Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

For a long time, armored cruisers were called frigates and only towards the end of the XIX century were reclassified as cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the Russian fleet, this happened in 1892, when all armored frigates became known as cruisers of the 1st rank [4].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Russian armoured cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In 1868, Admiral A. A. Popov put forward a project for the restructuring of the wooden frigate “General Admiral” into a cruiser for operations on the communications of a potential enemy, which at that time was understood mainly as England.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In order to reduce the likelihood of receiving heavy damage in battle that requires repair with entry into a dry dock, which was usually unrealistic for an autonomous raider, it was decided protect along the waterline with iron armor, thus coming to the idea of an armored ocean cruiser.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The project was accepted for implementation, but it turned out that the frigate's hull was in poor condition, and the Ministry of the Navy chose to build a new ship with the same name, which entered built in 1875 [5].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The armor of the Admiral General, consisting of iron plates, was limited to a thickness of 152 mm, which was considered sufficient to protect against medium-caliber guns, while the cruiser itself was armed with a heavy 203 mm artillery mounted in onboard sponsons [6].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Admiral General became the world's first armored cruiser, and this is a rare case when the Russian priority is recognized in the West [7] [8]:


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The most original designs and the most notable deviations from ordinary types of warships can be found in the Russian fleet, in which belted cruisers first appeared.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Russian Maritime Department was a pioneer in efforts to resolve issues about armored cruisers, in which high speed is combined with an essential condition for actual armor protection against shells of most cruisers, with which a battle at sea can take place.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The main task of the new ship was cruising on trade routes, relevant due to the tense Russian-English relations; the presence of onboard armor was supposed to dramatically increase combat stability raider.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Two years later, the frigate Alexander Nevsky was built according to a successful model, which received a new name shortly before its launch - the Duke of Edinburgh.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Success made it possible to decide the fate of the frigate Minin, which for 10 years had been unfinished after trying to turn it into a tower battleship: the frigate was rebuilt on the model of the Admiral General, entering twelve years after laying, setting a record for the long-term construction of the Imperial Navy [10].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

By 1880, Popov had prepared a project for a new armored cruiser, according to which by 1884-1885 two ships were built: Dmitry Donskoy and Vladimir Monomakh.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

They were defended by stronger steel-iron armor “compound”, and the caliber of artillery was reduced, which made it possible to increase the number of guns [11].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Like their predecessors, they carried a full set of sails, but in fact became the first purely steam cruisers of the Russian fleet.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Unlike previous cruisers, they were equipped not with lifting, but with permanent propellers, which created too much resistance when sailing, which as a result were practically not used [5 ].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Despite the formal belonging of these cruisers, as well as the pairs “Admiral General” - “Duke of Edinburgh” to the same type, they were similar, but not the same type of ships, which was a characteristic feature Russian fleet up to the 1890s [12].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the future, instead of switching to serial construction, the fleet command created single sample cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In 1888, the armored cruiser Admiral Nakhimov entered service.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a role model, the British Empire type, built under the obvious impression of French ships, was adopted [13] [Note 1], with its characteristic diamond-shaped arrangement guns of the main caliber, although the British sailors themselves have already recognized it as unsuccessful.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

This move even gave rise to rumors about the theft of drawings of a British cruiser by Russian intelligence [14], of course, not based on anything, especially since for all major shipbuilding elements, the Russian the ship was very different from the British one, which itself was clearly built according to the French model.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The appearance in the fleet of a potential enemy of imitation of such imperfect ships was perceived in the UK with great bewilderment [15].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Nevertheless, the cruiser turned out to be formally very strong: it carried the main caliber of eight 8"/203 mm guns in four barbet mounts with light tower-like covers placed both on prototype, according to the rhombic scheme [16], which made it possible, in theory, to concentrate the fire of six guns out of eight at any point in space, and in practice, like all “French rhombuses”, only four due to the destructive effect of muzzle gases on their own superstructures and decks.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The armor belt had a solid thickness in the area of the power plant, but was too short [17].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The old-school admirals insisted on full sailing weapons, although the Nakhimov sailed slowly, and under pairs its seaworthiness left much to be desired [13] - which, however, did not prevent in 1904-1905, as part of the 2nd Pacific Squadron, he successfully undertook a campaign across two oceans to the site of the “Tsushima massacre”.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Disillusioned with imitating foreign models, the Russian naval department decided to develop the “Russian type” of the armored cruiser, choosing Vladimir Monomakh as the model [18].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, during the design process, Memory of Azov has acquired so many additional improvements that the overload has reached a dangerous level.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Trying to correct the situation, we reduced the width of the armor belt, turning it into a narrow strip.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The result was a strange cruiser, inferior in thickness of the plates to the Nakhimov and had a smaller protection area than the Monomakh.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

This luxuriously finished ship “worked” best of all as a yacht during the voyage made by Tsarevich Nicholas, the future Tsar Nicholas II, in 1890-91.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Category: British armoured cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Almost simultaneously with the Admiral General, the British Navy received its first armored [Note 2] cruiser, the Shannon (English: Shannon), and in Russia it was considered a response to the appearance of its armored cruisers [19].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The British themselves admitted that “the reason for his appearance in the fleet is somewhat vague” [5].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The result was completely unsatisfactory: the desire to build a “budget”, but booked ship led to the fact that the Shannon was too weak to fight with battleships, and at the same time time is too quiet to chase enemy raiders [20].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In addition to the fact that the Shannon could not be recognized as an effective combat unit, it did not become successful as a ship either.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Its creators have tried to squeeze too much into such a small displacement: anything that deserves attention in terms of improving the combat qualities of this ship in the process of its creation, was immediately included in the project.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

According to British estimates, this ship could cope with Russian cruisers in one-on-one combat, but it still did not meet the high standards of the British fleet [21].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It should be noted that other sources usually consider Shannon as a response primarily to French small “colonial” battleships of the Alma and La Galisoniere classes, as well as - the appearance of small second-class battleships in the Americas and Asia, and only in the second - to strengthen the Russian cruiser fleet [22].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Despite the difference in classification, the English “cruiser” was considered approximately equal to such second-class battleships in strength and could quite successfully engage in battle with them if they threatened England's overseas possessions.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

For the performance of direct cruising functions, it was not considered a suitable ship.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Soon, the battle in Pakocha Bay will clearly demonstrate the need for an armored ship, albeit second-class, at overseas stations.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Having suffered a relative failure with the Shannon, the British nevertheless built two improved Nelson cruisers (English: Nelson) in 1878-1881.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

