“Viktor Leonov”: why does the ship cause panic, for what purpose was it built, where is it now?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:42

In February of this year, while patrolling the eastern part of the American coast, the Russian ship Viktor Leonov, which, according to NATO codification, is called Cherry, was spotted. At that time, a reconnaissance vessel of the Russian Navy was passing along the coast of Delaware, approximately 130 kilometers (70 nautical miles) from land.

Also, "Viktor Leonov" was not accompanied by American cruisers. This approach created a lot of noise and even caused panic, however, some sources claimed that the task of the ship was supposedly to patrol the coast of the states since President Donald Trump took office.

Where the ship of the Russian Navy was seen, and how the authorities reacted to it

A month earlier, many publications, citing a source in government structures, noted that the reconnaissance ship "Viktor Leonov" stopped 30 miles from the military submarine baseboats located in Connecticut. In addition, his stay was recorded in the state of Georgia, where submarines are also based (37 kilometers southeast). But at the same time, the ship did not enter the territorial waters of America. During the observation, experts identified the famous "Viktor Leonov" and 60 miles northeast of Norfolk (Portsmouth, Virginia). It is in this state that one of the oldest and largest diversified naval bases of the United States in the Atlantic is located.

Donald Trump promised to sink the Russian ship

When information about the appearance of a Russian ship off the coast of the United States first began to spread, during a February press conference, Donald Trump was invited to express his opinion on this matter. The head of state was not shy in terms and expressed a desire to sink the ship. “Personally, it would be much easier and easier for me to enter into military opposition with Russia and sink this reconnaissance ship right 30 miles from the coast. Only in this case, we will not be able to agree,” the US President said.

It is worth noting that for the first time a Russian reconnaissance vessel began to carry out tasks to patrol the area of the east coast of America since 2015.

In which city the ship was built, specialization, characteristics

The Russian ship "Viktor Leonov" was built for almost four years - from 1985 to 1988 in the city of Gdansk (Poland), where six more similar ships were also released during this period of time.its type of ship. Initially (until 2004) it was called "Odograph". Despite the fact that the facility is considered far from being new, the process of capital modernization of previously installed equipment has already been carried out on it more than once.

All seven models of project No. 846 are narrowly specialized in the types of radio-electronic installations, but they differ significantly from the outside. This is due to the characteristic features of radars and other modern electronic warfare systems.

At the same time, it is known that these objects of the Navy are included in the Unified State System for Lighting the Situation Under and Above Water, therefore the technical characteristics of the radio-electronic devices that are installed on them are strictly classified and are not disclosed. At the same time, the general purpose of most types of electronic warfare systems has long been freely available.

The capabilities of the Russian reconnaissance ship

Viktor Leonov is known to be equipped with the following devices:

• GAR complexes (hydroacoustic reconnaissance);
• memory system;

Thus, devices read and store a specific set of so-called noise profiles, characteristic of certain objects, forming a kind of file cabinet. With the help of such data, the crews of warships and submarines will be able to determine at a great distance which vessel is approaching them, which is especially appreciated in combat conditions.

In exactly the same way, the equipment of "Viktor Leonov"is capable of not only determining, but also memorizing the profiles of the air defense systems of a potential enemy and its radar systems. For military intelligence, all this information is a very valuable trophy.

In addition, the ship is equipped with a Signit system for intercepting signals, sonars and a surface-to-air missile system.

The name of which hero is the legendary reconnaissance ship

The famous medium reconnaissance vessel, which caused a lot of talk with its sudden appearance, was previously known to everyone as the "Odograph". That is what they called in the old days an autoplotter - a device that laid the path of a ship on a Mercator map.

From the moment of launching, the object belonged to the Black Sea Fleet, and in 1995 it was transferred to the balance of the Northern Fleet. Since April 2004, the ship has been called "Viktor Leonov" - in honor of the legendary Soviet sailor, commander of separate reconnaissance detachments of the Pacific and Northern Fleets, who twice became a Hero of the Soviet Union. It was he who once, with his prompt actions and clear command, forced the huge enemy garrison to surrender.

Where is the ship of the Russian Navy now

At the end of 2016, the vessel "Viktor Leonov" left Severomorsk (the main base of the Northern Fleet) on a voyage and in March this year, in order to replenish supplies, called at the port of the Cuban capital. During their stay in Havana, the crew took part in some activities.

Also, the sailors visited the memorial of the Sovietinternationalist warrior. It was the ship's seventh visit to Havana in nine years. Where the Viktor Leonov ship is currently staying is still unknown, but many are sure that after sailing from the Cuban port, it should continue to perform communications tasks in the Western Atlantic, and is scheduled to return to base in May.