Russian battleship Rostislav
| Rostislav Russian battleship Rostislav | |
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Rostislav (Ростислав) |
| Namesake: | Rostislav I of Kiev |
| Operator: | Imperial Russian Navy |
| Builder: | Nikolayev Dockyard, |
| Laid down: | 1895 |
| Launched: | 2 September 1896[1] |
| Commissioned: | 1898 |
| Out of service: | 1918 |
| Fate: | Scuttled 1920 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Pre-dreadnought battleship |
| Displacement: | 10,140 tons |
| Length: | 107.2 m |
| Beam: | 20.7 m |
| Draught: | 7.7 m |
| Propulsion: | 2 shaft VTE steam engines, 14 cylindrical boilers, 8700 hp |
| Speed: | 16 knots (30 km/h) |
| Complement: | 632 -650 |
| Armament: |
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| Armour: |
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Rostislav (Ростислав - named after Grand Prince Rostislav I of Kiev) was a Russian pre-Dreadnought battleship. Built by Nikolayev dockyard, laid down in 1895, launched in September 1896, and completed in 1898. She served in the Black Sea Fleet and fought in World War I. In June 1909 she sunk the Russian submarine Kambala in an accidental collision. The ship was captured by the Germans and British during the Russian Civil War and transferred to the White Forces. She was scuttled on 16 November 1920 to prevent recapture by the Red Army.
Design
The design was based on the Sissoi Velikiy with significant modifications.
Hull
The hull had fourteen watertight compartments and a double bottom
Armament
The main armament consisted of four 245mm/45 calibre guns in two turrets Ref. These guns were lighter than the more common 305mm artillery used in contemporary battleships and proved problematic. The main gun turrets had a 240 degree traverse and a -5 to +33 degree elevation. The turrets were electrically powered.
The secondary armament consisted of eight 152mm Canet type guns in four twin turrets which were located at the corners of the superstructure with 110 degree arcs of fire. The turrets had electrical traverse but manual elevation
Anti torpedo boat armament consisted of 12 47mm and 16 37 mm guns. These weapons were replaced in 1915 by four 75mm guns. Anti aircraft guns were installed in 1915 and consisted of four 75mm and four 63.5 mm guns
Protection
Harvey armour was used.
The waterline belt had a length of 83.5m and a height of 2.1 m. The thickness of the upper part of the belt in the central part was 368 mm, decreased to 203 mm towards the bottom edge. Outside of the machinery and boiler rooms thickness of the belt, was reduced to 254 mm.
Machinery
The two triple expansion engines were built by Baltic Yard and were similar to those of the Sissoi Velikiy. The boilers used mixed coal firing with oil spray an innovation in the Russian Navy.
Service History
The ship entered service in 1898. He first captain was Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia. Another royal, Cyril Vladimirovich, Grand Duke of Russia served as a midshipman on the ship.
In 1905 she shadowed the battleship Potemkin during her mutiny as flagship of admiral Aleksandr Kreiger. In 1909 she accidentally sunk the submarine Kambala during fleet excercises. In 1912 she was commanded by Mikhail Sablin, In 1914 she was commanded by Kazimierz Porębski.
During the First World War the ship served with the Black Sea Fleet. She engaged the Goeben in company with other Russian battleships on several occasions. The ship was captured by the Germans in 1918 and then by the British in 1919 and transferred to the white Forces. She was scuttled on 16 November 1920 to prevent recapture by the Red Army. The hull was salvaged and scrapped in the 1920's.
References
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de:Rostislaw (1896) fr:Rostislav (cuirassé) ja:ロスティスラブ (戦艦) ru:Ростислав (броненосец) uk:Ростислав (лінкор)
