HMS Russell

This is one of the six Duncan-class battleships which were commissioned at the beginning of the twentieth century. On 19 February 1903, it was put into service. The length of 132 metres, a width of 8 metres and a height of 23 metres. The drive was ensured by 24 steam boilers. It reached a speed of 19 knots. Armament – 4 guns 305 mm, 12 guns 152 mm, 4 torpedo tubes 450mm, 10 guns 76mm, 6 guns 47mm, and two machine guns. The crew consisted of 720 people. It was assigned sequentially to the Home fleet, Channel fleet, and the Atlantic fleet. On 30 July 1909, HMS Russell became a part of the Mediterranean fleet and was based first in Malta, and then in Gibraltar. Since September 1913, it was assigned to a fighter squadron of the Second Fleet. Already during World War I, it was incorporated into the third fighter squadron based at Scapa Flow since 08.08.1914. There, it participated in many missions and battles. Since the end of 1915 to January 1916, it took part in the Dardanelles Campaign. Later, it remained in the Mediterranean Sea. On 27 April 1916, in anticipation of the opportunity to enter the Grand Harbour of Malta, it was destroyed by two naval mines fired by a German submarine U73. A fire broke out in the stern, one 305mm cannon exploded and the battleship slowly began to sink. 98 crew members died. It lies at a depth of 115m at the height of the St. Elmo fort, four miles from the shore. The wreck was found in July 2003. It is inverted upside down. The stern damaged by the explosives is missing. Most of the weapons probably lie somewhere nearby Russell.

Warnings:

• Delicate and protected marine flora
• War Grave
• Unexploded Ordnance