Svetlana class cruiser

The "Svetlana" class was the first and only series of light cruisers of the Russian Empire. 8 were laid down as part of 1912-1916 shipbuilding program, intended for scouting service with Gangut and Maria-class battleship formations and leading destroyer flotillas.

Construction was interrupted by World War I and Russian revolution of 1917. Three hulls were completed by the Soviet Union as cruisers (including heavily modified Krasny Kavkaz), two were completed as tankers, the rest three scrapped.

Original program

Svetlana, the first true light cruiser of Russian navy, was heavily dependent on pre-war cruiser designs. 6 out of 15 single-mount guns were placed in casements, 9 on the deck. Despite good experience with 152-mm Canet guns, Navy standard since 1892, [Russian 152-mm Canet gun [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNRussian_6-45_m1892.htm] ] Svetlana employed smaller and inferior 130-mm guns.

The concept was formulated in 1912 by Alexei Krylov. Hull was designed by colonel Sasinovsky and refined by John Brown and Company shipyards in Clydebank who ran a series of scale model tests. Superstructure was initially designed to resemble both "Gangut" class battleships "Novik" class destroyers; tripod masts with raised rangefinders were added in 1920s. Specifications were continuously changed throughout WW1, adding two flying boats, roll dampers etc.

Post-WWI completion

References