Russian "Carrier Killer" Moskva

[Elxaime]

Recent news reports have entitled one of the Russian ships headed for the Mediterranean as "the carrier killer." Here is a link:

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/09/12/...p=obinsite

This is the Russian guided missile cruiser Moskva.

I thought I would ask modern naval warfare afficionados here whether this is hyperbole by the news reports. I had the impression the modern Russian navy had decayed somewhat and wasn't regarded as a threat still to a US carrier battle group.

According to Google, this ship was launched in 1979, which would make it 34 years old - not that old as ships go, although a bit long in the tooth. The relevant armament are 16x SS-N-12 SANDBOX anti-ship missiles.

The SS-N-12 Sandbox entered service in 1973, so it has been around a while, which doesn't tell you much though since so have a lot of still-lethal US armaments.

But I have to think an armament that has been around that long has had plenty of time for its targets to devise countermeasures. I also have to think the Moskva's presence is not going unmarked by any Western submarines plying the Med.

Fascinating though how a ship that has been around this long can still cause a splash.