Postcard (postcard) "Cruiser of the 2nd rank" Izumrud»»

Original pre-revolutionary postcard in very good collector's condition. I didn't get through the mail. Guarantee of authenticity.

"Izumrud" is a Russian armored cruiser of the "Pearl" type. The project was developed by specialists of the Nevsky Shipbuilding and Mechanical Plant on the basis of drawings of the cruiser "Novik", built by the German company "Schichau". The construction was carried out within the framework of the shipbuilding program of 1898 "for the needs of the Far East". It was laid down on the slipways of the Nevsky Shipyard on June 1, 1902, together with the same type of "Pearl". On the same day, the launch of the destroyer "Flawless"took place.

He took part in the Battle of Tsushima of the Russian-Japanese War as part of the Second Pacific Squadron (commander — Captain 2nd Rank V. N. Ferzen). During the battle, he successfully fired at the enemy, successfully maneuvering from Japanese shells, while receiving three hits without losses among the crew. The only cruiser that did not abandon the squadron after the battle, at night guarded the remnants of the Second Pacific Squadron from attacks by destroyers. On the second day after the Battle of Tsushima, the Japanese, having numerous superiority, surrounded the cruiser with a detachment of ironclads. Not having enough ammunition and coal, and also having severe damage, the remaining ships of the squadron decided to surrender. When the leading battleship raised the signal to surrender to the Japanese, the cruiser did not obey the order, broke out of order at full speed and broke out of the encirclement. I made my way alone to Vladivostok.

The commander of the ship, Captain 2nd rank Ferzen, who showed himself brilliantly during the battle and the breakthrough of the encirclement ring, already on the way to Vladivostok, succumbed to panic, began to behave inappropriately when approaching the shores of Russia. First, he demanded to change the course, which caused the ship to "slip" past Vladivostok for 180 miles, then incorrectly chose the course of the cruiser when entering the Gulf of Vladimir, which led to a landing on the rocks. Then, fearing the approach of enemy ships and not waiting for the tide to remove the ship from the rocks, I decided to destroy a completely serviceable ship and the team went on foot to Vladivostok. Perhaps the decision-making at that moment was influenced by nervous tension and the lack of rest for almost the entire crew. In the future, these actions of the commander of the ship were justified by the probability of mining the approaches to Vladivostok and the reluctance to surrender the ship to the enemy, who, perhaps, could pursue the cruiser going to Vladivostok.