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Rossia (1896)
Encyclopedia
Rossia was an armored cruiser
of the Imperial Russian Navy
built in the 1890s. She was designed as a long-range commerce raider
and served as such during the Russo-Japanese War
of 1904–05. She was based in Vladivostok
when the war broke out and made a number of sorties in search of Japanese shipping in the early months of the war without much success.
Rossia, along with the other armored cruisers of the Vladivostok Cruiser Squadron, attempted to rendezvous in the Strait of Tsushima with the main portion of the Pacific Fleet
sailing from Port Arthur in August 1904, but were delayed and had to return to port without them. They encountered a Japanese squadron of four armored cruisers between them and their base shortly after they turned around. The Japanese sank the oldest Russian ship, , and damaged Rossia and during the Battle off Ulsan
, but both Russian ships were repaired within two months.
After the end of the war Rossia returned to Kronstadt
where she underwent a three-year refit that strengthened her armament. She was fitted with mine rails
in 1914 and laid one minefield during World War I
that damaged two German light cruisers. She was reconstructed beginning in late 1915 to further strengthen her armament, but played no part during the rest of the war as her crew became involved in revolutionary activities in 1917. She was taken over by the Bolsheviks in late 1917, but was put into reserve in 1918 and sold for scrap in 1922.
of 68.6 feet (20.9 m) and a draught
of 26.2 feet (8 m). She displaced 12195 long tons (12,391 t), only 65 long tons (66 t) more than designed. Rossia was sheathed in wood and copper to reduce fouling
. She was considered to be a good sea boat with a smooth roll—attributable to her tumblehome
sides.
s provided steam for the engines. She could carry a maximum of 2200 long tons (2,235 t) of coal. This gave her a radius of action of 7740 nautical mile at 10 knots (5.4 m/s).
Pattern 1892 guns, one at each end of the ship on each side, sponson
ed out over the tumblehome of the ship's sides. They were protected by gun shield
s. The guns could be depressed to −5° and elevated to 18°. They fired 193.5 pounds (87.8 kg) projectiles at a muzzle velocity
of 2950 feet per second (899.2 m/s) which gave a range of 12000 yd (10,972.8 m) at 13° elevation.
Her secondary armament consisted of sixteen 6 inches (15 cm)/45 Pattern 1892 guns. One gun was mounted under the forecastle
and another in the stern; neither gun could fire to the side. The remaining guns were mounted in hull embrasure
s. In their pivot mounts the guns could depress to -6° and elevate to +20°. They fired 91.4 pounds (41.5 kg) Pattern 1907 high explosive projectiles at a muzzle velocity of 2600 feet per second (792.5 m/s). This gave a range of 12600 yd (11,521.4 m) at maximum elevation. Rossia carried 210 rounds per gun.
Defense against torpedo boat
s was provided by a variety of light-caliber weapons. Twelve 75 millimetres (3 in) Canet Pattern 1892 50-caliber guns were mounted in sponsons on the upper deck, protected by gun shields. The gun fired 10.8 pounds (4.9 kg) shells to a range of about 8600 yards (7,864 m) at its maximum elevation of 21° with a muzzle velocity of 2700 ft/s (823 m/s). The rate of fire was between twelve and fifteen rounds per minute.
A total of twenty 47 millimetres (1.9 in) Hotchkiss gun
s were carried. They fired a 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg) shell at a muzzle velocity of 1476 ft/s (449.9 m/s) at a rate of 20 rounds per minute to a range of 2020 yards (1,847.1 m). Eighteen 37 millimetres (1.5 in) Hotchkiss guns were also carried. They fired a 1.1 pound (0.498951607 kg) shell at a muzzle velocity of 1450 ft/s (442 m/s) at a rate of 20 rounds per minute to a range of 3038 yards (2,777.9 m).