They were prompted to take this step by the emergence of new Russian armored cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

An increase in displacement by about 40% had a beneficial effect on their seaworthiness and made it possible to install a full armor belt on ships, which on its predecessor was absent in the bow [23].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, the new cruisers suffered from the same drawback as the Shannon: they were too weak to fight a serious enemy and too slow to chase cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Although they were formally somewhat superior to Russian opponents in terms of speed and weapons [23], they had practically no chance to meet them in battle in the event of an armed conflict — small and significantly more expensive than armored, “belt” cruisers are likely to either be included in armored squadrons, or would spend the entire war near the British ocean stations, in any case, “playing the role” of a second-class battleship, and not directly a cruiser.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, they became gray mediocrity with a very questionable combat value for squadron combat and were too large to be used to protect trade.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Having already received three unsuccessful armored cruisers, the British began to build the same type of Imperieuse (English: Imperieuse) and Warspite (English: Warspite).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

They were pushed to this decision by bad relations with Russia and, to a lesser extent, with France.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The displacement increased again and the cruisers were considered good artillery platforms [24], but there were problems with the artillery itself.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Wanting to get uniform fire in all directions, the British placed the main caliber - 4,234-mm guns - in single-gun turrets, placed according to a rhombic scheme.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

But the very first training firing clearly showed that it was impossible to conduct longitudinal fire from onboard guns - there was a threat of damage to your own superstructures.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Another disadvantage was the practical insecurity of the board at full load, since the armor belt completely went under water.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The best thing to say about the Empire and Warspite is that they had three 9.2” and five 6 “guns in the side salvo at a speed of 16 knots.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As far as can be judged by the other components of the project, they can be firmly classified as “black sheep” of the Victorian armored fleet and, speaking in parliament, Admiral J.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Commerle described them as “an almost complete failure of the idea of a modern ship, poorly designed, poorly built and completely dangerous” — although such criticism was clearly too harsh.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The last attempt in the 1870-1880s to build an armored cruiser for the Royal Navy was the project of armored cruisers of the Orlando class (7 units).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The moderate displacement of these ships was combined with mediocre speed qualities, ordinary weapons and a thick, but very narrow armor belt.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Significant overload of these combat units, as well as on the “imperiuses”, led to the fact that the armor belt was completely under water, and the freeboard was completely unprotected, but to increase the belt area was not possible due to the excessive weight of the iron plates.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

These ships went down in history as the first armored cruisers that initially did not have sailing equipment [25].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

After that, the British abandoned the construction of armored cruisers for a long time.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Japanese armoured cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

After the Meiji Revolution, Japan began to actively modernize its own army and navy based on the technical achievements of the West.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the field of naval construction, the Japanese focused primarily on the main trendsetter - Great Britain.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

When the first armored cruisers appeared in the Royal Navy, the Japanese wanted something similar.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

They did not have enough money for “full-size” cruisers and had to order British shipyards a pair of relatively small and rather archaic ships of the Hiei type [26] (“Hiei” (Japanese:) and “Congo” (Japanese: )), which formed the basis of the new Japanese fleet in the 1880s.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the middle of the hull, the Hiei had a fairly solid 4-inch (114 mm) waterline protection, but closer to the ends, the belt was thinned to 3 inches (76.2 mm), and the artillery remained completely open.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

A little later, a larger ship of the same class was added to them - the armored frigate Fuso (Japanese:) [27], which in fact was a significantly reduced version of the English casemate battleships.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It was also built in the UK.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In Western sources, these ships are usually considered as second-class battleships, and not cruisers, which was their actual purpose in the realities of Southeast Asia of those years.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the 1860s and 70s, as part of the first experiments with armor, many such small ships were built in general — armored sloops and corvettes, the classification of which from a modern point of view encounters certain difficulties, since by the standards of battleships they were very weak, and in order to be considered cruisers, they did not have the necessary speed and cruising range.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Assessment of first-generation armored cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Summing up the development of first-generation armored cruisers, we have to admit that this type of warship has not become popular among naval sailors of the leading maritime powers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In fact, everything was limited to the construction of a very limited number of armored cruisers in two countries, Russia and Great Britain, with the latter creating these combat units as opposed to Russian ones.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

And if for Russia, which had practically no modern seaworthy battleships, ocean armored cruisers with their ability to operate for a long time away from naval bases really had great value as a tool for disrupting the maritime communications of a potential enemy, then for the UK the value of such relatively expensive, but having a limited scope combat units were already in doubt.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Technical factors should also be attributed to the reasons for this unpopularity.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The imperfection of iron and even steel-iron armor forced to make armor plates very thick, but the low power of the steam engines of that time did not allow cruisers to be given full armor and at the same time maintain an acceptable travel speed.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, shipbuilders had to compromise and limit the reservation area to a narrow belt along the waterline.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Taking into account the congestion of ships characteristic of shipbuilding at that time, this led to the fact that almost the entire freeboard was unprotected [28].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

A certain role was also played by the inertia inherent in naval sailors:


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Despite the fact that the calculations clearly showed that the sailing thrust on armored ships completely contradicted the savings, the need to save coal through the use of sails was is still such a strong stereotype for marine specialists that there has been no way to break it yet.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Thus, strange enough ships descended from the slipways — too weakly armed and protected to use in the battle line and at the same time too slow to use them in as cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It is not surprising that in 1870-1880 this type did not become significantly widespread [29].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The heyday of armored cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

By the early 1890s, the fashion for armored cruisers had engulfed shipbuilders in almost all major maritime powers, but in reality, each country chose its own path, as a result of which armored cruisers of the end of the century turned out to be very diverse.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

French armoured cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As has often happened in history, the French were the first to create an armored cruiser of a new type.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The impetus for its creation was the appearance of high-explosive shells equipped with melinite. The results of the experimental shooting of the old battleship Belliquez with such shells in 1886 [30] (French: La Belliqueuse) stunned French sailors:


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, ships that were not sufficiently armored became very vulnerable.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

“Protected”, that is, armored military vessels that had only an armored deck located at the level of the waterline, could lose all artillery, burn down or simply sink, albeit keeping it at This is useless cars and cellars.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The same largely applied to first-generation armored cruisers, whose vertical armor area often did not exceed the lateral projection of the armored deck of a similar armored deck ship, with the amendment that the presence of a short armor belt still protected them from flooding the compartments located in the middle part of the hull.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

At the same time, the ends of the corps and artillery remained just as defenseless.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Based on the analysis of this attack, the Shipbuilding Council (French: Conseil des Travaux) decided to create a cruiser with a fully booked board, which was supposed to protect it from high-explosive medium caliber projectiles [30].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

