Chapter 456 Ermao’s Glory-class cruiser
“China is a magical place.” Babbage said with emotion while sitting on the plane returning.
With a helicopter, you can go back and forth in one day, which is much more convenient than taking a car or train. What you saw this day made Babbage feel deeply.
"Your country's reform has been very successful." Babbage continued: "Through this reform, you have radiated vitality. A small local enterprise can have such research and development capabilities. Use your In an idiom, this is called... Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
"This is the charm of the market economy." Qin Tao said: "Enterprises must adapt to the development of the market. If an enterprise does not have the ability to innovate, it will soon be eliminated by the market. Unfortunately, if the reform of the Red Empire could succeed, it would be It’s a different look.”
Hearing Qin Tao's words, Babic's face turned a little gloomy.
Yes, if it had succeeded, the Red Empire would still be a powerful country, and the Varyag would have been in the Red Empire's navy.
However, this emotion only flashed through him for a moment. He knew that this was an unrealistic fantasy. The Red Empire had collapsed. There was no point in remembering the lost empire. Now, his life was more meaningful and he would be full of energy every day. abundant.
"Now, there shouldn't be too many problems with the aircraft carrier. The problem of electronic equipment can wait until the hull is renovated. There will be better equipment by then." Babbage continued: "Currently it is for carrier-based aircraft. It’s a problem, but it’s not something we can worry about.”
If there are no qualified carrier-based aircraft, the aircraft carrier will not have any combat capabilities and will be just a floating shell on the sea.
“Yes, carrier-based aircraft are a big problem, but we don’t need to worry about this. The naval leaders must be more anxious than us.”
Domestic assembly of the Su-27 has just begun. It is somewhat unrealistic to ask them to assemble a qualified carrier-based aircraft at this time. After all, there is a big difference between the two, especially the fly-by-wire operating system, which is blocking them. stumbling block.
There's no point in being anxious. Everyone is a shipbuilder. Let's leave the building of aircraft to those professionals.
"Well, we don't need to worry about it. By the way, there is currently a Type 1164 guided missile cruiser at the 445 Shipyard." Babbage said: "If you are interested, buy that warship too."
In Nikolayev City, the largest shipyard is of course the 444th Shipyard, which produces heavy-duty aircraft carrier cruisers. It is easy for people to ignore the 445th Shipyard in the north of the city. Some people even talk about the Glorious-class cruiser. Can be confused as a product of the Black Sea Shipyard.
Er Mao, a prodigal, wasted many good things, including the fourth Type 1164 cruiser.
In Lao Maozi's naval sequence, the first is the heavy aircraft carrier cruiser, the second is the Kirov-class nuclear-powered cruiser, and the third is the Glorious-class conventionally powered cruiser.
In later wars, the sinking of the Moskva was lamented by countless people. In fact, the Moskva was a Glorious-class guided missile cruiser. This kind of heavy warship is also the afterglow of the empire.
When the Red Empire collapsed, the No. 4 ship "Admiral Lobov" lying on the outfitting dock of the 445th Shipyard was more than 80% complete, and was built one after another, and in the end even Ninety-six percent completion. (There is also information that it was originally called Komsomolets. The name of Ukraine was only changed in 1999, so let’s continue to call it Admiral Lobov.)
However, it is still 4% short of construction and has not been completely built. This warship has become an object of regret for countless military fans.
What are you regretting?
It did not enter China!
The navy in those days liked to buy junk. The Modern-class and Kilo-class ships that Lao Maozi had not completed eventually ended up in the domestic navy. Therefore, countless people were looking forward to taking over this Glory-class ship.
After all, the displacement of this warship is more than 10,000 tons. In this era, it is definitely a giant on the sea! The anti-ship missiles on both sides look even more domineering. If such a warship is brought back, it will definitely become the flagship of the navy!
But in the end, the warship was still not bought back.
There are many reasons. For example, the old Maozi asked for too high a price. They regarded this warship as a treasure and asked for hundreds of millions. Moreover, when the country gritted its teeth and decided to spend money to buy it, the Americans came to stir up trouble again, and Ermao also I wanted to keep this warship for my own use, so for various reasons, this powerful Glory class finally stayed on the dock of 445 Shipyard. Decades of wind and sun made it become The same scrap metal as the Varyag.
Of course, it did not have the same luck as the Varyag.
"We don't have this need." Qin Tao said: "The most powerful thing about that warship is the P-500 anti-ship missiles on both sides. However, like this aircraft carrier, we cannot purchase the anti-ship missiles on it, so , even if we have this kind of warship, we do not have suitable anti-ship missiles, and its power will be at least halved."
