Split (1950)

Yugoslavian Navy Destroyer 1958-1980

The Yugoslav destroyer Split is a quite unique ship with a very rocky history: She was the only and only Yugoslavian destroyer flagship of the Cold War. She was originally designed in the late 1930s but started in 1939, captured incomplete by the Italians in April 1941. They resumed work on her, but she was scuttled after in September 1943. The Germans refloated her, never resumed work. In fact they scuttled her again before the city fell to Tito’s Partisans in late 1944. Refloated once more, the new Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia resumed work until stopped after the Tito–Stalin Split in 1948. In a twist of fate, help came from Britain and the US to complete after …20 years (1938-58). She was eventually commissioned in July 1958 under a completely new design described by some as a “Yugoslavian Fletcher” and remained Tito’s fleet flagship until turned into a training ship in the late 1970s after a boiler explosion, only decommissioned in 1980, scrapped in 1986.

Development

In 1937, the Polish and Yugoslav Navies had “super-destroyers”, the Grom and Dubrovnik classes, that can substitute for cruisers to some point, but their major drawback was to be they were too expensive and therefore could not be numerous. In Yugoslavia, it was clear that the serial construction of more ships of the Dubrovnik class in their yards was a pipe dream, they started to look for a cheaper project, leading to the Beograd class from Chantiers de La Loire in Nantes, Ljubljana and Zagreb, both built with French documentation and advisors in Split shipyard. They had Parsons turbines and yarrow boilers plus Czech Škoda 120-mm/46 firing 24-kg shells at 20.8 km.

The torpedo armament was the same as the Bourrasque class. On sea trials “Beograd” performed 39 knots, more than specified in the design, compared to the similar Polish Wicher and Burza that could only reach 33 knots with an older French powerplant. The Beograd however only carried 120t for a cruising range of 1200 miles, just acceptable for the Adriatic.

The Yugoslavian Destroyer Zagreb

However, the Yugoslavian Navy wanted to improve off the design and reach the next level, a larger destroyer of capabilities similar to the Dubrovnik, but on a smaller, cheaper package that can be built in their own yards.

The Yugoslav Navy decided to order a single large destroyer rather than a repeat Beograd-class as the navy planners didn’t believe they could adequately support their raiding strategy in case of war with Italy. Dubrovnik was specified as a basis for design, capable to out-gun and out-fight any Italian destroyer, cover the escape and return to base of the raiding forces. Naturally, the other naval power that had ships designed for the same enemy and role was France. Thus, Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire was selected and specifications for a 2,610-metric-ton (2,570-long-ton) modified Le Fantasque-class destroyer became a starting point. Distrust for French Boilers however led the Yugoslavs to instead order them at Yarrow for an estimated 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph) from 55,000 shaft horsepower (41,000 kW). Like Dubrovnik, her armament was a patchwork, with Czech main guns, Swedish and German AA guns, French torpedo tubes.

This led in July 1939, at Split shipyard in split to the laying of the last warship of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The project was developed jointly with the French, based on the heavily modified Le Fantasque class to complement Dubrovnik. However, events shattered these plans. Ordered at Jadranska Brodogradilista in Split, the new destroyer leader would bear the same name, laid down on plans drawn by the French Yard A C de la Loire, with planned procurement for the same 140mm/56 Škoda guns as sported by Dubrovnik as well as ten 40mm/56 Swedish Bofors AA. The light armament was the object of debate. In some sources it was described as eight 13.2 mm Hotchkiss, others 15 mm/80 MG151, or 15mm (0.6 in) ZB-60, developed initially in Czechoslovakia in 1934 (manufactured at Zbrojovka Brno). In 1937 the ZB-60 was adopted by Yugoslavia as the Mitraljez 15 mm M.38. This was rounded up with two French triple 533 mm torpedo tubes and 30 mines. Two Parsons geared steam turbines mated to three Yarrow boilers were re-rated later to provide 38 knots. Being an Adriatic ship, range was not an issue. Specs are explained below:

⚙ Original specifications
Displacement	2,400 long tons (2,439 t), 3000t Fully loaded
Dimensions	120 x 11.3 x 3.48m (393 ft 8 in x 37 ft 1 in x 11 ft 5 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts geared steam turbines, 3× Yarrow boilers, 55,000 shp (41,000 kW)
Speed	38 knots (70 km/h; 44 mph)
Range	c2800 nm/15 kts estimated
Armament	5× 14 cm (5.5 in) guns, 5×2 40 mm AA, 4×2 15 mm AA, 2×3 533 mm (21 in) TTs
Crew	c250

The design was quite powerful even for her displacement, as she was a bit smaller than the large French destroyers (like the Aigle class) albeit some sources claimed she was rather based on the next one, Le Fantasque class. The Turbines were from France as the main guns, a heavy calibre able to defeat both in numbers and round size any encountered destroyer. The AA armament was exceptionally large for the time (1938), far more than the French vessels, showing that the Yugoslavs fully grasped after seeing the Spanish Civil War, the danger presented by aviation for ships. Five twin 40 mm Bofors (initially rather eight single 40 mm/56 Bofors L/60 Model 1936) was indeed considerable for any destroyer of any country, and only equalled at the end of WW2. The light AA guns were likely French Hotchkiss 13.2 mm twin standard AA HMGs, adding an extra layer. The torpedo tubes were also likely French.

Initial Construction and WW2 mishaps

Laid down in July 1939, Split was captured by Italian troops on slipway 18 April 1941, probably 90% complete before launch. Italians experts certified she could be completed for the RM and renamed her Spalato, making efforts to launch and complete her under an Italian design and new machinery from Tosi. In 1943, she was launched, but she was never completed, due to lack of manpower and parts, and left incomplete when Italy surrendered in September. Partisans retook the port, scuttled her in dock at Split to avoid seeing her completed by the Germans.

She was indeed later recaptured by German troops, salvaged, but work never resumed, and she was again scuttled as they evacuated Split in 1944 (other sources stating she was sunk by allied aviation). She was salvaged, towed to Rijeka, and her design was completely changed to integrated US armament and radars. Furthermore, she was launched at “3 Mai Brodogradilista” yard in Rijeka, in March 1950 as a “Yugoslavian Fletcher” (specs below).

She was completed after much extra work on 4 July 1958, and stayed in service until 1980. In the final version she apparently kept her original British machinery, had a single, but quintuple torpedo tubes bank (US pattern), four 5-in/38 DP guns, a quad, two twin, four single US bofors, two Hedgehog and depth charges racks and launchers, and even more mines that before. Her beam was augmented, as her final displacement, her speed was lowered to 31 knots. She had standard Fletcher type electronics, see notes. Before disposed of, her worn out machinery had only a single boiler serviceable.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

We will focus here on her 1950 redesign. Her hull basically did not changed much, apart her expected new armament and sensors forced a redesign of the hull. Originally that hull was 120 m (393 ft 8 in) overall, with a step typical of the time, portholes on two levels on the forecastle and single line aft. Her beam went from 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in) to 12 m (39 ft 4 in) to regain stability and buoyancy made her draft going from 3.48 m (11 ft 5 in) to 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in), so actually lower. He final displacement is not known.
Her machinery was truncated into a single funnel, much like the Polish Grom class. The shape of her bridge is unknown, originally a mix between the Beograd class and Le Triomphant’s. The four guns were initially planned in two superfiring positions fore and aft and a fifth position amidship, possibly aft of the main funnel.

Powerplant

As completed, the British provided a classic steam machinery common to the Kotor class destroyers that were also delivered. After planning for a Parsons and Yarrow machinery that was embargoed then going for a Tosi machinery under Italian control, delivered by degraded after sitting at the bottom for quite long, and Tosi’s reluctance to deliver replacement parts, post-1950 UK help in a twist of fate, led to the delivery of a new machinery taken from spares, provisions for many cancelled destroyers in 1945. It was a bit more advanced than the original one from 1939 originally ordered, so there was also a power gain. The 2 shafts were now driven by two geared Parsons geared steam turbines and the machinery, two Admiralty 3-drum boilers (other sources, three). Final output was 50,000 SHP (37,000 kW), versus the original 55,000 SHP (41,000 kW). Speed of course went down, from 38 knots initially planned down to 31.5 knots (58.3 km/h; 36.2 mph). After her boiler explosion, only one was left serviceable for 25,000 hp and 24kts.

