Gaidamak-class destroyer

The Gaidamak class (Russian: Гайдамак) consisted of four destroyers built for the Imperial Russian Navy during the first decade of the 20th century. They served in the Baltic Fleet and participated in the First World War.

Amurets
Class overview
Builders	Germaniawerft, Kiel, German Empire
Operators	Imperial Russian Navy Red Fleet
Preceded by	Emir Bukharsky class
Succeeded by	Okhotnik class
Built	1905–1907
In commission	1909–1947
Completed	4
Scrapped	4
General characteristics
Type	Destroyer
Displacement	710–750 t (700–740 long tons) (deep load)
Length	70.99–71.9 m (232 ft 11 in – 235 ft 11 in)
Beam	7.41–7.59 m (24 ft 4 in – 24 ft 11 in)
Draft	2.44–2.67 m (8–9 ft)
Installed power	3 Schulz-Thornycroft boilers 6,500 ihp (4,847 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 triple-expansion steam engines
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Complement	90
Armament	2 × single 75 mm (3 in) gun 6 × single 57 mm (2.2 in) guns 4 × single 7.62 mm (0.30 in) machine guns 3 × single 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes

Design and description

The Gaidamak-class ships normally displaced 570 metric tons (560 long tons) and 710–750 metric tons (700–740 long tons) at full load. They measured 70.99–71.9 meters (232 ft 11 in – 235 ft 11 in) long overall with a beam of 7.41–7.59 meters (24 ft 4 in – 24 ft 11 in), and a draft of 2.44–2.67 meters (8 ft 0 in – 8 ft 9 in).^[1] The ships were propelled by two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam from three Schulz-Thornycroft boilers. The engines were designed to produce a total of 6,500 indicated horsepower (4,800 kW) for an intended maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph). During the ships' sea trials, they generally exceeded this figure, reaching 25.6–26.5 knots (47.4–49.1 km/h; 29.5–30.5 mph). Their crew numbered 90 officers and men.^[2][3]

The main armament of the Gaidamak class consisted of two 50-caliber 75-millimeter (3 in) guns, one gun each at the forecastle and stern. Their secondary armament included six 57-millimeter (2.2 in) guns, three on each broadside.^[4] The forward pair was positioned on a sponson at the main deck level below the forecastle, firing through an embrasure. The forecastle was narrowed to allow the guns to fire directly forward. This installation proved to be very wet, especially at high speeds, and made the guns very difficult to work. The other guns were abreast the rear funnel and the mainmast. All of the guns were fitted with gun shields. They were also fitted with four single 7.62 mm (0.30 in) machine guns. The ships were equipped with three 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedo tubes in single rotating mounts. The forward mount was located between the funnels while the middle mount was to the rear of the aft funnel and the rear mount was between the mainmast and the stern gun.^[5][6]

In 1910–1911 the ships were rearmed with a pair of 102-millimeter (4 in) Pattern 1911 Obukhov guns that replaced the 75 mm guns. All of the 57 mm guns were removed; the sponsons were removed and the embrasures were plated over. A 37-millimeter (1.5 in) anti-aircraft gun was added and the ships were modified to lay 25 mines.^[6][4]

Ships

Construction data

Name	Laid down[1]	Launched[1]	Entered Service[1]	Fate[7]
Gaidamak (Гайдамак)	18 July 1905	1 November 1905	June 1906	Scrapped, 24 April 1927
Vsadnik (Всадник)		24 August 1905		Scrapped, 20 July 1929
Amurets (Амурец)	5 May 1905	late 1905	1907	Scrapped, 1950
Ussuriets (Уссуриец)	early 1904	1907		Scrapped, 29 April 1927