Russian destroyer Vsadnik

Vsadnik (Russian: Всадник) was a Gaidamak-class destroyer built for the Imperial Russian Navy during the first decade of the 20th century. Completed in 1906, she served in the Baltic Fleet and participated in the First World War.

History
Russian Empire
Name	Vsadnik
Builder	Germaniawerft, Kiel, German Empire
Laid down	2 April 1905
Launched	24 August 1905
Completed	June 1906
Stricken	18 October 1926
Fate	Scrapped, 20 July 1929
General characteristics (as built)
Class & type	Gaidamak-class destroyer
Displacement	750 t (740 long tons) (deep load)
Length	70.99 m (232 ft 11 in)
Beam	7.59 m (24 ft 11 in)
Draft	2.9 m (9.5 ft)
Installed power	3 Schulz-Thornycroft boilers 6,236 ihp (4,650 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 triple-expansion steam engines
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	623 nmi (1,154 km; 717 mi) at 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Complement	90
Armament	2 × single 75 mm (3 in) gun 6 × single 57 mm (2.2 in) guns 4 × single 7.62 mm (0.30 in) machine guns 3 × single 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes

Design and description

Vsadnik displaced 570 metric tons (560 long tons) at normal load and 750 metric tons (740 long tons) at full load. She measured 70.99 meters (232 ft 11 in) long overall with a beam of 7.59 meters (24 ft 11 in), and a draft of 2.9 meters (9 ft 6 in).^[1] The ship was propelled by two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam from three Schulz-Thornycroft boilers. The engines were designed to produce a total of 6,500 indicated horsepower (4,800 kW) for an intended maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph). During Vsadnik's sea trials, she reached 25.7 knots (47.6 km/h; 29.6 mph). The ship had enough coal to give her a range 623 nmi (1,154 km; 717 mi) at 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph). Her crew numbered 90 officers and men.^[2][3]

The main armament of the Gaidamak class consisted of two 50-caliber 75-millimeter (3 in) guns, one gun each at the forecastle and stern. Their secondary armament included six 57-millimeter (2.2 in) guns, three on each broadside.^[4] The forward pair was positioned on a sponson at the main deck level below the forecastle, firing through an embrasure. The forecastle was narrowed to allow the guns to fire directly forward. This installation proved to be very wet, especially at high speeds, and made the guns very difficult to work. The other guns were abreast the rear funnel and the mainmast. All of the guns were fitted with gun shields. They were also fitted with four single 7.62 mm (0.30 in) machine guns. The ships were equipped with three 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedo tubes in single rotating mounts. The forward mount was located between the funnels while the middle mount was to the rear of the aft funnel and the rear mount was between the mainmast and the stern gun.^[5][6]

In 1910–1911 the ships were rearmed with a pair of 102-millimeter (4 in) Pattern 1911 Obukhov guns that replaced the 75 mm guns. All of the 57 mm guns were removed; the sponsons were removed and the embrasures were plated over. A 37-millimeter (1.5 in) anti-aircraft gun was added and the ships were modified to lay 25 mines.^[6][4]

Construction and career

Vsadnik was laid down on 18 July 1904 by Germaniawerft at their shipyard in Kiel, Germany, and launched on 24 August 1905. She was completed in June 1906 and assigned to the Baltic Fleet.^[1]