A WELL-PRESENTED MODEL FOR THE THIRD-RATE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN S...

Estimate

£2,000 - £3,000

A WELL-PRESENTED MODEL FOR THE THIRD-RATE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN SHIP OF THE LINE POBEDONOSETS [1809]

the 16in. planked and pinned hull with open stern gallery, mermaid relief figurehead, planked decks with fittings, including gratings, longboat, decklights, bound white-painted lower masts with fighting tops, yards with s'tun'sl booms, standing running rigging with box and tackle, Russian naval ensign and streamer, mounted to blue baize base within brass bound glazed display base -- 33½ x 40½ x 19in. (85 x 103 x 48cm.)

While many Russian designs were influenced by contemporary British designs, Pobedonosets stands alone in having been specifically designed in Great Britain for construction in Russia. Apparently no records exist regarding the circumstances behind her design and construction; but she would appear to have combined construction techniques coming into general use in Great Britain at the time (iron knees and diagonal framing), with the dimensions of a traditional 64 and the heavy armament allowed for by the Russian adoption of short-barrelled heavy guns on the Swedish pattern. Although she was never tested in combat, Pobedonosets served actively throughout the final stages of the Napoleonic War. She was decommissioned at the war's (first) ending in 1814, either as a result of her strenuous deployment or because she had no real place in the postwar Russian battle fleet. Although her dimensions were only slightly greater than those of the final purpose-built British 64s of the late 1780s, their armament was unprecedented by British standards, with short 24 and 36pdrs replacing the 18 and 24pdr long guns that were standard for British 64s, this weight of armament could not have been born without structural reinforcements. She was transferred to Sveaborg and hulked in 1822.

fine overall condition