There is a fantastic account of the Soviet Union's postwar work on the Cesare that can be found here:
https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2015/09/20/the-novorossiysk-mystery/
Had she not sank, I think the Novorossiysk might have soldiered on until the 1960s.
No. The Soviets realize what the Allied intention is from the outset. They pretend to "fall" for it, knowing full well that they'll use the West's attempt at manipulating them to actually boost their naval capabilities by recycling the poison pill ships into raw materials for subs, etc.
The plan seems diabolical. Stalin is likely to accept at least some ships, but will also look to get those that are in decent condition, since his big ship mania collides with mistrust of the Western powers. Having several battleships might influence Soviet naval development later on.
Historically Giulio Cesare wasn't in that great condition but Stalin still wanted it. CB Väinämöinen had not had a refit and was an odd one out, but Stalin still wanted it and actually accepted it as a payment. So Stalin is likely to accept any battleships he can get.
I think that if the USSR got all those old battleships, the Soviets wouldn't spend so much effort on Giulio Cesare. She was the most powerful of the Axis ships that the USSR got. If the modern Italian battleships are given to the USSR, then Cesare is much less attractive.
Not too attractive, I'm afraid. Pre-war shipbuilding programs were not carried out and post-war naval build up achieved nothing in terms of battleships/battlecruisers.No, having the ability to have battleships in all of the fleets will be too attractive.
Not too attractive, I'm afraid. Pre-war shipbuilding programs were not carried out and post-war naval build up achieved nothing in terms of battleships/battlecruisers.
I'm also very skeptical about Soviet government's willingness to spend monies on refits for various battleships. Julio Cesare was somewhat lucky in Black Sea Fleet, but Royal Sovereign was deprived of basic repairs let alone refits to the point of not being able to move main battery turrets.
Would have, should have... I find that one doubtful as well. By the time Stalingrad was cancelled, it was not even halfway done. In all probability, Stalingrad would end up like Kronstadt - delays here, distractions there, more delays, difficulties in production, you name it.Stalin's battlecruisers would have been completed if just enough time had been available. After all, construction of Stalingrad-class was begun in 1951!
Mind you the Stalingrads were the perfect ships to convert to missile ships assuming the Soviets were willing to cough up the cash and resources to complete them as suchWould have, should have... I find that one doubtful as well. By the time Stalingrad was cancelled, it was not even halfway done. In all probability, Stalingrad would end up like Kronstadt - delays here, distractions there, more delays, difficulties in production, you name it.
And no ships, of course - this seems to be a recurring theme.
Would have, should have... I find that one doubtful as well. By the time Stalingrad was cancelled, it was not even halfway done. In all probability, Stalingrad would end up like Kronstadt - delays here, distractions there, more delays, difficulties in production, you name it.
And no ships, of course - this seems to be a recurring theme.
I think the point was more that Stalin had such a throbber for boats with big guns that after WW2 while everyone else was running down their big ships he signed off on not just 30 new design cruisers and refitting their battleship several times a year, but also developing a new design 30cm gun with new design turrets to go on his new design battlecruisers, all while repeatedly overruling his entire naval staff who kept telling him all this was a waste of resources needed to rebuild the Rodina.Would have, should have... I find that one doubtful as well. By the time Stalingrad was cancelled, it was not even halfway done. In all probability, Stalingrad would end up like Kronstadt - delays here, distractions there, more delays, difficulties in production, you name it.
And no ships, of course - this seems to be a recurring theme.