Evening star., 1954-05-04

tons. Many western naval IN
telligence officers-and plenty of
binoculars were trained on her
at Spithead-believe she is even
larger.
Long Range Is Certain.
In any case, says the United
States Navy Department, the
Sverdlov is more than large
enough to carry the fuel. pro-
visions and ammunition neces-
sary for long cruises in the
North Atlantic or the wide
reaches Of the Pacific.
The Sverdlov's exact speed is
not known, but the Russians
have always favored fast ships
and it is believed the Sverdlov
can steam probably at as much
as IS knots-faSter than any
United States cruiser.
Her armament-12 six-inch
guns, 10 heavy antiaircraft guns.
and 80 light antiaircraft guns
is the same carried on the latest
United States light cruisers and
three guns more than that Of the
latest British cruisers. In addi-
ton, the Sverdlov carried at
Spithead 10 torpedo tubes and,
on the afterdeck, mine rails to
carry more than $50 mines.
To control and guide the
Sverdlov and her heavy arma-
ment, the masts, turrets and
superstructure carry fire con-
troll directors. range finders and
the antennae for more than a
dozen radar sets.
Admiral Karl Doenitz. the last
commander of the German navy,
testified that radar was the
weapon which contributed most
to the allied victory at sea in
World War H.. Judging from the
Sverdlov, the Soviets have ap-
parently taken this testimonial
much to heart.
U. S. Appraisal is High.
The United States Navy sums
up the Sverdlov this way:
"She appeared to be a sleek,
clean-lined and powerful vessel.
Her hull is heavily armored. and
strengthened at the bows for ice
navigation. Her main decks are
relatively high off the water.
This high freeboard would be
very valuable in stormy weather
and northern seas, when other
ships with lower freeboards
might well have to return to
port.
"The overall impression that
the Sverdlo left with Western
observers was the realization
that she is a first-class war
ship"
Three classes OF powerful
cruisers and four classes Of
modern leaders and destroyers
make up the high seas striking
power of the Soviet navy's sur
face forces. These include:
Cruisers.
Chapaey ClasS-11, 900 tons,
lighter than Sverdlo. but
carrying the same armament of
IL six-inch guns; lighter anti
aircraft. mine rails. torpedo tubes
and radar. (Two of these ships
were seen to pass the Norwegian
coast in 1851 on the way to
join the Soviet Arctic FleeD.
Kirov Class-8,800 tons, 35
knots. Nine 7.1-inch guns, light
and heavy antiaircraft, torpedo
tubes and mine racks. (Almost
all Russian ships carry mines
and they are favorite weapon
with them).
DestrOyers.
20" or Ognevoi Class-2,00O
tons; four 5.1-inch guns, anti
aircraft, mines Cup to 1000 and
six to eight torpedo tubes; radar,
large and fast. these can range
far out into the North Atlantic
or Pacific supporting the new
cruiser types.
Stain class, a destroyer leader
! --flagships for Flotilla of 20"
class Ships, 900 tons; six 5.1-
inch guns: nine torpedo tubes,
mines, radar.
All those types compare favor
ably with new United States
classes.
In addition, the Soviets have
built numerous and powerful
short-range, light and coastal
forces.
/ The second major group of
warships includes three old bat
tleships. two dating from Czarist
days; two relatively modern light
cruisers, one ex-German and one
/ ex-Italian: two old Czarist
cruisers and non-descript col
lection Of about 80 ex-German.
ex Italian, ex Japanese and
Czarist built destroyers and
coastal destroyers.
The mission of the Soviet light
forces is fairly obvious. They
would be used toguard the coast
lines, control vital approaches to