Pre-Dreadnought Battleships: Petropavlovsk Class

[Brian James]

Pre-Dreadnought Battleship IRN Chesma (Ex IRN Poltava) pictured c1916.
Poltava was one of three Petropavlovsk Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleships built at the New Admiralty Shipyard, Saint Petersburg,for the Imperial Russian Navy in the 1890s. She was transferred to the Pacific Squadron shortly after completion and based at Port Arthur from 1901. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05, she participated in the Battle of Port Arthur and was heavily damaged during the Battle of the Yellow Sea. She was sunk by Japanese artillery during the subsequent Siege of Port Arthur in December 1904, but was raised by the Imperial Japanese Navy after the war and renamed IJNS Tango.
During World War I, she bombarded German fortifications during the Siege of Tsingtao. The Japanese government sold Tango back to the Russians at their request in 1916. She was renamed Chesma as her former name had been given to a new ship. En route to the White Sea, she joined an Allied force that persuaded the Greek government to disarm their ships. Her crew declared for the Bolsheviks in October 1917, but made no effort to resist when the British decided to intervene in the Russian Civil War in early 1918. In poor condition, the ship was used as a Prison Hulk. Abandoned by the British when they withdrew in 1919 and recaptured by the Bolsheviks, she was scrapped in 1924.

[Brian James]

Petropavlovsk Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship IRN Poltava pictured under construction at Admiralty Shipyards,Saint Petersburg in 1885, (Ekatarina Class Pre-Dreadnought IRN Sinop in the background),Poltava was partially sunk at Port Arthur in 1905,salvaged by the Japanese and entered service as IJNS Tango. In 1916 the Russian government decided to reinforce its naval strength outside the Baltic and Black Seas.As Japan and Russia were now allies during the war, the Japanese government sold Tango and some other ex-Russian warships back to Russia in March. The Battleship arrived at Vladivostok on April 2nd and was turned over to the Russians on either April 3rd or 4th. Her former name had been given to the new Dreadnought Battleship Poltava, so Tango was renamed IRN Chesma (pictured).

[Blackbat242]

I hate to correct you, but the Chesma that used to be Poltava only had 2 twin 12" gun turrets.

The photo you have showing 3 twin turrets (two were side-by-side on the bow) is of the earlier Ekaterina II class Chesma.
Laid down: June 1883
Launched: 18 May 1886
In service: 29 May 1889
Struck: 14 August 1907
Renamed: Stricken Vessel Nr. 4 22 April 1912
Fate: Scrapped mid-1920s

Here are photos of Poltava as herself sunk in Port Arthur (cruiser Pallada in background), as Tango in 1908-09, and as Chesma in the White Sea, spring 1921.

Russian Battleship Poltava sunk in Port Arthur.jpg

Tango 1908-1909.jpg

Soviet-Russian battleship Chesma White Sea spring 1921.jpg

[designeraccd]

This old POLTAVA did have a fairly long and quite convoluted life! When designed she was better armed than many of her foreign contemporaries! DFO

[Brian James]

Petropavlovsk Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship IRN Chesma (Ex IRN Poltava..Ex IJNS Tango) pictured at Vladivostok in 1916.

[Brian James]

Petropavlovsk Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship IRN Chesma (Ex IRN Poltava,Ex IJNS Tango),pictured at Vladivostok in 1916.

[designeraccd]

In earlier days......... DFO

[Brian James]

Petropavlovsk Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship Poltava pictured at Admiralty Shipyards, St Petersburg c 1894...Delayed by shortages of skilled workmen, design changes and late delivery of the main armament, she was under construction for six years. she participated in the Battle of Port Arthur and was heavily damaged during the Battle of the Yellow Sea. She was sunk by Japanese artillery during the subsequent siege of Port Arthur in December 1904, but was raised by the IJN after the war and renamed Tango, she was scrapped in 1924.

[designeraccd]

Two views of the POLTAVA at Port Arthur after IJA 11" gunfire....... DFO

[Brian James]

The Russian Navy Pacific Squadron Flagship, Lead Ship, Pre-Dreadnought Battleship Petropavlovsk pictured as she transits the Suez Canal on her five month journey from Kronstadt to Port Arthur in 1899...At the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, Petropavlovsk took part in the Battle of Port Arthur, where she was lightly damaged by Japanese shells and failed to score any hits in return. On April 13th 1904, she sank after striking one or more mines near Port Arthur, in northeast China. Casualties numbered 27 officers and 652 enlisted men, including Vice Admiral Stepan Makarov, the commander of the squadron, and the war artist Vasily Vereshchagin.