Project 66 and the Soviet heavy-cruiser debate

A reading from Stalin's Ocean-Going Fleet follows the 220 mm gun program and Project 66's effort to counter the Des Moines class without using an expensive battlecruiser. Kuznetsov revived the concept after returning to office because the 152 mm Project 68-bis cruisers were not considered a sufficient answer to the American rapid-firing 203 mm ships. The proposed cruiser nevertheless grew to roughly 26,000 tons, with construction planned across several Soviet yards. Naval review finally concluded that a ship of that size was not worthwhile for fighting American heavy cruisers, illustrating how a seemingly focused counter-design could expand beyond its mission.