PILLAU

Sister ship:  ELBING

Notes:  These ships were laid down at Danzig (Gdansk) in 1912 for the Russian Navy, as the MURAVIEV AMURSKI and the ADMIRAL NEVELSKI.  When World War I broke out, they were taken over by the German Navy and renamed PILLAU and ELBING.  They were the first German light cruisers to receive the 5.9" gun as their main weapon; this proved to be of great benefit, and all German light cruisers received this upgrade.  PILLAU served throughout World War I with the Scouting Forces.  She was present at Jutland on 31 May 1916, where she took a single 12" hit from INFLEXIBLE; most of the force of the explosion vented outside the ship, but the chart house was wrecked, and splinter damage was extensive.  All six of her coal-fired boilers were knocked out, but PILLAU was still able to make 24 knots on the oil-fired boilers alone.  Four of her crew were killed and 19 were wounded.  Following repairs, PILLAU returned to her duties with the Scouting Forces.  After World War I, as part of the terms of the Armistice, she was ceded to Italy in 1921 and was renamed BARI.  She saw extensive service with the Italian Navy, and was refitted in 1934-35 for colonial service.  During this refit, some of the coal-fired boilers were removed, and the remainder refitted to burn oil.  Her forward funnel was removed, as well as the torpedo battery.  Due the refit, her maximum speed was reduced to 24.5 knots.  During World War II, 6-20mm AA guns were added.  Early in 1943, BARI was taken to Leghorn for conversion to an anti-aircraft cruiser; but before this was completed, she was sunk by aircraft bombs on 28 June 1943.  Salvage work was commenced, but on the Italian surrender, the remains of BARI were sabotaged to prevent her use by the Germans, who subsequently scrapped the wreck.

		Navis 44
		Navis 44n