Five above-water 15 inches (38 cm) torpedo tube
s were mounted. The exact type of torpedo
carried likely changed over Rossias lifetime: the original fifteen-inch Whitehead torpedo only had a maximum range of 440 yards (402.3 m) at a speed of 29 knots (15.8 m/s) and a 57 pounds (25.9 kg) warhead. These were later replaced by an improved model with two speed/range settings and a 141 pounds (64 kg) warhead. Its maximum range was 980 yards (896.1 m) at a speed of 25 knots (13.6 m/s).
which saved considerable weight over the steel armor used by Rurik for the same amount of protection. Her waterline belt
extended from the stern to 80 feet (24.4 m) short of the bow. It extended 4 inch above the waterline and 4 feet (1.2 m) below the waterline. It was 8 inches (203 mm) thick amidships, but reduced to six inches fore and abaft the machinery spaces and to 5 inches (13 cm) at the stern. The belt tapered to a thickness of 4 inches (10 cm) at its lower edge. It was closed off at the forward end by a 7 inches (18 cm) transverse bulkhead
. A protective 2.5–3 in (63.5–76.2 mm) deck
ran forward from the bulkhead to the bow. The main armored deck was 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick, but a five-inch glacis
projected above it to protect the tops of the engine cylinders. The conning tower
had walls 12 inches (30 cm) thick. The funnel uptakes were protected by 3 inches (7.6 cm) of armor between the lower and middle decks.
in Saint Petersburg
. Construction began in October 1893 although she was not formally laid down until 20 May 1895 and launched on 30 April 1896. After her launch, she was towed to Kronstadt
for fitting-out, but she was pushed onto a sandbar by a storm and required a month to free her. Rossia entered service in late 1896 and participated in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee
Fleet Review in June 1897 at Spithead
. She returned to Kronstadt to finish her trials before sailing for the Far East in October. She reached Nagasaki
, Japan
on 10 March 1898 and remained in the Pacific until the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War
in 1904.
of the Vladivostok
Cruiser Squadron under the overall command of Rear Admiral Karl Jessen
. The other ships in the squadron were the armored cruisers and as well as the protected cruiser
. The squadron made a number of sorties against Japanese shipping early in the war, but only one was reasonably successful when the Hitachi Maru, carrying eighteen 28 centimetres (11 in) siege howitzers and over 1000 troops intended for the siege of Port Arthur
, was sunk in June 1904. On an earlier sortie in May 1904 Rossia flew an observation balloon
off her quarterdeck
to (unsuccessfully) locate Japanese shipping; the first use of an aerial device by a warship on the high seas during a time of war.
. Admiral Jessen was ordered to rendezvous with them, but the order was delayed and his ships had to raise steam, so he did not sortie until the evening of 13 August. Bogatyr had been damaged earlier when she grounded and did not sail with the squadron. By dawn he had reached the island of Tsushima
in the Tsushima Strait
between Korea and Japan. He turned back for Vladivostok when he failed to see any ships from the Port Arthur squadron. 36 miles (58 km) north of the island he encountered the Japanese squadron commanded by Vice Admiral
Kamimura Hikonojō
tasked to patrol the Tsushima Strait. The Japanese force had four modern armored cruisers, , , , and . The two squadrons had passed during the night without spotting the other and each had reversed course around first light. This put the Japanese ships astride the Russian route to Vladivostok.
Admiral Jessen turned to the northeast when he spotted the Japanese at 5:00 a.m. and they followed suit, albeit on a slightly converging course. Both sides opened fire around 05:23 at a range of 8500 metres (9,295.7 yd). The Japanese ships concentrated their fire on Rurik, the rear ship of the Russian formation. She was hit fairly quickly and began to fall astern of the other two ships. Admiral Jessen turned southeast in an attempt to open the range, but this blinded the Russian gunners and prevented any of their broadside guns from bearing on the Japanese. About 06:00 Admiral Jessen turned 180° to starboard in an attempt to reach the Korean coast and to allow Rurik to rejoin the squadron. Admiral Kamimura followed suit around 06:10, but turned to port, which opened the range between the squadrons. Azuma developed engine problems around this time so the Japanese squadron slowed to conform with her best speed. Firing recommenced at 06:24 and Rurik was hit three times in the stern, flooding her steering compartment so that she had to be steered with her engines. Her speed continued to decrease, further exposing her to Japanese fire, and her steering jammed to port around 06:40.
Admiral Jessen made another 180° turn in an attempt to interpose his two ships between the Japanese and Rurik, but the latter ship suddenly turn to starboard and increased speed and passed between Jessen's ships and the Japanese. Admiral Kamimura turned 180° as well so that both squadrons were heading southeast on parallel courses, but Admiral Jessen quickly made another 180° turn so that they headed on opposing courses. Iwate was hit around this time which knocked out three six-inch and one twelve-pounder guns, killing 32 and wounding 43. The Japanese squadron opened the range again when it made a 180° another turn to port. The Russians reversed course for the third time around 07:45 in another attempt to support Rurik although Rossia was on fire herself. Her fires were extinguished about twenty minutes later. Admiral Kamimura circled Rurik to the south at 08:00 and allowed the other two Russian ships to get to his north and gave them an uncontested route to Vladivostok. Despite this, Admiral Jessen turned back once more at 08:15 and ordered Rurik to make her own way back to Vladivostok before turning north at his maximum speed, about 18 knots (9.8 m/s).
