Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:14:36-1:14:40

Could the Kiev class pass the Turkish Straits as cruisers?

The tentative answer is yes because the Soviet ships were formally treated as cruisers, showing how legal classification affected carrier-like warships.

Kiev Class Aircraft CarriersMontreux ConventionSoviet NavyTurkish StraitsWarship Classification
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Question

Would the Kiev class have been allowed through the Dardanelles while formally classified as cruisers?

Short answer

Probably, because their official cruiser classification gave them a stronger basis for passage.

Notes

The answer is tentative: passage through the Dardanelles was probably possible because the Soviet classification described the Kiev class as cruisers. The exchange lasts only a few seconds. It cannot support a complete legal analysis of the Montreux regime. It does identify why the heavy aviation cruiser label had practical diplomatic value.