This is how the Dupuy de Lome project (French: Dupuy de Lome) was born.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The cruiser really turned out to be innovative.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Unlike previous armored cruisers, whose reservation was reduced to a narrow belt along the waterline, the Dupuy de Lome was fully booked from the sides, up to the upper deck [31].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

All large-caliber and medium-caliber artillery was housed in single-gun armor turrets and thus was very well protected [32].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Outwardly, the ship stood out for its huge ram [33].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Unfortunately for the French, the cruiser turned out to be even too progressive in design, which led to a delay in construction for 7 years [34].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, the Dupuy-de-Lome, founded in 1888, did not enter service until 1895.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

There were also enough shortcomings.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The speed was below the specified 20 knots, and the crew suffered from excessive tightness [35].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The main drawback of the ship, according to French politicians, was the high cost, especially since there were plans to build up to 200 armored cruisers [36].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Therefore, the next ships of this class were significantly reduced in size.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Amiral Charner project (French: Amiral Charner) was a smaller version of its predecessor.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The displacement was reduced by 2,000 tons, the armor was weakened in thickness and reduced in area, and the caliber of medium artillery was also reduced [37].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Nevertheless, 4 units of this project were considered quite successful ships, especially given the displacement of less than 5,000 tons [38].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The speed qualities, however, left much to be desired — a modest 19 knots [38].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The cruisers of the project entered service in 1894, that is, even earlier than the Dupuy de Loma.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The next armored cruiser in France was the Potuo (French: Pothuau), which caused sharp criticism of experts.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Reservation turned out to be frankly weak, and the speed stopped at the same 19 knots [39].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The next Minister of the Navy, Eduard Locroix, managed to interrupt the undesirable trend [40].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In 1896, at his insistence, the huge armored cruiser Joan of Arc (French: Jeanne d'Arc) was laid down by French standards.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Its displacement exceeded 11,000 tons, and the reservation was at the level of the highest standards of that time [41].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It should be noted that it was on this ship that the reservation system was first used, later called “French” or “American” [41].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Its essence was to enclose all vital centers in a closed armored box.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Joan of Arc was designed for a speed of 23 knots, but it was not possible to achieve this figure.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

But a huge number of boilers led to an original solution — the ship received 6 pipes never seen before — in two groups of three pieces [40].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Nevertheless, the project is rated low — for its considerable size, Joan of Arc was too poorly armed [42].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The cruiser entered service in 1902.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Frightened by the size and corresponding cost of the Jeanne, the French on armored cruisers of the Duplet type (French: Dupleix) reduced the displacement by one and a half times.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Three cruisers of this project joined the fleet in 1903-1904.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Their speed was moderate, weapons and armor weakened [43].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

On these cruisers, the French tried to use two-gun turrets for the first time in their practice, but the result disappointed them [44].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The next series also consisted of three units of the “Moncalm” type (French: Montcalm).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

They significantly increased artillery protection, but the speed remained insufficient [45].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In 1903-1904, 5 French: La Gloire cruisers entered service.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Their displacement increased again, approaching 10,000 tons, artillery was placed in tested single-gun turrets, but a good project was spoiled by a modest speed — just over 21 knots [46].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, there were problems not only with the quality of the ships themselves, but also with the validity of the French naval doctrine.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Multi-tube giants could only run away from the enemy in the event of a general battle.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

But they were not very suitable as hunters for merchant ships either.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Using them to fight on communications was a bit like trying to break an egg with a sledgehammer.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Armored monsters lacked range with a clear excess of artillery and the presence of almost unnecessary full armor in the open ocean.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The new series of 3 units was built according to the project “Leon Gambetta” (French: Leon Gambetta) and became part of the fleet in 1905-1907.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The displacement reached 12,000 tons, the reservation formally remained similar to its predecessors, and in fact increased due to the use of Krupp armor [47].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The main innovation was the installation of two-gun towers, which dramatically increased firepower, but only after the towers were finalized to operational condition [44].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The same type often includes the French: Jules Michelet, which differed only in its new long-barreled artillery [48].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

They tried to increase speed on the cruiser Ernest Renan (French: Ernest Renan), built in a single copy by 1909 [49].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The number of guns was reduced, the power of the machines was increased, and due to this, they finally reached the coveted 24 knots.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The most noticeable price of speed was a return to six chimneys (after the Joan of Arc, the French cruisers cost four).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, by this time, Britain and Germany had already put into operation battlecruisers, making even the best of the French armored cruisers obviously obsolete [50].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

German armoured cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the 1890s, the rapidly growing fleet of the German Empire began to show interest in armored cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

At the same time, the development of armored cruisers in the German fleet took place in the absence of a clear concept of their combat use, which led to strange and unjustified decisions [51].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It should be noted that the term “armored cruiser” was absent in the German classification [52].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Instead, the term “large cruiser” (German: Große Kreuzer) was used, which included all cruisers with 210-240 mm main caliber artillery, for example, armored cruisers of the Freya class [53].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In fact, the first German armored cruisers could be considered the armored frigate Koenig Wilhelm built in England (in service since 1869, displacement 9,600 tons, stroke 14.7 knots) and casemate The battleships Kaiser and Deutschland (in service since 1875, 8,800 tons of displacement, maximum speed of 14.5 knots), which repeatedly made long voyages, including to the Far East, and in January 1897. after reconstruction, they were officially reclassified as cruisers [54].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The first German armored cruiser, the German: Fürst Bismarck, entered service in 1900.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It caused considerable bewilderment among foreign experts [55], since it was actually a version of the German: Kaiser battleship - heavily armed, well protected, but low-speed (less than 19 knots) and with a clearly insufficient cruising range [53].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Its combat value for the German fleet raised serious doubts [55].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The next German armored cruiser, Prince Henry (German: Prinz Heinrich), became the first ship of the class that can really be called a cruiser.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Its displacement was reduced, weapons and armor were weakened, but the cruising range increased, and the speed reached 20 knots that were not outstanding for the beginning of the 20th century, but quite worthy [56].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It entered service in 1902, becoming the first of 14 large cruisers of the 1st class to be built under the 2nd edition of the Navy Act [57].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Having gained some experience, German shipbuilders then laid down two armored cruisers of the Prince Adalbert class (German: Prinz Adalbert) at once, which joined the fleet in 1903-1904.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Unlike their predecessor, they carried their main armament from a combination of 210 and 150-mm guns.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Other characteristics have changed slightly, with the exception of the increased cruising range [58].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The next pair of German armored cruisers was made up of ships of the type “York” (German: York).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

