"Tsesarevich" Part I. Squadron battleship. 1899-1906 Melnikov Rafail Mikhailovich

Annex No. 3 Damage to the squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in the battle on July 28, 1904 *

Application No. 3

Compiled in Qingdao in August 1904 by officers of the ship under the leadership of senior officer Captain 2nd Rank Maksimov

* RGAVMF, fund 315, inventory 1, file 1534.

1. A shell that hit the poop on the left side of the left towing bollard pierced the left bulwark with a thickness of 1/3 "[i.e. 8.5 mm - hereinafter ed. note] and exploded when it hit flat on the deck on the poop , as a result of which, over the course of 11 m, its gases tore out the iron sheets of the bulwark and slightly bent the sheets of armor, in addition, it pushed through the wooden and iron decks, making a hole 4 feet 2 1/2 inches long [i.e. approx. 1.3 m] and a width of 2 feet 3 inches [i.e., approx. 0.7 m], but did not break through the beams and stringers, limiting themselves to strong crushing them. This projectile, apparently, was a 6 "high-explosive caliber. Penetrating into the wardroom with the force of gases and fragments, he completely broke the iron desk and pierced the watertight bulkhead with fragments, which is between the rooms of the officers' cabins in the battery deck and the wardroom (the thickness of the waterproof bulkhead is 1/4 "[i.e. 6 mm]. When this projectile burst, 60 conductors were interrupted, laid under a wooden cornice in the wardroom.

2. The second shell on the poop pierced the bulwark of the left side and hit the towing bollard, the wall thickness of which is 2 1/2 "[i.e. 63 mm], and the outer diameter of the bollard is 14 3/4" [i.e. e. 375 mm], as a result of which the shell exploded and pierced the deck on the poop, breaking a piece of beam and stringer, just at the place where they were fastened with corner iron. A hole made in the poop deck, 1 foot 11 inches long [i.e. e. about 1 m] and a width of 1 foot 8 m inches (i.e. 0.53 m]. This projectile killed one person in the head and wounded two who were in the wardroom. One of them had the left hand cut off by a shrapnel arm, and another had a piece of meat torn out in the upper part of the left leg. The wounded were at a distance of 8 m from the place where the shell exploded, while the one killed by a shrapnel in the head was at the ajar doors of the 12 "turret. The armor of the 12" tower, in which dents were obtained, of which the greatest depth was about 1/4 ". Both of the above-described shells hit the battleship from a distance of 36-38 cables at the end of the last battle, with a time interval of two minutes, while the battleship was decommissioning the circulation. The fragments of these two shells damaged small parts one 75 mm gun in the wardroom, namely: 1) the reservoir ring was pierced, 2) the tube connecting the sight and the front sight, 3) the tube of the trigger mechanism, 4) the spring of the endless screw was beaten off and 5) the steering wheel for lifting the pr icela. In addition, there are several shrapnel marks on the gun, the largest of which is 1/8 inch [i.e. e. 3 mm] with a length of 1/2 inch and a width of 1/3 inch [i.e. e. 8x12 mm].

3. A projectile that hit from a distance of 45 cables at the end of the first battle on the roof of the aft 12 "turret, which consists of armor 1 1/3 inches thick and from an inner jacket of soft iron 5/6 inches thick, hit just at the place where the roof of the tower was fastened with vertical turret armor 10 inches thick and ruptured, leaving a dent in the roof armor 4 1/2 inches deep, 2 feet 6 1/2 inches long and 1 foot 7 inches wide [i.e. dimensions 675x485 mm], and in soft in the iron of the shirt of the roof of the tower, an even larger dent was obtained, 7 inches deep, 3 feet 6 inches long and 1 foot 11 inches [i.e., dimensions 1.05x0.6 m], and in the lower part of the concavity a crack 2 inches long was obtained, and the roof jacket layer separated from the roof armor plate layer by 3 1/2 inches. Hitting the roof, this projectile raised the lower edge of the roof armor plate, separating it from the vertical tower armor by 1/4 inch, knocked out five one-inch diameter bolts that held the roof together towers with vertical b Roney with the help of a half-inch corner iron, a piece of which one inch long was completely torn off, cutting off 8 rivets that fastened this corner iron to the vertical armor of the tower.

When separating the inner shirt from the sheet of the armored roof, 5 inch-diameter fastening screws were torn out of the shirt, with which the roof shirt was attached to the left dome of the sight. The nut of one of the bolts killed one person in the head, who was in the tower. According to the clear traces of impact, which turned out at the place of impact of the head part of the projectile, which left a conical mark in the dent, it can be assumed that this projectile had a copper head shock tube. The caliber of this projectile is difficult to determine, but judging by the impact marks that fell above the vertical turret armor, it was at least 10 ". 4" and a 1/5" thick aft lower deckhouse wall, together with a 1/8" thick galvanized iron inner wall and cork spacer between these two walls, fell onto the deck, breaking through the deckhouse iron cupboards. A line connecting the center of the fragment dispersion circle to the point of impact the head of the projectile, inclined to the horizon at an angle of 10 °.Fragments of this projectile on the aft lower bridge with a rangefinder killed one person and wounded one.

Battleship "Tsesarevich" (Damage to the nose tube from a 12-inch projectile)

4. A shell that hit at the end of the battle from a distance of 38-40 cables into the cabin of the watch officer on the aft bridge flew into the open door of the cabin from the starboard side, broke the soft hair sofa and exploded on impact with the iron deck of the bridge, 1/4 thick inch, leaving a hole in it 3 feet 5 inches long and 1 foot 4 inches wide [i.e. e. 1.06x0.4 m], and the iron sheet of the upper cabin was torn off by gases and bent upwards. The left door, which was closed, was torn off its hinges and completely broken, and the iron cabinet, located in the upper wheelhouse, was also broken. Most of the fragments from this projectile, when it burst, were directed over the port side into the water and therefore did no harm, only leaving traces of their direction on the handrails and iron of the aft bridge. Three fragments of this projectile, being directed downward, pierced the walls of the lower deckhouse, consisting of 5/24 inch thick iron sheets and 1/8 inch thick galvanized iron sheets, together with a cork spacer between these two rows of sheets, and fell on the wooden deck.

5. The first projectile that hit the battleship was, apparently, a 12 "high-explosive projectile fired by the enemy at the beginning of the first battle from a distance of 70 cables. This projectile, breaking through an inch-thick bulwark, exploded at the very six-inch deck when it hit the upper deck armored supply pipe of the left aft 6 "turret, and the gases and fragments of this projectile in the admiral's room destroyed the sideboard and torn off the porthole semi-portico from the hinges. On the armor of the 6 "turret, the embrasure semi-porticos and on the guns there were traces and dents from fragments, of which the greatest depth was an inch, and one embrasure semi-portico was torn off its hinges. ft. Three people were wounded by fragments of this projectile: two of them, being removed from the bridges, were on the upper deck, and one was wounded in the left aft 6 "tower, through the dome hole.

