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fighting ships of the world

SOVIET NAVY (USSR)

TORPEDO SHIPS

LENINGRAD destroyer leaders (project 1) (1936-1938)

Leningrad 1940

Kharkov 1943

Leningrad 1956

Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Ленинград [Leningrad]   450 190 Zhdanov Yd, Leningrad 11.1932 17.11.1933 12.1936 target 4.1958
Харьков [Kharkov]   223 198 Marti Yd, Nikolayev 10.1932 9.9.1934 11.1938 sunk 6.10.1943
Москва [Moskva]   224 198 Marti Yd, Nikolayev 10.1932 30.10.1934 8.1938 sunk 26.6.1941

  

Displacement standard, t

2032

Displacement full, t

2582

Length, m

127.5

Breadth, m

11.7

Draught, m

4.06 mean 4.18 max

No of shafts

3

Machinery

3 geared steam turbines sets, 3 water-tube boilers

Power, h. p.

66000

Max speed, kts

36

Fuel, t

oil 613

Endurance, nm(kts) 2100(20)

Armament

5 x 1 - 130/50 B-13, 2 x 1 - 76/52 34K, 2 x 1 - 45/43 21K, 4 x 1 - 12.7/79, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 2 DCR (25), 76 mines

Electronic equipment Mars hydrophone

Complement

250

Project history: First combat ships designed and built in the USSR after a long-term break, called by revolution and civil war. The design assignment of the first Soviet destroyer leader has been approved 1.11.1928 (preliminary works were conducted since 1925). It provided creation of large ship, on armament and speed exceeding as available Noviks, and the majority foreign destroyers. The basic project 1 was approved in February, 1930, and in the end of 1932 under it building of 2 ships for Black Sea Fleet and 1 for Baltic Fleet was begun.
    Hulls of project 1 leaders differed by considerable slenderness, sharp stern streamlines, and also absence of propeller shafts A-brackets: they were replaced by so-called "trousers". Triple-shaft machinery was placed en echelon in five compartments. It has predetermined a characteristic outline profile with two widely placed funnels and a high fore superstructure. Leaders received new B-13 130mm/50 guns, but their long-term development has delayed commission of ships. Besides, gun No3 was placed unsuccessfully and had limited arcs of fire. Fire control system was Italian by Galileo. 533mm TTs were applied for the first time in the Russian / Soviet Navy. The original design provided seaplane, but later it was refused.

   On trials all ships have significantly exceeded a designed speed. Leningrad has shown 43kts at 2225t and 67250hp; Moskva 43.57kts at 2330t and 77725hp. However the insufficient hull strength, crankiness and bad manoevreability on low speed were been revealed. In a result, after formal commission Leningrad spent two years at the shipyard for elimination of defects. Following 3 ships (Minsk, Kiev and Tiflis) were built under improved project 38. The basic differences consisted in more full stern form and application of usual A-brackets for propeller shafts. On the speed they yielded to predecessors, having shown on trials 40-40.7kts.

    In January, 1949 Leningrad was re-rated as destroyer.

Modernizations: early 1942, Kharkov: - 2 x 1 - 45/43; + 6 x 1 - 37/63 70K, 4 x 2 - 12.7/90

early 1942, Leningrad: - 2 x 1 - 45/43; + 1 x 2 - 76/52 81K, 4 x 1 - 37/63 70K, 1 x 2 - 37/80 SK C/30, 4 x 1 - 12.7/79

late 1942, Kharkov: + 2 x 1 - 37/63 70K

1944, Leningrad: - 1 x 2 - 37/80; + 2 x 1 - 37/63 70K, type 291, SF radars

1/1946, Leningrad: 5 x 1 - 130/51 B-13, 1 x 2 - 76/55 81K, 2 x 1 - 76/55 34K, 6 x 1 - 37/73 70K, 8 x 1 - 12.7/79, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 2 DCR (25), 76 mines, type 284 radar

1954, Leningrad: was armed with 5 x 1 - 130/51 B-13, 4 x 2 - 37/70 V-11, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, 2 DCT, 2 DCR (67), 76 mines, Giuys-1, Rif-1, Vympel-2 radars, Tamir-5N sonar; max speed was 34 - 35kts.

Naval service: To the beginning of Great Patriotic War Leningrad served on Baltic, Moskva and Kharkov on Black Sea.
   Moskva was lost 26.6.1941 on Romanian mines at Constanza. Kharkov was sunk 6.10.1943 by German aircraft S of Yalta (Crimea).

Moskva 1940

Leningrad 1944

© Ivan Gogin, 2009-15