Soobrazitelnyy-class destroyer

The Soviet destroyer Smyshlyonyy
Class overview
Operators:  Soviet Navy
Preceded by: Gnevny class
Succeeded by: Ognevoy class
Built: 1936–1942
In service: 1940–1963
Completed: 18
Lost: 9
Retired: 9
General characteristics
Type: Destroyer
Displacement:
  • 1,727 tonnes (1,700 long tons; 1,904 short tons) (standard)
  • 2,279 tonnes (2,243 long tons; 2,512 short tons) (full load)
Length: 112.5 m (369 ft 1 in)
Beam: 10.2 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draught: 3.98 m (13 ft 1 in)
Propulsion:
  • 2-shaft GTZA-24 geared steam turbines
  • 4 watertube boilers
  • 60,000 shp (44,740 kW) (trials)
Speed: 40.28 knots (74.60 km/h; 46.35 mph) (trials)
Endurance: 1,490 nmi (2,760 km) at 19 knots (35 km/h)
Complement: 207 (271 wartime)
Sensors and
processing systems:		 Arktur hydrophone
Armament:

The Soobrazitel'nyi class were destroyers built for the Soviet Navy in the early 1940s. The Soviet designation was Type 7U or Uluchshennyi (improved). The ships fought in World War II. They were modified versions of the Gnevny class. The design was finalised in 1936 after initial disappointments with the Type 7 ships. The main changes were unit machinery (four boilers instead of three), a strengthened hull and reduced fuel capacity. The anti-aircraft guns were resited to improve firing arcs.

Yakubov and Worth state that the change to unit machinery was due to an incident when HMS Hunter was stopped due to machinery damage by a mine during neutrality patrols in the Spanish Civil War. The incident reported at a meeting where Joseph Stalin was present and he ordered that the ships be redesigned with unit machinery in order to enable a ship to move in case one of the two boiler or engine rooms were incapacitated. This change in design saved Slavniy following mine damage in 1941 but led to a considerable delay in the Soviet destroyer programme and the cancellation of six Type 7 ships.

Fitting the extra machinery in the same hull presented significant challenges, leading to an increase in weight, cramped accommodation and reduction in fuel capacity. These changes led Soviet sailors to call the Type 7U, 7 Ukhudshennyi (ухудшенный, made worse).

Later in the war electronic equipment such as radar and sonar were supplied by the Allies for these ships.

