Founded in 1696, but stemming from a tradition dating back to the seventh century, Russia's naval force has one of the most storied and remarkable military records in the world. Now, HISTORY provides a rare, inside look into the origins, development, and strength of THE RUSSIAN NAVY.

The modern Russian navy emerged virtually from scratch in the 1600s by Tsar Peter the Great. Then, in the eighteenth century, traditions grew through significant Russian Naval victories over the Swedes in 1721 and over the Turks in 1788--with the assistance of America's naval hero, John Paul Jones. Later, in the 1960s and 70's, the forceful and innovative leadership of Admiral Sergi Gorshkov created a fleet that threatened the United States and came close to tipping the balance of power during the Cold War.
Shot on location, and featuring rarely seen archival footage, this feature-length documentary offers a unique view of the vessels, the leaders, and the battles that helped shape the Russian Navy.

A Film by Monte Markham ; Produced by Perpetual Motion Films for The History Channel

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