Project 956 destroyers are third generation destroyers that were built in the USSR from 1976 to 1992. Vessels of this project became the last Soviet destroyers. The series had the code “Sarych”, and according to NATO classification it was called Sovremenny class destroyer - after the name of the first model, the destroyer “Sovremenny”. The construction of the vessels was carried out at the Leningrad plant named after Zhdanov. Today we will get to know the Project 956 destroyers in more detail.
Current situation
Today, the Russian Navy has 6 Sarych-class destroyers. Three of them are in service, two are in reserve, and another is undergoing scheduled repairs. The destroyer Bystry still serves in the Pacific Fleet. And the ships “Nastoichivy” and “Admiral Ushakov” serve in the Baltic Fleet. The destroyer "Bystry" is the oldest of the ships of the series that is still in service. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the laying of Project 956 ships ceased due to insufficient funding. In 1997-2000, two vessels were completed for sale in China under Project 956-E. The index "E" means "export". A little later, the destroyers of Project 956E were modified, and the export project was named 956EM. The index "M" stands for "modernized".
Initially, it was planned that the Project 956 destroyer would become the most widespread in its class and in the Soviet fleet in principle. In total, it was planned to build about five dozen ships. In reality, only 17 Sarych ships entered service with the USSR (and later the Russian Federation). Now let's get acquainted with the history of the creation of this vessel.
Prerequisites for creation
Destroyers are multi-purpose, high-speed maneuverable ships. They can fight submarines, destroy aircraft, confront surface ships, cover formations of ships and, finally, escort convoys. In addition, destroyers can be used for patrol, landing and reconnaissance operations, as well as laying minefields.
The first destroyers appeared at the end of the nineteenth century. They were actively used during the First and Second World Wars. The range of tasks performed by destroyers, expanding every year, has made them very significant for the fleet. With the advent of missile weapons, the role of destroyers in naval battles increased even more.
In the early 1960s, the surface fleet began to develop especially actively. When the Soviet Navy became an ocean-going Navy, new tasks appeared before the ships: protecting patrol areas of missile submarines, tracking enemy submarines, conducting foreign policy actions and controlling water communications. Aircraft carriers would be best suited for these tasks, but they were very expensive to build. Large anti-submarine ships (BODs) were the Soviet alternative to aircraft-carrying cruisers, but they needed an escort, and the USSR was severely short of cover vessels. In addition, the destroyers in service at that time were already obsolete and could not compete with their foreign counterparts on equal terms. The oceanic maneuvers “Ocean”, carried out in 1970, clearly illustrated this. Thus, the Soviet fleet needed a new, well-armed destroyer, capable of operating both independently and as part of naval groups.
The shipbuilding program for 1971-1980 provided for the creation of such a ship. The new destroyer was supposed to participate in landing operations, suppress enemy anti-landing defenses, destroy small targets on the shore and provide air defense in the landing zone. The future ship was called an “landing fire support ship.” The Project 56 destroyer was chosen as a prototype for construction, so the new project received the number 956.
Design
Development of the Project 956 destroyer began in 1971. She moved very slowly. The fact is that the customer changed the intended purpose of the future vessel several times during the design process. The Soviet military was greatly influenced by the design solutions embodied in the American destroyer Spruance, the first truly multi-purpose ship of the American Navy. In addition, the new ships were supposed to be used together with the Project 1155 UAV. The Soviet military believed that such a tandem would be more effective than a pair of American destroyers.
The preliminary design of the new vessel was developed at the Leningrad TsKB-53. As the work progressed, new tasks appeared before the designers, the type of the ship's power plant and its weapon options were constantly changing. In addition, the developers were limited by the capabilities of the Zhdanov plant, where it was planned to build new ships. According to the plant's requirements, the ship's length should be no more than 146 meters and its width - 17 meters. A total of 17 projects were developed, each of which was studied from the point of view of effectiveness and economic feasibility.
Ultimately, it was decided that the future destroyer should have:
- Steam turbine power plant.
- Anti-ship missile "Moskit".
- SAM "Hurricane".
- Helipad for Ka-252.
- AK-130 gun mounts.
At the end of 1972, the preliminary design was approved by Admiral Gorshkov. Despite this clarity, even after approval, changes continued to be made to the project. The steam turbine power plant was replaced with a boiler-turbine one. SJSC Platina was chosen as the main hydroacoustic complex. The more advanced Polynom SJSC could not be installed on a destroyer due to the large dimensions of the complex. Ultimately, the ships of the project did not come close to their American counterparts. The only thing in which they were superior to their competitors was artillery power. The creation of a project for a new destroyer cost the USSR budget 165 thousand, and detailed design - 2.22 million rubles.
Construction
In the early summer of 1975, construction began on the first model of Project 956, the Sovremenny destroyer. According to the original plan, up to 50 such vessels were to be built in the future. In 1988, this number was reduced to 20 units. But the USSR could not achieve this figure either - the Navy received only 17 copies of the ship. Each Project 956 destroyer took an average of four years to build.
In order to increase production volume, an attempt was made to organize the construction of destroyers at the Nikolaev plant named after. 61 Communara. However, in 1986, this idea was abandoned, and the two laid down hulls of the ship were mothballed. By the time the USSR collapsed, 14 destroyers had been built. The remaining three were completed in the Russian Federation.
In the construction of the vessels, a sectional hull assembly method was used. At the time of construction of the lead vessel, its cost was about 90 million rubles. The next two ships cost about the same (the last expensive ship was the destroyer Excellent), and subsequent ships fell in price by 20 million. The reason for this was the mastery of technology and the establishment of the production process.
Initially, the warship was created purely for the needs of the Soviet fleet. No one was going to sell the newest ship abroad. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the lack of funding led to the search for third-party customers. Moreover, by the beginning of the 2000s, the Sarych’s weapons began to become obsolete.
Design
All ships created by Severny Design Bureau have a distinctive appearance, and Project 956 was no exception. The vessels of this project are often described as aggressive, sinister and expressive, and this is clearly not a coincidence. Since warships symbolize the power of the state, almost as much attention is paid to their appearance as to their technical parameters.
Project 956 destroyers are built according to a long-deck design with a sheer bow. The hull shape is selected in such a way as to ensure optimal operating angles for artillery weapons and non-flooding of the deck. The hull contours protect the vessel from flooding in seas up to 7 points. The hull is designed to reduce the radar signature of the vessel, but the Sarych is not a stealth ship.
The destroyer's side windage is 1700 m2. The decks are located parallel to the waterline, which simplifies the change of equipment during reconstruction and makes the ship more technologically advanced. The hull is divided into 16 watertight compartments using 15 bulkheads. In total, the destroyer has six decks: 2nd, 3rd, upper, forecastle deck and a pair of platforms, one of which goes into the second bottom. All main hull structures, foundations and reinforcements were made from low-alloy steel. From the engine room to the stern there are two longitudinal partitions that increase the rigidity of the ship. Thanks to the significant camber of the frames, the destroyer is stable. Thanks to pitch stabilizers, destroyers sail stably even in significant seas. With waves of force six, the ship's speed can reach 24 knots.
