Derzky-class destroyer
Imperial Russian destroyers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Derzky or Bespokoiny-class destroyers was a class of destroyers built for the Imperial Russian Navy just before World War I. Nine ships were built for the Black Sea Fleet. These ships were a derivative of the Novik, but were slightly smaller.
Frunze | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators | |
| Preceded by | Novik |
| Succeeded by | Orfey class |
| In commission | 1913–1941 |
| Completed | 9 |
| Lost | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 98 m (321 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 9.3 m (30 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts; 2 steam turbines |
| Speed | 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) |
| Range | 1,717 nmi (3,180 km; 1,976 mi) at 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Complement | 125 |
| Armament |
|
Similar to the earlier Novik, the Derzky class used steam turbines powered by oil-fired boilers, enabling speeds of approximately 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). The class carried a comparatively heavy torpedo armament for vessels of its size, effective for its intended role in patrol, escort, and torpedo attack operations in the Black Sea during World War I. Although more lightly armed than other destroyers of the time, the ships’ speed and maneuverability made them well suited for coastal operations and fleet support duties.
Ships
| Ship | Builder | Launched | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bespokoiny (Turbulent) |
Nikolayev Navy Yard | 31 October 1913 | Interned in Bizerte with Wrangel's fleet and scrapped 1924 |
| Derzky (Impertinent) |
Nikolayev Navy Yard | 15 March 1914 | Interned in Bizerte and scrapped 1924 |
| Gnevny (Furious) |
Nikolayev Navy Yard | 31 October 1913 | Interned in Bizerte and scrapped 1924 |
| Pronzitelny (Shrill) |
Nikolayev Navy Yard | 15 March 1914 | Scuttled 18 June 1918 near Novorosiysk |
| Bystry (Rapid) - renamed Frunze |
Metal works, Kherson | 7 June 1914 | Scuttled to avoid capture in 1919 and raised and repaired by the Soviet Navy. Sunk by Stuka dive bombers on 21 September 1941 |
| Gromki (Loud) |
Metal works, Kherson | 18 December 1913 | Scuttled 18 June 1918 near Novorosiysk |
| Pospeshny (Hasty) |
Nikolayev Navy Yard | 4 April 1914 | Interned in Bizerte and scrapped 1924 |
| Pylki (Ardent) |
Metal works, Kherson | 28 July 1914 | Interned in Bizerte and scrapped 1924 |
| Schastlivy (Happy) |
Putilov Yard (Nikolayev) | 29 March 1914 | Grounded 24 October 1919 while being towed to internment |
Bibliography
- Apalkov, Yu. V. (1996). Боевые корабли русского флота: 8.1914-10.1917г [Combat Ships of the Russian Fleet: 8.1914-10.1917] (in Russian). ИНТЕК. ISBN 5-7559-0018-3.
- Berezhnoy, S. S. (2002). Крейсера и Миносцы: Справочик [Cruisers and Destroyers: Reference] (in Russian). Ввоенное Ииздательство. ISBN 5-203-01780-8.
- Breyer, Siegfried (1992). Soviet Warship Development: Volume 1: 1917–1937. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-604-3.
- Budzbon, Przemysław (2026). "The High-Speed Destroyers of the Novik Type: Part I". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2026. Osprey Publishing. pp. 8–29. ISBN 978-1-4728-7259-3.
- Budzbon, Przemysław (1985). "Russia". In Gray, Randal (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Naval Institute Press. pp. 291–325. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
- Budzbon, Przemysław (1980). "Soviet Union". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Conway Maritime Press. pp. 318–346. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- Budzbon, Przemysław; Radziemski, Jan & Twardowski, Marek (2022). Warships of the Soviet Fleets 1939–1945. Vol. I: Major Combatants. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-68247-877-6.
- Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War II. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
- Chernyshev, Alexander (2007). "Новики": Лучшие эсминцы российского императосого флота ["Noviki": The Best Destroyers of the Imperial Russian Navy] (in Russian). Эксмо. ISBN 978-5-699-23164-5.
- Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One: Guns, Torpedoes, Mines and ASW Weapons of All Nations; An Illustrated Directory. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
- Hill, Alexander (2018). Soviet Destroyers of World War II. New Vanguard. Vol. 256. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-2256-7.
- Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
- Verstyuk, Anatoly & Gordeyev, Stanislav (2006). Корабли Минных дивизий. От "Новика" до "Гогланда" [Torpedo Division Ships: From Novik to Gogland] (in Russian). Voennaya Kniga. ISBN 5-902863-10-4.
- Zubkov, Dmitry (2025). Soviet and Russians Destroyer Exports. Vol. 1: Imperial Russian-Built Destroyers in Service with Foreign Navies, 1904–1954. Helion. ISBN 978-1-804515-58-7.
External links
Media related to Derzkiy class destroyer at Wikimedia Commons