World War II Russian Imperial Navy.

Battleships and battle cruisers of the Russian Imperial Navy after WWI.

Evening, May 31, 1918 were solemnly lowered the flags on the flotilla of the Arctic Ocean. FSLO was disbanded, and its ships derived in reserve or excluded from the Navy.
This event was a milestone marking the new phase of the construction of the Russian Imperial Navy and the new, the Mediterranean, the direction of Russian policy.

Closing of the Great War, the Russian fleet caught not in the best condition, compounded by the need to master a new maritime theater - the Mediterranean. Perform standing here in front of the Russian empire task was impossible without a powerful fleet of battleships.
As part of the same fleet was at that time only seven order-dreadnought battleships obsolete, and the same old dodrednoutov not yet have served their sentences, but suitable only for educational purposes. Hastily finishing work three battlecruisers of the "Izmail", which were to become part of the Mediterranean Fleet (fourth, "Navarin", was badly damaged by fire in the summer of 1917, caused by a supposed German agents, and it was decided not to finish building).
By the summer of 1918 adopted a new shipbuilding program had to build 7 new ships of the line, 4 for the Baltic Fleet, and 3 for the Mediterranean. The State Duma adopted the program by cutting, however, the funds allocated in such a way that the displacement of new battleships could not exceed 35,000 tons reluctantly engineers committed, according to V. Kostenko, crime, reducing the projected tonnage of ships, mainly due to the speed to the desired value. The ships were laid on the stocks of plants: ONZiV ("Bospor" and "Tsargrad"), Baltic ("Orjol"), Revel Russian-Baltic ("Pobeda"), Putilovsky ("Warshawa") and Admiralty ("Konigsberg"). Initially, they were listed as the battleships of the "Orjol", but soon, as most of them were named in honor of the Russian victories in the Great War, they became known as battleships of the "Pobeda" ("Victory").

Normal displacement: 35,200 tons Speed: 23 knots.
Power Machines: 40000 hp
Armament: 3x3 406-mm/45, 2x2 and 8x1 152-mm/55, 4x102-mm/45.
Reservations: board (citadel) 280 +100 mm.
Dimensions (the design waterline) 215,4x32,5x9,37 m.

But even before the bookmarks of most of them was an event radically changed the attitude of the State Duma of the construction of the fleet.
In September 1919, the famous Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, the head of his Blackshirts captured belonged to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Rijeka (Fiume former). Kingdom requested the assistance of Russia, and the Mediterranean fleet of three ships of the line, 2 line and 4 light cruisers, 17 destroyers followed, entered the Adriatic Sea. But then intervened in the UK, was sent to the Adriatic 7 battleships and battle cruisers of 5 of its Mediterranean fleet. Russia was forced to retreat.
Investigation into the incident that resulted in an "unprecedented humiliation of the Russian Empire" in the Duma, has resulted in a new shipbuilding program, involves the construction of the Mediterranean Fleet 3 more battleships and battle cruisers 3. It was rumored that after the adoption of the program, managing director of the Russian-Baltic plant sent Commandante D'Annunzio enthusiastic telegram.
In the spring of 1921 on the stocks Revel factory was laid battle cruiser "Varyag", outlines the ideas embodied maximum battleship V. Kostenko, design, back in 1916-1917.

Normal displacement: 45,400 tons.
Speed: 30 knots.
Power machines: HP 120000
Armament: 3x3 406-mm/45, 8x2 152-mm/55, 4x1 102-mm/45.
Reservations: board (citadel) 280 +100 mm.
Dimensions (the design waterline) 244,6x30,4x9,38 m.

The apotheosis of the naval ambitions of Russia began to lay the end of 1921 the battleships of the "Varna". Originally they planned to equip twelve new 42-caliber 18-inch guns, but in order to save and so extremely increased tonnage number was reduced to 10. The lower the bow and stern two-gun turret were made, which is very favorable impact on protecting ships against mines - MIPs were made of the same width throughout the citadel. To lift the seaplane (planned to further establish the third tower catapult) has developed a new model of crane beams.

Normal displacement: 47,600 tons.
Speed: 23 knots.
Power Machines: 60000 hp.
Armament: 3x3 and 2x2 457-mm/42, 8x2 152-mm/55, 6x1 102-mm/45.
Reservations: board (citadel) 305 +100 mm.
Dimensions (the design waterline) 240,8x32,9x9,71 m.

Was conducted in the same design of new battle cruisers ordered ONZiV ("Rossiya") and the Baltic Shipyard, which quickly went construction of a new, located at an angle to the Neva, a large pile. They were initially supposed to be built on the model of the "Varyag", but the information about the design of England there battle cruisers with 8 18-inch guns made haste to correct the project. Now its armament consisted of a 8 457-mm guns located in three towers, and the inferior turbinate was performed two-gun. Displacement has exceeded 50,000 tons
Meanwhile, Marine Department completed the development of a new 15-year shipbuilding program years 1923-1937. By the time of its execution, the Russian fleet was to consist of 32 battleships and battle cruisers 16, that is, taking into account the already constructed and commissioned was to build 22 battleships and battle cruisers 13. The State Duma was horrified by the required allocations to this, the more that Lt. Gen. Krylov slip that soon we can go about building battleships with a displacement of 70-80 thousands tons, armed with 20-inch guns.
Perhaps it was on this at the Washington conference Russia was quite soft stance by agreeing to equality in terms of tonnage ships with the Japanese fleet, but stipulating for the right to complete construction of three battleships with 16-inch guns.
As a result, in the 20s, the Baltic Fleet battleships were "Petropavlovsk", "Gangut" and "Poltava", as well as battle cruisers "Izmail", "Borodino" and "Kinburn", Mediterranean same: the battleships "Bospor", "Orjol", "Pobeda", "Emperor Nicholas I, «Emperor Alexander III» and «Empress Catherine the Great."
According to the agreement in 1930, the London Naval Agreement Russia pledged to withdraw from the Navy all the three ships of the "Gangut", and one of them turned into a training ship, and two hand scrapped. This resulted in the redeployment of the remaining linear forces and, in early 1931, the battleships "Orjol" and "Empress Catherine the Great" have moved to the Baltic (that is, de facto, North Sea Fleet, based in Kiel). The battleship "Orjol" immediately received at the naval wits nickname "Orlov".
Kiel harbor were based on the same battle-cruisers "Borodino" and "Kinburn". In the Mediterranean, were ships of the line, "Pobeda", "Bospor", "Emperor Nicholas I", "Emperor Alexander III" and the battle cruiser "Izmail".


