Polukhin-class minesweeper

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Wikipedia

A member of the class on 17 May 1954, after being towed to Maltepe, Turkey.
Class overview
NamePolukhin-class minesweeper
Builders
Operators
Subclasses
  • Project 59
  • Project 73K
Built1938–⁠Post-World War II
Planned20
Completed15
Cancelled5
General characteristics (Project 59)
TypeMinesweeper
Displacement
  • 690 tons
  • 880 tons fully loaded
Length79.50m overall
Beam8.10m
Depth2.50m
Speed22.5kn
Complement125 persons
General characteristics (Project 73K)
TypeMinesweeper
Displacement
  • 703 tons
  • 864 tons fully loaded
Length78.60m overall
Beam8.10m
Depth2.48m
Speed17kn
Complement118 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

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

Project 59

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

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

Project Name Designation
59 Vladimir Polukhin T-250
59 Vasiliy Goromov T-254
73k Pavel Khokhryakov T-251
73k Aleksandr Petrov T-252
73k Karl Zedin T-253
73k Andrian Zasimov T-255
73k Vladimir Trefolev T-256
73k Timofey Ulyantsev T-257
73k Mikhail Martynov T-258
73k Fiodor Mitrofanov T-259
73k Luka Pankov T-260
73k Pavlin Vinogradov T-261
73k Stepan Griadushko T-262
73k Semion Pelikhov T-263
73k Pavel Golovin T-450
73k Ivan Borisov T-451
73k Sergey Shuvalov T-452
73k Sergey Shuvalov T-453
73k Ivan Sladkov T-454
73k Nikolay Markin T-455

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "WW2 Soviet Minesweepers". Naval Encyclopedia. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  2. 1 2 Pavlov, Aleksandr Sergeevich (1997). Warships of the USSR and Russia, 1945-1995. Naval Institute Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-1-55750-671-9.
  3. ↑ "NH 92778 Soviet Polukhin class minesweeper in 1956". www.history.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 2025-06-15. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  4. 1 2 "NH 93634 VLADIMIR POLUKHIN Class Soviet Minesweeper". www.history.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 2025-06-17. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  5. ↑ "Information Report" (PDF). cia.gov. 4 December 1964. p. 1. Retrieved 5 December 2025.