List of destroyers of the Imperial Russian Navy



1877–1917

The format is: Name, launch year, place of construction, commissioning fleet, fate = BU.
Note on official classification. First small ships with a mine or torpedo — — appeared in the Russian Navy in 1877 during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). They were classified "minnyi kater", "минный катер". One large seagoing ship, the Vzryv with torpedo armament was originally called "minnoye sudno", "минное судно". A large series of 133 20-30-ton ships followed in 1878; they were classified "minonoska", "minonosnaya lodka", "миноноска". It usually translates as "torpedo boat, 2nd class". Then came torpedo ships, which Russia had built or bought since 1880 and classified as "minonosets", "миноносец". This designation includes relatively large ships. It therefore translates into English as either "torpedo boat 1st class" or "destroyer" depending on a displacement of more or less than 200 tons. Starting in 1907 and still used today, all sufficiently large torpedo armed ships are classified as EM, "eskadrennyi minonosets", "эскадренный миноносец", which usually translates as "destroyer".

Main list

''Sokol'' class (240–300 tons), 27 ships

Russia was the second nation, after Great Britain, to build torpedo boat destroyers, basing their first ones upon the Yarrow design. Sokol, which was built for Russia by Britain's Yarrow Shipbuilders, was laid down in 1894 and completed in January 1895; she was 190 feet long, displaced 220 tons, and attained a speed of over 30 knots during her trials. Sokol was followed by 26 similar TBDs built in Russian yards between 1896 and 1903. This first series of 'classic' ships were originally organized as torpedo boats, then were later reclassified as destroyers in 1907. Pacific destroyers were built in Saint Petersburg, transported in sections by railway to Port Arthur and assembled. They subsequently participated in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905; those that had escaped from Port Arthur later served in the Siberian Flotilla. Baltic destroyers participated in World War I, the Russian Civil War and the Finnish Civil War as minesweepers and avisos. Black Sea destroyers also participated in World War I and the Russian Civil War.
During the Russo-Japanese War, Imperial Russian Navy destroyers were armed with 15-inch torpedoes and one 75 mm gun, as well as several 3-pounder QF guns. Combat experience during that war resulted in the Imperial Russian Navy switching to 18-inch torpedoes and two 75 mm guns for their destroyers after the war.
  • launched 1895, Yarrow, London. Baltic Fleet. – Renamed Prytkiy in 1902; she was fitted as a minesweeper in 1915, transferred to the Volga River and the Caspian Sea in 1918–1919, and broken up in 1922.Yastreb – Prochnyi 1902; she was reclassified as a minesweeper 1913, transferred to the Volga and the Caspian in 1918, BU in 1922Korshun launched 1898 Crichton, St. Petersburg. Baltic Fleet. Poslushnyi 1902; reclassified as a minesweeper in 1913, handed over to the Finnish Red Army in 1918; she served in the Finnish Navy as Torpedo Boat S3 from 1918, returned to Soviet Russia in 1920, probably BU in 1925Nyrok – Porazhayushchiy, an aviso in 1913; she was transferred to the Volga and the Caspian Sea in 1918, BU in 1925Voron – Rezvyi 1902, reclassified as a minesweeper in 1913, handed over to the Finnish Red Army in 1918; she served in the Finnish Navy as Torpedo Boat S4 from 1918, returned to Soviet Russia in 1920, probably BU in 1925Gagara – Prozorlivyi 1902, reclassified as a minesweeper in 1913, handed over to the Finnish Red Army in 1918; she served in the Finnish Navy as Torpedo Boat S2 from 1918 and was lost with all hands in a storm on October 4, 1925Filin – Retivyi 1902; she was reclassified as a minesweeper in 1913, transferred to the Volga and the Caspian Sea in 1918 and BU in 1922Sova – Ryanyi 1902, reclassified as a minesweeper in 1913, handed over to the Finnish Red Army in 1918, served in the Finnish Navy as Torpedo Boat S1 from 1918, decommissioned in 1927, sunk as target.Albatros – Podvizhnyi 1902, handed over to the Finnish Red Army in 1918, served in the Finnish Navy as Torpedo Boat S5; decommissioned in 1925 and sunk in 1944Berkut – Pronzitel‘nyi 1902, decommissioned in 1911Krechet launched 1898 Crichton, Turku., CF – Pylkiy 1902, hulked in 1911Lebed‘ – became Strogiy in 1902 and the Marti 1922, BU in 1929Pelikan – Smetlivyi 1902, scuttled to avoid capture at Tsemes Bay on 18 June 1918Pavlin – became Svirepyi in 1902, the destroyer № 204 in 1918, Svirepyi in 1919 and Leitenant Schmidt in 1922, BU in 1927Fazan – Stremitel‘nyi in 1902; she was scuttled to avoid capture at Tsemes Bay on 18 June 1918Kondor, ex-Baklan – 1902, captured by Japan in Chefoo (China) in 1904, renamed Akatsuki in 1905, participated in the Battle of Tsushima where she collided with a Japanese torpedo boat which sank, renamed Yamabiko in 1906; she was decommissioned in 1917Bekas – Serdityi 1902, BU in 1923Smelyi, ex-Gorlitsa – BU in 1923Skoryi, ex-Perepel – BU in 1923Statnyi, ex-Shchegol – BU in 1923
  • , ex-Kulik – sunk in battle in 1904 Strashnyi – On 13 April 1904 while returning from patrol, and attempting to re-enter Port Arthur, Strashnyi was suddenly engaged by Imperial Japanese Navy torpedo boat destroyers, and was sunk during the surface engagement; 59 crewmen were lost.Storozhevoy, ex-Grach – struck a mine and was scuttled in 1904Sil‘nyi, ex-Baklan, ex Kondor – After successfully sinking the IJN block ship Chiyo Maru with a torpedo, she duelled with IJN torpedo boat destroyers shortly afterwards, and was driven onto a sandbank on 27 March 1904. She was subsequently refloated by Japan in 1905, renamed Fumizuki; she was decommissioned in 1913Stroynyi, ex-Strizh – struck a mine in 1904 Razyashchiy, ex-Drozd – struck a mine and was scuttled in 1904Rastoropnyi, ex-Diatel – scuttled in 1904

''Hǎi Lóng'' (海龙) class (ex-Chinese) (312 tons), 1 ship

Leitenant Burakov – captured at the Taku Forts during the Boxer Rebellion, renamed Taku, in 1901 – Leitenant Burakov ; she was the fastest Russian torpedo boat during the siege of Port Arthur; she served as an aviso. Badly damaged by a Japanese torpedo launch, she was scuttled by her crew in 1904.

''Kit'' class (350 tons), 4 ships

Torpedo boats participated in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905. Three of them later served in the Siberian Flotilla; they were reclassified as destroyers in 1907Kit – Renamed Bditel‘nyi 1902; she struck a mine and was scuttled in 1904Del‘fin – Besstrashnyi 1902; she was transferred to the Arctic Sea Flotilla in 1917 and BU in 1924Skat – Besposhchadnyi 1902, BU in 1923Kasatka – Besshumnyi 1902, transferred to the Arctic Sea Flotilla in 1917, BU in 1924

''Forel'' class (312/346 tons), 5 ships

Officially classified as torpedo boats, they participated in the Russo-Japanese War. Two later served in the Siberian and Arctic Flotillas.Forel – Renamed Vnimatelnyi 1902, wrecked in 1904Sterliad‘ – Vynoslivyi 1902, struck a mine in 1904 Osiotr – Vnushitelnyi 1902, scuttled in 1904Kefal – Vlastnyi 1902, transferred to the Arctic Sea Flotilla 1917, BU in 1921Losos – Grozovoi 1902, transferred to the Arctic Sea Flotilla 1917, BU in 1923–24

''Som''-class torpedo boat (350 tons), 1 ship

Som – Boevoy since 1902, sunk by Japanese torpedo destroyer in 1904

''Buinyi'' class (350/450 tons), 10 ships

Two Pacific ships participated in the defence of Port Arthur in 1904; those destined for the Baltic were sent to the Far East and fought in the Battle of Tsushima. The survivors were reclassified as destroyers in 1907. Originally named after various aquatic animals and fish, the Buinyi class were named after various "active" characteristics at the time of Tsushima, with all but one beginning with the Russian letter Б.Buinyi, ex-Bychiok – scuttled in 1905Boikiy, ex-Akula – after the war she served with the Siberian Flotilla, BU in 1925Burnyi, ex-Makrel‘ – wrecked and scuttled in 1904Bystryi, ex-Plotva – scuttled in 1905Bravyi, ex-Nalim – after the war she served in the Siberian Flotilla; she was renamed the Anisimov in 1923, BU in 1925Blestyashchiy, ex-Okun‘ – scuttled in 1905 Bedovyi, ex-Keta – captured by Japan with the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian squadron, Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky in 1905; she was renamed the Satsuki and BU in 1922Bodryi, ex-Peskar‘ – after the war she served with the Siberian Flotilla, BU in 1925Bezuprechnyi, ex-Paltus – sunk in battle in 1905 Vidnyi, ex-Sig – BU in 1925

''Groznyi'' class / Project of 1903 (420 tons), 3 ships

Originally classified as torpedo boats. The first two were sent to the Far East and took part in the Battle of Tsushima in 1905.Groznyi – after the war she served in the Siberian Flotilla; she was classified as a destroyer in 1907, BU in 1925Gromkiy – sunk in battle in 1905 Gromiashchiy – classified as a destroyer in 1907, BU in 1925

''Leitenant Pushchin'' class / "Z" and "Zh" class (350/440 tons), 9 ships

Classified as destroyers in 1907. Participated in World War I and the Russian Civil War.Zavetnyi, ex-Karp – captured by Germany in 1918, scuttled by her crew in 1919
  • , ex-Beluga – captured by Germany in 1918, destroyed by British troops in 1919, restored by Soviet RussiaZhivoy, ex-Rybets – captured by Germany in 1918, captured by Britain and delivered to the White Army in 1918–19, renamed the Zhivoy, wrecked in 1920 Zhutkiy – captured by Germany in 1918, destroyed by British troops in 1919Zharkiy, ex-Shchuka – captured by Germany in 1918, captured by Britain and delivered to the White Army in 1919, interned by France in Bizerte in 1920, returned to Soviet Russia and BU in 1924Zhivuchiy, ex-Karas‘ – struck a mine in 1916 Leitenant Pushchin, ex-Zadornyi – struck a mine in 1916 Zvonkiy – captured by Germany 1918, captured by Britain and delivered to Greece in 1918, delivered to the White Army in 1919, renamed Zvonkiy, interned by France in Bizerte in 1920, returned to Soviet Russia and BU after 1924Zorkiy – captured by Germany in 1918, captured by Britain and delivered to Italy in 1918, delivered to the White Army in 1919, renamed Zorkiy, interned by France in Bizerte in 1920, returned to Soviet Russia and BU after 1924

(237/320 tons), 11 ships

After completion all ships were reclassified as destroyers; they participated in World War I in the Baltic Sea for patrol, cruiser and minelaying purposes. Some units participated in the Russian Civil War.
  • – aviso 1912, struck a mine in 1917
  • – BU in 1922
  • – BU in 1923
  • ' – BU in 1926
  • – BU in 1924
  • ' – wrecked in 1914 and found in 2014
  • – training destroyer Roshal in 1922, BU in 1924
  • – training vessel in 1920, BU in 1924
  • – BU in 1925
  • – wrecked in 1914
  • – BU in 1922

''Tverdyi''-class torpedo boats (300–310 tons), 5 ships

They were built in Saint Petersburg, transported in pieces by railway to Vladivostok, launched and commissionedTviordyi – Renamed Lazo 1923, BU in 1927Tochnyi – Renamed Potapenko 1923, BU in 1927Trevozhnyi – BU in 1923Inzhener-mekhanik Anastasov – BU in 1923Leitenant Maleev – BU in 1923

(450 tons), 10 ships

Classified as torpedo boats until 1907. A pair of Siberian destroyers were built in Germany, delivered to Vladivostok in parts and launched
  • – transferred to the Arctic Sea Flotilla in 1917, BU in 1924
  • – transferred to the Arctic Sea Flotilla in 1917, BU in 1924
  • – minesweeper in 1922, Zhemchuzhin in 1925, BU in 1930
  • – minesweeper in 1922, Roshal‘ in 1925, BU in 1929
  • – struck a mine in 1917
  • – BU in 1925
  • – BU in 1925
  • – minesweeper in 1921, BU in 1925
  • – minesweeper in 1921, Artemyev 1925, decommissioned 1932, BU in 1953
  • – minesweeper in 1921, Martynov 1925, BU in 1940

''Deyatelnyi'' class / Project of 1904 (382 tons), 8 ships

The last series of Havock-class torpedo boat destroyers. They participated in World War I in the Baltic Sea and in the Russian Civil War on that country's rivers and lakes.Sil‘nyi – BU in 1924Storozhevoy – transferred to Lake Onega and the Caspian Sea in 1919, BU in 1925Stroinyi – sunk by a bomb in 1917Razyashchiy – BU in 1924Rastoropnyi – transferred to the Caspian Sea in 1918, BU in 1925Del‘nyi – transferred to the Caspian Sea in 1918, BU in 1922Deyatel‘nyi – transferred to the Caspian Sea in 1918, BU in 1925Dostoinyi – transferred to Lake Onega and the Caspian Sea in 1919, BU in 1925

/ Project Letter "Sh" (Schichau) (570/650 tons), 4 ships

They were until 1907, classified as 'torpedo cruisers' and built with public donations, then named after the most lavish donors. They participated in World War I in the Baltic Sea and in the Russian Civil War on that country's rivers and lakes.
  • – transferred to Lake Ladoga and the Caspian Sea in 1918, renamed Yakov Sverdlov in 1919, BU in 1925
  • – transferred to the Caspian Sea in 1918, renamed Karl Liebknecht in 1919, BU in 1925
  • – transferred to the Caspian Sea in 1918, sunk in a battle with a British flotilla in 1919
  • – struck a mine in 1916

''Vsadnik'' class">Gaidamak-class destroyer">''Vsadnik'' class (570/750 tons), 4 ships

Classified as 'torpedo cruisers' until 1907. Participated in World War I in the Baltic Sea and in the Russian Civil War on that country's lakes.
  • – renamed Sladkov 1922, BU in 1928
  • – BU in 1927
  • – Zhelezniakov 1922, aviso in 1926, hulked in 1938
  • – Roshal‘ 1922, wrecked in 1924

(615/750 tons), 4 ships

Classified as 'torpedo cruisers' until 1907. Actively participated in World War I in the Baltic Sea and the Russian Civil War on that country's lakes. Designed with an unusually long hull to increase the number of guns and torpedo launchers that could be fitted, far in excess of most destroyers of the time.
  • – BU 1924
  • – reclassified as a test ship in 1921, renamed Konstruktor in 1926, a corvette in 1941, combat service on Lake Ladoga in 1941–1944 during World War II, sunk by Finnish aircraft in 1941, raised and repaired as a gunboat in 1943, test ship 1945, BU in 1957
  • – struck a mine in 1917
  • – BU in 1924