6. A fragment from a projectile that exploded in steel guineas of topenant arrows for lifting boats pierced the main-mars and an explosion was made of four boxes of 47 mm cartridges (10 cartridges in each box), and the fragments from these 47 mm shells were directed upwards and, breaking through the roof of Mars, killed one person on the upper Mars and seriously injured two more. The explosion of the cartridges tore off the front wall of the inch-thick marshal, but the mast, which consists of three layers of iron (total thickness 1 1/12 inches), was not pierced.

Battleship “Tsesarevich” (Part of the foremast between the upper and lower bridges, broken by a 12 "shell (view from the right side of the bridge). In the foreground is a fragment of a manual winch and a 47-mm feed. On the left of the photograph, a part of the conning tower is visible. This shell killed : Rear Admiral Witgeft, Lieutenant Azaryev-1, Midshipman Ellis and three lower ranks.)

In the stern of the battleship there are still traces of a shell that hit the lower aft wheelhouse on July 27, 1904, on the eve of the squadron's departure from Port Arthur. This shell was fired by enemy artillery from a 120 mm gun and, judging by the thickness of the walls and the size of the shell fragments, it is armor-piercing. While flying over the deck of the armadillo, the projectile lightly touched a piller standing near the aft deckhouse and, penetrating the wall of the latter, which consists of iron sheets 5/24 inches thick and galvanized iron sheets 1/8 inch thick, together with a cork gasket enclosed between them. on impact with a wooden deck, it ruptured, giving two large fragments and several medium-sized fragments. One of the large fragments pushed through a wooden 2" deck and an iron one (1/3" i.e. 8 mm), leaving a hole in the above decks a foot long and a foot wide [i.e. e. measuring 0.22x0.15 m], hit a marble board (3 / 4 ") of the cabinet in the admiral's room, breaking which, slightly pressed through the iron box of the cabinet 1/16 inch thick. The second large fragment cut off the leg of one person, who was at a distance of 5 feet from the place where the shell burst. The gases of this shell damaged the iron (1 / 16 ") cabinet located in the lower cabin and brought to complete destruction the telephones communicated with the Golden Mountain and with the headquarters of the fortress.

7. A hole in the bed nets at the left ladder, from a projectile of about 8 "or 12" caliber. The time of impact was about 6 pm, when the enemy ships entered the left side and opened fire on the "Tsesarevich". The distance at that time was not determined and could not be determined approximately by the hole, because after breaking through one side, the projectile immediately exploded and, breaking the frame of the upper platform of the ladder, gave a lot of fragments. The explosion propagated straight ahead, damaging the top of the grid at 59" and the bottom at 119", counting the damage from the mass of shrapnel as well. The explosion did not spread further, and the lower deck remained completely intact, which was greatly facilitated by the bunks stacked in front of the nets in several rows, and about 20 bunks were destroyed and torn apart. The volume of complete destruction from the explosion is about 100 cubic meters. ft. The fragments smashed the visors over the porticos of the commander's cabin, penetrated into -,. the commander's bedroom, damaging the cabinets and bunk frame. Others, breaking through the upper bulkhead at the nets, hit the bottom of the boat (1 / 8 "- 3 mm]), which was standing above the nets, but did not do him any other damage, and, finally, two fragments, flying a distance of 15 feet, pierced the casing at superstructures above the gangway 2/3" thick. The steam winch, located at a distance of twenty feet from the place of impact [6 m], was not damaged by these fragments.

8. Hole 6 in the upper deck of the bakery in its left part was made by a high-explosive large-caliber projectile. Having broken through the deck with a thickness of 5 mm, it exploded and damaged the upper wall of the furnace and brickwork with an explosion. The moment this projectile hit was about 5 hours from a long distance - no less than 50 cables, because the projectile hit almost vertically. The direction of greatest destruction is straight ahead, and was held back by the brickwork. The volume of complete destruction of the explosion is about 2.5 m?. Large fragments were made in the aft bulkhead holes of size 1/4 m? and the aft chimney in the lower part was damaged by the same fragments. Small fragments damaged the tiled deck, the bow bulkhead, and at the gangway near the middle 6 "towers, the coaming was broken. The fragments pierced the bulkhead that separated the bakery from the garbage machine 4 mm thick, the drum, the frame, the cylinder, the draft and the steam pipe, the doors were torn out and thrown aside.

9.10. The stern pipe was broken by two shells that hit - the first at the bottom of the right front of the pipe and the second at the top right, of a large caliber high-explosive action, since the entire pipe was dotted with small fragments, and no large ones were found at all. The moment of impact was in the middle of the second battle, i.e., about 5 hours and 30 minutes, when the distance was about 45 cables. The first shell pierced the casing of the pipe (5 mm) and the pipe (5 mm), after which it exploded and broke the crosspiece, all small pipes, double tee iron, squares and damaged another tee iron.

The second shell also pierced the casing and the pipe and, bursting inside, broke the crosspiece and tore the sheets down to the bottom, which had already lost their strength from the first shell. Both shells severely loosened the pipe mount, and it bent inward in the middle of the left side, and the top - to the port side. Explosions, due to the mass of obstacles in the form of any fastenings, did not spread far and only scattered small fragments in all directions. The volume of complete destruction is about 300 m?. The fragments damaged the outer part, and many small fragments penetrated down the pipe, dotting the base of the pipe with small holes, and the fragments of the first shell damaged three rows of pipes of boiler No. 13 and at boiler No. 14 the steam feed pipe was broken with fragments 1 "thick. The fragments of the second shell increased damage at boiler No. 13 and two stokers at boiler No. 12 and a quartermaster at boiler No. 14 were wounded. in large numbers penetrated into the stokers and fell on deck.

11. Splinters from shells that exploded on the side armor and in the water near the ship damaged the wooden whaleboat No. 1, which was outside on the starboard side, it received many small holes. Steam boat No. 1, standing on the rosters behind the stern pipe, received several fragments in the underwater part, of which one, breaking through the side (2 mm) on the right side, crushed the triple sheet (6 mm) at the lifting eye, the other side in the stoker, bulkheads between the stoker and the engine room and with fragments that also hit from the port side, damaged two feed collectors, a fan bearing, and a donkey steam pipe. In the boiler house, the steam collector, three pipes of the boiler, the valve for filling water, the casing of the coal pit and the water tank around the boiler were damaged by fragments, and, in addition, there were several fragments that fell into the bow and stern, but did not cause any damage inside the boat. The stern winch received several fragments from the light hatch of the admiral's dining room, and the handrails and the spool rod at the right stern winch were damaged.

