Gromoboi:
Imperial Russian Armored Cruiser (1900)
The third and the last of the Ruriks, Gromoboi played a formidable part in the exploits of the Vladivostok Squadron through 1905. Her name means "Thunderer"; she is seen above on a goodwill visit to Melbourne in 1901. She was built at the Baltic Works like her two preceding near-sisters. She had a thinner (6") belt covering a slightly wider area than the Rossiya, her immediate predecessor. She repeated that ship's boiler and propulsion arrangement. Gromoboi was the burliest appearing of the Vladivostok Squadron. She took part in both commerce raids launched by the unit in February and July of 1904, which had considerable terror value if little real economic impact. She fought at and escaped from the Battle of Ulsan, Aug. 14, 1904 with more than a third of her crew becoming casualties. After being repaired, she sortied with the Bogatyr, but this last offensive operation of the Vladivostok Squadron ended in farce with both ships hard aground. Their crews were taken off, but the ships were not rescued until after hostilities ceased many months later.
Recalled to Europe in 1906, Gromoboi was rebuilt in 1911. She fought the Germans as a unit of the Baltic Fleet in WWI and became part of the Red flotilla during the Civil War. Her duties done, she was consigned to the dustbin of history in 1922.
Recalled to Europe in 1906, Gromoboi was rebuilt in 1911. She fought the Germans as a unit of the Baltic Fleet in WWI and became part of the Red flotilla during the Civil War. Her duties done, she was consigned to the dustbin of history in 1922.
Plans and Specifications
Specifications for the Gromoboi:
Dimensions: 472'6" x 68' x 27' Displacement: 13,200 tons. Hull wood-sheathed and coppered for colonial service. Armament: (4) 8"/35 cal, (16) 6"/45 QF, (15) 47 mm 12-pdrs, and (36) smaller guns; (4) 15" torpedo tubes. Armor: Harvey type throughout. 6"/4" belt; 4" lower deck protecting the engine hatch; 6" transverse bulkheads in battery; 2" hoists, 6" casemates; 12" conning tower; 2" deck. Fuel capacity: 800 tons of coal std; 2,500 tons maximum; unknown bunker oil. Propulsion: (32) coal-fired Belleville boilers; (3) vertical triple expansion engines developing 18,000 HP, shafted to triple screw. Maximum speed: 20 kts. Endurance: 8,100 nm @ 10 knots. Crew: 800.
Metric specs:
Dimensions: 126m x 20m x 7.9m Displacement: 13,200 tons. Hull wood-sheathed and coppered for colonial service. Armament: (4) 203 mm/35 cal, (16) 152 mm/45 QF, (15) 47 mm 12-pdrs, and (36) smaller guns; (4) 381 mm torpedo tubes. Armor: Harvey type throughout. 152/102 mm belt; 102 mm lower deck protecting engine hatch; 152 mm bulkheads in battery; 305 mm conning tower; 51 mm hoists; 51 mm deck. Fuel capacity: 800 tons of coal std; 2,500 tons maximum; unknown bunker oil. Propulsion: (32) coal-fired Belleville boilers; (3) vertical triple expansion engines developing 13,422.6 kW, shafted to triple screw. Maximum speed: 37 km/hr. Endurance: 15,001 km @19 km/hr. Crew: 800.
Dimensions: 472'6" x 68' x 27' Displacement: 13,200 tons. Hull wood-sheathed and coppered for colonial service. Armament: (4) 8"/35 cal, (16) 6"/45 QF, (15) 47 mm 12-pdrs, and (36) smaller guns; (4) 15" torpedo tubes. Armor: Harvey type throughout. 6"/4" belt; 4" lower deck protecting the engine hatch; 6" transverse bulkheads in battery; 2" hoists, 6" casemates; 12" conning tower; 2" deck. Fuel capacity: 800 tons of coal std; 2,500 tons maximum; unknown bunker oil. Propulsion: (32) coal-fired Belleville boilers; (3) vertical triple expansion engines developing 18,000 HP, shafted to triple screw. Maximum speed: 20 kts. Endurance: 8,100 nm @ 10 knots. Crew: 800.
Metric specs:
Dimensions: 126m x 20m x 7.9m Displacement: 13,200 tons. Hull wood-sheathed and coppered for colonial service. Armament: (4) 203 mm/35 cal, (16) 152 mm/45 QF, (15) 47 mm 12-pdrs, and (36) smaller guns; (4) 381 mm torpedo tubes. Armor: Harvey type throughout. 152/102 mm belt; 102 mm lower deck protecting engine hatch; 152 mm bulkheads in battery; 305 mm conning tower; 51 mm hoists; 51 mm deck. Fuel capacity: 800 tons of coal std; 2,500 tons maximum; unknown bunker oil. Propulsion: (32) coal-fired Belleville boilers; (3) vertical triple expansion engines developing 13,422.6 kW, shafted to triple screw. Maximum speed: 37 km/hr. Endurance: 15,001 km @19 km/hr. Crew: 800.
Gromoboi on Film
Gromoboi (center) and Rurik (left) raid Japanese shipping in February 1904. They were notorious for sinking ships rather than merely seizing them.
Gromoboi (center) and Rurik (left) raid Japanese shipping in February 1904. They were notorious for sinking ships rather than merely seizing them.
Gromoboi from one of her better angles, showing her commanding height and presence. Enlarge
Gromoboi from one of her better angles, showing her commanding height and presence. Enlarge
Gromoboi with her sisters at Vladivostok. Note extra 12-pdr gun worked in under the 8" in forward sponson. This would have been a wet position in any kind of sea.
Gromoboi with her sisters at Vladivostok. Note extra 12-pdr gun worked in under the 8" in forward sponson. This would have been a wet position in any kind of sea.
A wide angle does justice to the ship's huge dimensions and compelling proportions.
A wide angle does justice to the ship's huge dimensions and compelling proportions.
The photographer next gives the treatment to the ship's cruiser stern.
The photographer next gives the treatment to the ship's cruiser stern.
Gromoboi at anchor embodies the characteristics of her class -- the "strong raiders."
Gromoboi at anchor embodies the characteristics of her class -- the "strong raiders."
A sobering postscript: Gromoboi grounded and apparently abandoned in 1922.
A sobering postscript: Gromoboi grounded and apparently abandoned in 1922.