/ Project Letter "V" (Vulcan) (630–730 tons), 8 ships

Built with public donations and named after the most lavish donors, they were classified as 'torpedo cruisers' until 1907. They participated in World War I and in the Russian Civil War on the Baltic and Caspian Seas.
  • – transferred to the Caspian Sea in 1919; she was renamed Karl Marx in 1920, Ukrayna in 1920, Markin in 1922, Ukrayna in 1923 and Bakinskiy Rabochiy in 1924. She was a gunboat in 1926, a training ship in 1949 and sunk as a target vessel in 1961
  • – transferred to the Caspian Sea in 1919; she was renamed Friedrich Engels in 1920, Voiskovoy in 1920 and Markin in 1923. She became a gunboat in 1926, a training ship in 1949 and was BU in 1958
  • – Turkmenets-Stavropolsky 1908; she was transferred to the Caspian Sea in 1919, renamed Mirza Kuchak in 1920, Turkmenets-Stavropolsky also in 1920, Altfater in 1922 and Sovetsky Dagestan in 1945. She was classified as a gunboat in 1926, a training ship in 1949 and was BU in 1962
  • – torpedoed by a German submarine in 1916
  • – BU in 1924
  • – BU in 1924
  • – BU in 1924
  • – BU in 1923

(635 tons), 4 ships

During their construction they were classified as 'torpedo cruisers'. They actively participated in World War I and in the Russian Civil War in the Black Sea. Distinguishing features of this series were the 120 mm guns.
  • – scuttled in Tsemes Bay to avoid capture on 18 June 1918
  • , ex-Leitenant Pushchin – captured by Germany in 1918, then captured by France, delivered to the White Army in 1919 and renamed Kapitan Saken, interned by France in Bizerte in 1920, returned to Soviet Russia and BU after 1924
  • – scuttled in Tsemes Bay to avoid capture on 18 June 1918
  • – struck a mine in 1917

