Petropavlovsk: The Soviet's Frankenstein Battleship

The Soviet battleship Jean Paul Marat, originally named Petropavlovsk, was one of the four Gangut-class battleships built for the Imperial Russian Navy. Completed in the early 1910s, the Gangut-class ships were designed to match the emerging super-dreadnoughts of the time. Armed with twelve 305 mm guns in four triple turrets, the Gangut-class ships represented a major leap in Russian naval capability. However, due to limited armor protection and relatively outdated design, they quickly became outclassed by newer battleships. After surviving the First World War and the Russian Civil War, Petropavlovsk re-entered service in 1922 under Soviet control and was renamed Marat. Throughout the 1920s and early 1930s, the ship underwent multiple modernizations, although many of these were minimal due to economic constraints. A more ambitious refit was undertaken starting in 1928, which included improvements to her fire control, superstructure modifications, and conversion to oil-fired boilers. These upgrades were intended to extend her operational life, although they did not entirely resolve underlying stability and vibration issues that plagued the vessel during trials. Marat participated in limited action during the Winter War against Finland, primarily bombarding shore positions with her main guns. As World War II unfolded, she and her sister ship October Revolution were stationed in the Baltic. Their movements became restricted due to extensive German minefields and fuel shortages in besieged Leningrad. The ship's fate dramatically changed on September 23, 1941, when German Stuka dive-bombers scored two direct hits with 1,000 kg bombs, detonating her forward magazines. The explosion obliterated the forward section, killing 326 crewmen and nearly splitting the ship in half. Despite this catastrophic damage, the Soviet Navy managed to refloat Marat in 11 meters of water and repurpose her as a stationary floating battery. She continued to serve in this capacity throughout the Siege of Leningrad, firing nearly 2,000 shells in defense of the city. By 1943, Soviet naval engineers were drafting plans for her full reconstruction. The initial proposal involved grafting the undamaged bow of Frunze (ex-Poltava) onto Marat, along with repositioning her third turret to replace the destroyed forward turret. The space gained amidships would be allocated for 130 mm dual-purpose guns and enhanced anti-aircraft defenses. The design also included new superstructures for improved fire control. However, budget constraints and shifting strategic priorities shelved this ambitious plan. A scaled-down reconstruction was later considered, which aimed to restore her as a coastal defense ship. The plan called for installing new superstructures, updating her anti-aircraft battery, and modifying her boilers for improved performance. Nevertheless, Soviet naval command ultimately canceled these plans in 1946, deeming them impractical in the post-war naval landscape. Renamed Volkhov in 1950, she served as a training vessel until being stricken from the Navy List in 1953 and scrapped soon after. Marat's story is emblematic of the Soviet Navy's struggle to modernize its fleet amid economic limitations and shifting military doctrines. Her service as a floating battery during Leningrad's defense remains a testament to Soviet ingenuity and determination in the face of overwhelming odds. Intro 0:00 Refit 0:39 WW2/Damage 10:14 Frankenstein Time 13:40 Conclusion 17:35 Sources/Other Reading: https://www.amazon.com/Italian-Battleships-Cavour-Classes-1911-1956/dp/1526799871 https://www.amazon.com/Mussolinis-Navy-Reference-Marina-1930-1945/dp/1591145449 https://www.usni.org/press/books/russian-and-soviet-battleships-0 https://www.amazon.com/Warships-Soviet-Fleets-1939-1945-III/dp/1399022814/ref=asc_df_1399022814/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=647295705344&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12876870193127060542&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016045&hvtargid=pla-1748739344084&psc=1&mcid=d903c450d40b31a190e09aba3b4f6d5c https://www.amazon.com/Warship-2015-John-Jordan/dp/1591146003 Video Information: Copyright fair use notice. All media used in this video is used for the purpose of education under the terms of fair use. All footage and images used belong to their copyright holders, when applicable.