Armament

It was completely modelled under the Cold War Fletcher upgrades, same armament (less one gun) and sensors. Check details on the latter for more.

127mm/38 Mark 30

Her final armament comprised four (2 forward, 2 aft, superfiring) single 127 mm (5 in)/38 naval guns in Mark 30 turreted mounts. Coupled with the latest shell fuses and guided by the Mk.12 fire-control radar, they were a potent AA asset, however after 1958, jets started to make this system less relevant.

US Pattern Bofors

Her AA armament remained close to the original idea of Bofors guns, but instead of the original Swedish ones, they were traded for the latest US pattern ones. Sources tends to diverged on the final complement. A single quad Mark 2 was installed aft amidship, in front of the torpedo tubes bank. There were also twin Mark 1 on either side forward of the quad behind the funnel, and from two to four single 40 mm guns Mark 3 (diverged among sources), with two or more installed close to the bridge forward. All were guided by their own fire control systems, in addition to the Mark 12 fire control radar.

Hedgehog

All sources point out the installation of a two 178mm Mk.15 ASWRL (Hedgehog anti-submarine spigot mortars), likely in front of “A” gun on the bow deck. Same system as the WW2 ones, guided by the QGA sonar.

Torpedo Tubes

The new designed got rid of the two triple arrangement and instead went for a US pattern quintuple TT bank, of the same type used on USS Fletcher. It was shoehorned just between “X” turret and the 40m quadruple Mark 2 mount. Exact same model as for the Fletcher class, so refer to it on the relevant page for details. There were apparently reloads as well as showed by some models, at least four extra torpedoes.

Depth Charges

Split was left in 1943 without its depth charge throwers and two depth charge racks planned, so instead US pattern ASW racks (two) were installed at the poop and six throwers located amidship of “X” aft turret on the deck, like on the Fletcher class, and delivering the same models as well. Some sources stated she could carry 40 mines, but evidence is lacking. No photos show any deck rails anyway.

Sensors

See the Fletcher class for more details. After 1960s these sensors started to feel their age. The only change was the replacement of their tripod mainmast by a derrick.
SC search radar
SG-1 surface-search radar
Mk 12 fire-control radar
Mk 22 height-finding radar
QGA sonar

⚙ specifications
Displacement	Est. the same, 2400/3000t as completed 1958
Dimensions	Same, but 12 m (39 ft 4 in), draft 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts geared steam turbines, 2× Admiralty 3-drum boilers: 50,000 shp (37,000 kW)
Speed	31.5 knots (58.3 km/h; 36.2 mph)
Range	590t oil, c2500 nm/15 kts (unknown)
Armament	4x 5-in/38, 1×4, 2×2, 4×1 40mm/60, 1×5 533mm TT, Hedgehog, 6 DCT, 2 DCR, 40 mines
Sensors	SC, SG-1, Mk 12.22 radars, QGA sonar
Crew	240

Career of split

So, Split was designed by A C de la Loire as a development of Dubrovnik. In May 1940, only 600 metric tons out of 1,100 metric tons (1,083 long tons) of material necessary to launch her had been delivered, but the British government embargoed her machinery despite French protests, allegedly when discovering contacts between the Yugoslav and Soviet governments. The Swedish government also embargoed the Bofors guns after the war broke out, and thee German control of Škoda Works meant construction was suspended outright.

