Following the devastating Russo-Japanese War, the Imperial Russian Navy found itself significantly weakened, leading to some truly innovative and unconventional ideas to compensate for the lack of big gun battleships. Among these was a revolutionary concept from the young naval designer Pavel Viktorovich Iankov. A graduate of the Naval Engineering School at Kronstadt in 1910, Iankov embarked on a journey that took him from the Baltic Works to the naval base in modern-day Tallinn. There, he envisioned a groundbreaking vessel: the Torpedo Battleship.
Despite the lackluster performance of torpedoes during the Russo-Japanese War, advancements in the 1910s improved their range to approximately 6,000 meters, comparable to the effective range of naval guns at the time. This sparked interest among naval strategists in the potential of torpedoes to complement traditional battle fleets. Torpedo boats had already seen use in the Imperial Russian Navy, but Iankov's idea was on an entirely different scale.
Inspired by designs from the United States and Germany, Iankov proposed a torpedo battleship armed with an astonishing 84 underwater torpedo tubes, along with numerous other unique features. However, his vision was ultimately deemed too eccentric for the Russian fleet and was rejected during the planning stage.
This video delves into the details of Iankov's innovative design. While the concept never progressed beyond the drawing board, it offers a fascinating glimpse into early 20th-century naval engineering and strategy. We’ll explore the specifics of the design as described by Stephen McLaughlin in his book "Russian and Soviet Battleships," and understand the intended role of this torpedo battleship in naval warfare.
Iankov's initial design sketches depicted a 15,000-ton warship equipped with twelve 130mm guns, several 47mm guns, and no fewer than 64 broadside-mounted underwater torpedo tubes. His second, more detailed sketch proposed a 22,000-ton ship with 84 torpedo tubes, ten 178mm guns in turrets, and twenty-eight twin 130mm guns in casemates. This vessel boasted formidable armor, with a 406mm main belt and a 102mm deck, designed to withstand close-range combat.
The design called for a top speed of 30 knots, powered by machinery generating 78,000 shaft horsepower on four shafts. Iankov also envisioned the ship as a high-capacity mine layer, capable of carrying around 700 mines. Despite initial interest, including support from the Baltic Sea Fleet's Commander, Vice Admiral Essen, the project ultimately stalled. The Naval General Staff felt that Russia needed a larger battle fleet to effectively utilize such a vessel, something it lacked at the time.
0:00 Intro
1:49 Background
3:12 Initial Designs
5:24 Recognition From the Fleet
6:49 The Final Design
7:44 Why it Was Rejected
9:17 Conclusion
Sources/Other Reading:
www.amazon.com/Italian-Battle...
www.amazon.com/Mussolinis-Nav...
www.usni.org/press/books/russ...
www.amazon.com/Warships-Sovie...
Video Information:
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