Siamese cruise "Aurora"

17


The cruiser "Aurora" is rightfully called the ship number one of the Navy fleet Of Russia. The cruiser is a participant in the Battle of Tsushima, the 1917 revolution and the Great Patriotic War (the most important events in stories countries of the 20th century). It would seem that everything and everyone knows about the life of this ship. However, despite many publications, in the life of the cruiser there is still one little-known episode relating to the peaceful voyages of the Aurora. In 1911, the cruiser carried out a responsible diplomatic mission, representing the Russian Navy at the coronation of the King of Siam, in the capital of the state of Bangkok. On the eve of the impending world war, there was a tense struggle for the future foreign policy orientation of the countries of Southeast Asia, including Siam, and the Russian Empire could not ignore this. It is worth noting that diplomatic and trade relations between Russia and the Kingdom of Siam were established even 1898 year.

In August 1911, the cruiser Aurora, which was part of the training detachment of the ships of the Marine Corps, after a long voyage with midshipmen on board returned to Kronstadt. The stern left 25,5 thousand miles, visits to many countries in Europe and Asia, and most importantly, successful maritime training of the students of the corps. The cruiser was commanded at that time by captain 1 of the rank PN. Leskov - an experienced sailor, member of the Russian-Japanese war. On August 8, the naval minister I. K. Grigorovich held a cruiser on display. The Vice-Admiral N. O. Essen, the commander of the Baltic Fleet, reported: "There is nothing to see, everything is always in order." To this, the minister replied: "I know that," walked around the ship, thanked the crew "for the faithful service to the king and fatherland" and departed from the Aurora.

On August 13, the ship's commander P. N. Leskov turned over the case to the senior officer and went on vacation. But on the same day, a telegram of the Minister of the Navy came to the cruiser: "To the commander or his deputy to arrive at me tomorrow at eight o'clock in the morning." At the appointed time, Grigorovich received a senior officer, Aurora Stark, who answered the question "Can a cruiser take a serious voyage in three weeks?" Answered in the affirmative. Having heard the agreement, the Minister set the task: to sail to Bangkok for the coronation of the Siamese king. Arriving in Siam should be no later than November 16. In the Mediterranean Sea, the Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich and Royal Nikolai, representing the sovereign-emperor, were supposed to sit on the Aurora. Having set the task, the minister ended his conversation, wishing the crew of the ship success and happy sailing.

Despite the understandable fatigue from the previous (almost two-year) voyage, the personnel of the Aurora took this news with great satisfaction. Began preparing for a new campaign. All officers were recalled from vacations, small repairs were required on the ship, and various supplies were loaded. However, the main task of the crew was to place on the cruiser the Grand Duke, his retinues and servants, as well as 200 students of non-commissioned officers, 70 Yung, 16 ship midshipmen, one officer over the set, orchestra. In this case, it was necessary to take into account the presence on board of a full-time crew of 570 people. And although the time was running out, by the appointed time all the necessary was completed.

September 8 "Aurora" came to Revel, where the fleet commander conducted a thorough inspection of the cruiser, was again satisfied with his condition and gave a warm farewell to the crew before going to shore. In the evening, the cruiser was removed from the anchor. The ships and ships on the Revel raid accompanied him by lifting signals with the wishes of a happy voyage.

While sailing on the ship, in parallel with studies, carrying the watch of the watch, preparations for receiving distinguished guests continued. Leaving behind parking in Plymouth and Algeria, according to the transition plan, on September 28 the Aurora arrived in Naples. The following evening, the Grand Duke arrived on a cruiser. At the same time, the news came that the Greek prince was not on the ship. Raising the flag of the Grand Duke and making a ceremonial salute, "Aurora" left the Italian coast. October 5 ship arrived in Port Said and then, passing through the Suez Canal, October 14 arrived in Aden. In all the designated points of the camps for command and officers of the ship, local authorities arranged receptions and meetings, paid visits to the cruiser. This was considered as a kind of diplomatic work in the interests of Russia.