Under Axis Hands, Spalato 1941-43

She was thus captured by Italian troops on slipway on 18 April 1941. The hull remained undamaged so the Regia Marina decided to complete her after a delay of several months. She was renamed her Spalato (Italian for Split), efforts were made for a completion under a modified design with Italian armament of five single 135mm/45 guns, five single 37mm/54, four twin 20mm/65 Breda autocannons, and a triple 533mm TT. Her machinery was reordered from Tosi. The Italians planned to add depth charge throwers and racks, install rails to lay 40 mines and even fit her with the brand new EC-3 ter Gufo radar.
She was already lightly damaged by partisan saboteurs in December 1941. The Regia Marina decided to suspend construction in April 1942, two years from planned completion. However, later that year, the losses urged replacement, and she was restarted as a project, and even given high priority.
She was launched on 18 July 1943, but works stopped at approximately 50% on in August as resources became scarce, and the situation was critical for Italy. On 9 September, the surrender meant she was abandoned. On 20 (24 in others sources) September, she was scuttled by Yugoslavian guerrillas in to dry-dock at Split (the cocks were simply opened, she sank upright without much damage). She was captured by German troops and salvaged, however works were never restarted. Instead, the Germans stripped her of any valuable material. As part of their scorched-earth strategy, she was again scuttled during the evacuation from Yugoslavia in 1944, (in some sources, sunk by Allied aircraft). The Partisans occupied the port on 27 October 1944. But refloating her was low priority until the war was over. After the war, she was salvaged a second time, so for work to restart.

Indeed, by 1945, the Socialist Yugoslavian Federative Republic was quite hopeful in the future and tito had grand plans, going well beyond the shores of the Adriatic. His naval plans at that date was very ambitious, calling for 12 destroyers, 28 submarines, 120 MTBs and 130 patrol craft among others. For destroyers, the nex fleet was to start again from scratch, as its four interwar destroyers, the leader Dubrovnik and the three Beograd class, were all gone, captured, sunk or scuttled. There was also Split, scuttled and refloated twice and in a very sorry state with an outmoded design. But Yugoslavia acquired in 1956, so two years before Split was completed, two ex-British RN destroyers, Котор [Kotor], ex-Kempenfelt/Р21 from John Brown, Clydebank, UK (launched 8.5.1943), and Пула [Pula] ex-Wager/Р22 also from John Brown and launched 1.11.1943, both stricken 1971.

Postwar Completion Plans

The new communist government had no large warship postwar, and decided to resurrect Split as the centerpiece of the new navy. However, Tosi Machinery had been installed, so the Yugoslavian government asked the original manufacturer to provided replacement parts for her machinery. Franco Tosi was reluctant due to the country seemingly now aligned to the Warsaw pact. Škoda was also contacted in 1948 to get delivery of her original main armament, locked up in a warehouse since 1940. The shipyard had been wrecked by the Germans as well and needed serious refurbishment. This would take time, so it was decided to tow the ship to the Kvarner Shipyard, former Cantieri navali del Quarnaro in Rijeka. In between, Škoda was denied delivery of the guns as the Tito-Stalin intervened. All technical assistance was also stopped.

The ship was eventually re-launched in March 1950 to free up the slipway, but work stopped there. In 1953, a rapprochement between Yugoslavia and NATO saw the US authorities under the MDAP program, and the British agreeing to help complete the ship. The latter also agreed to transfer two surplus destroyers (the kotor class, see above). The Tosi machinery was never delivered and instead used for other ships so the British agreed to provide her propulsion machinery and the US to provide the armament, fire-control and electronics. A reasonable choice as the new more homogeneous armament and sensors contributed to make her an equivalent to the Fletcher class destroyers, just with one less gun.

Cold War Service

Construction dragged one for a further eight years, from 1950 until finally commissioned on 4 July 1958 under the pennant R-11, notably due to waiting for deliveries of various systems and time needed to make it all work. Even completed and commissioned on 4 July 1958, she did not enter service before 1959. She became flagship as intended, retaining that position for most of her career. But by 1960s standards, she was not an impressive destroyer. Yes, her armament and sensors made her still relevant, but her hull never was built originally for such extra weight, and she proved to be top-heavy, short ranged, slow and very cramped in service.

In 1963, she accidentally collided with the ex-Italian torpedo boat Biokovo, the latter was struck from the navy list. In the late 1970s (date is uncertain), she experienced a boiler explosion in one of her main boiler steam lines. This killed all men on watch in the room. The boiler was never repaired so she was only able to run at 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) afterwards. Loosing much of hr appeal as a flagship as she could not lead a flotilla, and fearing more boilers issues, her machinery was simply condemned, and she became a stationary training ship for less than a decade, until decommissioned in 1980. Even then she was kept in mothballed until struck on 2 February 1984, scrapped in 1986.