The Russian Cruiser Aurora was launched 110 years ago this month. She is currently a museum ship in St. Petersburg, the city where she was built.
The historical ship Aurora has been turned into a museum and is docked just a few hundred yards upstream from the Cabin of Peter the Great, opposite the “St Petersburg” Hotel. The cruiser, built in St. Petersburg between 1897 and 1900, took an active part in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 and participated in the Tsusima battle, in which most of Russia’s Pacific fleet was destroyed. After the war the ship was used for personnel training and during the October revolution of 1917 gave the signal (by firing a blank shot) to storm of the Winter Palace, which was being used as a residence by the democratic, but largely ineffective Provisional Government.
During World War II and the 900-day Siege of Leningrad the guns of the ship were taken down and used on the front line of the city’s defenses. After the war the ship was carefully restored and used as a free museum and training ship for cadets from the nearby Nakhimov Navy School.
Thanks to Dave Shirlaw on the Marine History list for the heads up.
I absolutely love the ram bow. I thought Olympia was the only one left, so I am quite giddy with joy to see another one left! (at the risk of sounding greedy: anymore out there?)
I know of only one other – the HNLMS SCHORPIOEN. This one even has sails!
Let’s hope the Aurora is in better shape than the Olympia. I hope that the Navy finds a better place for for her; a place that will perform proper repairs and maintenance instead of just using her as a cash machine.
Let’s hope we don’t lose the Olympia.
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