Austrian warship SMS Radetzky / year 1905 / Sea of China ?

[Didier Maistre]

(X-post : rec.collecting.postal-history and rec.collecting.stamps.discuss ;
FU2 : rec.collecting.postal-history )

Hello,

For postal history research :
I have been told that the austrian warship SMS Radetzky was operating in the Sea
of China during year 1905.
Does anyone has documentation to confirm that information ?

Thanks in advance,

[bc92]

Post by Didier Maistre
(X-post : rec.collecting.postal-history and
rec.collecting.stamps.discuss ;
FU2 : rec.collecting.postal-history )
Hello,
I have been told that the austrian warship SMS Radetzky was operating
in the Sea of China during year 1905.
Does anyone has documentation to confirm that information ?
Thanks in advance,

Hello Didier,
Around 1905, SMS Radetzky has to be the cruiser that was launched in
1872 and changed name (Adria) in 1908, when a (better known) new
Radetzky was built.
I found a mention on this page only,
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/cruisers2.htm
And they don't say she went to China, contrary to Kaiserin Elisabeth
that joined the german fleet in Tsingtao.
Indeed, Radetzky seems to have operated as a gunnery training ship since
1897, which makes it somewhat difficult to believe she was sent to
China.
However, nothing conclusive :-(

[Didier Maistre]

"bc92" <***@free.fr.invalid> a �crit dans le message de news:MBi2e.38919$***@nntpserver.swip.net...
| Dans le message news:42484a97$0$2126$***@news.free.fr,
| Didier Maistre a écrit:
| > (X-post : rec.collecting.postal-history and
| > rec.collecting.stamps.discuss ;
| > FU2 : rec.collecting.postal-history )
| >
| > Hello,
| >
| > For postal history research :
| > I have been told that the austrian warship SMS Radetzky was operating
| > in the Sea of China during year 1905.
| > Does anyone has documentation to confirm that information ?
| >
| > Thanks in advance,
|
| Hello Didier,
| Around 1905, SMS Radetzky has to be the cruiser that was launched in
| 1872 and changed name (Adria) in 1908, when a (better known) new
| Radetzky was built.
| I found a mention on this page only,
| http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/cruisers2.htm
| And they don't say she went to China, contrary to Kaiserin Elisabeth
| that joined the german fleet in Tsingtao.
| Indeed, Radetzky seems to have operated as a gunnery training ship since
| 1897, which makes it somewhat difficult to believe she was sent to
| China.
| However, nothing conclusive :-(
|
| --
| Cordialement,
| Bruno

Thanks Bruno.
A very interesting link indeed. I place it amongst my favorites.
It confirms my doubt : SMS Radetzky was not operating in the Sea of China in
1905.

Thanks,

[m***@fsmail.net]

Didier
Further to my previous reply - there is a world of difference between a
ship being stationed in a particular area and undertaking a tactical
reconnaissance at a particular time. It is entirely possible that a
gunnery training ship already at sea could be selected for a mission
such as I speculate about - in fact in view of experienced officers on
board ( ie Gunnery instructors) it would seem to be an entirely
suitable unit to be used to observe a big gun fleet action - should one
occur.
Please note that my comments are entirely speculative, but I would
definitely not write off the possibility as impossible given the
circumstances of the time where if an opportunity were to present
itself an emergency deployment would be likely.
Regards
Malcolm

[malcolm]

This was the period of the Russo Japanese war which culminated in the
defeat of the Russian Fleet by the Japanese upon its arrival from
Europe ( in 1905). This was the first major fleet action at sea using
modern battleships ( albeit pre-Dreadnoughts )- the Russian pacific
fleet having been already destroyed by the Japanese in harbour at
Vladivostock at the beginning of the war.
There was a great deal of interest by all the major naval powers in
these goings-on, and no doubt the ship you are referring to was acting
as "observer" ( spy??).Judging by the location and timing I would
speculate that this ship was "shadowing" the Russian fleet on its way
to Japan. The fact that this fleet was on its way was common knowledge
due to the fact that the fleet had opened fire on the British fishing
fleet in the North Sea, mistaking them for Japanese Torpedo Boats (
!?!?)
This was a period of major "sabre-rattling" culminating in World War 1,
and no doubt everyone was keen to see the capabilities of potential
friends and foes. Funny that the warring two nations finished up on the
same side while the Austrians ended up on the other.
There is a study group for the war. Their website is
www.russojapanesewar.com
I have not checked out the website for contacts etc, but possibly
someone there can assist.
Regards from UK
Malcolm