Slava and Kirov divide Soviet flagship duties

The Slava and Kirov classes offer a concrete answer to the Soviet Union's different maritime theatres. Kirov is associated with flagship work in the North Atlantic and Pacific, where the larger hull and presence have greater value. Slava is presented as a more natural flagship for the Black Sea and, to an extent, the Baltic, while remaining capable of supporting the larger ships elsewhere. Comparing the pair to battlecruiser, heavy-cruiser, and light-cruiser layers shows why two contemporary designs could be more coherent than one universal Soviet cruiser.