Until 1892, there was no standardized name for ships of the cruiser type. They were classified as armoured
frigates, armoured
corvettes and even screw corvettes. The "Cruiser" \ «крейсер» designation appeared in 1878, but only for auxiliary non-protected ships. Starting in 1892 and up to 1907, all of these ships were divided between 1st rank cruisers and 2nd rank cruisers, although this division did not coincide with the delineation between
armoured cruisers &
protected cruisers. The designation "
auxiliary cruiser" officially appeared in 1904. According to the new classification table of 1907, all cruisers, except auxiliary ships, were divided between "armoured cruisers" and "cruisers". During the first decades of the Soviet Navy the only one "cruiser" designation existed, but in 1949 cruisers were divided between "light cruisers", "heavy cruisers" and "training cruisers". Later "missile cruisers", "anti-submarine cruisers", "aircraft-carrying cruisers", "heavy nuclear missile cruisers" appeared.
This type of warship was invented by Russians.[1][2] The ships were intended to conduct the traditional cruiser operations against merchant ships and their protectors. For this reason, they had been armed with heavy main guns and medium armour to fight with light cruisers. The ships also possessed relatively high speed to escape from an opponent's battleships. All of them were officially classified as 1st rank cruisers and were assigned to the
Baltic Fleet.
General-Admiral \ «Генерал-адмирал», armoured frigate (1873) - Voyaged in
Atlantic Ocean 1893, used as training vessel since early 1900s (decade), minelayer Narova \ «Нарова» 1909, training vessel 1920, reconstructed as minelayer 25 Oktiabria \ «25 Октября» 1924, mother-ship 1937, decommissioned 1944, BU 1953
Gerzog Edinburgski \ «Герцог Эдинбургский», armoured frigate (ex-Alexander Nevsky \ «Александр Невский» - renamed on slip) (1875) - Served at
Far East 1879–1884 and at
Mediterranean Sea 1897–c.1900, used as training vessel since early 1900s (decade), reconstructed as minelayer Onega \ «Онега» 1909, hulked as mine depot 1914 (named № 4, Barrikada \ «Баррикада», № 9), BU 1949
Minin \ «Минин», armoured frigate (1869) - Rebuilt during completion as seagoing cruiser and commissioned 1878, reclassified as 1st rank cruiser 1892, Reconstructed as minelayer Ladoga \ «Ладога» 1909, Mined 1915
Vladimir Monomakh-class armoured frigates (2 units)
Bayan \ «Баян» (1900,
La Seyne) - Served at
Far East 1903–1904, sunk by shells and blown up to prevent capture 1904, refloated by Japan and renamed
Aso 1908, minelayer 1920, hulked 1930, sunk as target 1932
Russia had nearly not developed this British-designed type of ship, and had instead concentrated on armoured cruisers. Most of these ships were classified officially as 1st rank cruisers, they were assigned to the
Baltic Fleet, with the exception of a handful of ships.
Vitiaz \ «Витязь»(1884) - Voyaged to
Far East 1886–1889 & 1891–1893, wrecked in
Korea Strait 1893
Rynda \ «Рында» (1885) - Voyaged to
Far East 1886–1889, served here 1893–1896, training vessel 1906, laid up 1918, BU 1922
Admiral Kornilov \ «Адмирал Корнилов», cruiser (1887,
Saint-Nazaire) - Served at
Far East 1899–1891 & 1893–1902, reclassified to cruiser of 2nd Rank 1905 and training vessel 1907, decommissioned 1911
Pallada-class cruisers of 1st Rank (3 units). In fact, it turned out, they were not suitable to cruiser duty due to low speed and extra low range. Two of them were used as fire-watch ships at
Port Arthur, the third became excellent training cruiser for naval cadets.
Pallada \ «Паллада» (1899) - Served at
Far East 1902–1904, sunk at
Port Arthur 1904, refloated by Japan and renamed
Tsugaru, reconstructed as minelayer 1920, decommissioned 1922, sunk as target 1924
Diana \ «Диана» (1899) - Served at
Far East 1902–1906, interned by France 1904, released 1905, laid up 1918, BU 1922
Aurora \ «Аврора» (1900) - Served at
Far East 1902–1906, interned by U.S.A. 1905, released 1905, participated
October Revolution (1917), training cruiser and cadets' training base 1922–1961, museum ship since 1948, preserved at
Saint Petersburg
Varyag \ «Варяг» (1899,
Philadelphia) - Served at
Far East, scuttled after the Battle of
Chemulpo 1904, refloated by Japan, renamed
Soya, purchased by Russia 1916, renamed Varyag and transferred to
Arctic Sea Flotilla 1916, seized by the British 1918, used as floating barracks, sold to Germany for BU 1921, wrecked 1922
Cruiser Askol‘d (1900)
Askold \ «Аскольд» (1900,
Kiel) - Served at
Far East 1902–1914, interned by China to prevent capture 1904, released 1905, served at
Mediterranean Sea 1914–1916, transferred to
Arctic Sea Flotilla 1916, captured by Britain 1918, renamed HMS Gloria IV, returned to Soviet Russia 1922 and sold for BU
Bogatyr class (5 units). Reclassified as "cruisers" in 1907
Kagul \ «Кагул» (ex-Ochakov \ «Очаков», renamed 1906) (1902
Black Sea Fleet) - Renamed Ochakov 1917, captured by Germany 1918, captured by Britain and delivered to
White Army 1918, renamed General Kornilov \ «Генерал Корнилов», interned by France in
Bizerte, returned to Soviet Russia 1924 and sold for BU, BU 1933
Pamiat Merkuria \ «Память Меркурия» (ex-Kagul \ «Кагул», renamed 1906) (1902
Black Sea Fleet) - Destroyed by British troops 1919, repaired, reclassified to light cruiser and renamed
Komintern \ «Коминтерн» 1922, scuttled as breakwater 1942
Oleg \ «Олег» (1903) - sent to
Far East 1905, flagship of Rear Admiral
Oskar Enkvist at the
Battle of Tsushima (1905), interned by U.S.A. after the battle, released 1905, voyaged at
Mediterranean Sea late 1900s (decade), torpedoed 1919, BU 1938
Vitiaz \ «Витязь» - Burnt on slip 1901
Novik class (1 unit)
Novik \ «Новик» (1900,
Danzig or
Elbing) - Served at
Far East 1903–1904, damaged and scuttled to prevent capture 1904, refloated by Japan, commissioned as light cruiser
Suzuya, BU 1913
Izumrud \ «Изумруд»(1903) - Sent to
Far East 1905, wrecked and blown up to prevent capture 1905, found by divers 1989
Prut \ «Прут», Cruiser (1903; ex-Turkish
Mecidiye, ex-Abdül Mecid ) - Mined near
Odessa 1915, refloated by Russians, repaired and commissioned 1916, captured by Germany, returned Turkey and renamed Mecidiye 1918, Training vessel 1940, decommissioned 1947, BU 1952
Almaz \ «Алмаз», Cruiser of 2nd Rank (1903) - Interned by US after the
Battle of Tsushima (1905), released 1905, reclassified to aviso in 1906 and yacht 1908, equipped by hydroplanes (first in the Russian Navy) 1914 and non-officially classified as hydroplane cruiser, captured by
White Army 1919, interned by France in
Bizerte 1920, returned to Soviet Russia 1924, sold for BU and BU 1934
Torpedo cruisers
The Russian Navy classified these ships as "minnyi kreiser" \ «минный крейсер» (
Torpedo cruiser): something between cruiser and
torpedo boat, and the direct predecessor of
destroyers, but were rather larger and stronger than the destroyers of the 1900s (decade). The ships were purposed to struggle with an opponent's torpedo boats, as well as to serve as a torpedo boat squadron leader, escort ship, tow-ship, and other missions. Later, the first Russian destroyers were originally classified as torpedo cruisers.
