Design and development Sovetsky Soyuz-class battleship

1 design , development

1.1 general characteristics
1.2 machinery
1.3 armament
1.4 fire control
1.5 protection

design , development

design work began in 1935 on new battleships in response existing , planned german battleships, , soviets made extensive efforts in italy , united states purchase either drawings or ships in late 1930s. italian firm of gio. ansaldo & c. proposed ship of 42,000 long tons (43,000 t) standard displacement 9 16-inch (406 mm) guns, in size , appearance similar italian battleship littorio under construction company. u.s. firm of gibbs & cox provided 4 designs; 1 conventional battleship, , 3 hybrid designs combined battleship main armament raised flight deck on central superstructure capable of operating 30 aircraft. while these projects proved useful soviets, decided proceed own designs.

the first tactical-technical requirement (abbreviated in russian ttz) large battleship design issued on 21 february 1936 proved ambitious, specifying 9 460 mm guns , speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) on displacement of 55,000 tons. ttz revised in may 1936 admiral orlov, commander of soviet navy, reducing speed 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph), , weakening secondary , anti-aircraft batteries. few months later admiral orlov further reduced size of battleship 45,000 tons , set size of main guns @ 406 mm. shortly afterward, soviet union signed anglo-soviet quantitative naval agreement of 1937 , agreed follow terms of second london naval treaty limited battleships displacement of 35,560 metric tons (35,000 long tons), although did add proviso allowed them build ships of unlimited size face imperial japanese navy if notified british. yet ttz approved orlov on 3 august ships of 41,500 tons armament of 9 406-millimeter, twelve 152-millimeter (6.0 in), twelve 100-millimeter (3.9 in), , forty 37-millimeter (1.5 in) guns, maximum armor thickness of 380 mm (15 in) , speed of 30 knots.

the design of kb-4, surface ship design bureau of baltic shipyard, selected further development although lead designers convinced larger ship fulfill ambitious requirements. did manage agreement on 22 november 1936 thickening of deck armor raised displacement 47,000 tons. design work continued on basis , technical work completed ship of 47,700 tons in april 1937, designers continued press case larger ships. issue resolved premier stalin @ meeting on 4 july when agreed increase displacement 56,000 tons. forced project begin again.

the timing of redesign proved inauspicious great purge spreading through ranks of military , related industries. original deadline completion of design work 15 october missed, , incomplete version presented navy s shipbuilding administration next month. number of details remained worked out, including final design of machinery plant, 152 mm guns , 100 mm gun mounts. in meantime, extensive , expensive testing conducted on ship s hull form, deck armor , torpedo protection; 27 million rubles spent on experimental work in 1938 alone. on 100 models of hull tested in ship model basin find best hull form , 2 one-tenth-scale launches built @ sevastopol test hull s maneuverability. old steamship fitted replica of design s armor decks , tested against 500-kilogram (1,100 lb) bombs, proving such ordnance penetrate both 40-millimeter (1.6 in) upper , 50-millimeter (2.0 in) middle decks before exploding on armored deck. main armor deck raised 1 deck in consequence , splinter deck added underneath stop bomb or shell fragments might penetrate armor deck. underwater protection system tested on fifteen one-fifth scale models , 2 full-sized experimental barges. these tests proved torpedo belt system of multiple bulkheads superior pugliese system of large tube filled smaller sealed tubes, late incorporate these test results design construction underway time completed in late 1939.

a revised design approved on 28 february 1938 , first ship laid down on 15 july, design incomplete , revised later. trials shaped motor launches suggested hull s propulsive efficiency 1 knot (1.9 km/h; 1.2 mph) less planned, , accepted in november 1938 revision maximum speed of 27.5 knots (50.9 km/h; 31.6 mph). however, new propeller design proved more efficient , predicted increase speed 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph). change deletion of centerline rudder when tests showed 2 wing rudders not able counteract effects if jammed. weight toward stern of boat calculated great, producing substantial stern-down trim. remedy this, 2 100 mm turrets mounted on quarterdeck deleted , height of armor belt abreast rear turret lowered, decision reversed , restored decision of state defense committee on 14 january 1941. forced revision of aircraft arrangements aircraft catapult had removed centerline of quarterdeck; 2 catapults added sides of quarterdeck instead.

general characteristics

as designed, project 23-class ships, sovetsky soyuz , sisters designated, 269.4 meters (883 ft 10 in) long overall. had beam of 38.9 meters (127 ft 7 in) , @ full load draft of 10.4 meters (34 ft 1 in). displaced 59,150 metric tons (58,220 long tons) @ standard load , 65,150 metric tons (64,121 long tons) @ full load, although weight estimates made in 1940 show have exceeded 60,000 metric tons (59,052 long tons) standard , 67,000 metric tons (65,942 long tons) @ full load.