About this time Admiral Kamimura's two elderly protected cruisers, and were approaching from the south. Their arrival allowed Kamimura to pursue Jessen with all of his armored cruisers. They fought a running battle with the Russians for the next hour and a half; scoring enough hits on them to force their speed down to 15 knots (8.2 m/s). Azumas engines again broke down during this chase and she was replaced in the line by Tokiwa. The Japanese closed to a minimum of about 5000 metres (5,468.1 yd), but Admiral Kamimura then opened the range up to 6500 metres (7,108.5 yd).
About 10:00 Kamimura's gunnery officer erroneously informed him that Izumo had expended three-quarters of her ammunition and he turned back after a five-minute rapid-fire barrage. He did not wish to leave the Tsushima Strait unguarded and thought that he could expend his remaining ammunition on Rurik. By this time she had been sunk by Naniwa and Takachiho which had closed to 3000 metres (3,280.8 yd) of Rurik in order to finish her off. They had radioed Admiral Kamimura that she was sunk, but he did not receive the message. Shortly after the Japanese turned back Gromoboi and Rossia were forced to heave-to to make repairs.
Rossia suffered only 44 dead and 156 wounded; far less than Gromobois 87 dead and 170 wounded. This was attributable to Rossias captain's policy of ordering the gun crews for his quick-firing guns on the engaged side to lay down and those on the unengaged side to go below, in contrast to the other ship keeping her light guns manned at all times. Rossia had been hit nineteen times on the starboard side of her hull and nine on her port side, plus other hits in her funnels, boats and decks. She had half of her guns knocked out and a fire caused by the ignition of excess propellant charges. Despite this number of hits, she was not badly damaged because her waterline belt was not penetrated by any hit. She was repaired within two months by the rudimentary facilities available at Vladivostok. Rossia made no further effort to interfere with Japanese shipping during the war.
s were added on the upper deck, positioned on each side in the intervals between the main-deck six-inch guns. In addition the bow gun was moved to the upper deck to allow it to fire to each side. This increased the ship's broadside by four guns.
Rossia represented Russia at King George V's Coronation Fleet Review in June 1911. She departed Kronstadt in September 1912 for a training cruise to the Canaries
and the Virgin Islands
, returning to the Baltic
in time to visit Copenhagen
in March 1913 in company with the protected cruisers and . She left for another training cruise to the Azores
in September 1913 and was cruising in the Mediterranean in April 1914.
during World War I
. She was modified to serve as a fast minelayer
with a capacity of one hundred naval mine
s before the war. In January 1915 she laid a minefield in company with Oleg and Bogatyr between Kiel
and the Mecklenburg
coast that damaged the German light cruiser
s and . She was reconstructed beginning in October 1915 at Kronstadt to increase her armament. Her forecastle deck was removed as well as the fore and aft six-inch guns. They were replaced by two eight-inch guns mounted on the centerline forward and another pair was mounted on the quarterdeck
. These additions increased her broadside to six eight-inch, but only seven six-inch guns.
Rossias crew took an active part in the revolutionary movements in 1917 and came under control of the Soviet Red Fleet in September 1917.. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
required the Soviets to evacuate their base at Helsinki in March 1918 or have them interned by newly independent Finland
even though the Gulf of Finland
was still frozen over. Rossia sailed to Kronstadt in what became known as the 'Ice Voyage'
and was placed into reserve shortly after her arrival. She was sold to a German company for scrapping on 1 July 1922. While being towed to Germany, she grounded on the coast of Estonia
, but was subsequently towed to Kiel
and broken up.
Armored cruiser
The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like other types of cruiser, the armored cruiser was a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship, and fast enough to outrun any battleships it encountered.The first...
of the Imperial Russian Navy
Imperial Russian Navy
The Imperial Russian Navy refers to the Tsarist fleets prior to the February Revolution.-First Romanovs:Under Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich, construction of the first three-masted ship, actually built within Russia, was completed in 1636. It was built in Balakhna by Danish shipbuilders from Holstein...
built in the 1890s. She was designed as a long-range commerce raider
Commerce raiding
Commerce raiding or guerre de course is a form of naval warfare used to destroy or disrupt the logistics of an enemy on the open sea by attacking its merchant shipping, rather than engaging the combatants themselves or enforcing a blockade against them.Commerce raiding was heavily criticised by...
and served as such during the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
of 1904–05. She was based in Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
when the war broke out and made a number of sorties in search of Japanese shipping in the early months of the war without much success.
