Fidonisy class destroyers (1916)

Imperial Russian Destroyers:

The Fidonisy (or Kerch class) destroyer were 20 planned ships (8 completed) in 1915, caught by the Russian Civil War. They had been authorized as early as 1914, based on Novik for the Black Sea Fleet by the Naval Ministry after a strengthening of the Ottoman Navy and approved by the Tsar on 24 June. They were all named after naval victories of Admiral Fyodor Ushakov. They were however only essentially a Derzky class with an additional 102mm (4 in) gun but also considered the last and least successful of these Novik-derived destroyers. The initial plan was for twenty destroyer, but construction only started in October 1915.

So of the first batch of eight, only Feodonisy was completed by May 1917, and Kerch in June, Gadzhibey in September, shortly before the revolution. Others saw their construction stopped and later resumed in 1918-1925. The first two were scuttled in 1918, as Kaliakria, albeit she was later salvaged, repaired and was in Soviet Service, as Korfu, Levkas, and Zante, all renamed and modernized. Tserigo (White Russians) was interned in Bizerte and scrapped in 1924. Two were sunk in 1942, and the remainder two survived the war: Zheleznyakov (ex-Korfu) became Bulgarian 1947-49, was scrapped in 1957, and Nezamozhnik (ex-Zante) ended as target also in the 1950s.

Development

A new class for the Black Sea Fleet:

The Fidonisi-class destroyers were a class which was planned in 1914 for the Black Sea fleet at a time there was some concerns about a rapid reinforcement of the Turkish Ottoman Navy. There had been already the arrival of two older battleships (The Barbarossa class) acquired in 1910, and news that German avdisors were reinforcing Turkish naval fortifications. But by August 1914 there was a double thunderstruck. In addition of Russia being at war about Serbia against the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which trigerred German’s own declaration, and soon backed by France, the second was that on 10 August, Rear-admiral Wilhelm Souchon at the head of the Mediterranean Squadron, Goeben and Breslau, after out-manpoeuvering entente fleets, escaped to the east and entered the Dardanelles. An agreement was quickly found between the Kaiser Wilhelm II and Sultan Mehmed V.

The result was that both ships, to avoid neutrality issues (48h stay for any belligerent vessel) were officially transferred, “sold” symbolocally to the Ottoman Empire, taking the name, respectively of Yavyz Sutlan Selim and Midilli. Bioth were modern ships, just a few years old, far more superior to the Barbarossa class pre-dreadnoughts. With its superior armour to western standards, Yavuz was almost a fast battleship. Although she had “only” ten 28 cm guns, the combination of speed, protection and firepower made her superior to anything present in the Black Sea Fleet, the only one not crippled in the Russo-Japanese war. New battlecruisers (The Borodino class) had been already planned and were laid down late in 1913, completed by the Svetlana class cruisers, but these forces needed light ships as escorts, and so twenty Novik-derived destroyers were planned (according to many sources), but this was later redced to a total of 16 ships to be laid down for the Black Sea Fleet. Four in the end would be commissioned, the remaining 12 to be completed in Nikolaev.

Technically the new destroyers, laid down immediately after the start of World War I had their roughly similar to the Derzkiy-class destroyers to gain time in development, only differing by the choice of turbine-powered auxiliary machinery, as well as an enhanced gun armament (one more gun, see below), and three triple-tube torpedo tubes. As a reminder, Novik had been an extremely influential design when launched in 1911, laid down in 1910 after a long gestation following the losses of the Russo-Japanese war. Some lessons had been that existing Russian Imperial destoryers were decidedly too small and short-legged to be of any use real for fleet work, notably in the Pacific. Novik was a massive step-up in capabilities across the board, for speed, range, and firepower. This was the world’s strongest destroyer when launched.

It’s success was such that the Imperial Staff now only planned to build more follow-up designs, with gradual improvements: The Derzki or Bespokoiny class with nine built for the black sea fleet, the Orfey class, improved for their armament as modified versions of Derzky-class, slightly larger and with triple torpedo tubes, an extra 102 mm (4 in) gun. Next came the last iteration, the Izyaslav-class, alongside the Lt. Ilin and Gavril classes. The last ones were the Fidonisi (Also spelled Fidonisy) based on the lead ship, although if taking in account laying down and launch dates, Kerch is also reference in many sources. Conways even states the “Kerch/Fidonisy class”. The initial powerplant was believed to be Brown-Boveri or Parsons turbines, and Normand or Thonycroft boilers. This varied between series. Indeed the Derzkiy class had been alrgely designed by Thornycroft.

In any case, these numerous destroyers were symbolically named after victories of the Russian fleet against the Ottomans under the command of Admiral F. F. Ushakov. In Russia at the time, even in official documentation they were known as the “Ushakov” series. Considering these destroyers to be the most modern of their class at the time, the Naval General Staff laid down 12 more ships of this class in Nikolaev in 1916. However it was far too late. In fact none ever saw service for the Russian Imperial Navy. They were built in two series and the two sub-class had significant differences. But the important point is that they were designed by Lang and Sons, with the help of Augustin Normand. The extra armament called for increased dimensions, whoch in turn demanded the installation of the fifth boiler. The design was revised between 1913 and 1914, with the original having five guns. However practicality and stability downgraded this to four.

Fate:

On May 5, 1917, the first ships in class, “Fidonisy” and “Kerch,” were commissioned in Kerensky’s Provisional Government of Russia (later called the Navy of the Russian Republic). By the end of 1917, four had been built, the same number being prepared for commissioning. After commissioning, they were most often used for reconnaissance or escorting battleships. They took part in several battles until the spring of 1918 by order of Kerensky and the Bolsheviks. Kerch was present at Novorossiysk, to escort the battleship Volya returning to Sevastopol on June 17, 1918.
When the 1917 Revolution broke up indeed, crews held predominantly Bolshevik views. On December 15, 1917, sailors from Fidonisi and Gadzhibey executed all 32 of their officers, at Malakhov Kurgan. By the evening news of this spread throughout Sevastopol. Bodies were thrown into the sea, in Yuzhnaya Bay. On April 24, 1918, Gadzhibey shelled Alushta and landing troops, to suppress White Russian forced and driving back the Crimean Tatar nationalist forces. With Fidonisi, Zvonkiy, and Pronzitelny, Red Guards and sailors surpressed the Tatar uprising in Feodosia.

