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 Spokoinyy (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 Neustrashimy class, also borrows some design concepts from the Kotlin class.

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 the Neustrashimyy. 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 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 Project 56K Kotlin SAM class destroyer, the Bravyi (also spelled Bravyy) 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 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

• Bravyy - was the Kotlin SAM prototype

The ships were scrapped between 1987 and 1990.

See also

References

• Gardiner, Robert (ed.). Conway's all the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. London: Conway Maritime. ISBN 0851776051. OCLC 34284130.  Also published as Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław. Conway's all the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1557501327. OCLC 34267261. 

External links

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