Warships in St Petersberg

[bluestreak]

A few shots of warships seen in St Petersberg. The first shot is an advertising hoarding announcing Navy Days?

[bluestreak]

The famous Aurora.

[steve roberts]

Hi Bluestreak.Nice shots of the AURORA.She is claimed to be the ship that opened fire on the Winter Palace.In fact she only fired Starshells! The ships entire Soviet were later arrested and exiled for not agreeing with some of Lenin's ideas. Regards Steve.

[Marek T]

The AVRORA you see today is a full-scale model of an original ship, built in late 1980s. The original hull was towed away and left in some distant place to rot.
The 6" guns were landed in 1941 and augmented defences of Leningrad. As the German offensive pushed on they were blown up by Soviet troops to prevent their falling into enemy hands. The guns you can see today were found post war in the magazines.

[steve roberts]

Hi Marek.I did not realize that it was a Replacement ship,built for the purpose.They kept that a bit quiet! We over here were always told it was the genuine ship.Regards Steve.

[r.morrison]

Bluestreak, great photos, did you get any of the new Naval Forces HQ which since 2009 has apparently moved from MOSCOW to St PETERSBURG ?

[bluestreak]

Many thanks to r.morrison, Marek T and Steve Roberts for their replies.

r.morrison, we were on a pretty tight schedule, so I really don't remember the Naval HQ being pointed out. Also didn't make the Naval museum, maybe another time?

Marek T, like a lot of other people, maybe, I didn't know it was a replica. The guides certainly didn't let on!

Steve Roberts, there is a plaque on the side of the gunshield of the forward gun, but the only bits I could decipher were:- 25th October 1917, 152mm (about 6") and Aurora.

[Don Boyer]

The plaque I believe commemorates the shot fired by Aurora that kicked off the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. It's the reason they've preserved the ship all these years.

[BALTICSUBS]

Hi Don,

here is a close up i took of the plague you speak off. Whilst in St.Petersburg last year i met up with an ex Russian Navy Submarine Commander. He needed help with of some of their WW1 Officer's of which they could not find any photos of. He was quite humorous in that he said he never went to work, he saw his time as being an adventure and enjoyed having fun with the Americans. He invited me to the passing out ceremony of their Naval Cadets opposite the Aurora, so i went on board her and took many detailed photos. It was very difficult to get a clear photo of the forward gun due to it being inundated with Japanese tourists.

If anyone wants these detailed shots posted yell. I will dig out the book i bought while on her and scan some photos of her whilst being restored in dry dock.

[designeraccd]

Yes indeed...any photos you have of the Aurora would be appreciated if you could post them. Always VERY interesting to see and learn more!! DFO ;):D

[astraltrader]

I dont know if this is of any interest Dennis??

[designeraccd]

Nice view, never saw it before...thanks! DFO :D

Has anyone else heard that this supposedly is a "mockup" of Aurora...not the REAL cruiser??? I wonder if Antoine knows anything of this?

[designeraccd]

From an .ru website @ her:

The Cruiser "Aurora"



The historical ship Aurora has been turned into a museum and is docked just a few hundred yards upstream from the Cabin of Peter the Great, opposite the "St Petersburg" Hotel. The cruiser, built in St. Petersburg between 1897 and 1900, took an active part in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 and participated in the Tsusima battle, in which most of Russia's Pacific fleet was destroyed. After the war the ship was used for personnel training and during the October revolution of 1917 gave the signal (by firing a blank shot) to storm of the Winter Palace, which was being used as a residence by the democratic, but largely ineffective Provisional Government.

During World War II and the 900-day Siege of Leningrad the guns of the ship were taken down and used on the front line of the city's defenses. After the war the ship was carefully restored and used as a free museum and training ship for cadets from the nearby Nakhimov Navy School.
Location: Petrovskaia Naberezhnaia (Embankment).
Open: 10:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Closed: Monday, Tuesday and the last Wednesday of the month.
Admission: free.


IIRC, Miro used a shot of her on the Quiz "disguised" to look like another Czarist cruiser for a movie about the Russo-Japanese War that was made, post WW 2. As I recall, I did finally ID her, but the funnel "makeup" was baffling! :eek:

Additionally I e-mailed Antoine to hear what he knows of this; perhaps he will drop by and enlighten us as to the validity of the "mockup" claim??

[astraltrader]

Nice view, never saw it before...thanks! DFO :D

Has anyone else heard that this supposedly is a "mockup" of Aurora...not the REAL cruiser??? I wonder if Antoine knows anything of this?


I must admit this was news to me.

I always thought it was the preserved genuine cruiser - albeit poorly painted!!