Albeit they should have been rising the Ukrainian flag on April 29, 1918, Kerch, Fidonisi, Kaliakra, and Gadzhibey were transferred to Novorossiysk, to be scuttled in June 1918 by order of V.I. Lenin. On June 18, Kaliakra and Gadzhibey were scuttled in Tsemes Bay. Kerch, which had docked in Novorossiysk, sank the battleship Svobodnaya Rossiya with four torpedoes, and the destroyer Fidonisi with a torpedo and cannon fire, in Tsemes Bay. Kerch headed to Tuapse to be scuttled on June 19. As for the remaining twelve ships in class, in Nikolaev, they were formally commissioned into the Ukrainian People’s Republic Navy by 1918, but never completed as resources were lacking. Of the ships from Nikolaev, the incomplete Tserigo was commissioned into the South Russian White Forces in 1919, but under orers to evacuate by Admiral Kolchak, she was transferred to Bizerte, interned until the end of the civil war under French supervision. She was officially handed over to the USSR on October 30, 1924 but turned down due to her poor condition, remained in Bizerte until scrapped at Brest in the early 1930s after being towed there.

Three destroyers (Zante, Korfu, and Levkas) were completed in the 1920s. They entered the Soviet fleet under the names Nezamozhnik (in 1923), Petrovsky (in 1925, later renamed Zheleznyakova), and Shaumyan (in 1925). The other eight ships, in various stages of completion, were dismantled by the Bolsheviks. The Kaliakria, sunk in 1918, was raised seven years later, repaired, and renamed Dzerzhinsky. All four ships took part in the Great Patriotic War: Dzerzhinsky and Shaumyan were scuttled in 1942, while Nezamozhnik and Zheleznyakov served throughout the war and were awarded the Order of the Red Banner on July 8, 1945.
Destroyer Zheleznyakov in the USSR Black Sea Fleet

After the war, these ships continued their service: Zheleznyakov was transferred to Bulgaria, where she served from 1947 to 1949, after which she returned to the USSR. In 1953, she was decommissioned, disarmed, and converted into the floating barracks PKZ-62. On July 10, 1956, she was removed from the Navy’s list of vessels and, on July 27, was disbanded due to her transfer to the Warehouse Property Department for dismantling and sale. In 1957, she was scrapped for scrap metal. On January 12, 1949, the Nezamozhnik was dismantled and converted into a target ship; in the early 1950s, it was sunk off the coast of Crimea.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

These new destroyers were not the largest, they were rather close to the Derzky, with an overall length of 92.51, up to 93.26 metres (303 ft 6 in – 306 ft in) for a beam of 9.05 up to 9.07 metres (29 ft 8 in to 29 ft 9 in) depending on the yard, and a draught of 3.2 up to 4.04 m (10.5 to 13.3 ft) at deep load. Displacement was 1,326 long tons (1,347 t) under normal load and 1,745 long tons (1,773 t) at full load. They had a crew of 136 officers and ratings.

Now, design wise, they were close to the Derzky class, with a forecastle about 1/4 of their full lenght, whict presented a well flare deck over very fine hull water lines forward, whereas the remainder of the hull had fuller lines, down to the large poop and semi-transom stern. Indeed the latter was a flattened rounded shape and slanted down. That was notably the best shape determined to lay mines. These ships had a smaller rounded bridge with portholed forward, barely large enough for a helmsman’s post and wheel, as well as an open bridge above, originally only protected by canvas. There was a secondary helms wheel, a chaburn and repeaters, as well as voice pipes, plus a barr & stroud rangefinder on a small bandstand.

The ships had two raked, composed masts, with the first one supporting a spotting post and the second having a gaff for the main national battleflag. There were also three raked funnels, the first two larger than the aft one. What’s interesting is the amidship cross shaped structure as wide as the beam designed to protect the spare torpedoes stacked behind from fire and seawater spray. Above were a quatuor of boats of different types, a whaler, a yawl, a cutter and a motor launch. At the center of the platform was installed the main AA gun and a pair of searchlights were installed on both wings. The aft quarterdeck structure supported “X” gun, and had an aft backup chadburn repeater.

“A” gun was on the forecastle, and after “X” gun were “Y” and “Z” all on deck. The latter were inline, not odffset to port or starboard, thus the gunners of “Y” had to be vigiland about “Z” gun crew about their own blast. A second AA gun was located offset to port of “Z”. Two large spaces existed between the forecastle and central island and itself and the aft quarterdeck, in which were place all four triple torpedo tubes banks. The radio room was located in the amidship island.

Powerplant

The Fidonisy class destroyers were powered by two Parsons direct-drive steam turbines connected each to a 3-bladed bronze fixed pitch propeller shaft on short struts, with a rounded axial rudder. The steam was produced in five Thornycroft boilers operating at a pressure of 17 kg/cm2 (1,667 kPa; 242 psi) and temperature of 205 °C (401 °F). The turbines were rated at 29,000 shaft horsepower (22,000 kW), for a top speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph). On service however thay only managed 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph), less than expected. The boilers rooms were three separated by bulkheads, the first with two boilers and a larger funnel above, same for the second, and the third smaller and with a single boiler and single funnel.

These destroyers carried some 330 tonnes (320 long tons) of fuel oil, but they varied widely in endurance, from 1,560 nautical miles (2,890 km; 1,800 mi) at 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph) for Nezamozhnik up to 2,050 nmi (3,800 km; 2,360 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) for Zheleznyakov. The average was 1210 nm at 16 knots. With interwar additions and modernizations for the survivors, combined with average maintenance, performances were further degraded in service, and 26-28 knots at best was the norm, making them the slowest of all Soviet destroyers. That’s why they are generally regarded as the worst of the Novik-derived ships.

Protection

It is the same as for ealrier class. Of coourse, theyt lacked any armour apart the “conning tower”, the bridge, that received rifle and shrapnel fire proof plating, about 8mm (0.3 inches). There was a reinforcement bar running amidship along the hull to avoid sagging, and extra sets of bulkheads at the forecastle after section, in addition to the ones separated the booilers rooms between themselves and the turbine room, bot placed side by side and separated by a longitudinal bulkhead. No armoour for the ammunition magazines, but rapid-filling cocks in case of fire. On that subjects, they had the usual pumps and emergency diesel generators.