1. BB Bospor 19-21-23 ONZiV (Russud)
2. BB Orjol 19-21-24 Balt. plant
3. BB Pobeda 20-22-23 Russian-Baltic plant
4. BB Konigsberg 20-22-X Adm. plant
5. BB Tsargrad 20-X-X ONZiV (Russud)
6. BB Warshawa 20-X-X Putilovsky plant

1. BC Varyag 21-XX Russian-Baltic plant

7. BB Varna 21-XX ONZiV (Russud)
8. BB Sorokamysh 22-XX ONZiV (Naval)
9. BB Chesma 22-XX Russian-Baltic plant
10. BB Navarin X-X-X Putilovsky plant

3. BC Rossiya X X X ONZiV
4. BC (Untitled) X X X Balt. plant

Used templates from the site http://www.shipbucket.com/

Hey I like! I like!

They have the 16" gunned designs to work with, a lot of planning and so on had gone on with these by 1914, and also modified during the war as a design project (I think that's what your 406mm is anyway)

For the Med, I guess they're basing out of Bizerte, and maybe Lemnos as IIRC the Russians had acquired basing rights in both places pre-WW1

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

I see there is a battleship called 'Tsargrad' so I'm assuming, actually, that as the Empire survives it gets its agreed share of the Ottoman Empire and this has included Constantinople, so no poblem with basing!

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf said:

Hey I like! I like!

They have the 16" gunned designs to work with, a lot of planning and so on had gone on with these by 1914, and also modified during the war as a design project (I think that's what your 406mm is anyway)

For the Med, I guess they're basing out of Bizerte, and maybe Lemnos as IIRC the Russians had acquired basing rights in both places pre-WW1

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

Click to expand...

Thanks for the review benevolent, respected colleague. Sorry could not insert pictures. How is it done?

406-mm gun did before the war, but before the war was projected and 457-mm guns.

Aley said:

Thanks for the review benevolent, respected colleague. Sorry could not insert pictures. How is it done?

406-mm gun did before the war, but before the war was projected and 457-mm guns.

Click to expand...

You seem to have done some pictures right and others wrong. I'm not the right person to ask since I had trouble with it yesterday...

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

Aley said:

Thanks for the review benevolent, respected colleague. Sorry could not insert pictures. How is it done?

406-mm gun did before the war, but before the war was projected and 457-mm guns.

Click to expand...

The best approach is to use off-site images. Find a picture on the internet you want, right-click it, and select "copy image location". Then, when you post a reply, select the image button (top of the reply box, bottom row of buttons, third from right, a picture of mountains with a sun over them on a yellow background). A dialogue box will appear asking you to type a URL in-simply paste in the one you copied earlier.

If the site the image is on doesn't allow image-linking (most do, so this shouldn't be a problem), get an account on photobucket or somewhere and post your images to it, then follow the steps above.

Just curious, what's your POD? Its obvious that the 1917 Revolution was averted, but how?

Battleship "Pobeda"

battle cruiser "Varyag"


battleship "Varna"


battleship "Pobeda" in the early 30's

Mirza Khan said:

The best approach is to use off-site images. Find a picture on the internet you want, right-click it, and select "copy image location". Then, when you post a reply, select the image button (top of the reply box, bottom row of buttons, third from right, a picture of mountains with a sun over them on a yellow background). A dialogue box will appear asking you to type a URL in-simply paste in the one you copied earlier.

If the site the image is on doesn't allow image-linking (most do, so this shouldn't be a problem), get an account on photobucket or somewhere and post your images to it, then follow the steps above.

Just curious, what's your POD? Its obvious that the 1917 Revolution was averted, but how?

Click to expand...

Thank you, dear colleague!

The military coup in February 1917 (and for many this is a military coup disguised as a popular revolution) did not take place because of the sudden death of the Grand Duke Nicholas. As a result, the Allies economically strangle Germany at the end of 1917. Russia won the Straits and Konigsberg, and Russian industry got rid of the intervention of German imports. Poland gained independence in Austria remained a monarchy, and on the thrones of Hungary and Czechoslovakia were planted by the kings of the Russian imperial family. (Poland and Hungary, however, quickly took a hostile stance Russia).
Naturally began competition between Russia and Britain over Iran and other Asian countries.

"Pervenetc" - the world's first aircraft carrier of special construction.


In February 1928 pushed to Iran from Turkmenistan gang Ismail Khan, which had incorporated about 2,000 cavalry broke through in India, under the protection of the British. Thrown to the interception of Kandahar, in agreement with the Iranian government, Astrakhan Dragoon Regiment did not have time - trucks dragoons stuck in the sand, their constant failure forced the regiment to stretch out, creating the danger of annihilation basmachs it in parts. February 2 bandits encamped in Tombedta, then, and has appeared on it the first wave of bombers "De Hevilend-Dux" risen from the aircraft carrier "Pervenetc" located in the Persian Gulf, near the port of Bandar Abbas.
The aircraft flew in two groups of six planes laden 100 pounders four bombs each, with an interval of half an hour. To target only got 11 bombers, one returned due to a fault in the engine, but these machines are more than enough: overclocked with bombs and machine-gun fire bandits were completely demoralized and were partially destroyed, partially captured by dragoons and Iranian allied parts.
Plain, dotted with the corpses of horses and the bodies of hundreds of basmachs was living proof of the effectiveness of naval aviation against ground forces.

