Fed 1, "Commander" 35mm Rangefinder, results from Russia

The cruiser Aurora, St Petersburg. Built in 1903 at Petersburg Aurora fought against the Japanese in 1905, it was not an especially successful naval encounter..but though mauled, Aurora stayed afloat and made it back home. Extensively rebuilt, including 14 new six inch guns, it went on to fight in World War 1. However, its most famous action was the firing of a blank shell in October 1917 to start the revolution, being the first ship to hoist the new red flag. It served until 1926 when it was relegated to training, for which role it was fitted with 100mm main guns. Germany invaded in 1941, one of the goals being Leningrad (formerly Petersburg). Guns from Aurora were removed and dug into the hillside on the approach to the city, where, manned by Aurora's crew, they played havoc with the German armoured advance for 7 days until all Aurora's crew were killed.

Meantime the main armament-free hulk was attracting considerable attention from the Luftwaffe, receiving over 1000 hits before eventually sinking in shallow water....with it's upper deck clear of the water, a fact that ensured it's continued attraction as a target for the Luftwaffe. Finally, at the end of the war the rotting hulk was raised, as it was blocking the harbour. Public opinion saved the ship from the scrap yard, instead, she was restored to the condition she was in at the time of the famous blank round shot, including the refitting of period six inch main armament. Aurora is now moored permanently in the harbour at St Petersburg (yes it's been renamed again!) as a memorial to her crew's revolutionary and wartime acts.

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