Hi,

Having finished my current build I wanted to start a second build blog concerning Trumpeter's 1/200 Sovremenny Class Destroyer. It will be another month before I'm able to purchase the etch for it, so in the meanwhile I will be scouring the internet for different photos and make a decision on which particular ship I will be building.

First of all some background to both the actual ship as well as the kit.

The Sovremenny-class destroyer is currently the principal anti-surface warship of the Russian Navy. The Soviet designation for the class was Project 956 Sarych (Buzzard).

The primary role of this guided missile destroyer is to attack enemy warships while also providing sea and air defense for warships and transports under escort. It complements the Udaloy-class destroyers in anti-submarine operations.

The project began in the late 1960s when it was becoming obvious in the Soviet Navy that naval guns still had an important role particularly in support of amphibious landings, but existing gun cruisers and destroyers were showing their age. A new design was started, employing a new 130 mm automatic gun turret. Single- and twin mounts were developed, and the twin mount chosen for its superior rate of fire. In 1971 a go-ahead was given for the Severnaya design bureau to design "a ship capable of supporting amphibious landings"

To respond to the threat posed by the emergence of the Spruance Class destroyers, Project 956 was updated with new air defence suite and new, powerful 3M80 anti-ship missiles. Although the Soviet Navy had largely moved to gas turbine propulsion for its new warships, steam turbines were selected instead for Project 956: partly because production of naval gas turbines would have been insufficient for the entire program.

The lead ship of the class, Sovremenny was laid down in 1976 and commissioned in 1980. A total of 18 have been built for the Russian Navy but only 5 remain in service due to lack of funds and trained personnel.

Sovremenny Class destroyers have a maximum displacement of 7,940 t. Dimensions are: Length 156 m, Beam 17.3 m and draught is 6.5 m. They are armed with;

2× 4 Moskit SSM P-270 (SS-N-22 'Sunburn')Anti-ship missiles
2× 24 Shtil SAM(SA-N-12 'Grizzly)
4× (2×2) AK-130-MR-184 130 mm guns
4× 30 mm AK-630 Gatling guns
Anti-submarine:
4× (2×2) 533 mm Torpedo tubes
2× RBU-1000 300 mm anti-submarine rocket launcher

There are a total of three versions of this class: the original Project 956 armed with the 3M80 version of the Moskit anti-ship missile, and its successor, the Project 956A, which is armed with the improved 3M80M version of the Moskit anti-ship missile with longer range. The main difference between the two is that the missile launching tubes on Project 956A are longer than that of Project 956 to accommodate the increased size of the newer missile, and these launching tubes can be used to fire / store the original 3M80 as well. A third version, Project 956EM, later developed for the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force was the latest development of this class. Chinese media called the ship "carrier killer".

I will be building the Type 956E which is the same as the Type A above, from what I can gather. I just need to decide which ship to build. I'll probably end up with one that is still in service, as it would be the later A/E version, which the kit replicates.

Here is a list of the Russian and Chinese Sovremenny Class destroyers built so far;
Russian Navy
Sovremennyy - Современный -Modern (1980),
decommissioned in 1998, scrapped in 2003
Otchayannyy - Отчаянный - Desperate (1982),
decommissioned in 1998
Otlichnyy - Отличный - Excellent (1983),
decommissioned in 1998
Osmotritelnyy - Осмотрительный - Circumspect (1984),
decommissioned in 1997
Bezuprechnyy - Безупречный - Impeccable (1985),
decommissioned in 2003
Boyevoy - Боевой - Militant (1986) -
Status unclear (non-active)
Stoykiy - Стойкий - Steadfast (1986),
decommissioned in 1998
Okrylennyy - Окрылённый - Winged (1987),
decommissioned in 1998, scrapped in 1999
Burnyy - Бурный - Fiery (or Impetuous) (1988)
- Status unclear (non-active)
Bystryy (715) - Быстрый -Quick (or Rapid) (30.9.1989) -
In Service, Pacific Fleet
Rastoropnyy - Расторопный -Prompt (1989) -
decommissioned in 2009
Bezboyaznennyy - Безбоязненный -Intrepid (or Fearless) (1990) -
Status unclear (non-active)
Gremyashchiy (406) - Гремящий - Thunderous (originally Bezuderzhnyy - Ведущий - Impetuous or Unstoppable) (25.6.1991) -
In Service, Northern Fleet
Veduschiy -Ведущий. - Leading (1988) -
decommissioned in 2006
Bespokoynyy (620) - Беспокойный -Restless (28.12.1991)
In Service, Baltic Fleet
Nastoychivyy (610) - Настойчивый Persistent (originally Moskovskiy Komsomolets) (30.12.1992)
In Service, Baltic Fleet
Admiral Ushakov (434)- (originally Besstrashnyy - Бесстрашный Fearless) (30.12.1993)
In Service, Northern Fleet

