Kirov-class battlecruiser

The Kirov class, Soviet designation Project 1144 Orlan (sea eagle), is a class of nuclear-powered guided-missile battlecruisers of the Soviet Navy and Russian Navy, the largest and heaviest surface combatant warships (i.e. not an aircraft carrier or amphibious assault ship) in operation in the world. Among modern warships, they are second in size only to large aircraft carriers, and of similar size to a World War I-era battleship. The ships are often referred to as battlecruisers by Western defence commentators due to their size and general appearance. The Soviet classification of the ship-type is "heavy nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser" (Russian: тяжёлый атомный ракетный крейсер).

Kirov-class battlecruiser Frunze
Class overview
NameKirov class
BuildersBaltic Shipyard, Leningrad
Operators
Preceded byKara class
Succeeded byLider class
Built1974–1998
In service1980–present
Planned5
Completed4
Cancelled1
Active1 (1 undergoing refit)
Retired2
General characteristics
TypeHeavy guided-missile cruiser/battlecruiser
Displacement
  • 24,300 tons standard
  • 28,000 tons full load
Length252 m (827 ft)
Beam28.5 m (94 ft)
Draft9.1 m (30 ft)
Propulsion
Speed32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range
  • 1,000 nmi (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) at 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) (combined propulsion)
  • unlimited at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) on nuclear power
Complement710
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radars: (NATO reporting name):
    • Voskhod MR-800 (Top Pair) search 3D radar, foremast
    • Fregat MR-710 (Top Plate) 3D search radar, main mast
    • 2 × Palm Frond navigation radar, foremast
  • Sonar:
    • Horse Jaw LF hull sonar
    • Horse Tail VDS (Variable Depth Sonar)
Electronic warfare
& decoys
2 × PK-2 Decoy dispensers (400 rockets)
Armament
Armour76 mm plating around reactor compartment, light splinter protection
Aircraft carried3 helicopters
Aviation facilitiesBelow-deck hangar

The appearance of the Kirov class played a key role in the recommissioning of the Iowa-class battleships by the United States Navy in the 1980s.

The Kirov class hull design was also used for the Soviet nuclear-powered command and control ship SSV-33 Ural.

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