Molotov's original aircraft catapult was removed to make room for additional light anti-aircraft weapons. The ship later received another catapult for an experiment with launching a Supermarine Spitfire. The trial tested whether cruiser aviation could be restored after wartime air-defense requirements displaced the original aircraft. This unusual British aircraft and Soviet cruiser combination shows that the ship's aviation fit remained open to experimentation.
Notable Point · 30:12-30:35
Molotov tests a catapult-launched Spitfire
After sacrificing her original catapult for light anti-aircraft guns, Molotov briefly tested whether a replacement could launch a Supermarine Spitfire.