Voyevoda \ «Воевода» (1892
Elbing,
Baltic Fleet) - Aviso 1907, captured by Finland 1918, sold to Finland 1922, served as gunboat until 1940
Posadnik \ «Посадник» (1892
Elbing,
Baltic Fleet) - Served at
Mediterranean Sea in late 1890s, aviso 1907, captured by Finland 1918, sold to Finland 1922, used as gunboat, minelayer and patrol boat until 1927, BU 1964
Vsadnik \ «Всадник» (1893
Siberian Flotilla) - Sank in
Port Arthur 1904, refloated by Japan and commissioned as gunboat Makikumo 1906, BU 1914
Gaidamak \ «Гайдамак» (1893
Siberian Flotilla) - Scuttled in
Port Arthur 1904, refloated by Japan and commissioned as gunboat Shikinami 1906, BU 1914
Griden‘ \ «Гридень» (1893
Black Sea Fleet) - Aviso 1907, delivered to Corps of Frontier Guard
Abrek \ «Абрек» (1896) - Operated at
Mediterranean Sea 1899–1904, delivered to Corps of Frontier Guard 1908, mobilized as aviso 1914, laid up 1921–1926, mother ship 1940, BU 1948
Battlecruisers
Actually, they were not battlecruisers, but rather fast super-dreadnoughts.[3]
Borodino \ «Бородино» (1915) - Not completed, sold for BU 1923
Kinburn \ «Кинбурн» (1915) - Not completed, sold for BU 1923
Navarin \ «Наварин» (1916) - Not completed, sold for BU 1923
Non-protected & auxiliary cruisers
Commissioning of these ships was an extraordinary measure taken during the periods of political crises of 1878 and 1904–1905.
Auxiliary cruisers, which were used in 1904–1905, were specially constructed or reconstructed as ships of "double destination":
ocean liners at the times of peace and cruisers during war. Most of them were officially classified as cruisers and auxiliary cruisers and belonged to the
Baltic Fleet (but two).
Rossiya \ «Россия», Cruiser (1868; ex-German liner Holsatia) - Purchased 1878, delivered to
Dobroflot 1878, purchased by Navy and commissioned as Training vessel Dnestr \ «Днестр» 1894, hulked 1910.
Moskva \ «Москва», Cruiser (1866; ex-German liner Hammonia) - Purchased 1878, delivered to
Dobroflot as Moskva 1 1878, wrecked 1882
Peterburg \ «Петербург», Cruiser (1870; ex-German liner Thuringia) - Purchased 1878, delivered to
Dobroflot as Peterburg 1 1878, purchased by Navy and commissioned as Training vessel Berezan‘ \ «Березань» 1893, Transport 1909, floating workshop 1916, submarine base 1921, BU 1931
Asia \ «Азия», Cruiser (1874; ex-American liner Columbus) - Purchased 1878, served at
Far East and
Mediterranean Sea 1879–1882, Cruiser of 2nd Rank 1892, reconstruct to coal transport in early 1900s (decade), decommissioned 1911, renamed Kaukas October 1912, recommissioned as Asia September 1914, laid up 1918, BU 1923
Afrika \ «Африка», Cruiser (1877; ex-American liner Saratoga) - Purchased 1878, served
Far East 1879–1882, Cruiser of 2nd Rank 1892, equipped by radio station (first of the Russian Navy) 1897, Training vessel and divers' base 1906, laid up 1918, BU 1923
Evropa \ «Европа», Cruiser (1878; ex-American liner State of California) - Purchased 1878, operated at
Far East 1879–1880, delivered to
Dobroflot 1885, renamed Yaroslavl‘ 2 \ «Ярославль (2)», captured by Finland 1918
Hospital ship Moskva (1898), former naval transport Angara (in fact — auxiliary cruiser) in
Port Arthur, 1904.
Kuban‘ \ «Кубань», Auxiliary Cruiser (1889; ex-German liner Auguste Victoria, ex-Augusta Victoria, ex-Normannia) - Purchased 1904, decommissioned 1906, BU 1907
Don \ «Дон», Auxiliary Cruiser (1891; ex-German liner Fürst Bismarck) - Purchased 1904, sold to
Dobroflot 1906 as Moskva 4 \ «Москва (4)», resold to Austrian Navy and converted to submarines' base Gaa 1909, seized by Italy 1919, reconstructed as liner San Giusto, BU 1924
Ural \ «Урал», Auxiliary Cruiser (1890; ex-German liner Kaiserin Maria Theresia, ex-Spree) - Purchased 1904, sunk at the
Battle of Tsushima 1905
Dnepr \ «Днепр», Auxiliary Cruiser (1894; ex-
Dobroflot liner Peterburg 2 \ «Петербург (2)») - Commissioned 1904, returned to Dobroflot 1905 and served under the old name, commissioned 1914 as transport Don \ «Дон», captured by Germany 1918, captured by Britain 1918, delivered to
White Army 1919, interned by France at
Bizerte 1920, sold for BU 1922
Rion \ «Рион», Auxiliary Cruiser (1901; ex-
Dobroflot liner Smolensk \ «Смоленск») - Commissioned 1904, returned to Dobroflot 1905 and served under the old name, commissioned as Training vessel Rion 1913, Transport 1914, captured by
White Army 1919, interned by France in
Bizerte 1920, returned to Soviet Russia 1924 and sold for BU
Rus‘ \ «Русь», Auxiliary Cruiser (1887; ex-German liner Lahn) - Purchased 1904 and reconstruct as balloon-carrying ship, sold for BU 1906
Oriol \ «Орёл», Auxiliary Cruiser (1909; ex-
Dobroflot liner Oriol 2) - Commissioned to
Siberian Flotilla 1914, used as training vessel, captured by
White Army 1918, returned to Dobroflot 1920, sold to Britain 1922, renamed Silvia, BU 1950
Leitenant Dadymov \ «Лейтенант Дадымов», Auxiliary Cruiser (?; ex-Boundary Guard's vessel) - Mobilized to
Siberian Flotilla 1914, laid up 1918, captured by
White Army 1918, sank 1922
NOTE: There were some other
Dobroflot liners used in the Navy during the
Russo-Japanese War, but they were classified as transports.
Cruisers of the Soviet and modern Russian Navy
Light cruisers
The Russian class abbreviation is KRL, that also is used as prefix, for example: KRL Sverdlov or TRKR Piotr Velikii.</ref>)
Legkiy kreiser \ «лёгкий крейсер» (КРЛ).
