Imperator Aleksandr III was a battleship built for the Imperial Russian Navy. The third and last of the three ship Imperatritsa Mariya-class (along with her sisters Imperatritsa Ekaterina Velikaya and Imperatritsa Mariya), she was launched 15 April 1914. Completion was delayed as effort was concentrated on her two more advanced sisters. Additionally, the delivery of her turbines from Britain was also delayed.
Renamed Volia (Freedom), she entered service on 17 July 1917. By this time, the Black Sea Fleet had become ineffective dure to the February 1917 Revolution and she saw no combat. On 1st of October 1918, she was handed to the Germans who commissioned her into the Imperial German Navy and manned her with the crew of the decommissioned dreadnought Rheinland. Several cruises were made, but she was not combat ready before Germany surrendered and she was handed to the British on 24 November 1918.
The Royal Navy sailed Volia to Izmit in Turkey. On 29 October 1919 she was sailed back to Sevastopol by a crew from the battleship HMS Iron Duke and turned over to the White Russians on 1 November. They renamed her General Alekseyev and carried out shore bombardments with only three of her of twelve guns operable. With the collapse of the White Russian armies in Southern Russia in 1920, the ship helped to evacuate the Whites from the Crimea to Bizerte, where she was interned with the rest of White Russian’s fleet. Negotiations to sell her to the Soviet Union fell through and she was sold for scrap in the late 1920s to pay her docking costs although she was not actually broken up until 1936.
Imperator Aleksander III fitting outImperator Aleksandr III in 1916Volia ex-Imperator Aleksander III, in 1917Volia ex Imperator Aleksander III, at Sebastopol in 1918Volia ex Imperator Aleksander III in 1917Volia ex Imperator Aleksander III in 1918 in ConstantinopleVolia ex-Imperator Aleksander III in Sevastopol with cruiser Pamiat’ Merkuria, and Evstafi, August 1918General Alekseyev ex Volia ex Imperator Aleksander III in 19201924 General Alekseyev due to lack of maintenance seriously began to rustGeneral Alekseyev ex Volia ex Imperator Aleksander III in 1922 interned in BizerteGeneral Alekseyev in 1936 being scrapped
Saukko (Finnish for European otter) was a Finnish submarine launched in 1930. Designed to operated from Lake Ladoga, her tonnage was limited to 100 tonnes by the Treaty of Tartu. In reality, she weighted 114 tonnes and never operated from the lake.
To enable rail transportation, she was able to be separated into several sections, including the removal of the conning tower.
During the Winter War (1939–1940) and the Continuation War (1941–1944), the submarine operated in the Gulf of Finland. Saukko was scrapped in 1952.
Saukko under construction 1930Saukko under construction 1930Saukko under construction 1930Saukko under construction 1930Saukko being launchedSaukko under construction 1930Saukko under construction 1930Saukko being prepared for launchSaukko under construction 1930Saukko under construction 1930Saukko under construction 1930Saukko under construction 1930Saukko being launched at Hietalahti shipyard, 2 July 1930Saukko being launched at Hietalahti shipyard, 2 July 1930Saukko shortly after being launchedSaukko shortly after being launchedLaunch of Saukko at Hietalahti shipyard Helsinky 2nd July 1930SaukkoVetehinen, Vesihiisi, Iku-turso and Saukko stripped of equipment at the Suomenlinna shipyard before being towed for scrapping abroad, Valmet
The lead ship of her class of two pre-dreadnought battleships, USS Kearsarge BB-5 was laid down on 30 June 1896. Launched on 24 March 1898, she was commissioned into the US Navy on 20 February 1900.
Her early career saw Kearsarge act as the flagship for the the North Atlantic Squadron. In June 1903, she sailed for Europe, visiting Germany and the United Kingdom, returning in July.
The Great White Fleet
On 16 December 1907 she sailed with the Great White Fleet on a world tour, returning to the US on 22 February. The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the group of United States Navy battleships that completed a journey around the globe from December 16, 1907, to February 22, 1909, by order of President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with various small escorts, and earned its moniker for the stark white paint on its hulls.
The fleet’s primary mission was to make friendly courtesy visits to numerous countries while displaying new U.S. naval power to the world; Roosevelt sought to demonstrate growing American military prowess and blue-water naval capabilities.
World War One
On her return from the Great White Fleet, Kearsarge was modernized from 4 September 1909 to 23 June 1915. The ship received cage masts, new water-tube boilers, and another four 5-inch guns. The 1-pounder guns were removed, as were sixteen of the 6-pounders.
During World War One, she acted primarily as a training ship on the Atlantic Coast.
Decommissioned in May 1920, Kearsarge was converted into a crane ship, and was given hull classification symbol IX-16 on 17 July 1920, but it was changed to AB-1 on 5 August. Her turrets, superstructure, and armor were removed, and were replaced by a large revolving crane with a lifting capacity of 250 tons (230 tonnes), as well as 10-foot (3.0 m) blisters, which improved her stability.
World War Two
On 6 November 1941, Kearsarge was renamed Crane Ship No. 1, allowing her name to be reused (originally for CV-12, which was later changed to Hornet and then for Kearsarge CV-33). She was sold for scrap on 9 August 1955.
