Kotlin-class destroyer

Soviet destroyers built 1955-1958

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]}

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

• 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)