SOVIET/RUSSIAN NAVY (USSR/RUSSIA)

Project history: Just as Project 56 was the simpler follow-on to the big Project 41, this was the simpler follow-on to the sophisticated Project 42, with its unit machinery. Apparently Stalin personally ordered the development of a smaller SKR, with a full-load displacement of 1200t. Development of a TTZ was ordered on 20 July 1950; the sketch design was to have been completed in September for presentation in October 1950. The technical design was completed and presented in March 1951, and the lead ship was laid down in the spring of 1951. The ship was designed by the new TsKB-820 (the design office associated with Yard 820, in Kaliningrad). To gain sufficient performance within the limited dimensions allowed, the ship used a pressure-fired steam powerplant, a type used in all subsequent Soviet steam combatants. For a time the designers also considered replacing single 100mm guns by twin enclosed mounts, and using 25mm guns instead of 37mm. In the end, Project 50 carried 15% less ammunition than its predecessor, Project 42; and one fewer 100mm and one fewer torpedo tube (ultimately, however, a lightweight triple tube was developed, and installed in many ships).

    This class introduced a new fire control system, Sfera-50, with remote power control of the guns (SSSP-50 system) and a stabilized optical sight (SVP-42-50). The sight worked with the Yakor' radar. The sight was effective against both air and surface targets, but apparently computing time was excessive (34-40sec). The prototype was tested in Project 42.

    The longitudinally-framed HTS hull was lightly armoured, with 7-8mm plating over the boiler and machinery spaces (7mm at the waterline, 8mm up to the main deck) and 7mm over gunshields and bridge. To hold down ship size, the unit machinery arrangement of the Project 42 was abandoned; both boilers were in one compartment; both turbines were in an adjacent compartment.

    On trials the lead ship made 29.5kis at 1134t. In Sea State 6, the ship had to reduce speed to 23kts, and the guns could not be used at speeds of more than 16kts. Tactical diameter was 6.1 to 6.9 lengths at full speed. It is not clear why performance suffered so badly, compared to that of Project 42.