" and "Boyarin", as well as seven destroyers joined the detachment on the way to Libau. On October 31, the entire detachment left Libau for the Pacific Ocean. “Askold” and “Novik”, which had great speed, went far ahead of the squad.
During the passage, Askold and Varyag made an official visit to Muscat, where the officers met with the local Sultan. Russian ships left a deep impression on the Sultan.
Upon arrival in the Pacific Ocean, Askold was for some time part of the emerging Vladivostok cruiser detachment.
During artillery training exercises, the Askold gunners showed that they were among the best in the squadron, as they shot eight times more accurately than the Varyag gunners. On August 19, in Peter the Great Bay, the cruiser performed training firing on the shield while moving 18 knots in a wind of force 3-4. Although visibility was poor (at times the shield was hidden in the fog), the Askold gunners showed good results: out of 36 fired 152-mm shells, seven hit the target, out of 36 75-mm -12 and out of 40 47-mm - five. "Varyag" during a similar shooting exercise, carried out by him on December 16, 1903 (the last exercises before his famous battle), although it was moving at a lower speed (12.5 knots), out of 36 fired 152-mm shells, 33 75-mm, 56 Only three 47-mm and 20 37-mm missiles hit the shield: one 75-mm and two 47-mm.
Russo-Japanese War
On the eve of the war, the cruisers "Askold", "Pallada", "Diana", "Novik", "Boyarin", "Bayan", the auxiliary cruiser "Angara", the gunboats "Gilyak", "Beaver", "Gremyashchiy", "Brave" "and all destroyers were based at Port Arthur.
In connection with a number of demarches from Japan, the viceroy, Admiral E. I. Alekseev, on January 18, 1904, gave the order to immediately begin the campaign. The next day, during high tide, a detachment of ships entered the outer roadstead of Port Arthur. On January 21, at about 16:00, the lead cruiser "Askold" saw the Shantung lighthouse, after which, by order of the governor, the ships turned back and at 5 am on January 22 anchored in Dalianwan Bay, and in the afternoon moved to the Port Arthur roadstead.
On the night of January 27, the Russian squadron, located near Port Arthur, was attacked by Japanese destroyers. Some ships returned fire, but the squadron commander, Vice Admiral O.V. Stark, did not believe in the attack and ordered the flagship Petropavlovsk to direct a searchlight into the sky, which was a conditioned signal for a ceasefire. And only at 0:55 he gave the order to the cruisers “Askold” and “Novik” to begin pursuing the Japanese destroyers, but they had already disappeared. After which “Askold” began to accompany the battleship “Tsesarevich”, which was hit by a torpedo, as a result of which the battleship received a significant and increasing list, heading to the inner harbor of the port for repairs. The squadron had to be bypassed from the sea, while repelling a repeated attack by the destroyers. Japanese Admiral Togo, who commanded the attack, reported to his superiors that the ships Poltava, Askold and two more were disabled large ships, which was a distortion of the facts - the Japanese, despite the short distance, were unable to correctly identify the characteristic silhouettes of Russian ships.
In the first months of the war, Askold was one of the most actively operating ships of the Port Arthur squadron. The cruiser participated in all its operations: conducted artillery battles with Japanese ships, covered its own destroyers, repelled enemy attacks and inspected suspicious merchant ships.
On the night of January 28-29, a combined detachment (“Askold”, “Bayan”, “Diana”, “Boyarin”, “Zabiyaka”, “Gaydamak”, “Beaver”, “Gilyak”, “Brave”) under the command of M. P. Molasa occupied positions to guard the exit to the outer roadstead of Port Arthur.
On February 9, the 1st Pacific Squadron entered into battle with the 3rd Combat Detachment of Vice Admiral S. Dev of the 1st Squadron of the United Fleet. Armored cruisers fired at Askold: the flagship Chitose and Takasago.
On February 14, a typhoon refloated the battleship Petropavlovsk, which was under repair, and it almost collided with the cruisers Askold and Novik, but the quick reaction of the cruisers' watch commanders prevented an accident.
On February 28, O. V. Stark was removed from command, and Vice Admiral S. O. Makarov was appointed in his place, who raised his braid pennant on the cruiser Askold.
On March 9, the Russian squadron (the flag of S. O. Makarov, first on the Askold and then on the Petropavlovsk) exchanged fire for two hours with the main combat forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy (6 battleships, 6 armored and 6 armored cruisers). But this artillery duel did not bring significant results.
On March 17, 1904, Captain 1st Rank N.K. Reitzenstein was confirmed as the junior flagship of the squadron and acting as head of the cruiser detachment, holding the flag on the cruiser Askold. On July 12 of the same year he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral.
On the night of April 12–13, a battle took place near Port Arthur between the destroyer “Strashny” and the 2nd fighter squadron. During the clash, the Russian destroyer was sunk. The cruiser Bayan, which came to the aid of the destroyer, was fired upon by the cruisers of the 3rd combat detachment, which were covering the transport Koryo-maru, from which they had laid a minefield. Following the Bayan, the Petropavlovsk under the flag of Vice Admiral S. O. Makarov, Poltava, Askold, Diana and Novik came to the place of the death of the Terrible. Russian ships opened fire on Japanese cruisers. By 09:15 in the morning, the 1st combat detachment arrived in the battle area along with the cruisers Nissin and Kasuga. At this time, the Pobeda and Peresvet approached, and the Russian ships began to pursue the departing Japanese ships. At 09:43 the flagship Petropavlovsk hit a mine and sank. Vice Admiral S. O. Makarov and most of the battleship's crew died on the ship.
On July 26 (August 8, new style), "Askold", "Bayan", "Pallada" and "Novik" took part in Lunvantan Bay in an art duel with Japanese ships that arrived to support the 3rd Japanese Army storming Port Arthur, including including the armored cruisers Akitsushima, Suma and Itsukushima.
On July 28 (August 10, new style), the 3rd combat detachment of Admiral Kamimura ("Azuma", "Tokiwa") was sent to the Ross Islands to intercept the Askold, Novik, Tsarevich and several destroyers that broke the blockade. , “Izumo” and “Iwate”), if Russian ships go through the Korean Strait. The detachment also had an order to block the path from the north to the Vladivostok detachment of cruisers (“Russia”, “Gromoboy” and “Rurik”). It was with them that Kamimura's detachment met and the battle took place in the Korea Strait.
As part of the Siberian military flotilla
After the end of the war, Askold was returned to Russia and enlisted in the Siberian military flotilla. He was the flagship of the flotilla.
On October 16, 1907, there was an uprising of the miners of the fortress mine battalion in Diomede Bay. The next day, the sailors of the destroyers of the Siberian flotilla rebelled. On October 17, the uprising was supported on the destroyer Skory, on which Yakov Poilov and the head of the military-party organization of the RSDLP Maria Maslikova killed the commander of the destroyer, senior lieutenant A.P. Shter, and seized command. Next, they took on board the leaders of the mutiny and the rebel sailors from other ships of the flotilla, including the Askold. And they tried to leave the Golden Horn Bay, but the rebel destroyer was fired upon and received 67 hits: the engine room was broken through and the boiler was blown up, most of the rebels on board were killed, including Yakov Poilov. The ship lost the ability to be steered and ran ashore on the bay.
Since 1907, “Askold” participated in the research of the currents of the seas of the Eastern Ocean launched by Major General M.E. Zhdanko using “bottle mail”: bottles were thrown into the sea from ships with notes about the latitude and longitude of the place where the bottle was dropped, and a request to inform the GEVO address where and when the message was discovered. Also involved in these experiments were the minelayer "Ussuri", the transport "Okhotsk" and the sailing schooner "Neptune".
On September 3, 1908, the cruiser Askold participated in extensive exercises together with the submarines Shchuka and Roach, which carried out a training attack on the cruiser.
World War I
At 5:30 a.m. on July 20, 1914, a flag signal was raised over the cruiser Askold: “Germany has declared war.” The flotilla was urgently put on alert.
In 1914, the allied countries invited Russia to create a joint squadron in the Pacific and Indian oceans for operations against the German cruiser squadron of Admiral M. von Spee. The Minister of Naval Admiral Ivan Grigorovich was against this proposal, and the commander of the Siberian Military Flotilla, Rear Admiral M. F. von Schultz, on the contrary, advocated for the creation of such a formation, and received personal permission from Emperor Nicholas II to join the Askold cruisers (commander captain 1st rank S. A. Ivanov 6th) and “Pearl” (commander captain 2nd rank Baron I. A. Cherkasov) to the Allied fleet. On August 25, both cruisers left Vladivostok for Hong Kong to join the Allied forces. On August 16, the cruisers arrived in Hong Kong, where they joined the squadron under the command of Vice Admiral T.-M. Jerama. On August 19, Russian cruisers went to sea to search for the German cruiser Emden operating in the Indian Ocean. On August 22, “Askold” and “Pearl”, having received different tasks divided.
V. Ya. Krestyaninov, S. V. Molodtsov. Cruiser "Askold"
The best cruiser of the squadron
At 12 o'clock on January 27, 1902, "Askold" left Kiel and headed to Libau; there were 555 people on board. The sailors and officers confidently and calmly coped with their duties - the mechanisms were thoroughly studied during construction and testing. The commander and mechanics carefully observed and recorded the operating modes of the machines. This was required by the mechanical department of the MTK in order to know all the features and capabilities of the ship.
On April 5, Askold was placed in dry dock for two weeks to paint the ice-scarred underwater part and install hull reinforcements in the stern. Soon the missing part of the crew arrived from Kronstadt, and on April 24, the cruiser, raising the flag and jack, began the campaign.
