Henrik N.

Russian Beauty: Sovetsky Soyuz 🇷🇺

Added 2025-08-10 07:52:34 +0000 UTC

Ah, yes.

The so-called "Soviet Union," or "Stalin's Republics." The ship that never came to be.

Historically, Sovetsky Soyuz was meant to be the lead ship of a new class of Soviet battleships planned in the late 1930s. She was part of Project 23, which was basically Stalin's attempt to give the USSR a true "big gun" navy to rival Britain, Japan, and the U.S.

The specs were rather ambitious—around 59,000 tons full load, nine 406 mm (16-inch) guns, thick armor comparable to the U.S. Iowa-class, and a top speed of roughly 28 knots. On paper, this would've made her one of the most powerful battleships in the world.

HOWEVER—!

Even before she was finished, she was already obsolete. By the time her keel was laid in 1938, naval warfare was shifting toward aircraft carriers. Add in the fact that the USSR's shipyards weren't experienced with building something that massive, and suddenly the whole project was already sailing towards the iceberg. The armor plating for her hull had to be imported from abroad—mostly Italy and Germany. Once WWII began, that supply vanished.

Only her hull was partially completed when the German invasion in 1941 stopped everything. The unfinished Sovetsky Soyuz was bombed, stripped for parts, and eventually scrapped without ever touching open water.

Thus, with all these historical tidbits laid out, it is now up to you to show some proper care and affection to "Mother Russia" when she's all dressed up for your eyes only and lying on your bed all hot and bothered, comrade Commander.

Желаю вам успеха! (I wish you success!)