Add-ons destroyers project 956 were made of aluminum-magnesium alloy. They were connected to the hull and deck using rivets. The superstructure is conventionally divided into stern and bow blocks. The aft part is a block with a chimney and a hangar with a mainmast. The bow section is distinguished by the foremast.
The vessel's displacement ranges from 6.5 (standard) to 8.48 (overloaded) thousand tons.
Equipment
The power plant of the first modifications of Project 956 ships includes two boiler-turbine units of the GTZA-674 brand. Their total power is 100 thousand horsepower. The units are located in the bow and stern engine rooms. Each engine room contains two boilers and one steam turbine. The rotation speed in various operating modes of the installation is regulated by a turbo-gear unit. It is important to note that the Sarychi became the only 3rd generation combat vessels in the world with a boiler-turbine power plant. Starting with the seventh model (destroyer “Stoikiy”), ships began to be equipped with more reliable KVG-3 boilers. Nevertheless, the boilers remained weak point ships, since they are very demanding on the purity of the supplied water. In addition to the main boilers, the power plant has an emergency boiler, which produces 14,000 kg of steam.
The destroyer has a pair of low-noise propellers. The steering unit includes hydraulic machine and semi-balanced steering wheel. The ship can reach a speed of 33.4 knots. Thanks to the fuel reserve of 1.7 thousand tons, the maximum cruising range of the vessel is 3,900 nautical miles.
Project 956 destroyers are provided with electricity through two steam generators (total power is 2500 kW) and two diesel generators (total power is 1200 kW).
Habitability
In peacetime conditions, the destroyer's crew number is 196 people, including 48 midshipmen and 25 officers. IN war time the crew increases to 358 sailors. Officers live in single and double cabins, midshipmen - in double or quadruple cabins, and sailors - in cabins for 10-25 people. In any case, each crew member has at least 3 m2 of living space.
There are two wardrooms on board for feeding officers and midshipmen, as well as several dining rooms where sailors eat. For swimming, the ship has several showers and a sauna. In addition, the crew has at their disposal a library, a cinema hall, and even a swimming pool.
The living and working areas of the vessel are equipped with an air conditioning system. In terms of living conditions for the crew, destroyers of this model compare favorably with other Soviet ships.
The standard supply of provisions is enough for the ship to exist autonomously for 30 days.
Armament
The anti-aircraft missile armament of the Sarych ships includes the M-22 Uragan complex, which is a naval modification of the Buk complex. The warship has two anti-aircraft missile launchers: the first is located in the forecastle superstructure, and the second is behind the runway. The weight of the Uragan air defense system is 96 tons. Its ammunition consists of 48 guided missiles, which are stored in cellars. The Uragan air defense system can simultaneously attack up to 6 targets at an altitude of 10 m to 1 km, at a distance of up to 25 km.
Starting from the 14th ship (“Bezuderzhny”/“Gremyashchiy”), the destroyer began to be armed with the “Uragan-Tornado” air defense system. It can hit targets located at a distance of up to 70 km. It takes a maximum of 12 seconds to launch one rocket. A salvo of two missiles hits an aircraft with a probability of 0.81-0.96, and a cruise missile with a probability of 0.43-0.86.
The artillery armament of the destroyer "Sarych" consists of two twin AK-130 installations and anti-aircraft artillery, which is the last frontier in the air defense of ships. In addition, the ships' artillery armament includes a fire control system (FCS) MR-184, consisting of a radar station, a laser range finder, a ballistic computer and a thermal imager. The mechanized supply of ammunition allows firing from the gun mount at a rate of up to 90 rounds per minute at a distance of up to 24 kilometers. Each barrel has an ammunition capacity of 500 rounds, 180 of which are always ready for use. The installation weighs 98 tons.
The fast-firing anti-aircraft artillery of destroyers includes two batteries of AK-630M automatic systems. They are located on the sides of the ship and are responsible for destroying enemy cruise missiles at low altitude. Each battery contains two six-barrel installations with a Vympel control system and a rotating block of barrels. The AK-630M fires 4,000 rounds per minute and can hit targets at a distance of up to 4 km.
The main anti-ship weapon of the Sarych is the Moskit missile system. Starting with the Bespokoiny ship, they began to install the Moskit-M complex instead. Four anti-ship missiles are placed in two fixed launchers. The Moskit missile can hit targets at a distance of up to 140 km, and its upgraded version can hit targets at a distance of up to 170 km. The ship can fire all 8 missiles (each weighing 300 kg) in just 30 seconds.
On the upper deck of the ship there is a pair of twin-tube torpedo tubes with a caliber of 533 mm. As for mine weapons, they are represented by a pair of RBU-1000 model rocket-propelled mortars, capable of attacking targets at a distance of up to a kilometer. At the stern of the Sarych there are bomb launchers, which are responsible for destroying enemy submarines at shallow depths, in close proximity to the side of the ship. Barrage mines can also be installed on destroyers.
The K-27 helicopter is based in the ship's temporary retractable helicopter hangar. Since the helicopter platform is located almost in the center of the vessel, it is minimally affected by pitching. The helicopter can be used both to combat enemy boats and for reconnaissance and target designation work.
Vitality
The Project 956 destroyer has a serious survivability system. Potentially hazardous areas of the vessel (engine room and cellars) are fenced off with fire-resistant compartments with reinforced steel walls.
To combat fires, the ship is equipped with a fire main, a volumetric fire extinguishing system, a foam extinguishing system, as well as a water spray system for bulkheads and gangways. In addition, to protect the cellars there are separate irrigation and flooding systems.
Drainage, tank balancing and drainage systems can save a vessel from a water threat. To protect the external surface of the vessel from contamination, a washing system is provided.
Only artillery mounts and launchers of the Moskit anti-ship missiles are provided with armored anti-fragmentation protection.
Modifications
During the production of a series of ships, their design was amenable to partial modernization. From the 6th Corps (destroyer "Boevoy") the ships received the Fregat-M2 radar with two flat antennas. Starting from the seventh hull (“Stoikiy”), the ships were equipped with more advanced KVG-3 boilers. The production of version 956A began with the 14th corps (destroyer "Gremyashchy", formerly "Leading"). It featured the Hurricane-Tornado anti-aircraft gun, as well as new radar and navigation equipment.
Ship name | Year of issue | |
"Modern" | ||
"Desperate" | ||
"Great" | ||
"Prudent" | ||
"Irreproachable" | ||
"Combat" | ||
"Persistent" | ||
"Winged" | ||
"Stormy" | Under repair |
|
"Thundering" | ||
"Fast" | As part of KTOF |
|
"Efficient" | ||
"Fearless" | In reserve |
|
"Rampant" ("Thundering") | ||
"Restless" | In reserve DKBF |
|
"Persistent" | As part of the DKBF |
|
"Admiral Ushakov" | As part of the KSF |
|
"Impressive" | Cut to metal |
|
"Hangzhou" ("Important") | As part of the Chinese Navy |
|
"Fuzhou" | ||
"Taizhou" ("Impressive") | ||
"Ningbo" ("Eternal") |
Project 956 models
The table above will help you briefly get acquainted with the chronology of the creation of Project 956 destroyers and their current status.