On October 22, the ship entered the Indian Ocean and arrived in Colombo two days later. Because of the strike of the British miners, complications began with the loading of coal. Instead, Singapore had to go to Sabang, where they arrived on November 5, where the ship took the coal, and November 6 went to Singapore.

Exactly at the appointed time, on November 16 at 10 o'clock in the morning, the Aurora anchored in Bangkok's raid. Nearby were the Siamese yacht Makhachakari under the standard of the Duke of Südermanland and his wife Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, the English cruiser Astraea under the standard of the Prince of Teksky, the Japanese cruiser Ibuki, two Siamese gunners. Upon the arrival of the Russian ship, a salute was effected to all standards "in turn, in order of precedence."

Siamese cruise "Aurora"

The Russian envoy and the younger son of the Siamese prince arrived with anchoring on the Aurora. They congratulated the Grand Duke and the crew on a safe arrival. Unfortunately, as GK recalled. Stark, our envoy was far from aware of how the coronation ceremony will take place and who should be officially present. Naturally, all this caused the displeasure of the Grand Duke. It was decided that the grand duke with his retinue and two officers of the ship, including the commander of the Aurora, would go to the celebrations. At about half past eleven on a Siamese yacht, they departed for Bangkok, and there was a lull on the ship.

The days of celebration were four days - from 18 to 21 November. 19 November, on the day of the coronation, was given a salute from 100 volleys. On the roadstead where the ships were stationed, a naval parade was held. When it got dark, the Aurora was decorated with bright illumination. On the same day, on board the Siamese gunboat for officers of the ships who arrived at the celebrations, they gave a dinner, during which conversations were conducted solely on maritime subjects, not a word was said about the war, the Japanese (and the Russian-Japanese war had recently ended) Stark's memories, "behaved immaculately." Later, Russian sailors staged a return dinner in honor of the officers of the Siamese canlodka, who also passed in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

On November 20, a group of Aurora officers visited Bangkok, examined the exotic city, the royal palace, took part in festive ceremonies, although not as officials, but simply private guests. An interesting characteristic given by G.K. Starck to the King of Siam, then ascended the throne: Stark reported that the prince was educated in England and is considered a learned man. The first reform he did when he ascended the throne was to dissolve the harem of the old king, in which there were 300 wives. He attached the children to the poorhouse, and simply kicked everyone else away. He himself is a bachelor, and does not want to marry, which, it seems, does not like his subjects. The army of Siam at that time consisted of 30 thousand people, and all of it was located in the capital of the state. In addition to the official army, the king had a regular, so-called tiger army. Representatives of famous Siamese surnames served in it, "from boys 10-12 years to old generals." They all wore the original beautiful form. Nobody obliged them to serve, but everyone considered it an honor to be a "tiger."

The lower ranks of the cruiser also went ashore. Their behavior was impeccable. However, in the spirit of the time, it was not without a serious incident. A dozen sailors "Aurora", who were on the shore, received acute food poisoning. Two of them died. The ship's doctor was afraid that this might be an outbreak of cholera, and on the ship they quickly took preventive measures. Dead sailors were buried in the Bangkok cemetery. These sad events overshadowed the stay of the ship in the Kingdom of Siam. On the ship, the official reception and participation of officials from the crew of the cruiser in a number of receptions on the coast was canceled.

On the evening of November 30, the Grand Duke returned to the cruiser with his retinue, the Aurora raised the anchor and went home. In Singapore, a solemn ritual of production for the officers of the naval midshipmen of the Marine Corps took place on the ship. The Grand Duke warmly congratulated the pupils of the oldest naval educational institution with the assignment of the first officer title of midshipman. A ceremonial breakfast was arranged for the young officers. "Now," noted G. K. Stark in his diary, "an 48 man was already sitting at the table in the mess-room."