Armament

Main armament:102 mm L/60 Guns

The Fidonisy class were armed with four 60-calibre 102 mm Pattern 1911 Obukhov guns, one on the forecastle and three aft; one of these latter guns was superfiring over the other two. These 102 mm (4 inches) L/60 Obukhov cannons were 4″/60 (10.2 cm) Pattern 1911, wich coincided with the Novik class. They were placed in the axis, on high-mounted pivots for good elevation, but no gun shield. Each ship stowed 150 rounds per gun.

Performances of these were as follows:
-Shell Obukhovsky 38.58 lbs. (17.5 kg) HE mod 1911
-Unitary cartridge 30 kg including the 17.5 kg shell
-Brass cartridge case containing a 7.5 kg charge
-Elevation Rate 3 degrees per second
-Train 360 degrees at 3 degrees per second
-Gun recoil 28 inches (71 cm)
-Muzzle velocity 823 m/s.
-Range at 30 degrees 16,800 yards (15,360 m).
-Rate of fire 12 rounds per minute.
More on Navweaps

These were rapid-fire guns, provided with 160 unitary artillery rounds per barrel (HE) for a grand total of 640 shells aboard. In 1941 this was increased to 810 rounds. Cartridges were stored in two artillery cellars. There was a feed system upwards using two elevators driven by electric motors (with manual backup), which was quite modern for a destroyer at the time.
Many more shells were made available on the long run as these guns were widepsread and still used in WW2: HE mod 1915 and mod 1911, FRAG mod 1915, HE mod 1907, Shrapnel, Star Shell, Diving shell (for ASW use), Incendiary shell.

In addition they had two and up to four 7.62-mm Maxim liquid-cooled machine guns installed on pedestals on the bow bridge, and upper deck aft, near the galley. Total boxed ammunition and belts totalled 810 rounds per Machine Gun.

For night fighting, these ships were equipped with a combat 60 cm Sperry searchlight, to illuminate targets. For fire control there was a single manual Barr and Strood 9-foot (base 2,745 mm) coincidence rangefinder installed on the bridge providing data. They were no longer coordinated by a single Geisler-type fire control system but now by a 2.7-meter (9 ft) Barr and Stroud rangefinder in top if the bridge (and two 60-centimeter (24 in) searchlights). They communicated data on four sets of data display of the guns with bells and howlers to signal a shot or a volley.

AA armament

Anti-aircraft armament varied between ships. The first four were had two 39-cal. 40-millimetre (1.6 in) “pom-pom” guns, or 58-calibre 57 mm (2.2 in) or 3 pdr Hotchkiss guns. The second batch of four had instead a single 30-calibre 76 mm Lender gun.

40 mm/39 AA

The “pom-pom” fired a 0.91-kilogram (2 lb) shell at 300 rounds per minute. Range was 6,300 m (6,900 yd) at +45°.

57 mm/58 (3 pdr) Hotchkiss QF AA

The Hotchkiss guns had a muzzle velocity of 991 m/s (3,250 ft/s), firing 2.22-kilogram (4.9 lb) shells at a range of 8,520 m (9,320 yd) when elevated to +21°.

76 mm/28 Lender Gun

The Lender guns had a muzzle velocity of 588 m/s (1,930 ft/s) for a range of 6,100 m (6,700 yd) at 65°. They fire a much more beefier 6.5-kilogram (14 lb) shell designed to explose at a preset altitude. Its practical rate of fire howver was down to 10–12 rounds per minute. Originally it was derived from a 76 mm divisional gun M1902 to fire in balloons. Called the “lender” it was converted as a high angle gun by FF Lender and prodyced at the Putilov plant from 1914 to 1934. The mount weighted 1,300 kg (2,900 lb). They ended on all interwar Russian cruisers as well.

63 mm/38 OSZ pattern 1916

The Pattern 1916 gun fired a 4.04-kilogram (8.9 lb) shell at a velocity of 686 m/s (2,250 ft/s) and to a range of 6,804 metres (7,441 yd) for an elevation of 75°. It had the best shell velocity performances but was still limited for AA fire but doubled well as a rapid fire anti-ship gun. The mount weighted 2,866 lbs. (1,300 kg). They were designed by OSZ early in the war with a vertical sliding-breech, but by the fall of November 1916 only twenty had been built, twenty more were started. Overall it was unsuccessful, being semi-automatic with shells having a small lethal radius. The Lender gun was considered more effective.

Torpedoes

The Fisonisy class destroyer were armed with a dozen 450-millimetre (17.7 in) torpedo tubes, in four triple mounts, mounted amidships in two pairs either side of the central island. This was for the time they were designed in 1914, a formidable, unrivalled firepower. Twin tubes were still the norm back then, and at best two pairs were carried. They probably most often used the M1912 torpedo which had a 100-kilogram (220 lb) warhead, featuring three speed/range settings:
-6,000 metres (6,600 yd) at 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
-5,000 metres (5,500 yd) at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
-2,000 metres (2,200 yd) at 43 knots (80 km/h; 49 mph).

Some sources argued they might have received also 1908 models called 45-08. But more likely they carried the 1915, 45-15 torpedo as developed in wartime. For the ones still in service before WW2, they likely received from 1938, the 45-36N torpedo when accepted into service:

-The 45-12 torpedo, 5.58 m x 0.45 m or 18 inches diameter, weighing 810 kg, and carrying a 100 kg warhead of TNT. Range was 5 km at 30 knots. First Russian torpedo with a “wet heating” system. Designed by the Fiume plant, it was produced at Obukhov and Lessner plant.

These new triple-tube 450 mm torpedo tubes Model 12 were already above average destroyer armament, still by 1915. On the previous design, the admiralty already wanted triple tubes, but they were dropped due to stability issues. In that case it’s likely that spare torpedoes were provided, hoised as seen above under the “cross” shaped amidship island. The tubes were originally Whitehead models, but they likely were completed with Putilov tibes, which originally lacked rigidly but received fastening. There was however the impossibility of target tracking, lacking the appropriate clutch in the gear train and with a slow mechanical rotation, plus an issue in the charger shutter, never fixed.

M1912 Mines

The Fidonisy class were designed as “active minesweepers”, like the other Novik-derived series, able to perform a rapid minelaying directly into the path of an underway enemy battle formation, even under fire. Their speed was still their best asset, but dropping mines at 30 knots was especially risky if the stern wake was not well managed. The risk of a premature detonation especially with contact mines was real due to turbulences. The mines were stacked on two long rail tracks on either side of deck aft, starting at the forecastle. This made up for small 80 mines or 50 larger, dropped on sloped lips at 20° which protruded overboard by 1.5 m. However even this configuation only allowed minelaying at below 24 knots.

