Cruiser Aurora

The cruiser Aurora is arguably the most famous Russian Navy vessel and one of the “must-see” attractions on a shore excursion or guided city tour in St. Petersburg. The Aurora was made famous for its participation in the 1917 October Revolution and is currently the oldest commissioned ship in the Russian Navy.

Construction of the Aurora was started at the New Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg on May 23rd, 1897 and was launched on May 11, 1900. The cruiser was initially built to serve in the Far East of Russia, on the Pacific Ocean.

The Aurora was utilized for reconnaissance, destruction of enemy merchant ships, as a cover for battleships to attack enemy destroyers, and patrol service. It was also one of the first ships to employ anti-aircraft guns.

Besides viewing the ship, the museum includes more than 500 original documents, photographs, ship items, which tell the story of the cruiser and how the ship influenced the destiny of Russia.

Russian-Japanese War

On 27 and 28 May 1905, under the command of Rear-Admiral Oskar Enkvist, the Aurora entered the Battle of Tsushima and managed to escape destruction at the hands of the Japanese Navy, retreating to neutral Manila for safe harbor.

Aurora in 1903

The October Revolution

The October Revolution is what really made the Aurora famous. On October 25th, 1917, the Aurora was ordered out to sea but instead remained in the center of St. Petersburg. At approximately 9:45pm the Aurora fired a blank shot into the air, signaling the last chapter in the October Revolution, the assault on Winter Palace. The crew sided with the Bolshevik cause and took part in the attack and final piece of the October Revolution.

Aurora in 1916

World War II

From 1922 to 1940, the cruiser served as a specialized ship for training. During World War II, the guns were taken from the ship and used in land defence of St. Petersburg. During the “Siege of Leningrad” from 1941 to 1944, the Aurora cruiser was anchored in the Oranienbaum port (Lomonosov) and was repeatedly shelled and bombed. On September 30th, 1941, the ship’s hull was badly damaged and the cruiser sunk in the harbor. In July 1944, the cruiser was sent for repairs and in 1956 the Aurora became a museum.

Aurora Statistics

Class: 1st rank cruiser

Type: Pallada-class protected cruiser

Shipyard: New Admiralty, St. Petersburg

Laid down: May 23rd, 1897

Launched: May 11th, 1900

Commissioned: July 29th, 1903

Full load displacement: 6731 g

Length: 126.7 m

Width: 16.8 m

Draft: 6.2 m

Machine power: 11971 hp

Speed: 20.0 knots

Cruising distance: 4000 miles (7200 km)

Fuel: 964 tons of coal

Artillery armament (1917): 152 mm (Canet gun) — 14; 76.2 mm (Lender air-defense gun) — 6

Torpedo tubes — 3 (1 above water and 2 underwater tubes)

Weight of metal fired in one broadside: 267 kg per a salvo; 652 kg per a minute

Crew: 570 people (including 20 officers)

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This entry was posted on April 27, 2010 at 10:53 am.

Posted in the Attractions category