When crossing the equator on the ship, they staged a traditional holiday of Neptune. "God of the seas and oceans" congratulated all those who first crossed the zero parallel of our planet. Then there was "baptism" - everyone was thrown into a large bath made of an awning. They started with the Grand Duke, ended up as sailors. The latter was thrown into the water, much to the delight a lively little piglet. In the evening, they had a magnificent dinner at which, it was the only time during the voyage, there were alcoholic drinks on the table. "



The new, 1912, year, the crew of the Aurora met in Colombo. On the ship was a decorated Christmas tree. The Grand Duke handed out gifts to the whole team, and the mess-room presented the perfect brother for the bastard of an old Siamese work. In the evening, for the crew members a concert of the orchestra and "ship talents" took place.

Passing the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and Port Said, the 2 February cruiser arrived at the Greek port of Piraeus. Here he was visited by the Russian mission. February 11 in Naples on the ship arrived Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna, who handed over the commander of the Aurora and some officers of the cruiser of the order "for faithful service." February 22, wishing the crew success in their further service, the Aurora left the Grand Duke. It seemed that the ship, which was no longer burdened by the presence of distinguished guests, could return to its native shores. He fulfilled his mission. However, on February 19, the cruiser commander received a telegram: go to Crete. He began his service as a senior Russian stationer on this island in the bay of the Court.

The presence of the Aurora in a foreign port to demonstrate the military presence was determined by the international situation of that time. Officially then Crete belonged to Turkey, but was populated mainly by Greeks, who sought to join Greece. In order to support the interests of Turkey, the "Protecting Powers" of Crete (England, Russia, and France) blocked the island in order to prevent the deputies of Crete from entering Greece, where Parliament considered the inclusion of the island into the Greek state. Despite this “wardship”, 15 of April 20 of Cretan deputies tried to leave the island on a steamer. However, they were intercepted at sea by the English cruiser Minerva. Seven deputies were sent to the Aurora for maintenance as prisoners until the completion of the work of the Greek parliament. However, it is worth noting that on the Russian ship the deputies were kept for a whole month, far from being prisoners. They even came to the mess-room along with the officers. But this was already the decision of the cruiser commander, and not the Petersburg dignitaries at all.

On March 7, a telegram arrived on the ship, which the Navy Minister recalled Senior Lieutenant GK Stark to Russia. Having relocated to the Khivinets canal ship, he reached Piraeus, and from there by boat to his native Kronstadt. The cruiser also lingered for a long time, performing a difficult diplomatic watch, and returned to Kronstadt only on July 16 of the year 1912.

Sources:
Polenov L. Cruiser Aurora. L .: Shipbuilding, 1987. With 150-156.
Boykov L. Campaign "Aurora" in Bangkok // Sea Fleet. 1983. No.3. C.42-44.
Avraamov G. Diplomatic mission "Aurora" // Sea collection. 1992. No.10. C.57-58.
Gavrilenko A. “Morning dawn” of the Russian fleet // Red Star. 7 February 2007.
Polenov L. One Hundred Years in Fleet Lists. SPb .: Island, 2003. C. 136-138.
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  1. +9
    29 July 2016 07: 07
    I wonder why "Aurora"? Not the most modern ship (so that it looks spectacular at the holiday next to the British and French), not the fastest (so that the Grand Duke does not suffer from seasickness for extra days), and without a flagship cabin (where the prince would stay comfortably). The second cruiser "Rurik" would be more suitable. There was a flagship cabin, and the flag would have been shown in the East with dignity. Like, after the defeat in the Russian-Japanese war, we can still snap back in this region, if necessary.
    1. +4
      29 July 2016 11: 09
      Quote: qwert
      I wonder why "Aurora"? Not the most modern ship (so that it looks spectacular at the holiday next to the British and French), not the fastest (so that the Grand Duke does not suffer from seasickness for extra days), and without a flagship cabin (where the prince would stay comfortably). The second cruiser "Rurik" would be more suitable.

