Russian battleship Petropavlovsk (1894)

The Petropavlovsk was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the Petropavlovsk-class built for the Imperial Russian Navy in the 1890s. Along with her sister ships Sevastopol and Poltava, she was designed as part of a program to modernize the Russian fleet.

Design and Characteristics:

The Petropavlovsk-class battleships were characterized by their relatively low freeboard and powerful armament. They were armed with four 12-inch (305 mm) guns in two twin turrets, one forward and one aft. Secondary armament consisted of twelve 6-inch (152 mm) guns mounted in casemates. A number of smaller quick-firing guns were also carried for defense against torpedo boats. They were powered by steam engines that provided a top speed of around 16-17 knots. Armor protection included a steel belt along the waterline and armored turrets and barbettes.

Service History:

The Petropavlovsk served in the Russian Far East upon completion. She participated in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. On April 13, 1904, while participating in a sortie from Port Arthur, the Petropavlovsk struck a naval mine and sank quickly with the loss of most of her crew, including Vice Admiral Stepan Makarov, a prominent Russian naval commander. The sinking was a significant blow to Russian morale and had a considerable impact on the course of the war.

Significance:

The loss of the Petropavlovsk, along with other Russian warships during the Russo-Japanese War, highlighted the weaknesses of the Imperial Russian Navy and contributed to the growing unrest within Russia that ultimately led to the 1905 Revolution. The wreck of the Petropavlovsk remains on the seabed off Port Arthur (now Lüshunkou, China) and serves as a war grave.