Kirov Airship

**Key Features** | »*"BOR-57 Grom"* 1500kg bomb payload»Self-sealing flame-resistant envelope»Magnetic generator (replaces Gastroburner chemical dispenser)»Luxurious lounge and kitchenette»Intimidating *"Shark-Tooth"* paint job

*"Kirov reporting!"*

- Kirov Airship captain

## Tactical Analysis

* **Luxury at a premium**: Kirov Airships are new and in high demand, and therefore in short supply. While increasing numbers of Soviet airbases are being given authority to manufacture these dirigibles locally, this process is time-consuming and expensive. And while no Kirov has ever been shot down according to official (Soviet) records, it is often theorised that the hydrogen gas within the Kirov's envelope would likely ignite catastrophically in the unlikely event one should ever fail

* **Limitless bombs**: In spite of the huge size of the Kirov, it fits only a small number of individuals. Although it could conceivably carry hundreds of passengers, it instead holds thousands of bombs -- more than enough for any single battle. In addition, a 105mm turret-mounted cannon has been retrofitted to all Kirovs post-war. With results have shown a significant increase in the number of vehicles killed as a result of the upgrade.

* **Opposites repel**: After some post war reports. All Kirovs had their ineffective in hindsight gastroburners replaced with a generator that creates a heavy electrical field as a “shield” that destroys almost every incoming attack, trading speed for even more durability. Unfortunately the Kirov can only activate for a few seconds, as any longer could potentially shut down the Kirov, and has a long cooldown between use.

* **Explosive Potential**: Recently a few Kirovs are starting to be retrofitted with a cyclotron Megablaster, replacing its bomb bays, to test, reporting a much better bombardment range and higher accuracy against fast targets.

## WWIII Operational History

*"Aw... look, is that your house?"*

-A Kirov captain, about to destroy another target
 File:KirovArtwork.jpg  The unprecedented new **Kirov Airship** symbolizes the Soviet military's sheer size, strength, steadfastness, and, some might say, its propensity for excess. Named for its maiden launch over Kirov oblast, this dirigible is specially-built for war. A rigid, unbreakable frame and heavy-duty envelope make the massive vessel virtually indestructible, and its oversized cargo hold packs thousands of armour-piercing bombs, while an industrial-strength engine block and manoeuvre props somehow keep the thing aloft.

By contrast with some other more-conventional Soviet forces, no expense was spared in either the design or the manufacture of these flying behemoths. Krasna Aerospace introduced the Kirov into the Union's arsenal only two years ago, and already it has changed the way modern air combat is waged, while silencing critics who once accused Krasna's past success with its Twinblade gunship to be a one-time fluke.

Given its pure role as a heavy bomber, the Kirov's only real shortcoming is its inarguable lack of speed -- a problem that is partly resolved by the Kirov's posh living quarters and spectacular panoramic viewports, which let their prestigious pilot-bombardiers blissfully pass the time while their aircraft steadily trudge along toward their unfortunate targets.

 File:Early Kirov Airship.jpg  Along the way, Kirovs are able to simply shrug off most anti-aircraft fire, including attacks from enemy fighters. It is true, though, that Kirovs have no means of retaliating against enemy aircraft, so the Union does tend to send escort fighters of her own to watch over each mighty vessel, just in case. Further, Krasna Aerospace has equipped this year's Kirov models with special fuel injectors that provide the airship with a significant burst of speed, though this is used sparingly for safety reasons.

Of course, the greatest safety concern lies with the Kirov's enemies. Even but one such gigantic vessel has within it the capacity to bring ruin to an entire military installation or enemy armour division. As if this weren't enough, recent reports claim that the Soviet Union is now exploring new ways of mass-producing Kirovs in an offshore plant, while fitting them with even more powerful munitions. Such reports may well be false. For example, there is simply no physical way a Kirov could be built from a Soviet war factory, despite insistent speculation that one of these tank plants -- so common on the Soviet front -- has within it the capacity to launch aircraft.

Predictably, Kirov Airships are flown only by the most decorated Soviet officers with years of good political standing, who enjoy lavish accommodations and fine dining inside the Kirov's 200-square-metre living quarters. Even so, stories abound about the ruthlessness of Kirov pilot-bombardiers, who -- if the psychological profiling is to be believed -- are so impatient for combat yet feel so removed from it that they tend to use their bombs with liberal, merciless abandon.

## Post War Operational History

 File:VM-SovietKirovAirship.png  Each Kirov Airship, as one might expect, is a tremendously expensive asset, constructed at a great cost in raw materials. Their bomb-carrying capacity gives them unrivalled destructive power, and the appearance of even one of these majestic zeppelins can terrify the bravest of soldiers. Naturally, given their expense and value to the Soviet military, the loss of a Kirov is a matter of no small import (especially since they are commonly portrayed as being invincible in Soviet propaganda).

After the war had ended and the Soviets began to count their losses, a review of the number of Kirovs downed during the war quickly led to a short and rather unpleasant phone call from the Kremlin to the Kirov assembly plant. Make sure another debacle like Brighton doesn't happen again, or else.

Eventually, it was determined that two of the biggest weaknesses with the Kirov was that it couldn't reliably hit moving targets. Though stationary buildings didn't stand a chance against the Kirov's massive bombload, anti-air vehicles such as Multigunner IFVs presented targets too small to hit accurately with the bombs--worse, they could just move out of the way before the zeppelin released its payload.

 File:Render69SovietKirovHeroic.png
Against such moving targets, another weapon would be needed--while suggestions to mount anti-tank missiles were considered and rejected, the solution that eventually won out was to mount a 155mm howitzer onto the Kirov. This retrofit would not be very costly or take up an unacceptable portion of the Kirov's payload capacity, so it was quickly approved and all Kirov airships have received the refit. Giving them a much better defence against vehicles.

The second problem was that it was simply too slow, even with its gastroburner. In fact, many analysts had noted that the gastroburners had actually contributed to 20% of Kirov crashes. This was due to the captain either using it to get to the battle faster, often with their Kirov massively damaged while in transit, or to retreat (whether command approved or not) but the damage they sustained was worsened by the gastroburners destroying their already falling apart frame, both instance damaging the Kirov while in use for a negligible speed boost, some captain had even refused to use it, either to not wanting to damage their ship or because they (rightfully in hindsight) felt it made no difference.

Thus, after the war, all remaining Kirovs had their gastroburner removed, moving them to the Mikoyan Barrage Balloon (as test shown actually works due to its smaller and lighter size and the lower compound requirement for the boost meant it won’t be damaged). And, after realising that the only way to fix the speed issue was to sacrifice its bombs and/or armour, instead replaced it with a previously rejected “electric shield” that would create an electrical field powerful enough to prematurely detonate incoming projectiles, previously rejected as tests had shown continuous use could potentially shut down the Kirov (but the solution, in hindsight, was to simply put a timer), with the gastroburners, initially, showing good results that the damage was considered worth it.

And when test results of the new Kirov proved to be a flying success, and regaining their prestige, Krasna have began to test trial a newer weapon. A “cyclotron Megablaster” (essentially a cyclotron gun upscale to a 155mm cannon) that is hoped to remedy the Kirov's lack of range and accuracy against faster targets. And tests has shown it to be a massive success that Krasna has started to retrofit all Kirov as fast as possible. However many Kirov captains, either veterans of WW2/3 or children who live hearing the tales of the mighty Kirov, refuse to switch out of pride. And those that do tend to realise the difference between propaganda and real life.

## Just the Stats

 **Armour Type** | Thick Skinned

 **Kill Reward** | 24000

 **DPS** | 50