This book examines how the types, numbers and designs of Russian warships were determined in the years preceding the two World Wars, with the three-way interplay of naval staff, naval designers and political leaders, resulting in fleets that contained some outstanding units but which were, on the whole, inappropriate to the tasks set by those wars. It also considers how under both Nicholas II and Stalin, foreign ideas were adopted with too little consideration of Russia's unique circumstances. Much of the research was based on now accessible Russian naval archives and there is also a plate section containing original photographs from the Russian archives.