Opytny class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Opytny (Опытный- Experienced) was a unique destroyer
built for the Soviet Navy
. The Soviet designation was Project 45. She was commissioned in 1941 and fought in World War II
as part of the Baltic Fleet
. She was indigenously designed in contrast to the Type 7
which was built with Italian
assistance and intended as a prototype for future Soviet destroyers. She was not a successful ship, with severe problems with her machinery and with stability. Her intended armament was substituted for single guns and the turrets were transferred to the Tashkent.
Due to the weight savings it was designed to mount 3 twin enclosed gun turrets in positions A,X and Y similar to the Japanese Fubuki class destroyer
s. A new gun system, the B-2LM
,was developed for this ship however due to poor weight control the twin turrets were substituted for single guns.
in Leningrad
, laid down in 1935 under the name Sergo Ordzhonikidze. She was launched December 1935, and commissioned in 1941 after extensive trials and subsequent reconstruction. She served as a floating battery during the Siege of Leningrad
. After the war she served as an experimental ship and was decommissioned in 1949. She was scrapped in 1955-1956.
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
built for the Soviet Navy
Soviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...
. The Soviet designation was Project 45. She was commissioned in 1941 and fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as part of the Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
. She was indigenously designed in contrast to the Type 7
Gnevny class destroyer
The Gnevny class were a group of destroyers built for the Soviet Navy in the late 1930s - early 1940s. They are sometimes known as the Gremyashchiy class destroyer and the Official Soviet Designation was Project 7...
which was built with Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
assistance and intended as a prototype for future Soviet destroyers. She was not a successful ship, with severe problems with her machinery and with stability. Her intended armament was substituted for single guns and the turrets were transferred to the Tashkent.
Design
The Specfcations (TTZ in Russian) for this ship were issued in 1934. The ship was intended as a prototype to test a new propulsion system, which was intended to use high pressure Wagner type boilers developed by Germany. The Wagner boilers were more compact and powerful then conventional boilers and used superheated steam (75 atmospheres vs. the 26-27 atmospheres in conventional boilers used for the Project 7 destroyers). The machinery was mounted in a unit layout with two funnels and alternating boiler rooms and engine rooms. The design speed was 42 knotsDue to the weight savings it was designed to mount 3 twin enclosed gun turrets in positions A,X and Y similar to the Japanese Fubuki class destroyer
Fubuki class destroyer
The was a class of twenty four destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Fubuki class has been called "the world's first modern destroyer." The Fubuki class not only set a new standard for Japanese vessels, but for destroyers around the world...
s. A new gun system, the B-2LM
B-2LM
"B-2LM" is a 130 mm two-gun naval artillery turret, based on the "B-13" gun. Production started in 1939. "B-2LM" was established on several Soviet ships, including the destroyer leader Tashkent...
,was developed for this ship however due to poor weight control the twin turrets were substituted for single guns.
Service
The ship was built by Zhdanov ShipyardZhdanov Shipyard
Zhdanov Shipyard may refer to:* Severnaya Verf a shipyard of Saint Petersburg named Zhdanov Shipyard between 1935 - 1989* Mariupol Shipyard when Mariupol from 1948 to 1989 was named Zhdanov in honor of Andrei Zhdanov....
in Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
, laid down in 1935 under the name Sergo Ordzhonikidze. She was launched December 1935, and commissioned in 1941 after extensive trials and subsequent reconstruction. She served as a floating battery during the Siege of Leningrad
Siege of Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade was a prolonged military operation resulting from the failure of the German Army Group North to capture Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. It started on 8 September 1941, when the last...
. After the war she served as an experimental ship and was decommissioned in 1949. She was scrapped in 1955-1956.