Novgorod

History of Novgorod

In 1868, the idea of a round battleship was first suggested by British Rear Admiral Andrei Popov, adopted later by Edward Reed of the Royal Navy. This concept aimed to create a shallow draft vessel capable of navigating rivers and lakes, expanding its battlefield access compared to traditional warships.

The design featured increased armor and weapon displacement, theoretically making it more powerful. However, the result was the Novgorod, which faced stability issues in rough waters and lacked accuracy with its primary weapon.

Only one Novgorod was built for the Russian Navy in 1874. Despite boasting two powerful 11-inch guns in a revolving turret for a 360-degree attack range, it struggled with stability and speed, limiting its effectiveness in combat.

The Novgorod's unconventional design stemmed from the 19th century's naval evolution, with countries seeking vessels suited for changing warfare dynamics. While criticized for its flaws, it symbolizes Russia's innovative approach amid naval experimentation during that era.

Specification

BASIC

Year of Service: 1874

Origins: Russia

Carrier: Russian Empir

Offshore Operations: Nearshore activities in support of Allied activities.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 101 feet (30.78 m)

Ray: 101 feet (30.78 m)

Draft: 13.5 feet (4.11 m)

Shift: 2,500 t

Power and Performance

Installed Power: 8 x cylindrical boilers feed 6 x compound expansion steam engines, drive 6 x shafts.

Surface Velocity: 7.5 km/h

Area: 550 km | 885 km

Weapon

2 x 11" (280 mm) rifled guns 1877: 2 x 11" (280 mm) rifled guns 2 x 4-pounder (3.4 in / 86 mm) )

Secondary Guns 1892: 2 x 11" (280 mm) front-loading rifled main guns 2 x 4 lbs (3.4 in / 86 mm) secondary guns 2 x 37 mm (1.5 in) five-barreled Hotchkiss revolving cannons