I am still not convinced otherwise until I read it in black and white so to speak. :confused:

[BALTICSUBS]

Hi All,

thought i would put Aurora on its own thread, i will look at the book i purchased while on her, but from what i gathered, they had to cut and remove her hull below the waterline due to deteriation, so above the water line she is original. But i will check tonight and post the photos of her in dry dock. The event in the back ground is the passing out of the Russian Cadets on the 24th of June last year.

I took phots from many different angles. More to come.

[BALTICSUBS]

Some more.

[designeraccd]

I wonder if some "confusion" has come about due to the major RESTORATION she underwent in the 1980s? Per COMBAT FLEETS: "Underwent massive restoration at Severnaya Verf 190, St. Petersburg, essentially recieving a new 32mm hull plating intended to last for several centuries.; she was refloated in early 1987 and rededicated 25-10-87."

BTW while she had 6" originally unlike her 5.1" armed sister, she was later rearmed with 14 single 5.1" (130mm). DFO ;):D

[CGRET]

Well, from the photo's presented here she look's to be in pristine shape. If i did not know any better she look's like she could sail today.

Regards
Charles

[BALTICSUBS]

She was stunning. It is free to get on her, well it was on the day of the Cadet Passing out Parade, but she is not open every day. The hotel where i stayed told me all about her and so on, so i walked up there, the one thing they did not tell me was she was not open on Fridays, so went back the next day. If in St Petersburg she is well worth a visit.

Also went to the Naval Museum, also found and took photos of the Anglo Russian Hospital where the sick British Naval ratings would be sent 1915/1918, anyone interested in this yell. Got some photos inside.

[Antoine]

Hi all!

Something about the Aurora:

During the World War II she was sunken in shallow water by German artillery at Oranienbaum (50 km from Leningrad). After the war the cruiser was raised and "temporary" repaired. Her hull's submerged part was covered with a thin coat of the high quality concrete. Immediately after this repairing the "Avrora" played the well-known "Varyag" in a movie and then served as a boy's training ship and a memorial. Through the beginning of 1980s the cruiser needed to be generally repaired. During 1984-1987 the "Aurora" was restored: her submerged hull was cut off and replaced with a new one made of steel plus some smaller works were made. Old submerged part was towed ~150 km west of Leningrad and it's there until today.
Many photos of the "Aurora" (of different times) you can see here: http://navsource.narod.ru/photos/02/019/index.html.
And here are some shots by the cruiser's submerged part made by my wife's sister August 1st 2006:

[designeraccd]

Thanks Antoine and BALTIC SUB.....obviously the Russians thought enough of her to do a thorough job of keeping her intact....unlike the poor old USS Texas, which from what I've read, faces a similar hull problem!

All the color pics are terrific; sure look forward to seeing her drydocked/overhaul shots. Thanks all for clearing up the confusion about this old cruiser!!

Is any of her machinery still functional or simply a "static display" now? I assume her engines, etc are still in the rebuilt hull? DFO :D:D

[BALTICSUBS]

Here are 2 photos from the guide book, showing her new below waterline hull in the Northern Shipyard where this was carried out from 1984 to 1987. If this it to be regarded as a mock what do we make of all the rework and wood replaced on HMS Victory, or all the work done on Warrior. Victory will always be Victory, as any commisioned ship, they continue to have work done.

If anyone wants me to post some pages of the book, yell. Best to hear about Aurora from the Russians.

[Old Seaman]

Hi guys,

My Dad spent 7 years in Nachimov Naval School in 1944-1950. At that time (1950) besides "AURORA" cruiser Nachimov Naval School had Training Ship "UCHEBA" (Training).

[Old Seaman]

Hi there,

In addition to the info presented here I want to post some old pics of "Aurora" made by my Dad and his friends in 1954.

[Old Seaman]

And here is another pic of Trainig Ship "Ucheba"

[Old Seaman]

In commemoration of the WWII victory USS "Kauffman" (FFG-59) arrived today to Saint-Petersburg.

[Old Seaman]

By the way COMSIXFLT is on board USS KAUFFMAN.

[Alex Shenec]

Hi.

I was on May, 8-9th in St.-Petersburg. One of photos.

Best regards

Alex

By the way COMSIXFLT is on board USS KAUFFMAN.

[hood51]

A couple of photos sent to me by the Novosti Press Agency in 1972 and one taken by a work collegue whilst on a business trip in 1975.

