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fighting ships of the world

IMPERIAL RUSSIAN NAVY / SOVIET NAVY (RUSSIA / USSR)

CRUISERS

ADMIRAL NAKHIMOV cruisers (1927-1932)

nearly sister-ship Svetlana as designed in 1913

Chervona Ukraina 1939

Krasnyy Kavkaz 1944

Project history: First turbine-driven cruisers of the Russian fleet, designed taking into account experience of the Russian-Japanese war. They were built by two little differing series: Svetlana, Admiral Butakov, Admiral Spiridov and Admiral Greig for Baltic, Admiral Nakhimov, Admiral Lazarev, Admiral Istomin and Admiral Kornilov for Black sea. All 8 ships were laid down prior to the beginning of the First World War, but any of them was completed before revolution of 1917. 24.12.1920 the program has been accepted, according to which Svetlana and Admiral Nakhimov it was supposed to complete under original design.
   Black Sea cruisers, according to the design, differed by increased displacement (7600t against 6800), dimensions, and also type and structure of machinery (Parsons turbines and 14 Yarrow boilers instead of 4 Curtis-AEG-Vulkan and 13 Yarrow-Vulkan boilers), in remaining ships were practically identical. Rather low-freeboard hull with a forecastle and a three-funnel outline profile gave them a certain likeness with Novik class destroyers. On trials Profintern made 29.5kts at 6800t displacement and 59200hp power. Chervona Ukraina shown average speed of 29.82kts and maximum 30.9kts To the beginning of Great Patriotic war boilers were converted to pure oil-firing, but speed characteristics nevertheless have notably decreased: so, in 1941 speed did not exceed 27.5kts, and in 1944 Krasny Krym made no more than 22kts.
    Protection ensured unvulnerability from gunfire of destroyers. The main 75mm belt reached full ship length and adjoined an upper edge a lower deck. Above it the upper 25mm belt placed. Upper and lower decks had 20mm thickness. The protection of the same thickness covered funnel uptakes below deck level.
    Deck-casemates arrangement of artillery and insufficient to measures of the Second World War calibre were a serious lack of the design.

   Former light cruiser Admiral Lazarev of Admiral Nakhimov class was completed under the changed design, with new 180mm guns. Works have started in September, 1927.
   The update of the ship conducted in a parallel way with completion has given her more modern appearance. The forecastle was prolonged to a stern, but, except for a small site at a stem, moderated on height from 3.25 to 2.25m to drop height of an arrangement of bow group of turrets for stability preservation. The additional forecastle to which sides have given a considerable flare was as a result formed as though. As a result the length oa has increased by 2.7m. Outline profile was formed by the multi-layered bow superstructure, two funnels and lattice masts. Between the second funnel and a mainmast the catapult was placed.
    Protection system corresponded to the original project, only a thickness of an upper deck was increased. Turrets and barbettes had uniform 25mm protection. More significant changes have brought in machinery. Though turbines were stored in an invariable kind, placing of main gun turrets has forced to liquidate bow boilers group. To store the steam output, remained boilers were converted on pure oil-firing. At trials at 7930t displacement and 64000hp machinery power. Krasny Kavkaz at short-time reached 30.7kts. Also an endurance was very low.
   180mm/60 B-1-P guns with the forced ballistics had 55 shots barrel life at full charge. By 1939 barrels have been completely worn, therefore in the end of 1940 was the task for modernization of Krasny Kavkaz with full armament replacement was approved, remained non-realised because of the War begun.
Ship protection as designed: Main 75mm belt had 2.1m height and extended at all length except short part near aft end, closing aft by 50mm bulkhead; aft end of ship was protected by 25mm armour. Upper 25mm belt extended from stem to stern and from main belt to upper deck. Upper and flat main decks had 20m thickness and connected with upper edges of main and upper belts.

Ship protection, Chervona Ukraina: Main 75mm belt had 2.1m height and extended at all length except short part near aft end, closing aft by 50mm bulkhead; aft end of ship was protected by 25mm armour. Upper 25mm belt extended from stem to stern and from main belt to upper deck. Upper and flat main decks had 20m thickness and connected with upper edges of main and upper belts.