Russia Navy to decommission Kirov class battlecruiser Pyotr Velikiy.

According to information published by Tass on July 14, 2023, Russia has decided to retire the heavyweight, nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky, after its counterpart, Admiral Nakhimov, successfully concludes its refurbishment and returns to service.
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Russian Kirov class battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov.(Picture source: Dzen)

The Pyotr Veliky's decommissioning will only commence once Admiral Nakhimov is fully operational. The majority of the Pyotr Veliky's crew has already transitioned to Admiral Nakhimov, in anticipation of its forthcoming delivery to the Navy.

The remaining crew members on the Pyotr Veliky are tasked with ensuring the battle cruiser's functional stability during this transition phase. This information, however, still awaits official validation.

Sevmash Shipyard's CEO, Mikhail Budnichenko said that sea trials for the renovated Admiral Nakhimov may kick-off in either December this year or May of the following year. Currently, in its final phase of restoration and modernization, the cruiser's refurbishment has engaged over 3,000 workers. Mooring tests are also simultaneously underway, as the ship prepares for the crew's accommodation.

Admiral Nakhimov has been undergoing renovations at the Sevmash Shipyard since 1999, with the real work starting in 2013. The cruiser's strike capabilities have been significantly enhanced through this upgrade.

It will now host 10 versatile shipborne launchers, capable of carrying eight Kalibr-NK and/or Oniks cruise missiles. Eventually, it is expected to be equipped with the Tsirkon hypersonic missiles.

The Pyotr Veliky, which proudly served as the flagship of the Russian Northern Fleet and held the distinction of being the world's largest surface combatant not classified as an aircraft carrier, recently celebrated 25 years of service.

Fitted with a nuclear power plant and missile armament, this mighty vessel, also known by its NATO reporting name 'Kirov class,' was primarily tasked with striking large surface targets and providing comprehensive air and anti-submarine warfare defense.

Technical data

The vessel displaces 24,300 tons under standard conditions, and 28,000 tons when fully loaded. Its length measures 252 meters, reducing to 230 meters at the waterline. The beam spans 28.5 meters, with a draft of 9.1 meters.

The ship's installed power is 140,000 shp, supported by a 2-shaft nuclear propulsion system with a steam turbine boost. It achieves a top speed of 32 knots. The range is 1,000 nautical miles at 30 knots using combined propulsion, but virtually unlimited at 20 knots using nuclear power.

The ship accommodates a total of 727 personnel, including an aircrew of 18 and a flag staff of 15. Sensors and processing systems include 3D search radars, navigation radars, SAM controls, and sonar systems.