The frigate "Admiral Essen" became the second ship of Project 11356R in the Russian Black Sea Fleet. It was laid down in Kaliningrad in 2011, launched in 2014, and the St. Andrew's flag was raised on June 7, 2016. The ship is part of the 30th Division of Surface Ships.
124.8 meters and 30 knots
With a full displacement of about 4000 tons, the "Admiral Essen" is 124.8 m long, 15.2 m wide, and can reach speeds of up to 30 knots, which is about 56 km/h. The cruising range at economic speed reaches 4850 nautical miles, and autonomy is up to 30 days. The crew consists of about 180 people.
In terms of size, it is a relatively compact ship. But its armament allows it to solve several types of tasks: combat surface and underwater targets, engage air objects, and strike the shore.
8 "Kalibr" missiles in the hull
The main weapon of the "Admiral Essen" is the universal shipborne launch system 3S14 with 8 cells. It is designed for the use of "Kalibr" family missiles. This is why the frigate gained the ability to strike far beyond the immediate range of ship artillery.
For air defense, the ship has 24 missiles of the "Shtil-1" complex. The close-in defense is provided by two 30-mm AK-630M mounts. The artillery armament is represented by a 100-mm A-190 mount.
Not just missiles
The "Admiral Essen" is a multi-purpose frigate. For anti-submarine warfare, it is equipped with 533-mm torpedo tubes and an RBU-6000 rocket launcher. The ship also has a hangar and a deck for a Ka-27 helicopter.
Thus, with a displacement of about 4 thousand tons, the ship carries 8 strike missiles, 24 anti-aircraft missiles, a 100-mm gun, 30-mm automatic cannons, torpedoes, and anti-submarine weapons. It is the combination of compact size and a wide range of armament that became the main feature of Project 11356.
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