Soviet/Russian Battlecruiser Kirov/Admiral Ushakov Country: Russia Type: Battlecruiser Service: 1980 - 2001 Laid down: 27 March 1974 (as Kirov) Launched: 26 December 1977 Commissioned: 30 December 1980 Decommissioned: 2001 Fate: Scrapped 2003

Kirov, the lead ship of the four Kirov class of guided missile cruisers, was one of the largest surface warships of the navy of the USSR. Although commissioned as a missile cruiser, the size and weapons complement have given Kirov the unofficial designation of a battlecruiser. She was laid down in between June 1973 and March 1974 at the Baltiysky Naval Shipyard in Leningrad, launched on December 26, 1977 and commissioned on December 30, 1980, part of Soviet Northern Fleet. Kirov was placed in reserve in 1990 following a reactor accident. Kirov was renamed Admiral Ushakov in 1992. An overhaul was started in 1999 but the ship was written off in 2001 and slated to be dismantled in 2003.