Laid down 11 November 1966 Decommissioned 26 June 1991 Construction started 11 November 1966 Length 159 m | Completed 29 December 1969 Fate Scrapped 1993 Launched 2 October 1968 Builder Severnaya Verf | |
 | ||
Kronstadt (Russian: Кронштадт) was a Project 1134A Kresta II-class cruiser of the Soviet Navy. The ship served during the Cold War, from 1969 to 1991. After colliding with a destroyer in 1975, she spent five years being repaired and modernized. She was scrapped in 1993.
Contents
General characteristics
The Kresta II-class cruisers were 158.5 metres (520 ft) long with a beam of 16.9 m (55 ft) and a draught of 6 m (20 ft). They displaced 6000 tons standard and 7800 full load. They had a complement of 380-400 and were equipped with a hangar aft to stow away a Kamov Ka-25 Hormone-A helicopter.
Kresta II-class vessels were propelled by two TV-12 steam geared turbines powered by four high pressure boilers which created 75,000 kilowatts (101,000 hp). This gave the cruisers a maximum speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). They had a range of 10,500 nautical miles (19,400 km; 12,100 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) and 5,200 nmi (9,600 km; 6,000 mi) at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph).
Armament
For their primary role as anti-submarine cruisers, the Kresta II class mounted two quadruple launchers for eight SS-N-14 anti-submarine missiles. They were also equipped with two RBU 6000 12-barrel and two RBU 1000 6-barrel rocket launchers. The Ka-25 helicopter embarked on the cruiser was also capable of aiding in the search and destruction of submarines.
Against aerial threats the cruisers were armed with four 57 mm L/80 DP guns situated in two twin mountings. They also had four 30mm AK-630 CIWS mountings. They were armed with two twin launchers for the 48 SA-N-3 surface-to-air missiles they carried.
The ships also mounted two quintuple mountings for 533 mm (21.0 in) dual-role torpedoes.
Electronics warfare
The Kresta II class were equipped with MR600 air search radar MR-310 Angara Don navigational and Volga navigational radars. For anti-submarine warfare they had MG-322 hull mounted sonar. For fire control purposes they had Grom SA-N-1 fire control, MR103 AK725 fire control and Drakon RP33 fire control. They also had a MG-26 communications outfit and a MG-35 Shtil.
Construction and career
Kronstadt was built in the Zhdanov Shipyard with the yard number 721. The cruiser was laid down on 11 November 1966, launched on 2 October 1968 and completed on 29 December 1969. She became part of the 120th Missile Brigade of the Northern Fleet in 1970. In 1972, she participated in the evacuation of the crew of Soviet submarine K-19. Kronstadt was damaged in a 1975 collision with the Kashin-class destroyer Smyshlennyy . She sailed to Kronstadt shortly after for repairs and modernization. Kronstadt returned to service in May 1980. She was decommissioned on 26 June 1991 and sold for scrap in 1993 to an Indian company.