This is something I once decided to do, or more like a general essay of soviet carrier projects. I did actually manage to the "part I" where I covered some of the pre-and WWII era designs but since then I've come up with alot of new information and undestandment over these projects. And this was years ago. Before Shipbucket didn't even exist. I always knew I will return to the matter with my new hobby and here it is: attempt to visualise these facinating projects. This time I decided to focus mainly on the images and leave the in-depth analyses to those with more knowlidge and writing skills.
NOTE: These drawings are based on the existing images, inturperations and scethes of soviet carrier projects. I've made some artistical adjustments and standarlised some equipment and weaponry fits. All together as these projects were "never-wheres" one shouldn't get too exited on their authentity.
So here is Part I.
![[ img ]](http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc316/Novgorodsfleet/CVPr71.png)
Project 71 emerged soon after soviets introduced carriers into their naval building program in 1938. The orginal plan didn't specify any dedicated carrier projects but soon after a TTZ was issued for light carrier with about 13 000ton displacement and 40 aircrafts. Orginal armament fit was 3 dual 130mm guns, 8 dual 100mm guns and 4 quad 37mm AA guns. Eventually the armament was reduced to 8 single 100mm guns and 4 quad 37mm guns. The hull and machinery was based on the pr. 68 Chapaev class light cruisers being build at the moment. The design was abbandoned at the outbreak of WWII.
![[ img ]](http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc316/Novgorodsfleet/CVPr72.png)
Project 72 was studied in 1944-45 and in most sources it is mentioned at least two variants of this project, one showed here with displacement and size of roughly the same as UK Illusrious class and another one considerably larger with approx. 62 aircrafts and diplacement of over 30 000 tons. The variant showed here features 8 dual 130mm guns, 8 dual 85mm guns and 8 dual 37mm AA guns.
![[ img ]](http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc316/Novgorodsfleet/CVPrKostromitinov.png)
Project Kostromitinov is one of the most interesting, yet least known of all the carrier projects. It's a study of Leutenant Kostromitinov, who studied the concept of German carrier Graf Zeppelin. The design bears similarities to the german projectalbeit it's much larger, 300m full lenght and over 50 000 tons full load displacement. Armament was 8 twin 152mm casemant mounts, 4 tripple and 6 twin 100mm guns and 8 quad 37mm guns. 66 fighters and 40 bombers were to be carried.
![[ img ]](http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc316/Novgorodsfleet/CVPr69AV.png)
Project 69AV dates imidiate post-war era, 1945-46 when it was studied wheter the incomplete heavy cruiser pr.69 Kronstad could be able to modified as a aircraft carrier. 76 aircrafts were intended and armament consisted 8 dual 130mm guns and 16 dual 37mm AA guns.