Cruiser Chervona Ukraina (1915), Black Sea, 1930s
Svetlana class (8 units, commissioned 3). Laid up as far back as in Imperial Russia, but were not completed due to the Revolution and Civil war. Three of them were completed in Soviet Union. Belonged to the
Black Sea Fleet (Profintern – to the
Baltic Fleet until 1930).
Profintern \ «Профинтерн» (ex-
Svetlana \ «Светлана», renamed 1925) (1915) - Transferred to the
Black Sea Fleet 1929–1930, renamed
Krasnyi Krym \ «Красный Крым» 1939, Training cruiser 1954, BU 1959.
Guards cruiser since 1942.
Admiral Butakov \ «Адмирал Бутаков» (1916) - Non completed, laid up 1917, sunk 1942, BU 1952
Admiral Spiridov \ «Адмирал Спиридов» (1916) - Completed as tanker Grozneft‘ \ «Грознефть» 1926, BU 1952
Krasnyi Kavkaz \ «Красный Кавказ» (ex-
Admiral Lazarev \ «Адмирал Лазарев») (1916) - Training cruiser 1947, sunk as target 1952.
Guards cruiser since 1942.
Admiral Kornilov \ «Адмирал Корнилов» (1917) - Non completed, BU 1932
Admiral Istomin \ «Адмирал Истомин» - Non completed, BU on slip 1927
Cruiser Voroshilov (1937).
Sevastopol, June 20, 1941 (two days before the war)
Kirov class (Project 26 and 26-bis) (6 units). These cruisers were classified as light, but possessed 7-inch main calibre (making them heavy cruisers under the original definition of a heavy cruiser as a ship no more than 10,000 long tons with a main battery of more than 6.1-inch (155mm) but no more than 8-inch (203.4mm))
Project 26 (Kirov subclass) (2 units)
Kirov \ «Киров» (1936
Baltic Fleet) - Damaged by air bombs in 1941 & 1942, repaired 1943, decommissioned 1974
Voroshilov \ «Ворошилов» (1937
Black Sea Fleet) - Reconstructed as Project 33M experimental vessel 1963, BU 1970s
Zhelezniakov \ «Железняков» (1941) - Completed according to Project 68K 1950, training cruiser 1961, decommissioned 1975
Chkalov \ «Чкалов» (1947) - Completed according to Project 68K 1950, training cruiser Komsomolets \ «Комсомолец» 1958, decommissioned 1979
Frunze \ «Фрунзе» (1940) - Completed according to Project 68K 1950, Training cruiser 1958, decommissioned 1960
Ordzhonikidze \ «Орджоникидзе» - Blown up on slip 1941 to prevent capture, BU by Germans until 1943
Sverdlov \ «Свердлов» - Blown up on slip 1941 to prevent capture, BU by Germans until 1943
Murmansk \ «Мурманск» (1921; ex-American
Milwaukee) - Delivered from U.S.A. on account of reparations from Italy 1944, returned to US 1947 (instead of Emanuele Filiberto Duca d'Aosta), BU 1949
Admiral Makarov \ «Адмирал Макаров» (1934; ex-German
Nürnberg) - Accepted by USSR according to reparations from Germany 1946, training cruiser 1957, decommissioned 1959
Kerch‘ \ «Керчь» (1934; ex-Italian
Emanuele Filiberto Duca d'Aosta - Accepted by USSR according to reparations from Italy 1949, training cruiser 1956, decommissioned 1959
Admiral Ushakov \ «Адмирал Ушаков» (1951) - Laid up 1964, recommissioned and modernized (project 68A) 1971, laid up 1983, decommissioned 1987 and sold for BU
Admiral Lazarev \ «Адмирал Лазарев» (1952) - Laid up 1963, decommissioned 1986 and sold for BU
Dzerzhinsky \ «Дзержинский» (1952) - Modernized AA Missile Cruiser (project 70E) 1958, training cruiser 1951, laid up 1980, decommissioned 1988 and sold for BU
Admiral Seniavin \ «Адмирал Сенявин» (1952) - Rebuilt to staff ship (project 68U-2) 1972, decommissioned 1989 and sold for BU
Mikhail Kutuzov \ «Михаил Кутузов» (1952) - Modernized (project 68A) 1989, laid up 1990, museum ship in
Sevastopol 2002
Aleksandr Suvorov \ «Александр Суворов» (1953) - Laid up 1986, decommissioned 1989 and sold for BU
Dmitrii Pozharskii \ «Дмитрий Пожарский» (1953) - Laid up 1979, decommissioned 1987 and sold for BU
Molotovsk \ «Молотовск» (1954) - Renamed Oktyabrskaya Revolutsia \ «Октябрьская Революуия» 1957, laid up 1960, recommissioned 1965, modernized (project 68A) 1969, decommissioned 1987 and sold for BU
Murmansk \ «Мурманск» (1955) - Laid up 1989, decommissioned 1992, grounded at
Sørvær in Norway when towing for BU 1994. Scrapped in situ 2013.[4]
Koz‘ma Minin \ «Козьма Минин» (Arkhangel‘sk \ «Архангельск») (1953) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Dmitrii Donskoi \ «Дмитрий Донской» (Vladivostok \ «Владивосток») (1953) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Kronstadt \ «Кронштадт» (1954) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Scherbakov \ «Щербаков» (1954) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Admiral Kornilov \ «Адмрал Корнилов» (1954) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Tallin \ «Таллин» (1955) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Varyag \ «Варяг» (1956) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Heavy cruisers (TKR)
Tyazhelyi kreiser \ «тяжёлый крейсер» (ТКР). Prior to and during the Second World War, the Soviet Navy attempted to procure heavier cruiser types, including two different battlecruiser designs. Despite these attempts, not one ship of these types was commissioned into Soviet Navy.
Petropavlovsk \ «Петропавловск» (1939; ex-German
Lützow) - Purchased being non-completed 1940, participated in the
Battle for Leningrad (1941–1944) as floating 8-inch battery, damaged by shells 1941, refloated and repaired 1942, reformed to training vessel 1953, BU 1960
Kynda or Groznyy (Project 58) class (4 units). Classified as destroyers until 1962, this reason «destroyers'» names were replaced by «cruisers'» (but Groznyy)
Groznyy \ «Грозный» (1961) - Decommissioned 1991, BU 1993
Admiral Zozulya \ «Адмирал Зозуля» (1965) - Decommissioned 1994 and BU
Vize-Admiral Drozd \ «Вице-адмирал Дрозд» (1966) - Decommissioned 1990, sank when towing for BU 1992
Vladivostok \ «Владивосток» (1966) - Decommissioned 1991 and sold for BU
Sevastopol \ «Севастополь» (1967) - Decommissioned 1989, BU 1991
NOTE: Large antisubmarine ships of Project 1134A (NATO codename Kresta II) and Project 1134B (Kara) never classified as cruisers in the Soviet Navy, nor were cruisers in reality: it was a type of large frigates (due to arming of antisubmarine torpedo-missiles).