luftwaffe aerial reconnaissance photo of ordzhinikidze yard (shipyard 189), leningrad, showing battleship sovetsky soyuz (top) , cruiser chkalov under construction, 26 june 1941

the hull form full-bodied, @ forward magazines, torpedo protection system added width beam. coupled relatively low length-to-beam ratio of 7.14:1, meant powerful turbines necessary achieve modest speeds. stalin s decision project 23-class ships use 3 shafts instead of 4 increased load on each shaft , reduced propulsive efficiency, although did shorten length of armored citadel , overall displacement. metacentric height designed @ 3.4 meters (11 ft 2 in) , tactical diameter estimated @ 1,170 meters (3,840 ft).

the sovetsky soyuz-class ships provided aircraft facilities handle 2 4 kor-2 flying boats launched 2 catapults mounted on stern. 2 hangars built after end of forecastle deck house 2 of them , cranes provided @ forward end of quarterdeck hoist them out of water.

machinery

the machinery arrangement provided dispersal of machinery spaces, @ cost of long runs wing shafts (ca. 105 meters (344.5 ft)) . turbine compartments wing shafts located forward of boiler room no. 1 , aft of no. 2 turret magazines. engine room center shaft s turbine between boiler room no. 2 , no. 3. meant wing propeller shafts had run underneath boilers.

the steam turbines, , license build them, going ordered cammell laird in united kingdom, £700,000 cost more soviets wanted pay. instead bought them brown boveri, using technical information acquired cammell laird in process, £400,000. 4 single-reduction, impulse-reduction geared turbines ordered swiss firm, 3 equip sovetskaya rossiya , 1 serve pattern factory in kharkiv build remainder. 3 produced total of 201,000 shaft horsepower (149,886 kw). 6 triangle-type water-tube boilers — 2 in each boiler room — powered turbines @ working pressure of 37 kg/cm (3,628 kpa; 526 psi) , temperature of 380 °c (716 °f).

maximum speed estimated @ 28 knots, using revised propeller design, although forcing machinery yield knot. normal fuel oil capacity 5,280 metric tons (5,197 long tons), giving estimated endurance of 6,300 nautical miles (11,700 km; 7,200 mi) @ 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph) , 1,890 nautical miles (3,500 km; 2,170 mi) @ full speed. maximum fuel capacity 6,440 metric tons (6,338 long tons) gave range of 7,680 nautical miles (14,220 km; 8,840 mi) @ 14.5 knots , 2,305 nautical miles (4,269 km; 2,653 mi) @ full speed.

armament

406 mm b-37 single barrel naval gun in mp-10 test mount, 1940

the main armament consisted of 3 electrically powered mk-1 triple turrets, each 3 50-caliber 406 mm b-37 guns. guns depressed −2° , elevated 45°. had fixed loading angle of 6° , rate of fire varied time required re-aim guns. ranged 2.0 2.6 rounds per minute depending on elevation. turrets elevate @ rate of 6.2 degrees per second , traverse @ 4.55 degrees per second. 100 rounds per gun carried. guns fired 1,108-kilogram (2,443 lb) projectiles @ muzzle velocity of 830 m/s (2,700 ft/s); provided maximum range of 45,600 meters (49,900 yd).

the secondary armament consisted of twelve 57-caliber b-38 152 mm guns mounted in 6 dual mk-4 turrets. elevation limits −5° +45° fixed loading angle of 8°. rate of fire varied elevation 7.5 4.8 rounds per minute. provided 170 rounds per gun. turrets elevate @ rate of 13 degrees per second , traverse @ 6 degrees per second. had maximum range of 30,000 meters (98,425 ft) 55-kilogram (121 lb) shell @ muzzle velocity of 950 m/s (3,100 ft/s).

heavy anti-aircraft (aa) fire provided dozen 56-caliber 100 mm b-34 dual-purpose guns in 6 twin mz-14 turrets 400 rounds per gun. ships began construction 4 turrets, 2 additional turrets restored quarterdeck in january 1941. elevate maximum of 85° , depress −8°. traverse @ rate of 12° per second , elevate @ 10° per second. fired 15.6-kilogram (34 lb) high explosive shells @ muzzle velocity of 895 m/s (2,940 ft/s); provided maximum range of 22,241 meters (24,323 yd) against surface targets, maximum range against aerial targets 9,895 meters (32,464 ft), limit of time fuse.

light aa defense handled ten quadruple, water-cooled, 46-k mounts fitted 37 mm (1.5 in) 70-k guns 1800 rounds per gun. 8 mounts planned when ships began construction, 2 more added later, in january 1941, 1 on each side of forward superstructure. each mount enclosed protect crew muzzle blast of larger guns , against splinters. guns fired .732-kilogram (1.61 lb) shells @ muzzle velocity of 880 m/s (2,900 ft/s). effective anti-aircraft range 4,000 meters (13,123 ft).

