File:Russian cruiser Marshal Ustinov and HMS St Albans MOD 45165059.jpg

English: HMS St Albans intercepts, escorts (and photographs) Russian Missile Cruiser The Marshall Ustinov through the Channel.

Aerial photograph taken from a Royal Navy Wildcat Helicopter of Russian cruiser Marshal Ustinov (Russian: Маршал Устинов) Marshal Ustinov is a Slava-class cruiser laid down in 1978, launched in April 1982 and commissioned in 1986.

The Russian name for the ship type is Gvardeysky Raketnyy Kreyser (GRKR), meaning "Guards Missile Cruiser". She is named after Dmitriy Ustinov, a former Soviet Minister of Defence.

Designed as a battle cruiser, the Slava Class is smaller and less expensive than other ships, which demonstrate similar capabilities. The design integrates the P-500 Bazalt missile, which is a conventional alternative to the missiles installed in the Kirov Class battle cruiser.

HMS St Albans, the sixteenth and last of the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates to be built, was launched on 6 May 2000. Constructed by BAE Systems at Scotstoun, she was delivered to the Royal Navy in November 2001.

HMS St Albans emerged from an extensive £25M refit late in 2014. She then returned to sea following a short maintenance period alongside in base port. Performance assessment trials ensured that the ship’s weapons, sensor and machinery systems were fully operational and correctly aligned.

• Organization: Royal Navy
• Object Name: MA180044092
• Category: MOD
• Supplemental Categories: Foreign Ships, Ships, Equipment, Russian
• Keywords: F83, HMS St Albans, Duke Class, Type 23, FFG, Frigate, Ship, Royal Navy, P-500 Bazalt missile, Battle Cruiser, Missile Cruiser, Intelligence, Slava-class cruiser, English Channel, Wildcat, Aerial, Fleet Air Arm, Home Waters, Soviet Navy, Wake, Terrain, Environment, Landscape, Scenery, Water, Ocean, Escort
• Country: At Sea