On May 1, “Askold”, as part of a detachment of ships under the command of Rear Admiral G.P. Chukhnin, returning from Port Arthur, set out for Kronstadt. In Revel, on the Askold, they learned that upon arrival in Kronstadt they would participate in a ceremonial meeting of the French squadron, at which French President E. Loubet would arrive on an official visit. A day later, G.P. Chukhnin’s detachment, joined by the ships of the Artillery Training Detachment, moved on, but near the island of Gogland they encountered solid ice 0.6-0.9 m thick. The icebreaker Ermak, which was waiting for the detachment at the edge, came to the rescue ice. Beyond the island of Lavensari the detachment reached clean water and on the evening of May 5 arrived in Kronstadt.
The arrival of the newest cruiser aroused general interest, which rose even more after an article in the Kronstadt Bulletin newspaper, which drew attention to the many new devices on the Askold, a large number of electrical auxiliary mechanisms. “Many admit,” the newspaper wrote, “that our technicians, regardless of specialty, forced the Germania plant, which built the Askold cruiser, to show highest voltage strength and knowledge, as a result of which the plant gave us a ship that was truly durable and suitable for the purpose for which it was built.”
On June 18, Emperor Nicholas II visited the cruiser. Between reviews, “Askold” went to Bjerke to test torpedo tubes and the electric drive for controlling the steam steering engine, which were generally highly appreciated by the commission and were “accepted into the treasury.”
During the stay in Kronstadt, a radio station assembled in the Kronstadt Mine Workshop was installed on the Askold and tested in operation with other ships. At the same time, machine guns, sights and gun firing angle limiters, N.K. Geisler instruments for guns and torpedo tubes, four remote-controlled searchlights, and 47-mm guns for steam boats were installed; They retrofitted the artillery magazines, laid communication pipes to the shell elevators, and manufactured and accepted a mine raft. Some of this work not completed in Kiel was paid for by the company. The cruiser took a full complement of ammunition and was armed in accordance with the state.
On August 25, “Askold” was visited again by the emperor with his family and the Greek Queen Olga Konstantinovna. In parting, they wished the officers and crew a happy voyage.
On September 3, Askold left Kronstadt forever and headed to the Far East to strengthen the squadron Pacific Ocean. During the transition, the maneuverability and performance of the cruiser were studied, and the optimal operating mode of the boilers and main mechanisms was determined. At the beginning of the passage, the future academician A.N. Krylov was on board the ship to study the deformations of the hull structure on the ocean waves.
Having simultaneously completed a number of diplomatic missions in ports Persian Gulf, "Askold" anchored on February 13, 1903 in the Port Arthur roadstead. The difficult passage across the seas of three oceans ended brilliantly.
Thanks to the successful design, high quality manufacturing and proper operation of the cruiser's vehicles worked excellently. Immediately after the trip at the control exit with the underwater part overgrown in the tropical seas, the Askold easily developed the contract power and showed a speed of over 20 knots on a large wave. Nine double boilers of the Thornycroft-Schultz design also performed well. They turned out to be more reliable and economical than most boilers of other systems installed on cruisers of the Russian fleet.
The team impeccably maintained complex, cutting-edge mechanisms. The cruiser became part of the Pacific Ocean squadron, becoming its best and strongest reconnaissance aircraft.
In accordance with the sailing program for the ships of the Askold squadron in 1903, they were supposed to remain in the armed reserve for five months and winter in Vladivostok. But the situation in the Far East was heating up, Japan's preparations for war were becoming more and more obvious, as was the superiority of its fleet.
While the Navy Ministry tried to speed up the completion and dispatch of the ships of the 1898 program to the East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attempted to ease tensions through diplomatic efforts. At his request, “Askold” was allocated to the envoy to Japan A.P. Izvolsky.
As part of this expedition, the cruiser visited Nagasaki, Yokohama, Kobe, visited the Chinese port of Taku, English colony on Chinese territory - Weihawei and German - Qingdao.
On April 30, 1903, Askold returned to Port Arthur, but on May 3, together with the cruiser Novik, it went to sea again. Their path lay in Vladivostok - to meet the Minister of War, Infantry General A.N. Kuropatkin. From the Askold, the minister inspected the bays of Primorye and on May 28 arrived at the Japanese port of Shimonoseki, from where he and his retinue left by train for Tokyo, and the Askold and Novik moved to Kobe. With the arrival of the diplomatic mission there, the campaign continued. Having visited Nagasaki, the cruisers headed to Port Arthur, where they arrived safely on June 17.
In Port Arthur, A.N. Kuropatkin inspected the fortifications of the fortress, the garrison troops, visited the ships of the squadron and held a number of meetings on the defense of Port Arthur and the Far East. Upon returning to St. Petersburg, he thanked the head of the Naval Department, Vice Admiral F.K. Avelan, for the cruisers.
In Port Arthur, the crew finally got some rest after a stressful voyage, especially for the engine crew. During the “diplomatic” campaigns, Askold confirmed its reputation as the best cruiser of the squadron: its engines and boilers worked flawlessly. The intense service of the ship was a test of all mechanisms and parts, showed good quality design and construction, high level of operational maintenance.
The cruiser was in armed reserve for a month, but on July 31st she entered the campaign again: the governor in the Far East, Vice Admiral E.I. Alekseev, urgently needed to go to Vladivostok to resolve issues of preparing the Primorsky Territory for defense. The transition went well, E.I. Alekseev thanked the team for their excellent service. "Askold" began combat training.
On August 19, in Peter the Great Bay, the cruiser performed training firing on the shield at a speed of 18 knots in a wind of force 3-4. Although visibility was poor (at times the shield was hidden in the fog), the Askold gunners showed good results: out of 36 fired 152-mm shells, seven hit the target, out of 36 75-mm -12 and out of 40 47-mm - five. "Varyag" during a similar shooting, carried out by him on December 16, 1903 (the last exercises before his famous battle), although it was moving at a lower speed (12.5 knots), of 36 fired 152-mm shells, 33 75-mm, 56 Only three 47-mm and 20 37-mm missiles hit the shield: one 75-mm and two 47-mm.
On August 23, as part of a detachment under the command of Rear Admiral E.A. Stackelberg, “Askold”, together with the cruisers “Russia”, “Gromoboy”, “Bogatyr”, weighed anchor and set off on a cruise in the Sea of Japan, visiting the port of Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido.
After returning and staying for a week in Vladivostok, the Askold again went to sea on September 10, this time as part of a squadron of six battleships and five cruisers. The transition to Port Arthur was combined with maneuvers in which the ground forces of the Kwantung Peninsula and the Port Arthur fortress took part.
The last important peacetime event for Askold was the change of commander: on January 17, 1904, N.K. Reizenstein, who was appointed head of the cruiser detachment, handed over the ship to Captain 1st Rank K.A. Grammatchikov, the former commander of the 2nd destroyer detachment.
On the evening of January 26, 1904, Japanese destroyers attacked the Russian squadron on the outer roadstead of Port Arthur. They immediately opened fire back at them, but three torpedoes still hit the squadron battleships Tsesarevich and Retvizan and the cruiser Pallada.
“Askold” stood in the first line and, due to its location, was closest to danger. But thanks to the clear actions of the personnel, he managed to avoid being hit. Strong return fire prevented the enemy from taking proper aim, although two torpedoes passed dangerously close to the stern of the cruiser.
On the morning of January 27, the main forces of the Japanese fleet, under the flag of Commander Admiral H. Togo, approached Port Arthur and entered into battle with the ships and coastal batteries of the fortress stationed in the roadstead. Russian cruisers were closer to the enemy than battleships. The first 305-mm shell fell between Askold and Bayan, raising a huge column of water. "Bayan", "Askold" and "Novik" found themselves between the columns of battleships, but did not shy away from the battle, but boldly went on the attack.
The fastest "Novik" rushed forward, trying to get within torpedo firing range; "Bayan" and "Askold" rushed after it, continuously firing from all guns. The Japanese shifted their fire to these three cruisers. To avoid hits, "Askold" began to zigzag, but still several enemy shells and many fragments reached the target.
On the Askold, the flagship’s signal was heard: “Cruisers do not interfere with the battleships,” and K.A. Grammatchikov ordered to turn back. The cruisers came out from under fire, but their risky attack played an important role - they distracted the enemy at a time when our battleships had not yet formed a battle line. Together with the fire of coastal batteries and battleships, their activity forced Admiral Kh. Togo to stop the artillery duel and leave the Port Arthur area.
During the 40-minute battle, the Askold was hit by six shells and a large number of fragments from nearby explosions. Four gunners were killed and 10 sailors were injured.
The heaviest damage was caused by a large shell that hit the port side at the waterline in the area of the 53rd line. and exploded in a rubber dam. The internal longitudinal bulkhead was pierced by shrapnel, and water began to flow into the coal pit located behind it. Fortunately, the pit was completely filled with coal, and the neck was battened down, so that the ship did not even list. In addition, the explosion broke two frames, creating a hole in external cladding area 0.9 m2. Fragments of the same projectile damaged the 75-mm gun and pierced the charging compartment of the torpedo located in the apparatus. The red-hot fragments passed close to the mercury fulminate capsule without, fortunately, causing detonation or ignition of the explosive. As soon as the cruiser came out from under fire, a miner was lowered overboard to the surface vehicles, who unscrewed the firing pins from the torpedoes. After this incident, the team believed that Askold was a lucky ship.
Another shell tore off the barrel of the 152 mm gun on the starboard side. Another one, of large caliber, hit the fifth chimney and exploded, seriously damaging her. The fourth destroyed the chart room, the fifth knocked down the main topmast, the sixth pierced the side and damaged the wardroom and cabins.
After the battle, the battleships took refuge in the harbor, while Askold, along with other cruisers, carried out patrol duty in the roadstead. For three days his boilers were steaming, and the team was in constant tension. Only then was the ship placed against the wall of the Marine Plant to repair the damage.
