GoW: Togo - Vladivostok Cruiser Squadron

GMT-RUS-015 

Vladivostok Cruiser Squadron

This set includes three Russian armoured cruisers: Rurik, Rossiya and Gromoboy

GMT-RUS-015 I / Rurik (Armoured cruiser)

Class: 2
Base length: 14 cm (included)
Colour scheme: Vladivostok squadron.
Number of units per pack: 1
Number of units on the base: 1
Number of ship cards included: 1 (protective sleeve included)

The Rurik armoured cruiser built in 1892, was named after the legendary Varangian warrior and founder of the Rurikid dynasty. The ship displaced nearly 11,000 tons and was armed with 4x203 mm guns, 16x152 mm guns, 6x120 mm guns, 6x47 mm guns, 10x37 mm guns, and 6 torpedo tubes. Her armament was often supplemented with 1-pounder guns.

The Rurik was designed for countering enemy shipping and was expected to have the ability to undertake long, independent voyages across the world’s oceans in various weather conditions.

Her armour, though thick, was of the "belt" type—narrow but thick strips protecting a limited portion of the ship's side. This soon proved inadequate. The heavy armament and thick armour, however, took a toll on the ship's maximum speed—only 18 knots, which was faster than contemporary battleships but ultimately too slow.

During the Russo-Japanese War, the Rurik was part of the Vladivostok squadron and participated in numerous raids against Japanese shipping, including the sinking of the Hitachi Maru. It was eventually sunk in the Battle of Ulsan by Japanese armoured cruisers.

Nevertheless, the Rurik would have been a valuable reinforcement for the Russian fleet, with strong firepower and durability, making her a significant threat to any enemy cruiser.

GMT-RUS-015 II / Rossiya (Armoured cruiser)

Class: 2
Base length: 14 cm (included)
Colour scheme: Vladivostok squadron.
Number of units per pack: 1
Number of units on the base: 1
Number of ship cards included: 1 (protective sleeve included)

The Rossiya armoured cruiser was commissioned into service in 1896. Although there were initially plans to build three ships of the Rurik class, it became clear that the Rurik's specifications were insufficient for the intended role. This led to the decision to design entirely new, larger units. The result was the Rossiya, followed by the Gromoboi shortly afterward.

The ship measured about 147 meters in length and displaced over 12,000 tons. Her primary mission was to conduct long-range raids against enemy shipping. The Rossia could achieve a speed of 19 knots and was armed with 4x203 mm guns, 16x152 mm guns, 12x75 mm guns, 20x47 mm guns, 18x37 mm guns, and 5 torpedo tubes.

While the armour of the Rossiya was relatively thick, the ship was not as evenly armoured as, for example, the famous Garibaldi-class cruisers. This was due to the role she was designed for in wartime—operating as a long-range raider.

In this role, the Rossiya was used during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, participating in actions such as the sinking of the Hitachi Maru and the Battle of Ulsan.

Her armament made it one of the most heavily armed Russian ships, posing a serious threat to any enemy cruiser. This makes her one of the most valuable vessels in the Tsar's fleet.

GMT-RUS-015 III / Gromoboy (Armoured cruiser)

Class: 2
Base length: 14 cm (included)
Colour scheme: Vladivostok squadron.
Number of units per pack: 1
Number of units on the base: 1
Number of ship cards included: 1 (protective sleeve included)

The Gromoboy armoured cruiser was commissioned into service in 1899. Although there were initially plans to build three ships of the Rurik class, it became clear that the Rurik's specifications were insufficient for the requirements. This led to the design of entirely new, larger ships. The Gromoboy was one of the results.

She measured about 147 meters in length and displaced over 12,500 tons. She was built to conduct long-range raids against enemy shipping. The Gromoboy could reach a speed of 19 knots and was armed with 4x203 mm guns, 16x152 mm guns, 24x75 mm guns, 12x47 mm guns, 18x37 mm guns, and 4 torpedo launchers.

Although her armour was relatively thick, she was not as evenly armoured as, for example, the famous Garibaldi-class cruisers. This was due to the role she was designed for in wartime—operating as a long-range raider.

In this role, the Gromoboy was used during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, participating in actions such as the sinking of the Hitachi Maru and the Battle of Ulsan.

Her armament made her one of the most heavily armed Russian ships, posing a real threat to any enemy cruiser. This makes her one of the most valuable units in the Tsar's fleet.

The models in the set are 3D-printed in resin and can be damaged if not handled properly. All models are unpainted. Glue and paint are not included in the set. The set contains small parts and is not intended for use by children under 14 years of age. Instructions on how to prepare the models for painting can be found here:

http://www.gmboardgames.com/blog/en/how-to-prepare-3d-printed-models-for-painting/