After reviewing long series of projects the reader is already well placed to judge myself about some of the doctrines of the Soviet fleet development-related class cruisers. In brief these can be summarized in couple of words: universality and self-sufficiency. It is not surprising that in seeking to achieve these cornerstones in the end, there appeared a giant among modern missile ships – type “Kirov”. Another branch of “self-sufficient” combat units of the fleet of the Soviet Union became the cruiser-helicopter carrier “Moskva” and “Leningrad”, also very versatile ships. But they turned out to be only an intermediate on the way to the emergence of these monsters hybridization of aircraft carriers.
DEAD BRANCHES: WILL BE GREEN IF A TREE AGAIN?
After the complete defeat in 1898 in the war with the United States, Spain, once a great naval power, retreated far back and fell into a deep “hibernation”. Moral decline in society the worst way combined with political instability and severe financial problems. It is not surprising that to implement the first major of the marine program managed to start only after 10 years when the government has taken decisive action. Perhaps chief among these was the creation of the national shipbuilding company “Sociedad española de A. Nawal”, which was to revive the Spanish fleet. Good idea interfered with the traditional obstacle: lack of funds. And then the “noble dons” made good progress, offering to buy a quarter of all of the assets of British firms. “Investors” were going to as on selection — “Vickers”, “Armstrong” and “John brown”. Now the Spaniards were able to calculate not only English money but also to acquire new technologies and modern projects. They immediately thought that their country is washed by two seas, or rather, a sea and an ocean. Therefore, shipbuilding yards started in El Ferrol in the Atlantic in the North and Cartagena in the Mediterranean sea. And the British discovered so addicted now to their new friends, the secret folder with the drawings.
Speaking about the Austro-Hungarian Empire, historians experience a certain difficulty — classify or not to classify it among the great powers. On the one hand, the dual monarchy was noticeably inferior to the rest of the political monsters of Europe and the United States and economic and military power and influence. On the other — the successor of once one of the most significant European countries tried hard to maintain its own line in everything, including in shipbuilding. Unfortunately, the “patchwork monarchy”, as ironically called her neighbors, detractors over the motley Nations and autonomies, is not shining more resources to create the naval forces. In particular, this concerned the cruisers, even those of a purely defensive “fleet of coastal defense”, is not going to stick out beyond the Adriatic. 
The elephant-like “light” cruisers, such as “Mogami”, “Brooklyn” or “Belfast”, differ from hard only in the replacement of 8-inch artillery 6-inch, of course, perfectly suited for any combat missions. In General, a very worthy ships in all but one — the price. Miracles in shipbuilding does not happen: to the limit stuffed with weapons and equipment, 10-thousanders of the cost was off the charts beyond that available even to the wealthiest countries in the world. It was impossible to build in adequate to create a balanced fleet quantities, certainly not in peacetime. No Parliament or Congress has not approved such a budget, especially considering the smoldering since the first postwar years the economic crisis erupted, several setiausaha.
Gradually accelerates since the beginning of the “great war” in Europe, the US military machine required a constant feeding of “raw materials” — new projects and orders. Moreover, fighting constantly threw up new and new reasons. After not too successful performance in Norway and followed the fall of France, the evacuation of the British from Dunkirk, it became clear that any fleet in dire need of strong air cover, to ensure that staff pre-war anti-aircraft guns could not. The Americans wanted to solve the problem fundamentally, creating a six-inch anti-aircraft gun, arming her cruiser. It is clear that the new super-aircraft guns required a high rate of fire and good mobility, not to mention the obligatory fire control systems. “Project” has drawn many more millions and on for months — perfect for the military-industrial complex.
The remaining after the 1st World war, the main defeated, Germany was disadvantaged their opponents, as they say, in full. Not escaped the almost complete destruction of the German fleet. Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles in its composition could have only 6 battleships and the same old light cruisers. In order to completely humiliate Germany, this set of old were allowed to update only once expired service life, which for cruisers identified in 20 years. After this period, it was possible to build only units, not exceeding the displacement of 6000 tons.
The emergence of nuclear submarines dramatically changed the balance of forces at sea, not only between countries but also between classes of ships. Indeed, hunters submarines could easily reach speeds sufficient to prosecute his opponent in a submerged position. However, nuclear reactors combined with a new hull shapes were allowed to reach 30 knots and more, available to only the destroyers. Of course, followed by the construction of modern anti-submarine ships, but the advantage is pretty solidly moved to the sources of underwater threats. Lack of range of sonar allowed the submarines in time to escape a dangerous situation. However, as always in the history of arms, and they were equally unpleasant opponent. They became anti-submarine helicopter, which had a huge advantage in speed and the view from the height, especially when using the sonar reentry, which in this case does not prevent the noise of the screws.
A clear success with the development of missile cruisers of the “terrible”, in fact, the rocket ships of a new type, clearly required further development. However, before the “continuation of the Banquet” was a significant obstacle. We already talked about the fact that originally it was planned to build ten units, but the program rolled out to four. To a large extent this was due to the change in the direction of shipbuilding. Among the big surface ships in the first place came the anti-submarine cruiser, in fact a helicopter. In the absence of aircraft carriers even modest-sized “Moscow” and “Leningrad” at once were among the most valuable combat units. Of course, require additional care.
We have already told, how was the fate of the original program “atomization” of the U.S. Navy. In fact, the product became experimental single ships: one aircraft carrier -“enterprise” – and his escort: one large cruiser “long beach” and one small “Bainbridge”. Of course, the “experimentalism” and “odinochnoi” does not prevent them to be quite efficient units, but for the fleet-hegemony on the oceans of the world was not a noble, single, and the serial ships. Especially in large series the cost of even very expensive projects decreased significantly. Since the creation of a large-scale cruiser has become the dream of overseas admirals, which had to wait a few decades.
In the Soviet submarine fleet involved in the sea battles of the great Patriotic war were the submarines of the type “K”, obtained from our sailors affectionate name – “Katyusha”. It was a big ship, comparable in displacement with the largest submarines of Germany, France, USA and England.