By order of E.I. Alekseev, 24 “lower ranks” of “Askold” were awarded insignia of the military Order of St. George.
After the repairs were completed, Askold went out on February 5 and 9 to reconnaissance of the area adjacent to the fortress, and 11, together with the cruisers Bayan and Novik, took part in a firefight with four Japanese cruisers.
On the morning of February 12, the main forces of the Japanese fleet again approached Port Arthur. "Bayan", "Askold" and "Novik" were in the outer roadstead, covering the destroyers returning from the sea. Six Japanese battleships and six armored cruisers opened fire. Our cruisers responded immediately; "Askold" at that moment was closest to the enemy. After the first shot on the Askold, the barrel of the 152-mm gun exploded, and fragments rained down on the deck. The distance between our and Japanese ships has decreased to 32 kb. Only a long move saved the Askold from fatal hits from heavy shells. The battle of three cruisers against 12 armored ships lasted about 30 minutes. "Askold" fired 257 shells at the enemy without receiving any serious damage.
On February 24, a new commander, Vice Admiral S.O. Makarov, arrived in Port Arthur, and the fleet’s activities noticeably intensified. "Askold" as part of the squadron went to sea on February 27, March 9 and 13, and on March 9 - under the flag of S.O. Makarov. Upon returning from the last cruise, Captain 1st Rank N.K. Reitzenstein again arrived at the cruiser, this time as the head of the cruiser detachment. Since then, his braided pennant has practically never descended from Askold. On March 30, the cruiser went to sea for a Chinese junk that appeared on the horizon and brought it to Port Arthur. That night, Vice Admiral S.O. Makarov was not on the Askold, but on the duty cruiser Diana.
No one suspected that this night would be the last for the admiral. On the morning of March 31, Stepan Osipovich transferred to the squadron battleship Petropavlovsk. On that fateful day for the Russian fleet, the admiral died along with his flagship, which was blown up by an enemy mine.
In April, "Askold" did not go to sea, the personnel participated in the armament of coastal batteries: they installed a steam engine, a boiler and a searchlight, at redoubt No. 1 - four 75-mm guns, assisted in the installation of two 75-mm guns from the "Pobeda" on fortification No. 2 and two 75 mm from “Tsesarevich” to the Kurgan battery. In addition, by order of the governor, 2 machine guns were removed from the ship to arm the naval machine gun battery being formed.
On May 5, Askold went to sea, covering the mine transport Amur. When returning to the roadstead from the cruiser, the buoys of the fortress minefield were not noticed, and the ship passed through a minefield. Although the miners of the fortress company turned off the current while the ships were passing, this still cannot be considered safe. But fate treated Askold favorably here too.
During the fierce battle on the Kinjou Isthmus, Russian troops were supported from the flank by steam boats from the battleships Retvizan, Sevastopol and the cruiser Askold, armed with small-caliber cannons and machine guns. The Askoldovsky boat was commanded by midshipman F.F. Gerken. On May 13, he successfully fired at Japanese troops from a 47-mm gun; after the retreat of the Russian troops, the boat was blown up, and his team came to Port Arthur on foot.
After Kinjou was abandoned, two platoons of landing troops were brought ashore from the Askold, and two days later K.A. Grammatchikov received orders, having removed the 152-mm guns No. 5 and No. 6, to transfer them to the battleship "Retvizan", and also take measures to increase the firing angle of guns No. 7 and No. 8.
On June 10, the squadron went to sea to break through to Vladivostok, but, encountering superior forces of the Japanese fleet, turned back. The Russian ships approached the roadstead when it was already dark, and at that moment our cruisers, sailing at the end of the wake column, were attacked by destroyers. These attacks continued until 4 o'clock. According to reports from our cruisers, it followed that several destroyers were sunk, but the Japanese do not confirm this data, admitting only heavy damage to the destroyer Chidori. On June 23 and 24, the Askold, which was on duty in the passage to the internal roadstead, opened fire on the approaching Japanese destroyers of the 6th detachment. Over the next two weeks, Askold repeatedly went to sea, fired at Japanese ground positions, and fought duels with enemy ships.
On July 14, Russian ships again opened fire on the advancing Japanese. At about 13:00 the enemy destroyers approached, but were promptly detected by the Askold signalmen. The cruiser's seven six-inch shells were enough for the destroyers to retreat, but they were replaced by the armored cruisers Nissin and Kasu-ga and opened fire with their guns, which were superior in range to the Askold artillery; shrapnel from a nearby Japanese shell slightly damaged the chimney. At 15:00, a Japanese mine was discovered behind the stern of the Askold and they shot it, and the Bayan, which was following, was blown up by another mine.
On July 28, 1904, the Port Arthur epic approached its climax. The squadron went to sea to break through to Vladivostok. "Askold" under the flag of Rear Admiral N.K. Reizenstein led a detachment of cruisers, walking in the wake of the battleships. At 12:30 p.m. the battle began. At 13:09 a 305-mm shell (presumably from the battleship Shikishima) exploded at the base of the first pipe. Despite the fact that the lower part of the casing was flattened, it miraculously remained standing in place. The fragments disabled the first boiler, the explosion destroyed the radio room, the ladders to the bow superstructure and the upper bridge, mortally wounded midshipman Rklitsky and galvanizer Zhdanovich, who were standing at the bow rangefinder, and killed miner Shesterov.
In response, Askold opened fire from 152-mm guns on the starboard side, but the distance to the battleships was too great, so they fired only four shots.
At 13:12 a second large shell hit the stern and exploded in the chief navigator's cabin; the resulting fire was quickly extinguished. After 3 minutes, “Askold” turned to the left, followed by the remaining cruisers: “Novik”, “Pallada”, “Diana” from under fire. Having gone behind the battleships, they formed a second column, "Askold" went on the left abeam of the flagship battleship "Tsesarevich". The squadrons separated on counter courses, and the ships received a short respite. At 16:05 a semaphore from the squadron commander was received: “In the event of a battle, the head of the cruiser detachment should act at his discretion.” At 16:50, the Japanese ships caught up with the squadron of Rear Admiral V.K. Vitgeft, and the battle resumed with renewed vigor.
After an hour and a half battle, the commander of the Russian squadron V.K. Vitgeft was killed. The steering wheel of the flagship “Tsesarevich” jammed and it began to circulate to the left, the formation of our battleships was disrupted.
The detachment of cruisers, following the direction of movement of the flagship battleship, consistently began to turn to the left. When in the conning tower of the Askold they realized that the Tsarevich was damaged, they turned right again and set a course parallel to the line of the battleships. At this time, the Japanese 1st combat detachment went around the head of the Russian column, and our cruisers found themselves within range of the guns of the leading Japanese battleships. The 5th and 6th combat detachments approached from the west; the total number of enemy ships at approximately 19:00 was determined by the number 45 in the logbook.
The Russian battleships turned towards Port Arthur, "Askold", followed by all the cruisers and destroyers at first following their example, but soon N.K. Reizenstein made a decision, supported by the commander and officers nearby, to make a breakthrough, taking on enemy fire , not stopping at the risk of death.
On the foremast of the Askold, the signal flags went up: “Cruisers should follow me,” the ship increased its speed, and the rest of the cruisers followed suit.
At 18:50, Askold opened fire and headed straight for the armored cruiser Asama, which was sailing separately. Soon a fire broke out on the Asama, as a result of which the Japanese cruiser “increased its speed and began to move away” - as written in the Askold logbook.
Assessing the enemy's position, N.K. Reizenstein considered its weakest point to be the southwestern direction, where the cruisers of the 3rd combat detachment were located. Having bypassed the Russian battleships on the starboard side, the formation of which by this time had become similar to a double front, Askold turned sharply to the left, crossing their course.
"Askold" developed full speed and, parting ways with the battleships, headed south. "Diana" and "Pal-Lada" immediately fell behind, and only "Novik" stayed in the wake. The battleships continued to move in the direction of Port Arthur and soon disappeared from sight.
The armored cruiser Yakumo headed towards Askold, firing at it from 203 mm and 152 mm guns. Behind him, the cruisers of the 6th detachment sparkled with flashes of gunfire, also blocking the path of our ships. To the left and behind, the cruisers of the 3rd detachment of Rear Admiral Dev set off in pursuit. The end ship of the 1st combat detachment "Nissin" and the ships of the 5th detachment also transferred fire to the "Askold". Showered from all sides by shells, the cruiser responded by fighting on both sides, bow and stern. Dozens of shells fell around the cruiser, raising high columns of water and showering it with a hail of fragments. High speed, maneuverability and accuracy of return fire explain the fact that the cruiser survived the monstrous hurricane of fire. But from time to time its body shuddered from being hit by shells. The shaking was so great that the needles on the pressure gauges bounced off and burst. light bulbs. It was reported to the conning tower that water was flowing into the left aft engine room and into the right coal pit of the second stoker. Below there was a struggle with the water, and above the gunners developed a maximum rate of fire.
The flashes and roar of their own shots merged with the explosions of other people's shells. Fires broke out here and there. The gunners rushed to extinguish them, and the sailors of the fire division replaced their comrades who had fallen at the guns. Increasingly, stretchers and orderlies were required on the upper deck. With great difficulty, the wounded were lowered to the dressing station under the armored deck in the room for underwater mine vehicles. At a critical moment, when an enemy armored cruiser was blocking the path and several Japanese cruisers concentrated fire on the Askold, the ship’s engines produced 132 rpm - more than during acceptance tests.
