RUSSIA : ATOMIC MISSILE CRUISER TO BE LAUNCHED

(6 Oct 1995) Russian/Nat Russia is set to launch a new guided missile cruiser - Peter the Great - in early 1996. The cruiser has taken nine years to be devised and built and is part of Russia's response to Nato's expansion plans. Russia took nine years and millions of dollars to come up with a response to NATO's expansion plans: a formidable missile guided cruiser. Its name - Peter the Great, after Russia's giant 17th century Tsar, the founder of the Russian Navy - symbolises the new vessel's size and its purpose, to patrol Russia's vast coastline. The cruiser is capable of firing a salvo from its 20 nuclear strategic missiles at targets up to 10,000 kilometers away. Only America's Long Beach cruiser can match its firepower. The Long Beach was the world's first nuclear powered surface warship and the first warship to have a guided missile main battery. The Long Beach was launched 36 years ago and until today was uniquely envied by navies around the world. But Russia's Defense Ministry is hoping that the Peter the Great will bring back the prestige and authority the Soviet military once enjoyed. SOUNDBITE: Such a ship as the Peter the Great is a powerful weapon of Russia's foreign policy diplomacy. Ships have always performed this role by showing the flag, sailing to various hot spots. I think the Peter the Great will serve us on many occasions in this capacity, securing the success of Russia's foreign policy. SUPER CAPTION:Andrei Kokoshin, Russian Defence Minister Peter the Great is expected to begin active duty in the Pacific in early 1996. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...