      Send the BF flagship, the only new cruiser and one of the three combat-ready ships of the LK brigade (despite the fact that the two remaining ones are "Slava" and "Tsarevich"), send the BF flagship, the only new cruiser and one of the three combat-ready ships?
      In addition, in 1910, the "Rurik" was found to have problems with the watertightness of the hatches, and in 1911 he managed to touch the ground on the back and forth well-worn fairway.

      At this point, the question should be asked rather - why was not "Russia" sent or "Thunderbolt", which came out of overhaul in 1911?
    2. +4
      29 July 2016 11: 44
      Quote: qwert
      I wonder why "Aurora"?

      Maybe because only reliable sailors were selected for the ships of the Marine Corps training detachment? I have a lot of assumptions, but I think this is the most realistic. Since looking through Polenov's book "Cruiser Aurora", I found only this explanation. << Continuous overseas voyages of the ship contributed to the penetration of the cruiser of forbidden literature and contacts of the team with revolutionaries who, during the years of the Black Hundred reaction that began in Russia, fled from persecution abroad. For all the sailors noticed reading forbidden literature, secret supervision was established, which was carried out by the most trusted conductors and non-commissioned officers, as well as agents of the gendarme office specially introduced into the team. So, V. A. Belli recalled that after the revolution, P. N. Leskov told him about the boatswain Rubtsov, who was just such an agent and served under a false name. >> "I found this material at Polenov. Unfortunately, V. .Kravchenko, the doctor of Aurora in Tsushima, end in 1910. Sorry, this is all I could find. And in conclusion: The ways and thoughts of the authorities are inscrutable. We can only guess why it did so and not otherwise.
      1. +3
        29 July 2016 16: 50
        Quote: Amurets
        Maybe because only trustworthy sailors were selected on the ships of the training squad of the Marine Corps


        “- in the fall, on the outgoing foreign cruiser“ Aurora ”, on which it was supposed to finish their training in the spring of 1911. Such an order reduces the training time for future combatant non-commissioned officers by almost 1 1/2 years.
        At the beginning of the reporting year, the training team consisted of 300 new recruits, of which 273 were sent to sail in the fall on the cruiser Aurora. Report on the Ministry of the Sea for 1910

        “Autumn Rossiya sailed with the Cruiser Brigade and on November 9 entered the winter reserve in Kronstadt.
        On August 9, Bogatyr entered Kronstadt for steam heating and started overhaul of the boiler.
        The cruisers Oleg and Diana were located at the beginning of the year at steam heating in St. Petersburg, and overhaul. “Diana” was transferred during the month of June from Peterburg to Kronstadt and remained there until the end of the reporting year. “Oleg” remained in St. Petersburg until October, entered the armed reserve in the fall, having completed its repairs, on November 1 began campaigning and went away for the winter to the Port of Emperor Alexander III, for the production of trials.
        Aurora stood in the month of August in Kronstadt in reserve. In August the month cruiser Aurora was elected to be sent to the ceremony at Bankok. It was decided that this voyage was used for the training of students of non-commissioned non-commissioned officers and jungs. Having accepted all the students and the 15th ship, the midshipman, the cruiser left Kronstadt for the appointment on September 8. " Report on the Ministry of the Sea for 1911.

        It seems to me a lot easier. Aurora was already equipped to receive additional l / s. The cruiser "Russia" had to be converted, the rest of the ships were engaged in repairs. That is the whole reason.
        1. +1
          29 July 2016 17: 43
          Quote: 27091965i
          It seems to me a lot easier. Aurora was already equipped to receive additional l / s. The cruiser "Russia" had to be converted, the rest of the ships were engaged in repairs. That is the whole reason.