Guided missile cruiser Chervona Ukraina underway en route to the Pacific Ocean from the Black Sea. 1990
Protivolodochnyi kreiser \ «противолодочный крейсер» (ПКР). Helicopter-carrying cruisers. Ships were purposed to searching and destroying opponent's guided missile and multi-purpose submarines at the remote boundaries of antisubmarine defence, consisting of ships' squadrons and cooperating with other antisubmarine ships and aircraft.
Moskva \ «Москва» - Decommissioned 1995 and sold for BU
Leningrad \ «Ленинград» - Decommissioned 1991, sank when towing for BU 1994
Heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers (TAKR)
Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Minsk. 1983
Tyazhelyi avianesushchii kreiser \ «тяжёлый авианесущий крейсер» (ТАКР). Ships were purposed to air cover of patrol regions of Soviet ballistic missile submarines (to destroy opponent's antisubmarine helicopters and airplanes), as well as searching and destroying opponent's guided missile & multi-purpose submarines and (3rd purpose) to striking the opponent's above-water ships by guided missiles, consisting of ships' squadrons and cooperating with other fleets' forces. Despite the superficial resemblance, they were not aircraft carriers in that sense, in which this term is applicable to American and British carriers. They were not intended to be the main shock force of the Navy, but only a part of own strategic submarines' defense system (first three units). Fourth ship really became a large training base for fifth, her aircraft (Yak-141) was not completed and she remained with helicopters only, i.e. as antisubmarine cruiser. Fifth unit (and uncompleted sixth) were designed as ships of transitional type, and only seventh, non-completed nuclear Ulyanovsk, although classified officially to cruisers, could become a first Russian relatively full aircraft carrier.[5]
Kiev (Project 1143) class (3 units). Classified originally as Antisubmarine Aircraft-Carrying Cruisers, since 1977 (most part of their career) – to Heavy Aircraft-carrying Cruisers, since 1991 (after decommissioning of their Yak-38 aircraft) — to Heavy Helicopter-carrying Cruisers.
Kiev \ «Киев» (1972) - Decommissioned 1993, sold for BU to China 2000, resold and became a part of military theme park in
Tianjin (2003)
Minsk \ «Минск» (1975) - Decommissioned 1993, sold for BU to South Korea, resold and became a part of military theme park in
Shenzhen (2003)
Novorossiysk (1978) (Project 1143.3) \ «Новороссийск» - Laid up 1991, decommissioned 1993, sold for BU 1994 to South Korea
Baku \ «Баку» (1982) (Project 1143.4) - Renamed
Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Gorshkov \ «Адмирал Флота Советского Союза Горшков» (non-officially Admiral Gorshkov, unceremoniously — Gorshok) 1991, burnt 1993 & 1994, laid up 1996, sold to India and renamed
INS Vikramaditya 2004
Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov underway south of Italy. 1991
Venture \ «Вентюр» (1899, ex-steamer) - Mobilized by
White Army at
Caspian Sea 1918, voluntary joined
Red Army and renamed Avstraliya \ «Австралия» (later Bela Kun \ «Бела Кун») 1920, decommissioned 1920
Aga Selim \ «Ага Селим» (1897; ex-tanker) - Mobilized at
Caspian Sea 1918, renamed Rosa Luxemburg \ «Роза Люксембург» 1919, decommissioned 1926
Pushkin \ «Пушкин» (1893; ex-steamer) - Mobilized by
White Army at
Caspian Sea 1919, captured 1920, renamed Sovetskii Azerbaydzhan \ «Советский Азербайджан», decommissioned 1921
Ivan Susanin \ «Иван Сусанин» (1899; ex-Canadian ice-breaker Minto, purchased by Imperial Russi) - Mobilized at
White Sea 1920, decommissioned 1920, renamed Leitenant Dreyer \ «Лейтенант Дрейер» 1920, wrecked 1922
Kanada \ «Канада» (1909; ex-Canadian ice-breaker Earl Grey, purchased by Imperial Russia) - Mobilized at
White Sea 1920, renamed Tretii Internatsional \ «Третий Интернационал», decommissioned 1921, renamed Fyodor Litke \ «Фёдор Литке», BU 1958
Kniaz‘ Pozarskii \ «Князь Пожарский» (1916; ex-ice-breaker) - Mobilized at
White Sea 1920, renamed Leitenant Schmidt \ «Лейтенант Шмидт», decommissioned and renamed Stepan Makarov \ «Степан Макаров» 1921, sank 1941
Indigirka \ «Индигирка» (1886; ex-
Dobroflot steamer Tsinanfu \ «Цинанфу») - Mobilized at
Far East 1923, decommissioned 1933
Oleg \ «Олег» (1896; ex-steamer Pronto) - Mobilized at
Far East 1922, decommissioned 1923, BU 1951
Stavropol‘ \ «Ставрополь» (1907; ex-
Dobroflot steamer Kotik \ «Котик») - Mobilized at
Far East 1922, decommissioned 1923, renamed Voroshilovsk \ «Ворошиловск» 1935, BU 1951
Mikoyan \ «Микоян» (1935; ex-ice-breaker O. Yu. Shmidt \ «О. Ю. Шмидт») - Mobilized in June 1941, decommissioned in November 1941 and returned to ice-breakers class, renamed A. Mikoyan \ «А. Микоян», transferred from
Black Sea to
Arkhangelsk 1941–1942
^Smirnov G., Smirnov V. Istoriya sozdaniya i sluzby pervykh bronenosnykh kreiserov (russkikh i angliyskikh) //
"Modelist-Konstruktor" (The history of creation and service of first armoured cruisers (Russian & English)). Moiseev (ref. № 1), p. 15.
^Vinogradov S. E. "Izmail" — sverhdrednout Rossiyskoy imperii // "Morskaya kollektsiya", 2001, № 1 (Izmail — super-dreadnought of Russian Empire)
^Pavlov A. S. Dlinnaya ruka admirala Gorshkova. Yakutsk, 2000. (Admiral Gorshkov's long arm) (concerning the 1143.4). Pavlov A. S. Rozhdeniye i gibel' sed'mogo avianostsa. - Yakutsk, 2000. (Generation and corruption of the seventh aircraft carrier).
References
Beeler, John Francis (1997). British Naval Policy in the Gladstone-Disraeli Era.
San Francisco: Stanford University Press.
ISBN0-8047-2981-6.
Moiseev S. P. Spisok korabley russkogo parovogo i bronenosnogo flota (s 1861 po 1917 god). - Voyenizdat, Moskva, 1948. (List of Russian Ships of Steam and Armoured Navy (from 1861 to 1917))
Boyevye korabli russkogo flota 8.1914-10.1918 gody: Spravochnik / Red. Yu. V. Apalkov. - INTEK, St. Peterburg, 1996. (Warships of the Russian Navy in August 1914 – October 1918).
Korabli i vspomogatel'nye suda sovetskogo Voyenno-Morskogo Flota (1917–1927 gody). Spravochnik / Red. S. S. Berezhnoi i dr. - Voyenizdat, Moskva, 1981. (Ships and auxiliary vessels of the Soviet Navy in 1917–1927. Reference-book)
Berezhnoi S. S. Korabli i suda VMF SSSR 1928–1945 [Ships and vessels of the USSR Navy 1928–1945]. Spravochnik. - Voyenizdat, Moskva, 1998.