They represented a smooth development of the previous type and did not have significant differences from their predecessors, except for a slight increase in speed, which exceeded 21 knots and modified silhouette [59].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

They entered service in 1905-1906.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The most famous armored cruisers in Germany were two ships of the next project - the Scharnhorst type (German: Scharnhorst).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Due to a significant increase in displacement, the Germans managed to provide them with very good protection, and double the main caliber weapons - instead of the 4 210 mm guns of the previous types “Scharnhorst” and” Gneisenau” carried 8 such guns [60].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The speed turned out to be high, by class standards, and the cruising range increased significantly.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Nevertheless, the new cruisers were nothing exceptional.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In this project, the Germans only eliminated the obvious shortcomings of the previous types.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

This couple owes their fame more to their resounding victory at Coronel than to their constructive merits [61].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In general, German armored cruisers were solid, but by no means outstanding ships.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Thus, British experts noted:


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

When compared to British contemporaries, they did not make a good impression, and with the possible exception of Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, it would not be an exaggeration to say that armored The cruisers were the worst designed and least combat-ready German ships by 1905.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Unfortunately for the Germans, this pair entered service in 1907—1908, when British Invincible-class battlecruisers began to enter service [62], meeting with which left the Germans no chance , which was confirmed by the Battle of the Falkland Islands.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Russian armoured cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the last decades of the XIX century, the Russian naval department relied on a cruising war.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Unable to create a line fleet comparable to the British, Russian admirals sought to fight on the communications of the British Empire [63].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

But by the end of the 1880s, the Russian Imperial Navy did not have ships suitable for this purpose.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The armored frigates of the previous construction were outdated, and other cruiser-type vessels were also very weak.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

There was a need to build highly autonomous and well-armed raider cruisers with armor protection.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The first of this conditional series was “Rurik”, which went into operation in 1895.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The ship turned out to be very long, with a solid cruising range by Russian standards.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

To increase it, the cruiser was also equipped with full sailing weapons, which in practice were completely useless.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The actual speed was moderate, but the seaworthiness was excellent [64].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

From the side, the Rurik was partially protected by an armor belt made of steel-iron armor.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The artillery included four 203-mm, sixteen 152-mm and six 120-mm guns, but it was placed according to a model more typical for the sailing fleet - almost all guns stood without any protection on the main deck, behind the thin side.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The main caliber, 203 mm, was no exception.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

If at first the UK was quite nervous about the emergence of a new raider, and even took expensive countermeasures [65], then the tone changed dramatically.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Brassey Yearbook wrote about the project:


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The sides of the Rurik bristled with cannons and, until you climb to its deck, it seems scary.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

But one shell that explodes in an open battery is enough to disable half a dozen guns at once.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

A similar view was expressed by Conway's authoritative handbook:


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

A completely unsatisfactory project — with only half of the artillery operating on each side, unreliable protection and poor division of the hull into compartments.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, from the point of view of the main purpose of “Rurik” as a raider with increased combat stability, such criticism, based on comparison with the British ones created for completely different purposes armored cruisers, which, if necessary, expected to be used as second-class battleships to combat weak battleships of a potential enemy, looks unjustified: neither armed civilian ships, nor covering them, relatively small armored “defenders of trade” built before “Rurik” as worthy opponents for “Rurik” as a raider will not be they could.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

At the same time, the ships of the Powerful type created “in response” to its appearance were quite ordinary armored cruisers, minus the huge size, in which only part of the artillery was protected armor of towers and individual casemates, and the rest is also located behind a thin side, which does not protect even from light gun shells.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

At the same time, outside the casemates, the board was not armored at all, including around the casemates, which posed a threat to their reinforcements and projectile supply pipes.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Such a ship, with its uncovered side, could be sunk or deprived of combat capability without breaking through armor, even by a lightly armed enemy; in real combat, it would have received such heavy damage that, even if afloat, would require extensive dry-dock repairs that Britain could afford, relying on naval bases scattered around the world and colonial possessions, but not Russia.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Naturally, from the point of view of a decisive battle with an enemy squadron, in which Russian armored cruisers involuntarily had to participate in the war with Japan, but for which they initially did not were calculated that the weapons layout adopted by them really looks inadequate.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

On subsequent cruisers of the series, some of these shortcomings were tried to eliminate.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The cruiser Rossiya received a more extensive reservation, moreover, of better quality - Harvey.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The protection of artillery has improved somewhat, and the builders refused to install sailing weapons [66].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, the main drawback of the project is the irrational placement of guns and their weak protection has been preserved.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Gromoboy cruiser received relatively reliable artillery protection, but only half of the guns could still operate on one side [67].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

From the point of view of a single duel of cruisers, in which fire is carried out either at sharp heading angles (during chase or retreat), or alternately from each side (when two ships approach on circulation) ), this would not be a significant drawback, but when acting as part of a squadron, when the main role in assessing the firepower of the ship's artillery is played by the mass of the side salvo, it turned out to be very sensitive.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In general, all three cruisers were huge and very close in cost to battleships, but at the same time very highly specialized, ocean ships with moderate speed, capable of act on communications, but of little use for a decisive battle with a strong enemy.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It is difficult to say how they would perform as raiders, but for the war that Russia had to wage in the Far East, these beautiful, impressive looking ships turned out to be completely stupid.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It is no coincidence that they are assessed as the last belt (and not armored in the sense of the word at that time) cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Further, the idea of a cruising war gave rise to the project of a battleship cruiser of the Peresvet class, according to which three ships were built [68].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

They were supposed to combine the seaworthiness and cruising range of an ocean cruiser with the armament of a second-class squadron battleship, like the English Rinaun.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The implementation of the idea turned out to be completely unsuccessful — in fact, the only obvious advantage of the “overexposure” was good seaworthiness.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

They were too poorly armed and protected by armored standards and too slow in cruising [69].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The very possibility of using them in communications was questionable.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

At the same time, they were not powerful enough to participate in squadron combat.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Completely unsatisfactory design, weak armament and armor, and not exceptional speed at all.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Preparing for the brewing war with Japan, the naval department drew attention to the absence in the Russian fleet of high-speed armored reconnaissance aircraft at the squadron [70].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Due to the workload of Russian shipyards, the order was issued to the French.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

