The Kirov
The Maxim Gorky
An item referred to the magazine R.U.S.I. dated February 1939 reporting that the Russian cruisers Kirow and Maxim Gorki (2) with a displacement of 8.000 tons and as armament 6-18cm guns, 4-10,5cm guns, 4-3,7cm guns, 6-53,3cm torpedo tubes and 2-3 planes were completed. The Kubyshow (3) and Orjonikiza were being built. According to rumours was the planning of 3-8.000 cruisers with a main armament of 9-15cm guns planned.(1)
Notes
1. Laid down at the Ordzhonikidze Yard, Leningrad, Russia on 2 October 1925, launched on 30 November 1936, commissioned on 26 September 1938 and sold to be broken up n 22 February 1974. Project 26.
2. Project 26bis or Maxim Gorky-class based on the designs of the Italian cruiser Raimondo Montecuccoli. Laid down at the Ordzhonikidze Yard, Leningrad, Russia on 20 December 1936, launched on 30 April 1938, commissioned on 12 December 1940, modernized in the summer of 1953, modernisation disapproved in 1955, decommissioned on 17 February 1956 and sold to be broken up on 18 April 1959. Displacement 8.177 tons/8.048 long tons (standard although 900 tons.886 long tons too heavy)-9.728 tons/9.574 long tons (full load) and as dimensions 187 (waterline)-191,4 (over all) x 17,66 x 5,87-6,3 metres or 613.6-627.11 x 57.11 x 19.3-20.8 feet. As a result of the modernisation started in 1953 including the adding of torpedo bulges increased her displacement with another 1.000 ton. The TB-7 geared steam turbines and 6 Yarrow-Normand oil fired boilers supplied 129.750 shp allowing a speed of 36,72 (trial)-37 (design) knots. With a fuel oil bunker capacity of 650 tons (normal)-1.660 (full load)-1.750 (over load) tons was her range with a speed of 18 knots 4.220 nautical miles. Her crew numbered 963 men. She was fitted out with 1 ZK-1 catapult to launched the 2 KOR-1 seaplanes she could carry with her. The armour consisted of a 7cm/2.8” thick belt, a 5cm/2.0” thick deck with the gun turrets, barbettes and conning tower protected by respectively 7cm/2.8”, 7cm/2.8” and 15cm/5.9”. The original armament consisted of 3x2-18cm/7.1”B-1 P guns, 6x1-10cm/3.9” B-34 dual purpose guns, 9x1=4,5cm/1.9” 21-K anti aircraft guns, 4x1-12.7mm/0.50” anti aircraft guns, 2x3-53,3cm/21.0” torpedo tubes, between 96 and 150 mines and 50 depth charges.
3. The Kuibyshev of the Chapayev-class, laid down at the Marti Yard Nikolayev, launched on 31 January 1941, brought to Poti, Georgia where her stern was removed to be used for repairing the damaged Maxim Gorki, she was self completed on 20 April 1950 and finally decommissioned in 1965..
4. The Ordzhonikidze of the Chapayev-class . Blown up still on stocks at the Nikolaev shipyard to prevent capture by the German forces in 1941 and finally broken up by the Germans which was completed in 1943.
