Soviet destroyer Bezuprechny (1983)

Bezuprechny was a Sovremenny-class destroyer of the Soviet and later Russian navy.[1]

Bezuprechny underway in August 1986
History
Soviet Union → Russia
Name
  • Bezuprechny
  • (Безупречный)
NamesakeImpeccable in Russian
BuilderZhdanov Shipyard, Leningrad
Laid down29 January 1981
Launched25 July 1983
Commissioned6 November 1985
Decommissioned4 August 1994
HomeportKaliningrad
IdentificationPennant number: 413, 417, 430, 439, 455, 459, 681, 820
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Class and typeSovremenny-class destroyer
Displacement6,600 tons standard, 8,480 tons full load
Length156 m (511 ft 10 in)
Beam17.3 m (56 ft 9 in)
Draught6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Propulsion2 shaft steam turbines, 4 boilers, 75,000 kW (100,000 hp), 2 fixed propellers, 2 turbo generators,and 2 diesel generators
Speed32.7 knots (60.6 km/h; 37.6 mph)
Range
  • 3,920 nmi (7,260 km; 4,510 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
  • 1,345 nmi (2,491 km; 1,548 mi) at 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Complement350
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar: Air target acquisition radar, 3 × navigation radars, 130 mm gun fire-control radars, 30 mm air-defence gun fire control radar
  • Sonar: Active and passive under-keel sonar
  • ES: Tactical situation plotting board, anti-ship missile fire control system, air defence, missile fire-control system, and torpedo fire control system
Electronic warfare
& decoys
2 PK-2 decoy dispensers (200 rockets)
Armament
Aircraft carriedKa-27 helicopter
Aviation facilitiesHelipad

Development and design edit

The project began in the late 1960s when it was becoming obvious to the Soviet Navy that naval guns still had an important role particularly in support of amphibious landings, but existing gun cruisers and destroyers were showing their age. A new design was started, employing a new 130-millimetre (5 in) automatic gun turret.

The Sovremenny-class ships are 156 metres (512 ft) in length, with a beam of 17.3 metres (56 ft 9 in) and a draught of 6.5 metres (21 ft 4 in).

Construction and career edit

Bezuprechny was laid down on 29 January 1981 and launched on 25 July 1983 by Zhdanov Shipyard in Leningrad.[2] She was commissioned on 6 November 1985.

From 5 January 1987, alongside the aircraft carrier Kiev and the cruiser Admiral Isachenkov, she saw service in the Mediterranean Sea, tracking the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. From 2 to 5 June, Bezuprechny visited the port of Tripoli in Libya. On 23 June 1987, the destroyer returned to Severomorsk, having covered 20,197 nautical miles (37,405 km; 23,242 mi) in 168 sailing days.

From 4 to 17 March 1989, together with the destroyer Okrylyonny, she shadowed the NATO exercise Nord Star and monitored the aircraft carrier USS America.

On 26 May 1993, Bezuprechny represented the Soviet Union, at the British and Allied Fleets Review, at Moelfre Anchorage off Anglesey, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the turning point in the World War II Battle of the Atlantic, in presence of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, who reviewed the assembled fleets in HMY Britannia, in terrible weather conditions. Subsequently, Bezuprechny visited Liverpool, along with all the other Allied ships.

On 4 August 1994, by order of the Northern Fleet (No. 02868), Bezuprechny was put into reserve. Commencing on 3 November 1994, the vessel underwent repairs and modernization at Severnaya Verf. Due to a lack of funding, the destroyer was later designated for decommissioning.[3]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Destroyers - Project 956". Russianships.info. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Sovremenny: Project no: 956,A,E/956.1 Sarych". Russian Navy Vessels. Archived from the original on 4 November 2005. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  3. ^ Pavlov, A. S. (2000). 1st Rank Destroyers. Yakutsk: Sakhapoligrafizdat.