The Russian admiral Andrei Alexandrovich Popov (1) designed a circular ironclad named after him ‘popoffka‘. The circular shape was to obtain a stable gun platform. Heavily armed were those shallow-draught ships to be used on the black Sea an the Sea of Azov. There were only two built namely the Novgorod and the (Rear) Admiral Popov (ex-Kiel). In fact was this design a failure the ships were to slow and far from being stable.
On 15 October 1875 asked Stieltjes (2) the minister van war what his opinion was in using Popoffka’s for the defence of the large sea gates.(3) A similar question was on 22 October 1875 also asked in the Navy budget 1876 discussions.(4) Among the politicians whose signed the last question was also Stieltjes. The minister van war was indeed interested in floating batteries of the Popoffka type but referred to what his colleague (the minister of navy) said about this matter during the budget discussions. (5) This minister told the Parliament that with much interest the experiments in Russia with the circular armoured vessels was watched. However he could not say what their value was for the Dutch defence until he received from information. (6)
On 27 October 1876 asked several Parliament members (excluded Stieltjes) to get finally familiar with the results of the investigation executed if the Popoffka was suitable for defending the Dutch sea gates.(7) On 27 November 1876 asked T.J. Stieltjes in the budget 1877 discussions the minister if a floating fortress a so-called Popofka not a better alternative would be in stead of a land built fortress to defend Den Helder from the seaside.(8)
Despite the questions of several members of the Parliament was the popoffka or a similar design never introduced in the Royal Netherlands Navy or in the fortification system.
Notes
1. His name is in the literature also spelled Popof(f). Naval officer and engineer, (21 September 1821 Russia-6 March 1898 Russia), after the Crimean war appointed as supervisor over the building of Russian steam warships.
2. Thomas Joannes Stieltjes (19 May 1619 Leuven, Belgium-23 June 1878 Rotterdam, Netherlands) was a Dutch Parliament member (Liberal politician) but also a soldier and a water management engineer. In the Parliament was he export for fortresses and other defence affairs. He was the genius behind the expansion of the harbours in Fijenoord, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
3. Dutch Parliament papers IIe Kamer 1875-1876 no. 63 sub no. 6 budget 1876 for completing fortification system.
4. Dutch Parliament papers IIe Kamer 1875-1876 no. 2VI sub no. 23.
5. Dutch Parliament papers IIe Kamer 1875-1876 no. 63 sub no. 7 budget 1876 for completing fortification system.
6. Dutch Parliament papers IIe Kamer 1875-1876 no. 2VI sub no.24 Navy budget 1876.
7. Dutch Parliament papers IIe Kamer 1876-1877 no. 2VI sub no. 23 Navy budget 1877.
8. Dutch Parliament papers IIe Kamer 1876-1877 no. 2VIII sub no. 23 budget department of war 1877.
