Russian cruiser Zhemchug: Difference between revisions

|Ship image=[[File:Russian cruiser Zhemchug 01-after1909.jpg|300px]]

|Ship caption=Russian cruiser ''Zhemchug''

|Ship country=[[Russian Empire]]

|Ship class={{sclass-|Izumrud|cruiser|0}} [[protected cruiser]]

|Ship displacement={{convert|3103|LT|t|0|lk=in|abbr=on}}

*{{convert|110.95|m|ft|1ftin|abbr=on}} ([[waterline]])

*{{convert|111.30|m|ft|1ftin|abbr=on}} oa([[o/a]])

|Ship beam={{convert|12.202|m|ft|10|abbr=on}}

|Ship power=*{{convertcvt|17000|hpihp|kW|abbrlk=on}}

*8 × [[120mm 45 caliber Pattern 1892|{{convert|120|mm|in|abbr=on}}/L45]] [[Canet gun]]s in turrets

*4 × [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss|{{convert|47|mm|in|abbr=on}}/L43]] Hotchkiss guns

*4 × {{convert|457|mm|in|abbr=on|0}} [[torpedo tube]]s

*{{convert|32|-|76|mm|in|singadj=on|abbr=on}} on sloping [[Deck (ship)|deck]]

*{{convert|32|mm|in|singadj=on|abbr=on}} on [[Belt armor|belt]]

'''''Zhemchug''''' ({{lang-ru|Жемчуг}}, "Pearl") was the second of the two-vessel {{sclass-|Izumrud|cruiser|4}} of [[protected cruiser]]s built for the [[Imperial Russian Navy]]. She was sunk during World War I by the German [[light cruiser]] {{SMS|Emden|1908|2}} in the [[Battle of Penang]] in 1914.

''Zhemchug'' was ordered as part of the Imperial Russian Navy’sNavy's plan to expand the [[Russian Pacific Fleet]] based at [[Port Arthur naval base|Port Arthur]] and [[Vladivostok]] to counter the growing threat posed by the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] towards Russian hegemony in [[Manchuria]] and [[Korea]].

''Zhemchug'' was laid down at the [[Sredne-Nevskiy Shipyard|Nevsky Shipyards]] in [[Petrograd]], [[Russia]] in January 1901. However, construction was delayed due to priority given to completion of the {{ship|Russian cruiser|Novik|1900|2|up=yes}}. The ''Zakladka'', or formal ceremony of laying a plate, took place on 14 June 1902,<ref>''Kronstadtski Viestnik'', quoted in {{Cite newspaper The Times |articlenametitle=Naval & Military intelligence |day_of_week=Saturday |date=21 June 1902 |page_numberpage=12 |issue=36800| }}</ref> in the presence of [[Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia|Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich]].

She was launched on 14 August 1903, in the presence of [[Tsar]] [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]] and [[Dowager Empress]] [[Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark)|Maria Feodorovna]]. Construction continued to be plagued by delays, including flooding in November, and an ice storm in December. However, with the start of the [[Russo-Japanese War]] in early 1904, construction efforts were greatly accelerated. Mooring tests were completed by 26 July 1904 and speed trials were held on 5 August. ''Zhemchug'' was formally commissioned on 29 August 1904 and was assigned to the Second Pacific Squadron of the [[Russian Pacific Fleet]]. On 27 September 1904, she participated in a [[naval review]] off [[Tallinn|Reval]] attended by Tsar Nicholas II, and departed for the Far East the following day.

At the start of [[World War I]], ''Zhemchug'' was part of the [[Allies of World War I|Allied]] (British-French-Japanese) joint task force pursuing the [[German [[East Asia Squadron]] under Admiral [[Maximilian von Spee]], and operated in the [[Bay of Bengal]] together with the Imperial Japanese Navy cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Chikuma|1911|2}}.

