Kola-class frigate

Last updated
Class overview
NameKola class (Project 42)
BuildersYantar Yard, Kaliningrad
OperatorsNaval Ensign of the Soviet Union (1950-1991).svg  Soviet Navy
Succeeded by Riga class
Completed8
Lost1
Retired7
General characteristics
Class & type Frigate
Displacement1,900 tons standard
Length96 m (315 ft)
Beam10.8 m (35 ft)
Draught3.2 m (10 ft)
Propulsion2 shaft geared steam turbines, 2 boilers 27,800 hp (20,700 kW)
Speed30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range3,300 nmi (6,100 km; 3,800 mi) at 13.7 kn (25.4 km/h; 15.8 mph)
Complement175
Armament
  • 4× 100 mm guns (B-34) (4×1)
  • 37 mm guns (2×2)
  • 25 mm guns (2×2)
  • MBU-900 anti-submarine rocket launchers (replaced by two RBU-2500)
  • 3× 533 mm torpedo tubes (1×3)
  • 48 depth charges

The Kola class was the NATO reporting name for a group of frigates built for the Soviet Navy in the 1950s. The Soviet designation was Storozhevoi Korabl (escort ship) Project 42. These ships were analogous to World War II era destroyer escorts or German Elbing-class torpedo boats. The programme consisted of only 8 ships as these vessels were considered to be too expensive for series production and the smaller and cheaper Riga-class frigate was built instead. Radars and sonars were fitted.

Contents

Design

The ships were designed for patrolling Soviet waters and escorting convoys. The design process involved a specification issued in 1946 and two design bureau submitted competing designs with both diesel and steam turbine machinery. The hull was welded and longitudinally framed. The machinery suite consisted of alternating boiler rooms and turbine rooms in a unit machinery arrangement. Armament consisted of four single 100 millimetres (3.9 in) dual purpose guns and torpedo tubes.[ citation needed ]

Ships

All ships were built by Yantar Yard, Kaliningrad. They were the first major ships built there after the transfer of the area to Soviet rule following World War II.[ citation needed ]

NameRussianCommissionedFate
SokolСокол (Falcon)1951transferred to the Caspian Sea, scrapped 1970s
BerkutБеркут (Golden Eagle)1952Scrapped 1970s
KondorКондор (Condor)1952Lost in grounding accident near Murmansk 1962
GrifГриф (Vulture)1952Transferred to the Caspian Sea, scrapped 1970s
KrechetКречет (Gyrfalcon)1952Scrapped 1970s
OrlanОрлан (Sea Eagle)1953Transferred to the Caspian Sea, scrapped 1970s
LevЛев (Lion)1953Scrapped 1970s
TigrТигр (Tiger)1953Scrapped 1970s

See also

References