''Asia'' (Russian: ''А́зия'') was a cruiser of the

Imperial Russian Navy The Imperial Russian Navy () operated as the navy of the Russian Tsardom and later the Russian Empire from 1696 to 1917. Formally established in 1696, it lasted until dissolved in the wake of the February Revolution of 1917. It developed from ...

. The ship was originally the Philadelphia-built iron merchant steamship ''Columbus'' completed in 1874 The iron passenger-cargo steamship ''Columbus'' was built 1873/74 in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

William Cramp & Sons William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company (also known as William Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Building Company) of Philadelphia was founded in 1830 by William Cramp, and was the preeminent U.S. iron shipbuilder of the late 19th century. Company hi ...

as Yard No.184 for local shipowner William P Clyde & Co. ''Columbus'' was bought by Russia in May 1878, one of three

merchant ship A merchant ship, merchant vessel, trading vessel, or merchantman is a watercraft that transports cargo or carries passengers for hire. This is in contrast to pleasure craft, which are used for personal recreation, and naval ships, which are ...

s purchased in the United States to be transformed into naval cruisers: ''State of California'' became ''Europa'', ''Saratoga'' became ''Afrika'', and ''Columbus'' became ''Asia''. After initial conversion by her builders, Cramp, in Philadelphia, she was sailed to Russia by a Russian crew for further outfitting in

Kronstadt Kronstadt (russian: Кроншта́дт, Kronshtadt ), also spelled Kronshtadt, Cronstadt or Kronštádt (from german: link=no, Krone for " crown" and ''Stadt'' for "city") is a Russian port city in Kronshtadtsky District of the federal city ...

during 1878 and 1879. The cruiser saw initial duty in the Far East, but then returned to the Baltic. She was downgraded to Cruiser 2nd Class on 1 February 1892. The future Vice Admiral

Karl Jessen Vice Admiral Karl Johann Peter Jessen (russian: Карл Петрович Иессен, tr. ; 30 June 1852 – 30 November 1918) was a Baltic German admiral in the Imperial Russian Navy during the Russo-Japanese War. Biography Jessen was of Da ...

was her commanding officer in 1895 and 1896. In 1898 she received a new engine, increasing her power from to , and adding to her top speed. In August 1911, now rather obsolete, ''Asia'' was transferred to the reserve fleet. In October 1912 she was renamed ''Kaukas'' (Russian: "Кавказ"). Following the outbreak of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, she was once again renamed ''Asia'' on 11 September 1914, assigned to the Baltic Fleet's transport squadron and used as a

minelayer A minelayer is any warship, submarine or military aircraft deploying explosive mines. Since World War I the term "minelayer" refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines. "Mine planting" was the term for installing control ...

. The ship was deactivated in May 1918 and scrapped in 1923.

References

External links

* http://www.neva.ru./EXPO96/arm/azia.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Asia Steamships of the United States Passenger ships of the United States Cruisers of the Imperial Russian Navy Naval ships of Russia World War I cruisers of Russia Ships built by William Cramp & Sons 1873 ships