The upper deck was pierced by fragments from a bakery or a pipe, and the fragments, having pierced the deck, could not pierce anything further; other fragments pierced the right bed nets on the waist. At the 16-oar boat No. 1, standing on the rosters, the stern on the left side was completely broken, and, in addition, many small fragments hit the hull. Boat No. 2 was also badly damaged by fragments, and the wooden six, standing to the left of the stern pipe, was completely broken, in all likelihood, by fragments from the stern pipe. The medium main compass was knocked off the bridge by gases, and the bridge was badly damaged by shrapnel. Shrapnel damaged the bright hatches in the officer and command galleys, the table and stove in the officer's and the boxes in the command room, the wall of one samovar was dented, nets near the middle towers, frame davits, blocks of boats, longboat No. 2 and the rostrum deck. Three cisterns on rosters 2/3" thick were broken by fragments.

The left front tank received a hole in the right lower part, at the junction of the pipe with the tank, the right one - five holes in the hull, the rear one - a pipe was knocked down, the rear bottom and several small holes. Thus, the total surface of action of fragments from three shells can be considered about 200 m, and from gases about 400 m?. On July 26, 1904, during the bombardment of Port Arthur by siege artillery from a distance of 20 cables, a high-explosive projectile of 120 mm caliber hit the bow armor of the battleship "Tsesarevich" about 37 of the bow frame on the right side. The mark on the armor was barely noticeable and consisted of a few specks. The only damage was from concussion. The damage was against the placement of the nasal mine apparatus. The machine tool of the mine workshop was blown away, and all four cast-iron legs were broken. A box with various accessories was thrown over a man lying on the deck by the force of the impact. There were no other injuries.

12. During the battle on July 28, at about 6 pm, from a distance of about 45 cables (probably from an armored detachment of the Japanese squadron), a projectile hit the bow turret of 12 "guns on the right side. The projectile was high-explosive and exploded when it hit the armor of the turret. The tower hit this time was on the port side. Judging by the force of the impact felt inside the turret, it can be concluded that the projectile was 12 "caliber. The destruction was as follows: a trace was left on the tower no more than 1.5 cm deep and looked like an irregular ellipse. In the center was the largest depression (1.5 cm). Fragments from a shell that exploded upon impact with the turret armor did not cause any significant damage and only slightly spoiled the deck 5-6 feet from the turret.

Battleship "Tsesarevich" (Damage to the bow bridge. In the center you can see the damage to the bed nets on the bridge from a shell that then passed through the conning tower and killed Lieutenant Dragishic-Niksic.)

13. During the first battle on July 28, at about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, from a distance of 50 cables, a projectile hit the pillow of the right anchor anchor. Judging by the thickness of the walls of the found fragments, one can think that it was an 8" or 12" projectile. The walls of the fragment were much thicker than those of the Russian 6 "shell, and the fragment itself was quite long. It can be assumed that the shell hit the 40th frame with its head and immediately burst. This assumption is based on the fact that the two main holes turned out to be both sides of the frame: one in the side, and the other in the pillow itself.The frame itself was crushed, and the deck of the spardeck was broken.

A third larger fragment hit the porthole of one of the conductor's cabins and knocked it out; the rest of the fragments spread along the side to the side armor with a direction to the bow, where they made traces, but did not break through the sides anywhere. Another part of the fragments hit the spardeck, where they partly flew overboard into the open port of the left 75 mm gun, partly hit the pillers, lost their strength, slightly damaged both 75 mm guns. Some fragments hit to the left in the suitcase cabinets. In the same place, two lower ranks were wounded. The dimensions of the holes are as follows: length 3 meters, width 2.5 meters, height 2.5 meters, in addition, the fragments that pierced the deck of the spardeck went to the battery deck, which is three meters. So, the volume of complete destruction from the explosion of the projectile was: 3x2.5x2.5, or about 20 cubic meters. meters.

With this projectile, the right anchor was thrown overboard. Before leaving Port Arthur, despite the fact that the question was raised, the anchor ropes were not riveted, and therefore the hit of the projectile in the swivel of the anchor bracket was a happy accident that saved the side of the battleship from an extra hole. The projectile freed the anchor in this way: it broke the swivel and pulled out the frames from the pertuline, rustication and fixing stoppers on the anchor pad. The anchoring machine on the upper deck remained singing.

Shortly after the projectile hit the anchor pillow from a distance of 50 cables, another projectile hit the spardeck. He hit on the right side against the 31st frame. Hitting the side, he burst; most of the fragments flew onto the armored tube, which closed the feed of the bow 12 "turret and, leaving many small holes on it, did not cause significant harm. The rest of the fragments scattered somewhat to the sides and slightly damaged the superstructures. Some of the fragments scattered along the side. The dimensions of the hole are as follows: width 2 meters, height 2 meters The volume of complete destruction from the explosion of the projectile: 2x2x0.25 = 1 cubic meter The projectile was high-explosive, about 8 "(or 6") caliber.

At about 6 pm on the same day, a high-explosive projectile (6 "?) hit the deck on the forecastle on the right of the bow. Having hit the deck, it exploded and made a round hole with a diameter of about 1.5 meters. Gases and fragments of the exploding projectile met an ebb pipe, smashed it and then hit the pillers, which bent and separated from the beam to which it was attached with a plank.A recess about 5 cm deep was left in the deck of the spardeck. The volume of complete destruction is about 1.5 cubic meters. hitting the pillers, scattered in two directions and reached the sides, the distance between which in this place reaches 8.5 meters.

There was another hit in the bow. The projectile hit about 7.5 pm from a distance of 35–40 cables into the spardeck on the left side against the 21–20 frame a little ahead of the armor tube of the left bow 6 "turret, directly into the porthole and completely knocked it out. The size of the hole was 1 square. meter The volume of complete destruction is 0.5 cubic meters.

Most of the fragments of the exploding shell were directed at the biteng and scattered about it. There were fragments that reached the opposite side, that is, 12 meters. The strength of these fragments was already very weak; they didn't do any damage. This shell came from a detachment of cruisers (Yakumo, Takasago, Kasagi and Chitose). Judging by the insignificance of the damage, it can be assumed that it was a 120-mm shell from a class 2 cruiser or from the Yakumo.

During the first battle around 12.5–1 o'clock. a high-explosive projectile hit the underwater part on the right side against 28-31 frames below the armor. The projectile did not make holes, but only dented the frame and tore out part of the rivets, which resulted in leakage and filling of two side corridors (upper and lower) with water. In total, 153 tons of water fell. The list turned out to be no more than 3 °. To equalize the vessel, compartments were flooded from the opposite side and somewhat closer to the stern, in order to avoid trim on the bow.

