Kotlin-class

Summary

Description

The Kotlin-class destroyers were a fleet of Cold War era ships built for the Soviet Navy between 1955 and 1958, under the designation Project 56 Spokoiny, meaning "tranquil". A total of 27 ships were constructed during this period. They served until the late 1980s, when they were decommissioned. Design influences from the Kotlin-class were seen in the subsequent Kildin class and the Chinese Luda class.

The Kotlin-class was conceptualized as a more cost-effective and slightly smaller alternative to the larger Neustrashimy-class destroyer. The initial plan was to build a fleet of 100 ships, but this was substantially reduced due to the shift in focus towards guided missile technology. Eventually, only 32 were ordered. Out of these, four were completed as Kildin class destroyers, while one ship was canceled and 11 were modified for improved anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities as Project 56PLO, or "Kotlin Mod". These modifications included the addition of rocket depth charge launchers.

In 1962, one Kotlin-class destroyer, Bravy, was furnished with the naval version of the S-125 Neva missile system, designated SA-N-1 'Goa'. This system was capable of engaging targets between 4 and 15 kilometers away at altitudes ranging from 100 to 10,000 meters. The Goa system could track a single target at a time and was directed by the 4R90 Yatagan radar. This installation included a dual-arm launcher and under-deck storage for additional missiles. Subsequent to the testing on Bravy, seven other Kotlin-class destroyers were retrofit to carry surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and were recognized by NATO as the Kotlin SAM class or Project 56A. One more was modified for SAM capability and exported to Poland (Project 56AE).

These ships served in various configurations in the Soviet Navy, and in the mid to late 1980s, they were scrapped. The operational history of the Kotlin-class showcases a transitional period in naval warfare, where traditional destroyer roles began to integrate missile technology.

Technical specifications