Cruiser Mikhail Kutuzov

The cruiser Mikhail Kutuzov is a Project 68-bis light artillery cruiser, now a museum ship permanently moored at the Admiral Serebryakov embankment in the center of Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai. The ship stands by the Sea Terminal, next to Heroes Square, and operates as a branch of the Central Naval Museum.

History

The cruiser was laid down in February 1951 at the 61 Kommunara shipyard in Nikolaev. It was launched on 29 November 1952 and officially joined the Soviet Navy in December 1954. The ship was built to Project 68-bis (modification 68-A): displacement of 16,640 to 18,640 tons, length of about 210 meters, beam of 22-23 meters, and a top speed of up to 35 knots.

Mikhail Kutuzov was based in Sevastopol and served with the Black Sea Fleet for several decades. During that time it made 15 long voyages and covered more than 200,000 nautical miles. In May 1955 Ka-15 and Mi-1 shipborne helicopters were tested on its deck. In 1967 the cruiser was sent to assist the armed forces of Egypt, and in 1968 those of Syria. The ship was decommissioned on 3 July 1992.

According to accounts, the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin once visited the cruiser. Another story tells that during the filming of the movie Shore Leave (Uvolnenie na bereg), Vladimir Vysotsky performed for the crew.

What to see

Today Mikhail Kutuzov is a museum ship open to visitors right on the Novorossiysk embankment. Visitors climb to the upper deck with its main-caliber gun turrets, walk through officers' cabins and sailors' quarters, the wheelhouse with navigation equipment, and the engine room. On board there is an exhibition on the history of the Soviet Navy, as well as a display dedicated to the filming of a movie about sailors.

Getting there

The cruiser is moored by the Sea Terminal on the Admiral Serebryakov embankment, next to Heroes Square in the center of Novorossiysk. City buses No. 8m, 12m, 22m, or 30 run there, with a stop called "Ploshchad Geroev" (Heroes Square).