Intro
Uncover the formidable Russian battlecruisers of WW1, exploring the Borodino-class, Izmail, Krasnyi Krym, and Kinburn. Learn about their design, armament, and service history, highlighting their role in the Russian Navy during World War I. Discover the strengths and weaknesses of these warships, and how they impacted naval warfare during the Great War.
The Russian Navy played a significant role in World War I, and its battlecruisers were some of the most impressive warships of their time. Here are four Russian battlecruisers of World War I that you need to know:
Early Years of Russian Battlecruisers
The Russian Navy's interest in battlecruisers began in the early 1900s, when the Admiralty Board recognized the need for faster, more heavily armed warships. The Board was influenced by the British Royal Navy's development of battlecruisers, which were designed to outrun and outgun enemy battleships. Russia's first battlecruiser, the Kursovie Tzar, was laid down in 1909 but was cancelled due to World War I.
The Four Russian Battlecruisers of WW1
Here are four Russian battlecruisers of World War I that played significant roles in the war:
1. Borodino-class battlecruiser Izmail
Izmail's Design and Construction
The Izmail was the lead ship of the Borodino class, a series of four battlecruisers built by the Russian Navy during World War I. The class was designed to counter the German Navy's Derfflinger-class battlecruisers. The Izmail was laid down in 1912 and launched in 1915. However, she was not completed until 1917, due to delays caused by the war.
2. Borodino-class battlecruiser Kinburn
Kinburn's Career
The Kinburn was the second ship of the Borodino class and was laid down in 1912. She was launched in 1915 but was not completed until 1917. The Kinburn served in the Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet during World War I. After the Russian Revolution, she was seized by the Bolsheviks and served in the Soviet Navy.
3. Borodino-class battlecruiser Navarin
Navarin's Fate
The Navarin was the third ship of the Borodino class and was laid down in 1912. She was launched in 1916 but was not completed until 1917. The Navarin was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boats in 1915, before she could be completed.
4. Borodino-class battlecruiser Sulim
Sulim's Design and Construction
The Sulim was the fourth and final ship of the Borodino class. She was laid down in 1913 but was not completed until 1917. The Sulim was designed to be the fastest and most heavily armed ship of the class. However, she was not completed in time to see action during World War I.
Legacy of Russian Battlecruisers
The Russian battlecruisers of World War I played a significant role in the development of the Soviet Navy's battlecruiser program. The Soviet Union built several battlecruisers in the 1930s and 1940s, including the Kirov-class and Sverdlov-class battlecruisers. These ships served in the Soviet Navy during World War II and the Cold War.
Gallery of Russian Battlecruisers
Russian Battlecruisers Image Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main purpose of Russian battlecruisers in World War I?
+The main purpose of Russian battlecruisers in World War I was to counter the German Navy's battlecruisers and to provide gunfire support for the Russian Army.
How many Russian battlecruisers were built during World War I?
+Four Russian battlecruisers were built during World War I, all of which belonged to the Borodino class.
What was the fate of the Russian battlecruiser Navarin?
+The Russian battlecruiser Navarin was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boats in 1915, before she could be completed.