Built as a ship of the line at Nikolaev, Ukraine by the shipbuilders I. Afanasiev and I. Sokolov in 1794, for the Russian Imperial Navy.
Launched under the name SVYATOY PAVEL, (Saint Paul)
Dimensions 54.9 x 15.3 x 6.1m. Two decks.
Armament 84 guns.
She carried a gilded figurehead of the Apostle Paul, her stern was decorated with a two-headed eagle, and above the stern windows of the upper gallery, and there was an embossed Sate Emblem.
She carried no top on the bowsprit, but only jibs and staysails. Carried also staysails between the masts.
She was the flagship of Vice-Admiral Fyodor F. Ushakov 1744-1817, based in the Black Sea.
When in 1798 Russia and Turkey became allies, after the French fleet seized Malta and Napoleon began his campaign in Egypt, the Russian Black Sea Fleet was allowed to pass the Bosporus to the Mediterranean.
1798 Vice Admiral Ushakov on board his flagship SVYATOY PAVEL with a Black Sea squadron passed the Bosporus and joined the naval forces of the Turkish Admiral Kadyr Bey, thereafter the combined fleet headed for the Ionian Islands at that time occupied by French.
The combined fleet of 10 ships of the line, including four Turkish. 9 frigates, including four Turkish and three Russian and 8 Turkish small warships.
Not long thereafter two ships of the line of the Russian Black Sea and three ships of the line and one frigate of the Baltic fleet joined Ushakov.
From December to November French fortifications were seized by troops of Ushakov fleet on the islands of Cerigo, Zante, Cephalonia and Saint Mauro, and the important Corfu fortress was blockade by the fleet.
Ushakov made a landing on Corfu and attacked Vido Island. On the morning of 18 February 1799 after a signal from his flagship SVYATOY PAVEL, seven ships of the line and ten frigates commenced bombarding the island coastal fortifications and batteries. The batteries were silenced and 2.000 assault troops stormed the island, capturing 422 French troops.
A damaged French warship the 54 gun LEANDER retreated to the walls of Corfu and the protection of the city batteries.
When the Russian-Turks force stormed the first fortifications of Corfu the situation became hopeless for the French commandant and the city captured. (As given on the Russian MS 6806 of 5Rb issued in 1999, see below.)
636 Guns and mortars were captured, also the LEANDER a frigate LA BRUIN and 14 small craft. 2.931 French troops were taken prisoner. Ushakov was after the victory promoted to the rank of Admiral.
After the victory the fleet was used to attack French supply routes and assist Allied forces in Italy, the towns of Brindisi, Mola and Bari were taken, and Ancona was blockaded.
On 3 June 1799 the Russian forces together with troops from Naples liberated Naples. In September Ushakov left Italy and sailed with course Malta, to assist the English navy to recapture the island still in de hands of the French troops, but the English troubled by the quick strengthening Russian force in the Mediterranean, refused the help of the Russian navy. Vice-Admiral Nelson the commander of the British fleet off Malta even attempted to dispatch Vice-Admiral Ushakov and the Russian forces to Egypt. At least an arrangement was reached between Nelson and Ushakov, to send a small Russian squadron to Egypt under command of Vice Admiral Victor Kartsov.
Ushakov was the senior of Nelson in rank, and in the attack on Malta, Nelson had to follow the Russian officers orders. The Malta attack did not take place and in the end of 1799 Vice Admiral Ushakov received orders to return to the Black Sea with his fleet.
I cannot find the fate of the SVYATOY PAVEL, and of she was used again after 1799.
1810 Out of service.
By the MS sg 6806 is given by http://www.marka-art.ru/catalogs/Stamps ... s_id=28930
The Mediterranean Campaign of the Russian Squadron (in corporation with the Turkish Navy) led by Admiral F.F.Ushakov took place in 1798-1800 when Russia, in coalition with England, Austria, Turkey, and other countries, was at war with Napoleonic France. The Squadron took the Ionic Islands at the Balkan Peninsula, and the island of Corfu, took part in the liberation of Southern Italy from the French troops.
The stamp and the margins of the sheet feature the landing of troops from the ships of the Squadron and the storming of the Corfu fortress in 1799. The successful storming of Corfu is a fine example of well-coordinated and planned efforts of the landing troops and the ships artillery of the Russian Squadron. The stamp also features ST PAUL (SVYATOY PAVEL), a flagship of the Ushakov,s Squadron.
In the left part of the margin there is a battleship of the Squadron, and in the right part there is a frigate, against the background landscape with the Corfu fortress (after a lithography of the 1790s). The stamp also features a portrait of F.F. Ushakov (after a lithography of the 19th century) and the text reads, “The 200th Anniversary of the Mediterranean Campaign of the Russian Navy led by Admiral Ushakov.
Bulgaria 1986, 30s sg3375, scott3199.
Russia 1987 5k sg5825, scott 5623b, the other ships are the SVYATOY NIKOLAY and the 3th Rate SIMEON AND ANNA.
Ukraine 2000 40k sg?, scott?
Source: http://www.1rss.com/pages_eng/st_pavel.htm http://www.neva.ru/EXPO96/book/chap6-1.html