Novik

Ussr Cruiser

A competition was announced in 1898 to design a scout cruiser for the Pacific Ocean fleet. Preference was given to German shipyard Schichau. The completed ship had a top speed of 26 knots—it was incredibly fast for its type at the time. Between 1902 and 1903, the cruiser was transferred to the Far East, where she actively participated in hostilities when the Russo-Japanese War broke out. Having encountered cruiser Tsushima, Novik was scuttled by order of her commander, who had learned about approaching Japanese reinforcements. In 1906, the cruiser was salvaged and entered the Japanese Navy under the name Suzuya.