Rossia, along with the other armored cruisers of the Vladivostok Cruiser Squadron, attempted to rendezvous in the Strait of Tsushima with the main portion of the Pacific Fleet
Pacific Fleet (Russia)
The Pacific Fleet is the part of the Russian Navy that is stationed in the Pacific Ocean, which formerly secured the Far Eastern borders of the Soviet Union. The fleet headquarters is located at Vladivostok and a number of fleet bases are located in the Vladivostok area...
sailing from Port Arthur in August 1904, but were delayed and had to return to port without them. They encountered a Japanese squadron of four armored cruisers between them and their base shortly after they turned around. The Japanese sank the oldest Russian ship, , and damaged Rossia and during the Battle off Ulsan
Battle off Ulsan
The naval Battle off Ulsan , also known as the Battle of the Japanese Sea or Battle of the Korean Strait, took place on 14 August 1904 during the Russo-Japanese War, four days after the Battle of the Yellow Sea.-Background:The Vladivostok Cruiser Unit of the Russian fleet...
, but both Russian ships were repaired within two months.
After the end of the war Rossia returned to Kronstadt
Kronstadt
Kronstadt , also spelled Kronshtadt, Cronstadt |crown]]" and Stadt for "city"); is a municipal town in Kronshtadtsky District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia, located on Kotlin Island, west of Saint Petersburg proper near the head of the Gulf of Finland. Population: It is also...
where she underwent a three-year refit that strengthened her armament. She was fitted with mine rails
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
in 1914 and laid one minefield during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
that damaged two German light cruisers. She was reconstructed beginning in late 1915 to further strengthen her armament, but played no part during the rest of the war as her crew became involved in revolutionary activities in 1917. She was taken over by the Bolsheviks in late 1917, but was put into reserve in 1918 and sold for scrap in 1922.
Design
Rossia was originally intended to be a repeat of the armored cruiser , but the Director of the Naval Ministry wanted the armor to cover more of the ship's side. However the design went through a number of changes during late 1892 and early 1893 and incorporated a number of technological advances that had recently become available. One notable change was the deletion of Ruriks sailing rig.General characteristics
Rossia was 485 feet (147.8 m) long overall. She had a maximum beamBeam (nautical)
The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship , the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position...
of 68.6 feet (20.9 m) and a draught
Draft (hull)
The draft of a ship's hull is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull , with the thickness of the hull included; in the case of not being included the draft outline would be obtained...
of 26.2 feet (8 m). She displaced 12195 long tons (12,391 t), only 65 long tons (66 t) more than designed. Rossia was sheathed in wood and copper to reduce fouling
Biofouling
Biofouling or biological fouling is the undesirable accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or animals on wetted structures.-Impact:...
. She was considered to be a good sea boat with a smooth roll—attributable to her tumblehome
Tumblehome
In ship designing, the tumblehome is the narrowing of a ship's hull with greater distance above the water-line. Expressed more technically, it is present when the beam at the uppermost deck is less than the maximum beam of the vessel....
sides.
Propulsion
In an effort to extend her range, Rossia was built with an unusual machinery arrangement. One large vertical triple expansion (VTE) steam engine drove each of the outer propeller shafts while a small cruising VTE engine drove the center shaft. At full speed the center propeller had to be uncoupled as there was not enough steam to drive all three engines simultaneously; the outer propellers were uncoupled when cruising. The two main engines were designed for a total of 14500 ihp, but they developed 15523 ihp on trials and drove the ship to a maximum speed of 19.74 knots (10.7 m/s). The cruising engine developed 2500 ihp. Thirty-two Belleville water-tube boilerWater-tube boiler
A water tube boiler is a type of boiler in which water circulates in tubes heated externally by the fire. Fuel is burned inside the furnace, creating hot gas which heats water in the steam-generating tubes...
s provided steam for the engines. She could carry a maximum of 2200 long tons (2,235 t) of coal. This gave her a radius of action of 7740 nautical mile at 10 knots (5.4 m/s).
