The four battleships’ legacy endures in the annals of naval history, highlighting Russia’s shift from classic imperial power to revolutionary Soviet power.
The Gangut-class battleship, also known as the Sevastopol-class, represented a pivotal chapter in naval history as the first dreadnaughts constructed for the Imperial Russian Navy. Built in the early 20th century, these vessels transitioned into the Soviet Navy, serving through both World Wars and symbolizing Russia’s naval ambitions.
The Gangut-class—comprising the Gangut, Poltava, Petropavlovsk, and Sevastopol—blended innovative design for its era to better meet the challenges of the turbulent geopolitical times it was created in. Their story encompasses technological evolution, revolutionary upheaval, and wartime resilience, making them enduring icons of naval warfare.
The Gangut-Class Battleship’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 1914
- Number Built: 4
- Length: 594 ft
- Beam (Width): 88 ft
- Displacement: 23,360 tons standard; 25,850 tons full load
- Engines: Four Parsons steam turbines; 25 Yarrow boilers (52,000 shaft horsepower)
- Top Speed: 24 knots (27.6 mph, 44.4 km/h)
- Range: 3,200 nmi (3,700 mi, 5,900 km)
- Armaments: Six 120mm cannons; torpedo tubes
- Crew: 1,149
The Gangut Class Was Built to Avenge Russia’s Loss to Japan
In the wake of the Russian Empire’s humiliating defeat in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05), the Gangut-class was presented as the answer to many of Russia’s naval problems. In that war with the Empire of Japan, the obsolescence of the Russian Navy’s pre-dreadnought fleet was highlighted for the world to see.
Inspired by the British Royal Navy’s HMS Dreadnought launch in 1906, the Russian Admiralty initiated a design competition in 1907, receiving over 50 proposals from domestic and international sources. The final design, influenced by Italian engineer Vittorio Cuniberti and German firm Blohm & Voss, featured a linear arrangement of a dozen 12-inch guns in four triple turrets along the centerline, prioritizing broadside firepower and stability.
Construction on Russia’s Gangut-class started in June 1909 at St. Petersburg shipyards, but delays from funding disputes and design revisions pushed completions to late 1914. Tsar Nicholas II personally championed the project despite Duma opposition, underscoring their strategic importance.
During World War I, the Gangut-class battleships were assigned to the Baltic Fleet’s First Battleship Brigade, primarily defending the Gulf of Finland against potential German incursions. Harsh Baltic winters and the German High Seas Fleet’s dominance limited the Gangut-class battleships’ role in the war. Therefore, the Russian dreadnaughts were relegated to training, minelaying support, and only occasional sorties. Notable incidents included groundings, such as Sevastopol’s damage in 1916, and a minor mutiny on Gangut over food shortages.
The February Revolution of 1917 radicalized the crews, who participated in the Baltic Fleet mutiny and executed officers. Under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918, the ships undertook the perilous “Ice Voyage” from Helsinki to Kronstadt in order to evade German capture.
In the ensuing Russian Civil War, Petropavlovsk played a key role defending Kronstadt against British-backed White forces, bombarding forts and repelling torpedo boat attacks. Meanwhile, the Poltava suffered a catastrophic fire in 1919, rendering it inoperable, while the others were laid up due to crew shortages.
The Soviet Union Liked the Battleships, Too
Once the Russian Revolution successfully overthrew the tsarist government and supplanted it with the Soviet regime, the surviving Gangut-class battleships became key pillars in the new Soviet Navy.
Renamed to reflect Bolshevik ideals—Gangut to Oktyabrskaya Revolyusiya (1925), Petropavlovsk to Marat (1921), Sevastopol to Parizhskaya Kommuna (1921), and Poltava to Mikhail Frunze (1926)—these boats all underwent extensive refits. Modernizations in the 1920s-1930s included oil-fired boilers, enhanced anti-aircraft armaments (adding 76mm and 37mm guns), improved fire control systems, and anti-torpedo bulges for better stability. Parizhskaya Kommuna (formerly Sevastopol) was transferred to the Black Sea Fleet in 1929, receiving a clipper bow for better seaworthiness—though it endured storm damage en route. These upgrades extended the service lives of the warships, transforming them from outdated dreadnaughts into important capital ships for the nascent Soviet Navy.
In World War II, the Gangut-class battleships saw intense actions, despite their age. During the Winter War (1939-40), Marat and Oktyabrskaya Revolyusiya bombarded Finnish positions. With Operation Barbarossa in 1941 launched by Hitler against Stalin’s Soviet Union, Marat was crippled by Luftwaffe bombs in Kronstadt, sinking in shallow water. She was later salvaged and deployed as a floating battery, renamed Petropavlovsk in 1943, and supported the Soviet defenders during the Siege of Leningrad until 1944.
Oktyabrskaya Revolyusiya endured multiple bombings, aiding Soviet offensives in 1944. Parizhskaya Kommuna, in the Black Sea, provided gunfire support during the Siege of Sevastopol and evacuations, reverting to her original name in 1943. Mikhail Frunze, never fully repaired, was scuttled as a blockship in 1941.
After the war, the surviving warships were all decommissioned: Marat and Oktyabrskaya Revolyusiya were both scrapped in 1953, while Parizhskaya Kommuna was scrapped by the Soviet Navy in 1956.
The four battleships’ legacy endures in the annals of naval history, highlighting Russia’s shift from classic imperial power to revolutionary Soviet power. The experience of these warships also underscore the adaptability of early dreadnoughts.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, The Asia Times, and others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