For ASW warfare, they were given in WW1 ten 10 depth charges of the types 4V-B or 4V-M on two five-charge racks at the stern. They were replaced in the interwar by more advanced BB-1 and BM-1, respectively 8 and 20, stored between racks, manually dropped overboard or using carts tailored to support 4 large or 5 small depth charges.

Sensors

They were also fitted with a Barr and Stroud rangefinder on top of the bridge and two 60-centimeter (24 in) searchlights amidship as seen above. But as for true sensors, they likely only had basic hydrophones. In the interwar they were modernized with likely a Tamir-5 sonar system (see below).

⚙ specifications (1918)
Displacement	1,326 long tons (1,347 t) normal, 1,745 long tons (1,773 t) full load
Dimensions	92.51 x 9.05 x 3.2m (303 ft 6 in x 29 ft 8 in x 10 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts steam turbines power, 5 Thornycroft boilers: 29,000 shp (22,000 kW)
Speed	31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)
Range	1,850 nmi (3,430 km; 2,130 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Armament	4× 102 mm, 2× 40 mm AA, 4×7.62 mm LMG, 4×3 450 mm TTs, 80 mines
Sensors	Hydrophones, see notes
Crew	136

Modernization

Nezhamozhnik for example received a second 76.2 mm Lender gun at the stern in her 1928–1929 refit as well as a 42 depth charges (two racks) and two K-1 paravanes. She was equipped with new larger rails to accomodate sixty M1926 mines, fifteen either side.

During her 1935–1936 refit, she was added four 12.7 mm (0.5 in) DShK machine guns, on the forward and aft bridges. They replaced the now useless Maxim 7.62 mm machine guns. For the main guns, the bridge swapped its barr and stoud for an AM-3 rangefinder. A pair of depth-charge throwers were also added.

In mid-1941 the anti-aircraft armament was modernized again: Two 45-millimeter (1.8 in) 21-K AA guns were added on the forecastle. By 1943, five 37 mm 70-K AA guns were also added, one between the funnels, four among the boats, and two Oerlikon 20-millimeter (0.79 in) cannons, on the aft sructure, replacing two DShKs. The remaining two DShKs were kept on the forward bridge wings.

Now, for the larger picture, in 1929, Dzerzhinskiy had a 40mm/39 replaced by two 76mm/28 8K guns, and two 7.6mm/94 LMGs as well as 2 DCR (8), but mine stowage fell to 40-60. From 1939 1941, they lost their 7.6mm/94 LMGs for the installation of four 12.7mm/79 DShKa HMGs. In 1942, Nezamozhnik, Zheleznyakov had two of the removed for the addition of two 45mm/65 21KM AA guns as well as five 37mm/63 70K, two 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV for AA defence.

⚙ General characteristics (1943)
Displacement	1,760 t (1,730 long tons) full load
Speed	27-29 knots
Armament	4× 102 mm, 2× 45 mm AA, 5× 37 mm AA, 2× 20 mm AA, 2× 12.7 mm HMG, 4×3 450 mm TTs, 60 mines.
Sensors	Tamir sonar
Crew	150+

Career of the Fidonisy (Kerch) class

Fidonisy (Фидониси)

Feodonisy (Феодониси) was laid down on 29 October 1915, launched on 31 May 1916 and completed on 25 or 28 May 1917 at the Russud Shipyard in Nikolayev and was accepted for service on 1 June. She took part in a raid on the Turkish port of Ordu on 24 August and in September, was part of a force of eight destroyers patrolling the west Anatolian coast, helping to sink 19 small sailing ships on 13–15 September. From 30 September to 20 October she took part in multiple patrols trying to stop the “coal route” to Istanbul. She co-claimed sinking a 1 steamer, 23 sailing vessels, capturing 2 more. However the Russian Imperial navy ceased offensives against the Central Powers in early November after the Bolshevik Peace Decree, before a formal Armistice was signed, the next month. In January 1918 Feodonisy’s crew accepted Bolshevik authorities and efforts to consolidate their power in Yevpatoria and Feodosia (her namesake) in Crimea. Her crew helped supresing white uprozings both here and at Alushta in April. On 2 May, Fidonisy sailed from Feodosia to Novorossiysk, due to the advancing German forces. On 18 June, short of fuel, she was scuttled in Tsemes Bay by torpedoes fired by Kerch to avoid being ceded to the Germans in accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Her wreck was discovered and partially salvaged in 1964.

Gadzhibey (Гаджибей)

Gadzhibey (Гаджибей), an alternate name for the Battle of Tendra, commemorating Ushakov’s victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–1792, was laid down on 2 February 1915, launched on 27 August 1916 and completed on 11 September 1917 at a cost of 2.2 million rubles at Nikolayev Admiralty Shipyard, albeot completion and fitting out was made at Sevastopol from August, and she entered service on 24 September, assigned to the 3rd Division. However she saw no action under the Russian Imperial flag as in between, the Russian Provisional Government by February 1917 after the Revolution could not prevent a large part of the Black Sea Fleet to join the new Ukrainian Republic. The destroyer, which crew was largely Ukrainian, declared their loyalty to the Central Rada, and raised the Ukrainian flag on 2 November, following Zavidny. The Ukrainian sailors of Gadzhibey then proclaimed a resolution, appealing Russian sailors to accept the situation “in the hope of finding sympathy in our natural desire for national identity”. However after the October Revolution, many elements in the crew sided with the Bolsheviks, managed to convince the others and shot all officers, including Captain 2nd rank V. Pyshnov at Malakhov Kurgan on 28 December.

The destroyer raised the Red flag the next day and took part in the Soviet takeover of Yalta by January 1918. At Yalta, her sailors landed on 22 January, engaged Crimean Tatar forces of the Crimean People’s Republic. With Kerch and Fidonisy, a shore bombardment sacured the capture of the city from Crimean Tatars and the leaders were captured and executed. On 23-24 April with German troops advancing into Crimea, she landed a detachment at Yalta, reinforced by local Red Guards, to retake Alushta held by Crimean Tatars ready to welcome the German advance. Alushta was shelled and captured and the Crimean Tatars caoptured were shot in retaliation. Transferred from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk on 29 April 1918 after Germany issued an ultimatum on 25 April to the Soviet government for the handover of the Black Sea Fleet, she was scuttled in Tsemes Bay under 32–38 meters on 18 June to avoid capture. She was later raised by the Black Sea team rescue team on 6 December 1928, patched and on 4 January 1929 towed to Nikolayev for inspection, then in 1930 to Rudmetalltorg for scrapping. Indeed repair was deemed impractical but her propulsion machinery was installed Petrovsky in 1930-1932.

