THE SOVIET NAVY'S KASHIN CLASS DESTROYERS

The 20 vessels of the class were constructed at two yards, five being built at the Zhadanov yard in Leningrad between 1961 and 1966 (taking over the launchways of the KYNDA-class cruisers), and the remaining 15 at the Komuna Yard North in Nikolayev from 1960-1972. All were delivered between 1963-1972, the SDERZHANNYY being the last ship of the class. Unfortunately, one ship, OTVAZHNYY foundered after an explosion whilst on exercise in the Black Sea in 1974 with the loss of over 200 lives. As built, these vessels had a standard displacement of 3,750 tons (4,500 tons full load), with a length of 143.3m. Their revolutionary propulsion system consists of four pairs of gas turbines in a COGAG (Combined Gas and Gas) arrangement, driving two fixed pitch propellers through combined reduction/reversing gearboxes, with a total power output of 94,000shp. Speed from this system is reported as around 35kts, but the operating limits of the gas turbines may have been restricted in practice, giving the ships a normal maximum speed of 30-32kts. This would support the theory that a gas turbine design fault caused the loss of OTVAZHNYY. A penalty of this form of propulsion is the high fuel consumption, resulting in a short operating range for these ships of only 4,500nm at 18kts. Although now considered as obsolete, the "Kashins" will continue to serve as escorts to ASW or surface action groups, or in support of amphibious forces, until the mid-90s when they will undoubtedly be replaced by a new class of vessel in the 6-8,000 ton category.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Navy Intl., 92 (1987), p. 603 (Dec.) [4 pp., 4 phot.]
• Authors:
  • MACLEAN, M
• Publication Date: 1987

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• Geographic Terms: Former Soviet Union
• Old TRIS Terms: Otvazhnyy; Sderzhannyy
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00693136
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 1995 12:00AM