Russian frigate Rurik (1851)

The "Rurik" (Рюрик) was a steam-powered frigate of the Imperial Russian Navy. She was ordered by the Senate of the Grand Duchy of Finland for the Finnish naval equipage "(Suomen Meriekipaasi)". She was named in honour of Rurik, the semi-legendary founder of ancient Russia.

"Rurik" was designed by Johan Eberhard von Schantz. [ [http://www.kansallisbiografia.fi/kenraalit/?gid=352 von Schantz, Johan Eberhard] fi icon] She was built in Turku by "Gamla Warfsbolaget i Åbo" [ [http://www.pori.fi/historia/sotalaivat.pdf Porin puiset sotalaivat] fi icon] and launched in October 1851. [ [http://digi.lib.helsinki.fi/sanomalehti/secure/showPage.html?action=page&type=mq&pageFrame_currPage=1&id=80910&conversationId=21&language=en "Åbo Tidningar" no 84] - October 31, 1851 sv icon] [ [http://digi.lib.helsinki.fi/sanomalehti/secure/showPage.html?action=page&type=mq&pageFrame_currPage=1&id=4854&conversationId=24 "Åbo Underrättelser" no 84] - October 31, 1851 sv icon] At the time of her construction she was the largest ship ever built in Finland. The Scottish shipwright William Crichton was invited to supervise her construction. [ [http://kieleke.net/juhku/kirjoitukset/satama/ Turun sataman historiaa] fi icon (English resume: "The imperial sloops of war from Pori")] He would later start his own company that would eventually take over shipbuilding in Turku as the Crichton-Vulcan shipyard.

Although financed by Finns, the ship ended up serving as an escort vessel to the Russian Imperial Yacht. She survived the Crimean War, and later served in the Russian Baltic Fleet.

ee also

* "Rurik" (1892) - armoured cruiser sunk at the Battle of Ulsan
* "Rurik" (1906) - Russian armoured cruiser built by Vickers

References