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fighting ships of the world

SOVIET NAVY (USSR)

CRUISERS

CHAPAEV light cruisers (project 68 / 68K) (1950)

Frunze as designed

Chapaev 1963

Komsomolets 1970s

Komsomolets 1979

Project history: Since 1936 in the USSR design works on "fleet" light cruiser of project 28 with more moderate characteristics, than at project 26-bis cruisers, and with 152mm artillery were conducted. Signing 17.7.1937 of Soviet-British Treaty (now USSR was obliged to observe norms of the international agreements, concerning naval limitations) became additional incentive to creation of new light cruiser. Thus, technical requirements approved 29.10.1937, have decided to limit displacement of new cruiser by 8000t, and her armament by 3 triple 152mm turrets. As during designing it was found out, that displacement exceeds 9000t, and also taking into consideration that circumstance, that the majority of countries did not observe conditions of 1936 London Treaty, in March, 1938 the decision on strengthen the armament at the expense of installation of fourth turret and the second director was made. The engineering design was approved 13.7.1939.
   In total building of 26 cruisers of project 68, including 16 in current III five-years period with delivery of five in 1942 was provided, before the Great Patriotic War beginning 7 ships were laid down, and only 4 were launched (28-40% availability). 10.9.1941 building of launched ships was suspended, and hulls of Ordzhonikidze and Sverdlov were abandoned in Nikolaev on slipways 15.8.1941 and broken up by Germans.

    After war 5 ships were completed under redesigned project 68K with new AA artillery, fire control systems, radars but without torpedoes and seaplanes.

Ship protection, design (pr. 68): Main 100mm belt (3.3m high) protected space between end barbettes and was closed by 120mm fore and 100mm aft bulkheads, there was thin 20mm belt between stem and barbette No 1. 50mm flat main deck connected with upper edge of main belt, 10m-long 20mm part of main deck covered a short area fwd from barbette No 1. Underwater protection was 4.1m deep.

Ship protection, as completed (pr. 68K): Main 100mm belt (3.3m high) protected space between end barbettes and was closed by 120mm fore and 100mm aft bulkheads, there was thin 20mm belt between stem and barbette No 1. 50mm flat main deck connected with upper edge of main belt, 10m-long 20mm part of main deck covered a short area fwd from barbette No 1. Underwater protection was 4.1m deep. Turrets had 175mm faces, 65mm sides and rears and 75mm roofs, barbettes had 130mm protection. Secondary turrets had 20mm faces, 10mm sides and 8mm rears.