''Zhemchug'' had put into Penang on 26 October for repairs and to clean her boilers; only one boiler was in service, which meant that she could not get under way, nor were her ammunition hoists powered. Against the advice of Admiral [[Martyn Jerram]], commander-in-chief of the Allied Fleet, Commander Cherkassov had given most of his crew shore leave, and left the ship with all torpedoes disarmed, and all shells locked away save for 12 rounds stowed on deck with only five rounds of ready ammunition were permitted for each gun with a sixth chambered.<ref>Staff ''Battle on the Seven Seas'', p. 128</ref>

On 28 October 1914, Commander Cherkassov was at the [[Eastern & Oriental Hotel]] in [[Georgetown, Penang|George Town]] with a lady friend. The remaining crew were having a party on board rather than keeping watch. The German light cruiser {{SMS|Emden|1908|2}} was disguised as a British warship and pulled alongside ''Zhemchug'' at a distance of {{convert|300|yd}}. At that range, ''Emden'' raised the Imperial German naval flag, firedlaunched a torpedo, and opened fire with her 10.5&nbsp;cm guns.<ref name=F11>Forstmeier, p. 11</ref> The torpedo hit near the aft funnel, blowing off the fantail of the cruiser and destroying the aft guns. To their credit, ''Zhemchug''{{'}}s crew managed to load and return fire with the front guns, but missed the German raider and struck a merchant ship in the harbor instead. ''Emden'' turned around and fired a second torpedo atthat struck the burning ''Zhemchug'' and fired a second torpedo that struck her at the conning tower, causing a tremendous explosion that tore the ship apart. By the time the smoke cleared, ''Zhemchug'' had already slipped beneath the waves, her masts the only parts of the ship still above water.<ref name=F14>Forstmeier, p. 14</ref> Cherkassov watched helplessly from shore as his cruiser was sunk. The sinking of ''Zhemchug'' killed 81 Russian sailors and wounded 129, of whom seven later died of their injuries. ''Emden'' afterwards sunksank the {{ship|French destroyer|Mousquet||2|up=yes}} which concluded the [[Battle of Penang]].

A court-martial held in Vladivostok found Commander Cherkassov guilty of gross negligence and sentenced him to 3.5 years in prison. His [[executive officer]], Lieutenant Kulibin, was sentenced to 18 months. In addition, both officers were stripped of their rank and decorations and were degraded from [[Russian nobility|nobility]] to become commoners. The sentences were later commuted to 18 months by Tsar Nicholas II, butas bothsending officersto werethe strippedfront ofas theirordinary rankseamen, decorationswhere and status as members of the [[Russian nobility]]. Bothboth men later distinguished themselves in combat and were decorated with the [[Cross of St. George]].<ref>{{iconin lang|ru}} V.V. Khromov (В.В. Хромов), ''Kreysera tipa "Zhemchug" (Крейсера типа «Жемчуг»)'', Morskaya Kollekcya 1/2005</ref>

A total of 12 Russian sailors are buried on [[Penang]] and [[Jerejak]]. The monument honouring the sailors of ''Zhemchug'' was twice renovated by Soviet sailors on 1972 and 1987 respectively. The battle was mentioned numerous times by [[Vladimir Putin]] on his 2003 presidential visit to Malaysia. The Russian embassy in Malaysia holds memorial services twice annually in honour of the fallen sailors.<ref name="ALK7">{{cite web|url=http://wunderwafe.ru/Magazine/Stapel/Zhem/06.htm|title=Tragedy in Penang|accessdate=26 August 2014}}</ref><ref name=JUI0>{{cite web|url=http://www.malaysia.mid.ru/press2012/r_002.html|title=Memorial service in Penang|accessdate=26 August 2014|archive-date=8 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708074351/http://www.malaysia.mid.ru/press2012/r_002.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* {{cite book|editor1-last=Gray|editor1-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–19051906–1921 |editoryear=1985 |location=RobertAnnapolis, GardinerMaryland|publisher=ConwayNaval MaritimeInstitute Press|location=Greenwich|year=1979 |isbn=0-831785177-0302245-45 |last=Budzbon|first=Przemysław |pages=291–325|chapter=Russia}}

*{{cite book|last=Watts|first=Anthony J.|title=The Imperial Russian Navy|publisher=Arms and Armour |location=London |year=1990|isbn=0-85368-912-1}}

[[Category:Victorian-era navalNaval ships of Russia]]

[[Category:Maritime incidents in October 1914]]