RF Moscow

The Moscow, as seen in-game.

* Base
* Top

▪︎2 × 3M89 Palash (30 mm)

## Background History

The *Moscow* is a fictional battleship design that circulated within the Modern Warships community. The design was later on adopted and implemented into the game by the developers.

The design was made by a certain Jamison Cunningham, an Artstation artist.

Here is a link to the original design.

### Fictional, Fan Made, Backstory

**Credits to Thathsilu for composing this story.**

*Note that certain details may contradict with the in-game values, due to it staying true to the original publication.*

In an attempt to counter the ever-increasing threat posed by the West, the Soviet Union meticulously designed a battleship that featured a harmonious combination of practicality, durability, and firepower; thus marking the conceptualization of the Moscow-class.

The ships were armed with 305 millimeter (12 inch) main guns; and several smaller guns as secondaries.

But what made the ships formidable were its extensive missile artillery, anti-air defenses, and anti-submarine defenses. The ship boasted the firepower on par with the Kirov-class battlecruisers, whilst maintaining its signature battleship outlook.

The lead ship of the class, the *Moscow*, was commissioned 13 years before the inauguration of the Franco-Soviet War on December 19, 1991. The ship saw heavy fighting in the Mediterranean and Black Seas; having sunk multiple allied warships and convoys, repelled countless air attacks, and survived a wolfpack of hostile submarines.

The apex of the ship's career came along when it was deployed to the strait of Bosphorus along with its sister, the *Vladimir Ishkov*, to halt the impending Allied advance. The ship dueled against the Allies' most powerful warships at the middle of a dense fog, relying solely on Radar to track and target each other. The ship prevailed against and sank an American battleship and a French submarine, all whilst desperately zig-zagging at the perilously narrow waters, in an attempt to dodge shells and torpedoes. The *Moscow* survived with substantial damage, but the *Vladimir Ishkov* unfortunately sank.

During the war's conclusion on 1995, the ship was acquired by the French Navy on the 5th of June, renamed the FS La Pallice after the port of the same name, and served under the banner of France for the next 21 years.

The ship was decommissioned on the 16th of April, 2017; and was docked at her namesake's port of Port du La Pallice. She was converted into a luxurious 5-star hotel and museum ship.

## Overview

A ship built on the concept of a modern, missile-launching warship, and an old naval, multi-gunned battleship, the RF Moscow ("Moskva" in Russian) is a very powerful and highly deadly battleship. Armed with two 305mm guns, 4 secondary guns, and 6 new generation RBU-16000 grenade launchers, and 2 missile slots, the Moskva is essentially a floating fortress armed with a plethora of artillery. If armed and used correctly, the Moskva can rule over any battle using a combination of missiles and guns.

## Tactics

**Playing as a Moscow**

As a BB, Moscow has supreme firepower and hp. But, remember Unlike Aegis, Moscow is a defensive beast and the worst nightmare of CVs and Subs. So, don't go charging straight into enemies. It's greatest strength are it's almost impenetrable AAs and large arsenal of GL, hence Provide AA support and ASW to ur team and engage other BBs mostly at medium-long range. And avoid CQC duel with IJN Yamato and Aegis Yamato.

**Playing Alongside an allied Moscow**

Moscow is an exceptionally good ally for your team. So, you must protect and escort it to ensure victory. Provide long range support from enemy destroyers as those type of vessels is out it struggles with, help it get close to them as possible where it can effectively use it's massive amount of artillery to them.

**Playing against a Moscow**

As imposing as the Moscow be, it is not without weakness. Like any other BB, it struggles facing enemies at longer ranges. So, be ready to exploit it. It is especially true for Moscow as it is a GL Battleship. CVs and Subs beware of getting anywhere near this ship, as it's 10x AA would melt through any aircrafts and 6x RBU will make quick work of subs. Destroyers are in best position to counter this ship, as they can easily outrun it, mislead it's artilleries and sap away it's hp from long distances.

## Suggested Armaments

Missile #1: Zircon, SCALP

Missile #2: Zircon, SCALP

## Advantages and Disadvantages

### Advantages

* Has the capability of turning in place, unlike Missouri and Yamato.
* Has the highest amount of anti-air defenses in the game at 10 mounts in 3 slots, alongside with Type 001A Shandong.
* High Durability, reaching 455000 health when fully upgraded.
* Has access to the RBU-16000, unique only to this ship.

### Disadvantages

* Lackluster performance for its harrowingly high price.
* Poor main gun damage, when contrasted to Missouri and Yamato.
* Low secondary battery (the 122mm) gun accuracy and performance mainly due to it having a clip magazine.
* RBU-16000 has a long delay between shots, meaning it takes EVEN longer to get all of your damage potential out.
* Has only 2 missiles (Missouri also only has 2, but this is still on par with some tier 2 ships.

## Trivia

* The Moscow is one of the only 3 battleships in the game, the first and second being the IJN Yamato and USS Missouri.
* Ironically, there was a real-life version of the Moskva, which was a sister ship of Varyag. Moskva was the flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet. Ironically though, Moskva was supposedly sunk by to Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles, though the Russian government has declared her sinking as the cause of an onboard explosion from the ship's magazines.
* The Moscow is named after Russia's current capital, Moscow.
* 'Moskva' is Russian for Moscow.
* Moscow is one of the only 2 battleships to have a missile armament, the first being the USS Missouri.