Kola-class

Summary

Description

The Kola class, identified by NATO as a class of Soviet frigates, was a series of ships developed for the Soviet Navy during the 1950s. Known in the Soviet Union as Storozhevoi Korabl Project 42, these frigates were built to serve purposes equivalent to World War II era destroyer escorts or the German Elbing-class torpedo boats. However, the production of the Kola class was limited to only 8 ships due to high costs, prompting the Soviet Navy to opt for the more economical Riga-class frigates. These ships were equipped with radars and sonars to fulfill their designed roles.

Intended for patrolling Soviet waters and escorting convoys, the conception of the Kola class frigates began with a specification issued in 1946, leading to competitive designs from two different design bureaus, each proposing versions with either diesel or steam turbine machinery. The final design chosen featured a longitudinally framed welded hull and a machinery configuration of alternating boiler and turbine rooms, known as a unit machinery arrangement. Their armament was notable, comprising four single 100 mm dual-purpose guns and torpedo tubes, providing both anti-ship and anti-aircraft capabilities.

Technical specifications