The armored cruiser Yakumo was closest to the others and posed the greatest danger, and N.K. Reitzenstein ordered to head straight for it. On the Askold, underwater torpedo tubes were prepared in the morning, and the combat charging compartments of the surface ones were attached to the mines, without inserting only the drummers and ignition cartridges. Senior mine officer P.P. Kitkin received orders to prepare the devices for firing. But there was no need to shoot: the Askold’s fire caused damage to the Takasago-class cruiser, and a fire broke out on the Yakumo, and it turned away. “Askold” and “Novik” rushed literally behind its stern. Four Japanese destroyers launched an attack on the Russian cruisers on the right, from the bow heading angles. From the Askold we saw the launch of four torpedoes, which, fortunately, missed. The enemy's destroyers shifted fire from the starboard guns, and the Japanese turned away.
On some 152-mm guns, after firing at high elevation angles, the arcs of the vertical guidance mechanisms failed and the teeth became chipped. During the rollback, the guns sank more than normal, and they were rolled in manually with great difficulty. The supply of shells operated non-stop, despite the fact that the lifting frame cables of the 152-mm elevators were broken by shrapnel. In these magazines, ammunition was supplied manually, but there were no delays or missed shots due to a lack of shells. Despite the losses in people, the guns did not stop firing - the wounded and killed were replaced by officials, keepers, in a word, everyone down to the civilian cook. The priest Father Porfiry “walked heroically along the upper deck with a cross, blessing the soldiers.”
People in the cellars worked in tight confined spaces, not knowing what was going on above. Also in worst conditions there were drivers and stokers. When a large shell hit the upper part of the fifth pipe, a flame blazed from the ashpit in the fifth stoker, and the compartment was filled with smoke, but thanks to the excess pressure, draft was quickly restored. At boiler No. 8, shrapnel flying through the armor grille pierced the casing and several water-heating tubes, which produced slight steam. The hole in the boiler casing was small, and in order not to reduce the speed at the critical moment of the battle, the boiler was left in operation, and the boilers were forced to the maximum.
The combat watch of the engine crew did not have a shift - some drivers worked without a break for more than 16 hours. “In the end the drivers had to be watered down every 15 minutes cold water“, - the senior mechanic testified.
After the battle, N.K. Reizenstein wrote in a report to the General Medical School about the teams of “Askold” and “Novik”: “I sincerely cannot indicate the distinguished characters of both of these cruisers: commanders, officers, mechanics, doctors, lower ranks behaved steadfastly, bravely, calmly, without fuss, crushing the enemy, they fulfilled their duty.”
The road to the open sea was now blocked only by the cruisers of the 6th detachment. "Askold" sharply turned towards the cruiser "Suma". He, like the previous ones, moved to the side at full speed, clearing the way. The enemy ships fell noticeably behind, but continued to fire for some time, and at 19:40 the Russian cruisers broke through. In the ensuing darkness, it became more difficult to aim the guns, the intensity of the fire decreased, and the Japanese ships gradually fell behind. At 20:20 they “ceased fire, as the enemy was hiding in the darkness.” Novik followed its flagship for up to 1 hour 30 minutes, then fell behind due to malfunctions in the mechanisms.
At dawn on July 29 it became clear that Japanese cruisers“Akashi”, “Izumi”, “Akitsushima” continue to pursue “Askold”, but, unable to withstand the single combat with the vehicles of the Russian cruiser, they disappeared over the horizon after a couple of hours. Finally there was an opportunity to look around and count the losses. It turned out that during the breakthrough the cruiser received more severe damage than expected at night. One officer and ten sailors were killed in the battle, four officers and 44 sailors were wounded. The guns fired 226 high-explosive 152-mm, 155 steel and 65 cast-iron 75-mm, and 160 47-mm shells at the enemy. Four 152-mm guns remained in service, and one more was recovered during the night. Gun No. 10, fully operational, was unable to fire because a shell exploding underneath it had shattered the reinforcements and deck.
In the battery deck in the officer's compartment, 75-mm cartridges lying in the gazebos on the elevator rails exploded due to shrapnel. The cruiser lost both rangefinder stations, electrical dials were broken in many places, 10 combat dials were broken, that is, the fire control devices were out of order. On the starboard side of the "Askold" there were four small underwater holes at 7-10 shanks, through which water entered the skipper's storeroom. Between 83-84 sp. the holes were above the waterline, but as a result of deformations, the seams of the casing came apart, and water entered the coal pit. Between 28 and 29 sp. the shell pierced the outer side three meters above the waterline, destroyed the cabin and damaged the mount under the 152 mm gun.
On the left side there were two underwater holes at 32-33 and 46-47 shp. In these places, in addition to damage to the skin with an area of 0.75 m2, frames were broken and beams were loosened. About 3 tons of water per day entered the underwater vehicle department through deformed rivets. In total, the cruiser took in 100 tons of water, which, however, was not noticeable outwardly - there was no roll or trim. The armored deck remained intact.
The pipes were badly damaged: 1st - broken and flattened at the very base, all pipe backstays were torn off; 2nd, 3rd, 4th - in many places they were pierced by large and small fragments; 5th - became shorter by a third. A significant loss for the crew was the complete destruction of both galley stoves. The boats and boats looked like a sieve. The cruiser's speed decreased to 15 knots.
Having received reports on the condition of the ship, N.K. Reizenstein was convinced that Askold was not able to fight, breaking through the Korean Strait, so he decided to go to Shanghai, repair the most significant damage, replenish supplies and then try to break through to Vladivostok around Japan. At noon on July 30, 1904, Askold anchored at the mouth of the Wuzung River.
With the help of Russian diplomatic representatives, it was possible to quickly resolve the issue of docking and repairing damage to the hull and mechanical parts with the U. Fareham Bodge and Co." With high water on July 31, "Askold" entered the Vampo River and stood against the wall of the plant under the tap. Work was in full swing. First, the boats and boats were removed from the roster. By the evening of August 1, the 1st and 5th pipes were dismantled and unloaded ashore, and on the night of August 2, the cruiser was docked. N.K. Reitzenstein, who had extensive experience working with foreign companies, managed to incredibly short term solve many repair issues. To ensure quick access to sea after repairs, the cruiser was not even unloaded with ammunition before docking.
However, a few days later N.K. Reitzenstein received an order from St. Petersburg to disarm the ship. Strictly speaking, there was no choice: the repairs were just nearing completion, and Shanghai already had a squadron of Rear Admiral Uriu. On August 11, "Askold" and the destroyer "Grozovoy", which soon followed it, lowered their flags. Gun locks, torpedo fighting compartments, rifles and some vehicle parts were handed over to the arsenal. On August 28, the cruiser was taken out of the dock and placed at the pier of the Russian Society of the CER together with the Grozovoy and the gunboat Manzhur.
The ships remained here until October 2, 1905, when Shanghai received notification of the ratification of the peace treaty between Russia and Japan. On October 11, the St. Andrew's flag was raised again on the Askold, and on November 1, under the command of the new commander, Captain 2nd Rank K.V. Stetsenko, the cruiser set out for Vladivostok.
Due to the revolutionary events in Vladivostok, “Askold” was detained in the Slavyansky Bay until November 15. Immediately upon arrival at the port, the dismissal of sailors who had served their due dates began: in two weeks, about 400 people left the cruiser.
"Askold" is the best cruiser, once part of the First Pacific Squadron of the flotilla Russian Empire, whose base was located in Port Arthur. The ship took part in hostilities during the Russo-Japanese War and then the First World War. This article will present: a brief description of cruiser "Askold", photos and descriptions of its campaigns.
Prerequisites for creating a ship
From the mid-1890s, Emperor Nicholas II began to pursue a course aimed at strengthening Russia's position in the Far East, Korea and Northern China. At that time it was developing at an unprecedented pace. The construction of new ships took place thanks to the financial support of the American and British governments. In this regard, the Maritime Department of the Russian Empire in 1897 decided not only to update, but also to significantly expand the composition of the squadron located in the Pacific Ocean. It was planned that in five years the fleet would consist of four armored cruisers, ten squadron battleships and twenty reconnaissance cruisers.
In February 1898, Emperor Nicholas II approved a program to strengthen shipbuilding for the Far East. After this, Vice Admiral P. Tyrtov, who managed the Maritime Ministry, gave the order to the MTK (Maritime Technical Committee) to begin drawing up assignments for the design of both cruisers with a displacement of 3000 and 6000 tons, as well as other ships.
Creation of the cruiser "Askold"
In early July 1898, a meeting of the MTK was held, at which the ship designs developed by the German company Friedrich Krupp were recognized as the best, and at the end of the month, Nicholas II gave his permission to order the first ship. Its construction began at the shipyard in Kiel in Germany.
The purpose of ordering cruisers outside the Russian Empire was not only to quickly replenish the fleet, but also to obtain the latest models from various shipbuilding companies. After the best of them were selected, it was planned to begin the serial construction of modern military ships at domestic factories and shipyards.
The history of the creation of the cruiser "Askold" began with the arrival of the first batch of metal intended for the construction of ship structures on October 24, 1898. Captain 2nd Rank N. Reitzenstein was appointed to oversee the work in Germany. He was assisted by L. Alekseev, a senior mechanical engineer who supervised the construction of the mechanisms, and E. R. de Grofe, a junior shipbuilder.
"Askold" received its name on December 21. He was almost immediately included in the fleet lists. The ship inherited its name from the sail-screw corvette, which bore the name of Askold, the legendary prince Kievan Rus, who ruled in the 9th century. It was under his leadership that the famous campaign against Constantinople was made.
Tests
The armored cruiser Askold was ceremonially launched on March 2, accompanied by a march performed by the German Navy orchestra. In addition, Archpriest A. Maltsev came from Berlin to consecrate the ship, as well as a choir of singers who arrived from St. Petersburg itself.
The ship first went to sea on April 11, 1901. The official six-hour test of the cruiser took place on September 15 and took place off the island of Bornholm. First, the ship was able to reach a speed of 23.59, and then up to 24 knots.