Kaliakria (Калиакрия) Dzerzhinsky (Дзержинский)

Kaliakria was laid down on 29 October 1915, launched on 14 August 1916 at Nikolayev shipyard and completed on 30 October 1917. However, by that time, her crew was not yet assembled. After completing mooring trials, she transferred to Sevastopol for final fitting-out plus acceptance trials but by November 12, if she was commissioned into the 3rd Division of the Black Sea Fleet. (named after Cape Kaliakra in Bulgaria, battle of 1791) she saw no combat operations and by December 16, 1917, was officially handed over to the Soviet fleet. In January 1918, he took part in the establishment of Soviet power in Feodosia. After the German command presented an ultimatum to the Soviet government on April 25 regarding the surrender of the Black Sea Fleet, on April 29, 1918, the Kaliakria, along with some of the ships, left Sevastopol. On May 1, 1918, the ship arrived in Novorossiysk; on June 18, by decision of the Soviet government, the ship was scuttled by the crew at a depth of 28 meters (to prevent capture by German troops).

From June 17 to October 4, 1925 Kaliakria was raised, patched on site, and on April 27, 1926, she was towed to Nikolaev for repair. On November 24, she was renamed Dzerzhinsky and from January 1, 1927 to August 24, 1929, she was completely overhauled. On the 29th she was recommissioned into the Black Sea fleet as flagship, 1st Destroyer Division. In December she visited Istanbul: She carried a Soviet delegation headed by Deputy People’s Commissar of Foreign Affairs Lev Karakhan for negotiations on 11 December (Soviet–Turkish Treaty on Friendship and Neutrality). In 1933-1934, she had second major overhaul and modernization at Sevmorzavod.

She held her role for the 1st Destroyer Division at Batumi with Frunze on 22 June 1941, as the war broke out and on 22-25 June she laid 240 mines off Batumi in four night sorties. She took part in the Siege of Odessa after the Raid on Constanța from 20 August with ammunition, and bombarded Dofinovka (firing 88 102 mm shells) until one elevator failed and she had to be reloaded by hand. She was attacked by three Heinkel He 111 bombers but missed. She then escorted three transports out of Odessa on 23 August, departed Sevastopol on the 29th escorting three transports, with two minesweepers and three torpedo boats for Odessa and shelled Fontanka, attacked by aircraft without result. In the night, she fired again 118 shells against Fontanka and left with a tugboat towin two barges at 6 knots to Sevastopol, reached on 2 September. Long story short these missions continued, on 6 September (carrying 140 partisans), on 9 September, (shellfire damaged her gun and her torpedo tubes). Admiral Nikolai Kuznetsov ordered an amphibious assault at Grigorievka and Dzerzhinsky and Frunze were assigned part of a detachment in support on 16 September, but mared by heavy seas. She also shelled Alekseyevka, Khorly, and Skadovsk, bu had burst pipes in a boiler and a broken gyrocompass plus wore out her gun barrels. She was relieved by the cruiser Voroshilov.

From October 1941 to February 1942 she was under refit and repairs at Poti. In March, she escorted the gunboat Krasnaya Kuban to Sevastopol. On 29 March, she detected a submarine and dropped six depth charges. On 4-11 April, she escorted the tanker I. Stalin from Batumi to Sevastopol via Tuapse. On 12-13 April she shelled a troop concentration near Mamashay. On 13 April she escorted the tanker Moskva to Batumi. With the destroyer Boyky she escorted the battleship Parizhskaya Kommuna on 19 April. Next with the cruiser Krasny Krym and Nezamozhnik, she loaded reinforcements for Sevastopol at Novorossiysk on 12 May. She approached the entrance to Sevastopol channel in fog on 13–14 May and had to pass through a Soviet minefield but at 11:32 on 14 May, she was ordered to search for the minesweeper which had cleared a lane, headed north without deploying paravanes, and soon sighted the minesweeper but struck a mine at 12:20. She sank quickly, only 27 were rescued. Struck on 24 June, her wreck was rediscovered in 2006 by an Ukrainian-American team.

Kerch (Керчь)

Kerch was listed in the Black Sea Fleet ship register and ordered on 2 July 1915, from the Russud Shipyard in Nikolayev on 29 October 1915, launched on 31 May 1916, completed on 27 June 1917, commemorating Ushakov’s victory at the Battle of Kerch Strait in 1790. Assigned to the 3rd Division she made a single minelaying mission in July but inactivated in November due to the Bolshevik Decree on Peace before a formal Armistice signed. By January 1918 she supported Bolshevik efforts to consolidate power in Yevpatoria and Feodosia in Crimea, bombarding Romanian troops in the Danube estuary and in February, Kerch took part in a punitive expedition against Novorossiysk. On 29 April she left Sevastopol for Novorossiysk due to advancing German forces but on 18 June, she torpedoed and scuttled the battleship Svobodnaya Rossiya and the DD Fidonisy in Tsemes Bay. The next day Kerch she sailed to Tuapse to scuttle herself in the harbor entrance to block it, using cocks and charges. On 22 November 1922 she was an attempt to raise her but the hull broke in two while being lifted. Part of her engine rooms were later raised in December 1932 notably the turbines, repaired and installed at the Tuapse power plant.

Korfu Petrovsky/Zheleznyakov (Железняков)

Korfu was laid down on 23 June 1916, launched on 10 October 1917 but left incomplete at Russud shipyard in Nikolaev. Her hull was 100% complete, but structure incomplete. Thus, she was captured by Germans, transferred to the Ukrainian navy but work never resumed. Instead, when the civil war ended and she was repossessed by November 1923, then completed by the end of 1924 and on February 5, 1925, renamed Petrovsky. On March 10, she had her first yard trials, and on April 25, official sea trials receiving an additional 37-mm Maxim AA gun but it proved unreliable and later replaced by a Lender gun. Trials went on after fixed on June 10, when the ensign was raised after which she was commissioned into the Black Sea fleet. In September-October she visited Istanbul and Naples, and again Istanbul by September 1928 as USSR made friendly pact with the new regime in Turkey. From September 5, 1930 to July 7, 1932, she had a major overhaul (machinery from Gadzhibey installed), and October-November 1933 saw visist at Istanbul, Piraeus, and Messina. On June 25, 1939, she was again renamed Zheleznyakov and in 1941 she was in the 1st Destroyer Division, in repair at Sevmorzavod that lasted until October 1941.