1 & 2 - AURORA undated

3 - AURORA 14 April 75

Steve

[Rob Hoole]

One the rest of you missed: a diving pump on board the Aurora. The photo was sent to me a couple of weeks ago by a retired Surgeon Commodore. :)

Like the Royal Navy, the Russian Navy had diving apparatus on board all of its major ships from the 1860s onwards. The first ones were supplied by Siebe Gorman Ltd, a good old British company.

[Hank]

I've got a question regarding an adjacent issue regarding Russian naval history. Rather than start another thread I'll ask it here.

Edward Bates, President Lincoln's Attorney General, conceived the idea of allowing Russian naval forces winter anchorage in various ice-free ports during the U.S. Civil War. I believe this had the effect of reducing the chances of another European powers possibly taking advantage of the divided situation with military force. Was there any mention of the movement of Russian naval force in the press and where would this be found?

Regards

[Old Seaman]

Hi Hank,

Sorry to say I noticed your request too late. Nevertheless here you are with some info re Russian Navy activity during the civil war in USA period.

It was a risky time. UK and France created alliance against Russia and support South in their struggle against North. Russia was supporting President A. Lincoln.
In this critical situation the Head of the Russian Naval Ministry vice-admiral N.K. Krabbe suggested Alexander II to carry out an operation targeting on war prevention and collapse of the Anti-Russian coalition.
The main idea of the mission was sending of two Russian naval squadrons to USA western and eastern ports. In case of war these task forces have to act along sea routs and against enemy colonies in Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. At the same time this action gave a significant moral and military support to the government of Lincoln.
The positive result of the mission depended much on the secrecy of the whole plan. The risk of the information flow could lead to possible sea fight between Russian unites and ships of UK and France just upon leaving the Baltic Sea. That is why only high ranking persons knew about the operation.
Rear-admiral S.S. Lesovski was appointed as a Head of the Atlantic squadron, including: screw frigates “Alexander Nevski”, Peresvet”, “Oslyabya”, corvettes: “Varyag”, “Vityaz” and clipper “Almaz”. Preparations took about one month. In order to keep the secrecy of the mission it was told that the squadron is going to leave for a 2 years voyage for Mediterranean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
It was a first Russian naval squadron consisting of seal-steam ships. Admiral Lesovski was in a hurry. They passed the Baltic sea very fast. The underway replenishment was done in the western part of the Baltic Sea from two transports deployed in this region earlier. On July 25 the squadron entered the North sea. In order to escape the engagement with British-French naval forces admiral Lesovski decided to enter Atlantic Ocean to the north of British islands. He was full of strong intentions.
“The Admiral will open the fire if the Head of the foreign squadron which we could meet in the open sea will make any hurting the honor of our flag offer” wrote Lisovski in the instructions to commanding officers of ships. After entering the Atlantic Ocean due to difference in the ocean-going characteristics of units Rear-Admiral Lisovski ordered the ships to go to New-York independently.

[Old Seaman]

Later on I shall post further information.
REgards,
Serge.

[limeybiker]

HMS Apollo visited St. Petersburg 1953ish, does anyone have photographs of her there.

[Old Seaman]

Hi Barry,

I try to locate what have asked for.
But now see the link re visit of HMS "Albion" to Saint-Petersburg ( a bit later :D).

http://www.my-spb.ru/2007/05/31/angliyskiy-boevoy-korabl-u-nab-leytenanta-shmidta/

[Old Seaman]

Barry,

Here you are with some pics of HMS "Triumph" during her visit to Leningrad in 1955.
And if you will go to the link

http://www.net-film.ru/ru/film-10243/

and press the figure "1" (see below)

Скачать видео*
Часть:1

to download the video, you will see unique chronicles of that visit.
Good luck.

[Old Seaman]

I managed to find only mentioning of HMS "Apollo" participation in 1955 visit to Leningrad. No photoes are available at the moment.

Below is a pic of HMS "Triumph", carring Soviet Naval Flag on the mast.

Regards,
Serge.

[limeybiker]

Hi Barry,

I try to locate what have asked for.
But now see the link re visit of HMS "Albion" to Saint-Petersburg ( a bit later :D).

http://www.my-spb.ru/2007/05/31/angliyskiy-boevoy-korabl-u-nab-leytenanta-shmidta/


Great link, thanks very much, my brother was on the Apollo N01 Minelayer at the time, see my link under Dennis Lockyer in my signature

[astraltrader]

I managed to find only mentioning of HMS "Apollo" participation in 1955 visit to Leningrad. No photoes are available at the moment.

Below is a pic of HMS "Triumph", carring Soviet Naval Flag on the mast.

Regards,
Serge.


I think we have had this picture in the forum before??

Anyway one other taken on the same trip to Russia.

[ludsie]

Great pics

Thnaks for sharing