Sovetsky Soyuz was the lead ship of the Project 23 class of battleships being constructed for the Soviet Navy. It was laid down under yard number S-299 on July 15, 1938, at the Sergo Ordzhonikidze Shipyard in Leningrad. As part of the "Big Fleet" construction program, the Soviet Navy was to be elevated to the level of the world’s leading naval powers, including the United States, Great Britain, and Japan. This decision was driven more by considerations of prestige than genuine strategic necessity. Nevertheless, since battleships were regarded as the primary striking force of a fleet at the time, they became the main focus of the program.

Developing the new ships required an enormous amount of design and experimental engineering work, particularly regarding the main-caliber artillery and the battleship’s survivability. However, construction deadlines were repeatedly postponed, and more and more revisions were introduced to the design and tactical and technical requirements. Additionally, many systems were ordered from other countries, including armor from Germany, structural components from the Netherlands, and the power plant from Great Britain, which complicated construction significantly. By the outbreak of war, only 69% of the technical documentation for Project 23 was complete. Construction of Sovetsky Soyuz halted when the ship was 19.4% complete, after the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War. After the war, the hull was dismantled for scrap.

The B-37 gun, which was built for testing purposes, was used to fire on advancing German troops from the NIMAP (Rzhev Proving Ground) during the war. Subsequently, it was used to test new shells and propellants. Today, it remains at the Rzhev Artillery Proving Ground as an exhibit.

Sovetsky Soyuz was introduced in Update 2.47 "Leviathans". This battleship has a powerful main battery with high-penetration shells and a large TNT payload. However, its anti-aircraft armament is weak, and it is less mobile than most of its contemporaries.