Ongoing experiments in England with wheel shipborne aircraft did not go unnoticed in Russia. In the summer of 1917 Commander of the Baltic Fleet, Admiral Nepenin raised the question of building a "deck aviacruiser ", able to pick up and take airplanes in rough weather. Since the construction of a new ship orders overloaded Petrograd factories were practically eliminated, the admiral stated that the close end of the war denied to the point.
Otherwise, things were on the Black Sea. Although Russian amphibious assault case and was knocked out of Constantinople by German troops (the majority of the soldiers and officers managed to cross over to the Asian shore of the Bosphorus), have developed a rapid advance of the front of Turkish pursuing the demoralized Turkish army, left no doubt in the life of the great city and the Straits. In the light of the transformation of the Black Sea Fleet in the Mediterranean Fleet, the building was recognized aviacruiser extremely useful, and this probably contributed to the decision of the emerging strongly, after launching the latest cruisers "Admiral Nakhimov" idle plant Russud.
The initial conceptual design was carried out by designers aviacruiser ONZiV in body size, "Admiral Nakhimov", however, to identify the location of failure in the unit hangar for 10 airplanes made proportionally increase the size of the original project, which led to an increase in tonnage aviakreysera to 11,500 tonnes and a corresponding decrease in the total rate of speed of up to 27.5 knots.
The ship received the symbolic name "Pervenetc" ("Firstborn"), was laid on the slipway Russud in October 1917, and. although after the war, its construction has slowed somewhat in the spring of 1919 was launched in 1920 and became part of the Mediterranean fleet, becoming the world's first aircraft carrier, the special construction.
The first pancake was lumpy!
One of the oddities (to put it mildly) of the project was the presence of mine rails in the rear of the new ship, connected by corridors to a hangar. It was caused by distrust the Naval Staff to a new type of weapon, and the intention in the case of failure to obtain at least a minelayer, when laying the rails in the hangar capable of accommodating up to 600 min. This requirement forced the designers place the hangar deck on the main level.
Themselves designers made a grave mistake by taking the ship's aircraft wingspan of 9.8 meters, while the planned application of the device to the "De-Hevilend Dux" per se was 12.9 m As a result, the aircraft barely passed in a narrow, a width slightly greater than 13 m, the hangar, which could hold 10 such aircraft. Only in 1926, after the modification of the machine with folding wings, loading was increased to 18 aircraft. However, the width of the flight deck was obviously not enough, leading to frequent accidents.
The only lift aircraft located in the bow and had a capacity of 1.8 tons lift was subsequently replaced by a new lift which allowed aircraft weighing up to 3.5 tonnes, which was clearly excessive - such planes on the "Pervenets" has never been based.
Chimneys from three groups of boilers were removed on the right side and combined into a single tube, which was placed in front of a small, narrow superstructure. Mainmast was located just on the right side, serving as a flagpole and support for wireless antennas stretch marks.
The scheme of booking "Pervenets" is fully reproduces the cruisers "Admiral Nakhimov", armament consisted of eight 130-mm guns located in the dungeons, and the initial project, the four 76-mm anti-aircraft guns, replaced prior to the entry into operation on 102-mm.
"Pervenets" played a role of an experimental ship, giving the domestic shipbuilding invaluable experience, but by the end of the 20's so out of date that lost its military significance. After the entry into service of new aircraft carriers program in 1929, it was supposed to translate into the category of training ships.
Aircraft Armament "Pervenets", in the early 30's, accounted for 18 fighter bombers Seversky BI-1.

Normal displacement 11800 tons.
55000 hp. 27.3 knots.
Armament: 18 aircraft, 8x1 130-mm/55, 4x1 102-mm/45 anti-aircraft guns.
Reservations: board 75 mm, 20 mm deck 20.
Dimensions (the design waterline) 187.68 x18,1x6,4 m

Heirs “Noviks." The first post-war destroyers of the Russian Imperial Navy.

When July 3, 1934 Mussolini, exasperated Russian cruisers brazen actions, who detained the Italian court following towards the Suez Canal, declared war on Russia, based on the Split two divisions of destroyers Mediterranean Fleet: Special and third. As part of the 3rd divisions were 8 destroyers of the "Khishny" ("Khodky" was under repair in Sebastopol), but with the outbreak of war he was joined by the Yugoslav leader of the "Dubrovnik".
The first priority the division was the blockade of Trieste, the siege of which the Russian and Yugoslav forces began on July 6.
July 12 were in the patrol destroyers "Khishny", "Khvatky" and "Khmury" found out-of Trieste, the leader of the "Tigre" and the destroyers "Zeffiro" and "Ostro", trying to break in Venice. In the battle which began initially proved to be better the 120-mm guns of the Italians, which was explained by a rather rough seas, but, as the weather began to improve, began to take the upper hand the power of Russian 130-millimeter. Although "Khishny" were disabled two guns, Russian destroyers managed to sink "Zeffiro" and make "Tigre" and "Ostro" to return to Trieste, where they were blown up by the crews of the surrender on July 14.

Adopted in the summer of 1919 construction program of the Russian Imperial Navy provides rapid construction of 27 destroyers of the first stage. 9 of them are destined for the Mediterranean fleet and 18 for the Siberian flotilla.
Originally supposed to be built on the model of their destroyers second Ushakovs series, but it soon became clear that the possibility of modernization "Noviks" completely exhausted. Also revealed a need to increase the caliber of guns, the installation of 533-mm torpedo tubes and increase the cruising range to 3,500 miles. All this required the creation of a new project, called "serial 36-knot destroyer." Developing a new project dragged on, and only in the spring 1920 was passed to the construction project of the Baltic-Russian plant.
At the end of the contest held Russian-Baltic Shipyard has received an order for 10 destroyers, Putilovskaya shipyard at 9 (including one for the Mediterranean Fleet) ONZiV - 8.
The construction was carried out quickly enough and, in the fall of 1921, the head of Revel destroyers built and Nicholas came into operation. In tests they have demonstrated excellent seaworthiness and speed shown 36,5-36,7 knots. The only criticism triggered their artillery weapons, "cruising" 130-mm gun with powder bag loading, were too large for the decks of destroyers, with its limited size, which caused difficulties in loading the guns, and, consequently, a decrease in their rate of fire. In addition, in Italy and France began the construction of the leaders of "animal" series, surpassed "36-knots" on arms.
Last Putilovskaya shipyard destroyer, "Khvatky", was located in the nose of an experienced Tandem 130-mm gun mounts, it is assumed for mass production, with the installation of already built destroyers, but her trial found no advantage in rate of fire - difficulties with loading, increased even more.
Based on the identified deficiencies, it was decided to abandon the construction of the last two destroyers ordered by Russian-Baltic Shipyard (or rather they were Re-on the new project), so the Siberian flotilla received only 16 destroyers of this type.
Since 1922, work began on a new lightweight gun cartridge, designed for destroyers of new projects.

