Battleship ‘Volya’ (Freedom)

Shipyard: Mykolaiv. Laid Down: 17th October 1911. Launched: 15th April 1914. Commissioned: 15th June 1917.

When being constructed, it was named ‘Emperor Alexander III’. However, after the February Revolution, thanks to the position taken by its Ukrainian seamen the ship was renamed ‘Freedom’. In the summer of 1917 the ship completed its sea trials and entered active service of the Black Sea Fleet. It had become the most powerful ship in the Black Sea. On the 22nd November 1917 it raised the Ukrainian flag. Then in December 1917 in Trebizond (Trabzon) on the demands of Ukrainian seamen, the Commanders of the 5th Caucasus Corps were forced to order the return to Ukraine and the Ukrainization of two Divisions. Not long after, the ship was seized by the Bolsheviks. Nevertheless, on the 29th April 1918 the ship returned to Ukrainian control and, once again, raised the Ukrainian flag.

Battleship ‘Volya’ on the way to Trebizond, December of 1917

Displacement: 25,465 tonnes. Length: 168 metres. Beam: 27.4 metres. Hull: 8.3 metres.

Propulsion: 4 ‘Parsons’ steam turbine engines of 26,500 horsepower.

Max Speed: 21 knots. Complement: 32 officers and 1158 seamen.

Armour: belt 262–125 mm, upper belt 100 mm, deck 38–25 mm, gun turrets 250–125 mm, barbettes 250 mm, conning tower 254–127 mm.

Armaments. 12 guns – 305/52 mm, 20 guns – 130/55 mm, 4 Guns – 75 mm and 4 torpedo tubes 450 mm.