Russian frigate Oryol

The frigate Oryol (also Orel (Russian Орёл, German: Adler ) was a built in Russia warship Tsar Alexis I ordered the construction of the ship in order to protect the Russian merchant ships on the Caspian Sea, the Oryol was between 1667 and. . Although the Oryol in 1670 conquered and destroyed in 1669 built by the shipyard in Dedinovo on the river Oka. , it has lasting significance as a symbol of the birth of Russian naval power. the Oryol is often called the first Russian sailing ship Western European type considered.

Background and construction

During the 17th century, Russia and Persia developed closer economic relations. Trade goods were primarily cloth and silk. The shipment of goods was carried out over the Caspian Sea and the Volga, with Astrakhan as a trading center. This approach served the trade of Russia, Persia and Europe as a whole. In particular, Dutch and English traders were active on the route, and the German Adam OLEARIUS had been sent as an emissary from the Schleswig- Holstein - Gottorp.

To protect this growing market, Tsar Alexis I put on a Navy shipbuilding program. A shipyard was southwest of Moscow in Dedinovo, a town on the Oka in today's Moscow Oblast, built. The project was managed by the boyars Afanasij Lawrentjewitsch Ordin - Nashchokin. From Amsterdam experienced sailors were hired, and Cornelius van Bockhoiven, a living in Moscow Dutchman, was hired because of his shipbuilding knowledge. The Oryol was created along with a yacht and two smaller vessels. She was a three-masted sailing vessel, 24.5 meters long, 6.5 meters wide and displaced 250 tons. She had a crew of 23 sailors and 35 soldiers and was armed with 22 cannons.

About the external appearance little information is available. But in a ukase is described that the ship should have the name of Orel and to be that at the stern and bow ever mounted an eagle embroidered on the Flags eagle ..

The Oryol reached Astrakhan in August 1669 but never fulfilled their intended mission and probably never sailed on the Caspian Sea. The rebel Stenka Razin attacked at this time Russian cities. To protect Astrakhan crew and armament of the Oryol were commandeered for defense, while the ship is still at anchor. Some of the naval guns were brought to the citadel. When the Cossacks conquered the city in June 1670, they took the ship in possession, it burned or buried it in a river channel.