The shell that hit the conning tower was probably fired from a distance of 45-50 cables at the end of the second battle. According to the places of destruction, you can restore its trajectory, from which it is clear that it was flying, rising. It was an armor-piercing projectile that hit the water and ricocheted. Its head part hit a thin bed net (1/8), tore it, wrapped the sheets in the direction of travel and flew into the wheelhouse, knocking out a semicircle from the edge of the roof (3 "sheet). The head part tore the wiring of the machine telegraph, hit the roof, leaving an abrasion, gave several fragments and, flying away, again touched the edge of the roof. She did not knock it out, but only arched it, losing her manpower. Having got further into the nets with bunks, she slightly bent them and remained lying in them.

There were several small fragments, probably torn off from the head of the projectile when it hit the roof, but their force is difficult to calculate, it must have been very insignificant, since the lattice in the tower was only slightly pierced, and the edges of the holes on the thin copper casings of the instruments were barely bent. , there are even simple dents on the casings. Part of the artillery indicators and telephones were brought out from the concussion, all the speaking pipes on the bridge were broken. This projectile wounded all those in the cabin, except for one: there were almost no fragments on the walls of the cabin and on the gratings.

The shell that hit the mast was fired before the shell hit the conning tower at the end of the second battle. Some abnormality is that the distance (in time) to the enemy should have been less than 40 cables, and the trajectory of the projectile is not steep - it hit the net and hit the mast 2.5 feet [i.e. e. 0.6 m] above deck. It could have been a 12 "caliber projectile. Flying through the nets, it only rolled them up, and the gap occurred immediately after breaking through the first wall of the mast (0.5"). From the place of the first contact of the projectile in the nets to the point of rupture, about 3 m. The projectile only tore and rolled the front wall of the mast, while the back wall was completely torn out. The volume of the main destruction is very small (each measurement is 1.5 meters) and is directed cone-shaped in the direction of the projectile flight, but in such a way that already at 3 m the thin walls are not torn apart, but only pierced by fragments and bent.

In the upward direction, fragments pierced a 3/8" deck 2 m from the break point, and 2/3" squares were even rolled up by fragments or pieces of the mast at 1–1.5 m. There were few fragments to the rear, but the yellow coating from picric acid was predominantly in the part of the bridge behind the explosion site. Minor damage is noticeable at a distance of up to 10 m. Despite the fact that, relative to the horizontal plane of the projectile burst, the deck is 0.75 - 1 m, and the upper bridge is 1.5–2 m, it was damaged more than the deck, which indicates direction of greatest destruction from above. This projectile broke all the pipes and wires that went inside the mast. The concussion broke the wiring under the upper bridge. The pressure of the gases pushed out the upper bridge (by 2 m), and the telegraph cabin located at the same distance (but horizontal) was not touched by gases, it was bent even in reverse side third projectile.

Admiral Vitgeft, Lieutenant Azaryev 1st, Midshipman Ellis were killed by a shell in the mast, staff officers were wounded. The dead lay between the left walls and the mast, with their heads towards the latter; this is not entirely clear, since the gases should have thrown them away from the mast. Maybe the felling had an effect here, reflecting the gases, or some fragment knocked them out.

Battleship “Tsesarevich” (Two holes from 6 “exploded shells, which carried out part of the bulwark on the poop from the left side, broke the towing bollard and penetrated into the officer’s mess.)

The projectile that hit the telegraph cabin at the end of the second battle from a cable distance of 50, exploded in the front wall of the cabin or even before it from passing through the walls, 10 feet (3 m) from them, since the inlet of this high-explosive projectile (the torn wall of the cabin ) is very large - about 4 square meters, and the bulkhead between the commander's quarters and the telegraph cabin, which is 1.5 meters wide, is broken only by fragments. The volume of the greatest destruction is about 12 cubic meters; separate fragments pierced the pipe (5 / 16 ") casing (5 / 16") at a distance of 2 m. Small fragments pierced only the casing. The projectile gave a lot of very small fragments-speckles, with which the tree was beaten, the casing of the cabin. The gases again had a stronger effect upwards than downwards, concave several sheets of the upper bridge and only in one place below tore the wheelhouse from the deck. Gases and shaking destroyed all the instruments in the cabin, but the action of the gases was only in the direction of the projectiles, since the wires on the wooden lining under the upper bridge remained intact, only turned yellow from picrin. Considering the place of the projectile rupture at 1 m from the deck, large fragments pierced sheets of 3/8 "in both decks at a distance of 1.5–2 m, but having broken through the deck under the upper deckhouse, they remained in the table tree or in the deckhouse sofa and up to the roof The projectile did not give particularly large fragments, neither the head part, nor the whole bottom was found.

Shells that fell into the water either ricocheted (mostly armor-piercing) or turned around if they were high-explosive. There were many ricochets flying over, their flight was clearly visible. One of these shells broke the wall stay. High-explosive shells, bursting at the J side in the water, gave a whole column of water that washed over the bridge to the compass, but the fragments did not fly onto the bridge; but sheets on Mars were pierced by them (a fragment that flew off close hit the armor and bounced off). Their strength was small, since long high-explosive shells dug into the water, and the fragments had to overcome the resistance of the water layer.

In the middle of the second battle, one high-explosive shell exploded over the bridge, several fragments flew onto the bridge, the deck did not break through: all the exploding metal fell into the water, flying over the battleship.

"Tsesarevich" on the slipway. February 1901

Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in France during sea trials. Summer 1903

"Tsesarevich" in Port Arthur

Before loading coal (photo above)

On the "Tsesarevich" during the sealing of the hole

In Port Arthur

On the "Tsesarevich" riveting of board sheets is carried out

On the "Tsesarevich" during the sealing of the hole (photo above) "Tsesarevich" and "Amur" on the outer roadstead of Port Arthur

"Tsesarevich" arrived in Qingdao.

"Tsesarevich" in Qingdao.

"Tsesarevich" in Qingdao. Repair work has begun on the ship.

"Tsesarevich" in Qingdao. In the foreground, folded shells from 152-mm cartridges are visible. They are guarded by Russian and German sailors. On the fence of the bow bridge, a hole from a 152-mm projectile is visible, which killed the navigator Lieutenant Dragisic-Niksic.

Battleship "Tsesarevich". Combat damage in the area of the bow bridge (pictured above).

Damage to the port side in the bow of the ship. On the right in the foreground, a hole is visible at the cut for storing anchors. The anchor is lost. Inside, the hole penetrates to the upper deck, where the tanks for storing gasoline are broken. On the left - a hole in the spardeck near the 12" bow turret, which also penetrates into the skipper's cabin, located in the battery deck (pictured below).

Sealing of holes on the left side in the area of the aft bridge and damage to the chimneys (pictured above). "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao. Disassembly of the stern pipe.

A hole in the starboard side of the 305 mm bow turret.

A hole in the starboard side of the 152 mm bow turret.

