From the New York Times: Russia's first dreadnought, the Sevastapol, was successfully launched at noon today from the Baltic Works in the presence of the Minister of Marine, Naval attaches, a large representation of society, legislators and officials.
Special precautions against a mishap had been taken as there was only a foot of space on either side of the slip. The battleship was laid down June 16, 1909, and it is expected that another two years will be occupied in equipping her. The Sevastapol has a displacement of 23,000 tons and, with 42,000 horsepower, is expected to build a speed of 23 knots per hour. Her armament will consist of twelve 12 inch guns, sixteen 4.7 inch guns, and smaller artillery. The vessel and her equipment have been or will be constructed in Russia.
The Poltava, a sister ship of the Sevastapol, will be launched on July 10. The keels of these two battleships, and of the two others, Petropavlovsk and the Gangut, were laid on the same date, and when the ships are commissioned, they will form the first squadron of the new Baltic fleet.
After the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Russia's Naval Fleet was decimated. This dropped Russia to sixth as a Naval power from third. Fear that St. Petersburg and the Baltic coast could not be defended, prompted the construction of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, of which the Sevastapol was one of the first. Further deterioration of relations with Germany and the Ottoman Empire forced an increase the number of ships ordered.
The Sevastopol (Севастополь) and her sister ships were not readied for action until mid-1915. The ship's principle role would be in training and providing cover for mine laying operations. She would have more of a role after the fall of Imperial Russia.
No comments:
Post a Comment