GRN Moldavia (CLA-1939)
A very handy class of six ships were laid down at the Constanta yards in pairs starting in 1936, with one pair per year for three years. The first pair were completed in 1939 and joined the Galicia as escorts in the Adriatic Fleet. The second pair were completed late 1940 and remained in the Black Sea. The remaining pair lost priority on the outbreak of war and did not complete until late 1942 and early 1943. The ships were of a size with other so called AA cruisers but the triple turret mounting gave them a very good twelve gun broadside only being exceeded by the French quad 5.1" turreted ships. (See FAN Dupuy De Lome )
The ships were very lightly armoured with a 40mm strake of armour on the side and only 20mm on the deck. This was enough to stop aircraft cannon fire but not much else of any larger size. Aircraft were these ships greatest threat as at a sea speed of 34-35 knots they were as fast as any destroyer, while their heavy armament would make a destroyer catching them wish they had not.
| Displacement | 5,900 tons std 7,050 tons full load |
| Length | 483 ft |
| Breadth | 49 ft |
| Draught | 15 ft |
| Machinery | 2 shaft steam turbines, 80,000shp |
| Speed | 34 knots |
| Range | 4000 miles at 18 knots (1500 at 32 knots) |
| Armour | 40mm side, 20mm deck, 40mm turrets (5.3") |
| Armament | 12 x 5.3" (4x3) 12 x 37mm (6x2) 8 x 20mm (8x1) |
| Mines | fitted for up to 70 |
| Torpedoes | 12 x 21" (4x3) |
| Complement | 475 |
| Notes | GRN Moldavia |
(please excuse the pixelation, thats the way the original drawing was)