"But it has powerful air defense capabilities." Babbage said: "You can get the anti-aircraft missiles used on this warship, which just makes up for your lack of anti-aircraft firepower."
The title of cruiser is not limited. It must have more weapon systems than a destroyer. In addition to anti-ship missiles, it is also not inferior in anti-aircraft missiles.
The first one is of course the S-300 air defense missile system. It is equipped with 8 units on the deck behind its chimney, with a total of 64 missiles. It still uses the common revolver firing method. The existence of these missiles gives it a powerful long-range air defense capability.
The medium and short-range air defense system consists of two "Wasp M" ship-to-air missile systems, six AK-630M close-in defense guns, and one AK-130 twin-mounted 130 mm naval gun. It definitely doesn't sound weak.
However, due to the lack of the ability to deal with sneak attacks by low-altitude sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, the Moskva was sunk during the mission, which became a painful memory for the Mao Navy. (It is also said that the Hornet M has the ability to intercept sea-skimming anti-ship missiles at a height of five meters. It was attacked purely because of carelessness. Various missile systems were not activated.)
Although the Wasp M system is equipped in large quantities on Lao Maozi's warships, it is too outdated after all. Therefore, for the sake of safety, Da Mao later directly moved a Tor M1 missile launcher used on land onto the warship to serve as the last defensive barrier.
At this time, Babbage was obviously very interested in this warship, but Qin Tao had no interest. He rejected Babbage's proposal with a smile.
Unexpectedly, the next day, my father-in-law would be called for questioning, and the content of the questioning was actually about the Type 1164 cruiser.
“Taozi, do you remember? When we went to Nikolayev City, we boarded a huge warship at the 445 Shipyard?” Wu Shengli said to Qin Tao excitedly.
Qin Tao smiled: "Of course I remember, we wanted to board the Varyag, but the old man refused to let us board, so we went to the 445 Shipyard, and we were feasting our eyes, and we also got a lot of good things back."
"As long as you remember, Ermao sent a message saying that he wanted to sell the cruiser and asked us if we were interested."
"You want to sell the two cents?" Qin Tao became curious: "Don't they keep it for themselves?"
"This is unclear." Wu Shengli said: "It is very likely that they made a fortune after selling the Varyag, so they want to continue to make another fortune. After all, this cruiser has already It’s 90% complete, and if we sell it as a finished product, the price will definitely be higher.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
"Of course it matters a lot." Wu Shengli said, "If you want to buy from Ermao, you are the best candidate."
I?
Qin Tao shook his head: "I'm not interested."
"This is a major event for the development of our navy. How can you not be interested?" Wu Shengli said angrily: "If we buy it back, our navy will immediately have a 10,000-ton warship! From now on, sailing on the sea, We will be more confident.”
Qin Tao smiled: "If the two cents are to be sold, it will cost an estimated three to four hundred million. With this money, we might as well invest in the Oriental Sea City Wall. Why bother with that kind of outdated stuff? Besides, we can't buy it either. return."
“Can’t buy it back?”
"Yes, the Americans will not watch us obtain such a powerful warship. If we go, the Americans will definitely try to do something about it." Qin Tao said: "Moreover, that kind of warship is not in line with the development path of our navy. In line. We will have a 10,000-ton cruiser in the future, but it is definitely not that kind of thing."
The expression on Wu Shengli's face became solemn. Of course he knew Qin Tao's capabilities. Since Qin Tao said this, it means that this kind of warship is really unnecessary.
"It seems that we have to give up this unrealistic fantasy. It makes no sense. In this case, I will write a report to the superiors and explain the problems. By the way, you should write the report."
I write a report? I won't write it! Qin Tao shook his head: "However, it's time for us to go there again. We can take advantage of this opportunity and go there."
Go there again?
Wu Shengli was curious: "What else are you doing there?"
“Of course it’s the end.”
As for this Glorious class ship, it is definitely impossible to buy it back, but if it works well, it can still fool the Americans and make them go further down the wrong path.
True and false, false and true, this kind of tossing is also very interesting.
"Okay, since you want to go, then you will lead the team and go there as soon as possible. As long as you go there, you will definitely get a lot of good things." Wu Shengli said: "We can also apply to our superiors. If the funds cannot be bought back, the funds can be used to supplement the aircraft carrier."
Qin Tao had a smile on his face: "Misappropriation of funds will cause a lot of trouble if we pursue it in the future."
"With Mr. Liu backing us, what are we afraid of? Our superiors have been arguing endlessly about building aircraft carriers. Our navy cannot wait that long. We must find ways to find funds to support it, especially carrier-based aircraft."
