Броненосный крейсер 'Баян'/ Armoured cruiser "Bayan": 1900-1905

Броненосный крейсер 'Баян'
1900 - 1905
Armoured cruiser "Bayan"
1900 - 1905
Music: Imperial Russian March

The "Bayan" was an armoured cruiser built for the Imperial Russian Navy and the first of four in her class. The ship was built in France as there was no shipyard available in Russia. Laid down in February 1899, she was launched in 1900. She was completed in 1903 and made port visits to Greece, Italy and North Africa before sailing to Kronstadt. Together with the "Tsarevich" she was assigned to the First Pacific Squadron based at Port Arthur. She suffered minor damage during the Battle of Port Arthur at the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War. After bombarding Japanese positions in July 1904, the ship struck a mine and was out of action for the next several months. During the Siege of Port Arthur she was trapped in Port Arthur and became a target for Japanese guns. She was sunk at her moorings...
At the end of the war, the "Bayan" was refloated by the Japanese and renamed the "Aso"............