Name SS Columbus Laid down 1873 Length 82 m Draft 4.8 m | Builder William Cramp & Sons Completed 1874 Construction started 1873 Beam 10 m | |
Fate Sold to Russia, May 1878 Name Asia
Kaukas (1912-1914) | ||
Asia (Russian: А́зия) was a cruiser of the Imperial Russian Navy. The ship was one of three merchantmen purchased in the United States by the Russian government in 1878 to be transformed into cruisers; State of California became Europa, Saratoga became Afrika, and Columbus became Asia.
The steamship Columbus was built 1873/74 in Philadelphia and was purchased by the Russians in May 1878. She was sailed to Russia by a Russian crew and refitted in 1878-79 in Kronstadt.
The cruiser saw initial duty in the Far East, but then returned to the Baltic. She was downgraded to Cruiser 2nd Class on 1 February 1892. The future Vice Admiral Karl Jessen was her commanding officer in 1895 and 1896. In 1898 she received a new engine, increasing her power from 1,200 hp (890 kW) to 2,700 hp (2,000 kW), and adding 2.2 knots (4 km/h; 3 mph) to her top speed.
In August 1911, now rather obsolete, Asia was transferred to the reserve fleet. In October 1912 she was renamed Kaukas (Russian: "Кавказ"). Following the outbreak of the First World War, she was once again renamed Asia on 11 September 1914, assigned to the Baltic Fleet's transport squadron and used as a minelayer.
The ship was deactivated in May 1918 and scrapped in 1923.