Calling all Space Survey & Satellite Tracking ship fans

[Will J]

Hey guys,

I thought I'd start a thread on these unusual ships. Here are some useful links:

http://wikimapia.org/1741177/Marshall-N ... Class-Ship
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/russia/pro ... -class.htm
http://milparade.udm.ru/29/034.htm (Gargarin class and Nedelin class)
http://diendan.nuocnga.net/showthread.php?p=6468 (several different classes shown)
http://funkoffizier.wordpress.com/2007/04/09/ (several different Soviet ships, plus PRC Yuan Wang 1,2,3)

If you're not tied to the Soviet space support ships, the Chinese Yuan Wang 1-6 are interesting too. 1 & 2 are nearly identical, 3 is unique, 4 is unique, 5 & 6 are identical. 5 & 6 look like cruise liners with massive antennas stuck on them.

http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/researc ... anwang.asp (all 6 Yuan Wang ships)

I have plans of Kosmonaut Yuri Gagarin if anyone wants them.

[Tim Jacobs]

More links:

http://www.histarmar.com.ar/InfGral-2/B ... -2URSS.htm
http://faroutworld.blogspot.com/2007/07 ... -seas.html
go to the list below the last ship and the images links, a lot more info on those sites

http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/radioind/Ships/Ships.htm

[D-Boy]

OKB Grigorov, making its name with resin castings of 1:700 scale submarines, is apparently planning a full hull version of the Yuri Gagarin with accompanying PE set in 1:700 scale... nothing on their website; information from an email conversation with the owner.

[D-Boy]

OKB Grigorov, making its name with resin castings of 1:700 scale submarines, is apparently planning a full hull version of the Yuri Gagarin with accompanying PE set in 1:700 scale... nothing on their website; information from an email conversation with the owner.

Correction - this will be a WL version of the hull.

[Neptune]

Ok, since we go this topic running on Ural/Kapusta class in the main board. I've uploaded some picture collection I made of that ship. Perhaps they are of use to somebody.



Something puzzling and definately proof that she's not based on a Kirov class hull are the reinforcements on the hull. There's also those two cranes aft, for which I don't really see a use (no lifeboats appear to be around).



Another oddity is the CIWS (if it's that) just forward of these cranes on a raised platform near the upper deck.
Here's a dry dock picture showing her rather slender underwater shape (look at the midship area) also note the four prop guards instead of the more common 2.
Also note the open door in the stern between the scaffolding, in one of the following pics you can see that door opened as well, while at sea. In other pics it's completely invisible. Not sure what it's purpose is, but I think it gives a good view when using the aft anchor.














And a more glorious view as a last one for now. I have more pics, but didn't have the time yet to upload them. Here you can see the "CIWS" on the starboard of the helo deck, just half a level down. Not sure what that device is. I've seen it marked as a 25mm CIWS, which is odd, and I'm not aware of any such system in Soviet inventory.

[Timmy C]

Maybe it's a 76.2mm gun? http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WNRussian_3-60_ak176.htm

[Neptune]

Wasn't talking about the big one, that's certainly the AK-176. Another one is mounted forward, like a bow-chaser gun.

I found the answer though. It's the Utes-M 12mm dual machinegun mount. The ship seems to have two of them aft and 2 of them forward. The starboard aft one you can see just where the main deck steps down to the deck where the cranes are. Next to the ladder.
Forward of those you can see the quadruple Igla SAM launchers (port and starboard). Also on the onboard shot of the bow you can one of the forward Igla launchers. The forward Utes are just out of that picture, they seem to be mounted at the edge of the breakwater.
On the Black-White bow shot you can see the forward Utes mounts on the far-edge of the deck, they're slightly darker than the surrounding area.

[Neptune]

And another batch. Considering her very short career and apparently single long voyage from the yard to the Pacific fleet base, they did take quite some pictures of her. (admittedly mostly when mooring in reserve at Vladivostok).

It would appear from some pictures that the double prop guards were actually used as a mooring area for supply boats, hence the cranes aft. They seem to deploy small rubber fenders over the prop guards to receive the other ship.









During construction, unfortunately blurred around the centre, but it does give some details away.

[sandy]

Interesting.

I have always liked the Monge.

[D-Boy]

Great photos - many thanks for building on the conversation and resources here.

[D-Boy]

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/these- ... 1594677657

Intriguing article, photos, and related links.