This is how Bayan appeared.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the new unit of the fleet, combat qualities clearly prevailed over cruising qualities.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Bayan had a decent speed and was well protected, but its weapons left much to be desired - in terms of the power of the side salvo, it was twice as bad as the Japanese Asama [71].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, even with such a serious drawback, the Bayan turned out to be the best Russian cruiser of the Russo-Japanese War.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Already during the Russo-Japanese War, the naval department, under the influence of a clearly exaggerated opinion about the success of the Bayan, ordered 3 more cruisers for the same, only slightly improved project, known as Admiral Makarov.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The recklessness of this decision was clearly revealed in 1908-1911, when the fleet received 3 clearly outdated ships [72].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Italian armoured cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the last decades of the XIX century, Italian shipbuilders were actively experimenting with a special “Mediterranean” type of warship.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

With very limited resources, the Italians tried to create ships that, at a reasonable cost, could solve various combat missions in the Mediterranean Sea.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It was assumed that the cruising range and seaworthiness so appreciated by the great maritime powers could be sacrificed in favor of speed and combat qualities [73].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Armored cruisers, fashionable in the 1890s, which, according to a peculiar Italian classification, were called “warships of the 2nd class” [73], did not escape these trends either.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In 1894, the Italian Royal Navy joined the first domestic armored cruiser Marco Polo (Italian: Marco Polo).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The characteristics of the first child against the background of foreign analogues were not impressive.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The armament turned out to be frankly weak - only 16 rapid-fire guns of 120-152 mm caliber, protected only by shields, the armor also left much to be desired - an incomplete 100-mm belt and a 25-mm deck.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In addition, the ship did not develop a very modest declared speed of 19 knots, and the sailors had to settle for only 17.8 knots [73].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, the small size of the cruiser was impressive - all of the above was packed in a displacement of less than 5,000 tons - half as much as typical armored cruisers of other countries.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Encouraged by the result, Italian designers continued to develop the “small Mediterranean” cruiser with the Carlo Alberto project (Italian: Carlo Alberto).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The displacement increased by 2,000 tons, which were used, first of all, to thicken the armor belt by 1.5 times, which now covered the entire side.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The number of medium-caliber guns remained the same, but the 152-mm guns were doubled.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Finally, the speed reached 19 knots [74].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In 1898-1899, Italian sailors received two cruisers of this type.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The project was heavily criticized for its weak armament, but in terms of cost/effectiveness, it looked quite good.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The next step of the Italians was an attempt to merge the armored cruiser with the battleship of the 2nd class.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In 1894-1895, the first two units of the “Giuseppe Garibaldi” type (Italian: Guiseppe Garibaldi) were laid down.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The armor belt of considerable thickness now covered most of the board, the ships finally received large-caliber artillery in the turrets, and part of the medium-caliber artillery was placed in armored casemates.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, the Italian fleet did not have time to receive this pair.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Even at the construction stage, the cruisers were overbought by Argentina, which was preparing for war with Chile [75].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The discontent of Italian sailors was blocked by the opportunity to make quick money, as well as the desire of the government of relatively backward Italy to enter the world market of high-tech weapons.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

This was not the end of the export successes of the Garibaldi class — Argentina bought two more cruisers that had just been laid down [76] and ordered two more.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Subsequently, as a result of a peaceful settlement of the Argentine-Chilean conflict, the customer refused to buy the ships, but they were immediately intercepted by Japan [77].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Finally, another Garibaldi went to Spain [76].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Only in 1901-1905, the Italian fleet was able to receive “its” three cruisers of the project [78].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Such major export successes of cruisers of the Giuseppe Garibaldi class were not due to their outstanding qualities.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In fact, they were not so much cruisers as weak battleships.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Seaworthiness turned out to be poor, and the estimated speed of 20 knots could not be developed even during tests [79].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, they looked profitable against the background of foreign competitors due to the combination of good purely combat characteristics with low cost, which predetermined the enthusiasm of customers [79].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Category: US armoured cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

After the Civil War of 1861—65, the US Navy was in decline.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

By the mid-1880s, it was inferior not only to the leading European, but even to some Latin American fleets [80].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The intolerance of this provision led in 1883 to a special law of Congress [81], which outlined the construction of modern warships.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

But congressmen ignorant in maritime affairs intended to build “seaworthy battleships of coastal defense.”


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

After some thought about the strange wording, the leadership of the fleet decided that it corresponded to battleships of the 2nd class and armored cruisers [82].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Oddly enough, the first American armored cruiser Maine (English: Maine), which joined the fleet in 1895, was an almost complete copy of the Riajuelo, a Brazilian ship built in Great Britain and was considered a good example of an “battleship for the poor” [83].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The result was disappointing — the ship came out well armed and protected, but very slow.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In fact, it was a 2nd class battleship, with slightly less powerful artillery [84].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Many experts did not classify it as a cruiser at all and in 1894 it was reclassified as battleships of the 2nd class.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Nevertheless, the Maine went down in history, albeit in a very sad way — its explosion and death in the roads of Havana on February 15, 1898 caused the Spanish-American War that began in the same year.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The true causes of the incident are still a cause of controversy [86].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

American shipbuilders took into account the mistake and the new project - the New York (English: New York) turned out to be a full-fledged cruiser, and very original.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The armament was represented by a non-standard combination of 203 and 102-mm guns for those years, the protection included a short and thin armor belt, complemented by an armored deck with very thick bevels.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The power plant also had a very interesting scheme, although it was not very convenient [83].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The speed reached 21 knots quite decent for 1893 [87].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Thus, it was the New York that became the first full-fledged armored cruiser of the American Navy.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Interestingly, he was ready before Maine.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The next development was also implemented in a single copy as the cruiser Brooklyn (English: Brooklyn).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Larger than its predecessor, it retained its main design solutions, but carried stronger artillery and improved armor protection [88].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Brooklyn entered service in 1896.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Having accumulated experience, the Americans began serial construction of armored cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

From 1905 to 1908, the Navy received six ships of the Pennsylvania class (English: Pennsylvania).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Very large, they were distinguished by excellent seaworthiness, long cruising range and became truly ocean ships.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Armor protection was at a decent level, but the speed was moderate, and the armament was insufficient for cruisers of this size [89].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

But not too many “brains” were attached to this hefty “technical” fist... The Americans built a cruising fleet as if “just in case”, without clear tasks and concepts.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Category: British armoured cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

