Russian battleship Sevastopol (1895)

The Sevastopol was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the Petropavlovsk-class built for the Imperial Russian Navy in the mid-1890s. Along with her sister ships Petropavlovsk and Poltava, she was designed to overwhelm any existing foreign battleship in the Baltic Sea.

Design and Construction:

The Petropavlovsk-class battleships were designed with a focus on firepower and protection. Sevastopol displaced around 11,000 tons and featured a high freeboard, considered advantageous for seakeeping. She was armed with four 12-inch guns in two twin turrets, twelve 6-inch guns in casemates, and a number of smaller quick-firing guns for defense against torpedo boats. Her armor scheme was comprehensive, using Harvey armor for improved protection compared to earlier steel types. Sevastopol was constructed at the Galern Island yard in Saint Petersburg.

Service History:

Sevastopol entered service with the Baltic Fleet in 1899. She primarily served in the Baltic, participating in fleet maneuvers and training exercises. During the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), she remained in the Baltic to guard against a potential German attack, as the Russian fleet was severely weakened by the losses in the Far East.

Following the Russo-Japanese War, Sevastopol underwent a modernization program in the early 1910s. This involved upgrading her fire control systems and improving her underwater protection.

During World War I, Sevastopol served in the Baltic against the German fleet. She participated in several engagements, including the Battle of Moon Sound in 1917.

Fate:

Following the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, the Sevastopol became part of the Soviet Navy. In 1918, to prevent her from falling into German hands, she was transferred to Kronstadt. She was renamed Parizhskaya Kommuna in 1921. Later she was transferred to the Black Sea Fleet. Parizhskaya Kommuna was heavily modernized in the 1930s. She saw active service during World War II in the Black Sea, supporting Soviet troops and bombarding Axis positions. She survived the war and was eventually scrapped in the late 1950s after being renamed Sevastopol again in 1943.