BPK Azov (Kara-class)
This is a historic, one-off variant of the Kara-class anti-submarine cruisers which became both the testbed for the S-300F (SA-N-6 "Grumble) and the first warship to equip an operational VLS system. It entered service in 1977 and served with the Black Sea Fleet until it was decommissioned in 1998. According to some online sources, he visited Greece, Cuba, France, and Romania between 1990 and 1991.
This is my first attempt at a kitbash or a mod of any kind. I’d love to make a better version of this some day, but that would require a custom model, which I don’t have the time to make right now.
Here’s what I’ve changed based on historical photos and online sources:
– The rear M-11 missile launcher and its "Head Lights" fire control radar are removed and replaced with six VLS silos (each holding eight missiles) and a "Top Dome" FCR. According to the debug menu, the Top Dome has six weapon channels, so expect the ship to only fire/guide that many at one time.
> The Top Dome and the greater superstructure around the VLS silos have colliders and will take damage.
– The original two 5x torpedo tubes have been swapped with two 2x torpedo tubes from the Grisha III. They’ve been moved further forward, and their launch angle has been reduced from 45 degrees to 30 degrees due to their new location.
– The AK726 turrets on the sides of the ship have been angled out 25 degrees so the guns no longer point into the superstructure. This seems to be their historic resting position based on photos. This shouldn’t affect their firing angles.
In order to create the new superstructure area, I had to shove a missile boat with an offensively-large helicopter hangar inside the Azov. I have tried to hide as much of the rest of the ship as I can, but its mast and superstructure are slightly visible near the Top Dome FCR. Additionally, this superstructure, as well as the VLS silo covers, do not fully match the look of the real-life ship. Hopefully this can at least serve as a working approximation of its real-life counterpart.
Final note: the VLS covers on the Azov are giant squares that cover the entire rotary magazine. I can’t find any footage of them operating on that specific ship, and they’re in place in every photo I’ve seen, so I don’t believe they’re temporary covers. I’ve opted to give them a simple open-close animation while firing, but if someone knows how the hatches on the real ship worked, I’ll try to update the model accordingly.
Advice welcome from anyone more experienced with kitbashing. Hopefully you enjoy this unique warship as much as I do. ♥
Credits:
– Moloti, author of the "Sea Power Kitbashing Guide" and my inspiration for shoving an Aliya inside of a Kara.
– GoldLeader108, creator of the "Kara II Class Cruiser" mod. I referenced their .ini files a few times while learning what I was doing, and they made a S-300F-equipped Kara before I did. 🙂
