Borodino class battleship

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The Russian battleship Orel, which became the Japanese battleship Iwami after the Battle of Tsushima. Tsushima was the last time in history that a battleship fleet would surrender upon the high seas.

The 5 ships of the Borodino Class (or Suvorov Class) of Pre-dreadnought battleships were built in 1899 to 1903 for the Imperial Russian Navy. Three of the class were sunk and one captured after an engagement with the Japanese Fleet known as the Battle of Tsushima.

Historically, the Borodino class battleships established two records that can never be repeated; under Russian Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky riding in his flagship, Kniaz Suvorov, he led the Russian battleship fleet on the longest coal powered journey ever conducted (by a steel battleship fleet), a voyage of over 18,000 miles one way. Secondly, although sunk in battle, the Borodino's participated in the only decisive battleship fleet action ever fought. Lastly, what may be the most unique item of interest for the future, is the fact that the ships were constructed with tumblehome hulls, seemingly wider at the bottom then narrower towards the top. From Tsushima afterward tumblehome was discarded in all warships, as they were regarded as top heavy. Today, in the 21st Century, many nations, including the U. S. Navy, are re-studying tumblehome hulls for its possible stealth qualities, and probably other attributes as well.

1 Design
2 Specifications
3 Units
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Design

The Borodino class battleships were based upon the French designed and built battleship Tsesarevitch which fought as the Russian flagship at the Battle of the Yellow sea in 1904. The Russian navy agreed to buy the Tsesarevitch under the conditions that they could construct five (5) more of them and modify them to meet the standards of the Russian navy; thusly the Orel, Prince Suvorov, Borodino (class leader), Alexander III, and Slava were built in Russian yards. Only the Slava was not finished in time to participate in the Russian/Japanese War of 1904-05.

Some naval architects regard these as one of the worst battleships ever built. Based on the Battleship Tsesarevich by the French Yard La Seyne, the ships suffered from instability having a high centre of gravity (made worse by overloading). The centre line bulkhead led to a danger of capsizing and a narrow armour belt became submerged due to overloading. The Japanese re-built the Iwami by substantially reducing its top weight and removing the smaller guns.

The Russian battleship Orel

[edit] Specifications

Displacement: 13,516 tons designed, 14151 tons at Tsushima
Length: 397 ft (121 m)
Beam: 76 ft (23.2 m)
Draught: 26 ft (7.9 m)
Armament: 4 × 12 in (305 mm) guns (2 × 2), 12 × 6 in (152 mm) guns (6 × 2), 20 × 75 mm (20 × 1) 20 × 47 mm (20 × 1) 4 × 15 in (381 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour: Krupp armour - Belt - 7.6 in (193 mm), Turrents 10 in (254 mm) max, deck 2 in (51 mm), 1 in (25 mm) anti-torpedo bulkhead
Machinery: 2 shafts , vertical triple-expansion engines, 12 Bellville Boilers, 15,800 hp (12 MW)
Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h)
Endurance: 2590 miles (4000 km)
Complement: 28 officers, 754 men

[edit] Units

Borodino (Бородино)
Built by the Admiralty yard, St Petersburg. Laid down July 1899, launched September 1901, completed August 1904. This ship was named after the Battle of Borodino. Sunk at the Battle of Tsushima on 27 May 1905 with only one survivor.

Imperator Alexander III (Император Александр III)
Built by Baltic Works, St Petersburg. Laid down July 1899, launched November 1903, completed August 1903. This ship was named after Czar Alexander III of Russia. Sunk at Tsushima on 27 May 1905 with no survivors.

Orel (Орел)
Built by Galernii yard, St Petersburg. Laid down 1900, Launched July 1902, completed October 1904. Captured by the Japanese after sustaining heavy damage at Tsushima and extensively re-built. Served as Iwami in the Imperial Japanese Navy and scrapped in 1922. Name means "Eagle".

Knyaz Suvorov (Князь Суворов)
Built by Baltic Works, St Petersburg. Laid down July 1901, launched September 1902, completed September 1904. This ship was named after the great 18th-century Russian general Alexander Suvorov. Flagship at Tsushima, where it was sunk on 27 May 1905.

Slava (Слава)
Built by Baltic Works, St Petersburg. Laid down October 1902, launched August 1903, completed June 1905. Completed too late to accompany fleet to the East. Served in the Baltic during World War I. Scuttled after sustaining heavy damage during the Battle of Moon Sound on 17 October 1917. Name means "Glory".

[edit] See also

Borodino class battlecruiser

[edit] References

Antony Preston, 2002, World's Worst Warships, Conways Maritime Press
S. McLaughlin, 2005, Aboard the Orel at Tsushima, in Warship 2005, Conways Maritime Press - based on the memoirs of Lieutenant V. P. Kostenko, a Russian officer who survived the battle