Burov V. N. Otechestvennoye voyennoye korablestroyenoye v tretyem stoletii svoyei istorii.[Native Naval Shipbuilding in 3rd century of its history] - Sudostroyeniye, St. Peterburg, 1995.
Berezhnoi S. S. Trofei i reparatsii VMF SSSR [Trophies and Reparations of the USSR Navy]. - Sakhapoligraphizdat, Yakutsk, 1994.
Kuzin V. P., Nikol'skii V. I. Voenno-Morskoi Flot SSSR 1945–1991. - Istoricheskoye Morskoye Obschestvo, St. Petersburg, 1996. (USSR Navy 1945–1991)
Pavlov, A. S. (1994), Voyennye korabli SSSR i Rossii 1945–1995. [Warships of the USSR and Russia in 1945–1995.], Yakutsk: Spravochnik
Pavlov, A. S (2001), Voyennye korabli Rossii [Warships of the Russia], Yakutsk
Until 1892, there was no standardized name for ships of the cruiser type. They were classified as armoured
frigates, armoured
corvettes and even screw corvettes. The "Cruiser" \ «крейсер» designation appeared in 1878, but only for auxiliary non-protected ships. Starting in 1892 and up to 1907, all of these ships were divided between 1st rank cruisers and 2nd rank cruisers, although this division did not coincide with the delineation between
armoured cruisers &
protected cruisers. The designation "
auxiliary cruiser" officially appeared in 1904. According to the new classification table of 1907, all cruisers, except auxiliary ships, were divided between "armoured cruisers" and "cruisers". During the first decades of the Soviet Navy the only one "cruiser" designation existed, but in 1949 cruisers were divided between "light cruisers", "heavy cruisers" and "training cruisers". Later "missile cruisers", "anti-submarine cruisers", "aircraft-carrying cruisers", "heavy nuclear missile cruisers" appeared.
This type of warship was invented by Russians.[1][2] The ships were intended to conduct the traditional cruiser operations against merchant ships and their protectors. For this reason, they had been armed with heavy main guns and medium armour to fight with light cruisers. The ships also possessed relatively high speed to escape from an opponent's battleships. All of them were officially classified as 1st rank cruisers and were assigned to the
Baltic Fleet.
General-Admiral \ «Генерал-адмирал», armoured frigate (1873) - Voyaged in
Atlantic Ocean 1893, used as training vessel since early 1900s (decade), minelayer Narova \ «Нарова» 1909, training vessel 1920, reconstructed as minelayer 25 Oktiabria \ «25 Октября» 1924, mother-ship 1937, decommissioned 1944, BU 1953
Gerzog Edinburgski \ «Герцог Эдинбургский», armoured frigate (ex-Alexander Nevsky \ «Александр Невский» - renamed on slip) (1875) - Served at
Far East 1879–1884 and at
Mediterranean Sea 1897–c.1900, used as training vessel since early 1900s (decade), reconstructed as minelayer Onega \ «Онега» 1909, hulked as mine depot 1914 (named № 4, Barrikada \ «Баррикада», № 9), BU 1949
Minin \ «Минин», armoured frigate (1869) - Rebuilt during completion as seagoing cruiser and commissioned 1878, reclassified as 1st rank cruiser 1892, Reconstructed as minelayer Ladoga \ «Ладога» 1909, Mined 1915
Vladimir Monomakh-class armoured frigates (2 units)
Bayan \ «Баян» (1900,
La Seyne) - Served at
Far East 1903–1904, sunk by shells and blown up to prevent capture 1904, refloated by Japan and renamed
Aso 1908, minelayer 1920, hulked 1930, sunk as target 1932
Russia had nearly not developed this British-designed type of ship, and had instead concentrated on armoured cruisers. Most of these ships were classified officially as 1st rank cruisers, they were assigned to the
Baltic Fleet, with the exception of a handful of ships.
Vitiaz \ «Витязь»(1884) - Voyaged to
Far East 1886–1889 & 1891–1893, wrecked in
Korea Strait 1893
Rynda \ «Рында» (1885) - Voyaged to
Far East 1886–1889, served here 1893–1896, training vessel 1906, laid up 1918, BU 1922
Admiral Kornilov \ «Адмирал Корнилов», cruiser (1887,
Saint-Nazaire) - Served at
Far East 1899–1891 & 1893–1902, reclassified to cruiser of 2nd Rank 1905 and training vessel 1907, decommissioned 1911
Pallada-class cruisers of 1st Rank (3 units). In fact, it turned out, they were not suitable to cruiser duty due to low speed and extra low range. Two of them were used as fire-watch ships at
Port Arthur, the third became excellent training cruiser for naval cadets.
Pallada \ «Паллада» (1899) - Served at
Far East 1902–1904, sunk at
Port Arthur 1904, refloated by Japan and renamed
Tsugaru, reconstructed as minelayer 1920, decommissioned 1922, sunk as target 1924
Diana \ «Диана» (1899) - Served at
Far East 1902–1906, interned by France 1904, released 1905, laid up 1918, BU 1922
Aurora \ «Аврора» (1900) - Served at
Far East 1902–1906, interned by U.S.A. 1905, released 1905, participated
October Revolution (1917), training cruiser and cadets' training base 1922–1961, museum ship since 1948, preserved at
Saint Petersburg
Varyag \ «Варяг» (1899,
Philadelphia) - Served at
Far East, scuttled after the Battle of
Chemulpo 1904, refloated by Japan, renamed
Soya, purchased by Russia 1916, renamed Varyag and transferred to
Arctic Sea Flotilla 1916, seized by the British 1918, used as floating barracks, sold to Germany for BU 1921, wrecked 1922
Cruiser Askol‘d (1900)
Askold \ «Аскольд» (1900,
Kiel) - Served at
Far East 1902–1914, interned by China to prevent capture 1904, released 1905, served at
Mediterranean Sea 1914–1916, transferred to
Arctic Sea Flotilla 1916, captured by Britain 1918, renamed HMS Gloria IV, returned to Soviet Russia 1922 and sold for BU
Bogatyr class (5 units). Reclassified as "cruisers" in 1907
Kagul \ «Кагул» (ex-Ochakov \ «Очаков», renamed 1906) (1902
Black Sea Fleet) - Renamed Ochakov 1917, captured by Germany 1918, captured by Britain and delivered to
White Army 1918, renamed General Kornilov \ «Генерал Корнилов», interned by France in
Bizerte, returned to Soviet Russia 1924 and sold for BU, BU 1933
Pamiat Merkuria \ «Память Меркурия» (ex-Kagul \ «Кагул», renamed 1906) (1902
Black Sea Fleet) - Destroyed by British troops 1919, repaired, reclassified to light cruiser and renamed
Komintern \ «Коминтерн» 1922, scuttled as breakwater 1942
Oleg \ «Олег» (1903) - sent to
Far East 1905, flagship of Rear Admiral
Oskar Enkvist at the
Battle of Tsushima (1905), interned by U.S.A. after the battle, released 1905, voyaged at
Mediterranean Sea late 1900s (decade), torpedoed 1919, BU 1938
Vitiaz \ «Витязь» - Burnt on slip 1901
Novik class (1 unit)
Novik \ «Новик» (1900,
Danzig or
Elbing) - Served at
Far East 1903–1904, damaged and scuttled to prevent capture 1904, refloated by Japan, commissioned as light cruiser
Suzuya, BU 1913
Izumrud \ «Изумруд»(1903) - Sent to
Far East 1905, wrecked and blown up to prevent capture 1905, found by divers 1989
Prut \ «Прут», Cruiser (1903; ex-Turkish
Mecidiye, ex-Abdül Mecid ) - Mined near
Odessa 1915, refloated by Russians, repaired and commissioned 1916, captured by Germany, returned Turkey and renamed Mecidiye 1918, Training vessel 1940, decommissioned 1947, BU 1952
Almaz \ «Алмаз», Cruiser of 2nd Rank (1903) - Interned by US after the
Battle of Tsushima (1905), released 1905, reclassified to aviso in 1906 and yacht 1908, equipped by hydroplanes (first in the Russian Navy) 1914 and non-officially classified as hydroplane cruiser, captured by
White Army 1919, interned by France in
Bizerte 1920, returned to Soviet Russia 1924, sold for BU and BU 1934
Torpedo cruisers
The Russian Navy classified these ships as "minnyi kreiser" \ «минный крейсер» (
Torpedo cruiser): something between cruiser and
torpedo boat, and the direct predecessor of
destroyers, but were rather larger and stronger than the destroyers of the 1900s (decade). The ships were purposed to struggle with an opponent's torpedo boats, as well as to serve as a torpedo boat squadron leader, escort ship, tow-ship, and other missions. Later, the first Russian destroyers were originally classified as torpedo cruisers.
