Kirov class cruiser

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Class overview
Name:	Kirov
Builders:	Ordzhonikidze Yard, Leningrad Komsomolsk-na-Amure dockyard the Marti South yard, Nikolayev
Operators:	Soviet Navy
Succeeded by:	Chapayev class cruiser
Completed:	Kirov, Voroshilov, Maxim Gorky, Molotov, Kaganovich, Kalinin
Retired:	6
General characteristics
Type:	cruiser
Displacement:	7,880 tons standard 9,443 tons full load
Length:	191 m
Beam:	17.7 m
Draught:	7.2 m
Propulsion:	2× shaft geared turbines, with cruising diesels 6× boilers; 113,000–122,000 hp
Speed:	36 knots
Complement:	870
Armament:	. 3× 3×180 mm cal 57 guns 6× 100 mm cal 56 guns in single mountings 6× 45 mm anti-aircraft guns in single mountings 4× 12.7 mm AA-machine guns in single mountings 2× 3×533 mm torpedo tubes 60–150 mines
Armour:	. Belt 50 mm, Deck 50 mm, Turrets 75 mm, Barbettes 75 mm, Conning tower 150 mm
Aircraft carried:	2× KOR-1 seaplanes
Notes:	Ships in class include: Kirov, Voroshilov, Maxim Gorkiy, Molotov, Kaganovich, Kalinin

The Kirov-class (Project 26) cruisers were six vessels built between 1935–1944 for the Soviet Navy: Kirov, Voroshilov, Maxim Gorky, Molotov, Kalinin, and Kaganovich. After the first two ships, armor protection was increased and subsequent ships are sometimes called the Maxim Gorky class. These were the first large ships built by the Soviets after the revolution and were designed with assistance from the Italian Ansaldo company. They were derived from the Italian cruiser Raimondo Montecuccoli.

Kirov served 1937–1974 in the Baltic Sea, and was one of the few large Soviet ships to survive World War II. She was part of the Light Battle Group together with the cruiser Maxim Gorky and nine destroyers.

During the Winter War, she battled with Finnish forts at Hanko and Russarö.

When the German advance in Operation Barbarossa was nearing Estonia, Kirov was the flagship of the evacuation fleet from Tallinn to Leningrad in August 1941. She hit mines but survived, while 50 other Soviet ships were lost.

During 1941–1944 the Soviet fleet in the Baltic Sea was mostly blocked in Leningrad and Kronstadt by Finnish and German minefields.

On 4 April 1942 Kirov was sunk in an air attack in the German operation "Eisstoß" by Luftflotte 1, but was raised and repaired during 1943.

During June 1944, Kirov provided fire support for the Soviet Army's attack toward Vyborg. During the 1960s, Kirov served as a training ship, regularly visiting Poland and East Germany.

When Kirov was decommissioned, two gun turrets were installed at St Petersburg as a monument.

Voroshilov and Molotov served in the Black Sea, defending Sevastopol against German attacks. Molotov had British radar installed (probably Type 282 or 285?).

Kaganovich and Kalinin were towed incomplete to Vladivostok. Although both were finished before end of the war, they saw no action.

[edit] Ships of the class

Kirov

Named after Sergei Kirov. Built at the Ordzhonikidze Yard, Leningrad. Laid down on 22 October 1935, launched on 30 November 1936 and completed on 23 September 1938. She was scrapped in 1974.

Voroshilov

Named after Kliment Voroshilov. Built at the Marti South yard, Nikolayev. Laid down on 20 December 1936, launched on 28 June 1939 and completed on 20 June 1940. She was scrapped in 1973. Her 14-ton propeller and 2.5-ton stop anchor are on display at the Museum of Heroic Defense and Liberation of Sevastopol on Sapun Mountain in Sevastopol.^[1]

Maxim Gorky

Named after Maxim Gorky. Built at the Ordzhonikidze Yard in Leningrad. Laid down on 20 December 1936, launched on 30 April 1938 and completed on 12 November 1940. She was broken up in 1958.

Molotov

Named after Vyacheslav Molotov, later renamed Slava (Glory). Constructed at the Marti South yard, Nikolayev. She was laid down in November 1936, launched on 23 February 1939 and completed on 14 June 1941. She was broken up in the 1970s.

Kaganovich

Named after Lazar Kaganovich, later renamed Petropavlovsk. She was constructed at the Komsomolsk-na-Amure dockyard. She was laid down in 1939, launched in October 1943 and completed in June 1944. She was broken up in the 1960s.

Kalinin

Named after Mikhail Kalinin. Constructed at the Komsomolsk-na-Amure dockayrd. She was laid down in 1939, launched in April 1943 and completed in late 1943. She was broken up in the 1960s.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Operational History (in English)
• (Russian) Cruiser "Molotov" from Black Sea Fleet (in Russian, with photos)
• (Russian) Cruiser "Voroshilov" from Black Sea Fleet (in Russian, with photos)
• (Russian) Article in Russian Language

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