Normal displacement: 1,640 tons Speed: 36 knots.
Power Machines 40000 hp.
Armament: 4x1 130-mm/55, 2x1 37-mm machine, 2x3 533-mm tubes.
Dimensions (waterline): 108,5 x9,8x3,6 m.

The aircraft carrier "Admiral Nepenin."

In August 1934, fighting had been going on already outskirts of Venice. Overcomes the Alps soldiers 4th Russian army together with the Austrian army as successfully moving forward, overcoming fierce resistance Italian bersalers. Light forces of the Russian Mediterranean fleet completely swept Italian ships from the Adriatic Sea, a major force in the Regia Marina idle idle in their bases.
Despite the desperate calls for help Mussolini British government have been slow to joining the war on the side of Italy. The obstacle was several factors: the information about the concentration of Russian amphibious ships in the Sea of Marmara, the transfer to the airfields Gallipoli heavy bombers TB-1 and TB-2, as well as units of paratroopers. The purpose of these ostentatious preparations could only be Crete, whose capture was creating a serious threat to Russian English communications in the eastern Mediterranean and, ultimately, the Suez Canal. Things were no better in the Western Hemisphere - the United States could no problems grab all the British colonies in the West Indies, and even invade Canada. Scattered in several theaters of the Royal Navy could not resist once all of these threats.
August 6, 1934 patrolling south of Crete, the battle cruiser "Izmail" collided with the British battle cruiser "Hood", which, according to Russian intelligence had to be in Scapa Flow. Having recognized the potential enemy "Ishmael" began to retreat to the Nord-Ost to connect with the main forces of the fleet, however, who had the advantage of speed "Hood" is gradually catching up with Russian ship. As it turned out, the British were not plotting anything wrong, just trying to push the "Izmail" from the following in Alexandria troop transports, but the Russian sailors took the threat seriously. With being about a hundred miles an aircraft carrier "Admiral Nepenin" were raised nine dive bombers BIP-1, with an order to hold a "barrage" bombing at the rate of British battle cruiser, to force him to give up the pursuit, "Izmail."
16.10 In the first three, "Seversky" bombed to the stem, "Hood," and one of them exploded less than half of the cable from the Englishman. In response to anti-aircraft gunners opened fire, "Hood", almost immediately knocking dive bomber commander of visiting a second goal three. Aflame airplane crashed into the sea, both crew members were killed.
The third link dive bombers, under the command of Captain M. Rodionov came to a target in 16.35. When the commander's plane bombing at the trapeze was jamming, causing separation bomb was already at the exit of a dive, but actually when pitching. Having described a huge arc, a 500-pound bomb fell between the stern turrets British battle cruiser, breaking through the deck armor and artillery to please right in the cellar, "Hood", it sparked an explosion of monstrous force, tearing housing the world's largest warship.
The next day, Britain declared war on Russia, a day later the United States declared war on England, August 10, Japan declared war on Russia and the United States. The Second World War has become a fait accompli.

Not too successful project aviacruiser "Pervenetc" has not cooled the enthusiasm of the Marine Minister Admiral Nepenin that proposed for redevelopment in the body of an unfinished aircraft carrier battle cruiser "Navarin". According to the minister is one such "aircraft carrier" with dozens of airplanes could provide strategic intelligence for the benefit of the whole fleet, and with luck, "to make an air attack enemy ships."
Designed to order the minister, in 1921, the project involved the strengthening of airborne mine countermeasures ship board boules and, due to the low degree of readiness of the machine and boiler installation, ordering new oil boilers, which allowed, in spite of the increase in displacement, save design speed.
Scheme is modified armor protection battle cruiser, as a powerful booking aircraft carriers are not required. Both the main and upper armor belt was made of 102 mm armor plates, internal Ballistic bulkhead has been eliminated, but the thickness of the upper deck of the former board was increased to 76 mm. In the cellars of the three remaining towers of the main fire is located aviation ammunition (torpedoes and bombs), as well as aircraft fuel tanks.
Hangar deck positioned at the level of the forecastle deck, which allowed to increase the length of the hangar, and when combined with its large width (23.5 m) to provide "ample accommodation airplanes." After the entry into service aircraft carrier took up to 48 planes, then their number was increased to 60, which, however, required more than double the capacity petrol tank. Error designers "Pervenets" does not design room for repair shops that urgently required to build such in the rear part, has been incorporated into the new project: workshops were located on the site of the second cellar turrets requiring repair airplanes dropped them from the hangar deck with a crane. The aircraft carrier had two lift.
At the end of 1921 housing "Navarin" was towed to Revel for completion at the Russian-Baltic Shipyard, and in January 1922, a month after the assassination of Admiral Nepenin an SR-maximalist Bliumkin, got a new name.
The works were carried out on the RBS is not too hastily, allowing to take into account national and international experience operating aircraft carriers. Since the project originally envisaged due to put out the spring-loaded plate speed of the aircraft were replaced prior to entry into service mechanical rope arrester already authenticated to "Pervenets", which replaced during the voyages of several types of "braking devices", stretched over the deck of the networks to cable stretched hanging overboard sandbags.
Shortly before the entry into service has been changed on the model of British aircraft carrier "Eagle" configuration of the bow of the ship, which increased the length of the flight deck. Unfortunately it is not subject to corrective main design flaw: the lack of gallery above the hangar deck, which did not provide the rigidity of the upper deck and is not allowed to install the hydraulic catapult take-off of airplanes with no way through the ship.
In 1925 he graduated from the test "Admiral Nepenin" became part of the Mediterranean fleet, becoming the largest ship of the Russian Imperial Navy, resulting in the following year was classified as a battle aircraft carrier.
In 1934, the air group "Admiral Nepenin" consisted of 24 scouts torpedo Tupolev RBT-2, 18 fighter bombers Prokofiev-Seversky BIP-1 and 15 fighter Polikarpov I-7.