China - PLA(N)
Vazhnyy - Важный - Eminent (Hangzhou (136) - 杭州 - sold to China before completion)
Vdumchivyy - Вдумчивый - Thoughtful (Fuzhou (137) - 福州 - sold to China before completion)
Taizhou (138) - 泰州 - improved 956EM built for China. (2005)
Ningbo (139)- 宁波 - improved 956EM built for China (2006)
China reportedly also holds the option to purchase an additional two Project 956EM in the future, but this now seems unlikely with the decision to proceed with the 052 series DDG in 2005.

I currently have this pic on my iMac as the wallpaper. It's the Bespokoynyy, which is currently in service with the Baltic Fleet. I do like the contrasting reddy/orange colour of the decks, with the main deck being the darker steely grey colour.



I'll add some more photos as and when I find them. Here are some photos of the kit with a tape measure to give you the sense of scale and size!!! You'll also see the lovely WEM resin turrets which are beautifully cast and replace the poorly shaped kit parts.





There are a couple of great reviews of the kit and etch sets here;

http://www.scalemodellingnow.com/hn-maritime-kits-trumpeter-sovremenny-classdestroyer

http://www.steelnavy.com/WEMSovbrass.htm

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/pe/whiteensign/sovr-200/wem-sovr.html

I have so far found these builds as well, which I'll be using as partial reference guides;

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/ru/dd/sovremenny/p1/p1.html


I'll add extra information to this post as and when I find it so that all the links are in one part. Photos I'll add as I find them.

Another good build article. Loads of extra detail.

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=157066&sid=512cb1eb38b7ec51cc4629d1acf813cc&start=0

Awesome stuff Toby! Looking forward to following along...should be a fun build!!

Thanks Todd. It's going to be a slow build as there's quite a lot of stuff that needs fixing and a fair bit of sanding as well!!

Here's some more photos. This is a computer generated pic but it shows the various antennae that will need adding around the bridge area.



Two more black and white photos showing really good detail around the main superstructure / bridge area.

Hi Toby.

I got this one for just $45 at the local swap and sell a few months ago. Mine is a slightly different boxing though. I was looking for the etch which was very scarce. SOmeone even had the temerity to make fun as he had the etch and I didn't. Lovely. But now WEM are back in business and I am happy cause I too will be ordering the etch in a few weeks!

Will be watching.

Cheers
Warren

Hi Warren,

Which kit did you get??? The initial Type 956?? It's the one with the Helix on the box art. The later 956A/E has the Dauphin on it. Look forward to seeing how you get on with the build. Any idea which ship your modelling???

It is deep in the build stash at the moment mate. As it gets closer I will look at which one I will be building.

Cheers mate and good luck
Warren

Great bit of a info Toby. I have one of these that I purchased as a full meal deal last year. Hopefully seeing your build will motivate me to pull mine out of the box soon. Good luck and can't wait to see your updates

I have one of these myself so will be watching with great interest.....Cheers Mark

I have the Trumpeter 1/200th Chinese Destroyer 136 Hangzhou in my stash. Are there any major discrepancies if I want to depict a Russian Sovremenny?

Nice to see this thread bump up again. Toby, any updates for us on project?

Mike

Good to see this thread under way again.

Some of these destroyers aren't in that good nick these days.



Taken sailing past Kronstadt sailing out of St Petersburg last July

Si