The destroyer "Burny" (1901) before being sent to Port Arthur. October 1902.
Destroyer(abbr. destroyer) - a class of multi-purpose combat high-speed maneuverable ships designed to combat submarines, aircraft (including missiles) and enemy ships, as well as for the protection and defense of formations of ships or convoys of ships when crossing the sea. Destroyers can also be used for reconnaissance and patrol services, artillery support during landings and for laying minefields.
origin of name
The Russian name “destroyer” comes from the fact that in pre-revolutionary Russia torpedoes were called “self-propelled mines.” The designation “squadron” indicates the ability of ships of this class to operate as part of a squadron in the ocean and sea zone. This name came into Russian from French terminology of the late 19th - early 20th centuries. (torpilleur d'escadre). Abroad, including modern French, the most widespread are tracing papers from the English name English. Destroyer(“fighter”) - fr. destroyer, German Zerstorer, Polish niszczyciel, and so on. This term, in turn, was originally an abbreviation for Torpedo boat destroyer- “destroyer destroyer”, which is due to the fact that the original purpose of ships of this class was considered to be the interception of heavy ships of enemy destroyers approaching the squadron and their destruction by artillery fire (against a small ship moving at a speed of 30 knots or more, torpedoes of those years were not effective weapons). In the Russian fleet during the Russo-Japanese War, these ships were also called “fighters.” Unlike destroyers, “ordinary” destroyers remained a class of light ships that did not have powerful artillery weapons, often with relatively low seaworthiness and autonomy.
The world's first successful attack with two torpedoes was carried out on January 14, 1878 during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 by the mine boats Chesma and Sinop; During it, the Turkish patrol steamer Intibah was sunk.
Impressed, on the one hand, by the successful actions of Russian mine boats in operations against Turkish ships, and on the other hand, by the rapid growth in the capabilities of torpedo weapons, the concept of a “destroyer fleet” was born. Its author was the French Admiral Aubé, Minister of the Navy and head of the so-called “young school” of theorists naval war. According to this concept, for the defense of coastal waters it is necessary to have not battleships and gunboats, but many small fast destroyers. Attacking simultaneously from different directions, they will sink any squadron consisting of slow-moving and clumsy armored ships. The doctrine of the “young school” quickly gained many supporters, both in France and abroad, since it made it possible to abandon the expensive construction of an armored fleet in favor of a much cheaper “mosquito fleet”.
Although small, short-range destroyers could easily be destroyed in the daytime long before they came within effective torpedo attack range, at night they could conduct successful torpedo attacks on enemy ships, or act as part of a fleet of large ships while that fleet was near his base. This led to the need to install a large number of “mine-resistant” small-caliber artillery guns on large ships. The decade of the 1880s was marked by a kind of “destroyer” boom: the fleets of Great Britain, France, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Germany and the USA, as well as the fleets of small European countries (Denmark, Sweden, etc.) began to be actively replenished with series of ships of the new class. By January 1, 1886, the top three in terms of the number of destroyers in their fleets were Great Britain (129 destroyers, including 26 seaworthy), Russia (119 destroyers, including 6 seaworthy) and France (77 destroyers, including including 23 seaworthy).
The emergence of the class of destroyers
Maritime countries realized the need to combat this danger and began to create a class of ships designed to destroy destroyers and smaller torpedo ships - mine boats and destroyers. These ships were supposed to be as fast as destroyers, and to have artillery in addition to torpedoes; they were supposed to create a barrier at some distance from the forces of the main fleet and prevent the destroyers from attacking range. However, even at that time it was clear that this concept had its problems. Although destroyers could destroy such ships, they themselves, operating far from their fleet, were practically defenseless against large warships. Another problem was that due to their small displacement, the destroyers had a small cruising range. “Destroyer fighters”, intended to protect the main fleet, had to have the same range as other ships in the fleet, so they usually had a much larger displacement than the boats and destroyers they were supposed to counter.
Prototypes of "destroyers"
English ram destroyer HMS Polyphemus (1881).
Almost immediately after the Japanese order at the end of 1885, the British company J&G Thompson, commissioned by Spain, began building a ship to combat destroyers, which was named “Destructor”. It was launched in 1886 and entered service in, but for various reasons it remained the property of the company until 1892, after which it was transferred to the customer. With a displacement of 386 tons and a speed of 22.7 knots, it was armed with one 65 mm (according to other sources - 90 mm) gun, four 57 mm and two 47 mm rapid-fire guns, as well as five 381 mm torpedo tubes; according to tradition, the “Destructor” had a removable three-masted sailing rig. In the Spanish Navy, Destructor was classified as a torpedo gunboat.
The first destroyers
The significant successes of French destroyers achieved in the early 1890s, which the famous English shipbuilder Alfred Yarrow managed to get acquainted with during a trip to France and visiting French shipyards, forced the latter to turn at the beginning of 1892 to the young man, who took up the post of Third Lord of the Admiralty on February 1, 1892 - Controller of the Fleet, Rear Admiral John Fisher with the project of a “super destroyer”, which was supposed to outshine the fast French ships of this class. The Yarrow initiative was supported by Fisher. When asked by Yarrow what the new ships would be called, the Third Lord of the Admiralty replied: "We'll call them fighters." destroyers), since their task is to destroy French destroyers." In documents, the ships of the new class were initially called “destroyers” (eng. torpedoboats destroyers), but later they began to be called simply “fighters”.
English destroyer HMS Daring (1893).
The first ships called “destroyer destroyers” were six ships of the so-called “26-knot” type, built for the British fleet in 1892, and launched in 1893. They were built (in pairs) by three private firms (Yarrow, Thorneycroft and Laird): an order for the first two ( HMS Daring And HMS Decoy) was issued on June 27, 1892, for the next 2 ( HMS Havock And HMS Hornet) - July 2, and on the last 2 ( HMS Farret And HMS Linx) - January 6, 1893. Despite the external differences, they turned out to be very similar to each other. They had a total displacement of about 270-280 tons, a speed of 26 knots, and were armed with 1 12-pounder (76 mm) gun, 3 6-pounder (57 mm) guns, and 3 457 mm torpedo tubes. Due to fear of overloading, they were not considered as ships intended to be both “fighters” and “torpedo bombers”: depending on the situation, they had to solve either one or another task, for which these experimental “fighters” were designed for replacement weapons During the testing period and during further operation, it was found that the simultaneous installation of artillery and torpedo tubes does not in any way reduce their speed and maneuverability.
