion of the superstructure was widened to accommodate six missile
silos. Each silo had a rotating eight-missile magazine. Other ships in the class
had an open area between the aft Head Light C guidance radar and the
corresponding SA-N-3 mount. The SA-N-6 missile cylinders went in this location.
Not only was the open area filled in as part of the magazine area but also the
additional width forced a design change on the torpedo mounts. All other Berkut
B class ships have two five-tube 533mm torpedo mounts, placed one mount
per side. Because of the additional width of the SA-N-6 housing, Azov
only received two twin-tube mounts.
As a general rule, each Soviet weapons system had a sensor/guidance system
designed specifically for the weapon. That is one reason for the bristling look
of Soviet designs. The multitude of weapons systems, each with its own
sensor/guidance system, provides for a formidable appearance. Not only did Azov
test out the new weapons system, but also she tested the new guidance system
that went with the SA-N-6 system. The sensor guidance system was given the NATO
code name of Top Dome. This system did seem to be modified during trials, as
early photographs showed the SA-N-6 to be more closely resembling an enlarged
Head Light C, than the final Top Dome configuration. As you can see from the
very busy photograph of the Combrig model below, weapons and sensor
systems are found all over the design.
Azov
was laid down at the 61 Kommuna Shipyard on the Black
Sea. All members of the class were built at this shipyard at the rate of one
ship per year from 1969 to 1976 with an additional one year gap between Petropavlovsk
(5th ship laid down in 1973) and Tashkent
(6th ship laid down in 1975). Azov
was the fourth in the series, laid down in 1972 (one year before Kirov,
launched in 1974 and was in service in 1977. From launching until 1986 Azov
remained in the Black Sea, while others of the class went to the Northern or
Pacific Fleets.
The photographs below show the Combrig Azov
built straight from the box, with no additions other than the pylon for the Head
Net C radars on the fore lattice mast. That pylon was shown in the instructions
but was missing from the parts. It was easily created from plastic sprue. Only
stretch the sprue a little bit, as the pylon is thick. Cut the sprue to include
the inverted golf tee shape. The counter-balances for the Top Sail search radar
were also reduced slightly in size. A build review will follow, with the review
of the Kerch, the fourth distinctive
model produced by Combrig of the variations of Project 1134B.
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