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Odessa Sights

The Tiger Frigate Cannon

Description

In the middle of the 19th century Russia waged another war with Turkey. France and England did not like that. However, tzar Nikolay I was for some reason assured that Russia's former allies against Napoleon would remain loyal. But he made a great mistake. The main hostilities were taking place to the south of Odessa, in the Crimea. Yet the city also had its share of war. However, for the enemies it got worse.

On the 10th of April, 1854, the united French and English squadron came to shell the city. However, 23 y.o. Ensign Schogolev, who was in charge of a coastal battery with four cannons, was able to resist 350 cannons of the squadron, and was later promoted to "lieutenant, first lieutenant and staff-captain". On the 30th of April the grounded English frigate Tiger was sunk after being shelled. The cannons from the ship were salvaged.

50 years later, to remember those events, the 4 ton cannon was installed on the carriage and put on the pedestal. Other exhibits rescued from the ship can be seen in the local history museum of Odessa.

During the shelling Vorontsov’s Palace and the monument to the Duke were hit. The cannon ball can be seen today in the pedestal of the monument. That cannon ball could have been fired from this very gun.

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A century after the formal opening of the monument, in 2004, the cannon was restored. The barrel and other parts of the 1847 cannon were restored for the first time, except for minor works in 1975. The cast iron surface was grounded, painted with primer and three layers of modern pain. There were discussion as to how to restore the carriage. One opinion was to make it look like old, another was to leave the wood light thus giving away the restoration. Finally, the carriage was processed with mordant and became dark gray as if directly from the sea bottom. The wood for the carriage was soaked in a special solution meant to protect it from insects and the environment. Siberian larch was used, the wood used in Venice.

On the 19th of August, 2004, the renovated cannon fired.

There is also another cannon monument in Odessa. Actually, it is the rival of the above cannon. It is one of the four cannons that Ensign Schogolev used agains the English and French ships in 1854. It was discovered at the port during construction works. Unfortunately, it was not restored and was placed in a museum at the marine passenger terminal as it is, just painted above.

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Location

Street Address

Dumskaya Squre, Odessa, Ukraine.

Geographical Positions

E30°44'38.2" N46°29'10" (E30.743944° N46.486111°).

Map

Last Update

2013.06.13.