Haze Gray Photo Feature

Soviet & Russian Navy

ASW Ships/Destroyers


[THUMBNAIL] A Project 30B Skoryy class destroyer in the Mediterranean on 28 August 1968. The last large class of conventional destroyers built by the Soviets, the Skoryy design originated in 1945, using the hull and machinery of a previous design. 70 ships of this type were laid down; all but two were completed. None of these ships was ever fitted with missiles or other modern weapons; all were stricken by the mid-1980's. These ships were the among the last to carry the traditional Soviet designation for destroyers, Eskadrenny Minonosets (EM), which translates to "squadron mine vessel".
[THUMBNAIL] An unknown wreck at Sevastopol, 8/1995. This hulk appears to be one of the vast Skoryy class of destroyers.
[THUMBNAIL] Vozduzhdenny, a Project 56A "Spokoinyy" modified 'KOTLIN' class destroyer at sea. The 'KOTLIN' class was a successor to the Skoryy design. 27 ships were built as all-gun destroyers, plus four to the dramatically modified 'KILDIN' (Project 56M) design. Of the original 27, eight were modified as Project 56A (shown here) and one as Project 56K, a prototype for the 56A conversions. The Project 56A/56K ships carried an SA-N-1 mount aft, in place of their original guns, making them the USSR's first AAW-oriented destroyers.
[THUMBNAIL] Project 57PLO 'KANIN' destroyer Gremyaschyy in the Caribbean on 26 June 1970. Gremyaschyy originally commissioned as the first of nine Project 57B 'KRUPNY' class SSM destroyers, the first Soviet ships designed as missle-armed vessels. They carried the SS-N-1 SSM, which soon proved to be ineffective. All nine ships were converted to ASW vessels as the 'KANIN' class. They were the only Soviet ships to undergo such a major conversion, indicating the work may not have been considered a success.
[THUMBNAIL] Another view of a Project 57PLO 'KANIN' at sea.
[THUMBNAIL] Project 61 'KASHIN' class Bol'shoy Protivolodochny Korabl' (BPK; Large Anti-Submarine Ship) Soobrazitelnyy in the Mediterranean during 1968. The 'KASHINs' were intended as an ASW vessel to replace the 'KOTLINs', but took on an AAW role as the design progressed. They were the world's first gas-turbine propelled warships, and some of the fastest large warships of recent times, reaching 39 knots on trials.
[THUMBNAIL] Two 'KASHINs' in the Black Sea. The ship at rear is Otvazhnyy, a ship later lost to fire and explosion at sea (see below).
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[THUMBNAIL] A bow view of a 'KASHIN' class destroyer in port. This view emphasizes the ships' massive and overpowering masts.
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[THUMBNAIL] A 'midships closeup of the 'KASHIN' class destroyer Orbaztovvy. This view shows the details of the ship's bridge, masts and funnels.
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[THUMBNAIL] A view of 'KASHIN' class Provornyy from astern. The arrangement of the ship's four funnels is clearly shown here.
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[THUMBNAIL] A fine broadside view of 'KASHIN' class Stereggushchiy at sea.
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[THUMBNAIL] The last known view of the 'KASHIN' class destroyer Otvazhnyy afloat and intact. This view is believed to have been shot in the port of Sevastopol on the morning of her fiery destruction, shown below.
[THUMBNAIL] The Project 61 'KASHIN' class destroyer Otvazhnyy burns in the Black Sea, 30 August 1974. She suffered a fire and explosion in her aft SA-N-1 SAM magazine. The fire was evidently extinguished, but damage to the ship, combined with accumulated firefighting water, caused her loss.
[THUMBNAIL] Thick black smoke pours from Otvazhnyy. Note that a massive section of deck/superstructure has been blasted into a vertical position, at right.
[THUMBNAIL] Otvazhnyy listing to starboard.
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[THUMBNAIL] Otvazhnyy plunges stern-first to the bottom.
[THUMBNAIL] A Project 1134A "Berkut A" 'KRESTA II' BPK at sea. Originally planned as missile ships (RKR), these vessels were modified while building to become ASW ships (BPK). All were discarded in the early 1990's after about 20 years' service.
[THUMBNAIL] A Project 1134B "Berkut B" 'KARA' class BPK at sea. An evolved and enlarged version of the 'KRESTA' design, these ships featured gas turbine propulsion and the SS-N-14 missile. This missile is generally listed as an ASW-only weapon, but in fact had a SSM version as well. Most ships of this class served in the Mediterranean.
[THUMBNAIL] 'KARA' class BPK Kerch at Sevastopol, 8/1995. Kerch is one of the surviving 'KARAs'. There are several detail shots of this ship elsewhere in the feature; note the open SS-N-14 launcher. The 'KARA' class ships are generally identified as cruisers, but in fact carried the same designation (BPK) as Soviet destroyers, and their ASW role is more typical of destroyers in western navies.
[THUMBNAIL] Modified 'KARA' class BPK Azov at Sevastopol, 8/1995. Azov was built as a test ship for the SA-N-6 AAW missile system. She spent the first 15 years of her career hidden away in the Black Sea, only leaving its confines for the first time in the 1990's.
[THUMBNAIL] Lead ship of the Project 1155 "Fregat" Udaloy class BPKs at sea. The Udaloys are a modern ASW-oriented design, contemporaries of the SSM-oriented Sovremennyy class ships. They feature a hangar for two ASW helicopters, a rarity in Soviet ships. Several ships of this class, although relatively new, have been taken out of service. Royal Netherlands Navy Photo.
[THUMBNAIL] An excellent midships closeup of Udaloy. Royal Netherlands Navy Photo.
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[THUMBNAIL] Mashall Vasilevsky, another Udaloy class destroyer.

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