Experimental 26-knot "destroyer destroyers" determined the features of the appearance British ships of this class: smooth-deck hull, covering the bow of the hull with carapace (“turtle shell”), behind which there was a conning tower with a 76-mm gun platform installed above it; On the sides of the wheelhouse there were breakwater fences that protected the 57 mm guns.
Destroyers 1894-1905
American destroyer USS Bainbridge (DD-1).
Development of destroyers at the beginning of the 20th century
| Growth in the number of destroyers in 1892-1918 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| date | |||||
| 1892 | 1900 | 1904 | 1914 | 1918 | |
| Great Britain | 0 | 75 | 131 | 243 | 433 |
| France | 0 | 2 | 31 | n/a | n/a |
| Germany | 0 | 1 | 47 | 210 | 311 |
| Russia | 0 | 1 | 60 | 75 | 105 |
| Italy | 0 | n/a | 15 | n/a | n/a |
| Japan | n/a | 8 | 19 | n/a | n/a |
| USA | n/a | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Theoretical considerations about the combat use of destroyers
The initial purpose of destroyers was to fight destroyers, but soon the navies of different countries realized that fast destroyers could be used more flexibly. English Vice Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker described the role of destroyers in the Royal Navy:
- Protecting the fleet from enemy torpedo ships
- Reconnaissance of enemy shores before the approach of your fleet
- Surveillance of enemy ports in order to harass their torpedo ships and prevent them from returning to port.
- Attack of the enemy fleet.
Russo-Japanese War
The first significant combat episode involving destroyers ( according to the Japanese classification - “fighter” or “destroyer”, in Russian - “destroyer”) occurred during the Russo-Japanese War. On the night of January 27, 1904, 10 Japanese destroyers carried out a night torpedo attack on the ships of the Russian squadron anchored in the Port Arthur roadstead. In just an hour, 16 torpedoes were fired, 3 of which reached the target and damaged the Russian battleships Tsesarevich, Retvizan and the cruiser Pallada.
During the war, destroyers received a new purpose - to protect the fleet from underwater attacks. Submarines, which were used extensively during the war, could approach stealthily and torpedo surface ships. World War I destroyers had sufficient speed and armament to attack submarines before they submerged, either with gunfire or ramming. Since the destroyers had a fairly shallow draft and high speed, it was difficult to torpedo them; torpedoes most often passed by or under the keel of the ship.
The desire to attack submarines underwater led to rapid changes in the design of destroyers; their hulls began to be strengthened for ramming, equipped with depth charges and hydrophones to detect underwater targets. The first case of a submarine being attacked by a destroyer was the ramming of a German submarine U.19 English destroyer Badger Badger) October 29 U.19 was only damaged, but the following month the destroyer "Garry" (eng. Garry) successfully sank the boat U.18. The first time a submarine was destroyed by a depth charge was on December 4, when UC.19 was sunk by the destroyer Llewellyn. Llewellyn).
The English HMS Swift (1907) is the first "destroyer leader" or "super destroyer".
The underwater threat resulted in many destroyers being assigned to hunt submarines; After Germany decided on unlimited submarine warfare in the summer, destroyers began to be assigned to convoys of merchant ships. After America entered the war, American destroyers joined the war effort. In the Mediterranean, even a division of Japanese destroyers operated on the side of the Entente. Convoy duty proved to be no less dangerous than combat duty: of the total losses of British destroyers (67 destroyers and 3 leaders were lost), 18 were lost in collisions and 12 sank.
During the war, the German Navy lost 68 destroyers and destroyers for various reasons.
By the end of the war, the British W-class was considered the highest achievement in destroyer construction.
In the middle of the First World War, a new subclass of destroyers appeared in Great Britain - “destroyer leader”, larger displacement, with a higher speed and with stronger artillery weapons than conventional destroyers. The ship was intended for artillery support, launching destroyers into attacks, fighting enemy destroyers, controlling groups of destroyers, and could serve as a reconnaissance officer for a squadron of large ships.
Interwar period
In the post-war period, the emerging trend towards increasing the size of destroyers and improving their weapons continued. During the war, a number of opportunities to attack ships of the enemy fleet were missed due to the fact that all torpedoes were fired in the first salvo. In British destroyer types V And W at the end of the war they tried to solve this problem by installing 6 torpedo tubes in two triple tubes, instead of 4 or 2 tubes in earlier models. This became standard for destroyers in the early 1920s.
The next major innovation in the construction of destroyers was the Japanese ships of the Fubuki class (Japanese: 吹雪). The lead ship was designed in and transferred to the fleet in the city. Their armament included 6 powerful five-inch guns and 3 three-tube torpedo tubes. The second group of ships of this type received guns with a higher elevation angle for use as anti-aircraft and 610-mm oxygen torpedoes of type 93 (American designation “Long Lance” in English). Long Lance- “Long spear”). In the later Ariaki-class destroyers of 1931, the Japanese further improved their torpedo weapons by placing spare torpedoes in the superstructure, thereby speeding up reloading of torpedo tubes to 15 minutes.
Other maritime countries began building similar large destroyers. The American destroyer of the Porter project borrowed twin five-inch guns, and in the destroyers of the Mahen project. Mahan) and "Gridley" (eng. Gridley) (1934) increased the number of torpedo tubes to 12 and 16, respectively.
Among the means of detecting submarines there was a sonar, or “Asdik” (eng. ASDIC) . Weapons for fighting submarines have changed slightly since the First World War, bow bomb launchers, the need for which was shown by the Second World War World War, did not develop.
The Second World War
Destroyers were the most popular surface ships of World War II and participated in almost all significant naval battles in all naval theaters of military operations, finding themselves in the position of " consumables» fleet. Loss statistics can give some idea of the intensity of their use: the British fleet lost 144 out of 389 destroyers that participated in the war, the German fleet lost 25 out of 21 available at the beginning of the war and 19 built during the war, Japan lost 132 out of 168 destroyers, the USA lost about 80 destroyers , The USSR lost 34 destroyers. Some (in particular, German) destroyers of this period did not even have proper names, only tail numbers.
Post-war time
In the late 1940s - early 1950s, based on the experience of the war, a number of destroyers with traditional weapons were built. They were significantly larger in size than World War II ships, armed with fully automated main guns, radar, sonar, and anti-submarine weapons such as the BMB-1 bombers in the USSR and Squid in the West. These projects include the Soviet destroyers of projects 30-bis (Skory) and Kotlin, the English project Daring. Daring), American project"Forrest Sherman" (eng. Forrest Sherman).
A destroyer is a class of multi-purpose fast ships designed to combat enemy air, surface and submarine forces. The tasks of destroyers include escorting naval convoys and formations of warships, performing patrol duty, providing cover and fire support for amphibious assault forces, surveillance and reconnaissance, laying minefields, search and rescue and special operations. In the 21st century, specific missions were added to the “traditional” missions of destroyers: striking targets in the depths of the continent using high-precision missile defense on a strategic scale (Theater Air Defense) and destroying objects in low Earth orbit.
