Russian gunboat Korietz

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The Russian gunboat Korietz is blown up at Chemulpo

Korietz (Russian: Кореец) was a Russian gunboat served in Russian Pacific Fleet. Laid down in Stockholm in 1886, launched on August 7, 1886, commissioned in 1888. There were 8 more gunboats of her class - Mandzhur and Khivinets served on the Baltic, Donets, Zaporozheye, Kubanets, Terets, Uralets and Chernomorets on the Black Sea.

Participated in the joint attack on Taku Forts in May-June of 1900.

Together with Russian cruiser Varyag they participated in the Battle of Chemulpo Bay with the Imperial Japanese Navy.

A day before the Japanese made a pre-emptive strike, Korietz (under the command of G.P.Belyaev) was sent by Varyag’s captain Rudnev to Port Arthur with a letter to the Russian governor. Korietz was intercepted by Japanese destroyers and forced to turn back. As Belyaev reported, destroyers fired some torpedoes into his gunboat (or, at least, initiated the attack) and he returned fire with two shots from the 37mm gun - the first of the Russo-Japanese War.

Korietz was equipped with two 203-mm (8in) old heavy guns, none of this type or heavier were present aboard the Varyag.

Korietz was blown up and scuttled after the battle on February 9, 1904.

Etymology of the name: Korietz is a Russian word for "Korean man", Mandzhur - "Manchuria man", Khivinets - "Khiva man", Donets - "Don man", Kubanets - "Kuban man", Terets - "Terek man", Uralets - "Ural man", Chernomorets - "Black Sea man" and Zaporozheye.

[edit] Second gunboat

There was a second gunboat named Korietz, laid down in 1906 at the Putilov Plant in Saint Petersburg. She was of the Gilyak class. At the end of the First World War she participated in the Battle of Moon Sound, but was blown up by her crew on August 8, 1915 in to avoid having to be surrendered to German forces.