The Project 45 was the destroyer class of a single destroyer, the Opytnyy, meant to experiment with indigenous Soviet shipbuilding. Formerly named Sergio Ordzhonikidze, she would suffer from unreliability and instability, as well as her main armament being cut in half as her twin-130 mm gun turrets would not be ready in time, leaving herself with single-130 mm gun turrets.
OVERVIEW
With a primary armament of 3x 130 mm, the Opytnyy would fit nicely alongside the Frunze and Ognevoy at either 3.7 or 4.0.
Images
Spoiler
HISTORY
The designs for the Project 45 were released in 1934. The destroyer was intended to test a German boiler design, the Wagner-type high-pressure boiler, as a new propulsion system. The boiler was more compact than traditional types but also equally or even more powerful. The Soviets used the Wagner boiler and created their own Ramzin boiler, of which four would be mounted aboard the Project 45.
The lighter, smaller boilers allowed for additional tonnage on the ship. This extra displacement was turned into armament. Originally, it was supposed to carry the same armament as the Project 7 destroyers: four B-13 guns in single mounts and two triple torpedo launchers. However, this design was changed to three twin-130 mm guns (B-31 mount) and two five-torpedo launchers. As a result of the bulk of the new weapons, the only anti-air defense would be one 45 mm 21-K automatic gun and two 12.7 mm DShK machine guns.
She was laid down in June 1935, launched in December of 1936, and commissioned in September 1941. Unlike many Soviet ships of the era, she was predominantly welded. By this time, the primary gun armament had been reduced from three twin turrets to three single turrets, making her firepower even less than that of the Project 7s. This was due to the B-31 twin-130 mm gun turret not being developed in time. The torpedo armament was also changed from two five-torpedo launchers to two four-torpedo launchers. The anti-air armament was (according to most sources) changed to 4x 45 mm 21-K, 3x 37mm 70-K, 2x 12.7 mm DShK in single mounts, and 1x 12.7 mm DShK in a twin mount. It was also given the ability to carry 60 KB-type mines.
Opytnyy served mainly as a floating battery during the Siege of Leningrad. Within one month of being commissioned, she would have her primary armament removed after taking several directs from German artillery. The armament would be reinstated in June 1942, after which she would continue to serve as a floating battery. In March 1944, she was taken back from frontline service, while in June 1945 she was struck from the register and relegated as a testing ship. She would be scrapped in the 1950s.
STATISTICS
Crew
262
Length
113.50 m
Beam (Width)
10.2 m
Draft
3.20-4.8 m (3.98 m commonly cited)
Displacement
Standard: 1572 t
Full: 2016 t
Engine
4x Razmin boilers
2x Steam Turbines
2x 35,000 hp
Speed
40-42 kts (74-78 km/h)
Fuel
372 t
Range
1370 nm (2540 km)
Armor
Hull:
Unarmored
Superstructure:
Unarmored
Primary Turrets:
13 mm front
13 mm sides
Unarmored rear
13 mm roof
Secondary Turrets:
Unarmored
Tertiary Turrets:
Unarmored
Smoke
Yes
Armament
3x B-13
4x 21-K
3x 70-K
2x DShK
1x DShKM-2
8x 53-38 Torpedo
60x KB mines
2x Bomb thrower (possibly BMB-1?)
Primary
3x 130 mm B-13 (Unknown Rounds, probably 900)
Traverse: , 360°, 4.3°/s
Elevation: , -5 to +45°
Secondary
45 mm 21-K x4 (Unknown Rounds, possibly 2000)
Traverse: Manual, 360°, 10.0°/s
Elevation: Manual, -5 to +85°
37 mm 70-K x6 (Unknown Rounds, possibly 6000)
Traverse: Manual, 360°, .°/s
Elevation: Manual, -10 to +85°
12,7 mm DShK x2 (Unknown Rounds, possibly 4000) (Twin)
Traverse: Manual, 360°, 25.0°/s
Elevation: Manual, -34 to +85°
12,7 mm DShK x2 (Unknown Rounds, possibly 4000) (Pintles)
Traverse: Manual, 360°, 25.0°/s
Elevation: Manual, -34 to +85°
53-39 Torpedo (8 Rounds)
Traverse: , 360°, .°/s
SOURCES
1 -
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Эскадренн ... оекта_30-К
2 -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ognevoy-class_destroyer
3 -
https://www.navypedia.org/ships/russia/ ... gnevoy.htm
4 -
http://russianships.info/eng/warships/project_30k.htm
5 -
http://sovnavy-ww2.ho.ua/