Sometimes they are contemptuously called “tin cans.” It would seem an offensive comparison, but British sailors, on the contrary, are proud of the derogatory nickname for their ships: after all, “can” (tin) sounds like “may” to the British ear! Or maybe a lot of destroyers...
The brave little ships fought alongside battleships and aircraft carriers, enduring damage from enemy fire. The compartments were burning, the hull was collapsing, the deck was writhing in the raging flames - but the shots of the surviving guns sparkled, the anti-aircraft guns crackled tirelessly and the torpedoes pierced the water with a dull roar. The destroyer was making its final attack. And when he received a mortal wound, he hid in the sea foam, never lowering the flag in the face of the enemy.
Monument to the destroyer "Steregushchy" in St. Petersburg. The second monument to the crew of the Steregushchy was erected in Japan - the enemy gained respect for the Russian sailors
The feat of the destroyer "Steregushchy", which single-handedly took on the battle Japanese squadron at the walls of Port Arthur. When four sailors out of the 50 crew remained alive, the heroes sank their ship with their last effort.
The destroyer USS Johnston, which saved American aircraft carriers in Leyte Gulf. The radar antenna was dangling among the gear, all the decks were covered with debris and torn bodies of sailors. The tilt increased. But the Johnston stubbornly crawled forward, covering the carrier ships with a saving veil of smoke. Until another Japanese shell gutted the destroyer's engine room.
The legendary Soviet destroyer "Rattling", the heroic ships "Johnston", "Howl" and "Samuel B. Roberts" ... the sinking Israeli destroyer "Eilat" ... the British destroyer "Coventry" fighting off the attacking aircraft of the Argentine Air Force ... a destroyer launching dozens of Tomahawks US Navy Orly Burke class...
Surprisingly, in each case we are talking about completely different ships - different in size, characteristics and purpose. And it’s not at all a matter of the notorious age difference - even destroyers of the same age often have such large differences that, de facto, they belong to different classes.
The idea of a destroyer as a “small universal ship” does not correspond to reality. Real life is far from any stereotypes - each warship is built for a specific task; for actions in pre-agreed conditions (in the coastal zone, in open sea areas, in conditions of the possible use of nuclear weapons, etc.); against a previously known enemy (the United States and Japan had suspected an impending war in the Pacific since the beginning of the 20th century). An important factor is the financial potential of an individual state, the level of development of its science and the capabilities of its industry. All this clearly determines the appearance of the future ship and influences the determination of the range of its priority tasks.
I invite readers to check which ships are hidden behind the banal phrase “destroyer” and which unexpected decisions sometimes suggested by shipbuilders.
First of all, be sure to note that destroyers are “real” and “fake”. Real destroyers will be discussed below. As for the “fake” ones, these are, most often, modest ships that, in their size and combat capabilities, do not meet any of the requirements for destroyers of their generation. IN best case scenario, these are frigates. At worst - anything, even a missile boat.
Nevertheless, with a slight stroke of the pen, and in spite of all enemies, they were included in the honorary caste of destroyers. Typical propaganda and the desire to seem better than you really are.
“Cheap show-offs” usually end in failure - having met any serious enemy, the “false destroyer” lets off steam from its broken sides and proudly sinks to the seabed.
Famous examples:
The infamous destroyer Eilat, sunk by Egyptian missile boats in October 1967. It is also the former British destroyer HMS Zealous, launched in 1944. It is fair to admit that by the time it entered service, HMS Zealous looked dismal compared to its peers - American, Japanese or German destroyers. A nondescript, obsolete ship, with a displacement of only 2,000 tons - not enough for a destroyer even by the standards of World War II.
INS Eilat
But other “outsiders” are the British Type 42 destroyers (better known as the Sheffield). By the end of the 1970s, the degradation of Her Majesty's fleet had reached such proportions that these unfortunate tanks with a displacement of 4,500 tons had to be included in the destroyers - for comparison, the American and Soviet destroyers of those years were twice as large, and in terms of combat capabilities they were generally superior to the Sheffields. by an order of magnitude.
The consequences were not long in coming - during the Falklands War of 1982, British replica warships were destroyed by conventional bombs from subsonic jet attack aircraft. A resounding slap in the face to Her Majesty's fleet.
(however, the British drew certain conclusions from this - the 2nd and 3rd modifications of the Sheffields turned out much better)
HMS Sheffield after a fire on board caused by an unexploded rocket
Now, having excluded “fakes” from consideration, let’s move on to real destroyers - wonderful combat systems that have become a “thunderstorm of the seas.”
The first subtype of destroyers is air defense destroyers.
The name speaks for itself, the ships are focused on combating air targets and, it must be admitted, the efforts of the designers were not in vain. Modern naval air defense systems make it possible to control space hundreds of kilometers from the side of the ship - if a destroyer has air defense on its warrant, an air attack on a squadron becomes an extremely risky and ineffective undertaking: even a supersonic anti-ship missile flying at an extremely low altitude does not guarantee a breakthrough through the “indestructible shield” of the destroyer air defense.
Famous examples:
The idea of an air defense destroyer is not new - similar ships have been known since World War II. For example, the Japanese destroyer Akizuki. Despite Japan's serious lag in radio technology and fire control systems, the Japanese managed to create a fairly successful destroyer with a total displacement of 3,700 tons, which became one of the best destroyers of the Second World War. Exceptionally powerful anti-aircraft weapons (not in quality, but in quantity - up to 60 barrels of anti-aircraft guns of all calibers!) + incredible fuel autonomy (a full supply of fuel oil was enough for 8,000 miles of travel)!
Nowadays, the undisputed favorite is the British Daring (type 45 destroyer). In terms of combating air targets, the Daring has no equal. Consider its one super-radar with an active phased array or a set of anti-aircraft missiles with an active homing head, capable of reaching an enemy aircraft below the radio horizon. A beautiful, powerful and modern ship, the pride of Her Majesty's fleet.
HMS Dragon (D35) - the fourth Type 45 destroyer
The second subtype is “attack” destroyers.
This includes destroyers designed to destroy enemy ships, as well as having any special capabilities for fire support of amphibious assault forces or launching missile and artillery strikes against coastal targets. Nowadays, their number is rapidly decreasing - ships are becoming more and more versatile, however, the idea of an “attack destroyer” is occasionally realized in the form of absolutely fantastic designs.
Famous examples:
Project 956 destroyer (code "Sarych"). A missile and artillery ship with 130 mm automatic guns and Moskit supersonic anti-ship missiles. A classic attack destroyer, with weakened air defense and anti-aircraft defense.
Second bright representative– Chinese destroyer type 052 “Lanzhou” (currently obsolete). Very mediocre capabilities in terms of air defense and anti-submarine defense, but on board the Lanzhou there are as many as 16 anti-ship missiles!
