The Russian Syr Darya Flotilla as described in 1873

An item mentioned that the first steamship sighted on the Sea of Aral was the Perovski (horsepower 40hp) launched around 1853 by admiral Butakof (10. Afterwards were the steamships Aral (horsepower 40hp), Syr Daria (horsepower 20hp) and Obroutchow and some barges and sloops. In 1866 was special attention paid to the Syr Daria flotilla and which was enforced by a steamship (horsepower 70hp, draught 2 feet, speed 11-12 miles, built by Messrs. Cockerill [and not Cockerell], Belgium and furthermore a ferry and 3-100 tons iron transport boats with a draught of 2 feet. A small naval establishment was to maintain the ships and for this purpose were the necessary equipment and men sent. Main problem for navigating on the Syr Daria was the supply of the coal which first had to come from the Don.(2)

Notes

1. Grigory Ivanovich Butakov (9 October Riga, Latvia-9 May 1882 St. Petersburg, Russia).

2. The Syr Darya or ancient name Jaxartes is a river in Central Asiaa flowing through Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan into the Aral Sea.

Source

Russian advances in Asia. Prepared at the topographical and statistical department war office, United Kingdom,1873, p. 57. 

The Russian Amu Daria Flotilla described in 1892

On the river Amu Daria is a flotilla (1) active consisting of the two large steamships Czar and Czaritsa and further more barges, boats and so on. The boats used everywhere were called kaiyuks and towed upstream by men or horses. There were several hundred of kaiyks which were all Khivan owned, flat-bottomed with as dimensions 35-50 length and 2-4 feet depth and could transport 1,000 poods [pounds?] cargo and 150 men. Every summer Kazalinsk was visited by around hundred boats coming from the river Oxus loaded with grain, fruit, timnber and from the Aral Sea limestone. The town Petro-Alexandrofsk in the Amu Daria section of the Syr Daria Province is a terminal station of the Amu Daria flotilla.

Note

1. Sometimes referred to as Oxus-flotilla which is the ancient name for the river Amu Darya in Central Adia flowing through Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

Source

Journal of the United Service Institution of India, vol. XXI, January 1892, no. 89 p. 224 and 254. 

Russian navy no longer responsible for the Amu Daria Flotilla in 1895

An item reported that the Amu Daria flotilla was transferred to the Russian Department of War and the vessels Czar, Czariza, Petersburg and Moskwa were stricken from te naval list. (1)

Note

1. The Amu Daria Flotilla was sometimes referred to as Oxus-flotilla which is the ancient name for the river Amu Darya in Central Asia flowing through Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

Source

Office of Naval Intelligence. General information abroad series No. XIV. Notes of the year’s naval progress. July 1895. Washington, USA, 1895, p. 59.

The Russian Amu Daria Flotilla on 1 July 1890

Established in 1888 numbered 2 steamships.(1)

Note

1. Sometimes referred to as Oxus-flotilla which is the ancient name for the river Amu Darya in Central Asia flowing through Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

Source

The Statesman’s Year Book 1892. Twenty-ninth annual publication. London, 1892, p. 885. 

The Russian Aral Sea and Amu Daria Flotillas described by E. Rae in 1875

Rae wrote that he was informed that the Russian Government ordered the building of 18 iron sloops for the Aral Sea flotilla and two armed steamships especially for service on the Amou Darya river.(1)

Note

1. The Amu Daria Flotilla was sometimes referred to as Oxus-flotilla which is the ancient name for the river Amu Darya in Central Asia flowing through Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

Source

Edward Rae. The Land of the North Wind or travels among the Laplanders and the Samoyedes. London, 1876, p. 348. 

The Russian Amu Daria Flotilla described by J. Knowles in 1889

Knowles wrote that the Russian empire moved her military centre in 1887 from Tashkent to Samarkand and that in June 1887 Kerki on the Oxus was occupied. The Oxus flotilla was established for transporting military from Tcharjui to the Afghan border.(1)

Note

1. The Amu Daria Flotilla was sometimes referred to as Oxus-flotilla which is the ancient name for the river Amu Darya in Central Asia flowing through Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

Source

James Knowles. Nineteenth century. A monthly review. Volume XXV. January-June 1889, p. 277. 

The Russian Amu Daria Flotilla described by G.N. Curzon in 1889

Curzon wrote that the Oxus flotilla had not been able to realize a good connection between Tcharjui and Kerki or Bosaga due to river navugation problems and that was chosen for a railway. The flotilla consisted of 5 vessels inluding the paddle steam ships Czar and Zaritsa of 165 tons, dimensions 150 x 23 x 2.5 (loaden) feet, horsepower of 500 hp and speed 16 miles in smooth water. The first one was launched in September 1887, costs 14,000l. Both ships with a crew of 30 men were able to transport 300 men and 20 officers. At hte moment was one active between Amu Daria and Petro Alexandrovsk just above Khiva and the other one upstream to Kerki.(1) In his reading ‘The Transcaspian Railway’ on 11 March 1889 said Curzon that the flotilla was partially constructed at Tcharjui.(1)

Note

1. The Amu Daria Flotilla was sometimes referred to as Oxus-flotilla which is the ancient name for the river Amu Darya in Central Asia flowing through Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

Sources

George N. Curzon. Russia in Central Africa in 1889 and the Anglo-Russian Question. London, 1889, p. 148-149 and 264.

Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and monthly record of geography. Volume 11, p. 290. 

Russian Amu Darya Flotilla handed over to the Republics of Bokhara and Khiva according to the Weekly Intelligence Summary No. 8 dated 25 February 1922

An item reported that the Russian Amu Darya Flotilla numbering 33 various vessels was divided over the Republics of Bokhara (1) and Khiva respectively 27 and 6 and to be used for transporting goods and passengers.

Notes

1. Former emirate of Bukharan which became a Russian protectorate in 1868. The Bukharan People’s Soviet Republic existed between 9 October 1920-17 February 1924, succeeded by the Bukharan Socialist Soviet Republic in 1924 and then the Uzbek Socialist Soviet Republic. Territory divided over Uzbekistan (mostly), Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

2. The former Khanate of Khiva since 1873 a Russian protectorate, between 2 February1920-1924 the Kohrezm People’s Soviet Republic and then incorporated into the Soviet Union. Territory divided over Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Source

The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-24-133-91

Uzbekistan Project 51150.2 gunboats

Uzbekistan Project 58150.2 Nukus gunboats 2012-