Displacement: 34,600 tons (standard) 37300 tonnes (full).
80000 hp - 27.5 knots.
Armament: 60 aircraft, 130-mm/55 24x1, 8x1 102-mm/45 anti-aircraft guns, 4x1 37mm gun.
Reservations: belt 102 mm, deck 76 mm + 50 mm.
Dimensions (waterline): 222,4x35,2x9,2 m

really really nice drawings, I wish I could do stuff like this for my Tiger Tiger story.

sharlin said:

really really nice drawings, I wish I could do stuff like this for my Tiger Tiger story.

Click to expand...

Only Paint.NET, colleague, and templates from the site: http://www.shipbucket.com/
I have about a hundred ships, for its three alternative histories did.

Destroyers like "Shalnoj"

Destroyers like "Shalnoj"

August 10, 1934 Russia issued an ultimatum of Greece, demanding to withdraw British troops from Crete. Greece, which with good intentions could not meet this requirement, refused and the next day Russia declared war Greece, which was, however, a mere formality, because the landing craft Mediterranean fleet has been at sea.
The morning of April 12 on the island attacked a large group of three-engine bombers TB-1. British fighters managed to shoot down one a giant machine, but that their success is limited and - coming up fighters I-7 and BI-1 raised from aircraft carriers "Admiral Nepenin" and "Pervenetc" tied combat aircraft defense of Crete, and when the British withdrew to refuel, the island seemed are even larger four-engined TB-2 and in the sky dome parachutes blossomed.
Skydivers were few, a little more than three hundred, but popular rumor quickly brought this number to several thousand. Greek garrison in a panic rushed to the eastern-free, as they said, from the landing of Crete, the British also took off some of its forces from the coast, sending them to the interior of the island to catch the skydivers, which ensured a successful amphibious landing. August 14 was captured by the Russian port of Chania, which accelerated the unloading of transport ships.
England sensed a serious threat began to insist that the Italian fleet finally mobilized their considerable power, having made a raiding operation in the Aegean Sea.
August 15th Division, the Italian "Condottieri" out to sea and is ideally missed in the dark with Russian patrols, passed the Strait of Kythira. Here, "Alberto di Giussano" and "Bartolomeo Colleoni" lost ships and going ahead aimlessly strayed, we went back home, safely returned to Taranto, the two remaining the same "lucky" - in the darkness before the dawn "Giovanni delle Bande Nere" and "Alberico da Barbiano" show six Russian amphibious ships, each of which is located at 10 tanks "V-6 ".
Provide cover for the convoy light cruiser "Admiral Lazarev" and two destroyers-Novick, but suddenly rushing to attack the Italians old Russian cruiser was a serious opponent. Its 75 mm armor belt well protected from the 152-mm shells, fire a Russian 130-mm was enough to cause severe damage to virtually unarmored Italian cruisers. A senior officer of the Russian cruiser, Captain 2nd Rank N. Kuznetsov, replacing the killed in the first minutes of the battle commander, skillfully directed the battle, decisively maneuvering, firing from both sides, so that the Order of St. George 4th degree and the rank of captain of the 1st rank, in the opinion of the officers of the fleet, it was well deserved.
Unable to stand, the Italians began to withdraw to the south, but turned his attention to trying to chase them "Lazarev", is not even noticed him heading into the sunrise with a gray shade, so a brand new Russian destroyers, torpedo salvo was probably the most productive in history. In "Alberico da Barbiano" got four torpedoes, and in "Giovanni delle Bande Nere" as many as seven. According to the memoirs of the commander "Shshedry" Captain 2nd Rank S. Ovtsyn, caught closest to perishing cruiser, his whole left side was a solid hole. "Giovanni delle Bande Nere" capsized and sank in a matter of seconds, "Alberico da Barbiano" stay afloat even as much as fifteen minutes, having to lower the flag.


Already become apparent in the testing of the first destroyers disadvantages of arms "36-node" was forced to begin the work of creating a new artillery system, which has separate-case loading. Having conducted numerous experiments with the size-weight models of projectiles and charges of different caliber, was selected 29 kg 120 mm projectile, which allows for maximum long-term rate and the convenience of charging a narrow, moving deck. The new gun mount with the gun for 55 caliber projected Obukhov factory in two versions: one-gun and two-gun.
The development of a new destroyer project took place at maximum savings. The recent cessation of construction of battleships and battle cruisers of the program in 1919 has led to serious financial difficulties - the amount paid to private factories penalty was announced only at a closed session of the State Duma, which caused obstacles to the further financing of the construction of the fleet from her. But the program's 1924-1929 was to build 10 new cruisers.
In the end, decided to limit the construction of two new divisions of destroyers, one for the Baltic and Mediterranean fleets, which were to replace the old output in reserve destroyers of the "Derzky" and "Schastlivy" as well as the eight most worn Baltic "Orphej" and "Novik". For the planned 18 ships were added two destroyers for the Siberian Flotilla, the construction of which was previously postponed.
In the end, it was decided to "limit" to limit the displacement of the destroyers of the new series, reducing the capacity of MAL to 36,000 hp, which allows you to bypass the four steam boilers with improved performance instead of the five available on the previous series, dropping the speed to 35.5 knots.
In this Naval General Staff showed displeasure insufficient, in his opinion, the number of torpedo tubes on the destroyers of the "Khishy" demanding place for new ships, three four-pipe torpedo tubes. As a result, their characteristics, preliminary design of the project has come to resemble the original Noviks, with 12 torpedoes and two two-gun salvo 120-mm gun mounts located in the extremities.
Soon, however, the structure of weapons has been revised in the direction of strengthening artillery and improve its survivability - Naval General Staff preferred setup feed guns in one-gun settings by going to reduce the number of torpedoes in a volley to ten, with the installation of two five-funnel torpedo "the new model."
Was improved layout 37mm machine, increasing their angle of fire, fueled by the refusal of the two boats, which, as practice shows, "could be successfully replaced by life rafts."
The best of the project under consideration was recognized Putilovskaya shipyard, the model for which were adopted the contours of the torpedo boat such as "Uprjamyj."
As a result of the trades Russian-Baltic Shipyard has received an order for five destroyers, three of which were intended for the Mediterranean fleet, and two for the Siberian flotilla Putilovskaya shipyard on the Baltic and six ONZiV for Mediterranean. Ordered three more for the Baltic Fleet destroyer suddenly got Creighton plant in Turku, recently spent a full reconstruction of the production.
All twenty destroyers like "Shalnoj" entered into service in the Navy 1927-1928, respectively.