Chinese destroyer Qingdao (DDG-113). The Stars and Stripes is just a courtesy gesture during a visit to Pearl Harbor
And of course, you can’t ignore the incredible destroyer Zamvolt! A fantastic stealth ship, the “silver bullet of the Pentagon” - the euphoria around the promising American destroyer has not subsided for almost 10 years. In addition to unusual, futuristic forms, the project attracted public attention with its unusual armament composition - for the first time in the past half century, it is planned to install two automated AGS 155 mm caliber guns on a warship. Rate of fire 10 rds/min. The firing range of high-precision projectiles is more than 100 kilometers!
Moving along the enemy coastline, the stealth destroyer will bombard enemy ports, coastal cities and military bases with its six-inch shells. And for “difficult targets”, 80 UVPs are provided on board the Zamvolt for launching anti-aircraft missiles and Tomahawk kamikaze cruise robots.
Third subtype - Large anti-submarine ships or anti-submarine destroyers
During the Cold War, the threat from nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines was so great that both superpowers struggled to stock their navies with anti-submarine capabilities. As a result, BODs appeared in the USSR Navy - large destroyers with hypertrophied anti-submarine weapons. Monstrous 700-ton hydroacoustic stations, anti-submarine missile torpedoes, anti-submarine helicopter, rocket launchers and anti-submarine torpedoes - all the means to detect and destroy the enemy SSBN!
The Yankees were moving in a similar direction - “to have an anti-submarine frigate or destroyer for every Soviet submarine.” One of the results of this approach was a large series of Spruance-class destroyers. In the ranks of the US Navy, these ships performed the function of our BODs, with some adjustment for the versatility of their weapons. A notable feature of the Spruances was the absence of a collective defense air defense system - the air defense of the destroyers was rather weak and ineffective.
A good ship in all respects became even better with the advent of vertical missile launch systems - six dozen Tomahawks turned the Spruance into a real destroyer.
The fourth subtype is helicopter destroyers
A specific invention of a Japanese genius. Nostalgia for the glory days of Pearl Harbor. Constitutional ban on aircraft carriers and strike weapons. A serious threat from the Soviet submarine fleet.
All this determined the appearance of Japanese destroyers: the main armament was helicopters. From 3 to 11 rotorcraft on board, depending on the type of ship. However, on board each of the Japanese helicopter destroyers there is a certain amount of built-in weapons: from artillery pieces to air defense systems and anti-submarine missile torpedoes.
Destroyer-helicopter carrier "Haruna"
Destroyer-helicopter carrier "Hyuga". Dimensions are similar to UDC "Mistral"
Fifth subspecies - universal destroyers
A rare but very cool type of destroyer. Previously, there were many of them, but now the only thing left is “Orly Burke” and its derivatives. China is working in this direction, but so far all its attempts fall short of the level of the American Aegis destroyer.
The creation of such a ship in our time requires colossal efforts of the military-industrial complex, the highest level of development of science and gigantic financial costs. The only ones who managed to fully implement this idea were the Americans. In the early 90s, the US Navy received a supership with 96 Mk41 vertical launch systems (the entire range of missiles adopted by the US Navy is loaded - missiles, anti-ship missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, Standard 3 anti-satellite missiles - everything except ballistic missiles ).
The Mk41 universal UVP would not have had that mystical effect without the Aegis combat information and control system - the AN/SPY-1 radar with four phased array antennas. Simultaneous tracking of thousands of air, surface and underwater targets within a radius of two hundred miles from the ship. Efficiency and speed of decision making. Special radar operating modes. Exchange data in real time with other ships and aircraft. All radio electronics of the ship - detection equipment, radio communications, satellite communications, weapons - all ship systems are connected into a single information circuit.
Yeah... The Burke destroyer is good, although it is not without its drawbacks: thin tin sides and disgustingly low survivability are the scourge of all modern ships. In addition, the Berks of the first modification were not at all universal - the priority of the Aegis destroyer was always air defense. All other problems did not interest him.
Initially, the Berks did not even provide for the permanent deployment of a helicopter. Anti-submarine defense was left to simpler ships - the same Spruance-class destroyers.
In conclusion, I would like to note that the five named subtypes of destroyers (from an air defense destroyer to an attack destroyer and a helicopter destroyer) are not a complete list of the specializations of destroyers.
For example, during the Second World War, a need arose for escort destroyers - specific ships for solving convoy tasks - hence the unusual requirements for their design and armament.
In addition, there were minelayer destroyers (Robert Smith class); radar patrol destroyers; destroyers converted into anti-submarine ships under the FRAM program... The range of tasks of destroyers is extremely wide and it is not surprising that specialized designs are created to solve any important problem.
Project 956 destroyer and American Spruance-class destroyer
Today, the most versatile and common class of warships are destroyers. They are used to protect aircraft carriers from air attacks, cover landing ships, and destroy submarines. Today, the United States of America has the largest fleet of destroyers, and if we take into account the pace of ship construction of this type in other countries, US leadership will continue for a long time. At the heart of them naval forces There are destroyers of the Arleigh Burke class. What is the secret of the success of these ships, and who are their main competitors?
The Arleigh Burke destroyers are fourth-generation guided missile destroyers and are rightfully considered the best in the world, and in some respects they are superior to all existing ships. A modern American destroyer can simultaneously detect a significant number of targets and also escort them. At the same time, there are no impossible tasks for the destroyer.
The main combat missions of the Arleigh Burke destroyers include: protecting naval strike and aircraft carrier groups from massive missile attacks; air defense (of convoys, naval formations or individual ships) from enemy aircraft; fight against submarines and surface ships. In addition, they can be used to provide naval blockade, artillery support for landing operations, tracking enemy ships, as well as to participate in search and rescue operations.
Development of the Arleigh Burke destroyers began in the late 1970s. The main requirement that the military made for the new vessel was versatility. The main task of destroyers is to escort aircraft carriers, and the new ship had to easily cope with any targets: torpedoes, missiles, coastal installations. The fire detection and control systems had only seconds to decide whether to use weapons.
The destroyer Arleigh Burke demonstrates new approaches to shipbuilding. One of the most impressive changes was the change in the shape of the body. Traditionally, destroyers were narrow and long. The designers of this ship solved this problem differently. In the Arleigh Burke's naval architecture, one unique value was retained - the length-to-width ratio, which means increased stability. As operating experience shows, the new design has a number of advantages. In rough waves up to 7 meters high, the Arleigh Burke is capable of maintaining a speed of up to 25 knots.
In addition to the unique hull shape, American destroyers received other changes in naval architecture. For example, the structure became steel again. The fact is that during World War II, destroyers were made of steel, and by the 1970s, steel replaced aluminum. The change in material was due to the heavier weight of the radars and other sensors placed on the masts. Aluminum is an excellent alternative to steel, but it has certain disadvantages, including vulnerability to fire. The designers of the destroyer Arleigh Burke decided to return to steel, but at the same time retained many modern electronic systems. The vital areas of ships of this class are additionally protected by 25 mm armor plates and covered with Kevlar.
The design of the destroyer Arleigh Burke is more compact compared to its predecessors. Their superstructures are less hectic, more calm, than those of previous designs.
