Russian Destroyer Taszkient 1942
The Soviet Navy TASHKENT class, also known as Project 20, comprised one destroyer constructed in Italy just before World War II. A further three were ordered from Soviet shipyards but cancelled prior to being laid down. Nicknamed “The Blue Cruiser” after the light blue colour applied by the Italian shipyard, TASHKENT was completed in 1939 and took part in the 1941-42 sieges of Odessa and Sevastopol, transporting soldiers and supplies to both cities, evacuating casualties and refugees, and supporting Soviet forces with naval gunfire. TASHKENT was sunk following a German raid on Novorossiysk in July 1942 and refloated in 1944, but found to be beyond repair and was scrapped.