Kotlin-class destroyer

Kotlin-class destroyers were Cold War era ships built for the Soviet Navy. The Russian name for this class was Project 56 Spokoiny (Спокойный, "tranquil"). 27 ships were built between 1955 and 1958; they were all decommissioned in the late 1980s. The Kildin class is based on the design of the Kotlins. The Chinese Luda class which is based on the Soviet Neustrashimy class, also borrows some design concepts from the Kotlin class.^{[1][clarification needed]}

Kotlin-class destroyer Vozbuzhdeny in January 1981
Class overview
Name	Kotlin class
Operators	Soviet Navy  Polish Navy
Preceded by	Neustrashimy class
Succeeded by	Kildin class
Built	1955-1958
In commission	1955-1992
Completed	27
Active	0
Retired	27
General characteristics
Type	Destroyer
Displacement	2,662 tonnes (2,620 long tons; 2,934 short tons) (standard), 3,230 t (3,180 long tons; 3,560 short tons) (full load)
Length	126.1 m (414 ft)
Beam	12.7 m (42 ft)
Draught	4.2 m (14 ft)
Propulsion	2 × shaft geared steam turbines, 4 boilers, 72,000 hp (54 MW)
Speed	38 knots (70 km/h; 44 mph)
Complement	284
Sensors and processing systems	Radar: Fut -N (air search), Ryf (surface) Sonar: Pegas
Armament	(Project 56) 4 × 130 mm (5.1 in) SM-2-1 guns (2×2) 16 × 45 mm (1.8 in) SM-20-ZIF guns (4×4) 10 × 533 mm (20 in) PTA-53-56 torpedo tubes (2×5) 6 × BMB-2 depth charge throwers (later replaced by ASW mortars) 50 × mines (Project 56A) 2 × 130 mm (5.1 in) SM-2-1 gun (1×2) 4 × 45 mm (1.8 in) SM-20-ZIF gun (1×4) 8 × 30 mm (1.2 in) AK-230 guns (4×2) 5 × 533 mm (20 in) TA MPTA-53M torpedo tubes (1×5) 24 × 213 mm (10 in) RBU-6000 ASW rocket launchers (2×12) 1× twin S-125 Neva/Pechora (NATO SA-N-1) SAM (16 missiles) 50 × mines

Design

This design was a smaller version of the Neustrashimy-class destroyer which was seen as being too large and expensive for economic series production, as well as too slow. Detailed design changes eliminated some of the problems seen during trials of Neustrashimy. A production run of 100 ships was planned but this was curtailed because of the advent of the guided missile. 32 were ordered, but four ships were completed as the Kildin class (Project 56E/EM). The last vessel was canceled.

11 ships (Project 56PLO, "Kotlin Mod.") were modified for enhanced ASW capabilities by adding rocket depth charge launchers.

In 1962, the Soviet Navy installed the navalized version of the S-125 Neva, the SA-N-1 'Goa', to a surface-to-air missile Kotlin-class destroyer, Bravy (also spelled Bravyy/Bravyi) for testing. The system used the 4K90 (V-600) missile that could engage targets at distances from 4–15 km (0–10 mi) and altitudes of 100–10,000 m (300–32,800 ft). Fire control and guidance was provided by 4R90 Yatagan radar. The system could track only one target at a time. The missiles were loaded on the dual-arm ZIF-101 launcher, with under-deck magazine storage for 16 more.

The Soviet Navy would eventually retrofit seven Kotlin-class ships to carry SAMs; these ships were known to NATO as the Kotlin SAM class (Project 56A). One more was modified and sold to Poland (Project 56AE, being the only Project 56 destroyer exported). Later versions of the SAM system, such as the Volna-M (SA-N-1B), the Volna-P, and Volna-N provided greater missile range and capability.