Qin Tao nodded. The transformation of the aircraft carrier does not cost much now. It is just about removing the rust first. However, the matter of carrier-based aircraft cannot be delayed any longer. After all, the research and development of aircraft is much slower than the transformation of warships. When the warships are renovated and there are still no aircraft, it will be a dilemma of having guns but no ammunition.
“How is the progress of the carrier-based aircraft over there?” Qin Tao asked curiously.
"They have completed the surveying and mapping of the T-10K prototype and drawn all the drawings. At present, the most critical telex operation is still unable to fully understand the control laws of the aircraft, so they plan to use a simple method to enter the program first. , We will wait until the test flight of the aircraft is solved." Wu Shengli said: "It is estimated that in one year, the aircraft will almost be able to fly."
This kind of progress is quite good. For 601 Institute, this is already accelerating.
Qin Tao nodded: "What's Lao Maozi's attitude?"
"So far, Lao Maozi has not discovered our project, but when the prototype is built, it will probably be impossible to hide it from them. This cannot be blamed on us. We have proposed it to Lao Maozi and requested to purchase Su- 33. Do you know what Lao Maozi said?"
“How did you say it?”
"We need to buy at least forty aircraft!" Wu Shengli said: "Where do we have so much money? Originally we only wanted to buy two aircraft, as long as they could fly, just to test our aircraft carrier and explore the technology of carrier-based aircraft take-off and landing. . They want to take us for granted, and that’s not okay.”
“What’s more, what Lao Maozi provides is still the old model, and there is no new technology on it.”
Qin Tao smiled. Lao Maozi's answer was of course predictable. After all, they only made money by selling weapons. It was absolutely impossible to sell weapons in single digits.
"The Mikoyan Design Bureau is willing to provide us with the MiG-29K, even if it's two, but we don't like it." Wu Shengli said: "We already have the Su-27, and it is no longer possible to equip another one. A brand new third-generation aircraft.”
In the 1980s, both Sukhoi and Mikoyan Design Bureaus developed corresponding carrier-based aircraft. Because the Kuznetsov was relatively large, Lao Maozi finally chose the Su-27K as the carrier-based aircraft. I was given a Su-33 number.
However, if used on the Super Sun King modified for Asan, this carrier-based aircraft would be too big. Even the lift used by the Super Sun King could not withstand the size of the Su-33. After all, it was originally used to operate the Yak-33. 38.
Hence, the Chaoriwang can only be equipped with MiG-29K. In later generations, countless third-rate media also used this fact to explain that the Su-33 was outdated and the MiG-29 was the king. This was obviously nonsense regardless of the facts. The performance of the Su-33 far exceeded the MiG-29K, but... It requires an aircraft carrier with a displacement of more than 60,000 tons to carry it.
As for the MiG-29K that was later installed on the Kuznetsov, this was Lao Maozi’s helpless choice. After all, the Su-33 production line has been closed. They only need a dozen or at most twenty carrier-based aircraft. It is impossible to restart the production line and put it back into production. Moreover, the Su-33 is old and needs to be upgraded. The old man has no money.
The MiG-29K is different. With Asan's financial support, the MiG-29K has become a modern fighter. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lao Maozi simply ordered a batch himself and placed it on the Kuznetsov. Come on, eat other people’s leftovers, it tastes so good.
Of course, the Chinese Navy will not choose a useless weapon like the MiG-29K. Even if the Mikoyan Design Bureau has made various improvements, it still cannot solve its short leg problem. The number of naval carrier-based aircraft is limited, and of course they must have long endurance.
There is no additional answer to this question.
Qin Tao traveled around for the development of the navy. A few days later, he came to Nikolayev City again.
Comparing with a few months ago, there seems to be no change here. The warm sea breeze blows, and the branches here are sprouting buds, and it is already full of life.
The receptionists were Asnayev, who was once responsible for the sale of the Varyag, and Moskalenko, the director of the 445 Shipyard.
As the saying goes, a small ship is easy to turn around, and this is also true in the shipbuilding industry. When the 444 Shipyard was unsustainable, the 445 Shipyard was still able to survive. They received the task of an oil tanker, and the shipyard's slipway was still there. Shipbuilding seems to have a sense of prosperity.
Furthermore, the name of the shipyard has not been changed. It is still called 61 Commune Shipyard, and it seems that it is still inheriting the glory of the year.
"The Type 1164 cruiser is the most powerful cruiser we have ever built, with a displacement of more than 10,000 tons." Asnayev seemed to have forgotten about the Kirov class and boasted directly: "Now, Its construction is more than 90 percent complete, and with another $200 million in funding, it can be fully constructed."