4 × 13 in (330 mm)/35 caliber guns 4 × 8 in (203 mm)/35 caliber guns 14 × 5 in (127 mm)/40 caliber guns 20 × 6-pounders (57 mm or 2.2 in) 8 × 1-pounders (37 mm or 1.5 in) 4 × .30 in (7.6 mm) machine guns 4 × 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes
Armor
Belt: 5–16.5 in (127–419 mm) Barbettes: 12.5–15 in (318–381 mm) Turrets (primary): 15–17 in (381–432 mm) Turrets (secondary): 6–11 in (152–279 mm) Conning tower: 10 in (254 mm)
Under Construction
USS Kearsarge (BB-5) and Kentucky (BB-6) ready for launching at Newport News, Virginia, 24 March 1898USS Kearsarge (BB-5) and Kentucky (BB-6) ready for launching at Newport News, Virginia, 24 March 1898Kearsarge (BB-5) on 24 March 1898, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, VAKearsarge (BB-5) just prior to completionA view from the bridge of the Kentucky (BB-6) at the outfitting pier. USS Kearsarge (BB-5) is on the right
In Service
USS Kearsarge (BB-5) in 1899, while making 16.82 knots on trials off the U.S. East CoastUSS Kearsarge (BB-5) in drydock during her trials period, 18 September 1899USS Kearsarge (BB-5) underway during her shakedown periodUSS Kearsarge (BB-5) Starboard bow at wharf, 18 September 1899USS Kearsarge (BB-5) between 1898 and 1901USS Kearsarge (BB-5) seen in Kiel, Germany July 1903 passing the Kaiser’s yacht Hohenzollern.USS Kearsarge (BB-5) in 1903 leading the U.S. fleet past British battleships during a visit to EnglandUSS Kearsarge (BB-5) in 1903View of the forecastle of USS Kearsarge (BB-5), looking down between her main and secondary armament, circa 1904USS Kearsarge (BB-5) in drydock, about 1905USS Kearsarge (BB-5) being positioned in a drydock prior to pumping out the water, about 1905USS Kearsarge seen in the early 1900sUSS Kearsarge seen in the early 1900sUSS Kearsarge (BB-5) starboard view 1906USS Kearsarge seen in 1908 during the cruise of the Great White FleetUSS Kearsarge (BB-5) in drydock at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, 30 May 1908USS Kearsarge (BB-5) in Sydney Harbor, Australia, in late August 1908USS Kearsarge (BB-5) accompanied by small boats while underway between 1903 – 1909Receiving ship at the Philadelphia Navy Yard circa 1910. At right is USS Kearsarge (BB-5) which is having her new cage masts installedUSS Kearsarge (BB-5) anchored off New York City during the October 1912 naval reviewUSS Kearsarge (BB-5) October 1916 off BostonUSS Kearsarge (BB-5) at a naval review in the Hudson River on 27 December 1918USS Kearsarge (BB-5) in Middle West Chamber Gatun Locks, Going South 7 July 1919USS Kearsarge (BB-5) anchored off New York City during the late teens. Her secondary broadside guns have all been removedUSS Kearsarge (BB-5) in port and replacing damaged 13-inch guns
As U.S. Crane Ship No. 1 Kearsarge
Kearsarge (BB-5) at Philadelphia Navy Yard during her conversion to U.S. Crane Ship No. 1, 13 January 1921US Crane Ship No. 1 testing the 250 ton crane 27 October 1922USS Idaho (BB-42) being re-gunned at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, by Crane Ship No. 1 Kearsarge circa the later 1920sCrane Ship No. 1 Kearsarge is forth from left and and three piers away is USS Florida (BB-30) 1925Crane Ship No. 1 Kearsarge at South Boston Oct. 1925US Crane Ship No. 1 in dry dock at South Boston, Massachusetts, while undergoing repairs on 3 October 1925U.S. Crane Ship No. 1 alongside the North Approach Wall of the Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal, in 1926US Crane Ship No.1 passing through the Gaillard Cut, while transiting the Panama Canal during the 1920s or 1930sUS Crane Ship No. 1 AB-1 seen at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 1936U.S. Crane Ship No. 1 in Puget Sound, 1937Kearsarge (AB-1), aerial photograph by Naval Aviation Base, Coco Solo, and released 8 July 1938Kearsarge (AB-1) is moored next to the Alabama (BB-60) for lifting the 16 inch gun barrels into placeU.S. Crane Ship (AB-1) at sea, May 1944Kearsarge (AB-1) is seen in the background during a noon time bond rally at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in 1945US Crane Ship No. 1 is seen at Pier 8 of Boston Naval Shipyard in August 1948US Crane Ship No.1US Crane Ship No.1 in Navy Yard drydockUS Crane Ship No.1US Crane Ship No.1 in Navy Yard drydockU.S. Crane Ship No. 1 is seen at Pier 8 of Boston Naval Shipyard in August 1948Crane Ship No. 1 lifting a 120 ton crane from South Boston in November, 1948The raised trawler Lynn is seen alongside U.S. Crane Ship No. 1 5 September 1952