Armament
Rossias main armament consisted of four 8 inches (20 cm) 45-caliberCaliber (artillery)
In artillery, caliber or calibredifference in British English and American English spelling is the internal diameter of a gun barrel, or by extension a relative measure of the length....
Pattern 1892 guns, one at each end of the ship on each side, sponson
Sponson
Sponsons are projections from the sides of a watercraft, for protection, stability, or the mounting of equipment such as armaments or lifeboats, etc...
ed out over the tumblehome of the ship's sides. They were protected by gun shield
Gun shield
thumb|A [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine]] manning an [[M240 machine gun]] equipped with a gun shieldA gun shield is a flat piece or section of armor designed to be mounted on a crew-served weapon such as a machine gun or artillery piece, or, more rarely, to be used with an assault rifle...
s. The guns could be depressed to −5° and elevated to 18°. They fired 193.5 pounds (87.8 kg) projectiles at a muzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity is the speed a projectile has at the moment it leaves the muzzle of the gun. Muzzle velocities range from approximately to in black powder muskets , to more than in modern rifles with high-performance cartridges such as the .220 Swift and .204 Ruger, all the way to for tank guns...
of 2950 feet per second (899.2 m/s) which gave a range of 12000 yd (10,972.8 m) at 13° elevation.
Her secondary armament consisted of sixteen 6 inches (15 cm)/45 Pattern 1892 guns. One gun was mounted under the forecastle
Forecastle
Forecastle refers to the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast, or the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters...
and another in the stern; neither gun could fire to the side. The remaining guns were mounted in hull embrasure
Embrasure
In military architecture, an embrasure is the opening in a crenellation or battlement between the two raised solid portions or merlons, sometimes called a crenel or crenelle...
s. In their pivot mounts the guns could depress to -6° and elevate to +20°. They fired 91.4 pounds (41.5 kg) Pattern 1907 high explosive projectiles at a muzzle velocity of 2600 feet per second (792.5 m/s). This gave a range of 12600 yd (11,521.4 m) at maximum elevation. Rossia carried 210 rounds per gun.
Defense against torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s was provided by a variety of light-caliber weapons. Twelve 75 millimetres (3 in) Canet Pattern 1892 50-caliber guns were mounted in sponsons on the upper deck, protected by gun shields. The gun fired 10.8 pounds (4.9 kg) shells to a range of about 8600 yards (7,864 m) at its maximum elevation of 21° with a muzzle velocity of 2700 ft/s (823 m/s). The rate of fire was between twelve and fifteen rounds per minute.
A total of twenty 47 millimetres (1.9 in) Hotchkiss gun
Hotchkiss gun
The Hotchkiss gun can refer to different products of the Hotchkiss arms company starting in the late 19th century. It usually refers to the 1.65-inch light mountain gun; there was also a 3-inch Hotchkiss gun...
s were carried. They fired a 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg) shell at a muzzle velocity of 1476 ft/s (449.9 m/s) at a rate of 20 rounds per minute to a range of 2020 yards (1,847.1 m). Eighteen 37 millimetres (1.5 in) Hotchkiss guns were also carried. They fired a 1.1 pound (0.498951607 kg) shell at a muzzle velocity of 1450 ft/s (442 m/s) at a rate of 20 rounds per minute to a range of 3038 yards (2,777.9 m).
Five above-water 15 inches (38 cm) torpedo tube
Torpedo tube
A torpedo tube is a device for launching torpedoes. There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units installed aboard surface vessels...
s were mounted. The exact type of torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
carried likely changed over Rossias lifetime: the original fifteen-inch Whitehead torpedo only had a maximum range of 440 yards (402.3 m) at a speed of 29 knots (15.8 m/s) and a 57 pounds (25.9 kg) warhead. These were later replaced by an improved model with two speed/range settings and a 141 pounds (64 kg) warhead. Its maximum range was 980 yards (896.1 m) at a speed of 25 knots (13.6 m/s).
Armor
Rossia used newly developed Harvey armorHarvey armor
Harvey armor was a type of steel armor developed in the early 1890s in which the front surfaces of the plates were case hardened. The method for doing this was known as the Harvey process....
which saved considerable weight over the steel armor used by Rurik for the same amount of protection. Her waterline belt
Belt armor
Belt armor is a layer of heavy metal armor plated on to or within outer hulls of warships, typically on battleships, battlecruisers and cruisers, and on aircraft carriers converted from those types of ships....
extended from the stern to 80 feet (24.4 m) short of the bow. It extended 4 inch above the waterline and 4 feet (1.2 m) below the waterline. It was 8 inches (203 mm) thick amidships, but reduced to six inches fore and abaft the machinery spaces and to 5 inches (13 cm) at the stern. The belt tapered to a thickness of 4 inches (10 cm) at its lower edge. It was closed off at the forward end by a 7 inches (18 cm) transverse bulkhead
Bulkhead (partition)
A bulkhead is an upright wall within the hull of a ship or within the fuselage of an airplane. Other kinds of partition elements within a ship are decks and deckheads.-Etymology:...
