Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1301

 DEFENCE 945

down the three powerful battleships, CatheriTic IL, Tchesme, and Sinope, which were launched in 1886-87. The iollowiug are the dimensions of these remark« able vessels : displacement, 10,180 tons ; length between the perpendiculars, 320 feet ; beam, t)9 feet ; draught, 25 feet. The compound armour belt has a maximum thickness of 18 inches, and the triangular redoubt is plated with 10 inches. This redoubt or citadel is a special feature. It presents its base to the bows, and, inasmuch as two r2-inch 56 ton guns are coupled en barbette at each of the angles, the bow fire is exceedingly powerful. The six heavy guns are mounted on the disappearing principle ; they only show over the top of the redoubt wlieu about to tire. Of the seven 6-inch guns, four are also ilisposed for bow fire, and three directed astern. The later battleship, Dvcnadzat Apostoloff (Twelve Apostles), which is smaller (8,076 tons), but carries four of the heavy guns coupled in turrets, steamed 16 '6 knots at her trials without pressure and without reaching the estimated horse power. The Georgi Fobiedunosctz (George the Victorious), launched in 1892 (10,300 tons), is armed with six 56-ton guns, and is of a modified fSinope type. The Tri Sviatitelia (Three Saints) is of a still more powerful type (357 feet 6 inches long and 72 feet beam, with a 16-inch belt), and the Kniaz Fotcmkin Tavri- cheskij, ot the same class, is advancing towards completion at Nicolaieff, and will be launched in 1899. The armour-clad Ilostidav, launched at Nikolaielf in 1896, has the following dimensions : — Maximum length, 351 feet, maximum width, iS^ feet ; displacement, 8,880 tons ; engines, 8,500 horse-power ; ex- pected speed, 16 knots ; length of armour belt, 224 feet. Armed with four 10-inch and eight 6-inch guns ; twelve 47-nim. and fourteen 37-mm, quick- firing guns ; six turrets. She is of the Sissoi Veliky class, and another ol the same is in hand.

The belted cruiser Paiiiiat Azova or Remembrance of Azoff, is 377 feet long. She is an improved Dmitri Dontskoi, and carries her two 8-inch guns in sponsoned barbettes on either broadside The Rurik, launched 1892, is 435 feet long, 67 feet beam, and has 25 feet 9 inches draught. The armour at the water-line is 10 inches thick for 80 per cent, of the ship's length. Her armament is very strong, and she will carry 2,000 tons of coal, being enough for 20,000 miles steaming at 10 knots. The cruiser Rossia, which was launched in 1896, has a displacement of 12,130 tons. She is armed with four 8-inch and 16 6-inch guns, 24 quick-firing guns, and 5 torpedo ejectors. Armour from 5 to 8 inch, but the defect of the class is insufficient protection lor the batteries, and a defective system of ammunition supply. The Rossia has two engines 7,250 horse-power each, and one of 2,500 horse-power. JMaximum speed, I95 knots. The Gromoboi, which is in hand at the Baltic Yard, St. Petersburg, is of the same class, but larger, and an armoured cruiser, the Bayan, ot 7,800 tons is being begun at La Seyne. The armour-clads, Admiral OushakoJfa,nd Ad7niral ISeniavin, built as coast- defence vessels, are, in fact, armoured cruisers having a powerful armament and respectable speed. The General Admiral Apraxine is a sister vessel. The three cruisers, Aurora, Fallada and Diana, which are building on the Neva, are three- screwed, 6,630 tons displacement, three engines of 3,870 horse-power each. At least three other cruisers of the same class are ordered, and several of smaller (3,000-ton) class. Xone of these belong to the Black Sea Fleet.

The so-called Russian " Volunteer Fleet," which is being added to, consti- tutes a factor that must not be underrated in Russia's next war. The ships of the Volunteer Fleet, about fifteen in number, are, in peace-time, merchant- men, which can, in time of war, be easily armed and used for doing the work of cruisers. They provide for the regular tralhc between Odessa, Vladivostok

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