(1,260–1,620 tons), 49 ships

A large series of slightly differing destroyers, which took an active part in World War I. Some were completed in postrevolutionary Russia by using parts from other ships. The Baltic destroyers mostly waited through the Revolution and the Russian Civil War in Kronstadt. Later reconditioned, they took part and were lost in World War II. Black Sea ships mostly shared the fate of the Russian Black Sea Fleet of 1918–1920.Novik subclass
  • * – fastest warship in the world at the time of completion, renamed Yakov Sverdlov in 1926, struck a mine in 1941
  • , 4 ships
  • * – captured by Germany in 1918, captured by France, delivered to the White Army in 1919 and renamed Bespokoiny. She was interned by France in Bizerte in 1920; she returned to Soviet Russia and was BU in 1933
  • * – she was captured by Germany in 1918. Captured by Britain, she was delivered to the White Army in 1919, interned by France in Bizerte in 1920; she was returned to Soviet Russia and BU in 1930
  • * – captured by Germany in 1918; she was also captured by Britain, delivered to the White Army in 1919 and interned by France in Bizerte in 1920. She returned to Soviet Russia and was BU in 1933
  • * – was scuttled in Tsemes Bay to prevent capture on 18 June 1918Shchastlivyi/''Novik subclass, 5 ships
  • * – she was scuttled in Tsemes Bay to prevent capture on 18 June 1918
  • * – captured by Germany in 1918, captured by Britain; she was delivered to the White Army in 1919 and interned by France in Bizerte in 1920. She returned to Soviet Russia and was BU after 1924
  • * – captured by Germany in 1918, captured by Britain; she was wrecked in 1919
  • * Bystryi – in 1918–20, being under repair, she passed from hand to hand until the Red Army took possession. Repaired and renamed Frunze in 1925, she was sunk by German aircraft in 1941
  • * – captured by Germany 1918, delivered to the White Army by the British in 1919; she was interned by France in Bizerte in 1920. She returned to Soviet Russia and was BU in 1933
  • , 8 ships
  • * Pobeditel – renamed Volodarskiy 1922, struck a mine in 1941
  • * Zabiyaka – renamed Uritskiy in 1922; she was transferred to the Northern Fleet in 1933. Refitted as the training vessel Reut in 1951; she was sunk as a target ship in 1958
  • * Grom – sunk in battle, 13 October 1917
  • * Orfey – damaged by mine in 1917, BU in 1931
  • * Letun – damaged by mine in 1916, BU in 1927
  • * Desna – renamed Engels in 1922; she struck a mine in 1941
  • * in 1922 and Artiom in 1928; she struck a mine in 1941
  • * Samson – renamed Stalin 1922; she was transferred to the Pacific Ocean Fleet in 1936, refitted to the training vessel Samson 1946, hulked as a floating barracks 1951 and BU in 1956Gavriil/Novik subclass, 14 ships
  • * Leitenant Ilin – renamed Garibaldi in 1919, Trotsky in 1922 and Voikov in 1928. She was transferred to the Pacific Ocean Fleet in 1936; she became a training ship in 1949 and was BU in 1956
  • * Kapitan Izylmetyev – renamed Lenin in 1922; she was scuttled to prevent capture whilst under repair at Liepāja in 1941
  • * – struck a mine in 1919
  • * Kapitan Belli – renamed Karl Liebknecht in 1922; she was transferred to the Northern Fleet in 1933 and hulked in 1955
  • * Kapitan 1 ranga Miklukho-Maklay, ex-Kapitan Kingsbergen – renamed Spartak in 1918, captured by the British in 1918 in Tallinn and under the name Vambola; she was delivered to the Estonian Navy and sold on to Peru in 1933, where she was named Almirante Villar and BU in 1955
  • * Kapitan Kern – renamed Rykov in 1922, transferred to the Northern Fleet in 1933, renamed Valerian Kyibyshev in 1937, converted to a target and test vessel in 1955, BU in 1958
  • * Konstantin – struck a mine in 1919
  • * Vladimir – renamed Svoboda 1917, struck a mine in 1919
  • * Kapitan Konon Zotov – BU without being completed in 1922
  • * Kapitan Crown – BU without being completed in 1922
  • * Leitenant Dubasov – BU without being completed in 1924
  • * Mikhail – BU without being completed in 1922
  • * Sokol – BU without being completed in 1922
  • * Mecheslav, ex-Leitenant Lombard – BU without being completed in 1922
  • , 5 ships
  • * Izyaslav, ex-Gormonosets – renamed Karl Marx 1922, sunk by German aircraft in 1941
  • * Avtroil – captured by the British in 1918 by Tallinn and under the name Lennuk she was delivered to the Estonian Navy. She was sold to Peru in 1933, named and BU in 1948
  • * Pryamislav – renamed Kalinin 1925, struck a mine in 1941
  • * Bryachislav – wrecked in 1923, BU in 1924
  • * Fiodor Stratilat – BU without being completed in 1924
  • , 7 ships
  • * – scuttled at Tsemes Bay on 18 June 1918
  • * – scuttled at Tsemes Bay on 18 June 1918
  • * – scuttled at Tsemes Bay on 19 June 1918.
  • * Kaliakriya – scuttled at Tsemes Bay on 18 June 1918. Raised in 1925 and renamed Dzerzhinsky, struck a mine in 1942
  • * Zante – renamed Nezamozhnyi in 1923 and Nezamozhnik in 1926, became a training ship in 1945, was rebuilt as a target vessel in 1949
  • * Korfu – renamed Petrovskiy in 1925 and Zhelezniakov in 1939; she served in the Bulgarian Navy from 1947 to 1949; she was hulked as a floating barracks in 1953 and BU in 1957
  • * Levkas – renamed Shaumian in 1925 and wrecked in 1942
  • * – transferred incomplete by the White Army to Bizerte, interned by France, sold for BU in 1923Gogland/Novik-subclass destroyers, later — Mod. Gogland-class squadron minesweepers, 4 ships
  • * Gogland – BU without being completed in 1922
  • * Kulm – BU without being completed in 1922
  • * Grengamn – BU without being completed in 1922
  • * Patras'' – BU without being completed in 1922