          What about Thunderbolt? He just came out of the overhaul in 1911.
          1. 0
            29 July 2016 19: 52
            Quote: Alexey RA
            What about Thunderbolt? He just came out of the overhaul in 1911


            Thunderbolt was part of another cruiser brigade; "Thunderbolt", "Pallada", "Bayan" and "Admiral Makarov". The brigade performed the whole company as separate voyages and together with a brigade of battleships. In September, both brigades set off on a joint voyage to the shores of Denmark. The cruiser "Russia" was also added to them.
    3. +1
      29 July 2016 17: 42
      Quote: qwert
      I wonder why "Aurora"? Not the most modern ship (so that it looks spectacular at the holiday next to the British and French), not the fastest (so that the Grand Duke does not suffer from seasickness for extra days), and without a flagship cabin (where the prince would stay comfortably). The second cruiser "Rurik" would be more suitable. There was a flagship cabin, and the flag would have been shown in the East with dignity. Like, after the defeat in the Russian-Japanese war, we can still snap back in this region, if necessary.

      Your question raises another: in front of whom did you look spectacular at the holiday next to the British and French? I did not see the French, and the English cruiser is smaller than Aurora and is armed in any way. Japanese. Rurik would look almost on an equal footing with him, but as they have already said here "to slurp kissel for seven miles." And almost ... Rather, the idea was: Tsushima's student shines, and we don't care about anything. By the way, photo-2 in a tropical color has nothing to do with Siam. Guns without shields and only 8 pcs 6 ", should be 10. This is a photo from tests.
  2. +9
    29 July 2016 07: 44
    The last long voyage of the Aurora was sailing around the Scandinavian Peninsula, in August 1930 .... Thank you, great stuff ...
  3. +2
    29 July 2016 10: 38
    However, the main task of the crew was to place the Grand Duke, his retinue and servants on the cruiser

    H. from the hillock. And the main task was not to produce "goddesses", but something really worth building.
    1. +3
      29 July 2016 11: 18
      Quote: Yarik
      H. from the hillock. And the main task was not to produce "goddesses", but something really worth building.

      Duc ... "goddesses" are a good example of the fact that the best is the enemy of the good. Started with "small high-speed armored cruisers"continued"Russian Talbots", and as a result of numerous modifications, revisions and improvements, they received" sleepy goddesses ".

      In general, of course, it's funny - at the design stage, they fought overload and reduced the artillery to 8 * 6 "(plus the crowd of 75 mm). But in fact, it turned out that you can put as much as 14 * 6" on the CD.
      1. 0
        29 July 2016 17: 39
        Quote: Alexey RA
        Duc ... "goddesses" are a good example of the fact that the best is the enemy of the good.

        Goddess (as well as relights and Stormbreaker), this is an example of the fact that you can’t make candy out of gov ***.
        In Russia at the end of the 19th century there were no normal ship vehicles. The old ones are completely out of date. And new licenses were purchased later. Therefore, they perverted as soon as they could.
        We can see an example of a "correct squadron battleship of extreme Russian capabilities" in Sisoy. This is an absolutely correctly (classically) built armored ship for linear combat. But taking into account the frail Russian "battleship" machines, and also because of the need to give it the minimum permissible 16 knot speed, it is bitten everywhere to impossibility. True, as a result of the clumsy design and construction, this "stub" did not give the design speed, despite the machines delivering the design power, did not give it. Yes, and he was, do not understand what. And all searches for analogues in Royal Flint are just empty Internet speculations.
        Roughly the same thing, with the same machines, and built according to the same correct (really correct, classical) scheme, but in the execution of a "smaller armored ship", but we can see it faster on the example of "Admiral Nakhimov". And again the clumsy design and construction, and again the design capacity of the machines, and again the lack of speed.
        There were also Russian "cruising" cars. What could have happened with their use at the end of the 19th century can be seen in the example of Donskoy. And what about the beginning of the 20th century, for example, Diamond.
        Roughly the same as Donskoy, but with "battleship" vehicles, we can see the example of the Memory of Azov.
        In addition, Monomakh and Rurik were built according to "raider" schemes and with Russian "cruiser" vehicles. Monomakh, as an ersatz-cut (it was a strange apparatus, although there was some "interesting idea" in its design). Rurik as a full-fledged raider.
        The rest of the large ships of the RIF of those times with domestic propulsion systems (except for the Black Sea Fleet and if I have not forgotten anyone) were built according to the "cunning" scheme.
        Of course, nothing good could come of this "twisting". And licenses (and before that, and imported cars) ultimately had to be bought anyway. But before that, a noticeable number of RIF ships were built deliberately flawed. These are goddesses (3 pieces), overexposures (3 pieces) and Thunderbolt. The situation with Russia is complicated, so the concept itself was cunning (5 - !!!! machines and 3 shafts).
        Quote: Alexey RA
        And in fact it turned out that you can put as much as 14 * 6 "on the CD.

