Russian cruiser Asia
| History | |
|---|---|
 USA | |
| Name | SS Columbus |
| Builder | Philadelphia |
| Laid down | 1873 |
| Completed | 1874 |
| Fate | Sold to Russia, May 1878 |
| History | |
 Russia | |
| Name | list error: <br /> list (help) Asia Kaukas (1912-1914) |
| Acquired | Purchased May 1878 |
| Reclassified | Cruiser 2nd Class, 1 February 1892 |
| Stricken | May 1918 |
| Fate | Scrapped in 1923 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cruiser |
| Displacement | 2,449 long tons (2,488 t) |
| Length | 82.3 m (270 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 10.7 m (35 ft 1 in) |
| Draught | 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) Steam engine, 1,200 hp (890 kW) After 1898 : Steam engine, 2,700 hp (2,000 kW) |
| Speed | list error: <br /> list (help) 12.5 knots (14.4 mph; 23.2 km/h) After 1898 : 15.7 knots (18.1 mph; 29.1 km/h) |
| Range | 9,600 nmi (17,800 km) |
| Complement | 11 officers and 207 men |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) • 3 × 152 mm (6 in) guns • 5 × 107 mm (4.2 in) 9-pounder guns • 4 × 25 mm (1 in) guns • 2 × 445 mm (17.5 in) torpedo tubes |
The Asia (Russian: А́зия) was a cruiser of the Imperial Russian Navy. The ship was one of three merchantmen purchased in the United States by the Russian government in 1878 to be transformed into cruisers; the State of California became the Europa, the Saratoga became the Afrika, and the Columbus became the Asia.
The steamship Columbus was built 1873/74 in Philadelphia and was purchased by the Russians in May 1878. She was sailed to Russia by a Russian crew and refitted in 1878-79 in Kronstadt.
The cruiser saw initial duty in the Far East, but then returned to the Baltic. It was downgraded to Cruiser 2nd Class on 1 February 1892. The future Vice Admiral Karl Jessen was her commanding officer in 1895 and 1896. In 1898 she received a new engine, increasing her power from 1,200 to 2,700 hp, and adding 2.2 knots (3 mph; 4 km/h) to her top speed.
In August 1911, now rather obsolete, the Asia was transferred to the reserve fleet. In October 1912 she was renamed Kaukas (Russian: "Кавказ"). Following the outbreak of the First World War, she was once again renamed Asia on 11 September 1914, assigned to the Baltic Fleet's transport squadron and used as a minelayer.
The ship was deactivated in May 1918 and scrapped in 1923.