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Rurik (1906)
Encyclopedia
The Rurik (Рюрик) was an armoured cruiser built for the Imperial Russian Navy
in 1906.
in Barrow in Furness, England. Laid down August 1905, launched 4 November 1906, completed July 1909. The Russian Navy was not usually a customer of British shipyards. She is named in honour of Rurik
, the semi-legendary founder of ancient Russia.
Unlike her previous namesake, Rurik (1892)
, she has been described as one of the best armoured cruisers built, with advanced sprinkler protection for the magazines. She was designed by KA Tennison and AP Titov, and the contract was arranged by Basil Zaharoff
. The ship had a prolonged work-up while defects were rectified.
There was a plan to build two more ships in Russia, but this was cancelled after the first battlecruiser, HMS Invincible, entered service.
Gunnery trials revealed that the fastenings on the 10 inches (25.4 cm) and 8 inches (20.3 cm) barbettes were insufficiently strong and were deformed during firing. Vickers was forced to reinforce the turrets. The work was done in Kronstadt after delivery.
made by Vickers. The 254 mm turrets were protected by 8 inches (203.2 mm) plate, and the 203 mm turrets were protected by 7 inches (177.8 mm) plate. The main belt was 500 feet (152.4 m) long and extended to 5 feet (1.5 m) below mean water line. There was also an upper belt, 3 inches (7.6 cm) thick, which extended to the 120 mm gun battery. Each 120 mm gun had 1 inches (2.5 cm) armour screens and was separated by 1-inch armour from neighbouring guns. The forward conning tower was protected by 8 inches (20.3 cm) armour, and the after conning tower was protected by 5 inches (12.7 cm) armour.
mile she reached 21.43 knots, developing 20,580 hp.
, where she represented Russia at the coronation of King Nicholas of Montenegro
She was the flagship of the Baltic Fleet
during World War I
and saw much action, being damaged by mines on several occasions. The ship was worn out by 1918, she was hulked in 1922 and sold for scrapping in 1930.
Imperial Russian Navy
The Imperial Russian Navy refers to the Tsarist fleets prior to the February Revolution.-First Romanovs:Under Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich, construction of the first three-masted ship, actually built within Russia, was completed in 1636. It was built in Balakhna by Danish shipbuilders from Holstein...
in 1906.
Design and construction
She is unusual in that she was built by VickersVickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
in Barrow in Furness, England. Laid down August 1905, launched 4 November 1906, completed July 1909. The Russian Navy was not usually a customer of British shipyards. She is named in honour of Rurik
Rurik
Rurik, or Riurik , was a semilegendary 9th-century Varangian who founded the Rurik dynasty which ruled Kievan Rus and later some of its successor states, most notably the Tsardom of Russia, until 1598....
, the semi-legendary founder of ancient Russia.
Unlike her previous namesake, Rurik (1892)
Rurik (1892)
The Rurik was an armoured cruiser built for the Imperial Russian Navy in 1895. She was named in honour of Rurik, the semi-legendary founder of ancient Russia...
, she has been described as one of the best armoured cruisers built, with advanced sprinkler protection for the magazines. She was designed by KA Tennison and AP Titov, and the contract was arranged by Basil Zaharoff
Basil Zaharoff
Basil Zaharoff, GCB, GBE , born Zacharias Basileios Zacharoff, was an arms dealer and financier...
. The ship had a prolonged work-up while defects were rectified.
There was a plan to build two more ships in Russia, but this was cancelled after the first battlecruiser, HMS Invincible, entered service.
Armament
The main armament consisted of four 10 inches (25.4 cm) guns in two turrets, and the secondary armament consisted of eight 8 inches (20.3 cm) guns in four twin turrets located at the corners of the superstructure. These guns were built by Vickers. The anti-torpedo boat armament comprised twenty 120 mm guns in casemates. There were also four 1.85 inches (4.7 cm) guns and two 18 inches (45.7 cm) torpedo tubes.Gunnery trials revealed that the fastenings on the 10 inches (25.4 cm) and 8 inches (20.3 cm) barbettes were insufficiently strong and were deformed during firing. Vickers was forced to reinforce the turrets. The work was done in Kronstadt after delivery.
Protection
All plate was Krupp armourKrupp armour
Krupp armour was a type of steel armour used in the construction of capital ships starting shortly before the end of the 19th century. It was developed by Germany's Krupp Arms Works in 1893 and quickly replaced Harvey armour as the primary method of protecting naval ships.The initial manufacturing...
made by Vickers. The 254 mm turrets were protected by 8 inches (203.2 mm) plate, and the 203 mm turrets were protected by 7 inches (177.8 mm) plate. The main belt was 500 feet (152.4 m) long and extended to 5 feet (1.5 m) below mean water line. There was also an upper belt, 3 inches (7.6 cm) thick, which extended to the 120 mm gun battery. Each 120 mm gun had 1 inches (2.5 cm) armour screens and was separated by 1-inch armour from neighbouring guns. The forward conning tower was protected by 8 inches (20.3 cm) armour, and the after conning tower was protected by 5 inches (12.7 cm) armour.
Machinery
The power plant consisted of two four-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines and twenty-eight Belleville type boilers. On trials at the SkelmorlieSkelmorlie
Skelmorlie is a village in North Ayrshire, Scotland.Although it is the northernmost settlement in the council area of North Ayrshire it is contiguous with Wemyss Bay, which is in Inverclyde. The dividing line is the Kelly Burn, which flows into the Firth of Clyde just south of the Rothesay ferry...
mile she reached 21.43 knots, developing 20,580 hp.
Service
Rurik was commissioned in 1908. She carried out a deployment to the Mediterranean in company with the battleships Tsesarevich and SlavaRussian battleship Slava
Slava was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the Imperial Russian Navy, the last of the five s. Commissioned too late to participate in the Battle of Tsushima during the Russo-Japanese War, she survived while all of her sister ships were either sunk during the battle or surrendered to the Imperial...
, where she represented Russia at the coronation of King Nicholas of Montenegro
Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nikola I Mirkov Petrović-Njegoš was the only king of Montenegro, reigning as king from 1910 to 1918 and as prince from 1860 to 1910. He was also a poet, notably penning "Onamo, 'namo!", a popular song from Montenegro.-Early life:Nikola was born in the village of Njeguši, the ancient home of the...
She was the flagship of the Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and saw much action, being damaged by mines on several occasions. The ship was worn out by 1918, she was hulked in 1922 and sold for scrapping in 1930.
See also
- Russian frigate Rurik (1851)Russian frigate Rurik (1851)The Rurik was a steam-powered frigate of the Imperial Russian Navy. She was ordered by the Senate of the Grand Duchy of Finland for the Finnish naval equipage . She was named in honour of Rurik, the semi-legendary founder of ancient Russia.Rurik was designed by Johan Eberhard von Schantz...
- Russian cruiser Rurik (1892) - predecessor ship sunk at the Battle of Ulsan