        Here we need to understand how this was done. And this was done due to the range in a combat-ready state. The result is a coaster armored carriage. Or "a cruiser for the Baltic Sea", to use a colorful expression.
      2. 0
        29 July 2016 23: 09
        Quote: Alexey RA
        They started with "small high-speed armored cruisers", continued with "Russian Talbots", and as a result of numerous modifications, revisions and improvements, they got "sleepy goddesses".

        Sobsna Talbot is not particularly busy here. If we decompose the goddesses into basic dimensions, then we can easily and simply see that these are scaled Svetlans. What, in general, is clear, there were 3 pcs of machines and shafts, and they had to be put in somewhere with the periphery.
        Svetlana, this is a separate conversation. Why did Russia need an imported colonial cruiser (aka a hospital cruiser, a large escort ship during the war), this is a big Paraguayan secret. After all, Russia did not have overseas colonies. And the role of cruiser-inpatients all over the world has traditionally been fulfilled by any military junk, such as Donskoy, Monomakh, or the Memory of Azov. Actually, only those countries that had these very colonies and lacked such junk built the cruiser-inpatients. But this is clearly not about Russia.
        But with the construction of the goddesses, no Paraguayan secret is visible. Yes, Russia did not need these very specific ships (stationary cruisers). But it was necessary to somehow "master the means". So they mastered them. Of course, this is only a guess. But it is very similar to the truth.
        And finally. In Chemulpo, the only large cruiser-fighter Varyag in the RIF was sent to the role of a hospital steward (there was one more small fighter, Boyarin). Meanwhile, as many as 2 full-time in-patient cruisers, Pallas and Diana, were hanging out in Port Arthur.
        Quote: qwert
        There was a flagship cabin and a flag in the East would be demonstrated with dignity. Like, and after the defeat in the Russian-Japanese, we can still snap back in this region, if necessary.

        Such show-off can only convince boys from a special school. And even then, not all. And the conclusions about the true "naval power" of Russia in those years were drawn somewhat earlier, based on the results of the RYA. And they were not going to change their opinion on this topic without good reason.
        1. +1
          2 August 2016 10: 06
          Quote: oking
          Sobsna Talbot is not particularly busy here. If we decompose the goddesses into basic dimensions, then we can easily and simply see that these are scaled Svetlans.

          The 4th version of the project of the future "goddesses" was made just on the basis of "Talbot".
          The sketches reviewed and approved by the ITC a few days later, on May 11, were presented to the Chief of the Fleet and the Naval Department, Admiral General Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich (brother of Tsar Alexander III). In addition, the fourth version of the cruiser with a displacement of 6000 tons and a speed of 20 knots was also proposed. An analogue for this option was the latest English cruiser Talbot.

          The draft calculations stored in the Leningrad Historical Archive in the funds of the Baltic Shipyard give the right to consider K.K. Ratnik himself to be the initiator of this version of the project, who headed the group of designers working on the project, i.e., resorting to modern terminology, probably K.K. Ratnik was the chief designer of the cruiser.