Additional tests, the purpose of which was to test the main mechanisms, were carried out in Kiel Bay on November 3 of the same year. Then the cars were able to develop a power of 23,500 hp. With. at 128 rpm. In total, the cruiser's acceptance trials lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. On January 12, 1902, the flag, pennant and St. Andrew's flag were raised on the cruiser "Askold" in a solemn ceremony. This entire ceremony was accompanied by the sounds of an orchestra and artillery salutes.
Characteristic differences
Let's start the description of the cruiser "Askold" with its features compared to other ships of that time. First of all, it differed from other ships of the 6000 t class in its hull shape and design. For the creators of this cruiser, the main goal was the ability to lighten the ship itself. This made it possible to install on it the most powerful of all power plants that were then used on such ships.
"Askold" - a cruiser that differed from other ships in the world with its silhouette, which had five thin pipes, was nicknamed "a pack of cigarettes" even at the development stage. This was not planned out of any desire to do anything original. This approach ensured the speed specified by the contract, for which the designers had to increase the number of boilers.
Frame
It was assembled using a bracket or checkered typesetting system. Its length was 131.2 m and its width was 15 m. Cast sternposts and stems were attached to the vertical keel. Six bottom stringers were installed parallel to it, with the outermost ones serving as limiters for the double-bottom space and having waterproof properties.
The frames were installed together with the beads, and their numbering was done starting from the stern. The double bottom was located between the 13th and 115th frames, and continuous waterproof floras were located on every fifth of them. The second bottom, which was located in the engine rooms, stretched along the sides and reached the armored deck, forming an inter-side space with a width of 575 mm.
The cruiser "Askold" was equipped with three decks covered with linoleum: the upper, residential or battery, and armored. The ship's hull had watertight bulkheads that divided it into 13 compartments, intended to ensure the ship's survivability in the event of combat damage. Coal pits were located along the sides from the 50th to the 97th frames under and above the armored deck, serving additional protection for the ship.
Red paint "International", produced by the company "Golzapfel", covered the underwater part of the hull. It served to protect both from corrosion and from fouling of the ship’s bottom with shells and algae. The inside of the double-bottom space was covered with Portland cement with a thickness of 13 to 50 mm. In those areas where the steel of the ship's hull came into contact with either copper or its alloys (kingstones and stern tubes), special protectors made of zinc bars were placed.
Booking
A carapace armored deck ran along the entire length of the Askold cruiser. Its lower edge, located in the middle of the hull, was 1,400 mm below the waterline. All openings for fans and chimneys were equipped with armored grilles. The launch hatches, as well as the coal necks, were protected with special covers. The deck armor plates were two-layer: 10-15 mm naval steel on the bottom, and 30-60 mm alloyed nickel armor on top.
The elevators for supplying ammunition and the bases of all chimneys in the area from the living area to the armored decks were covered with 40-mm plates. Sloping armored coamings 100 mm thick protected the passage to the tiller compartment. The torpedo surface vehicles were covered by 60-mm, and the conning tower was covered by vertical armor that was even more than 2 times more powerful. The drive steering wheel, speaking pipes and machine telegraphs were also protected. They were placed in armored pipes with a thickness of 80 and a diameter of 400 mm.
Armament
The main caliber of the cruiser "Askold" were 12 152/45-mm Kane guns. They were made at They were located both in the bow superstructure and on the upper deck. The ammunition for the guns, consisting of 372 segmental, 624 cast iron and 564 high-explosive and armor-piercing shells, was designed for 3 hours of battle, 180 rounds for each gun.
Anti-aircraft and auxiliary artillery on the cruiser was represented by eight 47/43-mm Hotchkiss guns, two of which were installed on removable machines and, if necessary, were transferred to boats, and the remaining six were stationary. The ship had two Baranovsky cannons mounted on carriages. They were usually used by naval assault forces. These guns had a small mass, so they could be easily unloaded onto a boat or longboat and manually delivered to the shore. They always stood on the upper deck. In addition, on board the Askold there were two 37/23-mm Hotchkiss guns, often used on cruiser longboats, as well as Maxim machine guns, intended for naval landings.
On mounts designed by Möller, twelve more 75/50 mm Kane guns without shields were placed on the battery deck. Their ammunition, designed to last for 2.5 hours, was 650 rounds for each gun. In total there were 2116 cast iron and 1500 armor-piercing shells.
Mine and torpedo armament was represented by four surface and two underwater 381-mm vehicles. In addition, on board the ship there were two more 254-mm torpedo launchers intended for boats.
Power plant
Machinery and power equipment occupied five boiler rooms and two engine rooms. It was developed by the German company. Each of the three main vertical four-cylinder steam engines had its own propeller.
Steam for the machines was provided by 9 Thornycroft-Schultz boilers. One was located in the fifth, and the rest were distributed in pairs across four boiler rooms.
The grate surface was 107 m², maximum pressure steam - 17 kgf/cm², and the total heating surface of the boilers is 5020 m². Coal consumption was 1 kg/hp. per hour, efficiency is 60%, and the steam output of each boiler is 21.2 t/h. A fuel supply of 720 tons could provide a cruising range of only 2340 miles, instead of the planned 6500. Coal consumption at maximum speed did not exceed 18 t/h.
Ride quality
The Askold's steering wheel is of the semi-balanced type. Its frame was made of cast steel, and then sheathed with 8 mm thick metal and filled with cork. The cruiser's steam control engine made it easy to shift the steering wheel at full speed from one side to the other in just 30 seconds.
The steering spool was coordinated from four posts, where steering wheels with either electric or hydraulic drives were located in the stern, conning and wheelhouses, as well as in the tiller compartment. The ship's minimum speed was 10 knots. The ship could be turned around on the spot using only machinery and without using a rudder.
Ship crew and habitability
At the very beginning, the ship's full-time crew consisted of 21 officers, 9 conductors and 550 lower ranks (sailors and non-commissioned officers). Shortly before World War I, the number of military personnel on the ship increased by another 70 people. On the cruiser Askold, the premises where the crew members lived were located in the aft part of the ship on the armored deck, as well as under the forecastle of the living deck.
The cabins of the command staff and officers were single and located starting from the 72nd frame, and went towards the stern. There was also a wardroom there. In addition to the premises for sailors, the living deck also included a ship’s church, an infirmary, a galley, a bathhouse and a pharmacy.
Start of service
In mid-January 1902, a flag and a flag were raised on the Askold. From that moment on, the ship officially became operational in the flotilla of the Russian Empire. On January 27 he left Kiel and went to Libau. On June 18, Emperor Nicholas II himself visited the cruiser. During the stay they were re-armed. Then a radio station assembled at the local mine workshop was installed on it. In addition, the Askold cruiser was equipped with Geisler devices for torpedo tubes and guns, machine guns, firing angle limiters and sights. Communication pipes were laid to the elevators with shells, artillery magazines were retrofitted and a mine raft was made. The ship was also equipped with a full set of ammunition and weapons according to the state.
At the end of August, Nicholas II visited Askold again, but this time accompanied by his family and the Greek Queen Olga Konstantinovna. The guests wished the ship's crew a happy voyage. At the beginning of September, the armored cruiser left Kronstadt and sailed to the Far East. A. N. Krylov, the future Soviet academician, was also on board.
In February 1903, the ship arrived in Port Arthur. From that moment on, the ship became part of the squadron that was part of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Empire. In January next year the commander of the Askold, Reitzenstein, was appointed head of an entire detachment of cruisers, and Grammatchikov took his place.
Baptism of fire
Russian fleet with the cruiser "Askold" Russian- Japanese war, which began in the evening of January 26, 1904, was found standing near Port Arthur. Then Japanese destroyers attacked our squadron for the first time. In mid-February, Askold, along with two more cruisers Novik and Bayan, were drawn into a firefight with four enemy warships. On May 5, the armored cruiser took part in covering the Amur transport, which was laying a minefield near Port Arthur.
At the end of July of the same year, the Russian squadron of the Pacific Fleet went to sea with one goal - to break through to Vladivostok. "Askold" led a detachment of ships that followed the battleships as part of the wake column. It was then that a battle broke out with the Japanese in the Yellow Sea. Most of the ships of the Russian detachment turned back to Port Arthur, while Novik and Askold decided to make a breakthrough. It is known that the battle was quite brutal. However, the Russian sailors managed to survive, showing extraordinary fortitude and heroism. At 19:40, the Russian cruisers managed to break through the Japanese barrier.
"Askold" - the best cruiser of the Port Arthur squadron - suffered quite serious damage during the battle. In addition, 48 people were injured, and ten sailors and one officer were killed. On August 11, this heroic ship, together with the gunboat Manzhur and the destroyer Grozovoy, lowered the flag. Several vehicle parts, rifles, gun locks and torpedo fighting compartments were removed from the ships and handed over to the arsenal. After leaving the dock, the cruiser remained standing for some time at the pier of the CER Society.
The further fate of the ship
The history of the cruiser "Askold", which was one of the ships of the Siberian flotilla, was eventful:
- 1914 - participation in the search for the cruiser Emden and German coal miners, convoy service in the waters of the Indian Ocean, operations carried out in the Mediterranean Sea, the capture of the German steamship Haifa, the destruction of two Turkish ships.
- 1915 - shelling and destruction railway bridge near Tripoli, detaining a Persian ship with Turkish soldiers on board, conducting the Dardanelles operation, during which the ship fired at enemy coastal positions.
- 1916 - was part of the landing force that captured Greek forts. In August, an explosion was heard in the armored cruiser Askold in the shell magazine, the cause of which the investigation was never able to establish. Despite the complete absence of any evidence, the court charged eight sailors, four of whom were soon shot.
- 1918 - captured by foreign troops and handed over to the British, who renamed it "Glory IV" and made it a floating barracks.
- 1921 - returned to its homeland after paying the costs of its maintenance, and then sold to the Germans for scrap metal.