Zheleznyakov took part in the defense of Odessa and from early November, the defense of Sevastopol. In mid-December she was in Novorossiysk. The supported the Kerch-Feodosia landing in Feodosia on December 28-29. Under heavy enemy fire, she fired on shore positions, entered the harbor, landed 287 soldiers on the pier. While mooring under fire, she stem was damaged, and her spotter post was destroyed, killing seven sailors. She remained until the city fell. On January 25, 1942, she was used for the landing in Sudak. From February 3-4, 1942, she landed men in Yevpatoria.
After Sevastopol was evacuated she participated in the defense of the coast and February 4, 1943, landed troops near Stanichka-Yuzhnaya Ozereika. She took part in the shelling of Anapa and on November 5, 1944, returned to Sevastopol with a Black Sea Fleet squadron.

The war ended and by December 18, 1947, she was transferred to the Bulgarian Navy after PM Georgi Dimitrov’s visit to Moscow. She was used for twi years as a training school for the rapidly expanding navy (with ex-Soviet ships) and went on patrol under Captain 2nd Rank Hristo Kukenski. Low-quality fuel caused a fire in April 1948, after which she was towed to Varna, repairs carried out, but she lacked maintenance (no dydocking) and ended heavily fouled. On top of this, poor handling skills led to several collisions, despite her speed limited 15 knots so she had drydock repairs in Sevastopol and retuned to the Bulgarian Navy. On September 15, 1949, she was stricken, returning to the Soviet Navy, sent to Sevastopol for boiler repairs and used until decommissioned on April 8, 1953, disarmed, and converted into the floating barracks PKZ-62. On July 10, 1956, she was stricken and sold for BU, scrapped in 1957 at Glavvtorchermet, Poti.

Levkas (Левкас) Shaumyan (Шаумян)

Levkas (after Lefkada, a victory there during the 1798–1799 campaign in the Ionian Islands) was listed on 2 July 1915, laid down in the Russud Shipyard, Nikolayev on 23 May 1916, launched on 10 October 1917 but construction halted after the Revolution. On 17 March 1918 the shipyard was captured by German troops and she was passed on the Ukrainian People’s Army and White Armed Forces. A commission examined her, found that the hull was completed, propellers and shafts installed, boilers and some ready for installation. In early 1920 the shipyard was captured back by the Red Army. The Council of Labor and Defense ordered completion as well as the Korfu on 2 September 1924, without modification. By early 1925 machinery and armament were installed. Renamed Shaumyan on 5 February 1925 (for a martyred Armenian Bolshevik), fitting out contract was signed on 13 August and she started trials by 19 October, entering service on 10 December. She took part in maneuvers with Red Army forces at Odessa and notably a landing on 21-22 September 1927. She hosted the Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs Kliment Voroshilov Red Army Naval Forces Directorate Romuald Muklevich afterwards. She visited Istanbul on 27 May-7 June with Chervona Ukraina and trained with the Batumi Coastal Defense.

She had a major refit at Sevmorzavod on 5 October, until 16 July 1930. She returned to Istanbul on 3-5 October, Messina, on the 7-10th, Piraeus on 11-14th with Chervona Ukraina and Nezamozhnik, practicing minefields manoeuvers, ASW and coordination against torpedo boats. With the cruiser Krasny Kavkaz, and Petrovsky she had another Mediterranean cruise in late 1933, from 17 October, via Istanbul, Piraeus, Naples, and back to Sevastopol on 7 November. She was refitted at Sevmorzavod in 1935 and tested her new 76 mm AA gun (34-K) in May-June.

She was listed on the 1st Destroyer Division, Sevastopol on 22 June 1941, assigned to cover the evacuation of the Danube Flotilla to Odessa on 17 July and 14th Rifle Corps to Odessa on 18–19 July. Shaumyan and Tshch-27 laid a minefield off the Danube’s Chilia branch on 23 July. Herself laid fifty M1926 mines. On 9 August she supported by gunfire a counterattack by the 1st Naval Rifle Regiment 4 days later. On 14–17 August she escorted incomplete ships evacuated from Nikolayev. With the cruisers Chervona Ukraina and Komintern, DDs Besposhchadny and Boyky, Nezamozhnik she shelled German positions west of Odessa on 1–2 September but her navigation bridge was hit on 1 September, wounding nine crewmen. She was repaired at Sevastopol and returned to Odessa, towin her crippled sister Besposhchadny back to Sevastopol. On 3–6 October she took part in evacuation convoys (157th Rifle Division) from a closing bridgehead outside Odessa, back to Sevastopol. Same on 8–10 October and 15–16 October (final), also towing the damaged transport Gruziya. Next she defended Sevastopol from 29 October unril reassigned to the Krasnyi Krym, Chervona Ukraina, Bodry bombardment group. She helped to evacuate cut-off Soviet troops from pockets along the Black Sea coast on 1-9 November. After Besposhchadny was badly damaged in an airstrike, she towed her to Poti on 17 November.

She supported the Kerch-Feodosia landing on 29 December. Her mainmast was struck by a shell and she briefly ran aground in Novorossiysk on 13 January 1942 buy was soon pulled off. She took part in the landing at Sudak on 15–16 January, off-loading troops, as well as on 24–25 January. In February-March she escorted convoys, transported troops and supplies to Sevastopol and shelling Axis positions when ordered to, at Saky and Yalta, also later taking part in a diversionary landing near Alushta on 1 March. On 3 April she ran aground at Gelendzhik while underway from Novorossiysk to Poti after trying to dodge Luftwaffe attacks. She was so badly damaged she was struck from the List on 3 June, disarme (her guns ended in a coastal defense battery at Novorossiysk) and later, half-submerged she was finished off by German aircraft and storms, then salvaged for scrap postwar.