          In accordance with the draft calculations of K.K. Ratnik, the cruiser with a displacement of 6000 tons was to have a length of 118,26 m, a width of 16,92 m and a draft of 5,9 m. The ship was supposed to be armed with two 203 mm guns (one on the forecastle and one on the utah ), eight 152-mm guns on the upper deck (four on each side), twenty seven 57-mm guns (ten on the upper and battery decks, and seven on Mars and bridges).

          It was this version of the 6000-ton cruiser, approved by Admiral General, that was the basis for the design with the instructions to replace the "8-inch end guns with 6-inch ones."

          Quote: oking
          Svetlana, this is a separate conversation. Why did Russia need an imported colonial cruiser (aka a hospital cruiser, a large escort ship during the war), this is a big Paraguayan secret.

          So, "Svetlana" is like a cruiser yacht. Alexey Alexandrovich.
          ... the admiral general expressed a desire to build a yacht for him, which could "accompany the imperial yacht to go to Copenhagen." As for the combat purpose of such a ship, for the head of the Russian Navy this did not matter much, since the ship "could serve for other purposes as well."
          (...)
          ... July 26, 1894, members of the ITC approved the tactical and technical requirements for the grand-ducal yacht, qualifying it as a cruiser with 4000 tons of displacement.

          And in the case of V.K.A.A. ordering a yacht gave the fleet at least some ship. But the construction of one of the imperial yachts was done instead of the VSKR, and the other - instead of the Kyrgyz Republic.
          1. 0
            2 August 2016 10: 52
            Quote: Alexey RA
            The 4th version of the project of future "goddesses" was made just on the basis of "Talbot"

            In vain, as "proofs" you bring me extracts from the opuses of historians of technical sciences. I am writing to you as it is, you'd better listen.
            Maybe a little later, if I find it, I will lay out a plate with Talbot, Diana and Svetlana "laid out". Everything is clear there without words.
            Besides, how could Talbot be taken as a "base" if there were no blueprints for him in Russia? And Svetlana's drawings were just there.
            And then, at least slightly similar ships in Russia, it was customary to call the same name. Svetlana, Diana, Pallas ... Really it seems? And it does not look like Varangian, Bogatyr or Boyarin.
            Quote: Alexey RA
            So, "Svetlana" is like a cruiser yacht. Alexey Alexandrovich.

            There are no such people. Only in the minds of historians of technical sciences. And the layout features, well, they were. And the idea was far from meaningless. And since under the Council of Deputies it was customary to criticize the "accursed autocracy" in every possible way, so they came up with reasons. Who is in that much.
            Quote: Alexey RA
            And in the case of V.K.A.A. ordering a yacht gave the fleet at least some ship. But the construction of one of the imperial yachts was done instead of the VSKR, and the other - instead of the Kyrgyz Republic.

            Imperial yachts and warships were financed under various budget lines. And it was impossible to build a yacht instead of a cruiser. This is again gossip from the series "about damned tsarism."
            1. +1
              2 August 2016 14: 40
              Quote: oking
              Imperial yachts and warships were financed under various budget lines. And it was impossible to build a yacht instead of a cruiser. This is again gossip from the series "about damned tsarism."
              Of course gossip - after all, in the RCMP there could never be such a thing:
              To replenish the Voluntary Fleet in 1892, the Russian government ordered the Danish shipbuilding company Burmeister or Vine a new cruiser. In October 1893, when his hull was already on the slipway, Alexander III, who was visiting Denmark, unexpectedly decided to convert it into an imperial yacht. In connection with the processing of the project, construction was interrupted for almost six months. The work was carried out under the supervision of a ship engineer N.V. Dolgorukov and a mechanical engineer N.A. Pastukhov.

