"Mina" - a base trawler of the USSR and "Mo-4" - the marine submarine hunter

Minesweepers are traditionally known as plowmen of the sea and bear the brunt of the battle against one of the most feared types of naval weapons - the various types of mines. However, until 1931 the development of the minesweeper forces of the Soviet Navy was economically limited to the modernization of old ships, inherited from the time of tsarist rule, and the mobilization of commercial and fishing vessels to use them as "sea minesweepers". The main anti-mining trawlers of the "Fugas" type became the main trawlers. The "Fugas" type trawlers basically repeated the fate of the first projects of the Soviet ships. After the start of the war, the range of tasks, they carried out, compared to the initial tasks, expanded significantly. Due to the absence of a high risk of mines and the lack of patrol ships, the Black Sea "Fugas"-es were reoriented to the protection of communications, which was clearly contrary to the initial purpose of these ships. In addition, due to the fear of losing cruisers and destroyers in the minefields off the enemy's shores, they had to perform a completely unusual role for them - to strike the enemy's communications! Of course, the efficiency of the use of "Fugas" trawlers turned out to be far from ideal, but the fact of the versatility of these vessels allows us to evaluate them positively. The big trawler "Mina" fought throughout the period of the Great Patriotic War. Participated in the defense of Odessa, Sevastopol and Novorossiysk. He laid defensive minefields, transported troops and combat supplies, escorted transport ships, repelling attacks by enemy submarines, torpedo cutters and aircraft. July 22 trawler "Mina" was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for active participation in the combat activities of the Black Sea Fleet.

In the Soviet Union sea hunters of the MO-4 type were developed under a special task of the Main Naval Staff during the Second Five-Year Plan. The 26.9 m long and 4 m wide boats had a displacement of about 56 tons. Invulnerable due to their small draft, small size and maneuverability (two 1300 h. p. engines allowed a speed of about 25 knots), these ships were intended for the destruction of enemy submarines in coastal areas. They were armed with two 45 mm cannons, two 12.7 mm DShK machine guns, depth charges and equipped with noise locators. The Great Patriotic War expanded the field of combat use of hunters - from the first to the last days they performed heavy combat service. Marine hunters landed troop landings and scouts behind enemy lines and suppressed enemy fire points; patrolled and protected fairways, cleared of mines. Together with torpedo cutters, they laid minefields near the enemy's shores, often engaging in unequal battles with Nazi cutters and planes. Finally, the indefatigable little hunters escorted cargo convoys, escorted submarines to underwater starting sites and met them after their journey. Ship SK 065 became the only ship of the 4th rank in the history of the fleet to become a Guard.

Perfectly designed and richly detailed models of two small (one quite tiny) warships for intermediate and advanced modelers. True, advanced beginners and modelers with little experience, working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, can glue these models together, but with slight simplifications. There is a color reserve, where necessary, the sheets are double-side printed. Graphic instructions are excellent, textual - minimal, in Russian, English, German and Polish.