Request for Help British Destroyers WWII

[Yevgeniy]

Hi, everyone.

I would be very grateful if anyone can refer me to any photos or materials on British Destroyers provided to USSR during WWII under land-lease scheme.

My granddad served on such a destoyer received from Great Britan during WWII in the Pacific and fought against Japanese in Soviet fleet. After the war according to my opa the destroyer was returned to Great Britain. My granddad served as a marine and was later transferred to this destroyer in a guncrew - thus he is not a big specialist in ship althought it was him who made me love ship and shipbuilding. Unfortunately he does not know either the type of destroyer or its British name. The only thing which is sure that the destroyer bore the name Bravyi as it was renamed by Soviets when under their command.

As I am now in shipmodelling I would be happy to make him a present scratbuilding the ship if I find materials on this destoyer. Anything would be helpful: type, names, photos and I will then pick up the search. I understand that the start info is scarce - but this is all I have.

Thanks.

Yevgeniy

[Dave Wooley]

Hi, everyone.

I would be very grateful if anyone can refer me to any photos or materials on British Destroyers provided to USSR during WWII under land-lease scheme.

My granddad served on such a destoyer received from Great Britan during WWII in the Pacific and fought against Japanese in Soviet fleet. After the war according to my opa the destroyer was returned to Great Britain. My granddad served as a marine and was later transferred to this destroyer in a guncrew - thus he is not a big specialist in ship althought it was him who made me love ship and shipbuilding. Unfortunately he does not know either the type of destroyer or its British name. The only thing which is sure that the destroyer bore the name Bravyi as it was renamed by Soviets when under their command.

As I am now in shipmodelling I would be happy to make him a present scratbuilding the ship if I find materials on this destoyer. Anything would be helpful: type, names, photos and I will then pick up the search. I understand that the start info is scarce - but this is all I have.

Thanks.

Yevgeniy

Unfortunatly I am unable to find any reference to the "Bravyi" There were however a number of ex-American four stackers transfered to the Soviet navy but no trace of the Bravyi amongst that list . may be others on the board will be able to help .
Dave Wooley

[Tiornu]

Here's the complete list of destroyers supplied to the Soviets:
93 Fairfax→Richmond→Zhivuchiy
127 Twiggs→Leamington→Zhguchiy
134 Crowninshield→Chelsea→Derzkiy
143 Yarnall→Lincoln (N)→Druzhnyi
167 Cowell→Brighton→Zharki
168 Maddox→Georgetown→Zhostkiy
169 Foote→Roxborough→Doblestnyi
182 Thomas→St. Albans (N)→Dostoinyi
198 Herndon→Churchill→Deyatelnyi
I've listed the US hull number and name, the name after transfer to British/Commonwealth command, and the Soviet name. The N signifies those ships that spent some time with Norwegian crews.
Arnold Hague wrote a book that gives extensive coverage to the fifty transferred flushdeckers: British title, The Towns; American title, Destroyers for Great Britain.
There was an old Boiki class destroyer named Bravyi built in 1902, and then one in the Project 56 after WWII, but nothing in between. No Bravyi was in service during the war--at least, no destroyer by that name.

[Guest]

Dear Tiornu and Dave,

Thank you both for such a close attention and detailed information.

Tiornu, special thanks to you for your list. Yes, I was myself unable to find Bravyi in Soviet Navy even thought I visited some official Russian site where all(?) WWII ship are listed. The first and the last time I asked my granddad of it was a year ago on his birthday when he was 85 so I suspect he could mix up something. I will have to ask more specific this year. It also can be not a destroyer but something other like corvettee, scout or something close.

Thanks to you, I will be able to find the ship immediately if I get the exact name when under Soviet command. Otherwise I will make him USS Missouri which he visited.

I was amazed at your profound knowledge and thanks for such a quick responce.

Sincerely,

Yevgeniy

[Yevgeniy]

Sorry, I forgot to register. Thanks again.

Yevgeniy

[PetrOs]

Zdravstvujte,

There was a destroyer Bystriy before 1930 there, being one of the survivors of russo-japanese war, and then civil war/intervention. However, it is listed as "scrapped 1930" everywhere.

All the british destroyers (ex-US Wickes/Clemson destroyers), were sent to the North fleet.

To the pacific, I assume only US ships were there, I would tip that it was either an LST or a Tacoma class frigate, or Auk class Minesweeper. I dont think the name would suit a subchaser or so Unluckily, navsource.org only gives the destinations of the ships in soviet navy, not the names. However, the list of the US ships lend-leased is here:

http://www.ww2pacific.com/llnames.html#pf

and the navsource.org can be used to find more about each ship.

[Yevgeniy]

Privetstvyyu PetrOS,

First of all thank you very much for the links. There are so many ship there land-leased to USSR that at first I felt lost.

Yes, it could be US ship. I already started research with your links and found that in most cases navsource.org does not give the name but only destination - but in some cases as with Milwaukee cruiser it says that it was called Murmansk under Soviet command. May be I will be lucky with "Bravyi destroyer" I am looking for.

But best I will ask my opa a description of the ship - armament, etc. and will try to ask knowledgeable people here.

Thank you very much for reply once again. I really appreciate the attention to this purely personal question.

Sincerely,

Yevgeniy