Damage to the 152 mm gun.

Damage to the bakery from a 305-mm shell that hit its roof.

Combat damage to chimneys.

in Qingdao. "Tsesarevich" during repair work.

Repair of the "Tsesarevich" is nearing completion (photo above). "Tsesarevich" in the Mediterranean Sea.

For the "Tsesarevich" both battles - at night and in the morning - merged into one, which inspired great fears for success, the struggle for the survivability of the ship. The French technology, praised and so beloved by the Admiral General, did not show clear advantages over either the American (“Retvizan”) or domestic (Pallada) models. The newest battleship, the last miracle of technology in the squadron, was almost in a the old cruiser Pallas.

In the instant of the explosion, listing to the right (this is how the roll of ships of this type again made itself felt), the "Tsesarevich" then began to fall menacingly to the port side. Despite the immediate order of the commander to flood the right aft corridors with water, the list grew uncontrollably. It reached 16° and continued to increase.

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From the book "Tsesarevich" Part I. Squadron battleship. 1899-1906 author Melnikov Rafail Mikhailovich

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From book Armored cruisers type "Admiral Makarov". 1906-1925 author Melnikov Rafail Mikhailovich

Appendix No. 3 Damage to the battleship "Evstafiy" in the battle on November 5/18, 1914 (From the book of ML. Petrov "Two Battles". Leningrad. 1926) Scheme of hits on the battleship "Evstafiy". received in battle near Cape Sarych on November 5/18, 1914. The description is of undoubted interest

From the book Naval Mine War at Port Arthur author Krestyaninov Vladimir Yakovlevich

Appendix No. 3 Damage to the Bayan cruiser in the battle near Gotland on June 19/July 2, 1915 attention of Russian ships from

From the book of Tsushima - a sign of the end of Russian history. Hidden causes of well-known events. Military-historical investigation. Volume II author Galenin Boris Glebovich

4. Catastrophe of the squadron battleship "Petropavlovsk" After the failure of the second attempt to block the exit from Port Arthur, Admiral Togo sent a request for the preparation of new fireships. Prior to their arrival, the command of the Japanese fleet decided to carry out a barrage operation

From the book The First Battleships of Germany author Bystrov Alexey Alexandrovich

4.4. July 28, 1904 Departure and rendezvous The morning of July 28 came. At sunrise, Russian ships began to leave the inner harbor for the roadstead and take their places according to their disposition. The raid was previously cleared. At 8 hours 45 minutes the squadron in the wake column, following

From the book Battleships of the Wittelsbach, Brunswick and Deutschland types. 1899-1945 (Collection of articles and documents) author Team of authors

Appendix No. 3 The rise of the German battleship “Grosser Kurfurst” (From the journal “Sea Collection” No. 8, 1879) Work on the rise of this battleship began in the last days of May. Studies carried out by divers have found that the position of the ship's hull is not at all

From the book Battleships of the Queen Elizabeth type author Mikhailov Andrey Alexandrovich

Launching of the squadron battleship “Wittelsbach” On July 3, a new squadron battleship was launched at the Wilhelmshaven State Admiralty, which was listed under the letter O during construction and received the named name during the descent. This battleship, according to the message

From the author's book

Launching of the squadron battleship “Mecklenburg” On November 9 (NS) 1901 at the shipyard “Vulcan”, in Stettin, the squadron battleship F was launched, which received the name “Mecklenburg”. This battleship is the fifth and last Wittelsbach-class ship.Main

From the author's book

The launch of the German squadron battleship "Elsass" In Danzig, at the shipyard Shihau, took place on May 16 (n.st.) 1903, the launching of the squadron battleship of the "Braunschweig" type, which was being built there by order of the German government, was temporarily listed under the letter J and received

From the author's book

Launching of the squadron battleship “Deutschland” On November 20 (NS) 1904, in Kiel, at the shipyard “Germany”, the battleship N was launched, which received the name “Deutschland” during the descent and christening. The laying of this battleship was carried out July 20 (N.S.) 1903, so the time

From the author's book

The launch of the squadron battleship “Hannover” On September 29 (NS) 1905, the squadron battleship R was launched at the Wilhelmshaven Admiralty, which received the name “Hannover” at baptism. This is the second Deutschland-class ship. Its laying took place in the summer

From the author's book

Appendix No. 1 Damage to battleships of the 5th squadron in the battle of Jutland [* From the book of K.P. Puzyrevsky. Damage to ships from artillery and the struggle for survivability. Leningrad. Sudpromgiz. 1940] "Worspite". Belonged to the fifth squadron of battleships and was third in the convoy.

Attention! The series has been discontinued!
Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich"– the second partwork of the series “Flotilla Russo-Japanese War» within the magazine « Russian ships". Publisher - LLC "Modelist" (Samara).

The squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" was built in France by order Russian Empire. He took part in the Russo-Japanese and World War I. Subsequently, on the basis of the drawings of this ship, a whole series of ships of the Borodino type was built.

The construction of the ship was started in 1899 in Toulon. The launching took place on January 23, 1901, but for another two years various improvements were made to the design. As a result, the Tsesarevich entered service only in 1903, practically with the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War. At the end of February 1904, during a battle with a Japanese destroyer, our battleship was damaged by a torpedo. However, the repair did not take long, and soon the ship was re-commissioned. In September of the same year, after breaking through to the port of Kiao-Chao, the battleship was interned until the end of the war. After the ship was returned to Russia, it became part of the Baltic Fleet. In 1907, after a radical restructuring, she was transferred to the class of battleships. In March 1917, the ship was renamed Grazhdanina. He had a chance to test himself in the role of an icebreaker. In difficult ice conditions in December 1917, he made the transition from Helsingfors (Helsinki) to Kronstadt. It can be said that this was the last trip of the ship. Since May 1918, it has been accepted for long-term storage. In the years civil war artillery was removed from the Citizen. It was already used on land fronts, as well as on river and lake fleets. The ship ended its service in 1924. Was dismantled for metal.

Characteristics of the battleship "Tsesarevich"

Model of the battleship Tsesarevich

The squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" continues the "Russian-Japanese War Flotilla" series from Modelist LLC. This is the second model of this collection (the first one is ).
The assembly of the model is planned for 80 issues of the magazine with a frequency of 1 time per week.

Model parameters:

For making parts models of "Tsesarevich" the following materials are used:

HDF - 3 mm
Brass
ABS plastic
steel bar
Monofilament
birch lath
birch veneer

LLC "Modelist" continues its tradition and, as before, uses the developments of only domestic specialists. All parts are made from domestic materials at Russian enterprises. The model completely repeats the appearance of a real ship. On it, in the smallest detail, all the nodes that existed on the battleship, the gun superstructures are recreated. However, the assembly of the model, thanks to detailed instructions, will be available to modellers of any level.

