Mig-21's In The Park.
Before visiting the ship there are a set
of Mig-21's lined up, some SAMs, some anti-aircraft guns
under camoflage netting, and a tank you could ride
on (not shown.)
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Entrance to the Minsk is via floating pier.
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Looking towards the bow from the gangway.
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Looking towards the stern from the gangway.
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One of a pair of greeters at the boarding entrance
(there was no evidence of a quarterdeck) this
female park employee is in imitation Spetznaz uniform
Theme parks DO go to strange detail sometimes.
[Take me to your dungeon in the Lubyanka baby...
hurt me, whip me... liquidate me!
(No large size pic developed, scanned image only.)]
Here I am stepping aboard.
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From the interior, a set of torpedo tubes.
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From the interior, same torpedo tubes, different angle.
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Hangar area looking aft. Note neon signs for
conversion into amusement area and/or disco.
Lighting and red pipes for fire extinguishers
are also for civilian use
and replace original lighting and pipes.
(No large size pic developed, scanned image only.)
Hangar area looking foreward.
Benches are in front of a stage under construction.
Area missed on this hangar shot are the
"Space Shuttle" rides to left. Square frame on
left is the last portion of this "ride" which
contains 3 vehicles that seat 12 and move and
shake on hydraulics. [Part of the tour included
coverage of the Soviet space program. Oddly
enough each shuttle ride had the name "Challenger"
stenciled on the side.
(No large size pic developed, scanned image only.)]
View toward the superstructure from the port bow.
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Closer view of the bow weapons
looking towards the superstructure.
(I think the signal flags should be
changed more often.)
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View toward the superstructure from the starboard bow.
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Edcucational metal plate showing statistics for the SS-N-12.
(No large size pic developed, scanned image only.)
Myself holding nose cone of SS-N-12. Note wary onlooking
park employee.
(No large size pic developed, scanned image only.)
In case any of you had any doubts about your
model painting scheme, yes it is an orange-brown
paint on a metal deck!
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Despite numerous coats of paint.
This crawlway up a
large ladder shows years of rust that has
eaten away at the ladder. Note sign in English.
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Other side of same ladder. Note rails on deck,
some capital ship traditions never die.
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A typical sight in any harbor, except for
the absence of traffic.
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The area behind the superstructure has been
converted to a lunch/picnic area.
Helo parked next to this area.
Note modern apartment buildings in background,
I wouldn't want to move in next to a
theme park myself.
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This upside down piece of equipment seems to
be a towed sonar unit.
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Below off on each stern quarter appears
to be a
close in defense gun. Probably
not as efficient as a CIWS.
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A look up and right of the defense gun.
More modern apartments in background, high rise
crane denotes new construction going on.
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It is good karma to get pictures of oneself
to show family at home.
Yes it is understood that
Mig-23's
could not fly the Minsk. This IS a theme-park after all.
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A simple pan to the left and you see the
aft main gun area converted into a lunch
area. Complete with fast food concession stand.
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More of the concession stand and aft gun.
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The Pepsi concession stand.
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Yes that is
riveted steel, intended to take the
blast from Yak-36's (not Mig-23's.)
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View of superstructure looking from the stern.
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A closer view of electronic eminating doodads
and widgets going up to the radar mast.
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View of the Theme Park from the Flight Deck.
You can see the Mig-21s lined up behind the trees.
The large building on the left is the main
concession area. Apartments are to the rear.
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Without naming names, from left to right,
are
myself, the company provided guide,
and my boss. (This WAS a businss trip after
all.)
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This is the most I could get in one photo.
My boss' camera was farther away
and had a better lens.
(No large size pic developed, scanned image only.)
