Caspian Sea Monster
Discussion
Anyone else love these beasts?
They captured my imagination as a kid and now I live in Baku- and the Caspian Sea is a bit more relevant- I've looked them back up:
Link
You've got to hand it to the Soviets to have the vision, engineering capability and staying power to get them into service.
It turns out one still (almost) lives, in Kaspiysk, about 200 miles up the coast from here. Clearly visible on Google Earth in fact. This must have been the same view the CIA had from spy pics. Must have been quite a surprise back then!
They captured my imagination as a kid and now I live in Baku- and the Caspian Sea is a bit more relevant- I've looked them back up:
Link
You've got to hand it to the Soviets to have the vision, engineering capability and staying power to get them into service.
It turns out one still (almost) lives, in Kaspiysk, about 200 miles up the coast from here. Clearly visible on Google Earth in fact. This must have been the same view the CIA had from spy pics. Must have been quite a surprise back then!
Yup love these Soviet beasts!
Lots of pictures here : http://englishrussia.com/2010/03/12/ekranoplan/
Warning, some of the banner ads are mildly NSFW
Lots of pictures here : http://englishrussia.com/2010/03/12/ekranoplan/
Warning, some of the banner ads are mildly NSFW
When NATO fist became aware of the Soviet Ekranoplans they caused major consternation because the gun tracking systems of the time were not capable of hitting a moving target doing the sort of speeds that these beasts were capable of. They also thought that the ship to ship missile systems were marginal too.
Good job they were too expensive to deploy in big numbers.
Good job they were too expensive to deploy in big numbers.
rhinochopig said:
When NATO fist became aware of the Soviet Ekranoplans they caused major consternation because the gun tracking systems of the time were not capable of hitting a moving target doing the sort of speeds that these beasts were capable of. They also thought that the ship to ship missile systems were marginal too.
Sitting duck for a fighter though.I think in reality they would only have been useful in very limited situations - like large lakes. How would you move it to another theatre of operations?
Simpo Two said:
Sitting duck for a fighter though.
I think in reality they would only have been useful in very limited situations - like large lakes. How would you move it to another theatre of operations?
The Russkies have a GBFO canal/river system that runs from the Caspian to the Baltic(via the Black Sea and White Sea), so not a problem.I think in reality they would only have been useful in very limited situations - like large lakes. How would you move it to another theatre of operations?
A little off topic, but may be of interest, there is a city in the middle of the Caspian Sea called Neft Daşları or 'Oil Stones'
http://englishrussia.com/2010/02/02/oil-stones-a-s...
Much of the roads are now underwater but this video shows some of the buildings still intact http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkYybOUUNaM
http://englishrussia.com/2010/02/02/oil-stones-a-s...
Much of the roads are now underwater but this video shows some of the buildings still intact http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkYybOUUNaM
Saw a Caspian Sea monster from a distance when we were in Baku, Azerbaijan.
On the subject of cities in the Caspian, nowhere near as impressive as your link, but we did a job around Island D where rather than drop a rig, they simply build an island out of rubble, and various barges, and ships, and lob a drill on the top. Very impressive when close up, (I used to run in and out of there as the FRC driver).
On the subject of cities in the Caspian, nowhere near as impressive as your link, but we did a job around Island D where rather than drop a rig, they simply build an island out of rubble, and various barges, and ships, and lob a drill on the top. Very impressive when close up, (I used to run in and out of there as the FRC driver).
Wiki about the Lun class ekranoplan says: In 2007, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation decided to resume production of this model of ekranoplan in 2012[citation needed], following a detailed examination of the unit. Until then upgrades would be made to the craft. At present, the relevant government order has been received by the Alexeyev Design Bureau.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lun-class_ekranoplan
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lun-class_ekranoplan
TheHeretic said:
Saw a Caspian Sea monster from a distance when we were in Baku, Azerbaijan.