For a long time, the British fleet neglected armored cruisers, preferring to build a variety of armored cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It was believed that very large armored cruisers of the 1st rank would not be easy to sink [90].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, by the end of the XIX century, the comparison of the combat qualities of British and foreign cruisers was clearly not in favor of the Royal Navy.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Progress in the development of projectiles and armor contributed to the revision of views [91].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In addition, by the end of the XIX century, the concept of using armored cruisers not only on communications, but also in general battle, as an avant-garde, matured in the minds of British naval theorists the main forces of the fleet [92].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The first full-fledged armored cruisers of Great Britain were six ships of the Cressy class (English: Cressy).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Designed on the basis of armored cruisers of the Diadem type [90], they now carried an onboard armor belt up to 152 mm thick, and the main artillery, in addition to a dozen 152-mm guns, included a pair of 234-mm guns single-gun armored turrets.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The speed was 21 knots and fully corresponded to foreign analogues [93].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

At the same time, the displacement exceeded 12,000 tons.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

All six cruisers entered service between 1901 and 1904.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Since the speed of the first armored cruisers was still not fully satisfied with the British Admiralty, the next type of this class was even larger.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Due to the displacement of more than 14,000 tons, it was possible to install more powerful vehicles and cruisers of the Good Hope type (English: Good Hope) were able to exceed the 23 knots mark [94].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The main caliber remained the same - 2,234-mm guns, but the 152-mm number increased to 16 units.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Reservation has remained at the same level.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

These four joined the Royal Navy from 1902 to 1903.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It should be noted that the Cressy and Good Hope were often subjected to amateurish criticism, which indicated that British export cruisers, such as the Asama, are both better armed and better protected, at a much smaller displacement.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, the cruisers for the British fleet were significantly superior to competitors in range, seaworthiness and real operating speed [95].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Nevertheless, even British admirals had to turn away from their chosen path for a while.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Large armored cruisers also turned out to be very expensive, so we had to move on to the construction of “budget” ships [95].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It began with the largest series of armored cruisers in history, the Kent type (English: Kent), often referred to as the first series of the County.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Built in the amount of ten units, they were noticeably cheaper, but also weaker than their predecessors.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Large-caliber artillery disappeared, the armor belt became one and a half times thinner, the speed fluctuated within 22-23 knots [96].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The displacement was in the region of 10,000 tons.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The main task of the new type was to combat raiders, primarily French high-speed armored cruisers [97], on sea communications.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

All ten were put into operation during 1903-1904.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Despite favorable financial results of this type, Kent was still considered insufficiently armed and protected [98].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Therefore, on the second series of the County - six Devonshire cruisers (English: Devonshire), the reservation was strengthened, and the artillery now consisted of 4 190-mm and 6 152-mm guns, which cost about extra 1000 tons.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The speeds of all six exceeded 23 knots [99].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

All ships of this type were ready in 1905.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The design of subsequent armored cruisers was significantly affected by the change of the chief designer of the fleet - Philip Watts replaced William White.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The first pair of his creations, the Duke of Edinburgh cruisers, became lower and got rid of unnecessary architectural elements [100].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

For the first time, British cruisers received an armor belt along the entire length of the board, the basis of firepower was 234-mm cannons, a favorite weapon of British sailors [101].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

6 of these guns were supplemented with 10 152-mm guns.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The speed remained at the same level although the displacement reached almost 14,000 tons.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Both cruisers entered service in 1906 [102].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a cruising version of the King Edward VII, these ships made a good impression on paper, but had many design gaps: the 6-inch battery was too low to have the ability to fire in any weather, except for the calmest.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Even more powerful was the next four - armored cruisers of the Warrior class (English: Warrior).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The displacement increased by another 1,000 tons, while booking and speed remained the same.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

But now the artillery consisted only of large-caliber guns — 234 and 190-mm, and most importantly, now it could operate in almost any weather.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

This circumstance allowed the Warriors to gain a very high reputation among sailors [103].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The first cruiser went into service at the end of 1906, the rest in 1907.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Over time, the opinion about the Warriors has changed:


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Warrior was a hybrid type, too weak for line combat and too expensive to use for reconnaissance.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Thus, having begun the construction of a new type of armored cruisers later than all the great naval powers, the British in just ten years were able to replenish the fleet with thirty-two such cruisers - more, than any competitor ever had.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Other European armoured cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Spain


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

By the early 1880s, Spain's once-powerful navy was in complete decline.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Nevertheless, the state, which still retained vast and very remote possessions from the metropolis, certainly needed a strong fleet.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The impetus for a new stage of development was the Caroline Crisis of 1885, which clearly showed the need to strengthen the Navy.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In 1886, the Cortes approved a new shipbuilding program, to which the Spanish armored cruisers owe their appearance [104].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The model for the new project was the British Orlando, but with an increased displacement and enhanced weapons.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The project was developed in the UK by Palmer, which, at the request of the customer, created a joint venture in Spain, which received an order for the first three cruisers of the Infanta Maria Theresa class ( Spanish: Infanta María Teresa) [105].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

These were relatively small, but high-speed ships with side protection in the form of a very narrow and incomplete, but thick armor belt along the waterline.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

At the same time, the area of the unarmored side was too large [106].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The armament formally looked powerful, but the shortcomings of Spanish-made artillery sharply reduced the combat capabilities of the cruisers [107].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

All three cruisers entered service in 1893-1895.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The remaining three cruisers of the series were slowly built at state-owned Spanish shipyards and did not have time for the Spanish-American War.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The obvious shortcomings of the cruisers, revealed during the hostilities, forced to rework the project.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, these ships became significantly different from their predecessors and were assigned to the new type “Princess de Asturias” (Spanish: Princesa de Asturias) [108].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Reservation was improved due to the use of Harvey armor, and weapons have become more balanced.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, by the time they entered service in 1902-1904, these cruisers were hopelessly outdated [108].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In between these two series, the Spanish fleet also acquired a very non-standard armored cruiser Emperador Carlos V (Spanish: Emperador Carlos V).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

A special feature of the ship was a kind of protection scheme: the side belt was thin, but it was complemented by very thick bevels of the armor deck.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The armament was similar to the Infanta Maria Theresa type, however, the cruiser itself was noticeably larger [109].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Finally, during the period of sharp aggravation of Spanish-American relations, an armored cruiser of the Giuseppe Garibaldi class was bought in Italy.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

He joined the Spanish Navy in 1897 under the name “Cristóbal Colón” (Spanish: Cristóbal Colón) [109].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Austro-Hungary


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The development of the Austro-Hungarian Navy was very difficult due to the political structure of the dual monarchy.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