Initially, the ships were designed to protect American aircraft carrier groups from missile strikes (primarily from ship-based missile strikes) that could be inflicted by the USSR Navy. That is, these are missiles that were based on air platforms, missiles from surface ships and missiles launched from submarines.
The squadron destroyer Arleigh Burke is made virtually invulnerable by the Idges combat information and control system (CIUS). Unique information management combat system The destroyer Arleigh Burke can simultaneously conduct air defense, anti-submarine and anti-ship defense. The main element of the BIUS is a powerful radar station that is capable of automatically detecting, tracking and tracking several hundred targets simultaneously. Her main feature is that it collects information not only from the main antennas installed on the ship's towers, but also from a sonar station that scans the underwater space and quickly detects enemy submarines.
This system is capable of detecting aerospace targets at ranges of 380 thousand meters, air and sea targets at a range of 190 thousand meters. Up to 1000 targets can be simultaneously tracked with the guidance of eighteen missiles for various purposes.
Arleigh Burke ships are equipped with weapons that have no analogues in the world. This includes the Mark 41 Vertical Launch Facility, which consists of 100 bays that store missiles. However, the main feature of this installation is not the number of missiles, but the ability to combine them. For example, anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, cruise missiles or torpedoes can be deployed simultaneously, which makes it possible to prepare the ship to repel any danger. Ammunition can be combined depending on the task at hand. If on Soviet ships While each type of missile had its own separate launchers, the Arleigh Burke has a single system for them. This technical solution made it possible to minimize the amount of “dead” cargo, that is, installations that will not be used for a specific mission.
The armament of the Arleigh Burke destroyers of various subseries (Series I, IΙ and IΙA) is quite different. The main weapon of all operational ships of this type is 2 vertical launch units Mark 41 VLS. Set of UVP weapons for destroyers of series I and IΙ:
74 RIM-66 SM-2 anti-aircraft missiles,
8 RUM-139 VL-Asroc anti-submarine missiles (multi-purpose version).
In addition, the ships could be equipped with 56 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles and 34 RUM-139 VL-Asroc and RIM-66 SM-2 strike missiles.
On series IIA destroyers, the number of missiles carried has increased to 96. Standard set of UVP weapons:
8 anti-submarine guided missiles RUM-139 VL-Asroc,
8 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles,
24 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles,
74 RIM-66 SM-2 missiles.
In 2008, an SM-3 Ijes missile launched from a US base in Alaska shot down an object in outer space. The target was a falling military satellite. The performance of this rocket is simply fantastic. The designers claim that the missile is capable of destroying a target at a distance of up to 500 km. This shot was fired from the Arleigh Burke class destroyer Lake Eric. Today, almost all ships of this class have received this most powerful weapon. According to Russian experts, these firings were carried out to test an anti-missile system.
In addition to launchers, on board the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are installed a 127-mm artillery mount (680 rounds of ammunition), 2 six-barrel 20-mm Phalanx anti-aircraft artillery mounts and 4 Browning machine guns of 12.7 mm caliber. In addition to deck weapons, 2 SH-60B “Seahawk” helicopters with sets of anti-submarine and anti-ship weapons can be placed on board, expanding the range of the destroyer. The use of helicopters makes it possible to detect and attack targets tens of kilometers away. This arsenal allows ships not only to protect the squadron, but also to deliver high-precision strikes against the enemy. In other words, “Arleigh Burke” is not just a tactical, but an operational-tactical weapon unit, that is, they are capable of hitting targets deep within the enemy.
Undoubtedly, Arleigh Burke is the best ship of this class, however, other maritime states are constantly improving their destroyers. For example, in the UK there is a Type 45 destroyer. According to its creators, one Type 45 can replace an entire fleet of destroyers of the previous generation in terms of fire capabilities. Its latest weapons can easily destroy an airplane, helicopter, aerial bomb or UAV. The guidance system is so accurate that the gun can shoot down a flying tennis ball. These vessels are equipped with a European fire detection and control system, developed recently.
The main armament of these destroyers is the PAAMS anti-aircraft missile launcher with Aster-30 and Aster-15 missiles. Also on the warship are six “Sylver” systems that serve for the vertical launch of eight “Aster” missiles with each installation. In addition, the destroyer is equipped with artillery weapons - one 114-mm installation, used for striking coastal fortifications, and two 30-mm guns against manpower.
The most powerful missiles in the arsenal of the Type 45 destroyer are the Aster-30, but their maximum range is 120 thousand meters. These missiles can perform certain functions of missile defense, short-range missiles, interception and illumination. Of course, this weapon cannot be compared with the Arleigh Burke weapons. The British are losing on all counts.
Despite this, the Type 45 has its own unique features. This may include an integrated energy system. The ship has two gas and two diesel turbines. The liquid fuel engine supplies energy to the electric motors that rotate the propellers. Due to this, the maneuverability of the ship was increased and diesel fuel consumption was reduced. In addition, four turbines can replace an entire power plant.
Technical characteristics of "Arleigh Burke":
Displacement - 9.3 thousand tons;
Length - 155.3 m;
Width - 18 m;
Power plant – 4 gas turbines LM2500-30 “General Electric”;
Maximum speed - 30 knots;
Cruising range at a speed of 20 knots - 4400 miles;
Crew - 276 sailors and officers;
Weapons:
Vertical launch systems (missiles SM-3, RIM-66, RUM-139 “VL-Asroc”, BGM-109 “Tomahawk”);
Artillery 127-mm installation Mk-45;
Two automatic 25 mm Phalanx CWIS mounts;
Four 12.7 mm Browning machine guns;
Two Mk-46 three-tube torpedo tubes.
Technical characteristics of the Type 45 class destroyer:
Displacement - 7350 tons;
Length - 152.4 m;
Width - 18 m;
Cruising range - 7000 miles;
Speed - 27 knots;
Crew - 190 people;
Weapons:
Anti-aircraft missile launchers "PAAMS";
Six Silver VLS launchers;
Aster-30 missiles - 32 pcs. “Aster 15” - 16 pcs.;
Artillery 114 mm installation;
Two 30mm artillery mounts;
Four torpedo tubes.
Helicopter "EH101 Merlin" - 1.
In a memorandum of the British Admiralty on August 8, 1892, the definition of “torpedo hunter” first appeared.
Then, at the turn of the century, the great naval powers proceeded primarily from the decisive importance of the battle fleet. The main battles at sea took place with the participation of battleships, which formed the core of the fleet. At the beginning of the 20th century, torpedoes appeared - weapons that posed an immediate danger to large ships. Mobile torpedo boats made surprise attacks, thus torpedo attacks posed a particular danger to all battleships. Small torpedo boats, inexpensive to produce, provided an opportunity for the fleets of small maritime states to demonstrate their strength at sea. The prospect of using small ships against a battlefleet became very real. However, when a new type of weapon appeared, countermeasures arose almost immediately. The same thing happened with the advent of destroyers.