On the subject of cities in the Caspian, nowhere near as impressive as your link, but we did a job around Island D where rather than drop a rig, they simply build an island out of rubble, and various barges, and ships, and lob a drill on the top. Very impressive when close up, (I used to run in and out of there as the FRC driver).
Hmm, I work out of Azerbaijan. Where/when did you see it?On the subject of cities in the Caspian, nowhere near as impressive as your link, but we did a job around Island D where rather than drop a rig, they simply build an island out of rubble, and various barges, and ships, and lob a drill on the top. Very impressive when close up, (I used to run in and out of there as the FRC driver).
I would love to see one.
This reminds me of a story i heard from a young lad I work with about his father, he used to pilot them.
He told me how he smashed/knocked out his front teeth while working on one and was flown to a dentist (while the country was under soviet rule)
When he was taken out of the plane he was blindfolded and taken to the dentist.
The next thing he knew he had woken up in his own bed with a nurse beside him totally unaware of where he'd been!
Got to love the crazzzzy secret Russians!!
jaybirduk said:
A little off topic, but may be of interest, there is a city in the middle of the Caspian Sea called Neft Daşları or 'Oil Stones'
http://englishrussia.com/2010/02/02/oil-stones-a-s...
Much of the roads are now underwater but this video shows some of the buildings still intact http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkYybOUUNaM
They are called the oily rocks locally and you can still see them, I have flown over them several times.http://englishrussia.com/2010/02/02/oil-stones-a-s...
Much of the roads are now underwater but this video shows some of the buildings still intact http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkYybOUUNaM
Actually the area is very interesting, they used to "harvest" the oil and load it onto donkeys as it literally oozes out of the ground.
Azerbaijan means "land of fire" because of the numerous fires burning due to the oil.
When you get off the plane in Baku the smell of oil is unforgettable.
They also filmed the starting sequence of Die Another Day (I think) there, remember all the nodding donkeys? That are all still there and pumping!
Ritchie335is said:
Hmm, I work out of Azerbaijan. Where/when did you see it?
I would love to see one.
This reminds me of a story i heard from a young lad I work with about his father, he used to pilot them.
He told me how he smashed/knocked out his front teeth while working on one and was flown to a dentist (while the country was under soviet rule)
When he was taken out of the plane he was blindfolded and taken to the dentist.
The next thing he knew he had woken up in his own bed with a nurse beside him totally unaware of where he'd been!
Got to love the crazzzzy secret Russians!!
We saw it from the bridge of our ship. I think it was quite a bit north of the main port in Baku, and we were all peering through the bins on the bridge. I would love to see one.
This reminds me of a story i heard from a young lad I work with about his father, he used to pilot them.
He told me how he smashed/knocked out his front teeth while working on one and was flown to a dentist (while the country was under soviet rule)
When he was taken out of the plane he was blindfolded and taken to the dentist.
The next thing he knew he had woken up in his own bed with a nurse beside him totally unaware of where he'd been!
Got to love the crazzzzy secret Russians!!
PS, Have you been to see Fire Mountain near Baku? Worth a visit.
TheHeretic said:
We saw it from the bridge of our ship. I think it was quite a bit north of the main port in Baku, and we were all peering through the bins on the bridge.
PS, Have you been to see Fire Mountain near Baku? Worth a visit.
I think I have heard of it, I will keep it in mind and visit if I get the chance.PS, Have you been to see Fire Mountain near Baku? Worth a visit.
Any spare time in Baku is usually spent getting completely s
tfaced TBH!Ritchie335is said:
I think I have heard of it, I will keep it in mind and visit if I get the chance.
Any spare time in Baku is usually spent getting completely stfaced TBH!
Absolutely. Used to stay in an apartment opposite the fountain by the funicular railway. Used to eat in the nice place in the square, (the one that likes to think it is posh), and drink in the Enigma bar, and an ex-pat pub that I forget the name of. Used to eat at the little cafe opposite the BP offices. Any spare time in Baku is usually spent getting completely s
tfaced TBH!Me in the Enigma bar, I think?
Edited by TheHeretic on Saturday 22 December 21:55
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