Kola-class frigate

The Kola class was the NATO reporting name for a group of frigates built for the Soviet Navy in the 1950s. The Soviet designation was Storozhevoi Korabl (escort ship) Project 42. These ships were analogous to World War II era destroyer escorts or German Elbing-class torpedo boats. The programme consisted of only 8 ships as these vessels were considered to be too expensive for series production and the smaller and cheaper Riga-class frigate was built instead. Radars and sonars were fitted.

Class overview
Name: Kola class (Project 42)
Builders: Yantar Yard, Kaliningrad
Operators:  Soviet Navy
Succeeded by: Riga class
Completed: 8
Lost: 1
Retired: 7
General characteristics
Class and type: Frigate
Displacement: 1,900 tons standard
Length: 96 m (315 ft)
Beam: 10.8 m (35 ft)
Draught: 3.2 m (10 ft)
Propulsion: 2 shaft geared steam turbines, 2 boilers 27,800 hp (20,700 kW)
Speed: 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range: 3,300 nmi (6,100 km; 3,800 mi) at 13.7 kn (25.4 km/h; 15.8 mph)
Complement: 175
Armament:
  • 4× 100 mm guns (4×1)
  • 4× 37 mm guns (2×2)
  • 4× 25 mm guns (2×2)
  • MBU 900 anti-submarine rocket launchers (replaced by two RBU 2500)
  • 3× 533 mm torpedo tubes (1×3)
  • 48 depth charges

Design

The ships were designed for patrolling Soviet waters and escorting convoys. The design process involved a specification issued in 1946 and two design bureau submitted competing designs with both diesel and steam turbine machinery. The hull was welded and longitudinally framed. The machinery suite consisted of alternating boiler rooms and turbine rooms in a unit machinery arrangement. Armament consisted of four single 100 millimetres (3.9 in) dual purpose guns and torpedo tubes.

Ships

All ships were built by Yantar Yard, Kaliningrad. They were the first major ships built there after the transfer of the area to Soviet rule following World War II.

Name Russian Commissioned Fate
Sokol СОКОЛ (Falcon) 1951 transferred to the Caspian Sea, scrapped 1970s
Berkut БЕРКУТ (Golden Eagle) 1952 Scrapped 1970s
Kondor КОНДОР (Condor) 1952 Lost in grounding accident near Murmansk 1962
Grif ГРИФ (Vulture) 1952 Transferred to the Caspian, scrapped 1970s
Krechet КРЕЧЕТ (Gyrfalcon) 1952 Scrapped 1970s
Orlan ОРЛАН (Sea Eagle) 1953 Transferred to the Caspian, scrapped 1970s
Lev ЛЕВ (Lion) 1953 Scrapped 1970s
Tigr ТИГР (Tiger) 1953 Scrapped 1970s

See also

References
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-605-1
  • Site in Russian Language
  • Site in Russian Language
  • Russian Kola Class Frigates - Complete Ship List
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