“Land” deputies from Hungary did not see a special need for the development of the fleet and constantly blocked the relevant bills.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, sailors had to go to all kinds of tricks to get the necessary funds.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Cruising programs were especially affected at the same time, since the fleet locked in the Adriatic Sea did not particularly need them.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, the Austro-Hungarian fleet received only three different types of armored cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The first of these was the Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia (German: Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia), which entered service in 1895.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

A small and well-armed ship received, however, too weak armor and did not have a high speed [110].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Its further development was the Kaiser Karl VI (German: Kaiser Karl VI), an enlarged version of its predecessor with reinforced armor, which joined the fleet in 1900 [111].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The most advanced Austro-Hungarian cruiser was the German: Sankt Georg.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The relatively small ship, which entered service in 1905, was distinguished by very solid weapons and high speed, and the reservation was also quite at the level of world requirements [112].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

On it, the evolution of Austria-Hungary armored cruisers ended.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Sweden


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Sweden, which had previously built only coastal defense battleships from large ships, also acquired a somewhat unexpectedly armored cruiser.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In 1907, the cruiser Fulgia (Swedish: Fylgia) entered service.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It turned out to be one of the smallest armored cruisers in the world.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The armor was naturally weak, but the speed was relatively high, and the artillery, represented by the medium caliber, was placed according to a completely outdated rhombic scheme at that time [108].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Japanese armoured cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The first Japanese armored cruiser of the new generation was the Chiyoda (Japanese:), a unique ship recognized as the smallest armored cruiser in the world [113].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Due to its displacement of about 2500 tons, many experts refused to recognize it as armored, considering it impossible to book such a small ship [114].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Nevertheless, the Chiyoda, built in the UK, had a completely full-fledged armor belt and solid weapons for its size from a dozen 120 mm rapid-fire.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

But the following Japanese armored cruisers had the most serious impact on the further development of naval tactics.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

I must say that the now seemingly far-sighted program was actually based on simple, sometimes even primitive ideas of the then Japanese naval leaders... By analogy with land army... the fleet must also have its own “pioneers”, “horsemen”, “guns” and “wagon train”.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The role of “heavy cavalry”, capable of hitting from the flank or chasing a defeated enemy, was intended for armored cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The command of the Japanese fleet formulated ideas about the appearance of future cruisers shortly after the end of the Sino-Japanese War.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The future enemy, as well as the theater of operations, were already known, so it was easy for the Japanese to understand their needs.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Purely cruising qualities, such as range and seaworthiness, were secondary to them, the main thing was the combat properties of cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In their opinion, such a ship should have a displacement of 8,000 tons, high speed for an battleship and armament only from rapid-fire guns, and the caliber of the largest of them would be 8 inches.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In addition, adequate vertical armor protection was required, capable of withstanding armor-piercing shells of guns of the same caliber at real combat distances.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Thus, these ships did not resemble the then armored cruisers and were rather high-speed battleships with lightweight weapons.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

All major ships of the Japanese fleet were then built abroad and armored cruisers were no exception.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The project was developed by the then chief designer of the British company Armstrong Philip Watts on the basis of his own O'Higgins project, built for the Chilean fleet [115].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Four cruisers were ordered from this company, and on the second pair of the Izumo type (Japanese:), outdated fire-tube boilers were replaced with water-tube boilers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Other differences were minor in nature [116].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Japanese ordered another cruiser each from Germany, the Yakumo (Japanese:) and France, the Azuma (Japanese:), to familiarize themselves with the features of shipbuilding schools in these countries [117].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

At the same time, the customer insisted on strict adherence to the British project.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The first pair of Asama-class cruisers (Japanese:) turned out to be compact, well protected and powerfully armed.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the Japanese fleet, they were supposed to play the role of a high-speed wing of the main forces [114].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

There were also enough shortcomings.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Seaworthiness turned out to be very poor, and the contract speed of 21 knots of the cruiser was shown only at acceptance tests, thanks to the manufacturer's tricks.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The real speed of the Asam did not exceed 18-19 knots, and even less for continental ships [118].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Nevertheless, these cruisers were destined to play a very important role in the Russo-Japanese War.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In addition, just before the outbreak of hostilities, the Japanese managed to buy two Italian-built armored cruisers of the Giuseppe Garibaldi type from Argentina [119].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

They became part of the Japanese fleet as “Nissin” (Japanese:) and “Kasuga” (Japanese: 日).


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Latin American and Chinese armoured cruisers


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Argentina


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

By the end of the 19th century, the naval arms race had spread to South America.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Its main participants were Argentina and Chile, which were in conflict over a number of areas of Patagonia rich in nitrate.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, both sides began to actively prepare for war, including at sea, and warships were ordered abroad, due to the underdevelopment of their own shipbuilding.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Argentina during this period preferred Italian products, which attracted its attention with a good price-quality ratio.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, two Giuseppe Garibaldi cruisers were purchased at the construction stage, laid down by the Italians for their own fleet.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

But this did not seem enough, and soon the Argentines buy a second pair of cruisers of this type from the Italians [120].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

All four ships entered service in 1896-1898.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

They were not much different from the cruisers built by the Italians for themselves, but at the insistence of the customer they had archaic fire-tube boilers [121].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The appetites of Argentine admirals did not stop there, and in 1901 they ordered the Italians a third pair of cruisers of the same type.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, the naval arms race eventually began to devastate the coffers of both opponents and in 1903 they signed a peace agreement, which provided, inter alia, for the abandonment of the construction of new ships [121].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, the cruisers left without a customer were resold to Japan and became part of its fleet as the Kasuga type.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Chile


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Chileans preferred the products of British shipbuilders.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Among other things, there was a place for armored cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In 1896, the Chilean fleet received the Esmeralda (Spanish: Esmeralda), the first export armored cruiser built by Armstrong (Spanish: Armstrong) [122].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The relatively small ship developed a record speed for its class and carried solid weapons.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, you have to pay for everything, so the armor belt turned out to be very narrow, and the Esmeralda's seaworthiness was assessed as very poor [123].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The next ship of this class was also built by Armstrong and handed over to the customer in 1898 under the name O'Higgins [124].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Due to a slight increase in displacement, it was possible to significantly improve almost all characteristics, especially weapons and armor [125].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, the successful ship served as a prototype for the famous Japanese Asam [114].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

China


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Armored cruisers also appeared in the Chinese fleet, but their real combat characteristics were very low.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In 1888, the Chinese Navy received two Jingyuan-class cruisers built in Germany.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Small, poorly armed and low-speed, they very little resembled similar ships of the leading maritime powers [126].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Even more modest were the characteristics of the only armored cruiser built in China and entered service in 1889.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Pingyuan was rather an armored gunboat with very low speed and the main armament in the form of the only large-caliber gun [127].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It was called a cruiser clearly for reasons of prestige.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Armored cruisers in local wars of the late 19th — early 20th centuries