Voyevoda \ «Воевода» (1892
Elbing,
Baltic Fleet) - Aviso 1907, captured by Finland 1918, sold to Finland 1922, served as gunboat until 1940
Posadnik \ «Посадник» (1892
Elbing,
Baltic Fleet) - Served at
Mediterranean Sea in late 1890s, aviso 1907, captured by Finland 1918, sold to Finland 1922, used as gunboat, minelayer and patrol boat until 1927, BU 1964
Vsadnik \ «Всадник» (1893
Siberian Flotilla) - Sank in
Port Arthur 1904, refloated by Japan and commissioned as gunboat Makikumo 1906, BU 1914
Gaidamak \ «Гайдамак» (1893
Siberian Flotilla) - Scuttled in
Port Arthur 1904, refloated by Japan and commissioned as gunboat Shikinami 1906, BU 1914
Griden‘ \ «Гридень» (1893
Black Sea Fleet) - Aviso 1907, delivered to Corps of Frontier Guard
Abrek \ «Абрек» (1896) - Operated at
Mediterranean Sea 1899–1904, delivered to Corps of Frontier Guard 1908, mobilized as aviso 1914, laid up 1921–1926, mother ship 1940, BU 1948
Battlecruisers
Actually, they were not battlecruisers, but rather fast super-dreadnoughts.[3]
Borodino \ «Бородино» (1915) - Not completed, sold for BU 1923
Kinburn \ «Кинбурн» (1915) - Not completed, sold for BU 1923
Navarin \ «Наварин» (1916) - Not completed, sold for BU 1923
Non-protected & auxiliary cruisers
Commissioning of these ships was an extraordinary measure taken during the periods of political crises of 1878 and 1904–1905.
Auxiliary cruisers, which were used in 1904–1905, were specially constructed or reconstructed as ships of "double destination":
ocean liners at the times of peace and cruisers during war. Most of them were officially classified as cruisers and auxiliary cruisers and belonged to the
Baltic Fleet (but two).
Rossiya \ «Россия», Cruiser (1868; ex-German liner Holsatia) - Purchased 1878, delivered to
Dobroflot 1878, purchased by Navy and commissioned as Training vessel Dnestr \ «Днестр» 1894, hulked 1910.
Moskva \ «Москва», Cruiser (1866; ex-German liner Hammonia) - Purchased 1878, delivered to
Dobroflot as Moskva 1 1878, wrecked 1882
Peterburg \ «Петербург», Cruiser (1870; ex-German liner Thuringia) - Purchased 1878, delivered to
Dobroflot as Peterburg 1 1878, purchased by Navy and commissioned as Training vessel Berezan‘ \ «Березань» 1893, Transport 1909, floating workshop 1916, submarine base 1921, BU 1931
Asia \ «Азия», Cruiser (1874; ex-American liner Columbus) - Purchased 1878, served at
Far East and
Mediterranean Sea 1879–1882, Cruiser of 2nd Rank 1892, reconstruct to coal transport in early 1900s (decade), decommissioned 1911, renamed Kaukas October 1912, recommissioned as Asia September 1914, laid up 1918, BU 1923
Afrika \ «Африка», Cruiser (1877; ex-American liner Saratoga) - Purchased 1878, served
Far East 1879–1882, Cruiser of 2nd Rank 1892, equipped by radio station (first of the Russian Navy) 1897, Training vessel and divers' base 1906, laid up 1918, BU 1923
Evropa \ «Европа», Cruiser (1878; ex-American liner State of California) - Purchased 1878, operated at
Far East 1879–1880, delivered to
Dobroflot 1885, renamed Yaroslavl‘ 2 \ «Ярославль (2)», captured by Finland 1918
Hospital ship Moskva (1898), former naval transport Angara (in fact — auxiliary cruiser) in
Port Arthur, 1904.
Kuban‘ \ «Кубань», Auxiliary Cruiser (1889; ex-German liner Auguste Victoria, ex-Augusta Victoria, ex-Normannia) - Purchased 1904, decommissioned 1906, BU 1907
Don \ «Дон», Auxiliary Cruiser (1891; ex-German liner Fürst Bismarck) - Purchased 1904, sold to
Dobroflot 1906 as Moskva 4 \ «Москва (4)», resold to Austrian Navy and converted to submarines' base Gaa 1909, seized by Italy 1919, reconstructed as liner San Giusto, BU 1924
Ural \ «Урал», Auxiliary Cruiser (1890; ex-German liner Kaiserin Maria Theresia, ex-Spree) - Purchased 1904, sunk at the
Battle of Tsushima 1905
Dnepr \ «Днепр», Auxiliary Cruiser (1894; ex-
Dobroflot liner Peterburg 2 \ «Петербург (2)») - Commissioned 1904, returned to Dobroflot 1905 and served under the old name, commissioned 1914 as transport Don \ «Дон», captured by Germany 1918, captured by Britain 1918, delivered to
White Army 1919, interned by France at
Bizerte 1920, sold for BU 1922
Rion \ «Рион», Auxiliary Cruiser (1901; ex-
Dobroflot liner Smolensk \ «Смоленск») - Commissioned 1904, returned to Dobroflot 1905 and served under the old name, commissioned as Training vessel Rion 1913, Transport 1914, captured by
White Army 1919, interned by France in
Bizerte 1920, returned to Soviet Russia 1924 and sold for BU
Rus‘ \ «Русь», Auxiliary Cruiser (1887; ex-German liner Lahn) - Purchased 1904 and reconstruct as balloon-carrying ship, sold for BU 1906
Oriol \ «Орёл», Auxiliary Cruiser (1909; ex-
Dobroflot liner Oriol 2) - Commissioned to
Siberian Flotilla 1914, used as training vessel, captured by
White Army 1918, returned to Dobroflot 1920, sold to Britain 1922, renamed Silvia, BU 1950
Leitenant Dadymov \ «Лейтенант Дадымов», Auxiliary Cruiser (?; ex-Boundary Guard's vessel) - Mobilized to
Siberian Flotilla 1914, laid up 1918, captured by
White Army 1918, sank 1922
NOTE: There were some other
Dobroflot liners used in the Navy during the
Russo-Japanese War, but they were classified as transports.
