At the end of 1930 was created the program of building "Big Sea and ocean-going fleet," and started to create a line of Soviet ships intended for military operations in the commission of an enemy attack.One of the first models of these powerful ships called "Soviet Union."
Then battleship "Soviet Union" was seen as the main force of the Navy.Due to industrialization and technological progress, by the beginning of 1937 was completed the preparation of project number 23 - the battleship to the Pacific Fleet.However, further development and the planned laying of the first ships in Leningrad at the time did not take place.
period building such a powerful machine like the battleship "Soviet Union" coincided with the years of severe repression.He was arrested almost the entire design team responsible for the project: a team led by B. Chilikina, head of the design bureau B. Brzezinski, responsible for the project Vladimir Rimsky-Korsakov, the developer of ship power plants A. Speransky.They were replaced by other designers.
final draft of "Battleship" Soviet Union "" instead of the planned date of October 15, 1937 was approved only in the summer of 1939.According to the plan the cost of the first four ships at a time cost of 1.2 billion rubles.
When choosing the type of armament on the battleships "Soviet Union" were considered different options.It was planned that warships Project number 23 will be the big and powerful in the world.The project involved the complete displacement of the ship up to 65 thousand. Tons, maximum length - 741 meters with a width - 36.4 meters, draft - 10 meters.The presence of a powerful artillery armament, consisting of 9 guns caliber 406 mm, 12 - 152 mm caliber, 8 - 100 mm caliber.Small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery was presented artillery guns (anti-aircraft guns) of caliber 37 mm (40 pcs.) Machine guns and 12.7 mm, and catapults and CDF-1 seaplane.
special place was given to the armor of the ship.The armor protection was a complex structure of armor plates of different thicknesses.Attention was paid to the quality of their connection.Offers a variety of options: in a checkerboard pattern on the rivets in 3 rows, using a welding on the key.
The structure of the power plant consists of six boilers with a strong performance, each of 173 t / h of steam.Electric power system - of four turbo-generators and four diesel generators with a total capacity of 7800 kW.
According to the original plan, thanks to the high technical characteristics, as well as thought-mine protection and armor, battleships Project number 23 had to outperform all other battleships of World War II.Since bookmarks work on their construction were intensively, conducted experiments and tests.
beginning of the war was the end for the further development of the project "Battleship" Soviet Union "."During the war ships were partially dismantled, and at its end further completion were found to be inexpedient.There were suspended all work in accordance with the orders of the State Defense Committee.All available at the time the ships dismantled.
