VARIAG, the armour-deck cruiser of the 1st rank, Russia, 1902.
FICHA TÉCNICA:
Nombre: VARIAG, 1:200, OREL
Código: ORE-0050
Fabricante: OREL
Hojas: 22
Escala: 1:200
Dificultad: difícil
Formato: A4
Otros: En inglés, alemán, ruso y polaco.
At the very beginning of the Russian-Japan War 1904-05 the cruiser "Variag" and the gunboat "Koreyets" were in the neutral Korean port Chemulpo at the disposal of the Russian Embassy in Seoul. There were also the ships of the other countries (England, France, the USA, etc.) in Chemulpo. In January 26 (February 8) 1904 the Japanese squadron of the rear admiral Uriu (1 armored cruiser "Asama" and 5 protected (light) cruisers "Naniva", "Niytaka", "Takachiho", "Chioda", "Akasi"; 8 torpedo boats; 1 dispatch boat "Chihaya") blocked up Chemulpo, aiming at covering the landing of troops (3 thousand men) and preventing the intervention of the "Variag". The same day the "Koreyets" departed to Port-Arthur, but on leaving the port it was attacked, whereupon it returned in the roads. In January 27 (February 9) the captain of the "Variag" Vsevolod Fedorovich Rudnev received the ultimatum from Uriu: to leave the port before 12 o'clock, otherwise the Russian ships would be attacked in the roads. Rudnev decided to break through to Port-Arthur, and in case of failure - to blow up the ships. At noon the "Variag" and the "Koreyets" went out from Chemulpo. The foreign captains did not expect from the Russian ship such a move. They were surprised and at the same time delighted at that action. The French and English ships met the majestically going "Variag" with the orchestra. The captains saluted to the Russian sailors. On going out from the port, in the distance of 10 miles, the ships met the Japanese squadron, standing beyond the Yodolmi Island. Uriu signaled offering to the Russian ships to yield, though, without receiving the reaction, opened fire. The unequal battle continued for 50 minutes. For that time the "Variag" fired 1105 shells against the enemy, the "Koreyets" - 52 shells (the artillery of the ship was weaker, so the "Koreyets" went into action in the end of the battle). On the captain's report, with the fire of the "Variag one torpedo boat was buried and 4 Japanese cruisers ("Asama", "Chioda", "Takachiho" and the flagship "Naniva") were damaged. The enemy lost approximately 30 men killed and 200 men injured. The "Variag" got 5 underwater holes and lost three 6-inch guns. The losses of the crew: 1 officer and 30 sailors killed, 6 officers and 85 sailors injured and contused, about 100 men more got slight wounds. The "Koreyets" had no losses. In Rudnev's opinion, the ship had no opportunity of going on with the battle, which was the reason for returning to Chemulpo. After the estimation of the gravity of damages, the guns and equipment left on it were deleted, the "Variag" was sunk by opening of the sea inlets, and the "Koreyets" was blown up