Cruisers of the Soviet and modern Russian Navy
Light cruisers
The Russian class abbreviation is KRL, that also is used as prefix, for example: KRL Sverdlov or TRKR Piotr Velikii.</ref>)
Legkiy kreiser \ «лёгкий крейсер» (КРЛ).
Cruiser Chervona Ukraina (1915), Black Sea, 1930s
Svetlana class (8 units, commissioned 3). Laid up as far back as in Imperial Russia, but were not completed due to the Revolution and Civil war. Three of them were completed in Soviet Union. Belonged to the
Black Sea Fleet (Profintern – to the
Baltic Fleet until 1930).
Profintern \ «Профинтерн» (ex-
Svetlana \ «Светлана», renamed 1925) (1915) - Transferred to the
Black Sea Fleet 1929–1930, renamed
Krasnyi Krym \ «Красный Крым» 1939, Training cruiser 1954, BU 1959.
Guards cruiser since 1942.
Admiral Butakov \ «Адмирал Бутаков» (1916) - Non completed, laid up 1917, sunk 1942, BU 1952
Admiral Spiridov \ «Адмирал Спиридов» (1916) - Completed as tanker Grozneft‘ \ «Грознефть» 1926, BU 1952
Krasnyi Kavkaz \ «Красный Кавказ» (ex-
Admiral Lazarev \ «Адмирал Лазарев») (1916) - Training cruiser 1947, sunk as target 1952.
Guards cruiser since 1942.
Admiral Kornilov \ «Адмирал Корнилов» (1917) - Non completed, BU 1932
Admiral Istomin \ «Адмирал Истомин» - Non completed, BU on slip 1927
Cruiser Voroshilov (1937).
Sevastopol, June 20, 1941 (two days before the war)
Kirov class (Project 26 and 26-bis) (6 units). These cruisers were classified as light, but possessed 7-inch main calibre (making them heavy cruisers under the original definition of a heavy cruiser as a ship no more than 10,000 long tons with a main battery of more than 6.1-inch (155mm) but no more than 8-inch (203.4mm))
Project 26 (Kirov subclass) (2 units)
Kirov \ «Киров» (1936
Baltic Fleet) - Damaged by air bombs in 1941 & 1942, repaired 1943, decommissioned 1974
Voroshilov \ «Ворошилов» (1937
Black Sea Fleet) - Reconstructed as Project 33M experimental vessel 1963, BU 1970s
Zhelezniakov \ «Железняков» (1941) - Completed according to Project 68K 1950, training cruiser 1961, decommissioned 1975
Chkalov \ «Чкалов» (1947) - Completed according to Project 68K 1950, training cruiser Komsomolets \ «Комсомолец» 1958, decommissioned 1979
Frunze \ «Фрунзе» (1940) - Completed according to Project 68K 1950, Training cruiser 1958, decommissioned 1960
Ordzhonikidze \ «Орджоникидзе» - Blown up on slip 1941 to prevent capture, BU by Germans until 1943
Sverdlov \ «Свердлов» - Blown up on slip 1941 to prevent capture, BU by Germans until 1943
Murmansk \ «Мурманск» (1921; ex-American
Milwaukee) - Delivered from U.S.A. on account of reparations from Italy 1944, returned to US 1947 (instead of Emanuele Filiberto Duca d'Aosta), BU 1949
Admiral Makarov \ «Адмирал Макаров» (1934; ex-German
Nürnberg) - Accepted by USSR according to reparations from Germany 1946, training cruiser 1957, decommissioned 1959
Kerch‘ \ «Керчь» (1934; ex-Italian
Emanuele Filiberto Duca d'Aosta - Accepted by USSR according to reparations from Italy 1949, training cruiser 1956, decommissioned 1959
Admiral Ushakov \ «Адмирал Ушаков» (1951) - Laid up 1964, recommissioned and modernized (project 68A) 1971, laid up 1983, decommissioned 1987 and sold for BU
Admiral Lazarev \ «Адмирал Лазарев» (1952) - Laid up 1963, decommissioned 1986 and sold for BU
Dzerzhinsky \ «Дзержинский» (1952) - Modernized AA Missile Cruiser (project 70E) 1958, training cruiser 1951, laid up 1980, decommissioned 1988 and sold for BU
Admiral Seniavin \ «Адмирал Сенявин» (1952) - Rebuilt to staff ship (project 68U-2) 1972, decommissioned 1989 and sold for BU
Mikhail Kutuzov \ «Михаил Кутузов» (1952) - Modernized (project 68A) 1989, laid up 1990, museum ship in
Sevastopol 2002
Aleksandr Suvorov \ «Александр Суворов» (1953) - Laid up 1986, decommissioned 1989 and sold for BU
Dmitrii Pozharskii \ «Дмитрий Пожарский» (1953) - Laid up 1979, decommissioned 1987 and sold for BU
Molotovsk \ «Молотовск» (1954) - Renamed Oktyabrskaya Revolutsia \ «Октябрьская Революуия» 1957, laid up 1960, recommissioned 1965, modernized (project 68A) 1969, decommissioned 1987 and sold for BU
Murmansk \ «Мурманск» (1955) - Laid up 1989, decommissioned 1992, grounded at
Sørvær in Norway when towing for BU 1994. Scrapped in situ 2013.[4]
Koz‘ma Minin \ «Козьма Минин» (Arkhangel‘sk \ «Архангельск») (1953) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Dmitrii Donskoi \ «Дмитрий Донской» (Vladivostok \ «Владивосток») (1953) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Kronstadt \ «Кронштадт» (1954) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Scherbakov \ «Щербаков» (1954) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Admiral Kornilov \ «Адмрал Корнилов» (1954) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Tallin \ «Таллин» (1955) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Varyag \ «Варяг» (1956) - Project 68bis-ZIF, non completed, BU 1959
Heavy cruisers (TKR)
Tyazhelyi kreiser \ «тяжёлый крейсер» (ТКР). Prior to and during the Second World War, the Soviet Navy attempted to procure heavier cruiser types, including two different battlecruiser designs. Despite these attempts, not one ship of these types was commissioned into Soviet Navy.