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Armoured cruisers in the Sino-Japanese War


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

During the Sino-Japanese War, domination of the sea was of great importance.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

On the Chinese side, the Northern Fleet [128] participated in hostilities, which included, among others, three armored cruisers.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Japanese Navy had one ship of this class.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

At the same time, the Japanese had a clear superiority in combat training and command level [129].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The decisive battle at sea took place on September 17, 1894 at the mouth of the Yalu River.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Japanese armored cruiser Chiyoda performed quite well due to the presence of rapid-fire artillery.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As for the Chinese armored cruisers, at the very beginning of the battle, the Jingyuan was fired at by two Japanese armored cruisers from a very close range, and caught fire after the explosion of ammunition sank [126].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Laiyuan suffered very serious injuries during the fight, but managed to leave for Port Arthur.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

After repairing the damage, the cruiser moved to Weihaiwei, where the remnants of the Chinese fleet were blocked by the enemy.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

On February 5, 1895, the Laiyuan was torpedoed by a Japanese destroyer and sank in the harbor [127].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As for the Pingyuan, it also ended up in Weihaiwei, where it was captured by the Japanese after the surrender of the fortress on February 12, 1895 and entered into the Japanese Navy.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The new owners reclassified the Pingyuan as the gunboat it really was [127].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Armoured cruisers in the Spanish-American War


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the Spanish-American War, armored cruisers were destined to play a very important role, and the most noticeable action on the part of ships of this class took place even before it began.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

On February 15, 1898, the American armored cruiser Maine, parked in the port of Havana, suddenly exploded.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The causes of the explosion have not yet been clarified, and the most likely version is now recognized as the explosion of coal dust, a fairly common phenomenon in hot latitudes [130].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, in 1898, the US authorities did not want to understand the reasons.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Politicians and the press launched a powerful propaganda campaign in the United States accusing the Spaniards of destroying Maine [131].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, on April 23 of the same year, war was declared [132].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Spanish command did not have a clear plan for war and even feared an attack by the American fleet on the coast of Spain itself [133].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

After long discussions, it was decided to send a squadron of armored cruisers under the command of Admiral Servers to the shores of Cuba.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

It took the squadron 3 weeks to cross the Atlantic and eventually did not have enough coal.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Instead of well-fortified Havana, the squadron was forced to enter the poorly equipped port of Santiago, where it was blocked by an American squadron.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Due to the obvious superiority of enemy forces, Server considered it impossible to break the blockade, but on July 2 he received a categorical order to break through to Havana [134].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Spaniards went into battle with 3 armored cruisers of the Infanta Maria Theresa and Cristobal Colon types, as well as two destroyer fighters.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Spanish ships were in poor technical condition, had low-quality coal, and the last training firing was carried out more than a year ago [135].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Americans put up against them 3 battleships of the 1st class, 1 battleship of the 2nd class and the armored cruiser Brooklyn.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Another armored cruiser New York did not have time to reach the battlefield due to problems with the power plant [136].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

On the morning of July 3, the Spaniards made a breakthrough.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the Battle of Santiago, despite some confusion, the Americans acted vigorously and quickly opened fire.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Although, according to the American sailors themselves, their shooting was not very accurate, the battle took place at such short distances that hits became inevitable.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In fact, the battle resulted in the pursuit of the Americans for the Spaniards.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The first to disable the Infanta Maria Theresa was the Infanta Maria Theresa, which caught fire and washed ashore less than an hour after the start of the battle [136].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Almirante Oquendo, which was at the end, lasted a little longer.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Embraced by fire and after a series of explosions, he rushed ashore near the flagship.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Soon the same fate befell the third cruiser of this type, the Biscay.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Heavily damaged, it rushed ashore and exploded [137]


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The only Spanish ship that had a chance to escape pursuit was the Cristobal Colon.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

However, after a three-hour race, it ran out of high-quality coal and the enemy began to catch up with the ship.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Although the cruiser received almost no serious damage, its commander chose to throw the ship ashore.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Colon did not have main-caliber artillery and resistance seemed meaningless [138].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

As a result, the US Navy celebrated a complete victory with little blood.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Their losses amounted to 1 person killed and 1 wounded, both on the armored cruiser Brooklyn, which hit the most Spanish shells - 20, all small and medium caliber [139].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Thus, the dubious defense of Brooklyn did not pass a serious check.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In turn, American shells never pierced the armor belt of Spanish cruisers, but this was not required.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The huge area of the unarmored side, combined with the abundance of wood on Spanish ships, led to fires and explosions of ammunition when hit by American heavy shells [140].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

While three cruisers of the Oquendo series, with their thick belts along the waterline and unprotected sides, were quickly destroyed, the Cristobal Colon demonstrated the value of medium armor cover thickness; if there was enough fuel on board, he could break away and escape from pursuit.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

Armored cruisers in the Russo-Japanese War


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

By the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, armored cruisers were part of the fleets of both opponents.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The Imperial Japanese Navy had nine units of this class - six cruisers of similar type, built in Great Britain (four), Germany (one) and France (one) [141], as well as two Italian-made cruisers, which entered service a little later [142].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In the design of all these ships, combat qualities prevailed over cruising qualities.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In addition, the fleet included an outdated, but quite combat-ready Chiyoda.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The 1st Pacific Squadron of the Russian Fleet, based in Port Arthur, had only one armored cruiser - the Bayan reconnaissance squadron [143].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The battleships Peresvet and Pobeda by that time were perceived only as part of the line forces, although in terms of combat power they clearly fell short of real battleships [144].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In addition, three armored cruisers - “Rurik”, “Russia” and “Gromoboy” were allocated to a special detachment based in Vladivostok [145].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The only full-fledged armored cruiser of the Port Arthur squadron Bayan performed quite well.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

He repeatedly went to sea, supporting light forces, and entered into short shootings with the enemy.


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

But the relative success of the cruiser was mainly due to good command and luck - the Bayan was twice inferior to its Japanese classmates in firepower, so the high appreciation of the ship by contemporaries was somewhat exaggerated [146].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

In an attempt by the 1st squadron to break into Vladivostok on July 28, 1904, the cruiser did not take part due to damage received from a mine explosion, and was later sunk in the harbor by Japanese siege fire artillery [147].


Question: When did the development of battleships stop?

Armored cruiser

The same fate befell Peresvet and Pobeda [148].