USSR Opytnyi

[Terry]

Looking for information on the Russian destroyer USSR Opytnyi 1935-55.
Have a metal locket/tag with 2 Russian sailors pictures in it plus 2 pieces of paperwork.
Believe one of the names is Kostukov Losif Stepanovich but cannot be certain.

[Batstiger]

Terry

There's a bit of info on this site but you will have to brush up on your Russian.

Bob

http://www.warshipsww2.eu/shipsplus.php?language=&id=61333

[Terry]

Thanks for that Bob.
There is a Union flag symbol in one of the corners which translates to English (very helpful).
Now where do I go to find out about Russian destroyers and their crews?
Terry

[Batstiger]

Have you had a good look around that site Terry as there are plenty of Russian destroyers and many from other countries around the world?

[GaryM]

Hi, Attached, two photographs of the ship in question.
Cheers GaryM :):)

[Commodore Armiger]

Terry. Can you scan the name? I could see if I could decipher the cyrillic for you. Note that the surname comes first. He is Losif Stepanovich KOSTUKOV, or something like it (I don't recognise the christian name Losif - could be Josip).

[John Brown]

Terry

I have a colleague who has a Russian wife. She has kindly translated your identity document and the results are attached. Obviously I can’t be held responsible for any inaccuracies:) but I think it will all be OK.

Whether or not the identity card actually relates to either of the men in the photographs…..I don’t know. The card seems to refer to an army private but perhaps he was a marine???

Hope this helps


Regards……John

[Terry]

John,
Have only just returned this site after a year.
Thankyou very much indeed for the translation.
It is very much appreciated.
Please pass on my thanks to your colleagues wife for the translation, if a little late.
Regards
Terry

[John Brown]

You are most welcome Terry.

Thank you for coming back and acknowledging the post.



Regards...John

[Tiornu]

As the name implies, Opytnyi was an experimental unit developed under V. L. Bzhezinskii, intended as a prototype for a new line of destroyer construction. Things went very, very wrong. The hull was modeled on the Project 7 hull, but even weaker. It turned out so weak that they had to reduce her armament from three 130mm twin mounts to three single mounts. Even then, she was to fragile for normal operations at sea, so she served as a floating battery like so many other Soviet units. The bigger disappointment was her power plant. Ramzin direct-flow boilers worked great in stationary applications, but not on a ship. Opytnyi managed 35 knots on trials instead of the designed 42 knots. All in all, an unpleasant experience for most of the people involved.

[designeraccd]

Can you shed some light on the power plant and why it was ok on land, but not at sea? Thanks.....DFO :)

[Tiornu]

Unfortunately, none of my sources on the subject are written by technicians. I have no idea what the problem was.

[designeraccd]

sigh.....thanx anyhoo.................DFO :confused::eek: