Kirov class cruiser

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This article is about first Kirov class cruisers. For the later and heavier class, see Kirov class battlecruiser

The Kirov class (Project 26) cruisers were six vessels built between 1935-1944 for the Soviet Navy: Kirov, Voroshilov, Maxim Gorky, Molotov, Kalinin, and Kaganovich. After the first two ships, armor protection was increased and subsequent ships are sometimes called the Maxim Gorky class.

Kirov served 1937-1974 in the Baltic Sea, and was one of the few large Soviet ships to survive World War II. She was part of the Light Battle Group together with the cruiser Maxim Gorky and nine destroyers.

During the Winter War, she battled with Finnish forts at Hanko and Russarö.

When the German advance in Operation Barbarossa was nearing Estonia, Kirov was the flagship of the evacuation fleet from Tallinn to Leningrad in August 1941. She hit mines but survived, while 50 other Soviet ships were lost.

1941-1944 - The Soviet fleet in the Baltic Sea was mostly blocked in Leningrad and Kronstadt by Finnish and German minefields.

On 4 April 1942 Kirov was sunk in an air attack in the German operation "Eisstoß" by Luftflotte 1, but was raised and repaired during 1943.

During June 1944, Kirov provided fire support for the Soviet Army's attack toward Vyborg. During the 1960s, Kirov served as a training ship, regularly visiting Poland and East Germany.

When Kirov was decommissioned, two gun turrets were installed at St Petersburg as a monument.

Voroshilov and Molotov served in the Black Sea, defending Sevastopol against German attacks. Molotov had British radar installed (probably Type 282 or 285?).

Kaganovich and Kalinin were towed incomplete to Vladivostok. Although both were finished before end of war, they saw no action.

[edit] Specifications

Displacement: 7,880 tons standard, 9443 tons full load
Length: 191 m
Beam: 17.7 m
Draught: 7.2 m
Armament¹:
- 3× 3×180 mm cal 57 guns
- 6× 100 mm cal 56 guns in single mountings
- 6× 45 mm anti-aircraft guns in single mountings
- 4× 12.7 mm AA-machine guns in single mountings
- 2× 3×21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- 2 KOR-1 seaplanes
- 60-150 Mines
Armour:
- Belt 2 inch,
- Deck 2 inch,
- Turrets 3 inch,
- Barbettes 3 inch,
- Conning tower 6 inch
Machinery: 2 shaft geared turbines, with cruising diesels, 6 boilers , 113,000–122,000 hp
Maximum Speed: 36 kt
Complement: 870

¹ Ships were rearmed during war - while rebuilding, AA armament was often increased.

[edit] Ships

Kirov (named after Sergei Kirov) - laid down 22 October 1935, Launched 30 November 1936, Completed 23 September 1938 - built by Ordzhikidze yard Leningrad, Scrapped 1974
Voroshilov (named after Kliment Voroshilov) - laid down 15 October 1935, Launched 28 June 1939, Completed 20 June 1940, built by Marti South yard Nikolayev, Broken up in 1960s
Maxim Gorkiy (named after Maxim Gorky) - laid down 20 December 1936, Launched 30 April 1938, Completed 12 November 1940 - built by Ordzhikidze yard Leningrad Broken up 1958
Molotov (named after Vyacheslav Molotov) later renamed Slava (Glory)- laid down November 1936, Launched 23 February 1939, Completed 14 June 1941, built by Marti South yard Nikolayev, Broken up in 1970s
Kaganovich (named after Lazar Kaganovich) later renamed Petropavlovsk - laid down 1939, Launched October 1943, Completed June 1944- built by komsomolsk-na-Amure dockayrd, Broken up 1960s
Kalinin (named after Mikhail Kalinin) - laid down 1939, Launched April 1943, Completed late 1943, built by komsomolsk-na-Amure dockayrd, Broken up 1960s