Displacement: 1,290 tons (standard), 1670 tons (full). Speed: 35.5 knots.
Power Machines 36000 hp
Armament: 1x2 and 3x1 120-mm/55, 2x1 37 mm machine, 2x5 533-mm tubes.
Dimensions (waterline): 101,1 x9,7x3,5 m.

Kasos.

In mid-August 1934 in Crete prevailing situation was described as extremely unstable. English and gradually comes to life Greek Russian troops offered more stubborn resistance, defending turned into almost completely surrounded Heraklion subjected to continuous aerial bombardment and shelling from the sea. However, Russian forces are constantly increasing, due to the transfer of forces across the Aegean Sea, was under the complete control of the Mediterranean Fleet.
Commander located in Alexandria compound "M" Admiral Mole had already to wait released from Singapore battleships "Warspite" and "Malaya", but the threat of complete capture of Crete Russian did not give him time for it. However, his three ships of the line was, according to the English commander, enough to "restore order in the Aegean Sea, and the show finally snub the power of His Majesty's Navy."
August 19 Mole withdrew its battleships "Revenge", "Royal Oak" and "Resolution" in the sea, sending a squadron to the strait between the island of Crete and Kasos.
The morning of August 20 British ships were found with Russian air reconnaissance airplanes and went out into the traverse Kasos, Mole saw him leaving the flank of the main forces of the Russian Mediterranean fleet, consisting of four ships of the line, followed by five cruisers and fifteen destroyers.
The battle began at 13.20 and although Russian is constantly trying to regroup in order of bearing to gain advantage at the expense of large-angle firing their guns, Admiral Mole managed to fend off their action, leaning toward Kasos, with the result that, during the fight, the two squadrons have bypassed the island from the north.
Having an advantage in speed squadron, the British were somewhat ahead Russian columns, allowing them to concentrate fire all their ships on the flagship battleship "Bospor". Russian were dispersed fire, "Bospor" shot at the head "Revenge", "Pobeda" for "Royal Oak" and the battleships of the Second Brigade "Emperor Nicholas I» and «Emperor Alexander III» on "Resolution". Both attempts of British destroyers out in the torpedo attack was parried mine fire guns Russian battleships and cruisers coming out to meet the enemy.
At 15.40 the British ships were attacked nines raised from the aircraft carrier "Admiral Nepenin" torpedo airplanes, which happened in spite of the courage of Russian pilots, unsuccessful, although one of them dropped torpedoes was just a few meters from the stern "Revenge." Two Russian airplane at the same time were shot down.
At 16.05 "Resolution" said the flagship of the received extremely unpleasant contact with Russian 12-inch shell, which came under the armor belt. A shell exploded in the boiler room, which led to its sinking battleship and forced to reduce speed. However, fighting continued.
About 17 hours to the battle came the battle cruiser "Izmail" accompanied by three destroyers, but did not participate in combat, while remaining at a distance.
At 17.48 add-English ships resounded with shouts of joy: a dead hard on the nose "Bospor", which has long been out of commission the second tower, left the system, moving to the north, hiding behind buildings remaining Russian ships. But the joy was premature English - order them now beaten three battleships confronted almost intact Russian battleships, with "Izmail" in reserve. "Resolution" took more than a thousand tons of water on it, as on the "Royal Oak" acted only two towers, one of the towers had been put out of action and on the "Revenge."
Realizing that further continuation of the fight could result in the loss of all the ships of the line, Mole came out of the battle, sending a squadron to the south, in the strait between the islands of Karpathos and Kasos. Russian fleet did not pursue them, busy escorting the severely damaged "Bospor".
At dawn the next day the British squadron was attacked by Russian dive bombers were unsuccessful, but in Alexandria returned only two ships squadron - the wounded, "Resolution" sank only eighty miles from the port, though most of the crew were rescued.
An hour later, after returning to Alexandria, "Royal Oak" sat down on the ground, due to uncontrolled flooding.
August 26, leaving from Port Said battleship "Malaya" hit a bottom mine, retiring permanently damaged. On the same day, no one knows what has appeared in the North Sea, an American submarine sunk near the Orkney Islands battleship "Queen Elizabeth".
Aug. 25 fell Heraklion, and 28 remained in Crete surrendered British and Greek troops.
On the same day, British Prime Minister J. Ramsay MacDonald wrote in his diary: "I think the Eastern Mediterranean has been lost for the Royal Navy."

Battleship «Emperor Alexander III» in 1934.

I may have to ask ye for help with some designs in the future

sharlin said:

I may have to ask ye for help with some designs in the future

Click to expand...

Always happy to help if I can.

Heavy cruiser type "Osljabja."

"Peresvet" die slowly and painfully. British ships in sight instead of a slender silhouette Russian cruiser loomed pile wrapped in smoke, but still does not want to sink a torn metal, constantly illuminates the outbreaks of new and emerging gaps. Only the second bow tower, still has not received a single hit, continued its rare gathered around the fire on "Peresvet", as if the hunting dog cornered wolf, the British cruisers.
Finally Russian cruiser began to quickly take a nose while careening to the left side, and at 18.10 capsized and sank. Of the more than 800 members of his crew were rescued by the British only 23 people.


