Missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov moves to Pacific Fleet

24.03.2011 Russian Navy command plans to transfer Project 1164 Atlant missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov from Northern Fleet to Pacific Fleet, reports Interfax. According to a source in Navy Main HQ, Marshal Ustinov "is more needed at such large-scale and problematic theater as the Pacific one". The ship is expected to pass interim overhaul in 2011, and head for new basing site in 2012.

At present, Russian Navy operates three Project 1164 cruisers – Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva, Pacific Fleet flagship Varyag, and Marshal Ustinov. Displacement of such cruiser is 11,300 tons; length is 187 meters; beam is 20 meters; max speed is 32 knots; fuel range is 7,500 miles.

Cruisers are armed with Bazalt-type cruise missiles, Fort air defense missile system, AK-130 gun mounts, and 533-mm torpedo tubes. Air wing includes Ka-27 antisubmarine helicopters.

Russia negotiates with Ukraine on the transfer of incomplete missile cruiser laid down in Ukraine in 1984 under Project 1164 (former Admiral Lobov, Ukraina). According to different estimates, the ship's completeness varies from 50% to 95%. Russian officials stated in Jan 2011 there were no plans to buy the non-completed ship, only to take it for free.