Magazine Ships of Russia: Tsesarevich

Each issue of the magazine includes:

Attachment - parts for assembling a ship model;
Convenient assembly instructions with photos and a detailed description of the assembly procedure;
Chronology of the service of the battleship from the beginning of construction to its dismantling for metal;
"Encyclopedia of marine knots" - in each issue, instructions for tying one or two knots.

Magazine Tsesarevich recommended price:
first release - from 50 to 75 rubles.
second edition - from 70 to 105 rubles.
from the third edition from 100 to 150 rubles.
Frequency: weekly

Only 80 issues.

The exits of the numbers are not limited by any period:
Most of the details for the model are made at the own production of Modelist LLC, printing takes place in our own printing house. All this makes it possible not to limit the circulation of the magazine and not be tied strictly to any release dates. You can place an order for any published issue of the magazine when it is convenient for you. Start assembling yourself, show your friends. They also have the opportunity to collect the ship, starting with the first number. You don't need to be afraid that the series of magazines will suddenly stop. OOO "Modelist" officially announces that all 80 issues will be released.

Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich"

On January 10, 1899, it was included in the lists of ships of the Baltic Fleet and on June 26, 1899, it was laid down at the Forge e Chantier shipyard in Toulon (France) by order of the Maritime Department.

Participated in the Russo-Japanese War.

On the night of January 27, 1904, when parking on the outer roadstead of Port Arthur, it was damaged by the explosion of a torpedo fired by an enemy destroyer, but remained afloat and on May 24, 1904, after sealing the hole with the help of a caisson, it was again commissioned.

After a battle with the Japanese fleet in the Yellow Sea, on July 27, 1904, he left for Qingdao, where he was interned the next day.

In December 1908, he participated in helping the population of the city of Messina on the island of Sicily, affected by an earthquake.

It underwent a major overhaul in 1910 - 1911 at the Baltic Plant with the replacement of the main mechanisms, boilers and all guns.

Participated in the First World War and the February Revolution.

January 5 - 7, 1918 made the transition from Helsingfors (Helsinki) to Kronstadt. From May 1918 it was in the Kronstadt military port for long-term storage.

During the Civil War, the ship's artillery armament was used on ships of river and lake fleets and on land fronts.

In 1924, it was handed over to the Komgosfondov for dismantling and cutting into metal, and on November 21, 1925, it was excluded from the list of ships of the RKKF.

Displacement: 13105 tons. Dimensions: 118.82x23.22x7.93 m

Armament: 4 - 305/40 mm, 12 - 152/45 mm, 20 - 75/50 mm, 20 - 47 mm, 8 - 37 mm, 2 PTA and 2 NTA 381 mm.

Reservations - Krupp armor belt 120 - 249 mm, main caliber turrets from 63 to 254 mm, medium caliber turrets from 30 to 152 mm, conning tower 254 mm, deck - 38 - 69 mm.

Mechanisms - 2 vertical triple expansion machines 16500 hp 20 boilers of the Belleville system. 2 screws.

Speed 18.24 knots. Cruising range 5500 miles. Crew: 28 officers and 750 sailors.

4. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in France, 1903

5. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" on trials, Toulon, summer 1903

6. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" on trials, Toulon, summer 1903

7. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" on trials, Toulon, summer 1903

9. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" (photo date unknown)

10. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Port Arthur, 1904

11. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" (photo date unknown)

12. Correction of damage on the squadron battleship "Tsesarevich", Port Arthur, spring 1904

13. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" during repairs, Port Arthur, spring 1904

14. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" during repairs, Port Arthur, spring 1904

15. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" during repairs, Port Arthur, spring 1904

16. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" during repairs, Port Arthur, spring 1904

17. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Port Arthur, 1904

18. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" (photo date unknown. Presumably spring 1904, Port Arthur)

19. The squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" enters Qingdao, July 29, 1904

20. The squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" enters Qingdao, July 29, 1904

21. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

22. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

23. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

24. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

25. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

26. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

27. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

28. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

29. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

30. Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

31. German band on the front of the squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

Nikto1> Uv. present.
Nikto1> One more question.
Nikto1> During the repair in Port Arthur on the ship made some changes. To which I include the removal of 4-75 mm guns, 4-47 mm guns, most of the machine guns. They removed the searchlight from the combat mars. They sawed off part of the bulwark in the stern - actually in the stern and in places where it sticks into the side of the forecastle.

If you looked at the drawings, then you could not help but pay attention to the explanatory note "attached" to the drawings. Although... who knows.
Just in case, I will quote myself in it.

So... blah blah blah... well, where is it?... yeah! found here...
"... Another 4 75-mm guns were located on the bow and 2 guns on the aft bridges. Later (tentatively during the repair of the battleship after torpedoing), the rear pair of guns on the front bridge was removed. Another pair of guns was also removed in the bow casemate. These four guns remained in Port Arthur."

As for the 47 mm guns, would you be kind enough to provide a source?!

And in conclusion, regarding machine guns. Again, I'm quoting
"... The machine guns were installed on the roofs of the mars. 2 on the main mars, 4 on the fore mars. And also on the bulwark in the central part of the ship (2 per side). These 4 machine guns were removed for the needs of the land front .. ."
The source in both cases is photographs and Melnikov's monograph.

Nikto1> The question is not actually in these changes. The question is - for how long the type of drawings is given - by the author JJ.
Nikto1> On the drawings 2 jlbyfrjds[ general-capital inscriptions:
Nikto1> Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich"

Nikto1> Under the second of them there is a note, from which it follows that "the battleship is depicted as of 1917." End of quote, punctuation preserved. And the point is not that YY is put in the case when the given years are more than 1, i.e. in this case it would be possible to get by with one letter G,

Thanks!!! Here it is!!! "G" should be ONE!!
Thank you, this is indeed a very valuable comment.
What to do now...?
Then you put me in a puddle ... I admit ..

Nikto1> the fact is that while reading all these inscriptions, I realized that the first of the types of armadillo refers to the moment of its commissioning.
Is it not fate to read the inscription on sheet No. 38? It clearly states for what period the drawing is presented.

Nikto1> And there is confirmation of this - all 20-75 mm guns and all 20-47 mm guns in the drawing are available. But I began to have doubts. And I understood their reason - the armadillo had a bulwark cut off. Stop, I said to myself - this view is not at the time of its commissioning. This is at the time of its release from repair! But even here doubts did not leave me, because at the time of leaving the repair, 20% of the anti-mine artillery and 1 searchlight were ALREADY removed from the ship, and the machine guns were removed - only 2 remained.

Could you give a source that by the time the ship was taken out of repair, only 2 machine guns remained.
Yes, and about the spotlight, it would not be bad to listen for the general development.