Finally
Unfortunately, it is impossible to give a detailed description of the vessel in a small publication. For those who are interested in this topic, it would be a good idea to read the monograph by V. Ya. Krestyaninov “Cruiser Askold”, published in 2012. Here is the complete technical description the ship, the history of its construction and stories about its heroic campaigns.
A model of the cruiser "Askold", made back in 1900, can be seen in the Central Naval Museum of St. Petersburg. There is also a model of the ship in Hamburg (Germany). It is on display at the International Maritime Museum at one of the stands dedicated to the events of the Russo-Japanese War.
"Askold", cruiser.
In 1904 he staunchly defended Port Arthur. In October 1907, the cruiser's crew supported the armed uprising of Vladivostok workers and soldiers. The tsarist government dealt savagely with the Askold revolutionaries. Not a year passed without the “politically unreliable” being written off or condemned from the ship. In September 1916, when the Askold, making the transition to the shores of the Kola Peninsula, moored in the French port of Toulon, monarchist officers, fearing an uprising, shot four sailors on false charges of conspiracy.
At the beginning of 1917, when the cruiser was undergoing repairs in England, the sailors met with the leaders of the labor movement in Glasgow, including W. Gallagher, later one of the leaders communist party Great Britain, participated in workers’ demonstrations held under the slogan “Long live free Russia!”
In the October days of 1917, “Askold” was in Murmansk. Having received news of the victory of the armed uprising in Petrograd, the sailors passed a resolution: “The ship’s committee and the crew of the cruiser stand on the side of the Soviet power and will support this decision with all available means.”
The sailors took an active part in the battles to liberate the north from the White Guards and interventionists.
Commissioned in 1902. Displacement - 5905 tons, length - 130.0 m, width - 15.0 m, depth - 6.0 m. Engine power - 19,000 liters. With. Speed - 23 knots. Cruising range 3140 miles. Armament: 12 - 152 mm, 12 - 75 mm, 8 - 47 mm, 2 - 37 mm guns, 2 landing guns, 4 machine guns, 6 torpedo tubes. Crew - 534 people.
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The best cruiser of the squadron
At 12 o'clock on January 27, 1902, "Askold" left Kiel and headed to Libau; there were 555 people on board. The sailors and officers confidently and calmly coped with their duties - the mechanisms were thoroughly studied during construction and testing. The commander and mechanics carefully observed and recorded the operating modes of the machines. This was required by the mechanical department of the MTK in order to know all the features and capabilities of the ship.
On April 5, Askold was placed in dry dock for two weeks to paint the ice-scarred underwater part and install hull reinforcements in the stern. Soon the missing part of the crew arrived from Kronstadt, and on April 24, the cruiser, raising the flag and jack, began the campaign.
On May 1, “Askold”, as part of a detachment of ships under the command of Rear Admiral G.P. Chukhnin, returning from Port Arthur, set out for Kronstadt. In Revel, on the Askold, they learned that upon arrival in Kronstadt they would participate in a ceremonial meeting of the French squadron, at which French President E. Loubet would arrive on an official visit. A day later, G.P. Chukhnin’s detachment, joined by the ships of the Artillery Training Detachment, moved on, but near the island of Gogland they encountered solid ice 0.6-0.9 m thick. The icebreaker Ermak, which was waiting for the detachment at the edge, came to the rescue ice. Beyond the island of Lavensari, the detachment came into clear water and on the evening of May 5 arrived in Kronstadt.
The arrival of the newest cruiser aroused general interest, which rose even more after an article in the Kronstadt Bulletin newspaper, which drew attention to the many new devices on the Askold, a large number of electrical auxiliary mechanisms. “Many people admit,” the newspaper wrote, “that our technicians, regardless of specialty, forced the Germania plant, which built the Askold cruiser, to show the highest effort and knowledge, as a result of which the plant gave us a ship that was truly durable and suitable for that purpose, for which it was built."
On June 18, Emperor Nicholas II visited the cruiser. Between reviews, “Askold” went to Bjerke to test torpedo tubes and the electric drive for controlling the steam steering engine, which were generally highly appreciated by the commission and were “accepted into the treasury.”
During the stay in Kronstadt, a radio station assembled in the Kronstadt Mine Workshop was installed on the Askold and tested in operation with other ships. At the same time, machine guns, sights and gun firing angle limiters, N.K. Geisler instruments for guns and torpedo tubes, four remote-controlled searchlights, and 47-mm guns for steam boats were installed; They retrofitted the artillery magazines, laid communication pipes to the shell elevators, and manufactured and accepted a mine raft. Some of this work not completed in Kiel was paid for by the company. The cruiser took a full complement of ammunition and was armed in accordance with the state.
On August 25, “Askold” was visited again by the emperor with his family and the Greek Queen Olga Konstantinovna. In parting, they wished the officers and crew a happy voyage.
On September 3, Askold left Kronstadt forever and headed to the Far East to strengthen the Pacific squadron. During the transition, the maneuverability and performance of the cruiser were studied, and the optimal operating mode of the boilers and main mechanisms was determined. At the beginning of the passage, the future academician A.N. Krylov was on board the ship to study the deformations of the hull structure on the ocean waves.
Having simultaneously completed a number of diplomatic missions in the ports of the Persian Gulf, Askold anchored in the Port Arthur roadstead on February 13, 1903. The difficult passage across the seas of three oceans ended brilliantly.
Thanks to their successful design, high quality workmanship and competent operation, the cruiser's vehicles performed excellently. Immediately after the trip at the control exit with the underwater part overgrown in the tropical seas, the Askold easily developed the contract power and showed a speed of over 20 knots on a large wave. Nine double boilers of the Thornycroft-Schultz design also performed well. They turned out to be more reliable and economical than most boilers of other systems installed on cruisers of the Russian fleet.
The team impeccably maintained complex, cutting-edge mechanisms. The cruiser became part of the Pacific Ocean squadron, becoming its best and strongest reconnaissance aircraft.
In accordance with the sailing program for the ships of the Askold squadron in 1903, they were supposed to remain in the armed reserve for five months and winter in Vladivostok. But the situation in the Far East was heating up, Japan's preparations for war were becoming more and more obvious, as was the superiority of its fleet.
While the Navy Ministry tried to speed up the completion and dispatch of the ships of the 1898 program to the East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attempted to ease tensions through diplomatic efforts. At his request, “Askold” was allocated to the envoy to Japan A.P. Izvolsky.
As part of this expedition, the cruiser visited Nagasaki, Yokohama, Kobe, the Chinese port of Taku, the English colony in China - Weihawei and the German colony - Qingdao.
On April 30, 1903, Askold returned to Port Arthur, but on May 3, together with the cruiser Novik, it went to sea again. Their path lay in Vladivostok - to meet the Minister of War, Infantry General A.N. Kuropatkin. From the Askold, the minister inspected the bays of Primorye and on May 28 arrived at the Japanese port of Shimonoseki, from where he and his retinue left by train for Tokyo, and the Askold and Novik moved to Kobe. With the arrival of the diplomatic mission there, the campaign continued. Having visited Nagasaki, the cruisers headed to Port Arthur, where they arrived safely on June 17.
In Port Arthur, A.N. Kuropatkin inspected the fortifications of the fortress, the garrison troops, visited the ships of the squadron and held a number of meetings on the defense of Port Arthur and the Far East. Upon returning to St. Petersburg, he thanked the head of the Naval Department, Vice Admiral F.K. Avelan, for the cruisers.
In Port Arthur, the crew finally got some rest after a stressful voyage, especially for the engine crew. During the “diplomatic” campaigns, Askold confirmed its reputation as the best cruiser of the squadron: its engines and boilers worked flawlessly. The intense service of the ship was a test of all mechanisms and parts, showed good quality of design and construction, and a high level of operational maintenance.
The cruiser was in armed reserve for a month, but on July 31st she entered the campaign again: the governor in the Far East, Vice Admiral E.I. Alekseev, urgently needed to go to Vladivostok to resolve issues of preparing the Primorsky Territory for defense. The transition went well, E.I. Alekseev thanked the team for their excellent service. "Askold" began combat training.
On August 19, in Peter the Great Bay, the cruiser performed training firing on the shield at a speed of 18 knots in a wind of force 3-4. Although visibility was poor (at times the shield was hidden in the fog), the Askold gunners showed good results: out of 36 fired 152-mm shells, seven hit the target, out of 36 75-mm -12 and out of 40 47-mm - five. "Varyag" during a similar shooting, carried out by him on December 16, 1903 (the last exercises before his famous battle), although it was moving at a lower speed (12.5 knots), of 36 fired 152-mm shells, 33 75-mm, 56 Only three 47-mm and 20 37-mm missiles hit the shield: one 75-mm and two 47-mm.
On August 23, as part of a detachment under the command of Rear Admiral E.A. Stackelberg, “Askold”, together with the cruisers “Russia”, “Gromoboy”, “Bogatyr”, weighed anchor and set off on a cruise in the Sea of Japan, visiting the port of Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido.
After returning and staying for a week in Vladivostok, the Askold again went to sea on September 10, this time as part of a squadron of six battleships and five cruisers. The transition to Port Arthur was combined with maneuvers in which the ground forces of the Kwantung Peninsula and the Port Arthur fortress took part.
The last important peacetime event for Askold was the change of commander: on January 17, 1904, N.K. Reizenstein, who was appointed head of the cruiser detachment, handed over the ship to Captain 1st Rank K.A. Grammatchikov, the former commander of the 2nd destroyer detachment.
On the evening of January 26, 1904, Japanese destroyers attacked the Russian squadron on the outer roadstead of Port Arthur. They immediately opened fire back at them, but three torpedoes still hit the squadron battleships Tsesarevich and Retvizan and the cruiser Pallada.
