Izmail

Ballistics

Armor Model

Overview

An international competition for the design of a combat ship for the Baltic Sea concluded in May 1912, but the Naval General Staff was impressed by some of the submitted sketches. The admirals were attracted by the prospect of increasing firepower with minor changes by adding another main battery turret. After determining the main characteristics, the Naval General Staff decided to merge the projects proposed by the Admiralty and Baltic Plants. The project was approved and sent for detailed working drawings in August 1912, and a month later, orders were issued for the construction of four ships. All four battlecruisers were laid down on December 6. 'Ishmael' was built at the Baltic Plant and launched in June 1915. Further construction of the ship proceeded slowly, mainly due to the shipyards being occupied with urgent military orders, and during the Civil War, it was completely frozen. By that time, the hull's readiness was about 100%, and the machinery and artillery—about 50%. In the 1920s, several projects were proposed to complete the ship, including as an aircraft carrier.