While serving as a permanent workshop at Kronstadt Navy Base, she saw a lot of history go by. She witnessed the Russian Baltic fleet sail away to its destruction during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-1905, supported operations against the Germans (1914-1917) in the Great War, witnessed the Red Fleet arise during the Revolution, withstood the British during the Russian Civil War, survived the storming of Kronstadt by the Reds in 1921, lent her shops to the Red Banner Fleet against the Finns (1939-40) then the Germans again (1941-45).
In all, she spent 90 years on Russian rolls in one form or another.
After leaving navy service, she was in a variety of roles in and around Leningrad/St. Petersburg and in 2015, was found in floating condition, her internals still showing off those classic Civil War lines.
She has since been recovered by a group terming itself "The Foundation for Historic Boats", who , together with the Russian Central Military History Museum, are attempting to restore her to a more monitor-like condition.
She could very-well be the oldest monitor remaining afloat.
(From the looks of the recent picture of the ship I'd say they have a REALLY long way to go, but wish them a whole lot of luck.
--Old B-Runner
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