Tserigo (Цериго)

Tserigo in Bizerte, 1924

Tserigo (Or Cerigo was named after the island of Kythira, commemorating a victory in the 1798–1799 campaign in the Ionian Islands) was listed and ordered on 2 July 1915, laid down ar Russud Shipyard in Nikolayev, then launched on 27 March 1917 but construction was halted after the Revolution. On 17 March 1918 she was captured by the Germans, passed on to the Ukrainians and Whites, examined by a commission, reported 93% complete but work never resumed. She was to be recaptured by the Red Army, albeit by January 1920, she was towed to Odessa and then to Sevastopol, armament never installed and she never entered service. On 14 November, she was towed with Wrangel’s fleet in the White evacuation, to Istanbul, then interned into Bizerte, Tunisia and interned by the French on 29 December. The Whites sold her for scrap in 1923 but after the French recognition of the Soviet Union, the crew left on 29 October 1924, declared Soviet property but Franco-Soviet relations endured she was never returned. Soviet scrapmetal trust Rudmetallorg sold her to a local French firm for scrapping, but she rusted in place until 1934, when scrapped.

Zante (Занте) Nezamozhny/Nezamozhnik

Zante (another victory) was laid down in the Russud Shipyard in May 1916, launched on 3 April 1917, but construction halted after the Revolution. Captitred by the Germans on 17 March 1918, passe don to the Ukrainians and Whites, examined by a commission, reportted 70% (machinery 85%) but work was not resumed. She was towed to Odessa by the Whites in January 1920 but in February a storm wrecked her on the rocks at Bolshoy Fontan during the evacuation of Odessa. She was raised, returned to Nikolayev on 7 September 1920 for completion, assigned to Nikolayev’s Andrei Marti yard on 23 December. On 12 June 1923, she was renamed Nezamozhny (Russian ‘poor peasants’) in recognition of a fundraising by the Peasant’s Ukrainian Committee for her completion. Trials started on 23 September with fixes at Sevastopol and resumed until 14 October, for final Nikolayev’s boiler cleaning. She was commissioned on 20 October, naval jack hoisted on 7 November for the Black Sea Naval Fleet. She took part in maneuvers, hosting Chairman Leon Trotsky to Batumi, taking part in the 6-11 September 1924 fleet maneuvers and September-October 1925 greeted an Italian Regia Marina visit to Leningrad. On 18 September she visited Istanbul, Turkey, steamed through the Mediterranean to Naples. There, sailors met writer Maxim Gorky. She was back on 9 October.

Renamed to Nezamozhnik (singular form of her previous name) on 29 April 1926 she had a refit at Sevmorzavod NyD, Sevastopol in 1928-1929, and left with Frunze for another Mediterranean cruise on 31 August via Naples (4-8 September) and back after 2,840 nmi (5,260 km; 3,270 mi) on 12 September. She towed the submarine Shakhter to Sevastopol after a collision on 3 April 1930. In October she retiurned to Istanbul and Messina, Piraeus, with Chervona Ukraina and Shaumyan. In March 1934 her 76 mm (3-K) AA gun shownd she was unusuable in heavy seas and replaced by a second Lender. From 1935 to 1936 she had another refit at Sevmorzavod. By June 1941 she was in the 1st Destroyer Division, in refitting until 15 July. She escorted the gunboat Krasnaya Abkhaziya, three patrol boats and a floating dry dock (5,000 long tons cap.) towed by the icebreaker Makarov and tugboat SP-13 from Tendra to Sevastopol on 24-26 July, for the evacuation of Nikolayev. With Shaumyan she had naval gunfire support at Odessa on 6 August. Using WW1 DDs was a decision of the local command to not risk more modern destroyers in such operations after the sinking of Moskva.

On 13 August with Shaumyan she could not prevent the Romanian encirclement despite vigorous naval gunfire. She was damaged by three near misses after a German air attack 14 August while off Ochakov, and spent four days in Odessa under repair. She returned off Ochakov on 20 August, covered the garrison’s retreat to Berezan and Pervomaysky. On 24-25 August, she supported the Odessa garrison against Romanian attacks with Shaumyan and Frunze and German troops at Alexandrovka, Gildendorf, and Voznesenka. She returned to Odessa to refuel on 30 August, and returned to the gunline from 31 August, reporting five batteries silenced in the Ilyichevka area, destruction of a supply train, scattering of several Axis units. She left Odessa on 4 September to escort the transport Dnepr with 1000+ wounded soldiers and 400 passengers to Sevastopol. She had repairs at Sevmorzavod from 6 September to 8 October. Back to Odessa on 13 October she escorted three transports for the evacuation and provided air defense. After two bomb hits she helped fighting fire on the transport Gruziya. She left on 15 October, moved into the Dofinovka Estuary, coverin the retreat of the right flank, speinf 468 102 mm shells and attacked in four successive air raids. At 20:30 she dropped anchores close to the breakwater, waiting to load the last troops, who never arrived. She left at 06:00 the next day and With Shaumyan and Gruziya survived another Luftwaffe attack before reaching Sevastopol on 17 October.

She escorted the battleship Parizhskaya Kommuna from Batumi to Poti on 2 November, and then the cruiser Voroshilov in the Poti roadstead over two days. From 4 and 5 November, she moved from Sevastopol to Kerch, with the defense commanderLieutenant General Pavel Batov on board. Nezamozhnik, Shaumyan, and Zheleznyakov remained at Sevastopol on 7 November to support the siege, but repeated German air attacks forced them out. She towed the incomplete Ognevoy to Batumi on 8-11 November. Late on 12 November, she left Batumi in search for the minelayer Syzran which ran out of fuel. After escorting transports to Batumi on 15-17 November, with Zheleznyakov, she escorted Parizhskaya Kommuna to Poti. She left Novorossiysk on 23 November for Sevastopol with ammunition and reinforcements, arrived to escort the hospital ship Kotovsky back to Tuapse and to Poti. With Boyky, she escorted two transports from Poti to Sevastopol on 8-11 December, fired at Axis positions at Severnaya Bay on 12 December. Back to Novorossiysk on 16-17 December, she joined the cruisers Krasny Kavkaz and Krasnyi Krym, and DL Kharkov, DD Bodry to transport the 79th Naval Rifle Brigade to Sevastopol from 20 December (Nezamozhnik was at the rear) and defended the convoy in an air attack at Cape Fiolent. She left Sevastopol, making underway a night bombardment off Balaklava and arrived at Tuapse on 23 December.

