Can you ID this ship?

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2007-03-18 04:58pm

First things first:
The link to the picture is undressed to facilitate copying & pasting the URL to your browser; some people have had trouble with links to photos on this site in the past. The site has recently been blessed with a new server so that may, or may not, still be a problem.

Now for the tasty bits; this a reasonably good quality photo, all the details that make positive ID of this particular ship possible are crisp, clear, and highly visible.

Can you name it?
I'll give you a smack on the ass and a cookie if you can.

http://navsource.narod.ru/photos/01/028/01028010.jpg

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2007-03-18 06:56pm

What entertaining tumblehome.

But seriously, no idea.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2007-03-18 07:20pm

Other than the fact that she looks like a dogs breakfast or a gypsy caravan, I have no idea on her identity.

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2007-03-18 07:53pm

Unless I'm greatly mistaken, that's a Russian Borodino-class battleship. Unfortunately I'm not sure exactly which one it is.

Big Phil · Post by **Big Phil** » 2007-03-18 08:03pm

I'm fairly sure that exact picture is in one of my naval books, and Ma Deuce is right, it is a Borodino-class pre-dreadnought, but I don't recall which one.

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2007-03-18 08:04pm

I just noticed the crest on the bow, which doesn't appear on most pictures of the Borodinos I've seen, so I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that it's the Suvorov, Rozhestvensky's flagship at Tshuima.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2007-03-18 08:28pm

It is a Borodino, it is not Kniaz Suvarov.

All five Borodinos had considerable differences from each other, the two most similar being K. Suvarov and Slava; this is neither of those two.

Master of Cards · Post by **Master of Cards** » 2007-03-18 09:46pm

I'm going to guess Imperator Alexander III

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2007-03-18 10:00pm

Master of Cards wrote:I'm going to guess Imperator Alexander III

*slaps on ass and hands over a cookie*

The characteristics that set Imperator Alexander III apart form the other Borodinos are:
A much larger bow scroll than all the others, and it's mounted lower.

The anchor washboards accomodate a single anchor each, and are not parallel to the sheer line of the deck.

The other Borodinos had deck extensions running between the quarter deck and amidships, Alexander III did not.

The boat davits at main deck level, just aft the 6" turret, are different in shape from others of the class.

The boat handling booms on the mainmast were not stored horizontally as in the other ships, but pointed downwards when stored.