. A protective 2.5–3 in (63.5–76.2 mm) deck
Deck (ship)
A deck is a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull of a ship. On a boat or ship, the primary deck is the horizontal structure which forms the 'roof' for the hull, which both strengthens the hull and serves as the primary working surface...
ran forward from the bulkhead to the bow. The main armored deck was 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick, but a five-inch glacis
Glacis
A glacis in military engineering is an artificial slope of earth used in late European fortresses so constructed as to keep any potential assailant under the fire of the defenders until the last possible moment...
projected above it to protect the tops of the engine cylinders. The conning tower
Conning tower
A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer can con the vessel; i.e., give directions to the helmsman. It is usually located as high on the ship as practical, to give the conning team good visibility....
had walls 12 inches (30 cm) thick. The funnel uptakes were protected by 3 inches (7.6 cm) of armor between the lower and middle decks.
Operational history
Rossia was built by the Baltic WorksBaltic Shipyard
The Baltic Shipyard is one of the oldest shipyards in Russia. It is located in Saint Petersburg in the south-western part of the Vasilievsky Island. It is one of the three shipyards active in Saint Petersburg...
in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. Construction began in October 1893 although she was not formally laid down until 20 May 1895 and launched on 30 April 1896. After her launch, she was towed to Kronstadt
Kronstadt
Kronstadt , also spelled Kronshtadt, Cronstadt |crown]]" and Stadt for "city"); is a municipal town in Kronshtadtsky District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia, located on Kotlin Island, west of Saint Petersburg proper near the head of the Gulf of Finland. Population: It is also...
for fitting-out, but she was pushed onto a sandbar by a storm and required a month to free her. Rossia entered service in late 1896 and participated in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee
Diamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
Fleet Review in June 1897 at Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
. She returned to Kronstadt to finish her trials before sailing for the Far East in October. She reached Nagasaki
Nagasaki
is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Nagasaki was founded by the Portuguese in the second half of the 16th century on the site of a small fishing village, formerly part of Nishisonogi District...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on 10 March 1898 and remained in the Pacific until the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
in 1904.
Russo-Japanese War
At the start of the Russo-Japanese War, Rossia was under the command of Captain Andrei Parfenovich Andreev, and was the flagshipFlagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
Cruiser Squadron under the overall command of Rear Admiral Karl Jessen
Karl Petrovich Jessen
Vice Admiral Karl Petrovich Jessen was an admiral in the Imperial Russian Navy during the Russo-Japanese War.-Biography:Jessen was of Baltic German descent, born in Livonia. He graduated from the Sea Cadets in 1875 and was commissioned as a lieutenant on July 18, 1879. He graduated from the school...
. The other ships in the squadron were the armored cruisers and as well as the protected cruiser
Protected cruiser
The protected cruiser is a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because its armoured deck offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above...
. The squadron made a number of sorties against Japanese shipping early in the war, but only one was reasonably successful when the Hitachi Maru, carrying eighteen 28 centimetres (11 in) siege howitzers and over 1000 troops intended for the siege of Port Arthur
Siege of Port Arthur
The Siege of Port Arthur , 1 August 1904 – 2 January 1905, the deep-water port and Russian naval base at the tip of the Liaotung Peninsula in Manchuria, was the longest and most violent land battle of the Russo-Japanese War....
, was sunk in June 1904. On an earlier sortie in May 1904 Rossia flew an observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
off her quarterdeck
Deck (ship)
A deck is a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull of a ship. On a boat or ship, the primary deck is the horizontal structure which forms the 'roof' for the hull, which both strengthens the hull and serves as the primary working surface...
to (unsuccessfully) locate Japanese shipping; the first use of an aerial device by a warship on the high seas during a time of war.
