Russian/Soviet Battleship Gangut/Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya Country: Russia Type: Battleship Service: 1914 - 1956 Laid down: 3 June 1909 Launched: 24 September 1911 Completed: December 1914 Decommissioned: 1956

The Gangut-class were the first dreadnought-type battleships built for the Imperial Russian Navy. The ships were authorised by the Duma in 1908. Because of lack of experience the Russians asked several foreign yards for design advice. A convoluted design history involving Italian, German and British companies ensued. The ships were ordered in 1909. Four ships were built.

The ships were designed based on the lessons of the Russo-Japanese war as perceived by the Russians. Ganguts had a dispersed armour belt covering a much larger portion of the hull with thinner armour. The superstructure was significantly smaller due to war experience. Four triple 12 inch gun turrets were chosen as the main armament. The bow shape was adapted for Baltic conditions including extensive sea ice.

In the 1930s the three operational ships were extensively reconstructed with new oil-fired machinery and new anti-aircraft guns. The small superstructure was enlarged and a sea plane and catapult were added. An extensive modernisation programme was planned but cancelled on the outbreak of war. British radar was added during World War II. New bows were added to improve sea keeping and anti-torpedo bulges were added to some of the ships.

Gangut was an Imperial Russian warship giving its name to the Gangut class of battleships. She was built by the Admiralty Shipyard, Saint Petersburg, Russia. Later, after the Russian Revolution, Soviet authorities renamed the battleship Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya (27 June 1925) -- sometimes translated as October Revolution. As Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya, the battleship participated in the Winter War 1939-1940 as well as the defense of Leningrad during World War II. She remained in service postwar. After 1954 she was used as a training ship. In 1956 the battleship was decommissioned. She was scrapped in 1959.