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In the middle of September 1934 Russian intelligence revealed displacement activity of the British forces in the cruising area east of the British Isles and the south - to the Strait of Gibraltar. This was facilitated by the action in the Atlantic, American cruisers, will complicate the British transports from the South American and African colonies. As a result, Marine General Staff planned to hold its own cruise operation of the Norwegian coast.
For raiding was isolated heavy cruiser of the Baltic Fleet "Peresvet", prompting protests commander of the Baltic Fleet, under whom there were only three such ships. Vice-Admiral Kosinski believed that even if conceived raid will end well, "Peresvet" will have to go to the Romanov-on-Murman, where he is likely to be blocked and will be out of action until the end of the war. However, Marine General Staff insisted on its decision and evening of September 26 "Peresvet" was released into the sea. Successfully passing in the dark Danish straits, the cruiser headed north, and at noon on the 28th, found the first production - British ship, laden Norwegian ore. However, not had time to "Peresvet" plunge into the boats Disembarkation party, both in the West have been found a few smokes, apparently belonging to the warship. Raised seaplane approaching ships identified as two heavy and two light (such as «D») cruiser.
Leaving the rest of English ore carrier, "Peresvet" rushed farther north and was able to break away from the pursuers, but the next day found three more coming to meet him British cruisers. On the Russian ship did not know that for a long time under the supervision of reconnaissance airplanes from an aircraft carrier "Glòries" and the British Admiralty was not going to miss caught up in the clutches of their prey.
"Peresvet" changed course, heading to the Faroe Islands, not knowing that after the war, the British put in there, in agreement with Denmark a naval base.
At dawn on September 30, signalers Russian cruiser saw the smoke of the British ships surround "Peresvet" on all sides. Raised from a catapult seaplane with two volunteers - a pilot lieutenant Jazykov and airplane observer conductor Ivanov, who knew that they would have nowhere to go back, because the cruiser will not be able to stop to pick them up, found four heavy and seven light British cruisers. The best news was that with the east are only two British light cruisers, which gave "Peresvet" a chance to escape from the trap.
Alas, the pilots made a mistake, the cruiser, the battle which took "Peresvet" were not easy "C", and heavy like "Hawkins", which after the war was returned to the 190-mm guns. During the fight, "Peresvet" managed to inflict damage "Frobisher", forcing him to withdraw from the battle, But the Russian cruiser suffered heavy losses: has been disabled bow tower of the main fire, and the main aft engine room flooded, and "Peresvet" significantly reduced stroke .
More and more, the approach to the battle, the British cruisers opened fire on the doomed Russian ship, thereby bringing the inevitable denouement.

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The first post-war years 1919-1923 shipbuilding program. provided in addition to the construction of battleships, bookmark eight new light cruisers, four of which were intended for the Baltic and the Mediterranean fleet to four. Although, following the adoption in 1920 of the program of construction of additional ships to the Mediterranean Sea, the construction of the light cruisers had been postponed for financial reasons, planning and design work on them continued.
Projected cruiser had to be adopted from the 9 178-mm 60-caliber guns in the decked-panel-mounted units, work on the establishment of which were conducted in parallel the development of the project. One such instrument was located on the forecastle, two in the stern, linear-sublime, and 6 at the board. This scheme allows to maintain the log fire with 6 guns and propeller of 5 and 4, at the bow and stern, respectively.
However, after 1922 the ratio to a decked-panel installations beginning to change into a negative. Information on the construction of new cruisers with 6x2 140-mm tower plant in Japan, and with 4x2 155-mm in France, and made the Russian designers think seriously about the tower project cruisers. As a result, there was a project cruiser with three three-gun 178-mm turret systems situated linearly, but that option did not satisfy the Marine General Staff. It was noted that services for medium guns in such plants with manual loading, considerable difficulties, which could lead to a decrease in rate of fire. The very location of the middle of the tower made it impossible to fire in the forward and aft. It was recommended to go to the two-gun turret guns with 203-mm caliber, providing easy loading and the corresponding maximum allowable rate under the Washington Treaty. Four of these towers were to be arranged linearly exalted in pairs in the bow and stern of the ship.
The primary purpose of the new cruisers are the further exploration in the interests of a squadron of battleships, during which they could face the numerically superior forces of the enemy cruisers. Given that most of the available English and Japanese light cruisers were armed with 140-152-mm guns, was considered sufficient protection Citadel 76 mm belt-hardened armor. Tip of the protected 25 mm homogeneous armor. However, not removed, and the task of protecting linear forces to attack enemy destroyers, what are the required capability of firing at several targets at the same time (at least two). To do this, the projected cruiser received two command-ranging post, instead of the originally anticipated one on the foremast, and instead of light mainmast established a powerful tripod.
Remained unsolved problem by increasing the survivability of the cruisers on the location of the engine and boiler room echelon pattern. Fear of increasing the tonnage in excess of the permissible under the Washington Treaty, the designers have arranged it on classical linear pattern, with the placement of eight boilers in four boiler rooms, and turbo-toothed units - in two. However, between the engine rooms arranged cellar ammunition anti-aircraft guns, which reduced the probability of flooding of two turbine units as a result of a torpedo hit the bulkhead between the two.
The order for the construction of four cruisers to the Baltic Fleet received Baltic and Admiralty plants, and four Mediterranean - ONZiV.
The construction of the cruisers was quite slow, which was primarily due to delayed production of high-power turbo-toothed units previously not been produced in Russia, with the result that the almost simultaneous laying of such a large series of large cruisers were censured. Marine General Staff stated that build these ships could not parallel and in series, putting the second of each ordered pair on the same stocks as the first, after the launching, which could speed up the construction of the first four cruisers. Only in the spring of 1929 came, finally, in order of building of Nikolaev "Tsargrad", and two years after the last series cruiser - "Ioann Groznyj."
Already in the course of completion afloat, cruisers began to be equipped with catapults the company "Heinkel", the first three of which were received from Germany and the rest are made in Russia under license. From the previously projected crane on the main mast refused, setting two cranes in the second chimney, which allowed the second place seaplane between the pipes. Due to unplanned installation of catapults and cranes had to shift to the nose install 102-mm anti-aircraft guns, making it difficult for them to deliver ammunition, so that had to be installed next to them increased size fenders to keep the shells.
In 1933, the cruisers of the "Osljabja" extra set 2x2 37-mm anti-aircraft machine gun and 4x1 13.2-mm machine gun, "Hotchkiss".
At the end of 1931, the heavy cruiser "Ioann Groznyj" was listed in the Mediterranean fleet, which included and met the new war.

1. Osljabja 1925-1926-1929 Balt. plant
2. Tsargrad 1925-1927-1929 Nawal
3. Rossija 1925-1928-1929 Russud
4. Dmitry Donskoy 1925-1928-1930 Balt. plant
5. Varna 1925-1928-1929 Russud
6. Peresvet 1925-1928-1930 Adm. plant
7. Ioann Groznyj 1926-1928-1931 Adm. plant
8. Sorokamysh 1926-1928-1930 Nawal


Displacement: 9,950 tons (standard) 13600 tonnes (full).
Armament: 203-mm/55 4x2, 6x1 102-mm/45 guns, 4x1 37mm automatic, 2x3 533-mm tubes.
Reservations: board 76 mm, 50 mm deck.
Power: 120000 HP. Speed: 34 knots.
Dimensions (waterline): 193,4 x20,2x6,6 m.
Cruising range of 7,000 miles (15 kt)

Heavy cruiser "Rurik".

