Seen at Kronstadt: The Project 956 Sovremenny-class destroyer Bespokiony

Twenty-one Project 956 Sovremenny-class destroyers were built between 1976 and 2004, and they were primarily tasked to conduct anti-ship warfare. They were also equipped to act as escorts, and were well-armed with numerous anti-aircraft and anti-submarine weapons.

The majority of the class has been retired from active service, and Bespokiony is now a museum ship at Kronstadt.

The class characteristics are:

• Displacement: 8,480 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 156m
• Beam: 17.3m
• Draught: 6.5m
• Propulsion: 4 boilers, 2 shaft steam turbines, each driving a propeller; 2 turbo generators; 2 diesel generators
• Speed: 32.7 knots
• Range: 3,920 nautical miles at 18 knots; 1,345 nautical miles at 33 knots
• Complement: 350
• Sensors: 1 x air target acquisition radar, 3 x navigation radars; fire-control radars; active and passive under-keel sonar
• Armament: 4 AK-130 130mm naval guns (2 x 2); 4 x 6 30mm AK-630 Close In Weapons Systems; 8 x SS-N-22 Sunburn anti-ship missiles (2 x 4); 48 x SA-N-7 Gadfly surface-to-air missiles (2 x 24); 4 x 533mm anti-submarine torpedo tubes (2 x 2); 2 x 6 RBU-1000 300mm anti-submarine rocket launchers
• Aviation: Helipad capable of handling 1 x Ka-27 helicopter