Ships

Soviet destroyer Vyderzhanny c.1973, in Project 56 configuration

Unidentified Soviet Kotlin-class destroyer c.1973, in Project 56PLO configuration

Soviet destroyer Nakhodchivy in 1983, in Project 56A configuration

Ship	Russian	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Modernisation	Decommissioned
Spokoiny	Спокойный - "Peaceful"	Zhdanov, Leningrad	28 November 1953	27 June 1956	none	19 April 1990
Svetly	Светлый - "Bright" (or "Light")		27 October 1953	17 September 1955	none	25 April 1989
Speshny	Спешный - "Rapid"		7 August 1954	30 September 1955	none	25 April 1989
Skromny	Скромный - "Modest"		26 October 1954	30 December 1955	SAM (56A)	25 April 1989
Svedushchy	Сведущий - "Knowledgeable"		17 February 1955	31 January 1956	SAM (56A)	8 April 1992
Smyshleny	Смышленый - "Sharp (quickwitted)"		24 May 1955	28 June 1956	ASW (56PLO)	22 June 1986
Skrytny	Скрытный - "Secretive"		27 September 1955	30 September 1956	none	25 April 1989
Soznatelny	Сознательный - "Aware"		15 January 1956	31 October 1956	SAM (56A)	1 March 1988
Spravedlivy	Справедливый - "Just"		12 April 1956	20 December 1956	SAM (56AE)	Transferred to the Polish navy as ORP Warszawa in 1970
Nesokrushimy	Несокрушимый - "Indestructible"		20 July 1956	30 June 1957	SAM (56A)	27 July 1991
Nakhodchivy	Находчивый - "Resourceful"		30 October 1956	18 December 1957	SAM (56A)	25 April 1989
Nastoychivy	Настойчивый - "Persistent"		23 April 1957	30 November 1958	SAM (56A)	25 April 1989
Byvalvy	Бывалый - "Experienced"	Nikolayev	31 March 1954	21 December 1955	ASW (56PLO)	17 July 1988
Bravy	Бравый - "Brave"		25 July 1953	9 January 1956	SAM (56K)	30 July 1987
Bessledny	Бесследный - "Untraceable"		1 April 1954	31 October 1956	ASW (56PLO)	8 April 1988
Burlivy	Бурливый - "Turbulent" or "Tempestuous"		5 May 1954	28 December 1956	ASW (56PLO)	25 May 1989
Blagorodny	Благородный - "Noble"		5 March 1955	18 July 1957	ASW (56PLO)	25 April 1989
Blestyashchy	Блестящий - "Brilliant"		20 February 1953	30 September 1955	ASW (56PLO)	30 July 1987
Plamenny	Пламенный - "Fiery" or "Ardent"		3 September 1955	31 August 1957	ASW (56PLO)	24 June 1991
Naporisty	Напористый - "Forceful"		17 August 1955	31 October 1957	ASW (56PLO)	30 July 1987
Vyzyvayushchy	Вызывающий - "Challenging"	Komsomolsk-na-Amure	25 July 1953	31 March 1956	ASW (56PLO)	25 April 1989
Vesky	Веский - "Convincing"		30 January 1954	30 March 1956	none	30 July 1987
Vdokhnovenny	Вдохновенный - "Inspiring"		31 August 1954	30 October 1956	ASW (56PLO)	5 March 1987
Vozmuscheny	Возмущенный - "Indignant"		30 December 1954	31 December 1956	ASW (56PLO)	5 March 1987
Vozbuzhdeny	Возбужденный - "Excited"		29 July 1955	31 October 1957	SAM (56A)	25 April 1989
Vliyatelny	Влиятельный - "Influential"		29 October 1955	6 November 1957	none	17 July 1988
Vyderzhanny	Выдержанный - "Consistent"		24 June 1957	10 December 1957	none	24 April 1992

• Bravy - was the Kotlin SAM prototype

The ships were scrapped between 1987 and 1990.

See also

• List of ships of the Soviet Navy
• List of ships of Russia by project number

References

1. "Глава 2. Ударные надводные силы ВМС НОАК" [Chapter 2. Surface Impact Forces]. flot.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2019-03-15.

Bibliography

• Gardiner, Robert, ed. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. London: Conway Maritime. ISBN 0-85177-605-1. OCLC 34284130. Also published as Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7. OCLC 34267261.
• Warship International Staff (2015). "Views from the Career of the Soviet Destroyer Bravyy". Warship International. LII (1): 28–35. ISSN 0043-0374.

External links

• Federation of American Scientists: Project 56 Kotlin class, Project 56-A Kotlin SAM class, Project 56-PLO Kotlin Mod class Destroyer
• All Russian Kotlin Class Destroyers - Complete Ship List (in English)