In the evening, Oct. 10, 1934 Russian cruisers at the harbor entrance of Pearl Harbor. The crews of American battleships, cruisers and destroyers lined up along the sides of their ships, while welcoming the heroes, literally escaped from the world. Very impressive-looking heroes: Grinning ragged remnants of metal hangar "Rurik", riddled with shrapnel add "Avrora" and torpedo a gaping hole in the side of "Pallada", made a lasting impression on the Americans.

After Japan declared war on Russia, who was in Vladivostok cruisers team Siberian flotilla was considered reliably locked. Rapid capture by Japanese forces north of Sakhalin and the landing of Japanese troops on the Kamchatka Peninsula (where they are quickly drawn into the endless and brutal guerrilla war with the local population), deprived of the Siberian flotilla of ships maneuvering bases. For almost two months, Russian cruiser stood on the roads of Vladivostok, not even leaving port to cover the emerging groups in search of destroyers and almost accustomed to the idea of the Japanese command, it will last forever.
The operation was prepared long and hard. Within three weeks of submarines "G12" and "Osjotr" monitored the passage of the Japanese ships through La Perouse Strait. In this case, the submariners were strictly forbidden to attack even the most appetizing target. By the end of September, the overall picture of Japanese minefields and safe waterways has been brought to the operational headquarters of the card in the flotilla.
Late in the evening of September 28 headed "Rurik" squad secretly left Vladivostok. Dawn September 29 Russian ships found at the entrance to the La Perouse Strait. Sticking paravanes-trawl, the cruiser entered the strait, which is still hooked on the edge of the minefield that was evident of two undercutting paravanes-trawl min. However, the crossing of the Straits was successful and the cruiser came into the Okhotsk Sea.
After passing through the Strait of Catherine, Russian cruiser headed south along the Lesser Kuril Ridge, and soon discovered the Japanese steamer, returning empty from Kamchatka, the Japanese vessel had radio operators to transmit an alarm signal. Transplant the Japanese team in the sinking boat and cargo ship, the squad continued the journey to the south. Boat sunk with the ship, were soon discovered by the Japanese seaplane, which delivered the captain and several officers of the ship to Japan, where they reported the direction of movement of the Russian squad.
Accordingly, the information received, the Japanese Navy began to concentrate his forces to the east of Tsugaru Strait, and reconnaissance aircraft fleet to concentrate flights along the eastern coast of Hokkaido. In this area, Russian awaited integral connection the Japanese fleet, which included, in addition to the heavy cruisers, two battlecruisers of the "Congo" and aircraft carriers "Ryujo" and "Hosho", but on October 2 was received from a submarine, discovered the Russian squad away in the ocean . Russian cruisers went to Hawaii!
Further persecution of Russian ships has assumed located in the area compound consisting of an aircraft carrier "Akagi" and six cruisers. Catch up with the Russian squad they could, but the airplanes operated from the aircraft carrier has been extremely active: they attack followed one after the other, with their main "customer" for some reason was going in the middle of the order, "Avrora". No contact with her has been reached, but similar bombs exploding body tremors caused a negative impact on the mechanisms and debris defeat deck and calculation of anti-aircraft guns (out of service about 60 people). October 7, high-explosive bomb was split left the hangar "Rurik", and the 8th torpedo hit in the nose received the "Pallada". All this fun cost the Japanese in eight downed airplanes, but also the speed of Russian troop decreased, which in principle allowed by the Japanese cruisers rely on their successful interception.
But the Hawaiian islands were already quite close.
October 9, Russian ships appeared over American fighters shot down in the course of two Japanese torpedo and thoroughly cooled the ardor of the samurai warrior. Then there was the red carpet at Pearl Harbor.

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Japan's massive construction of new fast and well-armed light cruisers could not but cause concern Russia. The available in the Far East, light cruisers "Muravjov Amurskij" and "Admiral Essen" (former German "Konigsberg") is rapidly becoming obsolete, losing the combat value, primarily because of the lack of speed of travel. Therefore, in addition to the eight cruisers destined for the Baltic and Mediterranean fleets, the program years 1924-1929. included the construction of two cruisers for the Siberian flotilla orders are received Putilovskiy and Revel Russian-Baltic plants.
Since the purpose of the Far Eastern cruisers considered not intelligence, and action on the communications of the enemy, the The Naval Staff found it possible to reduce their speed compared to the basic design, thereby to increase the cruising range, place the engine and boiler room on the echelon pattern and strengthened somewhat armor protection. At the same time, reduces the need for maneuverability of ships, eliminating the second steering, and abolished the requirement of doing artillery fire at several targets simultaneously.
An important feature of the project "Far East cruisers" was the presence of cruisers already adopted in the drafting of a catapult for reconnaissance seaplanes, and logically follows from this idea of hiding fragile devices in special hangars. Although originally intended to equip the projected cruiser four seaplanes, in hangars fit only two, but the third had to be stored directly on the catapult. From the fourth seaplanes had to be abandoned.
Russian-designed air defense Baltic factory cruiser was originally represented only by four 102-mm guns, but the information obtained on the construction of the Japanese aircraft carriers forced to change the project - in the course of construction of the 102-mm guns had doubled.
Cruiser, called "Rurik", was laid on the slipway Russian-Baltic plant in the summer of 1926, and in late 1929, became a member of the Siberian flotilla.

"Rurik" 1926-1928-1929 Russian-Baltic plants

Displacement: 9,990 tons (standard) 14200 tonnes (full).
Armament: 203-mm/55 4x2, 8x1 102-mm/45 guns, 4x1 37-mm automatic, 2x3 533-mm tubes.
Reservations: board 90 mm, 51 mm deck.
Power: 100000 HP. Speed: 32,5 knots.
Dimensions (waterline): 184,7x20,9x6,6 m.
Cruising range of 10,000 miles (15 kt).