Battle off Ulsan
During the war the bulk of the Russian Pacific Fleet was located in Port Arthur where they were blockaded by the Japanese. On 10 August 1904 the ships at Port Arthur attempted breakout to Vladivostok, but were turned back in the Battle of the Yellow SeaBattle of the Yellow Sea
The Battle of the Yellow Sea was a major naval engagement of the Russo-Japanese War, fought on 10 August 1904. In the Russian Navy, it was referred to as the Battle of 10 August. The battle foiled an attempt by the Russian fleet at Port Arthur to break out and form up with counterparts from...
. Admiral Jessen was ordered to rendezvous with them, but the order was delayed and his ships had to raise steam, so he did not sortie until the evening of 13 August. Bogatyr had been damaged earlier when she grounded and did not sail with the squadron. By dawn he had reached the island of Tsushima
Tsushima Island
Tsushima Island is an island of the Japanese Archipelago situated in the middle of the Tsushima Strait at 34°25'N and 129°20'E. The main island of Tsushima was once a single island, but the island was divided into two in 1671 by the Ōfunakosiseto canal and into three in 1900 by the Manzekiseto canal...
in the Tsushima Strait
Tsushima Strait
is the eastern channel of the Korea Strait, which lies between Korea and Japan, connecting the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.The Tsushima Strait is the broader eastern channel to the east and southeast of Tsushima Island, with the Japanese islands of Honshū to the east and northeast, and...
between Korea and Japan. He turned back for Vladivostok when he failed to see any ships from the Port Arthur squadron. 36 miles (58 km) north of the island he encountered the Japanese squadron commanded by Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
Kamimura Hikonojō
Kamimura Hikonojo
Baron was an early admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy later commanding the IJN 2nd Fleet during the Russo-Japanese War, most notably at the Battle off Ulsan and Tsushima.-Biography:...
tasked to patrol the Tsushima Strait. The Japanese force had four modern armored cruisers, , , , and . The two squadrons had passed during the night without spotting the other and each had reversed course around first light. This put the Japanese ships astride the Russian route to Vladivostok.
Admiral Jessen turned to the northeast when he spotted the Japanese at 5:00 a.m. and they followed suit, albeit on a slightly converging course. Both sides opened fire around 05:23 at a range of 8500 metres (9,295.7 yd). The Japanese ships concentrated their fire on Rurik, the rear ship of the Russian formation. She was hit fairly quickly and began to fall astern of the other two ships. Admiral Jessen turned southeast in an attempt to open the range, but this blinded the Russian gunners and prevented any of their broadside guns from bearing on the Japanese. About 06:00 Admiral Jessen turned 180° to starboard in an attempt to reach the Korean coast and to allow Rurik to rejoin the squadron. Admiral Kamimura followed suit around 06:10, but turned to port, which opened the range between the squadrons. Azuma developed engine problems around this time so the Japanese squadron slowed to conform with her best speed. Firing recommenced at 06:24 and Rurik was hit three times in the stern, flooding her steering compartment so that she had to be steered with her engines. Her speed continued to decrease, further exposing her to Japanese fire, and her steering jammed to port around 06:40.
Admiral Jessen made another 180° turn in an attempt to interpose his two ships between the Japanese and Rurik, but the latter ship suddenly turn to starboard and increased speed and passed between Jessen's ships and the Japanese. Admiral Kamimura turned 180° as well so that both squadrons were heading southeast on parallel courses, but Admiral Jessen quickly made another 180° turn so that they headed on opposing courses. Iwate was hit around this time which knocked out three six-inch and one twelve-pounder guns, killing 32 and wounding 43. The Japanese squadron opened the range again when it made a 180° another turn to port. The Russians reversed course for the third time around 07:45 in another attempt to support Rurik although Rossia was on fire herself. Her fires were extinguished about twenty minutes later. Admiral Kamimura circled Rurik to the south at 08:00 and allowed the other two Russian ships to get to his north and gave them an uncontested route to Vladivostok. Despite this, Admiral Jessen turned back once more at 08:15 and ordered Rurik to make her own way back to Vladivostok before turning north at his maximum speed, about 18 knots (9.8 m/s).
About this time Admiral Kamimura's two elderly protected cruisers, and were approaching from the south. Their arrival allowed Kamimura to pursue Jessen with all of his armored cruisers. They fought a running battle with the Russians for the next hour and a half; scoring enough hits on them to force their speed down to 15 knots (8.2 m/s). Azumas engines again broke down during this chase and she was replaced in the line by Tokiwa. The Japanese closed to a minimum of about 5000 metres (5,468.1 yd), but Admiral Kamimura then opened the range up to 6500 metres (7,108.5 yd).
