Sverdlov class cruiser
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 A Sverdlov class cruiser in 1981 |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Baltic Yard, Leningrad Nikolayev Admiralty yard, Leningrad Severodvinsk |
| Operators: |  Soviet Navy Indonesian Navy |
| Preceded by: | Chapayev class cruiser |
| Planned: | 30 |
| Completed: | Sverdlov, Dzerzhinsky, Ordzhonikidze, Zhdanov, Alexander Nevski, Admiral Nakhimov, Admiral Ushakov, Admiral Lazarev, Alexander Suvorov, Admiral Senyavin, Dmitry Pozharski, Oktyabrskaya Revolutsia, Murmansk, Mikhail Kutuzov |
| Cancelled: | 17 |
| Retired: | 12 |
| Preserved: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Cruiser |
| Displacement: | 13,600 tons standard, 16,640 tons full load |
| Length: | 210 m overall, 205 m waterline |
| Beam: | 22 m |
| Draught: | 6.9 m |
| Propulsion: | 2 shaft geared steam turbines, 6 boilers, 110,000 hp |
| Speed: | 32.5 knots |
| Range: | 9000 nm at 18 knots |
| Complement: | 1,250 |
| Armament: | 12 15.2 cm 57 cal B-38 in 4 triple Mk5-bis turrets, 12 10.0 cm 56 cal Model 1934 in 6 twin SM-5-1 mounts 32 x 3.7 cm AA 10 x 533 cm torpedo tubes |
| Armour: | Belt: 100 mm Conning tower: 150 mm Deck: 50 mm Turrets: 75 mm |
The Sverdlov class cruisers, Soviet designation Project 68B, were the last conventional cruisers built for the Soviet Navy; 13 ships were completed before Nikita Khrushchev called a halt to the programme as these ships were considered obsolescent with the advent of the guided missile. A total of 30 ships were planned.
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[edit] Design
These ships were improved and slightly enlarged versions of the Chapayev class cruisers. They had the same main armament, machinery and side protection as the earlier ships, but had increased fuel capacity for greater range, an all welded hull, improved underwater protection, increased anti aircraft artillery and radar.
The Admiral Nakhimov had an anti-ship missile launcher installed in place of A and B turrets as a trial in 1957 and was used as a target ship in 1961.
The Dzerzhinsky had a SAM launcher for the SA-2 missile replace the after turrets in 1960-62.
The Senyavin and Zhdanov were converted into Command ships by replacing the aft turrets with extra accommodation and electronics.
[edit] Ships
- Sverdlov (Свердлов) - named after Yakov Sverdlov - built by Baltic Yard, Leningrad - laid down 1949, launched 5 July 1950, completed 15 May 1952, Scrapped 1989
- Dzerzhinsky (Дзержинский) - named after Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky - built in Nikolayev, laid down 1948, launched 31 August 1950, completed 18 August 1952, Scrapped 1989
- Ordzhonikidze (Орджоникидзе) - named after Sergo Ordzhonikidze - built by Admiralty yard Leningrad, laid down 1949, launched 17 September 1950, completed 30 June 1952, sold to the Indonesian Navy in 1962. British frogman Lionel Crabb disappeared in 1956 when secretly inspecting this ship for MI6.
- Zhdanov (Жданов) - named after Andrei Zhdanov - built by Baltic yard, Leningrad - laid down 1950, launched 27 December 1950, completed 31 December 1951, Converted into a command ship with after turrets removed and replaced by helicopter hangar and office space, Scrapped 1991
- Alexander Nevski (Александр Невский) - named after Alexander Nevsky - built by Admiralty Yard Leningrad, laid down 1950, launched 7 June 1961, completed 31 December 1952, Scrapped 1989
- Admiral Nakhimov (Адмирал Нахимов) - named after Admiral Pavel Nakhimov - built in Nikolayev, laid down 1950, launched 29 June 1951, completed 27 March 1953, re armed as a guided missile trials ship in late 1950's, Target ship 1961
- Admiral Ushakov (Адмирал Ушаков) - named after Admiral Fyodor Fyodorovich Ushakov - built by Baltic yard, Leningrad - laid down 1950, launched 29 September 1951, completed 8 September 1953, Scrapped 1987
- Admiral Lazarev (Адмирал Лазарев) - named after Admiral Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev - built by Admiralty yard Leningrad, laid down 1951, launched 29 June 1952, completed 30 December 1952, Scrapped 1986
- Alexander Suvorov (Александр Суворов) - named after Marshal Alexander Suvorov - built by Baltic yard, Leningrad - laid down 1951, launched 15 May 1952, completed 31 December 1953, Scrapped 1990
- Admiral Senyavin (Адмирал Сенявин) - named after Admiral Dmitry Senyavin - built by Baltic yard, Leningrad - laid down 1951, launched 25 June 1953, completed 31 December 1953, Converted into a command ship with after turrets removed and replaced by helicopter hangar and office space, Scrapped 1991
- Dmitry Pozharski (Дмитрий Пожарский) - named after Patriot Dmitry Pozharsky - built by Baltic yard, Leningrad - laid down 1952, launched 25 June 1953, completed 31 December 1954, Scrapped 1987
- Oktyabrskaya Revolutsia (Октябрьская Революция) - named after the October Revolution- built by Severodvinsk - laid down 1952, launched 25 May 1954, completed 30 November 1954, Scrapped 1987
- Murmansk (Мурманск) - named after the city of Murmansk - built by Severodvinsk - laid down 1953, launched 24 April 1955, completed 22 September 1955, On her way to India for scrapping she ran aground in December 1994 at Hasvik, Norway
- Mikhail Kutuzov (Михаил Кутузов) - named after Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov - built in Nikolayev, laid down 1951, launched 29 November 1952, Completed 1954, Museum at Novorossiysk
Five more ships were scrapped incomplete.
[edit] Gallery
 A Tu-95 Bear overflies a ‘Sverdlov’ class cruiser 1975 |
.jpg/120px-Mikhail_Kutuzov_(cruiser).jpg) The Mikhail Kutuzov, currently a museum ship in Novorosiysk |
[edit] References
- Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995
- Article in Russian language
[edit] External links
Pictures of Murmansk (Мурманск) at Hasvik
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