Russian Gunboat Korietz Handmade Wooden Model Ship

Operational history

Korietz was laid down in Stockholm, Sweden at the Bergsund Mekaniksa shipyards in December 1885, launched on August 7, 1886, and commissioned in 1888.

Assigned to service with the Russian Pacific Fleet in 1895, she was a frequent visitor to ports in Korea, Japan and northern China. During the Boxer Rebellion, she participated in the Eight-Nation Alliance attack on Taku Forts on June 1900. During this battle, she was hit six times by shells fired by the Chinese defenders, and suffered nine crewmen killed and 20 wounded.

Together with the cruiser Varyag, Korietz was dispatched from Port Arthur to the main Korean port of Chemulpo (modern-day Incheon) in early 1904 to protect Russian interests, as diplomatic tensions continued to increase between Russia and the Empire of Japan. After the Russian transport Sungari arrived at Chemulpo on 7 February 1904, reporting the sighting of a large Japanese force approaching, Korietz (under the command of G. P. Belyaev) was ordered to return to Port Arthur to report and request instructions. In the early morning of 8 February 1904, Korietz spotted Chiyoda outside the Chemulpo roadstead, and mistaking it for a fellow Russian ship, loaded its guns for a salute. On closing in, the crew of the Korietz realized their mistake and in the ensuing confusion the guns were discharged. Chiyoda responded by launching a torpedo. Both sides missed, but this was the first actual exchange of fire in the Russo-Japanese War, and it is highly unclear which side actually opened fire first. Korietz retreated back to Chemulpo harbor.

In the subsequent Battle of Chemulpo Bay, Captain Vsevolod Rudnev of the Varyag refused an ultimatum by Imperial Japanese Navy admiral Uryū Sotokichi to surrender, and on February 9, 1904 attempted to break through the Japanese squadron from Chemulpo to the open sea. Vastly outnumbered and outgunned, Korietz fired 52 rounds at the Japanese ships, but was at a distance that most of its shots did not even reach the Japanese fleet. Varyag took heavy damage; Korietz suffered from only light damage from shrapnel with no casualties. Unable to break past the Japanese squadron by mid-afternoon, Korietz and Varyag returned to Chemulpo harbor, where both took refuge near the neutral warships. At 1600 the same day, Korietz was scuttled by its crew by blowing up two ammunition magazines. The crew was taken aboard a French cruiser Pascal, taken to Saigon, French Indochina, and returned to Russia. In St. Petersburg all the officers were awarded the Order of St. George (4th class), the highest military decoration of the Russian Empire.

After the end of the Russo-Japanese War, the wreckage of Korietz was raised by Japanese engineers, and scrapped.

Second gunboat

There was a second gunboat named Korietz, laid down in 1906 at the Putilov Plant in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She was of the Gilyak class. At the end of the First World War she participated in the Battle of Moon Sound, but was blown up by her crew on August 8, 1915 in to avoid having to be surrendered to German forces.

HISTORY

The original Jeanie Johnston was bought by Tralee, Co. Kerry-based merchants John Donovan & Sons, as a cargo vessel and traded successfully between Tralee and North America for a number of years. The trading pattern was to bring emigrants from Ireland to North America, and then to bring timber back to Europe. In 2003 the replica Jeanie Johnston sailed from Tralee to Canada and the United States visiting 32 US and Canadian cities and attracting over 100,000 visitors. She took part in the Tall Ships Race from Waterford to Cherbourg in 2005 and finished 60th out of 65 ships. Other notable Irish tall ships or sail training ships are the Asgard II (lost in the Bay of Biscay in 2008), the Dunbrody, the Lord Rank (N.I.) and the Creidne (I.N.S.). The replica is currently owned by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority who bought it in 2005 for a reported 2.7 million Euro, which were used to clear outstanding loans on the vessel guaranteed by Tralee Town Council and Kerry County Council. From 2006 to 2008 she was operated on their behalf by Rivercruise Ireland. During that time she carried approximately 980 sail trainees and over 2,500 passengers, making regular visits to ports around Britain and Ireland, and also undertaking several trips to Spain each summer, often carrying voyage crew who intended to join the Camino de Santiago. In between these voyages she would offer day-sails in Dublin Bay. In early 2009 the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and Rivercruise Ireland could not reach agreement. DDDA then offered the Department of Defence use of the ship as a training vessel for free (as a replacement for the sunken Asgard II), but the offer was turned down. The Department of Defence declared the Jeanie Johnston unsuitable because of her lack of speed, her required crew size of 11 and her inability to participate in tall ships races. No alternative operator was found until mid-2010, when Galway-based company Aiseanna Mara Teoranta was appointed to operate the ship as a museum. In 2010, the ship was not in seagoing condition. In 2011, significant water damage was discovered, but repair work wasn't carried out until three years later since the DDDA claims it did not have the funding to dry dock the vessel. As of 2015, another 500,000 euro would be required to make the ship seaworthy and suitable for training.

• For some reasons if you wish to return the item, please consider not to open the item out of the wooden crate or open the item out of the styrofoam. You can open the carton box, lift up the whole wooden crate and check the models that are packed in wooden crate. For the items are packed in solid styrofoam, you can open the carton box, lift up the top part (styrofoam lid) and check the model. Please do not cut any strips or take the model out of the wooden crate or out of the styrofoam. It is very risky of damages to the item when you return if you open or remove the item out of the wooden crate or the styrofoam. We only accept and refund in full when the model return in good shape.

• Returned or exchanged products must be in brand-new, original condition, and have all original packaging, materials, and accessories .

• Buyer pays return shipping.

• 15% restocking fee might apply.

Return/ Exchange Policy

• For some reasons if you wish to return the item, please consider not to open the item out of the wooden crate or open the item out of the styrofoam. You can open the carton box, lift up the whole wooden crate and check the models that are packed in wooden crate. For the items are packed in solid styrofoam, you can open the carton box, lift up the top part (styrofoam lid) and check the model. Please do not cut any strips or take the model out of the wooden crate or out of the styrofoam. It is very risky of damages to the item when you return if you open or remove the item out of the wooden crate or the styrofoam. We only accept and refund in full when the model return in good shape.

• Returned or exchanged products must be in brand-new, original condition, and have all original packaging, materials, and accessories .

• Buyer pays return shipping.

• 15% restocking fee might apply.

Return/ Exchange Policy

• For some reasons if you wish to return the item, please consider not to open the item out of the wooden crate or open the item out of the styrofoam. You can open the carton box, lift up the whole wooden crate and check the models that are packed in wooden crate. For the items are packed in solid styrofoam, you can open the carton box, lift up the top part (styrofoam lid) and check the model. Please do not cut any strips or take the model out of the wooden crate or out of the styrofoam. It is very risky of damages to the item when you return if you open or remove the item out of the wooden crate or the styrofoam. We only accept and refund in full when the model return in good shape.

• Returned or exchanged products must be in brand-new, original condition, and have all original packaging, materials, and accessories .

• Buyer pays return shipping.

• 15% restocking fee might apply.