The Russian Imperial Navy

For naval buffs, the Imperial Russian Navy site is quite interesting (despite the awful backgrounds). Lots of small b & w pics and brief summaries on how Russia's navy played out Russo-Japanese war, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Crimean War. Also biographies of Russian Naval Commanders and a good summary of how actions the pacific (Korea, Japan, and China) affected Russia's foreign policy in general (see Associated and Related Documents) .

I was not aware that in the Russo-Japanese War, Russia "was the first country in modern times to attempt to utilize submarines in an offensive role". Apparently, Russia purchased American-built Holland submersibles back then. How interesting also that debate over the Kuril Islands has not ceased for nearly 200 years.