Specifications
The two Russian-built cruisers were 111m x 12.2m x 4.88m in size with a standard weight of 3,050 tons. They were armed with six 120 mm 45 caliber guns, six 47mm Hotchkiss 3-pounder guns, two 37mm Hotchkiss 1-pounder guns and three 356mm torpedo tubes. For propulsion the ships would carry 5/600 tons of coal to fuel their 16 coal-fired Yarrow boilers, which combined would give 19,000 horsepower through its three screws turbines. The ships could go a distance of 3,790 nautical miles if kept at 10 knots, while their top speed was 24 knots. They would be crewed by a complement of 334 hands. ==Service history==
Service history
Russo-Japanese War After the attack on Port Arthur on the night of 8 February 1904, which started the Russo-Japanese war Novik was the only ship to make a valiant effort and not be caught off guard. Novik would later be a part of the Battle of the Yellow Sea on 10 August 1904, however after outrunning her opponents for some time and aiding the escape of her comrades on other ships she was eventually cornered in Aniva Bay where the captain had her scuttled. However, the job was not done so well and eventually was refloated by the Japanese who would use Novik themselves for 6 years as the Suzuya. Zhemchugs fate As for Zhemchug, she would survive into World War I, when attached with the British Asiatic Fleet in Penang and a few French ships they were set upon in a surprise raid by the German cruiser on 28 October 1914. Zhemchugs main magazine store had been hit and she sank with 89 crew being killed and 143 wounded. Her commander was found negligent for being ashore with his mistress, with the magazine stores keys and having made no preparations. He would spend years in prison. ==References==