Storozhevoy-class destroyer

File:Soobrazitelnyy.jpg The Soviet destroyer Soobrazitel'nyi
Class overview
Operators	Soviet Union
Built	1936-42
In service	1940-1960
Completed	18
Lost	9
Retired	9
Preserved	0
General characteristics
Displacement	1695 tons standard 2100 tons full load
Length	112.86 m
Beam	10.2 m
Draught	4.1 m
Propulsion	2 shaft geared turbines 4 boilers 54,000 hp
Speed	36 knots
Range	1700nm @ 16 knots
Complement	207 271 wartime
Armament	4 × 130 mm guns (4x1) 2 × 76 mm guns 3 x 37mm AA guns 4 x 12.7mm machine guns 6 × 533mm torpedo tubes (2x3) 60 mines

The Soobrazitel'nyi class were destroyers built for the Soviet Navy in the early 1940s. The Soviet designation was Type 7U or Ulutshenyi (improved). The ships fought in World War II. They were modifed versions of the Gnevny class destroyers. The design was finalised in 1936 after initial disappointments with the Type 7 ships. The main changes were unit machinery (four boilers instead of three), a strengthened hull and reduced fuel capacity. The anti-aircraft guns were re-sighted to improve firing arcs.

Yakubov and Worth state that the change to unit machinery was due to an incident when HMS Hunter was stopped due to machinery damage by a mine during neutrality patrols in the Spanish Civil War. The incident reported at a meeting where Stalin was present and he ordered that the ships be redesigned with unit machinery in order to enable a ship to move in case one of the two boiler or engine rooms were incapacitated. This change in design saved the Slavniy following mine damage in 1941 but led to a considerable delay in the Soviet destroyer programme and the cancellation of 6 type 7 ships.

Fitting the extra machinery in the same hull preseted significant challenges, leading to an increase in weight, cramped accommodation and reduction in fuel capacity. These changes led soviet sailors to call the type 7u, 7 ukhudshennyi (ухудшенный, made worse).

Later in the war electronic equipment such as radar and sonar were supplied by the Allies for these ships.

Ships

Baltic Fleet

Ship	Builder	Commissioned	Career
Sil'nyi Сильный (Strong)	#190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad	12 April 1941	Heavy action during the Baltic Fleet's fighting withdrawal from the Baltic States and subsequently in the defense of Leningrad. Became target ship TsL-43 on 29 February 1959. Sold for scrapping at Tallinn 21 January 1960.
Storozhevoi Сторожевой (Protective)	#190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad	12 April 1941	During minelaying operations in June 1941 Storozhevoi was torpedoed by the German E-boat S.31 and subsequently drydocked at Kronshtadt, where she received further damage during the Siege of Leningrad. She was repaired using the bow section of the incomplete Ognevoi class ship Organizovannyi, and refitted with a twin turret forward instead of two singles. Reclassified as a training destroyer in February 1956 and scrapped at Liepaja in 1958-59.
Serdityi Сердитый (Enraged)	#190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad	12 April 1941	Lost on 19 July 1941 near Moon Sound after suffering bomb damage the previous day. Wreck raised and broken up 1949-52.
Slavnyi Славный (Glorious)	#189 Ordzhinikidze Yard, Leningrad	31 May 1941	Served throughout the war in the Baltic, including the defense of Tallinn in July 1941. Target ship from 1960. Scrapped at Liepaya in 1964.
Smelyi Смелый (Valiant)	#189 Ordzhinikidze Yard, Leningrad	31 May 1941	Mined in Irben Strait and scuttled by Soviet motor torpedo boat TKA-27 late July 1941.
Stoikiy Стойкий (Steadfast)	#189 Ordzhinikidze Yard, Leningrad	12 April 1941	Renamed Vitse-Admiral Drozd on 13 February 1943. Became target ship TsL-54 in 1960. Sank in storm near Cape Taran on 2 July 1960.
Strashnyi Страшный (Frightening)	#190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad	22 June 1941	Commissioned during trials after Operation Barbarossa began. Badly damaged by a mine on 16 July 1941 and subsequently helped support ground forces during the Siege of Leningrad. Became training station UTS-83 in April 1958. Sold for scrap 12 January 1960.
Surovyi Суровый (Severe)	#190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad	31 May 1941	Attacked German convoy near Riga in company with destroyer Artem on 21 August 1941. Collided with minesweeper T-217 on 3 November during evacuation of Hango, then suffered mine damage leaving her immobile. Scuttled 13 November 1941.
Skoryi Скорый (Rapid)	#190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad	18 July 1941	Joined Baltic Fleet before trials completed. Hit by shore fire while attempting to tow flotilla leader Minsk from Tallinn on 26 August 1941. Mined and sunk two days later.
Statniy Статный (Stately)	#190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad	9 July 1941	Commissioned during acceptance trials. Bow blown off by mine at Tallinn and salvage efforts proved unsuccessful. Sank in bad weather on 23 August 1941. Wreck raised and broken up 1957.
Strogiy Строгий (Strict)	#190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad	30 August 1941	Commissioned incomplete and towed to Neva River for fire support duties. Converted to Project 32 rescue ship 1953-58. Transferred to Northern Fleet under name SS-18. Finally served as target ship SM-16 from September 1963 until sold for scrapping at Murmansk on 26 June 1964.
Stroynyi Стройный (Slim)	#190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad	30 August 1941	Commissioned incomplete and deployed to Neva River for fire support duties in September 1941. Completed 15 September 1942. Subsequently converted to Type 32 rescue ship with names SDK-10 and SS-17. Target ship TsL-2 from 27 August 1963 until scrapped at Liepaya 1965-66.
Svirepiy Свирепый (Fierce)	#190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad	22 June 1941	Commissioned before trials completed. Active during the retreat from the Baltic States and Siege of Leningrad. Refitted at Neptune Shipyard, Rostock 1947-52. Sold for scrap 28 January 1958.
Spokoiny (Peaceful)	#190 Zhdanov Yard, Leningrad	not completed	Incomplete upon outbreak of war. Towed to Molotovsk in 1941. Remained incomplete until sold for scrapping in the late 1940s.

