Built along the lines of the Rurik, Rossiya made good some of the errors that came out of the muddled concept of her prototype and near-sister. She was completed without sails. She also incorporated improvements such as Harvey armor on a slightly enlarged belt, advanced water-tube boilers, and triple-screw propulsion for 2 extra knots of speed. She carried a special cruising engine for better fuel economy, as well as three standard triple-expansion engines. Rossiya abandoned the convoluted midships hull profile of Rurik in favor of a smoothly sloping tumble-home shape. Rossiya was part of the Vladivostok Squadron, where she is seen above. She took part in the Vladivostok Squadron's sweeps against enemy commerce during 1904. In the second of these expeditions, the Russians sank the transport Hitachi Maru, loaded with eighteen 28-centimeter (11") siege howitzers intended for the siege of Port Arthur. She was Adm. Jessen's flagship at the Battle of Ulsan, Aug. 14, 1904.
Plans and Specifications
Specifications for the Rossiya:
Dimensions: 482' x 68' x 26' Displacement: 12,500 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; (6) 15" torpedo tubes. Armor: Harvey type throughout. 10"/5" belt; 4" belt aft & protecting engine hatch; 6" transverse bulkheads in battery; 2" screens, casemates; 6" conning tower; 2½" deck. Fuel capacity: 1000 tons of coal std; 2,500 tons maximum; unknown bunker oil. Propulsion: (32) coal-fired Belleville boilers; (3) inverted vertical triple expansion engines developing 18,000 HP, shafted to triple screw. Maximum speed: 20 kts. Crew: 735.
Metric specs:
Dimensions: 126m x 20m x 7.9m Displacement: 12,500 tons. Armament: (4) 203 mm/35 cal, (16) 152 mm/45 QF, (15) 47 mm 12-pdrs, and (36) smaller guns; (6) 381 mm torpedo tubes. Armor: Harvey type throughout. 254/126 mm belt; 102 mm aft & protecting engine hatch; 152 mm conning tower; 102 mm shields; 76/51 mm deck. Fuel capacity: 1000 tons of coal std; 2,500 tons maximum; unknown bunker oil. Propulsion: (32) coal-fired Belleville boilers; (3) inverted vertical triple expansion engines developing 13,422.6 kW, shafted to triple screw. Maximum speed: 37 km/hr. Crew: 735.
Pamiat Rossiya - A Souvenir of Rossiya
Rossiya in drydock. A fine example of symmetrical composition.
Rossiya at Vladivostok with the Squadron.
Rossiya in her original fit.
Stern quarter view of Rossiya emphasizes the ship's great length.
Rossiya's elegant bridge and wheelhouse.
Rossiya's boat deck amenities.
View back along the Rossiya's rooftop, past the big yellow funnels.
Workparty on scows beside Rossiya's looming bulk.
It's a full-court press to repair the ship's damage after the Battle of Ulsan.
Rossiya in workaday mode.