fire control

each main gun turret given dm-12 12-meter (39 ft 4 in) rangefinder use in local control, controlled 1 of 3 kdp-8 fire-control directors. these had 2 8-meter (26 ft 3 in) stereoscopic rangefinders, 1 track target , other measure range ship s own shell splashes. 2 of these protected 20 mm (0.79 in) of armor , mounted atop rear superstructure , tower-mast. other mounted on top of conning tower , protected 50 mm (2.0 in) of armor. used tsas-0 mechanical computer generate firing solutions. 4 kdp-4t-ii directors, 2 4-meter (13 ft 1 in) rangefinders each, controlled secondary armament. 1 pair on either side of tower-mast , aft pair on each side of aft funnel. 3 spn-300 stabilized directors, each 4-meter rangefinder, controlled heavy anti-aircraft guns. there 1 on each side of forward funnel while other atop rear superstructure.

protection

soviet armor plate plants proved incapable of producing plates of cemented armor thicker 230 mm (9.1 in) forced decision replace cemented plates thicker 200 mm (7.9 in) face-hardened ones less resistance in november 1940. plants tended compensate making thicker plates harder, made them more brittle , large numbers did not pass acceptance tests. have reduced level of protection enjoyed sovetsky soyuz-class ships in combat.

the sovetsky soyuz-class ships devoted total weight of 23,306 metric tons (22,938 long tons) armor protection, greater weight of larger japanese yamato class (23,262 metric tons (22,895 long tons)). armor intended resist 406 mm shells , 500 kg bombs, shells fired forward bearings between 35° , 50° centerline. led unusual situation armor belt thickened toward bow compensate narrowing of ship near forward magazines, had compensated thicker armor. belt 148.4 meters (486 ft 11 in) long , covered 57% of total waterline length. inclined 5° increase resistance flat-trajectory shells. on machinery spaces 375 mm (14.8 in) thick , increased in steps until 420 mm (17 in) thick on forward magazines. 380 mm (15 in) on rear magazine. belt armor carried forward of magazines @ thickness of 220 mm (8.7 in) , terminated in steeply sloped (30°) transverse 285 mm (11.2 in) bulkhead reduced 250 mm (9.8 in) @ lower deck continued down inner bottom 75-millimeter (3.0 in) bulkhead. forward of bulkhead 20 mm splinter belt continued way bow. main armor belt dropped down main deck upper deck abreast aft turret reduce weight. step protected 180-millimeter (7.1 in) plates. 365-millimeter (14.4 in) transverse bulkhead separated rear turret , ship s sides. main part of armored citadel closed off 230 mm forward bulkhead , 180 mm (7.1 in) rear bulkhead, both of homogeneous armor. splinter armor 25 mm (0.98 in) thick covered upper portion of citadel.

the forecastle deck 25 mm thick while upper deck 155 mm (6.1 in) on citadel. below it, 50 mm middle deck acted splinter deck. upper deck 100 mm thick above 220 mm waterline belt extension. bottom edge of forward splinter belt met 65 mm (2.6 in) arched deck. arched deck of same thickness covered stern aft of rear transverse bulkhead.

the main gun turrets had faces 495 mm (19.5 in) thick sides , roofs 230 mm (9.1 in) thick. 180-millimeter (7.1 in) thick plates protected gun ports , 60-millimeter (2.4 in) bulkheads separated each gun. barbettes 425 mm (16.7 in) thick above upper deck. mk-4 turrets had 100 mm faces , 65 mm sides. barbettes 100 mm in thickness, reduced 65 mm on inboard sides. 100 mm of armor protected faces, sides , backs of mz-14 turrets 100 mm guns, roofs , barbettes 100 mm thick. forward conning tower had walls 425 mm thick while rear conning tower had 220 mm (8.7 in). flag bridge in tower-mast had 75 mm (3.0 in) of protection.

the torpedo defense system designed withstand torpedoes warheads equivalent 750 kg (1,653 lb) of tnt. ships intended able remain afloat 5 adjacent compartments flooded or 3 torpedo hits , destruction of unarmored above-water side. pugliese system protected 123 meters (403 ft 7 in) of ships midsection. @ aft end multi-bulkhead protection system extended 33 meters (108 ft 3 in) rear pugliese system. depth of system 8.2 meters (26 ft 11 in) amidships, reduced 7 meters (23 ft 0 in) fore , aft. outer plating ranged 11 14 mm (0.43 0.55 in) in thickness while inner bottom 7 mm (0.28 in) thick. cylinder of pugliese system 7 mm thick while semi-circular main bulkhead 35 mm (1.4 in) thick flat 10-millimeter (0.39 in) bulkhead behind it. 3.15-meter (10 ft 4 in) diameter cylinder intended immersed in fuel oil or water.

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