Polukhin-class minesweeper
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 A member of the class on 17 May 1954, after being towed to Maltepe, Turkey.
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Polukhin-class minesweeper |
| Builders | |
| Operators | |
| Subclasses |
|
| Built | 1938–Post-World War II |
| Planned | 20 |
| Completed | 15 |
| Cancelled | 5 |
| General characteristics (Project 59) | |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 79.50m overall |
| Beam | 8.10m |
| Depth | 2.50m |
| Speed | 22.5kn |
| Complement | 125 persons |
| General characteristics (Project 73K) | |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 78.60m overall |
| Beam | 8.10m |
| Depth | 2.48m |
| Speed | 17kn |
| Complement | 118 persons |
The Polukhin-class minesweeper was a class of ships built for the Soviet Navy. They existed in two versions: Project 59 and Project 73K.[1]
History
[edit]Work on the Vladimir Polukhin-class began in 1938 and 1939 when numbers 370 and 363 were laid down in Leningrad.The first two ships were Vladimir Polukhin (T-250), for whom the class was named, and Vasiliy Gromov (T-254); they were completed in 1942 and 1943. They were supposed to be finished before World War II but there were delays in delivering turbines and boilers. The modified version, Project 73k, consisted of 20 ships laid down in 1941 at the number 201 yard at the Sevastopol Yard. None were finished during World War II, and only 15 ended up being completed afterwards.[1] They were initially laid down with turbines but completed with diesels.[2]
The class was designed to assume reconnaissance mine-sweeping in long range and far away areas. They also were supposed to assume mine warfare support for large squadrons.[1] Some were active in the Baltic and Black Seas.[3][4] Some were operated by the US Navy in lend-lease.[4] All the ships were reclassified in 1956[2] as miscellaneous auxiliary vessels.[5]
Specifications
[edit]Project 59
[edit]The Project 59 ships were 79.50 meters long overall, 8.10 meters wide, and 2.50 meters draft. They displaced 690 tons normally and 880 when fully loaded. They had two-shaft DK1 geared steam turbines, 2 boilers, and could make 8000 horsepower. Top speed was 22.5 knots. They carried two 100mm/54 B-24BMs, one 45mm/43 21K, three 37mm/63 70Ks, two 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk IV, four 12.7mm/79, 2 DCR with another 20 in store, and 20 mines. Their crew was 125 persons.[1]
Project 73k
[edit]The Project 73k ships 78.60 meters long, 8.10 meters wide, and 2.48 meters draft. They displaced 703 tons normally and 863 when fully loaded. They had two-shaft GM diesel engines and could make 3200 horsepower. Top speed was 17 knots. They carried two 85mm/52 90Ks, four 37mm/73 70Ks, four 12.7mm/79 HMGs, 2 DCTs, and 20 mines. Their crew was 118 persons.[1]
Ships
[edit]| Project | Name | Designation | Launched[6] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | Vladimir Polukhin | T-250 | 30 March 1940 |
| 59 | Vasiliy Goromov | T-254 | 31 March 1940 |
| 73k | Pavel Khokhryakov | T-251 | 31 March 1940 |
| 73k | Aleksandr Petrov | T-252 | November 1940 |
| 73k | Karl Zedin | T-253 | November 1940 |
| 73k | Andrian Zasimov | T-255 | 15 September 1940 |
| 73k | Vladimir Trefolev | T-256 | 3 December 1940 |
| 73k | Timofey Ulyantsev | T-257 | 29 May 1940 |
| 73k | Mikhail Martynov | T-258 | 30 May 1941 |
| 73k | Fiodor Mitrofanov | T-259 | 30 May 1941 |
| 73k | Luka Pankov | T-260 | Spring 1941 |
| 73k | Pavlin Vinogradov | T-261 | July 1941 |
| 73k | Stepan Griadushko | T-262 | Prior to Siege of Leningrad |
| 73k | Semion Pelikhov | T-263 | Prior to Siege of Leningrad |
| 73k | Pavel Golovin | T-450 | 8 February 1940 |
| 73k | Ivan Borisov | T-451 | 31 December 1939 |
| 73k | Sergey Shuvalov | T-452 | 1941 |
| 73k | Sergey Shuvalov | T-453 | 16 January 1941 |
| 73k | Ivan Sladkov | T-454 | 20 March 1941 |
| 73k | Nikolay Markin | T-455 | N/A, lost at slipway |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "WW2 Soviet Minesweepers". Naval Encyclopedia. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ^ a b Pavlov, Aleksandr Sergeevich (1997). Warships of the USSR and Russia, 1945-1995. Naval Institute Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-1-55750-671-9.
- ^ "NH 92778 Soviet Polukhin class minesweeper in 1956". www.history.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 2025-06-15. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- ^ a b "NH 93634 VLADIMIR POLUKHIN Class Soviet Minesweeper". www.history.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 2025-06-17. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- ^ "Information Report" (PDF). cia.gov. 4 December 1964. p. 1. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ Platonov, Andrej Vitalʹevič (2002). Ėnciklopedija sovetskich nadvodnych korablej: 1941 - 1945. Sankt-Peterburg: Poligon. ISBN 978-5-89173-178-3.