“Askold” stood in the first line and, due to its location, was closest to danger. But thanks to the clear actions of the personnel, he managed to avoid being hit. Strong return fire prevented the enemy from taking proper aim, although two torpedoes passed dangerously close to the stern of the cruiser.
On the morning of January 27, the main forces of the Japanese fleet, under the flag of Commander Admiral H. Togo, approached Port Arthur and entered into battle with the ships and coastal batteries of the fortress stationed in the roadstead. Russian cruisers were closer to the enemy than battleships. The first 305-mm shell fell between Askold and Bayan, raising a huge column of water. "Bayan", "Askold" and "Novik" found themselves between the columns of battleships, but did not shy away from the battle, but boldly went on the attack.
The fastest "Novik" rushed forward, trying to get within torpedo firing range; "Bayan" and "Askold" rushed after it, continuously firing from all guns. The Japanese shifted their fire to these three cruisers. To avoid hits, "Askold" began to zigzag, but still several enemy shells and many fragments reached the target.
On the Askold, the flagship’s signal was heard: “Cruisers do not interfere with the battleships,” and K.A. Grammatchikov ordered to turn back. The cruisers came out from under fire, but their risky attack played an important role - they distracted the enemy at a time when our battleships had not yet formed a battle line. Together with the fire of coastal batteries and battleships, their activity forced Admiral Kh. Togo to stop the artillery duel and leave the Port Arthur area.
During the 40-minute battle, the Askold was hit by six shells and a large number of fragments from nearby explosions. Four gunners were killed and 10 sailors were injured.
The heaviest damage was caused by a large shell that hit the port side at the waterline in the area of the 53rd line. and exploded in a rubber dam. The internal longitudinal bulkhead was pierced by shrapnel, and water began to flow into the coal pit located behind it. Fortunately, the pit was completely filled with coal, and the neck was battened down, so that the ship did not even tilt. In addition, the explosion broke two frames and created a hole in the outer plating with an area of 0.9 m2. Fragments of the same projectile damaged the 75-mm gun and pierced the charging compartment of the torpedo located in the apparatus. The red-hot fragments passed close to the mercury fulminate capsule without, fortunately, causing detonation or ignition of the explosive. As soon as the cruiser came out from under fire, a miner was lowered overboard to the surface vehicles, who unscrewed the firing pins from the torpedoes. After this incident, the team believed that Askold was a lucky ship.
Another shell tore off the barrel of the 152 mm gun on the starboard side. Another one, of large caliber, hit the fifth chimney and exploded, seriously damaging it. The fourth destroyed the chart room, the fifth knocked down the main topmast, the sixth pierced the side and damaged the wardroom and cabins.
After the battle, the battleships took refuge in the harbor, while Askold, along with other cruisers, carried out patrol duty in the roadstead. For three days his boilers were steaming, and the team was in constant tension. Only then was the ship placed against the wall of the Marine Plant to repair the damage.
By order of E.I. Alekseev, 24 “lower ranks” of “Askold” were awarded insignia of the military Order of St. George.
After the repairs were completed, Askold went out on February 5 and 9 to reconnaissance of the area adjacent to the fortress, and 11, together with the cruisers Bayan and Novik, took part in a firefight with four Japanese cruisers.
On the morning of February 12, the main forces of the Japanese fleet again approached Port Arthur. "Bayan", "Askold" and "Novik" were in the outer roadstead, covering the destroyers returning from the sea. Six Japanese battleships and six armored cruisers opened fire. Our cruisers responded immediately; "Askold" at that moment was closest to the enemy. After the first shot on the Askold, the barrel of the 152-mm gun exploded, and fragments rained down on the deck. The distance between our and Japanese ships has decreased to 32 kb. Only a long move saved the Askold from fatal hits from heavy shells. The battle of three cruisers against 12 armored ships lasted about 30 minutes. "Askold" fired 257 shells at the enemy without receiving any serious damage.
On February 24, a new commander, Vice Admiral S.O. Makarov, arrived in Port Arthur, and the fleet’s activities noticeably intensified. "Askold" as part of the squadron went to sea on February 27, March 9 and 13, and on March 9 - under the flag of S.O. Makarov. Upon returning from the last cruise, Captain 1st Rank N.K. Reitzenstein again arrived at the cruiser, this time as the head of the cruiser detachment. Since then, his braided pennant has practically never descended from Askold. On March 30, the cruiser went to sea for a Chinese junk that appeared on the horizon and brought it to Port Arthur. That night, Vice Admiral S.O. Makarov was not on the Askold, but on the duty cruiser Diana.
No one suspected that this night would be the last for the admiral. On the morning of March 31, Stepan Osipovich transferred to the squadron battleship Petropavlovsk. On that fateful day for the Russian fleet, the admiral died along with his flagship, which was blown up by an enemy mine.
In April, "Askold" did not go to sea, the personnel participated in the armament of coastal batteries: they installed a steam engine, a boiler and a searchlight, at redoubt No. 1 - four 75-mm guns, assisted in the installation of two 75-mm guns from the "Pobeda" on fortification No. 2 and two 75 mm from “Tsesarevich” to the Kurgan battery. In addition, by order of the governor, 2 machine guns were removed from the ship to arm the naval machine gun battery being formed.
On May 5, Askold went to sea, covering the mine transport Amur. When returning to the roadstead from the cruiser, the buoys of the fortress minefield were not noticed, and the ship passed through a minefield. Although the miners of the fortress company turned off the current while the ships were passing, this still cannot be considered safe. But fate treated Askold favorably here too.
During the fierce battle on the Kinjou Isthmus, Russian troops were supported from the flank by steam boats from the battleships Retvizan, Sevastopol and the cruiser Askold, armed with small-caliber cannons and machine guns. The Askoldovsky boat was commanded by midshipman F.F. Gerken. On May 13, he successfully fired at Japanese troops from a 47-mm gun; after the retreat of the Russian troops, the boat was blown up, and his team came to Port Arthur on foot.
After Kinjou was abandoned, two platoons of landing troops were brought ashore from the Askold, and two days later K.A. Grammatchikov received orders, having removed the 152-mm guns No. 5 and No. 6, to transfer them to the battleship "Retvizan", and also take measures to increase the firing angle of guns No. 7 and No. 8.
On June 10, the squadron went to sea to break through to Vladivostok, but, encountering superior forces of the Japanese fleet, turned back. The Russian ships approached the roadstead when it was already dark, and at that moment our cruisers, sailing at the end of the wake column, were attacked by destroyers. These attacks continued until 4 o'clock. According to reports from our cruisers, it followed that several destroyers were sunk, but the Japanese do not confirm this data, admitting only heavy damage to the destroyer Chidori. On June 23 and 24, the Askold, which was on duty in the passage to the internal roadstead, opened fire on the approaching Japanese destroyers of the 6th detachment. Over the next two weeks, Askold repeatedly went to sea, fired at Japanese ground positions, and fought duels with enemy ships.
On July 14, Russian ships again opened fire on the advancing Japanese. At about 13:00 the enemy destroyers approached, but were promptly detected by the Askold signalmen. The cruiser's seven six-inch shells were enough for the destroyers to retreat, but they were replaced by the armored cruisers Nissin and Kasu-ga and opened fire with their guns, which were superior in range to the Askold artillery; shrapnel from a nearby Japanese shell slightly damaged the chimney. At 15:00, a Japanese mine was discovered behind the stern of the Askold and they shot it, and the Bayan, which was following, was blown up by another mine.
On July 28, 1904, the Port Arthur epic approached its climax. The squadron went to sea to break through to Vladivostok. "Askold" under the flag of Rear Admiral N.K. Reizenstein led a detachment of cruisers, walking in the wake of the battleships. At 12:30 p.m. the battle began. At 13:09 a 305-mm shell (presumably from the battleship Shikishima) exploded at the base of the first pipe. Despite the fact that the lower part of the casing was flattened, it miraculously remained standing in place. The fragments disabled the first boiler, the explosion destroyed the radio room, the ladders to the bow superstructure and the upper bridge, mortally wounded midshipman Rklitsky and galvanizer Zhdanovich, who were standing at the bow rangefinder, and killed miner Shesterov.
In response, Askold opened fire from 152-mm guns on the starboard side, but the distance to the battleships was too great, so they fired only four shots.
At 13:12 a second large shell hit the stern and exploded in the chief navigator's cabin; the resulting fire was quickly extinguished. After 3 minutes, “Askold” turned to the left, followed by the remaining cruisers: “Novik”, “Pallada”, “Diana” from under fire. Having gone behind the battleships, they formed a second column, "Askold" went on the left abeam of the flagship battleship "Tsesarevich". The squadrons separated on counter courses, and the ships received a short respite. At 16:05 a semaphore from the squadron commander was received: “In the event of a battle, the head of the cruiser detachment should act at his discretion.” At 16:50, the Japanese ships caught up with the squadron of Rear Admiral V.K. Vitgeft, and the battle resumed with renewed vigor.
After an hour and a half battle, the commander of the Russian squadron V.K. Vitgeft was killed. The steering wheel of the flagship “Tsesarevich” jammed and it began to circulate to the left, the formation of our battleships was disrupted.
The detachment of cruisers, following the direction of movement of the flagship battleship, consistently began to turn to the left. When in the conning tower of the Askold they realized that the Tsarevich was damaged, they turned right again and set a course parallel to the line of the battleships. At this time, the Japanese 1st combat detachment went around the head of the Russian column, and our cruisers found themselves within range of the guns of the leading Japanese battleships. The 5th and 6th combat detachments approached from the west; the total number of enemy ships at approximately 19:00 was determined by the number 45 in the logbook.
The Russian battleships turned towards Port Arthur, "Askold", followed by all the cruisers and destroyers at first following their example, but soon N.K. Reizenstein made a decision, supported by the commander and officers nearby, to make a breakthrough, taking on enemy fire , not stopping at the risk of death.
