Kerch
by Joerg Kuhnert

1/700 Kerch (Combrig)

The navy at the Nikolayev shipyard between 1971 to 1977 built seven units of Nikolayev class that were referred by NATO as the Kara Class. The Kara class, project 1134B "Berkut B", is a gas turbine powered vessel. The ships were in service mainly with the Black Sea Fleet, but were also served in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Pacific.

The large exhaust for the gas turbine dominates. On the quarterdeck there was a landing platform for ASW helicopters, the hangar is partially embedded in the deck.

Later vessels have an additional porch off the bridge and other platforms and Radomes on main fwd structure

Technical Data
Length 173.4 m
Width 18.5 m
Draft 5.74 m
Turbine Drive COGAG with 120,000 horsepower on two shafts
Top speed: 34 knots

Armament

• 2 x 4 URK-5/SS-N-14 Rastrub / ASW rocket torpedoes
• 2 Shtorm SAM system (80 V-611/SA-N-3 goblet)
• 2 Osa-M SAM system (40 4M-33/SA-N-4 Gecko)
• 2 x 2 76.2mm/59cal AK-726 multipurpose DP guns
• 4 x 6 30 mm AK-630 AA Gatling cannons
• 2 twelve tube throwers RBU 6000, Thrower 2 RBU 1000
• 2 x 5 533 mm torpedo tubes
• 1 helicopters Kamov Ka-25/27

The build required a lot of essential research , a willingness to re-work and convert . I supplemented and replaced many part with Photoetch parts. . Highly recommended are the Enamels of WEM for the modern Russian fleet.

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