              And here is another "cruiser yacht" - "Polar Star" - which, unlike the grand-ducal "Svetlana", became a pure yacht in the end:
              By August 1886, the Baltic Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Mechanical Plant in St. Petersburg, which had received the assignment for the design of the “cruiser yacht” in 1884, had completed the development of a technical project. Approved by I.A.Shestakov in March 1887, it was submitted to the Naval Technical Committee for approval by the Naval Technical Committee, which approved it on June 3, 1887. When designing a cruiser yacht, the plant used the drawings of the British cruisers Iris and Mercury “as the most technically studied” as a prototype.

              The specifications of the designed ship were modeled on the data of the English cruisers Leander and Mersey. The project was supposed to protect boilers, two steam engines with a total capacity of 6000 hp. and the ammunition cellar with deck armor 38,1 mm thick. The armament of the ship was to consist of eight 152-mm, four 107-mm guns, six 47-mm guns of Hotchkiss and two mine (torpedo) airborne vehicles in the bow and stern. With a total displacement of 3750 tons, the highest speed should have been 17 knots, and the cruising range at an economic speed of 8 knots was determined to be 12 miles.

              With further detailed development of the project, I.A.Shestakov demanded "... not to sacrifice the convenience of the yacht for the sake of its cruising purpose." The greatest attention was paid to architectural and aesthetic issues, and, in particular, the forms of the extremities of the vessel being worked out on models.

              During the construction, they refused deck-based armor protection, finally deciding to use the ship "... exclusively for the yacht service." Of the artillery, only six 107-mm guns remained, later replaced by four 47-mm guns of Hotchkiss.

              By the way, at the cost of the "Star":
              The total cost of the yacht amounted to 3 rubles, while the cruiser of the 557st rank “Memory of Azov”, which was being built at the same time, having a speed of only 100 knots, cost 17 rubles, including the cost of artillery.
              1. 0
                2 August 2016 15: 28
                Quote: Alexey RA
                Of course gossip

                Sure. The fact is that in the course of construction it became clear that the product of the Danish shipbuilding company Burmeister or Vine was not needed in Russia. So they came up with "spontaneously" to remake it. By the way, if one more product from the same "eminent manufacturer" (the small fighter cruiser Boyarin) had not been built for the RIF, then no one would have noticed it. The boat was a little strange. And the first, apparently, too.
                Quote: Alexey RA
                And here is another "cruiser yacht" - "Polar Star" - which, unlike the grand-ducal "Svetlana", eventually became a pure yacht

                Well, who knows what? Yacht cruiser, this combination is already marasmic in itself. Yachts in wartime usually served as advice notes, and nothing more.
                Quote: Alexey RA
                By the way, at the cost of the "Star":

                You are trying to compare incomparable things. So you don’t wonder why the Rolls-Royce costs more than any Gazelle. Luxury has always been worth the money. Large.
                1. +1
                  2 August 2016 19: 33
                  Quote: oking
                  You are trying to compare incomparable things. So you don’t wonder why the Rolls-Royce costs more than any Gazelle. Luxury has always been worth the money. Large.

                  Compare a rank 1 cruiser with a gazelle? Original ... smile

                  In short, if in the case of "Svetlana", V.K.A.A. received a yacht, and the fleet - a cruiser, then a pair of imperial yachts remained large expensive toys for summer holidays.

                  By the way, one of them turned out to be a good minzag, and the second - a headquarters ship. smile
    2. +3
      29 July 2016 11: 55
      Quote: Yarik

      H. from the hillock. And the main task was not to produce "goddesses", but something really worth building.

      I will not groan or praise. Just see for yourself books about armored cruisers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. What was there different type. And there are a lot of books on this subject in the internet.
      1. 0
        29 July 2016 17: 16
        There is hardly anything that I have not read yet. wink
  4. 0
    29 July 2016 16: 15
    By style of presentation, I immediately guessed who the author was. Thank you for the article.
  5. +2
    29 July 2016 19: 19
    "Aurora" under repair in Kronstadt, next to "Krasin".

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