Armoured Cruisers: IRN Pamiat Azova

[Brian James]

The unique Armoured Cruiser IRN Pamiat Azova pictured in 1890.The name of the ship commemorated the Russian ship of the line Azov, the flagship of the Russian squadron in the Battle of Navarino. The name of that ship, in its turn, referred to the Azov campaigns of Peter the Great. After the battle Nicholas I of Russia decreed that after the retirement of Azov the Imperial Navy must perpetually have a ship named Pamiat Azova (English: The Memory of Azov). The Cruiser commissioned in 1890 was the third ship carrying this name.She was designed as a Commerce Raider and rigged with sails to extend her range. She was built by Baltic Works Shipyards at Saint Petersburg and launched on July 1st 1888. Her machinery was re-built in 1904 with Bellville type boilers.She served with the Baltic Fleet, and in 1891-1892 took part in a Cruise around Asia with Crown Prince Nicholas on board. This led to a Fabergé egg, the Memory of Azov being made to commemorate this event.(pictured) She made a visit to the French Navy in October 1893 atToulon to reinforce the Franco-Russian Alliance.
In 1906, during the First Russian Revolution, the crew of the Cruiser mutinied while at Hara Bay near Reval. The ship subsequently was placed in reserve. In 1909 she was converted into a Torpedo Boat Depot Ship and renamed Dvina.She was sunk by the British torpedo boat CMB79 in Kronstadt Harbour on August 18th 1919. Her wreck was raised and scrapped.

[Brian James]

Imperial Russian Naval Ships seen at the Finnish Port of Helsingfors in 1908.

[Brian James]

Flagship Armoured Cruiser Admiral Nakhimov pictured at Port Arthur in 1900...She was sunk at the Battle of Tsushima on May 28th 1905.

[Brian James]

The unique Armoured Cruiser Pamiat Azova pictured at Tsingtau in 1898...She was designed as a commerce raider and rigged with sails to extend her range. She was built by Baltic Works Shipyard at Saint Petersburg and launched on July 1st 1888. She was decommissioned from front line service in 1909, converted into a Depot Ship and sunk by British Torpedo Boats during the Baltic Naval War, part of the Russian Civil War on August 18th 1919.

[Brian James]

One of Class, Armoured Cruiser Pamiat Azova pictured c1900.