PRINCIPIUM galley

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aukepalmhof
Posts: 7771
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

PRINCIPIUM galley

Post by aukepalmhof » Thu Nov 11, 2010 7:26 pm

The tragic failure of the first Azov campaign in the summer of 1695 forced Peter the Great to speed up the shipbuilding. On 3 April, 1696 three galleys were launched at a shipyard situated in the city of Voronezh. The first of them was named PRINCIPIUM that is “basis”, “beginning” which fully corresponded to that historical moment – the beginning of the Russian regular navy formation. During the second Azov campaign it was the great Russian tsar himself under the name of Peter Alekseev who was in command of the galley PRINCIPIUM.
The other two galleys were called St. MARK and St. MATTHEW. The two row-sailing 36-cannon ships were also granted their names in honor of the respected orthodox saints: “Apostle Peter” and “Apostle Paul”. While the Azov fleet was being built, there were neither significant victories, nor brave heroes nor battle traditions, and that was why the choice of names for the ships was at first limited mainly to the names of pillars of Orthodox Church.
The sea of Azov galleys were built in Moscow or by private yards on the River Don.

Five years before Peter I became Tsar, Russia had formed an alliance with the German Empire, Rzech Pospolita (the Kingdom of Greater Poland), and the City-State of Venice in order to oppose the Ottoman Turks. In 1695, during his first campaign against the Turks, Peter I quickly realized that Russia's free access into the Black Sea and Sea of Azov was not possible so long as the Turks held the Fortress of Azov.

In a protracted and ultimately disastrous attempt to capture Azov, the Russian forces were defeated: Azov was both well fortified and protected by the Turkish fleet. It now further became apparent that wresting Azov from the Turks depended upon the creation of a Russian naval fleet.

Consequently, at the Preobrazhenskoye and Voronezh shipyards, construction of a fleet of ships was undertaken in earnest in 1696. The shipbuilding proceeded quickly, and by the spring of that same year two warships, 24 galleys, four fire ships and over 1,400 smaller boats had been constructed and were ready for launching.

Peter I named his trusted confidante and chief advisor Franz Lefort commander and admiral of the Russian fleet. Under Lefort's command the Russian naval attack force proceeded down the Don River toward Azov.

The pride of the flotilla, and its most threatening vessel, was the Apostol Pyotr [Apostle Peter], a 34-gun combat frigate. Although shallow waters prevented piloting the Apostol Pyotr directly into the Sea of Azov, the frigate took part in the bombardment and blockade of the fortress.

On 20 May forty boats and galleys, commanded by Cossack Hetman [Chieftain] Frol Minyaev, sailed into the Sea of Azov in support of the Russian fleet. The Cossacks captured twelve Turkish vessels, laden with ammunition and provisions that were destined for the fortress.

By 3 June Azov was totally surrounded by Russian sea and land forces. Ten days later another Turkish fleet arrived to aid the beleaguered fortress; however, the Russian display of force appeared so formidable that the Turkish ships never joined the battle. On 18 July Azov surrendered.

The prototype of this galleys was built in Holland then shipped to Moscow.

PRINCIPIUM armed with three guns, 17 banks for rowers, was the flagship of Tsar Peter I.
This galleys had been built in great haste with unseasoned timbers she were unfit for service in 1699 and broken up after 1701.

Russia 1996 1000r sg6617, scott6342. sgMS1699, scott6346a. (the other warship is the ADMIRAL KUZNETZOV see index for her details.)


Source: http://rusnavy.com/history/naz.htm http://rusnavy.com/history/hml-e.htm#Peter
Russian Warships in the Age of Sail 1696-1860 by Tredrea and Sozaen.
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Anatol
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Re: PRINCIPIUM galley

Post by Anatol » Tue Apr 05, 2016 9:53 pm

Principium galley 1696.
Ambazonia(Federal Republic of the Southern Cameroons) 2013;500fcfa;SG?
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aukepalmhof
Posts: 7771
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: PRINCIPIUM galley

Post by aukepalmhof » Tue Jan 16, 2018 4:14 am

Russia 1996 1000R sgMS 6619, scott 6346a
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D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen
Posts: 871
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2010 7:46 pm

Re: PRINCIPIUM galley

Post by D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen » Sat Jan 20, 2018 2:52 pm

Length of Gundeck:38.10m. (125') Breadth:9.14m. (30') Depth of Hold:1.76m. (5' 9")
Complement:133.
Internet.
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