Project 68U1 class light cruiser, Zhdanov - A new purpose in an age of missiles

Would you like the Project 68U1 light cruiser Zhdanov be added to the game?
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Project 68U1 class light cruiser, Zhdanov - A new purpose in an age of missiles

Note - Since the suggestion was originally on both command cruisers these suggestion will be split into focusing on one ship each

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Background/History

The Project 68U1 class light cruiser was one of two Project 68 Bis class light cruiser which in the early 1970’s that underwent conversion into command cruisers, with the ship of the Project 68U1 modification being the cruiser Zhdanov and the other ship of the Project 68U2 modification being the Admiral Senyavin.

The Zhdanov herself was laid down in 1950, launched the same year, and would later be commissioned in 1952, both would receive different modifications with Zhdanov receiving the Project 68U1 Bukhta-1 modernization and Admiral Senyavin receiving the Project 68U2 Bukhta-2 modernization. The conversion saw them see their main armament reduced with Zhdanov having her super firing rear turret removed and Admiral Senyavin would see both of her rear turrets removed and in exchange they both also saw the installation of twin 30mm gun turrets with the former getting 4 and the latter receiving 8, additionally both vessels saw the installation of a twin arm surface to air missile launcher of atop the new rear superstructure at the rear of the ship, Admiral Senyavin underwent a more extensive modification as she loss both rear turrets as she exchanged it for a larger rear superstructure which made way for a hanger and helipad for the ship, this feature was not present on Zhdanov who had a smaller version.

Following the conversion both would retain end up retaining flagship configuration for the remainder of their service and would stay in service until the latter half of the 1980’s and both vessels would end up being scrapped after the Cold War in 1991 and 1992 respectively.


Specifications

Project-68U1

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Displacement:

14,340 tons standard

17,890 tons fully loaded

Length:

210 m (689 ft 0 in) overall

205 m (672 ft 7 in) waterline

Beam: 22 m (72 ft 2 in)

Draft: 7.8 m (25.9 ft)

Propulsion:

2 shafts

2 TV-7 geared steam turbines sets

6 KV-68 boilers; 110,000 hp (82,000 kW)

Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h; 36mph)

Range: 5800 nmi at 17 knots

Complement: 1083

Sensors and Systems: (Not including FCS)

MR-510 Kil air search radar

Don navigation radar

Electronic warfare:

Krab-11 ESM radar system

Planshet CCS

Armament:

Primary Armament:

3 x triple 152mm/57 (6-inch) B-38 Pattern 1938 naval guns in MK-5-Bis mounts

Fire Control system(s):

  • Molniya AC-68bis-A with 2 radars Zalp fire control system

Dual purpose armament:

6 x twin 100mm/70 (3.9 inch) SM-5-1 DP naval guns

Fire Control system(s):

  • Zenit-68bis-A with 2 radars Yakor fire control system

Anti aircraft armament:

16 x twin 37mm/67 V-11M

Fire Control system(s): (N/A)

4 x twin 30mm/63 AK-230 AA guns

Fire Control system(s):

  • 2 x MR-104 Rys fire control system

SAM launchers:

1 x 2 Zif-122 4K33 Osa-M SAM (20 9M33 missiles total)

Fire Control system(s):

  • 4R-33 fire control system

Armor: (From my knowledge the armor should be the same as that of the Sverdlov in-game)

Belt: 100 mm (3.9 in)

Conning tower: 150 mm (5.9 in)

Deck: 50 mm (2.0 in)

Turrets: 175 mm (6.9 in) front, 65 mm (2.6 in) sides, 60 mm (2.4 in) rear, 75 mm (3.0 in) roof

Barbettes: 130 mm (5.1 in)

Bulkheads: 100–120 mm (3.9–4.7 in)

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(Top: Project 68U2) (Bottom: Project 68U1)


Sources

Spoiler

Sverdlov-class cruiser - Wikipedia

Light Cruisers - Project 68bis

SVERDLOV light cruisers (project 68bis) (1952 - 1955)

Soviet cruiser Zhdanov - Wikipedia

Soviet cruiser Admiral Senyavin - Wikipedia

Image Sources

Spoiler

SVERDLOV light cruisers (project 68bis) (1952 - 1955)

https://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn/comments/hz34lr/sverdlovclass_project_68bis_cruiser_zhdanov/

Sverdlov class

Sverdlov-class cruiser - Wikipedia

Cruisers project 68-bis: useful old men

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