Why the Soviet Navy became cruiser-centered

Cruisers became the Soviet Navy's principal large surface combatants before and after the Second World War because its planned battleships were never completed. Their continued construction helped keep British cruiser programs relevant and encouraged the United States to present Ticonderoga-class destroyer leaders as cruisers when facing a cruiser-heavy opponent. This was more than a naming exercise. Force planners often answer what an adversary actually builds because they may not fully understand the design's intended role. Project 68 therefore shows how one navy's procurement choices can shape rival fleets even without combat.