Kirov
Maxim Gorky
An item referred to the U.S.R. dated 28 July 1938 in which Sir Herbert Russell (1) wrote that without doubts a powerful Russian navy could play an important role in the balance of the international armaments. That balance was of utmost importance for keeping peace. The 8.000 ton cruiser Kirov (2) was just completed and her sister ships Kuybysheff (3) and Orjonikidre (4) nearly. The keel of a fourth ship was just laid down. On the moment were 1.500 ton submarines (5) under construction which were to be stationed at Murmansk where already 3-40 submarines seems to be.
Notes
1. Sir Herbert Henry William Russell (28 March 1869 Kensington, England-23 March 1944 Hampton, England), journalist.
2. Kirov-class (Project 26), consisting of Kirov, Voroshilov, Maxim Gorky, Molotov, Kaganovich (renamed Lazar Kaganovich and Petropavlovsk) and Kalinin. preceded by Admiral Nakhimov-class and succeeded by Chapayev-class. Laid down by Ordzhonikidze Yard, Leningrad, Russia on 22 October 1935, launched on 30 November 1936, commissioned on 26 September 1938 and broken up on 22 April 1974.
3. The Kuybyshev. Chapayev-class (Project 68), consisting of Chapayev, Zheleznyakov, Kuybyshev, Chkalov, Frunze and the two captured by the Germans still on the slipways Ordzhinikidze and Sverdlov, preceded by the Kirov-class and succeeded by the Sverdlov-class. Laid down by Marti Yard (Shipyard 200), Nikolayev, Ukraine on 31 August 1939, launched on 31 January 1941, completed on 22 December 1950 and decommissioned in 1965.
4. The Ordzhinikidze. Chapayev-class (Project 68), consisting of Chapayev, Zheleznyakov, Kuybyshev, Chkalov, Frunze and the two captured by the Germans still on the slipways Ordzhinikidze and Sverdlov, preceded by the Kirov-class and succeeded by the Sverdlov-class.
5. The K-class with a displacement of 1.490 9surfaced)-2.600 (submerged) tons and as dimensions 97,65 x 7,4 x 4,51 metres of which the design was approved in 1936. Long range submarine cruiser, of which 12 were built, with an armament of 10-53,3cm/21.6” torpedo tubes, 2-10cm/3.9” guns, 2-4,5cm/1.57” guns and 20 mines. To be succeeded by the never realized KU-class.
