Varyag

The Varyag was a cruiser in the Imperial Russian Navy, launched in 1899. She was built in the United States at the William Cramp and Sons shipyard in Philadelphia. The Varyag was designed as an armored cruiser, intended for scouting and commerce raiding. She was armed with a formidable array of guns, including twelve 6-inch guns and numerous smaller caliber weapons. Her sleek design and relatively high speed made her a notable warship of her era.

The Varyag is most famously known for her role in the Russo-Japanese War. In February 1904, she was stationed at Chemulpo (modern-day Incheon), Korea. On February 9, 1904, a Japanese fleet attacked the Russian ships in the harbor, initiating the Battle of Chemulpo Bay. The Varyag, outnumbered and outgunned by the Japanese fleet, fought valiantly but was ultimately overwhelmed. To prevent her capture, her captain, Vsevolod Rudnev, ordered her scuttled.

The Japanese later raised the scuttled Varyag and refitted her for their own navy, renaming her "Sōtoku". She served with the Imperial Japanese Navy for several years, including during World War I, before being decommissioned and scrapped. The story of the Varyag's final stand became a symbol of courage and sacrifice in Russian naval history.