On the foremast of the Askold, the signal flags went up: “Cruisers should follow me,” the ship increased its speed, and the rest of the cruisers followed suit.
At 18:50, Askold opened fire and headed straight for the armored cruiser Asama, which was sailing separately. Soon a fire broke out on the Asama, as a result of which the Japanese cruiser “increased its speed and began to move away” - as written in the Askold logbook.
Assessing the enemy's position, N.K. Reizenstein considered its weakest point to be the southwestern direction, where the cruisers of the 3rd combat detachment were located. Having bypassed the Russian battleships on the starboard side, the formation of which by this time had become similar to a double front, Askold turned sharply to the left, crossing their course.
"Askold" developed full speed and, parting ways with the battleships, headed south. "Diana" and "Pal-Lada" immediately fell behind, and only "Novik" stayed in the wake. The battleships continued to move in the direction of Port Arthur and soon disappeared from sight.
The armored cruiser Yakumo headed towards Askold, firing at it from 203 mm and 152 mm guns. Behind him, the cruisers of the 6th detachment sparkled with flashes of gunfire, also blocking the path of our ships. To the left and behind, the cruisers of the 3rd detachment of Rear Admiral Dev set off in pursuit. The end ship of the 1st combat detachment "Nissin" and the ships of the 5th detachment also transferred fire to the "Askold". Showered from all sides by shells, the cruiser responded by fighting on both sides, bow and stern. Dozens of shells fell around the cruiser, raising high columns of water and showering it with a hail of fragments. High speed, maneuverability and accuracy of return fire explain the fact that the cruiser survived the monstrous hurricane of fire. But from time to time its body shuddered from being hit by shells. The shaking was so great that pressure gauges' needles bounced and light bulbs burst. It was reported to the conning tower that water was flowing into the left aft engine room and into the right coal pit of the second stoker. Below there was a struggle with the water, and above the gunners developed a maximum rate of fire.
The flashes and roar of their own shots merged with the explosions of other people's shells. Fires broke out here and there. The gunners rushed to extinguish them, and the sailors of the fire division replaced their comrades who had fallen at the guns. Increasingly, stretchers and orderlies were required on the upper deck. With great difficulty, the wounded were lowered to the dressing station under the armored deck in the room for underwater mine vehicles. At a critical moment, when an enemy armored cruiser was blocking the path and several Japanese cruisers concentrated fire on the Askold, the ship’s engines produced 132 rpm - more than during acceptance tests.
The armored cruiser Yakumo was closest to the others and posed the greatest danger, and N.K. Reitzenstein ordered to head straight for it. On the Askold, underwater torpedo tubes were prepared in the morning, and the combat charging compartments of the surface ones were attached to the mines, without inserting only the drummers and ignition cartridges. Senior mine officer P.P. Kitkin received orders to prepare the devices for firing. But there was no need to shoot: the Askold’s fire caused damage to the Takasago-class cruiser, and a fire broke out on the Yakumo, and it turned away. “Askold” and “Novik” rushed literally behind its stern. Four Japanese destroyers launched an attack on the Russian cruisers on the right, from the bow heading angles. From the Askold we saw the launch of four torpedoes, which, fortunately, missed. The enemy's destroyers shifted fire from the starboard guns, and the Japanese turned away.
On some 152-mm guns, after firing at high elevation angles, the arcs of the vertical guidance mechanisms failed and the teeth became chipped. During the rollback, the guns sank more than normal, and they were rolled in manually with great difficulty. The supply of shells operated non-stop, despite the fact that the lifting frame cables of the 152-mm elevators were broken by shrapnel. In these magazines, ammunition was supplied manually, but there were no delays or missed shots due to a lack of shells. Despite the losses in people, the guns did not stop firing - the wounded and killed were replaced by officials, keepers, in a word, everyone down to the civilian cook. The priest Father Porfiry “walked heroically along the upper deck with a cross, blessing the soldiers.”
People in the cellars worked in tight confined spaces, not knowing what was going on above. The drivers and stokers were in even worse conditions. When a large shell hit the upper part of the fifth pipe, a flame blazed from the ashpit in the fifth stoker, and the compartment was filled with smoke, but thanks to the excess pressure, draft was quickly restored. At boiler No. 8, shrapnel flying through the armor grille pierced the casing and several water-heating tubes, which produced slight steam. The hole in the boiler casing was small, and in order not to reduce the speed at the critical moment of the battle, the boiler was left in operation, and the boilers were forced to the maximum.
The combat watch of the engine crew did not have a shift - some drivers worked without a break for more than 16 hours. “At the end, the drivers had to be doused with cold water every 15 minutes,” testified the senior mechanic.
After the battle, N.K. Reizenstein wrote in a report to the General Medical School about the teams of “Askold” and “Novik”: “I sincerely cannot indicate the distinguished characters of both of these cruisers: commanders, officers, mechanics, doctors, lower ranks behaved steadfastly, bravely, calmly, without fuss, crushing the enemy, they fulfilled their duty.”
The road to the open sea was now blocked only by the cruisers of the 6th detachment. "Askold" sharply turned towards the cruiser "Suma". He, like the previous ones, moved to the side at full speed, clearing the way. The enemy ships fell noticeably behind, but continued to fire for some time, and at 19:40 the Russian cruisers broke through. In the ensuing darkness, it became more difficult to aim the guns, the intensity of the fire decreased, and the Japanese ships gradually fell behind. At 20:20 they “ceased fire, as the enemy was hiding in the darkness.” Novik followed its flagship for up to 1 hour 30 minutes, then fell behind due to malfunctions in the mechanisms.
At dawn on July 29, it became clear that the Japanese cruisers Akashi, Izumi, and Akitsushima were continuing to pursue the Askold, but, unable to withstand the single combat with the Russian cruiser’s vehicles, they disappeared over the horizon a couple of hours later. Finally there was an opportunity to look around and count the losses. It turned out that during the breakthrough the cruiser received more severe damage than expected at night. One officer and ten sailors were killed in the battle, four officers and 44 sailors were wounded. The guns fired 226 high-explosive 152-mm, 155 steel and 65 cast-iron 75-mm, and 160 47-mm shells at the enemy. Four 152-mm guns remained in service, and one more was recovered during the night. Gun No. 10, fully operational, was unable to fire because a shell exploding underneath it had shattered the reinforcements and deck.
In the battery deck in the officer's compartment, 75-mm cartridges lying in the gazebos on the elevator rails exploded due to shrapnel. The cruiser lost both rangefinder stations, electrical dials were broken in many places, 10 combat dials were broken, that is, the fire control devices were out of order. On the starboard side of the "Askold" there were four small underwater holes at 7-10 shanks, through which water entered the skipper's storeroom. Between 83-84 sp. the holes were above the waterline, but as a result of deformations, the seams of the casing came apart, and water entered the coal pit. Between 28 and 29 sp. the shell pierced the outer side three meters above the waterline, destroyed the cabin and damaged the mount under the 152 mm gun.
On the left side there were two underwater holes at 32-33 and 46-47 shp. In these places, in addition to damage to the skin with an area of 0.75 m2, frames were broken and beams were loosened. About 3 tons of water per day entered the underwater vehicle department through deformed rivets. In total, the cruiser took in 100 tons of water, which, however, was not noticeable outwardly - there was no roll or trim. The armored deck remained intact.
The pipes were badly damaged: 1st - broken and flattened at the very base, all pipe backstays were torn off; 2nd, 3rd, 4th - in many places they were pierced by large and small fragments; 5th - became shorter by a third. A significant loss for the crew was the complete destruction of both galley stoves. The boats and boats looked like a sieve. The cruiser's speed decreased to 15 knots.
Having received reports on the condition of the ship, N.K. Reizenstein was convinced that Askold was not able to fight, breaking through the Korean Strait, so he decided to go to Shanghai, repair the most significant damage, replenish supplies and then try to break through to Vladivostok around Japan. At noon on July 30, 1904, Askold anchored at the mouth of the Wuzung River.
With the help of Russian diplomatic representatives, it was possible to quickly resolve the issue of docking and repairing damage to the hull and mechanical parts with the U. Fareham Bodge and Co." With high water on July 31, "Askold" entered the Vampo River and stood against the wall of the plant under the tap. Work was in full swing. First, the boats and boats were removed from the roster. By the evening of August 1, the 1st and 5th pipes were dismantled and unloaded ashore, and on the night of August 2, the cruiser was docked. N.K. Reitzenstein, who had extensive experience working with foreign companies, managed to resolve many repair issues in an incredibly short time. To ensure quick access to sea after repairs, the cruiser was not even unloaded with ammunition before docking.
However, a few days later N.K. Reitzenstein received an order from St. Petersburg to disarm the ship. Strictly speaking, there was no choice: the repairs were just nearing completion, and Shanghai already had a squadron of Rear Admiral Uriu. On August 11, "Askold" and the destroyer "Grozovoy", which soon followed it, lowered their flags. Gun locks, torpedo fighting compartments, rifles and some vehicle parts were handed over to the arsenal. On August 28, the cruiser was taken out of the dock and placed at the pier of the Russian Society of the CER together with the Grozovoy and the gunboat Manzhur.
The ships remained here until October 2, 1905, when Shanghai received notification of the ratification of the peace treaty between Russia and Japan. On October 11, the St. Andrew's flag was raised again on the Askold, and on November 1, under the command of the new commander, Captain 2nd Rank K.V. Stetsenko, the cruiser set out for Vladivostok.
Due to the revolutionary events in Vladivostok, “Askold” was detained in the Slavyansky Bay until November 15. Immediately upon arrival at the port, the dismissal of sailors who had served their due dates began: in two weeks, about 400 people left the cruiser.
On December 9, “Askold” was included in the Separate detachment of ships for the protection of the Ussuri region.
