 The design was reimagined in 1944, intended to operate along with the s and proposed aircraft carriers to make up powerful task forces able to challenge the American fleet.In this role it would need to be a more powerful ship than the original design, taking over for the now-cancelled "Kronstadt"s. They were intended to fend off enemy attacks and protect the carriers when bad weather prevented flying.A series of at least four were planned, and "Stalingrad" finally began construction in 1951.