The Sverdlov-class cruisers, Soviet designation Project 68bis, were the last conventional gun cruisers built for the Soviet Navy. They were built in the 1950s and were based on Soviet, German, and Italian designs and concepts developed prior to the Second World War. They were modified to improve their seakeeping capabilities, allowing them to run at high speed in the rough waters of the North Atlantic. The basic hull was more modern and had better armor protection than the vast majority of the post-Second World War gun cruiser designs built and deployed by peer nations. They also carried an extensive suite of modern radar equipment and anti-aircraft artillery. The Soviets originally planned to build 40 ships in the class, which would be supported by the Stalingrad-classbattlecruisers and aircraft carriers.
The Sverdlov class displaced 13,600tons standard and 16,640tons at full load. They were 210 metres (689ft 0in)long overall and 205 metres (672ft 7in) long at the waterline. They had a beam of 22 metres (72ft 2in) and draught of 6.9 metres (22ft 8in) and typically had a complement of 1,250. The hull was a completely welded new design and the ships had a double bottom for over 75% of their length. The ship also had twenty-three watertight bulkheads. The Sverdlovs had six boilers providing steam to two shaft-geared steam turbines generating 118,100 shaft horsepower (88,100kW). This gave the ships a maximum speed of 32.5 knots (60.2km/h; 37.4mph). The cruisers had a range of 9,000 nautical miles (17,000km; 10,000mi) at 18 knots (33km/h; 21mph).[1]
The Sverdlov-class cruisers' main armament included twelve 152mm (6in)/57 cal B-38 guns mounted in four triple Mk5-bis turrets. They also had twelve 100mm (3.9in)/56 cal Model 1934 guns in six twin SM-5-1 mounts. For anti-aircraft weaponry, the cruisers had thirty-two 37mm (1.5in) anti-aircraft guns in sixteen twin mounts and were also equipped with ten 533mm (21in)torpedo tubes in two mountings of five each.[1]
The Sverdlovs had 100mm (3.9in)belt armor and had a 50mm (2.0in) armored deck. The turrets were shielded by 175mm (6.9in) armor and the conning tower, by 150mm (5.9in) armor.[1]
The cruisers' ultimate radar suite included one 'Big Net' or 'Top Trough' air search radar, one 'High Sieve' or 'Low Sieve' air search radar, one 'Knife Rest' air search radar and one 'Slim Net' air search radar. For navigational radar they had one 'Don-2' or 'Neptune' model. For fire control purposes the ships were equipped with two 'Sun Visor' radars, two 'Top Bow' 152mm gun radars and eight 'Egg Cup' gun radars. For electronic countermeasures the ships were equipped with two 'Watch Dog' ECM systems.[1]
Upon arrival in Port Louis, from February 15 to March 1, 1975 the ship's crew, together with the PM-125,[clarification needed] provided assistance to the population, then suffering from the effects of the tropical hurricane Gervaise, for two weeks.
On 30 January 1979, repairs on the ship began at Dalzavod in Vladivostok. At this point it was relegated to the reserve and removed from active service.[3]
On 5 March 1987, it was disarmed and decommissioned, and struck on 16 September.
In 1990, it was sold to a private firm for breaking in India.[4]
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