Black Sea Fleet

Ship	Builder	Commissioned	Career
Smyshlenyi Смышлённый (Clever)	#200 61 Kommunar yard, Nikolayev	10 November 1940	Supported defenders of Odessa and Sevastopol in 1941-42. Badly damaged in Soviet minefield on 5 March 1942 and sank three days later leaving only two survivors.
Soobrazitelny Сообразительный (Shrewd)	#200 61 Kommunar yard, Nikolayev	7 June 1941	Active throughout 1941-45, including patrols duties for the Yalta Conference. Converted to Project 32 rescue ship 1951-58 under names SDK-11 and SS-16. Became target ship TsL-3 in September 1963. Sold for scrapping 19 March 1966. Some sources erroneously state Soobrazitel'nyi became a museum ship, but no evidence of this has come to light.
Sposobnyi Способный (Capable)	#200 61 Kommunar yard, Nikolayev	24 June 1941	Defense of Odessa and Sevastopol 1941-42. Escort duties from Tupase during 1943 following extensive repairs to mine and gunfire damage off Novorossiysk and Feodossiya. Bombed and sunk alongside fellow destroyers Kharkov and Besposhchadnyi on 6 October 1943.
Sovershennyi Совершенный (Absolute)	#200 61 Kommunar yard, Nikolayev	Late 1941	Mined during trials and placed in dry dock in October 1941. Subsequently bombed in dry dock, delaying repairs until 1942. Sunk at Sevastopol by German artillery fire 13 June 1942. Raised and scrapped October 1945.
Svobodnyi Свободный (Free)	#200 61 Kommunar yard, Nikolayev	2 January 1942	Evacuated to Sevastopol during August 1941, then working up period. Hit by eight bombs during a supply run to the besieged port on 9-10 June 1942. 67 dead. Raised and broken up in 1953.

References

• M.J Whitley, Destroyers of World War 2, 1988 Cassell Publishing ISBN 1-85409-521-8
• Vladimir Yakubov and Richard Worth, "The Soviet Project 7/7U Destroyers", in John Jordan (ed.), Warship 2008, 2008 Conway ISBN 1-84486-062-3
• - Site in Russian Language