As for the "cut" bulwark. This is detailed in the text of the explanatory note.
There was no need to "cut off" the false boat, because. it was removable and could be removed / installed at any time at the request of the workers.
Structural elements are shown that allow this to be done, both in the drawings and (especially!) Shown in the photographs in the explanatory note, with the appropriate inscriptions and signatures.

Nikto1> SO A QUESTION TO DEAR EXPERTS.
Nikto1> When the bulwark was cut down on the battleship Tsesarevich

It would not be bad to learn materiel.
Imagine for a moment Admiral Makarov with a hacksaw, with which he saws the bulwark of the Tsarevich.
Represented?
And after that, I got sick...

Nikto1> and removed the guns?

Answer.
It is indicated in the explanatory note what and when was removed and dressed.

Nikto1> Then we will be able to accurately write a "Note" FOR OURSELVES, for example this - "the battleship is shown under repair as of March 15, 1904 17 hours 32 minutes (because at 17 hours the bulwark was already sawn down / dismantled / removed, and the guns were still up to 6 p.m.) DATE March 15, 1904 and time - I, of course, invented.

We look at the drawing.
Reading.
"Note: the drawings show an armadillo at the time of the battle in the Yellow Sea.
Machine guns on Mars, 37-mm guns had been removed by that time. There were no awning racks (shown conditionally) ... ", etc.
Again, if something is not clear, open an explanatory note.

Nikto1> In other words, this is a very special kind of battleship Tsesarevich-Tsesarevich under repair. And it is even more special in that the bulwark could be cut down / dismantled / removed LATER than the guns or part of those removed guns were removed. In this case, this is a "Martian battleship" as a certain Pz wrote here.

What are you attached to this bulwark?
Here, there is a picture of the period of the First World War with a bulwark installed.
How do you explain this mystery of nature?

Believe me, it is not difficult for me to draw all types of an armadillo when any door was opened or closed.
But just the two most characteristic species are enough. If you have questions, you can read the attached text and draw your own conclusions.
Believe me - it's not difficult.

"Tsesarevich" at the wall - the holes were patched up, the mast was seized with additional stretch marks, because after the fight began to sway.

Upon arrival in Qingdao on the evening of July 29, the commander was in no hurry with orders to replenish coal reserves and order the materials necessary for repairs. He was not inspired by the example of those who had come earlier and were already preparing to leave for the breakthrough of Novik and Silent. Worse, Captain 1st Rank Ivanov found it convenient to evade the recommendations that the commander of the Fearless, Lieutenant P.L., turned to him for. Trukhachev (1867-1916).

Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao. Starboard

Arriving on the morning of July 30 along with the Merciless, he apparently believed that the ships that had broken through should also go to Vladivostok together. Having taken over the overall command, speeding up the replenishment of the coal reserves on the destroyers with the help of her team, the "Tsesarevich" could put a whole detachment into the sea. Depending on the situation, he could either make a breakthrough to Vladivostok or go south to wait for the arrival of the 2nd Pacific Squadron in hard-to-reach areas of French or even foreign colonies. A campaign to connect with the Vladivostok detachment of cruisers was not excluded.
Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao. Bow turret and starboard side

All this was quite realistic in the presence of special cruisers of the Volunteer Fleet in the Russian fleet. After all, their operations already at the beginning of the war caused a great commotion among firms involved in military smuggling. A wide development of cruising operations was planned, which was quite realistic to be associated with the fate of the ships that had broken through. Recall that S.O. Makarov considered a breakthrough to Port Arthur (and, possibly, to Vladivostok) of the battleship Oslyabya, captured by the beginning of the war in the Red Sea, quite real.
Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao. Second damage chimney

But the commander of yesterday's flagship and his staff did not find the strength to fulfill their duty to the end and prevent disarmament in neutral Qingdao. The ships were left to themselves and acted completely uncoordinated. "Novik", hurrying to leave before morning, and not having received help from the "Tsesarevich", left the port with an incomplete supply of coal. This circumstance played, as it soon became clear, a fatal role in his fate. "Silent" made every effort to the shortest time, until the Japanese rushed to the port, cope with repairs and have time to leave for a breakthrough. "Fearless", waiting for his readiness, was in a hurry with the acceptance of coal. There is no mention in the documents about the assistance to the ships during all this time from the side of the "Tsesarevich".
Having evaded all initiatives and quite pleased with the circumstances, commander N.M. Ivanov retired with a sense of accomplishment.
Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao. Medium six inch tower

On the morning of July 30, he went ashore to a German hospital, leaving his ship on his own to solve the problems created by them, Ivanov. Admiral Matusevich was also there. But the ship, despite the strange behavior of its two most senior commanders, did not give up. The hope for the possibility of repair and subsequent breakthrough was aroused by the telegram of Emperor Nicholas II transmitted to the ships on July 31, encouraging the crew "in the minds of sacredly and honorably fulfilled duty to the throne and homeland."
German band on the front of the battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

In the response telegram of Admiral Matusevich addressed to the head of the naval ministry, feelings of reverence were expressed, with which everyone on the battleship and destroyers perceived the "highly merciful words" of the emperor, and wishes were expressed for "sending health and prosperity to the beloved sovereign emperor and highly newborn heir." Further, loyal feelings and the unanimous desire of the crews of the ships "to bear our lives again for the glory of the throne and the fatherland" were expressed. Alas, reality did not confirm these lofty feelings of all-devotion to the throne. The Germans, however, in order not to expose the ships to Japanese attacks from the sea, on July 31 they transferred them to the inner basin, and on August 1 the governor announced that the Tsesarevich was allowed to stay for 6 days. It was explained by the need to bring the ships into the condition necessary for going to sea (but not for full combat readiness). From the "Merciless" on the day of arrival, they first demanded to leave the port within 24 hours (as from the "Novik" before that), and then, referring to the permission of the German emperor, the parking period was extended until midnight from August 3 to 4.

But on August 2, the attitude of the usually amiable German authorities suddenly changed. At 10 in the morning, the commanders of all ships were announced the order of Kaiser Wilhelm II immediately - by 11 o'clock, lower the flags and disarm. Everyone was lost in conjecture about the reason for such exceptional perfidy. After all, Russian ships in all the years preceding the war had become accustomed to the feelings of cordiality, hospitality and even friendship that were constantly manifested by the German authorities (especially in Kiel). Germany in that war clearly sympathized with Russia, and German ships with a cargo of coal were already preparing (under contracts concluded with private firms) to accompany the campaign of Z.P. Rozhdestvensky.
Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao, summer 1904

But N.A. Matusevich, either due to depression from the wound he had experienced or excessive delicacy, did not even try to explain to the Germans the absurdity of their demands: the ships that began repairs needed much more time to go to sea. He did not consider it necessary to use his right of the strong, which allowed him to simply ignore the dishonest German ultimatum. The authorities in St. Petersburg, as is often done in Russia and as it had just happened with the cruisers "Petersburg" and "Smolensk" operating in the Indian Ocean, preferred to simply disown their ships. The unprofessionalism of the supreme authorities again showed itself in all its ugliness.
To Qingdao

Without waiting for a response from St. Petersburg to his urgent request, Matusevich ordered the ships to obey the German demands. The ships lowered their flags and on the same day began to unload ammunition ashore. They handed over to the Germans locks from 75-mm guns, parts from locks of large guns and two covers of spool boxes of medium-pressure cylinders. They brought all the guns and revolvers ashore, leaving only 50 for guard duty.
Squadron battleship "Tsesarevich" in Qingdao after arrival. At the side of the raft, from which the sailors close up the holes. There is a sun awning on the bow.

