Molotov

Design

Molotov is one of the two ships of the Project-26bis cruisers, themselves an upgraded version of the similar Project-26 cruisers; the first light cruisers designed by the still new Soviet Navy. The country, still mostly incapable of designing and building such large capital ships, sought foreign help. With the cooperation of the Italian Navy, the Soviets used the plans for the modern Raimondo Montecuccoli-class cruisers and the machinery plans of the later Duca d’Aosta-class cruisers in designing and building the Project-26 ships.

With construction of Kirov and Voroshilov underway, Soviet designers sought to update the design in order to keep the class competitive with rival navies, and more so to attempt to build the new ships without foreign influence.

Project-26bis cruisers had a newly designed forward superstructure, as sea trials proved that the previous design would conduct hull vibrations all the way up to where the fire-directing equipment was. A central-core design replaced the 4-legged design, which not only buffered the vibrations, but also improved the firing arcs of some of the Anti-aircraft weaponry, along with the superstructure change; the ships were given the latest fire-control systems, and Molotov in particular was the first Soviet ship to mount radar.

Armor improvement was another aspect of the design update. Being light cruisers, the armor would never be a strong suit, but being of an early 1930s design, the armor on the Project-26 cruisers was exceptionally light. To rectify this deficiency, the Project-26bis cruisers had improved belt armor, improved bulkhead armor, and as well as improved barbette armor of the internal turret infrastructure.

The Project-26bis cruisers were larger than their predecessors, having a larger draft and a double bottom hull; an arrangement that allowed for increased range. Coupled with an all-native power plant that could generate more power than before – about 16,000 shaft horsepower more – resulting in a trial speed very close to the design specifications of 37 knots, despite an increase of displacement of an approximate 300 tons.

Molotov was laid down at the Marti South, Nikolayev on 14 January 1937, and launched on 4 December 1939. After her sea trials, she was commissioned into the Navy on 14 June 1941.

Service

Commissioned only months before the start of Operation Barbarossa, from the onset, Molotov's wartime career would involve supporting the ground troops and the fighting around the Crimean peninsula. Due to her being one of the few Soviet ships that carried radar set, she was instrumental in the defense of Sevastopol and later Tuapse; she provided critical early air warning for the defenders of both cities. In November of 1941 she was relocated to Feodosia to bombard the ongoing German assault, and in December, she returned to Sevastopol to unload the 386th Rifle Brigade, and pick up wounded and refugees from the beleaguered city; the first months a reflection of the roles she will continue to play.

1942 commenced with Molotov assigned to bombardment duties in Feodosia and later the Kerch Peninsula to blunt the continued German offensives in those regions. Later during the spring and summer, Molotov made frequent trips to-and-from Sevastopol: unloading troops and picking up wounded. Her wartime contributions came to a halt when in August of 1942, her stern was blown off by torpedo bombers; the damage so severe she had to cannibalize parts from incomplete ships. With continued mounting losses to the Soviet Navy, Joseph Stalin forbade deployment of large capital warships unless absolutely necessary.

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  Side view of Molotov.

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  Molotov firing.