Borodino-class battleship

The Borodino Class or Suvorov Class was a class of Russian Pre-dreadnought battleships. There were five ships built in 1899 to 1903 and four of them were lost to Japan in the Battle of Tsushima.

Borodino

Built by the Admiralty yard (St.Petersburg). Laid down July 1899, launched Sep 1901, completed Aug 1904. This ship was named after the Battle of Borodino. Sunk at Tsushima on 27 May 1905 with only one survivor.

Imperator Alexander III

Built by Baltic Works (St.Petersburg). Laid down July 1899, launched Nov 1903, completed Aug 1903. This ship was named after Czar Alexander III of Russia. Sunk at Tsushima on 27 May 1905.

Orel

Built by Galernii yard St.Petersburg. Laid down 1900, Launched July 1902, completed October 1904. Orel is the Russian for "eagle". Captured by the Japanese after sustaining heavy damage at Tsushima and extensively re-built. Served as the Iwami in the Imperial Japanese Navy and scrapped in 1922.

Knyaz Suvorov

Built by Baltic Works (St.Petersburg). Laid down July 1901, launched Sep 1902, completed Sep 1904. This ship was named after the great 18th-century Russian general Alexander Suvorov. Sunk at Tsushima on 27 May 1905.

Slava

Built by Baltic Works (St.Petersburg). Laid down Oct 1902, launched Aug 1903, completed June 1905. Slava is the Russian for "glory". Completed too late to serve in the Russo-Japanese war. Served in the Baltic during World War I. Scuttled after sustaining heavy damage during the Battle of Moon Sound on 17 October 1917.

Design

Some naval architects regard these as one of the worst battleships ever built. Based on the Tsesarevich by the French YardLa Seyne, the ships suffered from instability having a high centre of gravity (made worse by overloading). The centre line bulkhead led to a danger of capsizing and a narrow armour belt became submerged due to overloading. The Japanese re-built the Iwami by substantially reducing its top weight and removing the smaller guns.

General characteristics

• Displacement: 13,516 tons designed, 14151 tons at Tsushima
• Length: 397 ft (121 m)
• Beam: 76 ft (23.2 m)
• Draught: 26 ft (7.9 m)
• Armament: 4 x 12 in (305 mm) guns (2x2), 12 x 6 in (152 mm) guns (6x2), 20 x 75 mm (20x1) 20 x 47 mm (20x1) 4 x 15 in (381 mm) torpedo tubes
• Armour: Krupp type - Belt - 7.6 in (193 mm), Turrents 10 in (254 mm) max, deck 2 in (51 mm), 1 in (25 mm) anti-torpedo bulkhead
• Machinery: 2 shafts , vertical triple expansion engines, 12 Bellville Boilers, 15,800 hp (12 MW)
• Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h)
• Endurance: 2590 miles (4000 km)
• Complement: 28 officers, 754 men

References

1. A.Preston, 2002, World's Worst Warships, Conways Maritime Press

2. S.McLaughlin, 2005. Aboard the Orel at Tsushima, in Warship 2005, Conways Maritime Press - based on the memoirs of Leutenant V.P. Kostenko, a Russian officer who survived the Battle.