That day, as if already knowing what had happened, a Japanese destroyer showed up at the port. Quarrels with Germany were not part of the plans of the Japanese, and they did not attempt to capture the battleship. Satisfied with the information about the disarmament of the battleship, the destroyer immediately withdrew. The countdown to the imprisoning of ships has begun.
"Tsesarevich" with open aft ports of 75 mm guns.

Easily, with one stroke of the pen, give up the magnificent warship, the construction of which alone took five years, this decision cannot be called otherwise than a crime. However, with the "Diana" in Saigon they acted even more magically. Despite the fact that the French authorities did not make any demands for disarmament and guaranteed to carry out the entire repair of the ship, the disarmament order was sent here as well. And this happened on August 22, when the ship could, if desired, go to sea and, for sure, join the squadron of Z.P. Rozhdestvensky. In the name of the Admiral General, the order was given by Vice Admiral Avelan, head of the Naval Ministry. And before the wisdom of this order, it remains only to shrug.
"Tsesarevich" - broken pipes, traces of fragments on the hull and boats.

So the rulers of St. Petersburg, it is not clear "" thinking about it, "surrendered" all the ships that had broken through with ease. For some reason they were considered unnecessary for the war. Having obeyed the will of the Admiral-General, the Tsesarevich also plunged into the new, now not driven by anything, unhurried - for the whole war - repair season. Not having time, as it was possible on the Diana, to leave the ship as a group before disarmament, the officers of the battleship, together with the routine of the repair and coastal service, set about comprehending the invaluable combat experience that fell to their lot. After all, he could still be useful. As, once on August 1, 1904, the 2nd squadron of the Pacific Fleet began a campaign in Kronstadt.
"Tsesarevich" - sealing a hole in the board. To facilitate the foremast, the spars were removed and placed on the deck at the bow house.

Fate did not leave the optimistic ship with its worries either - it arranged so that one of the officers (the flag officer of the headquarters, Lieutenant M.A. Kedrov), had the opportunity, like the three officers of the "Diana", to take part in the campaign "and the battle of squadron Z. It is not known with what attention (and whether he generally considered it necessary) Zinovy Petrovich reacted to their experience, but having the most information (the flag officer of the headquarters of Makarov and V.K. Witgeft), Lieutenant Kedrov received an appointment far from the tasks of generalizing experience - an artillery officer on the cruiser (armed passenger steamer) "Ural" The system, as if aiming to destroy the fleet, remained true to itself.
"Tsesarevich" - the ship's ladder was damaged in battle, so a German ladder with wheels was installed at the side.

The main question in the fate of the "Tsesarevich" remains unanswered - why the ministry, without blinking, agreed to disarm the ship. What, it would seem, the most energetic efforts should have been made in order to save for the war a magnificent new battleship with a shelled crew! Instead, an absurd disarmament order was issued that caused general amazement.
"Tsesarevich" - view of the deck with rowing vessels. The stern pipe was badly damaged by hits from two large-caliber shells and, so as not to fall apart, was pulled together with additional cables.

The heroes of this dark story did not leave their explanations. Bypassed her in his work ("The meaning and work of the headquarters on the basis of the experience of the Russian-Japanese war") and Lieutenant A.N. Shcheglov (1874-1953). But there is no doubt that here, too, the result of the activity of the Main Staff was manifested, all the military orders of which, according to A.N. Shcheglova, "were not substantiated and directly harmful." As a result, “the fleet died from disorganization, and this is entirely the fault of the Main Naval Staff, which rightfully owns 90% of the failures of our fleet.” Without risking a big mistake, we can offer the following explanations for the fate of the “Tsesarevich” in Qing-dao, which are quite consistent with by the "chaotic" nature of the activities of the headquarters, which is so frankly mentioned in the work of Lieutenant Shcheglov.
"Tsesarevich" in 1905 after repair - the foremast was completely removed and new chimneys were installed.

Turning to the motives that somehow made it possible to understand the decision of the St. Petersburg strategists, one cannot escape the feeling of their involvement or direct belonging to some virtual world, where the laws of logic and common sense do not work. For how else to explain that, being seemingly in a mortal battle with an extremely active, active and enterprising enemy, while suffering constant setbacks, having lost the first squadron in the most mediocre way and preparing the second for the campaign, they so carelessly abandoned the experience of the war and the two newest ones, as the air of the necessary own battleships, from the "Glory", despite the opportunity to have time to put it into operation, and the "Tsesarevich", which could well have avoided disarmament. And at the same time - this is the plot for an exciting documentary detective story - desperate, albeit obviously doomed to failure (the whole deal could not take place without the knowledge of England, which was then in alliance with Japan), attempts were made to smuggle the acquisition of the notorious "exotic cruisers".
On the "Tsesarevich" during repair work

In front of the eyes of the whole world and to its ridicule, for more than a year, a spectacle of multi-stage intrigues was played out with many flocked to profit, promising to "arrange" the purchase of "intermediaries", in which the main role with a false passport, in a wig and with a false beard was played by an already familiar to us longtime adjutant of the Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich, Rear Admiral A.M. Abaza. This adventure could also be accompanied by the bluff of the emperor, who, despite failures, continued to be condescending or even contemptuous of the enemy (it is known that in resolutions he allowed himself expressions like "macaque"), and therefore the demonstrative rejection of the "Tsesarevich" could portray the breadth of the Russian soul and the boundless possibilities of Russia, capable of crushing the enemy, regardless of the number of battleships.

The internal antipathy of the chief of staff to the battleship, which for so long aroused his righteous anger and indignation, could also manifest itself. The withdrawal of the battleship from the game could somehow be combined in the sick imagination of Zinovy \u200b\u200bPetrovich with a triumph over his opponents in the eternal undercover bureaucratic struggle. Who knows the truth now...

1905 Internment in Qingdao. Russian destroyers (from left to right) - "Brave", "Courageous", "Merciless", "Fearless", "Silent". The main mast "Tsesarevich" is visible in the background.

Pregnancy and childbirth