Russian battleship Tsesarevich

The Russian battleship "Tsesarevich (Цесаревич)" was built in France by "Compagnie des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée à la Seine" for the Imperial Russian Navy. She was named after the Tsesarevich - the title reserved for the eldest son of the Tsar and heir to the Russian throne. She was based in the Pacific and fought in the Russo-Japanese War, and was the flagship of Admiral Wilgelm Vitgeft in the Battle of the Yellow Sea. The "Tsesarevich" design was the basis of the , , the armoured cruisers and both sides receiving damage. At 18:00, with the battle's outcome still in question, Admiral Vitgeft was killed by a shell splinter on the bridge of the "Tsesarevich". Just 12 minutes later, further hits on the "Tsesarevich" killed the captain and almost all bridge personnel as well as crippling the wheel. With the flagship's wheel wedged in place, the "Tsesarevich" went into such a sharp turn that it heeled over 12 degrees. Other ships in the line had not realized what was happening and followed suit, only for the fleet to turn in on itself, eventually losing battle line and scattering. With darkness approaching and low on ammunition, Togo broke off the engagement and retired eastward. He ordered a night attack against the Russian fleet by his destroyers and torpedo boats, but most of these attacks were repelled with light casualties. While most of the Russian fleet (five battleships, a cruiser, and nine destroyers) returned to the safety of Port Arthur, the damaged "Tsesarevich" and three escorting destroyers sailed to Tsingtao, where they were interned.

Fate

At the end of the Russo-Japanese war the ship was transferred to the Baltic and saw action in World War I, taking part in the Battle of Moon Sound in 1917. After the Russian Revolution she was renamed "Grazhdanin" (or "Citizen"). She was hulked in 1918 and scrapped in 1924 in Germany.

References

* Tomitch, V. M., "Warships of the Imperial Russian Navy" (1968) Volume 1, Battleships
* From Conway's "All the World's Fighting Ships 1860 - 1905", 1979

External links

* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/russia/battleships/tsarevitch.htm page from maritime quest]
* [http://www.battleships.ru/warships/Tsesarevich.html page from battleships.ru]
* [http://ship.bsu.by/main.asp?id=102466 - Article in Russian language]

See also

* "Borodino"-class battleship