Ships

Baltic Fleet

Ship Builder Commissioned Career
Sil'nyi Сильный (Strong) #190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad 12 April 1941 Heavy action during the Baltic Fleet's fighting withdrawal from the Baltic States and subsequently in the defense of Leningrad. Became target ship TsL-43 on 29 February 1959. Sold for scrapping at Tallinn 21 January 1960.
Storozhevoi Сторожевой (Protective) #190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad 12 April 1941 During minelaying operations in June 1941 Storozhevoi was torpedoed by the German E-boat S.31 and subsequently drydocked at Kronshtadt, where she received further damage during the Siege of Leningrad. She was repaired using the bow section of the incomplete Ognevoi-class ship Organizovannyi, and refitted with a twin turret forward instead of two singles. Reclassified as a training destroyer in February 1956 and scrapped at Liepāja in 1958–59.
Serdityi Сердитый (Enraged) #190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad 12 April 1941 Lost on 19 July 1941 near Moon Sound after suffering bomb damage the previous day. Wreck raised and broken up 1949–1952.
Slavnyi Славный (Glorious) #189 Ordzhinikidze Yard, Leningrad 31 May 1941 Served throughout the war in the Baltic, including the defense of Tallinn in July 1941. Target ship from 1960. Scrapped at Liepaya in 1964.
Smelyi Смелый (Valiant) #189 Ordzhinikidze Yard, Leningrad 31 May 1941 Mined in Irben Strait and scuttled by Soviet motor torpedo boat TKA-27 on 27 July 1941.
Stoikiy Стойкий (Steadfast) #189 Ordzhinikidze Yard, Leningrad 12 April 1941 Renamed Vitse-Admiral Drozd on 13 February 1943. Became target ship TsL-54 in 1960. Sank in storm near Cape Taran on 2 July 1960.
Strashnyi Страшный (Frightening) #190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad 22 June 1941 Commissioned during trials after Operation Barbarossa began. Badly damaged by a mine on 16 July 1941 and subsequently helped support ground forces during the Siege of Leningrad. Became training station UTS-83 in April 1958. Sold for scrap 12 January 1960.
Surovyi Суровый (Severe) #190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad 31 May 1941 Attacked German convoy near Riga in company with destroyer Artem on 21 August 1941. Collided with minesweeper T-217 on 3 November during evacuation of Hango, then suffered mine damage leaving her immobile. Scuttled 13 November 1941.
Skoryi Скорый (Rapid) #190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad 18 July 1941 Joined Baltic Fleet before trials completed. Hit by shore fire while attempting to tow flotilla leader Minsk from Tallinn on 26 August 1941. Mined and sunk two days later.
Statniy Статный (Stately) #190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad 9 July 1941 Commissioned during acceptance trials. Bow blown off by mine at Tallinn and salvage efforts proved unsuccessful. Sank in bad weather on 23 August 1941. Wreck raised and broken up 1957.
Strogiy Строгий (Strict) #190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad 30 August 1941 Commissioned incomplete and towed to Neva River for fire support duties. Converted to Project 32 rescue ship 1953–58. Transferred to Northern Fleet under name SS-18. Finally served as target ship SM-16 from September 1963 until sold for scrapping at Murmansk on 26 June 1964.
Stroynyi Стройный (Slim) #190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad 30 August 1941 Commissioned incomplete and deployed to Neva River for fire support duties in September 1941. Completed 15 September 1942. Subsequently converted to Type 32 rescue ship with names SDK-10 and SS-17. Target ship TsL-2 from 27 August 1963 until scrapped at Liepaya 1965–66.
Svirepiy Свирепый (Fierce) #190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad 22 June 1941 Commissioned before trials completed. Active during the retreat from the Baltic States and Siege of Leningrad. Refitted at Neptune Shipyard, Rostock 1947–52. Sold for scrap 28 January 1958.
Spokoinoi Спокойной(Peaceful) #190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad not completed Incomplete upon outbreak of war. Towed to Molotovsk in 1941. Remained incomplete until sold for scrapping in the late 1940s.

Black Sea Fleet

Ship Builder Commissioned Career
Smyshlyonyi Смышлёный (Clever) #200 61 Kommunar yard, Nikolayev 10 November 1940 Supported the Raid on Constanța, and the defenders of Odessa and Sevastopol in 1941–42. Badly damaged in Soviet minefield on 5 March 1942 and sank three days later leaving only two survivors.
Soobrazitel'ny Сообразительный (Shrewd) #200 61 Kommunar yard, Nikolayev 7 June 1941 Active throughout 1941–45, including supporting the Raid on Constanța and patrol duties for the Yalta Conference. Converted to Project 32 rescue ship 1951–58 under names SDK-11 and SS-16. Became target ship TsL-3 in September 1963. Sold for scrapping 19 March 1966 after plans for her use as a museum ship fell through. Some sources erroneous describe as still existing in this capacity.
Sposobnyi Способный (Capable) #200 61 Kommunar yard, Nikolayev 24 June 1941 Defense of Odessa and Sevastopol 1941–42. Escort duties from Tuapse during 1943 following extensive repairs to mine and gunfire damage off Novorossiysk and Feodossiya. Bombed and sunk alongside fellow destroyers Kharkov and Besposhchadnyi on 6 October 1943.
Sovershennyi Совершенный (Absolute) #200 61 Kommunar yard, Nikolayev Late 1941 Mined during trials and placed in dry dock in October 1941. Subsequently bombed in dry dock, delaying repairs until 1942. Sunk at Sevastopol by German artillery fire 13 June 1942. Raised and scrapped October 1945.
Svobodnyi Свободный (Free) #200 61 Kommunar yard, Nikolayev 2 January 1942 Evacuated to Sevastopol during August 1941, then working up period. Hit by eight bombs during a supply run to the besieged port on 9–10 June 1942. 67 dead. Raised and broken up in 1953.

References

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