Kiev and Kuznetsov: Russian Aircraft Carriers

The Kiev class aircraft carriers, or AVIONESUSCHIY KREYSER (Aviation Cruiser) were the first Soviet full flight deck carriers to be built. Originally the Kiev was referred to as merely another cruiser. Although technically there are four Kiev class vessels, in fact a more realistic sub-division would be three Kiev's and an improved Kiev. Effective January 1991 the improved Kiev, the Baku, was renamed the Admiral Gorshkov.
All Kiev's have a full missile cruisers' fitting of anti-air, anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons, mostly mounted on the forward portion on the ship. Her bow mounts a large underwater bulb containing the sonar. Aft there is a variable depth sonar which is deployed through doors in the centreline of the stern. Boat storage is in the rear hull under the flight deck.