About 10:00 Kamimura's gunnery officer erroneously informed him that Izumo had expended three-quarters of her ammunition and he turned back after a five-minute rapid-fire barrage. He did not wish to leave the Tsushima Strait unguarded and thought that he could expend his remaining ammunition on Rurik. By this time she had been sunk by Naniwa and Takachiho which had closed to 3000 metres (3,280.8 yd) of Rurik in order to finish her off. They had radioed Admiral Kamimura that she was sunk, but he did not receive the message. Shortly after the Japanese turned back Gromoboi and Rossia were forced to heave-to to make repairs.
Rossia suffered only 44 dead and 156 wounded; far less than Gromobois 87 dead and 170 wounded. This was attributable to Rossias captain's policy of ordering the gun crews for his quick-firing guns on the engaged side to lay down and those on the unengaged side to go below, in contrast to the other ship keeping her light guns manned at all times. Rossia had been hit nineteen times on the starboard side of her hull and nine on her port side, plus other hits in her funnels, boats and decks. She had half of her guns knocked out and a fire caused by the ignition of excess propellant charges. Despite this number of hits, she was not badly damaged because her waterline belt was not penetrated by any hit. She was repaired within two months by the rudimentary facilities available at Vladivostok. Rossia made no further effort to interfere with Japanese shipping during the war.
Interwar period
Rossia returned to Kronstadt, arriving on 8 April 1906, where she was given a lengthy refit that was finished in 1909. Her engines and boilers were reconditioned, her mainmast was removed and she received additional six-inch guns. Six more guns in lightly armored casemateCasemate
A casemate, sometimes rendered casement, is a fortified gun emplacement or armored structure from which guns are fired. originally a vaulted chamber in a fortress.-Origin of the term:...
s were added on the upper deck, positioned on each side in the intervals between the main-deck six-inch guns. In addition the bow gun was moved to the upper deck to allow it to fire to each side. This increased the ship's broadside by four guns.
Rossia represented Russia at King George V's Coronation Fleet Review in June 1911. She departed Kronstadt in September 1912 for a training cruise to the Canaries
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
and the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
, returning to the Baltic
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
in time to visit Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in March 1913 in company with the protected cruisers and . She left for another training cruise to the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
in September 1913 and was cruising in the Mediterranean in April 1914.
World War I
Rossia served as the flagship of the 2nd Cruiser Brigade of the Baltic FleetBaltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. She was modified to serve as a fast minelayer
Minelayer
Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines...
with a capacity of one hundred naval mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
s before the war. In January 1915 she laid a minefield in company with Oleg and Bogatyr between Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
and the Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
coast that damaged the German light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
s and . She was reconstructed beginning in October 1915 at Kronstadt to increase her armament. Her forecastle deck was removed as well as the fore and aft six-inch guns. They were replaced by two eight-inch guns mounted on the centerline forward and another pair was mounted on the quarterdeck
Quarterdeck
The quarterdeck is that part of a warship designated by the commanding officer for official and ceremonial functions. In port, the quarterdeck is the most important place on the ship, and is the central control point for all its major activities. Underway, its importance diminishes as control of...
. These additions increased her broadside to six eight-inch, but only seven six-inch guns.
Rossias crew took an active part in the revolutionary movements in 1917 and came under control of the Soviet Red Fleet in September 1917.. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed on March 3, 1918, mediated by South African Andrik Fuller, at Brest-Litovsk between Russia and the Central Powers, headed by Germany, marking Russia's exit from World War I.While the treaty was practically obsolete before the end of the year,...
required the Soviets to evacuate their base at Helsinki in March 1918 or have them interned by newly independent Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
even though the Gulf of Finland
Gulf of Finland
The Gulf of Finland is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It extends between Finland and Estonia all the way to Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the river Neva drains into it. Other major cities around the gulf include Helsinki and Tallinn...
was still frozen over. Rossia sailed to Kronstadt in what became known as the 'Ice Voyage'
Ice Cruise of the Baltic Fleet
Ice Cruise of the Baltic Fleet was an operation which transferred the ships of the Baltic Fleet of the Imperial Russian Navy from their bases at Tallinn and Helsinki to Kronstadt in 1918, caused by the possible threat to those bases from the final German offensives against Russia during World War...
and was placed into reserve shortly after her arrival. She was sold to a German company for scrapping on 1 July 1922. While being towed to Germany, she grounded on the coast of Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, but was subsequently towed to Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
and broken up.