Chapayev-class cruiser

As part of Stalin's 1936 "Big Fleet Programme", a large number of light cruisers were to be built over the next 10 years. At first, more ships of the Project 26 Kirov-class cruiser were planned but their armor and AA was considered inadequate. To solve this problem, in August 1936 requirements were made for a new cruiser design, called the Project 28. They were similar to Kirov-class cruiser and were to form backbone of light forces flotillas but additional duties were added to its tasks such as offensive minelaying, commerce raiding, and the screening of battleships against enemy light forces. The design and propulsion machinery was based on the Kirov-class cruiser, but with significant changes in armament: 4 triple 152 mm (6.0 in) gun turrets compared to the 3 triple 180 mm (7.1 in) gun turrets on the Kirovs, which offered a higher rate of fire. Requirements were changed by the navy on 29 October 1937 for a ship armed with 3 triple 152mm (6.0 in) guns with the new designation of Project 68. But in March 1938, the specified number of main guns was reverted back to 4 triple 152mm (6.0in) guns.[1]

The final design was approved in July 1939, with an initial 5 ships ordered, and 7 under construction by June 1941. Development of the weapons and systems lagged behind the construction, and in September 1940 it was planned to redesign the first 2 ships with German weaponry, designated Project 68I. As the German guns too were still in development, the plan was dropped to just completing the second ship, Chkalov, with German secondary guns, this design being designated Project 68S.[1]

The 152 mm B-38 guns fired a 55 kg (121 lb) shell to 24,000 m (26,000 yd). The rate of fire was 6 to 7 rounds per minute. The guns were mounted in individual cradles with separate elevation.

The original secondary armament consisted of 4 twin 100 mm (3.9 in) B-54 guns in enclosed turrets. The anti-aircraft guns consisted of 6 twin 37 mm (1.5 in) Model 1939 guns and 4 twin 12.7 mm (0.50 in) DShK machine guns.

The hull was enlarged, and protection was improved compared to the Kirov class. The machinery was based on a unit system with alternating boiler rooms and engine rooms.

The five surviving ships were completed after the war to a modified design, Project 68K, K standing for Korrektirovanniy (Russian: Корректированный, corrected). The aircraft facilities and torpedo tubes were removed and radar and improved anti-aircraft artillery added: twin 100 mm (3.9 in) SM-5 guns in a powered turrets with a high fire rate, and twin 37 mm (1.5 in) Model 1939 in a new powered and water cooled mounting.

Luftwaffe aerial reconnaissance photo of the Ordzhinikidze Yard (Shipyard 189), Leningrad, showing the battleship Sovetsky Soyuz (top) and Chkalov under construction, 26 June

A large programme was envisaged and seventeen ships were authorised in 1939 and eleven ordered. Six ships were to be built for the Baltic Fleet, four for the Black Sea Fleet and one for the Pacific Fleet. Seven ships were actually laid down before the German invasion in 1941.

• Chapayev (Чапаев)

Named after Vasily Chapayev,

Built by Ordzhinikidze Yard (Shipyard 189) Leningrad,[2]

Laid down 8 October 1939,[2]

Launched 28 April 1941,[2]

Completed 16 May 1950,[2]

Decommissioned 29 October 1960

• Zheleznyakov (Железняков)

Named after Anatoly Zheleznyakov (1895-1919) a Bolshevik,

Built by Admiralty Shipyard (Shipyard 194) Leningrad,[2]

Laid down 31 October 1939,[2]

Launched 25 June 1941,[2]

Completed 19 April 1950,[2]

Decommissioned 1976[2]

• Kuybyshev (Куйбышев)

Named after Valerian Kuybyshev,

Built by Marti Yard (Shipyard 200) Nikolayev,[2]

Laid down 31 August 1939,[2]

Launched 31 January 1941,[2] evacuated to Poti, Georgia

Completed 22 December 1950,[2]

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 Marti Yard Nikolayev,

Laid down 29 August 1939,

Launched 31 December 1940, evacuated to Poti, Georgia; stern used to repair damaged cruiser Molotov,

Completed 15 December 1950,

Decommissioned 1960

Two more ships, Ordzhinikidze and Sverdlov, were scrapped on the slipway after being captured by the Germans in Nikolaev during World War II.

Additionally 10 more ships were planned to be laid down; Lenin, Dzerzhinsky, Avrora, Lazo, and an unnamed fifth in 1941, and Zhdanov, Parkhomenko, Kotovsky, Shchors, and Shcherbakov in 1942-1943, but the German Invasion led to their cancellation in July 1941.[1]

• Budzbon, Przemysław (1980). "Soviet Union". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 318–346. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Budzbon, Przemysław; Radziemski, Jan & Twardowski, Marek (2022). Warships of the Soviet Fleets 1939–1945. Vol. I: Major Combatants. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-68247-877-6.
• Jarovoj, V. V.; Greger, René (1994). "The Soviet Cruisers of the Chapayev and Sverdlov classes". In Roberts, John (ed.). Warship 1994. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 147–158. ISBN 0-85177-630-2.
• Friedman, Norman (1995). "Soviet Union 1947–1991: Russian Federation and Successor States 1991–". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 337–426. ISBN 978-1-55750-132-5.
• Whitley, M. J. (1995). Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell. ISBN 1-86019-874-0.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chapaev class cruiser.

• Cruiser "Frunze" from Black Sea Fleet (in Russian, with photos)
• Cruiser "Kuybishev" from Black Sea Fleet (in Russian, with photos)
• Article in Russian language - http://ship.bsu.by/main.asp?id=102259
• (in English) All Russian Chapayev Class Cruisers - Complete Ship List