July 14, 2019
Russia's Aircraft Carrier Has a Big Problem (As in a Very Real Black Cloud)
Why exactly is the Kuznetsov so smoky?
by Charlie Gao
Pretty amazing.
For most sailors who served on the Admiral Kuznetzov, Mazut is the stuff of legends. The ultra thick, tarry black substance that powers the ship is known for being rather toxic, sticky, and not easy to get out of clothes. But why did the Soviet navy keep powering its ships with Mazut? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the fuel? Why exactly is the Kuznetsov so smoky?
Not all Russian ships run on Mazut. Of all the large ships the current Russian Navy operates, only the Sovremenny-class destroyers and the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier run on Mazut. Given the large profile the Admiral Kuznetsov on the global scene—being Russia's only aircraft carrier—naturally, some curiosity has arisen about what it runs on and why it produces so much smoke.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russias-aircraft-carrier-has-big-problem-very-real-black-cloud-66977
