The cruiser "Kirov" was commissioned in 1938 and became one of the most powerful ships of its class in the world. From the first day of the Great Patriotic War "Kirov" participated in the Battle of the Baltic Fleet - defended the Gulf of Riga and Tallinn, bombarding enemy positions, reflected the air raids. During the blockade, "Kirov" took a fighting position on the Neva River and was shooting at German troops. In the spring of 1942, during Operation Aysshtoss "(" ice blow "), when the Soviet ships frozen into the Neva ice, the German air force has made several direct hits bombs in the cruiser. In June 1944 "Kirov" fire main fire destroyed the bunkers and pillboxes "Mannerheim Line", providing ground troops of the Leningrad front in the Vyborg area.

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