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History & Modifications



Kirov:
Kirov was commissioned in the Baltic Fleet. On 1st December 1939 she bombarded Finnish shore guns at Hango and Russaro. In 1941, the catapult and aircraft were removed, two 3.9" guns were added. In 1942 three of the 45mm guns were replaced by five 57mm. In June 1941 she provided escort for minelayers based at Ust-Dvinsk, but was forced to move to Reval due to the German advance.

By August 1941, the German army was advancing on Reval, and on the 28th/29th of the month, Kirov was flagship of the evacuation fleet travelling to Leningrad.

On 4th April 1942 she was damaged in an air attack and was not repaired until 1943. By 1943 the armament was 9 x 7.1", 8 x 3.9", 10 x 37mm, 6 x 0.5" and 2 x 0.75" guns. In January 1944 she bombarded German positions around the Leningrad area. Her last action came in June 1944 when she attacked Viborg. Postwar, Kirov was used as a headquarters and training ship. She was stricken in December 1974.

Voroshilov:
Voroshilov was commissioned in the Black Sea Fleet. She bombarded Roumanian and German forces in June 941. On the 25th - 27th, she provided escort for a destroyer attack on Constanza. On 2nd November 1941, she was damaged by 2 bombs in an air attack on Nvorossisk.

She was towed to Poti for repairs, and was not operational until February 1942. In May she acted as a troop transport to reinforce Leningrad. In December she attacked merchant ships off Roumania and Bulgaria, but was damaged by several close explosions from mines.In 1943 the tertiary armament consisted of 3 x 45mm, 14 x 37mm and 8 x 0.5" guns.

Repaired, on 30th January 1944 she supported landings near Novorossisk, and saw her last action in October. In the 1960s she was converted to a trials ship and used in rocket launcher testing. She was scrapped in 1970.