SOVIET / RUSSIAN NAVY (USSR / RUSSIA)

Project history: This was one of the radical new classes designed in response to an August 1956 decree. It was described as a replacement not only for the Project 56 class but also for the Project 50 class, on the theory that neither could survive in the face of modem submarines and aircraft. The TTZ described this as an air defence/ASW patrol ship to defend warships and other vessels at sea against submarines, low-flying aircraft, and cruise missiles. As the design developed, the ASW role clearly became secondary. Admiral Gorshkov approved the operational requirement on 14 Match 1956 and design-operational requirements in December 1956. The Naval Technical Institute considered seven alternative armament mixes and configurations, and included a gas turbine for the first time in a major Soviet warship. Detailed design was assigned to TsKB-53. The sketch characteristics were approved 30 April 1957; the preliminary design was submitted to Admiral Gorshkov late in June 1957 and approved 3 September.

    The initial operational requirement was for four long-range SAM launchers (16-20 missiles each, with a single control system), three twin 76mm guns (1200 rounds), two (3) quadruple 57mm guns (1200rpg), gun fire control system, two ASW guided missile launchers (4-6 missiles), Two RBU-6000 (80-96 rockets), one triple or two twin 345mm TT (6 torpedoes); a speed of 36kts, range 3000-3500nm at 18kts and 15 days' stores endurance. The design-operational requirement changed the SAM battery to twin launchers (12 missiles each) with two fire control systems, and cut the guns to 2 76mm (700 rounds). The planned ASW missiles were replaced by 1 Ka-25 ASW helicopter, but the two RBU remained. The 345mm TT gave way to one quintuple or two twin 400mm TT (a 40cm ASW torpedo was being developed). Displacement was expected to be 2800t standard.

    Virtually all the planned equipment was being developed alongside the design. Thus by the preliminary design stage missile magazine capacity had been set at 16. Presumably as weight compensation, 76.2mm gun ammunition capacity was cut to 600 rounds. Problems with the new 40cm ASW torpedo led to a decision to replace it with 533mm weapons, initially in two triple mounts and then, in the contract design, in quintuple mount. The preliminary design added a pair of RBU-1000 anti-torpedo weapons (24 rounds). Displacement grew to 3200t in the preliminary design and then to 3380t in the contract design. Expected trial speed had to be cut to 35kts in the contract design, and stores' endurance to 10 days.

    The contract design was completed in March 1958. Weight growth included 11t added to the SAM magazine feed system between preliminary and contract design, 26t for the SAM control system and automatic units, and 25t in the main power plant.

    Apparently initially a combined steam and gas turbine powerplant was planned, using a new 15000shp M-2 gas turbine on each shaft. However, while design-operational requirements were being developed, the turbine developers offered a new 36000shp M-3 unit (two 18000shp M-8E turbines coupled together with reversing gears), with half the guaranteed service life of M-2 (initially 500hr rather than 1000hr, later 3000hr, comprising 100hr at 100% power, 200hr at 80%, and 2700hr at 50-60%). The new destroyer became the first major gas turbine warship in the world; the M-3 powerplant weighed about half as much as the pressure-fired steam plant in Project 56. To produce 2.5 times as much electric power as Project 56 (2800kW) within a limited weight, the designers adopted gas turbine main generators. Using gas turbines, the ship could work up from rest to cruise speed in 10min, then to 30kts in 2-3min, and then full speed in another 3-5min; a steam plant would have taken about 12hr to do the same. As in later Western gas turbine warships, the gas turbines could be removed through the funnels. The ships infra-red signature was approximately halved by mixing air with the gas turbine exhaust in the funnels.

    The M-3 turbine was built and tested in parallel with the lead ship Komsomolets Ukrainy. She was therefore initially limited to 65% power (she turned out to need 12% more than designed power at 30.3kts at 3790t). On full-power trials she later made 35.5kts. Prozorlivyy made 39.75kts on trials.

    The new powerplant was so light that there was some fear that the usual topside weights would make the ship top-heavy; a new hull form was developed with knuckle from amidships to the transom, and with very sharp bow lines. Tumble-home in the hull was intended to reduce the ship's radar signature.

    This was the first Soviet warship designed to withstand nuclear blast. To that end, the primary ship control station was separated from the enclosed bridge ('conning post') and buried in the hull, on the lower deck. Access fore and aft was by an enclosed passageway, with torpedo exits only through gaslight airlocks.