„Krasin“ – the Soviet icebreaker

"Krasin" (until 1927 "Svyatogor") is an Arctic icebreaker of the Russian and Soviet fleets, since the 1980s it has been a museum ship, built at the shipyard W. G. "Armstrong, Whitworth" & Co. Ltd. in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom in 1916-1917. In 1927 it was renamed “Krasin” in honor of the Soviet politician Leonid Krasin (1870-1926). Installed in eternal parking on the Lieutenant Schmidt embankment in St. Petersburg, as a museum ship. Open for visits with guided tours. In 1915 the Council of Ministers of Russia adopted a program for the construction of an icebreaker fleet. In 1915 the Naval Ministry began negotiations in England on the construction and ordered the “Svyatogor” icebreaker. A ship for the Russian fleet was built according to an improved project of the Makarov "Ermak". It differed from the "Ermak" in greater power - 10,000 h. p. Under construction number A/W 904, the ship was laid down on January 8, 1916, launched on August 3, 1916, and completed at Middlesboro. In September 1916 a team was formed. On October 1, 1916 the icebreaker was included in the list of ships of the Navy of the Russian Empire under the name "Svyatogor". Construction was completed in February 1917. In March 1917 acceptance tests were held. March 3, 1917 the ship went to sea, but, after passing 15 miles, returned to the port. The captain of the “Svyatogor”, K. K. Neupokoev, reported, that the ship did not obey the helm, deviating from the course by 40 degrees in both directions. Troubleshooting took 2 weeks and the subsequent test went well. On March 31, 1917 the St. Andrew's flag was raised on the “Svyatogor” mast. Until September 15, 1917 the elimination of defects was carried out. Became part of the flotilla of the Arctic Ocean. For several decades, it was the most powerful Arctic icebreaker in the world. The icebreaker was immediately used to escort British ships with military cargo to Arkhangelsk. In July 1918 in order to prevent the ships of the English invaders, the Provincial Committee developed a plan for blocking the fairway. On August 1 the icebreaker was sunk near the mouth of the Chizhovka River. The ship ran aground, the chimneys and part of the hull remained visible. The invaders nevertheless captured the city and those, who participated in the flood, were arrested and shot. A few days later, the ship was raised and used in the work of the port. In February 1920 the interventionists retreated, taking the icebreaker with them to England. Used in de-mining work at Scapa Flow. In 1920 under the flag of Norway, he took part in the rescue of the “Solovey Budimirovich” steamer stuck in the ice of the Arctic. In December 1921 the Soviet government offered to buy the icebreaker from England. For the icebreaker, it was necessary to pay a part of the total price in the amount of 75,000 pounds (of the total contract value of 375,000 pounds). By 1922 with the active participation of the famous shipbuilder A.N. Krylov and the Soviet trade representative in Great Britain L.B. Krasin, the icebreaker was bought out. In 1927 the icebreaker was renamed "Krasin" in memory of the Soviet diplomat, who did a lot to return the ship to Russia. Soon the icebreaker became famous all over the world. In 1928 the airship “Italia” crashed while returning from the North Pole. The surviving members of the expedition of General Umberto Nobile and he himself found themselves in the middle of an icy desert. Of all the ships, sent to the rescue, only the “Krasin” was able to get to the ice camp of the expedition and save people. On the way back, he assisted the German passenger ship "Monte Cervantes" with 1,500 passengers on board, which received holes, when it hit the ice. For this heroic campaign, the icebreaker was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor. During World War II the icebreaker continued dangerous work in the war-torn Arctic. One of the caravans of transports, led by “Krasin”, was hunted by the German pocket battleship “Admiral Scheer” during ‘Operation Wunderland”, and only a miracle saved the icebreaker and his caravan from meeting him. According to some reports, Krasin's anti-aircraft gunners, while repelling an enemy air raid, shot down 1 enemy aircraft. After the war, the icebreaker continued to work in the Arctic. In the role of the icebreaker "Krasin" worked until 1972. Now - the ship - a monument and a museum.

Moderately complex, well thought out and richly detailed model for intermediate to advanced modelers. Antiquarian magazine.