Chapayev class cruiser

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The Chapayev class (Project 68 Чапаев) were a group of cruisers built for the Soviet Navy during and after World War II. Seventeen ships were planned but only seven were actually started before the German invasion. Three ships were destroyed incomplete when their building yard in Nikolaev was captured by Nazi Germany and the remaining five cruisers were only completed in 1950. The design was based on the Kirov class cruiser, but with significant changes in armament with 4 triple 6 inch gun turrets replacing 3 triple 180 mm gun turrets.

[edit] General Characteristics

• Displacement: 11,300 tons standard, 15,000 tons full load
• Length: 201 m
• Beam: 19.7 m
• Draught: 6.4 m
• Machinery: 2 shaft geared steam turbines, 6 boilers, 130,000 shp
• Speed: 35 knots
• Range:7000 nmat 20 knots, 3500 tons of oil fuel
• Armament:
  • 12 - 152 mm guns (4 × 3)
  • 8 - 100 mm AA guns (4 × 2) (originally 8 × 1)
  • 28 - 37 mm AA guns
  • 6 - 533 mm torpedo tubes
  • 1 catapult - 2 aircraft (later removed)
• Armour: Belt 50 mm, deck 50 mm, turrets 75 mm, Conning tower 150 mm

Crew: 840

[edit] Ships

• Chapayev (Чапаев), named after Vasily Chapayev - built by Ordzhinikidze yard Leningrad, laid down 8 October 1939, launched 28 April 1946, completed 16 May 1950, Decommissioned 29 October 1960
• Zheleznyakov (Железняков) named after Anatoly Zheleznyakov (1895-1919) a Bolshevik, built by Marti yard Leningrad, laid down 31 October 1939, launched 25 June 1941, completed 19 April 1950, Decommissioned 1976
• Kuybyshev(Куйбышев) - named after Valerian Kuybyshev -built by Marti yard Nikolayev - laid down 31 August 1939, launched 31 January 1941, evacuated to Poti Geogia, stern used to repair damaged cruiser Maxim Gorki, completed 20 April 1950, decommissioned 1965
• Chkalov (Чкалов) - later renamed Komsomolets - originally named after Valery Chkalov - built by Ordzhinikidze yard Leningrad, laid down 31 August 1939, launched 25 October 1947, completed 1 November 1950, Decommissioned 1981
• Frunze(Фрунзе) - named after Mikhail Frunze - built by built by Marti yard Nikolayev - laid down 29 August 1939, launched 31 December 1940, evacuated to Poti Geogia, completed 15 December 1950, decommissioned 1960

Ordzhinikidze and Sverdlov were scrapped on the slipway after being captured by the Germans

[edit] References

• Article in Russian language - http://ship.bsu.by/main.asp?id=102259
• MJ Whitley - Cruisers of World War 2, an International Encyclopedia, Arms & Armour Press 1995.
• Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995
• Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946