Lewin of Greenwich Naval History & Forum

Soviet Navy,Burevestnik Class Frigate (NATO Krivak II) Bezzavetnyy (later Ukrainian Navy Frigate Dnipropetrovs'k), Sverdlov Class Light Cruiser Zhdanov and Batur Class Submarine Tender (NATO Don Class) Magomed Gadzhiev pictured at the Bay Sollym in 1982.

Quite a cosy cluster there Brian , I wonder why

IMhO one of the handsomest cruisers ever built! The 30s Italian influence was certainly visible in their lines. Given the 1950s era this class became a major concern of NATO as a possible force of surface raiders. No NATO Fleet had anything that approached their fire power with the exception of a few USN cruisers such as the NEWPORT NEWS class of CAs.

OTOH carrier air would have been a significant problem for any SVERDLOVs. Only 14 units were completed, several more were scrapped and others simply cancelled before keels were laid. Basic statistics:

Displacement: 13 600t, 16 640 FL
Dimensions: 210 x 22 x 6,9m
Propulsion: 4 shafts, 4 turbines, 4 HP boilers, 110,000 hp = 32,5 knots.
Crew: 390
Armour: 50 – 80 mm (3.8 in), blockhaus 120 mm (4.7 in).
Electronics: Radars: Sea Gull, Knife Rest A, Slim net, Top Bow, Egg Cup, hull passive sonar.
Weaponry: 12 x 152 mm (4×3) (6 in), 12 x 100 mm (6×2) AA, 32 x 37 mm (16×2) AA, 10 x 533 mm TTs (2×5) (21 in).

Three units were extensively modified. One as a prototype SAM ship, 2 others as command cruisers. One unit survives as a Museum ship with updated bridge structure. DFO

One of the class, in spirit of solidarity with "komrades" like Sukarno in Indonesia, was passed onto that country. Apparently the prestige of having a large x-soviet cruiser wasn't quite enough to keep her operational tho, as she was to complicated for that Navy to operate then.

Supposedly from @ 1964 on she was no longer operational. There are several stories about her end; one states she was scrapped in Taiwan in 1972. DFO

Sverdlov Class Light Cruiser,Museum Ship Mikhail Kutuzov pictured at the Central Naval Museum at Novorossiysk....2018.

Lead Ship,Soviet Light Cruiser 'Sverdlov' pictured attending the Spithead Coronation Fleet Review in 1953.

Here are some of command cruiser (version) ZHANDOV of the SVERDLOVs....

Perhaps someday I should finish the incomplete Sverdlov hull I have as this unit??! DFO

Two pics of ZHANDOV going thru the Dardanelles in 1985. The old SVERDLOVS did get around.........DFO

Several views of the OCTOBER REVOLUTION being scrapped, sad sight........... DFO

Lead Ship,Soviet Light Cruiser 'Sverdlov' pictured at Portsmouth in October 1955 and at Rotterdam in July 1956.