A new class of ships appeared, which was superior to the torpedo boat in speed and armament, which could be used to protect heavy ships. Originally intended for operations against torpedo boats, the new class of ships became universal and multi-purpose, built in large quantities and actively used during combat operations.
Destroyers were used in all theaters of war. The new class of ships performed many more tasks than any warship in the entire history of naval warfare. He operated against submarines, guarded convoys, protected battleships, laid mines and conducted patrols in coastal waters.
destroyer Z1 "Leberecht Maass"
To get a complete picture of the development of German destroyers during the First World War and until the end of the Second World War, it is necessary to consider the political situation provided by the Treaty of Versailles and the technical capabilities of that time that existed in naval strategy. The terms of the Treaty of Versailles, established by the victorious powers, required that the destroyer's displacement should not exceed 800 tons. Thus, Germany was deprived of the opportunity to create destroyers. After World War I, the Germans almost completely lost their navy. At first, its fleet consisted of several torpedo boats after military construction. Then a new type of torpedo boat was built. In terms of armament, they could not be considered destroyers, and also could not be compared with similar models from other countries.
Germany could no longer ensure the protection of its borders, which practically meant the absence of the defense capability of the navy. In October 1933, the fleet command decided to protect its interests and issued an order to build destroyers of the 1932 model. It was decided to use existing opportunities. The new destroyers had to be stable and have powerful artillery in order to achieve successful combat operations against large French and Polish destroyers. Some of them were equipped with 139 mm guns. Already in 1934, shipbuilding engineers were offered a high-pressure steam unit, which could well become the basis for a new engine. It provided significant weight and space savings compared to previous models. This in turn provided greater armor and speed of the ship. Therefore, the power plant was put into service almost without full comprehensive testing, which led to frequent breakdowns. The capabilities of such destroyers were severely limited, especially when hostilities began.
destroyer Z3 "Max Schultz"
destroyer Z4 "Richard Beitzen"
On April 7, 1934, the Kiel shipyard received an order for the construction of four Project 1934 destroyers with a displacement of 2,230 tons, the armament of which consisted of a 127 mm gun and four 37 mm anti-aircraft guns (Z1 Leberecht Maass, Z2 Georg Thiele, Z3 Max Schultz ", Z4 "Richard Beitzen"). The ship was also equipped with four torpedo tubes with a caliber of 537 mm. The speed of these wonderful ships reached 37 knots. Cruising range is 4400 miles at a cruising speed of 19 knots. All four destroyers were designed with straight stems.
Due to insufficient stability, all four destroyers had this disadvantage, and the following ships were modified, where the angle of inclination of the stem was increased and the height of the side was increased. With a constant displacement, seaworthiness improved, but stability remained a problem. According to tradition, the first samples of warships were named after officers who distinguished themselves during military operations. They died in battles with enemy ships.
destroyer Z6 "Theodor Riedel"
Since 1937, new designs of destroyers of the Mrva project have been proposed, with an increased displacement of up to 3800 tons. They were planned to be armed with 125 mm guns in dual or single mounts. In 1938, a project for the Atlantic destroyer Entwurf with a displacement of 4,000 tons, armed with five 125 mm guns located in three towers, appeared. However, the project was never implemented.
destroyer Z43 project 1936B
By the end of 1939, the sixth series of Project 1936B destroyers (Z35, Z36, Z43-Z45) was ordered. They were equipped with 127 mm guns. The increased weight, bow roll and slow rate of fire of the 155 mm guns were the reasons for this decision. The destroyers were armed with five 127 mm guns in single mounts. The standard displacement was 3519 tons. Stability and seaworthiness have improved significantly. The space of the ship was filled more rationally and the destroyers could carry an additional supply of fuel. They had the longest cruising range in the German fleet, 6,200 miles at a cruising speed of 19 knots. They became the most balanced destroyers built for the German fleet.
In 1942, an order was placed for the seventh series of Project 1936C destroyers (Z46 - Z50). Construction of the first two ships began in 1943, but due to shortages labor force work was suspended. The buildings were dismantled, and the next ones were not even laid down. In 1943, at the DeSchiMAG shipyard in Bremen, construction began on a Project 1942 destroyer with a diesel engine, displacing 2,041 tons, and armed with four 127 mm guns. The Z51 ship was launched in 1944, but was not completed. On March 21, 1945, during an air raid on Bremen, the destroyer Z51 was severely damaged by bomb explosions, so work had to be stopped. Later, the construction of other destroyers Z52 - Z56 was planned. In 1943, the DeSchiMAG shipyard began laying down these new Project 1942A ships, but a lack of material and bombing led to the cessation of work.
At the end of the war, the finished units were scrapped. The standard displacement of these diesel destroyers would be 2,818 tons. The range seemed to be an incredible 16,000 miles. The maximum speed would be 37.5 knots. It was planned to install six 128 mm semi-automatic multi-purpose guns located in two gun turrets. These Atlantic destroyers were intended to operate as part of strike formations and would become representatives of a new generation of ships.
The latest ship project, developed in 1945, largely repeated previous developments. The hull was shorter, the engine room weighed less, so there was about 12 percent left to increase the power of the guns. The standard displacement would be 2,700 tons. Completely new automatic multi-purpose 128 mm guns were adopted as weapons, providing a higher rate of fire. This completed the full cycle of design and construction of destroyers for the German fleet from 1932 to 1945.
All built destroyers were part of the German fleet and carried out their assigned tasks of patrolling areas, providing security for convoys and guarding battleships throughout almost the entire territory of Germany and were in the formed seven destroyer flotillas. On average it was six ships. Often in maritime jargon they were called boats, but this was not true, since a military ship already had a senior mate as part of the command staff, and this was equivalent to a ship.
At the end of World War II, the German navy faced logistical problems. After rapid testing, projects changed each other at lightning speed and were intended to solve a variety of problems. The sixth series of destroyers Z35, Z36 and Z43, after seven years of development, led to the creation of the most modern destroyer, which was superior to similar ships in service with the navies of other countries. However, there were too few of them, and technical superiority did not ensure pre-war dominance. In World War II, the German Navy lacked a simple, standard ship that could be built quickly and in small numbers to perform a variety of destroyer missions. The Americans and British built simple destroyers, relying on quantity. In Germany, due to a lack of materials, technically advanced ships were produced in small series. An attempt to eliminate the shortage of materials by releasing Narvin-class destroyers with cruiser armament led to the fact that these ships were given inappropriate tasks. Operating against cruisers, German destroyers, not inferior to the enemy in artillery, could not fight them on equal terms due to poorer stability.
The few German destroyers that were in combat-ready condition confronted an enemy that was a hundred times superior to them. Sometimes there were only three fully operational destroyers in a long theater of war, so the role of German ships of this class in World War II cannot be underestimated. The lack of funds led to the fact that improvisation remained almost the only way to conduct naval combat. Their role in the greatest rescue mission in human history will never be forgotten.