"Imperial Russian Baltic fleet shipyards" Topic

"Prior to the completion of St Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland in 1703, Russia's major commercial seaport to the West was Arkhangel'sk at the mouth of the Dvina River on the White Sea facing the bleakness of the Arctic Circle. The shipyard servicing Arkhangel'sk was the Solombala Yard located on the Solombala islands at the mouth of the North Dvina and opened in 1693. Arkhangel'sk was never fully eclipsed by the naval hub of St Petersburg as the major production centre for the Russian sailing navy and did not finally cease operation until 1859 with the launch of the paddle frigate Solombala.

Arkhangel'sk had significant advantages as a builder of sailing warships in spite of its wretched climate and its distance from central Russia. The northern larch and pine forests provided an abundant supply of cheap timber and the extensive river network flowing into the Dvina made its transportation to the shipyards easy and cheap. Meaningful price comparisons are difficult during this period, but the cost of the larch used for a Russian 74 in 1805 was worked out at £9,000.00 GBP–9,500 as compared to £48,000.00 GBP for the cost of properly seasoned timber for a 74 built in England at the same time. Arkhangel'sk had the additional advantage of having ready access to abundant iron ore deposits in the nearby Ural Mountains for the production of ordnance and other warship equipage. The shipyard was also sufficiently remote from the Baltic area as to be free from the likelihood of conquest by land or blockade by sea and the production of warships could continue unabated regardless of unfavourable military events to the south…"
Weapons and Warfare
link

Rakish Sloops and Ships with Teeth

link

Armand

Peter the Great studied to become a qualified shipwright.

B

Thanks!

Armand