Petropavlovsk \ «Петропавловск» (1939; ex-German
Lützow) - Purchased being non-completed 1940, participated in the
Battle for Leningrad (1941–1944) as floating 8-inch battery, damaged by shells 1941, refloated and repaired 1942, reformed to training vessel 1953, BU 1960
Kynda or Groznyy (Project 58) class (4 units). Classified as destroyers until 1962, this reason «destroyers'» names were replaced by «cruisers'» (but Groznyy)
Groznyy \ «Грозный» (1961) - Decommissioned 1991, BU 1993
Admiral Zozulya \ «Адмирал Зозуля» (1965) - Decommissioned 1994 and BU
Vize-Admiral Drozd \ «Вице-адмирал Дрозд» (1966) - Decommissioned 1990, sank when towing for BU 1992
Vladivostok \ «Владивосток» (1966) - Decommissioned 1991 and sold for BU
Sevastopol \ «Севастополь» (1967) - Decommissioned 1989, BU 1991
NOTE: Large antisubmarine ships of Project 1134A (NATO codename Kresta II) and Project 1134B (Kara) never classified as cruisers in the Soviet Navy, nor were cruisers in reality: it was a type of large frigates (due to arming of antisubmarine torpedo-missiles).
Guided missile cruiser Chervona Ukraina underway en route to the Pacific Ocean from the Black Sea. 1990
Protivolodochnyi kreiser \ «противолодочный крейсер» (ПКР). Helicopter-carrying cruisers. Ships were purposed to searching and destroying opponent's guided missile and multi-purpose submarines at the remote boundaries of antisubmarine defence, consisting of ships' squadrons and cooperating with other antisubmarine ships and aircraft.
Moskva \ «Москва» - Decommissioned 1995 and sold for BU
Leningrad \ «Ленинград» - Decommissioned 1991, sank when towing for BU 1994
Heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers (TAKR)
Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Minsk. 1983
Tyazhelyi avianesushchii kreiser \ «тяжёлый авианесущий крейсер» (ТАКР). Ships were purposed to air cover of patrol regions of Soviet ballistic missile submarines (to destroy opponent's antisubmarine helicopters and airplanes), as well as searching and destroying opponent's guided missile & multi-purpose submarines and (3rd purpose) to striking the opponent's above-water ships by guided missiles, consisting of ships' squadrons and cooperating with other fleets' forces. Despite the superficial resemblance, they were not aircraft carriers in that sense, in which this term is applicable to American and British carriers. They were not intended to be the main shock force of the Navy, but only a part of own strategic submarines' defense system (first three units). Fourth ship really became a large training base for fifth, her aircraft (Yak-141) was not completed and she remained with helicopters only, i.e. as antisubmarine cruiser. Fifth unit (and uncompleted sixth) were designed as ships of transitional type, and only seventh, non-completed nuclear Ulyanovsk, although classified officially to cruisers, could become a first Russian relatively full aircraft carrier.[5]
Kiev (Project 1143) class (3 units). Classified originally as Antisubmarine Aircraft-Carrying Cruisers, since 1977 (most part of their career) – to Heavy Aircraft-carrying Cruisers, since 1991 (after decommissioning of their Yak-38 aircraft) — to Heavy Helicopter-carrying Cruisers.
Kiev \ «Киев» (1972) - Decommissioned 1993, sold for BU to China 2000, resold and became a part of military theme park in
Tianjin (2003)
Minsk \ «Минск» (1975) - Decommissioned 1993, sold for BU to South Korea, resold and became a part of military theme park in
Shenzhen (2003)
Novorossiysk (1978) (Project 1143.3) \ «Новороссийск» - Laid up 1991, decommissioned 1993, sold for BU 1994 to South Korea
Baku \ «Баку» (1982) (Project 1143.4) - Renamed
Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Gorshkov \ «Адмирал Флота Советского Союза Горшков» (non-officially Admiral Gorshkov, unceremoniously — Gorshok) 1991, burnt 1993 & 1994, laid up 1996, sold to India and renamed
INS Vikramaditya 2004
Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov underway south of Italy. 1991
Venture \ «Вентюр» (1899, ex-steamer) - Mobilized by
White Army at
Caspian Sea 1918, voluntary joined
Red Army and renamed Avstraliya \ «Австралия» (later Bela Kun \ «Бела Кун») 1920, decommissioned 1920
Aga Selim \ «Ага Селим» (1897; ex-tanker) - Mobilized at
Caspian Sea 1918, renamed Rosa Luxemburg \ «Роза Люксембург» 1919, decommissioned 1926
Pushkin \ «Пушкин» (1893; ex-steamer) - Mobilized by
White Army at
Caspian Sea 1919, captured 1920, renamed Sovetskii Azerbaydzhan \ «Советский Азербайджан», decommissioned 1921
Ivan Susanin \ «Иван Сусанин» (1899; ex-Canadian ice-breaker Minto, purchased by Imperial Russi) - Mobilized at
White Sea 1920, decommissioned 1920, renamed Leitenant Dreyer \ «Лейтенант Дрейер» 1920, wrecked 1922
Kanada \ «Канада» (1909; ex-Canadian ice-breaker Earl Grey, purchased by Imperial Russia) - Mobilized at
White Sea 1920, renamed Tretii Internatsional \ «Третий Интернационал», decommissioned 1921, renamed Fyodor Litke \ «Фёдор Литке», BU 1958
Kniaz‘ Pozarskii \ «Князь Пожарский» (1916; ex-ice-breaker) - Mobilized at
White Sea 1920, renamed Leitenant Schmidt \ «Лейтенант Шмидт», decommissioned and renamed Stepan Makarov \ «Степан Макаров» 1921, sank 1941
Indigirka \ «Индигирка» (1886; ex-
Dobroflot steamer Tsinanfu \ «Цинанфу») - Mobilized at
Far East 1923, decommissioned 1933
Oleg \ «Олег» (1896; ex-steamer Pronto) - Mobilized at
Far East 1922, decommissioned 1923, BU 1951
Stavropol‘ \ «Ставрополь» (1907; ex-
Dobroflot steamer Kotik \ «Котик») - Mobilized at
Far East 1922, decommissioned 1923, renamed Voroshilovsk \ «Ворошиловск» 1935, BU 1951
Mikoyan \ «Микоян» (1935; ex-ice-breaker O. Yu. Shmidt \ «О. Ю. Шмидт») - Mobilized in June 1941, decommissioned in November 1941 and returned to ice-breakers class, renamed A. Mikoyan \ «А. Микоян», transferred from
Black Sea to
Arkhangelsk 1941–1942
^Smirnov G., Smirnov V. Istoriya sozdaniya i sluzby pervykh bronenosnykh kreiserov (russkikh i angliyskikh) //
"Modelist-Konstruktor" (The history of creation and service of first armoured cruisers (Russian & English)). Moiseev (ref. № 1), p. 15.
^Vinogradov S. E. "Izmail" — sverhdrednout Rossiyskoy imperii // "Morskaya kollektsiya", 2001, № 1 (Izmail — super-dreadnought of Russian Empire)
^Pavlov A. S. Dlinnaya ruka admirala Gorshkova. Yakutsk, 2000. (Admiral Gorshkov's long arm) (concerning the 1143.4). Pavlov A. S. Rozhdeniye i gibel' sed'mogo avianostsa. - Yakutsk, 2000. (Generation and corruption of the seventh aircraft carrier).
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