Russian battlecruiser Admiral Lazarev

Admiral Lazarev (Адмирал Лазарев) is the second Kirov class battlecruiser. Until 1992 she was named Frunze (Фрунзе) after Bolshevik leader Mikhail Frunze; at that time she was renamed after Russian admiral Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev.

Construction and design
She was laid down on July 27, 1978 at Baltiysky Naval Shipyard, Leningrad, launched on May 26, 1981, and commissioned on October 31, 1984.

Differences from lead ship
Admiral Lazarev was constructed differently from the lead ship of the class. On the forward part of the ship, the twin SS-N-14 ASW missile launcher was replaced with 8 octuple SA-N-9 surface to air missile vertical launchers. On the aft part, a single twin AK-130 130mm gun, similar to the guns used on Slava and Sovremennyy, was used instead of two 100mm guns. Near the flight deck, the 30mm CIWS cannons were moved to the aft superstructure and replaced with 8 octuple SA-N-9 vertical launchers. There were also some differences in the sensors, ESM/ECM suite and communication systems.

Career
In December 1984 she joined the Soviet Navy's Pacific Fleet. The following summer she visited Luanda, Aden, and Vietnam.

In 1999 the cruiser was taken out of service and prepared for scrapping as no money was available for its overhaul. In 2004-2005 the cruiser's nuclear fuel was unloaded. As of 2009 it was reported that the ship is moored near Vladivostok, in conservation status. According to recent statements from the Russian Navy, it will be overhauled, extensively modernised and returned to active service, provided that the necessary funds are found.