While they were talking, everyone had already walked to the outfitting dock. Zheng Ming, who came with Qin Tao, frowned when he saw the warship: "Its surface is already rusty, can it still be used normally? ?”
"Of course it's no problem." Moskalenko nodded immediately: "It's just like the Varyag. Even though the surface is covered with rust, as long as the rust on the surface is removed, the inside is still shiny. Steel things , there will always be rust. However, the quality of our marine steel plates is very good and will never rust through."
"You already have the Varyag and need an **** warship. This Admiral Lobov is your best match!" Asnayev said.
Hearing these misleading words, Qin Tao immediately shook his head: "Asnayev, my old friend, I hope you can know that the Oriental Sea Blockade is intended to be transformed into a sea blockade. It does not exist at all. Possibly an aircraft carrier."
impossible? So why did you ask Da Mao to coordinate the carrier-based aircraft? Asnayev felt a little funny in his heart, but since the other party didn't admit it, Asnayev didn't say much more.
“It has a displacement of tens of thousands of tons and carries a large number of missiles, so it is very suitable to be the main force of the fleet.” Moskalenko continued to lie.
For their 61 Commune Shipyard, this warship is the most important asset. Moreover, with the lessons learned from the 444th Shipyard, they will never dismantle this warship into scrap metal. They must complete it and then sell it. Go out and bring out the value of this warship.
The most suitable procurement target is of course China.
"You have already bought two Type 956 destroyers from Damao. In fact, the performance of those warships cannot be compared with our Type 1164." Moskalenko continued to compare: "First of all, in terms of displacement It is said that it weighs more than 10,000 tons. Now, except for the United States, no other country in the world can produce warships of this level! In terms of weapon systems..."
“Compared with the Type 956, its biggest advantage is the anti-ship missile. If we purchase it, we hope to purchase fifty P-500 anti-ship missiles together,” Qin Tao said.
As soon as these words came out, Asnaev and Moskalenko were stunned again.
Purchase P-500, what a joke, they can’t decide on this matter!
Even the warships in their shipyards are not theirs to decide. Many of these heritages from the imperial era are serving in Mao's navy. If they are sold, the secrets of Mao's navy will be leaked.
So, the most suitable solution is to either use it for yourself or sell it to Da Mao. In the past few years, they have always planned to sell to Da Mao.
However, if you look at the current situation of DaMao, you can know that DaMao’s navy simply does not have the ability to purchase. The ultimate failure of the Varyag project illustrates this fact.
Da Mao’s navy finally gave up on the warship and asked Er Mao to handle it on his own. Only then did Er Mao come up with the idea of selling it.
However, many of the weapons above cannot be sold, and the P-500 is one of them.
Even if this kind of anti-ship missile is upgraded to the P-1000, the past model cannot be exported. The missiles are stored in the Damao inventory and are planned to be used in the future. As the high-level secrets of the Damao Navy, they must not be leaked.
"Mr. Qin, the missiles equipped on the Type 956 destroyer you purchased have a range of only more than 100 kilometers. Therefore, within the export permit, the anti-ship missiles on our current warship have a range of more than 500 kilometers. Therefore, according to relevant international regulations, we cannot export." Asnayev racked his brains and came up with such an excuse.
"This regulation is for ballistic missiles, cruise missiles are not included. Besides, even if there is this regulation, it is easy to get around it. For the missiles you export to us, reduce the fuel tank and reduce the range to 300 kilometers. This enough."
Shrink the fuel tank and reduce the range? This is equivalent to improving missiles. Who has the funds? Besides, reducing the range won’t work either!
Asnaev and Moskalenko looked at each other, both worried. How could they find a more suitable reason?
When the Varyag was sold, it was sold as a maritime market, so of course it would not export anti-ship missiles. However, this Type 1164 was sold as a regular warship. It is unreasonable not to provide anti-ship missiles. ah.
"Mr. Qin, this anti-ship missile is produced by the Chemero Design Bureau over in Da Mao. It has nothing to do with us. We are only responsible for selling this warship. The missiles on it must be coordinated between you and the other side." Mosca Lianke started to blame.
"I coordinate? This kind of arms sales contract is a package. You can help contact the anti-ship missiles and you can make a fortune. We are not short of the money. The goal is to make money happily. The missiles on this warship have There are several kinds, do we have to go to Da Mao to coordinate? Are you too irresponsible?" Qin Tao smiled and continued to kick the ball back.
(End of this chapter)