Zhdanov underway in 1983
History
Soviet Union
Name
  • Zhdanov
  • (Жданов)
NamesakeZhdanov
Ordered3 December 1947
BuilderBaltic Shipyard, Leningrad
Yard number419
Laid down11 February 1950
Launched27 December 1950
Commissioned31 December 1952
Decommissioned10 December 1989
Stricken19 April 1990
HomeportTallinn
IdentificationSee Pennant numbers
FateScrapped, 1991
General characteristics
Class and typeSverdlov-class cruiser
Displacement
  • 13,600 tonnes (13,385 long tons) standard
  • 16,640 tonnes (16,377 long tons) full load
Length
  • 210 m (689 ft 0 in) overall
  • 205 m (672 ft 7 in) waterline
Beam22 m (72 ft 2 in)
Draught6.9 m (22 ft 8 in)
Propulsion
Speed32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph)
Range9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement1,250
Armament
  • as designed:
    • 4 × triple 15.2 cm (6.0 in)/57 cal B-38 guns in Mk5-bis turrets
    • 6 × twin 10 cm (3.9 in)/56 cal Model 1934 guns in SM-5-1 mounts
    • 16 × twin 3.7 cm (1.5 in) AA guns in V-11M mounts
    • 2 × quintuple 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in PTA-53-68-bis mounts
  • command ship:
    • 3 × triple 15.2 cm (6.0 in)/57 cal B-38 guns in Mk5-bis turrets
    • 6 × twin 10 cm (3.9 in)/56 cal Model 1934 guns in SM-5-1 mounts
    • 16 × twin 3.7 cm (1.5 in) AA guns in V-11M mounts
    • 2 × quintuple 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in PTA-53-68-bis mounts
Armour
  • Belt: 100 mm (3.9 in)
  • Conning tower: 150 mm (5.9 in)
  • Deck: 50 mm (2.0 in)
  • Turrets: 175 mm (6.9 in) front, 65 mm (2.6 in) sides, 60 mm (2.4 in) rear, 75 mm (3.0 in) roof
  • Barbettes: 130 mm (5.1 in)
  • Bulkheads: 100–120 mm (3.9–4.7 in)
Aviation facilitiesHelipad

Zhdanov was a Sverdlov-class cruiser of Soviet Navy.

Development and design

The Sverdlov-class cruisers, Soviet designation Project 68bis, were the last conventional gun cruisers built for the Soviet Navy. They were built in the 1950s and were based on Soviet, German, and Italian designs and concepts developed prior to the Second World War. They were modified to improve their sea keeping capabilities, allowing them to run at high speed in the rough waters of the North Atlantic. The basic hull was more modern and had better armor protection than the vast majority of the post Second World War gun cruiser designs built and deployed by peer nations. They also carried an extensive suite of modern radar equipment and anti-aircraft artillery. The Soviets originally planned to build 40 ships in the class, which would be supported by the Stalingrad-class battlecruisers and aircraft carriers.

The Sverdlov class displaced 13,600 tons standard and 16,640 tons at full load. They were 210 metres (689 ft 0 in) long overall and 205 metres (672 ft 7 in) long at the waterline. They had a beam of 22 metres (72 ft 2 in) and draught of 6.9 metres (22 ft 8 in) and typically had a complement of 1,250. The hull was a completely welded new design and the ships had a double bottom for over 75% of their length. The ship also had twenty-three watertight bulkheads. The Sverdlovs had six boilers providing steam to two shaft geared steam turbines generating 118,100 shaft horsepower (88,100 kW). This gave the ships a maximum speed of 32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph). The cruisers had a range of 9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).[1]

Sverdlov-class cruisers main armament included twelve 152 mm (6 in)/57 cal B-38 guns mounted in four triple Mk5-bis turrets. They also had twelve 100 mm (3.9 in)/56 cal Model 1934 guns in six twin SM-5-1 mounts. For anti-aircraft weaponry, the cruisers had thirty-two 37 mm (1.5 in) anti-aircraft guns in sixteen twin mounts and were also equipped with ten 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes in two mountings of five each.[1]

The Sverdlovs had  100 mm (3.9 in) belt armor and had a  50 mm (2.0 in) armored deck. The turrets were shielded by 175 mm (6.9 in) armor and the conning tower, by 150 mm (5.9 in) armor.[1]

The cruisers' ultimate radar suite included one 'Big Net' or 'Top Trough' air search radar, one 'High Sieve' or 'Low Sieve' air search radar, one 'Knife Rest' air search radar and one 'Slim Net' air search radar. For navigational radar they had one 'Don-2' or 'Neptune' model. For fire control purposes the ships were equipped with two 'Sun Visor' radars, two 'Top Bow' 152 mm gun radars and eight 'Egg Cup' gun radars. For electronic countermeasures the ships were equipped with two 'Watch Dog' ECM systems.[1]

Construction and career

Zhdanov was laid down on 11 February 1950 at Baltic Shipyard, Leningrad and launched on 27 December 1950. The vessel was commissioned on 31 December 1952. On 25 January 1953, the Soviet naval flag was raised aboard the ship when the cruiser became part of the 8th task force of the KBF. Her homeport was Tallinn. On 25 January 1954, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the raising of the naval flag, the commander-in-chief of the Soviet Navy, Admiral of the Fleet N.G. Kuznetsov, was present on the cruiser. On 24 December 1955, the cruiser was added to the Baltic Fleet.

In September 1988, Zhdanov took part in the exercises of the Black Sea Fleet "Autumn-88". The cruiser was command by Captain 1st Rank A. Rimashevsky. On 21 February 1989, the name Zhdanov was removed. A new one was not assigned, and the vessel was listed as KRU 101. On 10 December 1989, by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Navy, the vessel was re-registered as the command cruiser Zhdanov.

On 19 April 1990, the Soviet Navy flag was lowered and disarmament of the cruiser began for transfer to the Stock Property Department for dismantling and sale. In February 1991, the crew of the cruiser was disbanded. The cruiser was sold to a private foreign company for scrap. On 27 November 1991, Zhdanov, with the tug Shakhtar, departed for the port of Alang, India, to be broken up.[2]

Pennant numbers

Date Pennant number[3]
1953 19
1954 16
1955 10
1956 20
1957 62
1959 320
1962 258
1964 128
1970 855
1971 854
1972 857
1972 801
1973 856
1974 835
1974 855
1974 857
1975 842
1976 845
1976 849
1978 854
1980 118
1982 121
1983 117
1984 111
1984 132
1985 116
1988 101

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gardiner and Chumbley, p. 378
  2. ↑ V., Zablotsky (2008). Cold War cruisers. Yauza. p. 224. ISBN 978-5-699-26175-8.
  3. ↑ "Light Cruisers - Project 68bis". russianships.info. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
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