Russian destroyer Pronzitelny (1914)

History
Russian Empire
NamePronzitelny
BuilderNaval Yard, Nikolayev
Laid down18 October 1913
Launched12 March 1914
Completed29 October 1914
FateScuttled, 18 June 1918
General characteristics (as built)
Class & typeDerzky-class destroyer
Displacement1,190 t (1,170 long tons)
Length93.9 m (308 ft 1 in)
Beam9.3 m (30 ft 6 in)
Draught3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) (deep load)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 steam turbines
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range1,717 nmi (3,180 km; 1,976 mi) at 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) (estimated)
Complement111
Armament

Pronzitelny (Russian: Пронзительный) was a Derzky-class destroyer built for the Imperial Russian Navy shortly before World War I. Completed in 1914, she served with the Black Sea Fleet.

Design and description

In 1911, the Imperial Russian Navy conducted a design competition for destroyers to serve with the Black Sea Fleet based on the successful design of the Novik. The Navy selected the design submitted by the Putilov Shipyard, but only awarded a contract for one ship to Putilov. Contracts for two ships were given to St. Petersburg Metal Works and Nevsky Shipyard. All three of these shipyards were in Saint Petersburg and would have to assemble their ships on the Black Sea. The Navy awarded four destroyers to OSNiV in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, based on a promise of early delivery. It also allowed the company to alter the design as necessary.[1]

Prozitelny was one of the OSNiV-designed ships. They normally displaced 1,180–1,191 long tons (1,199–1,210 t)[2] and 1,405–1,464 long tons (1,428–1,487 t) at full load.[3] They measured 93.82–93.9 meters (307 ft 10 in – 308 ft 1 in) long overall with a beam of 9.02–9.3 meters (29 ft 7 in – 30 ft 6 in), and a draft of 3.2–3.42 meters (10 ft 6 in – 11 ft 3 in).[2] The ships were propelled by two Boveri-Brown-Parsons steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam from five Vulkan-Thornycroft boilers. The turbines were designed to produce a total of 25,500 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW) for an intended maximum speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). During Prozitelny's sea trials, she only reached 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) from 25,520 shp (19,030 kW). The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them an estimated range of 1,717 nautical miles (3,180 km; 1,976 mi) at 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph). Their crew numbered 111.[4]

The main armament of the Dzerky-class ships did not vary between the two designs. It consisted of three single four-inch (102 mm) Pattern 1911 Obukhov guns and ten 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedo tubes in five twin mounts. One of these guns was mounted on the forecastle and a superfiring pair on the stern, aft of the torpedo tubes. All of the ships were initially fitted with two 7.62 mm (0.30 in) machine guns,[5] with most ships receiving another pair of guns during the war. A pair of 47 mm (1.9 in) anti-aircraft (AA) guns were also added during the war. The ships could carry 80 M1912 naval mines. They were also fitted with a Barr and Stroud rangefinder and two 60-centimeter (24 in) searchlights.[6]

Construction and career

Prozitelny was laid down by OSNiV on 18 October 1913. Completed in 1914, she was assigned to the Black Sea Fleet. Her crew joined the Bolsheviks on 16 December 1917. She was scuttled by her crew on 17 June 1918; her wreck was refloated in 1965 and subsequently scrapped.[7]

Citations

  1. ^ Verstyuk & Gordeyev, pp. 76, 93–94
  2. ^ a b Apalkov, p. 134
  3. ^ Berezhnoy, pp. 305–307
  4. ^ Verstyuk & Gordeyev, p. 80
  5. ^ Verstyuk & Gordevey, pp. 80, 99
  6. ^ Apalkov, pp. 132, 134
  7. ^ Berezhnoy, p. 307

Bibliography

  • Apalkov, Yu. V. (1996). Боевые корабли русского флота: 8.1914-10.1917г [Combat Ships of the Russian Fleet: 8.1914-10.1917] (in Russian). Saint Petersburg, Russia: ИНТЕК. ISBN 5-7559-0018-3.
  • Berezhnoy, S. S. (2002). Крейсера и Миносцы: Справочик [Cruisers and Destroyers: Reference] (in Russian). Moscow: Ввоенное Ииздательство. ISBN 5-203-01780-8.
  • Breyer, Siegfried (1992). Soviet Warship Development: Volume 1: 1917–1937. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-604-3.
  • Chernyshev, Alexander (2007). "Новики": Лучшие эсминцы российского императосого флота ["Noviki": The Best Destroyers of the Imperial Russian Navy] (in Russian). Moscow: Эксмо. ISBN 978-5-699-23164-5.
  • Budzbon, Przemysław (1985). "Russia". In Gray, Randal (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 291–325. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • Budzbon, Przemysław; Radziemski, Jan & Twardowski, Marek (2022). Warships of the Soviet Fleets 1939–1945. Vol. I: Major Combatants. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-68247-877-6.
  • Verstyuk, Anatoly & Gordeyev, Stanislav (2006). Корабли Минных дивизий. От "Новика" до "Гогланда" [Torpedo Division Ships: From Novik to Gogland] (in Russian). Moscow: Voennaya Kniga. ISBN 5-902863-10-4.
  • Watts, Anthony J. (1990). The Imperial Russian Navy. London: Arms and Armour. ISBN 0-85368-912-1.