Nezamozhnik, Shaumyan, Krasny Kavkaz, Krasnyi Krym, were assigned to support the landing near Mount Opuk (Kerch–Feodosia Operation) in late December. With Krasny Kavkaz, she departed on 25 December but failed to meet the transports off Mount Opuk so she returned to Anapa, finding there a single transport. At 17:30 on 26 December Krasny Kavkaz conducted a shore bombardment and she anchored for the night, then returned to Novorossiysk on 27 December to embark troops for a landing at Feodosia (289 naval infantrymen, a 76 mm gun, 70 shell boxes). Early on 29 December she shelled Feodosia, landed troops with the other two destroyers but was hit at the stern and flooded. A collision with the pier after her charburn failed did not stopped her shore bombardment, landing 102 mm and 76 mm shells helped by 45 mm tracer rounds. She managed to leave the area at 8 knots and returned to Novorossiysk on 30 December, then Poti for repairs until 13 March. With Krasny Kavkaz, Nezamozhnik escorted two tankers from Poti to Sevastopol on 16-19 March and went through an air attack without loss, back to Poti. After escorting a transport from Novorossiysk to Sevastopol with Shaumyan and Kharkov on 27-31 March, she escorted the tanker Kuybyshev from Novrossiysk to Kamysh-Burun in Kerch, on 2 April then back to Novorossiysk with survivors from the tanker after she took an aerial torpedo from an Heinkel 111. From 3 to 7 April Nezamozhnik escorted the transport Svanetiya from Novorossiysk to Sevastopol, the Tuapse and back to Novorossiysk.

Alongside Krasnyi Krym and Dzerzhinsky, she loaded reinforcements at Novorossiysk on 12 May and made a run to Sevastopol. She arrived in fog at the Sevastopol channel in the night of 13–14 May, but awaited improved visibility conditions, later seeing a distant flash whe her sister Dzerzhinsky struck a mine and sank with heavy loss on 14 May. She entered Sevastopol, and departed with wounded men on 19 May back to Tuapse. Nezamozhnik left for her last run to the besieged port on 5 June, escorting Gruziya with two patrol boats on 7 June and herself departed with 94 evacuees to Tuapse two days later. After the fall of Sevastopol, the Black Sea Fleet was reorganized. Nezamozhnik was reassigned to the 2nd Destroyer Division with Zheleznyakov and the Uragan-class guard ships Shtorm and Shkval. She moved to Novorossiysk on 1 July and survived a German air raid sinking the DL Tashkent and DD Bditelny on 2 July. With Shtorm and Shkval she left Tuapse escorting the light cruiser Molotov transferred to Poti. She left Tuapse on 2 August to assist Molotov and Kharkov (damaged in a raid on Feodosia) back to Poti. 4 days later, she evacuated 295 government and Party officials from Novorossiysk to Batumi. The next months, she continued her convoy escort dueties with occasional troop transport missions, for the Battle of the Caucasus, notably in August the 32nd Guards Rifle Division to Tuapse with Krasnyi Krym. She also escorted Krasny Kavkaz in her sea trials after repairs on 17 August and transported 500 Naval Infantry from Poti to Tuapse on 25 August (transport Kalinin) with the 408th Rifle Division to Tuapse on 16 September. She towed Zheleznyakov from the Khobi River to Batumi for repairs. She escorted Kalinin on 19-20 September as she carried the 328th Rifle Division from Poti to Tuapse. On 30 September she carried elements of the 408th Rifle Division from Gelendzhik to Tuapse. With Voroshilov, Boyky, and Besposhchadny, she had target practice off the Kodori River on 8 October.

With Shkval she shelled Feodosia at dawn on 14 October, assisted by two Beriev MBR-2 acting as spotters. Nezamozhnik fired 92 HE shells, starting fires in the port and was missed by a German coastal artillery. From 18 October to 30 November she escorted two transports and tankers from Batumi and Poti, then Tuapse and back (1,150 reinforcements). With Krasnyi Krym she also carried elements of the 9th Mountain Rifle Division to Tuapse on 2 December. With Besposhchadny she transported 1,108 sailors detached to the army to Tuapse. In the early morning hours of 20 December she shelled Feodosia using spotter aircraft and evading a torpedo boat attack and coastal batteries fired. Her fire destroyed a German motor tug. By early 1943, the Black Sea Fleet had only six remaining destroyers, notably Nezamozhnik and Zheleznyakov. She carried the Chief of the Naval General Staff Admiral Ivan Isakov to Tuapse on 13 January to evaluate the situation. Three days later, with the minesweeper Gruz she escorted Kalinin, from Poti to Tuapse. Under the flag of Counter Admiral Nikolay Basisty, she supported the landing on 4 February at Stanichka and Yuzhnaya Ozereyka with Zheleznyakov. But the recapture of Novorossiysk failed. She bombarded German positions in the Novorossiysk valley and Ozereyka, left flank of the main landing, but was ordered a withdrawal as a massive German air attack was signalled. Underway back to Tuapse she was attacked by five German Junkers Ju 87 at 10:13, missed fifteen bombs, one was claimed shot down.

Back on 5 February, with two patrol boats she escorted a tanker from Poti to Tuapse, then reinforcements and ammunition on 10 February. This was followed by a shore bombardment of Anapa on 26 February. From 1 March she stated a refit lasting until the end of the Black Sea campaign. After the sinking of Kharkov and two destroyers in October, Stalin forbade the Black Sea Fleet from participating in operations without his express permission. Nezamozhnik and Zheleznyakov escorted Krasny Kavkaz from Batumi to Poti on 15 July 1944. On 30 July, they made radar tests, which proved unsatisfactory. She was transferred back to the 1st Destroyer Division on 22 August with Zheleznyakov (DesDiv 2 disbanded). She returned to Novorossiysk escorted by two MBR-2s. After Sevastopol was swept for mines she helped its recapture and the Black Sea Fleet returned there, with Nezamozhnik departing Poti on 4 November, arriving the next day. By the end of the war, she was officially credited with completing 120 missions, over 45,586 nmi (84,425 km; 52,459 mi) and surviving sixty air attacks, caliming three planes, destroying a dozen batteries, awarded the Order of the Red Banner on 8 July 1945 along with Zheleznyakov. Decommissioned on 12 January 1949, she was converted into a target ship, sunk off the Crimean coast in the early 1950s.