A later flagship title did not erase the role for which the Slavas had been designed and supported. As nuclear battlecruisers left service and Russia retained only one carrier, the class inherited duties that the Soviet system had prepared other ships to perform. Its capabilities overlapped with those of numerous cruisers, so the program had lacked a unique mission and first claim on engineers, weapons, or upgrades. The backup's imposing size and armament could therefore coexist with serious maintenance shortcomings once it became the principal surface combatant.
Chapter · 12:13-15:11
Flagship duties outgrew the backup's maintenance priority
Once carriers and most Kirovs became unavailable, Slava-class cruisers inherited flagship status without having received the engineering attention, equipment priority, or upkeep expected of the original prestige ships.