Скачать или смотреть Some of History’s Worst Battleships

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the world’s naval powers raced to create battleships that could dominate the seas. From the Royal Navy to the Imperial Japanese Navy, shipyards churned out larger and more powerful vessels—but not every design hit the mark. In this video, we explore two of the most unusual and troubled battleship classes ever built: the French Brennus and the Russian Borodino-class. Both were ambitious, both were flawed, and both reflect the tumultuous era of experimentation that preceded the dreadnought revolution.

We begin with Brennus, France’s first foray into what could be called a pre-dreadnought battleship. Born from a period of deep naval debate and shifting priorities, Brennus was conceived during the height of the Jeune École movement, which favored torpedo boats over traditional capital ships. By the time France recommitted to battleship construction, Brennus was repurposed from a suspended ironclad project into something entirely new. The result was a ship packed with experimental features: a tumblehome hull, complex superstructure, and a mixed battery layout. But her most famous issue was her poor stability. On completion, she heeled over 28 degrees during trials—so severely that her guns dipped below the waterline. Massive design compromises, miscommunication between constructors and ministries, and constant alterations plagued her construction. While she saw service and influenced later French designs, Brennus became an enduring symbol of how rapidly innovation can outrun practical engineering.

Then we turn to the Imperial Russian Navy and its Borodino-class—five battleships based on the earlier Tsesarevich, a French-built vessel. Although intended as improvements on the original design, the Borodinos suffered from immediate weight issues and rushed construction. Modifications during the build process led to discrepancies in armor layouts, machinery, and balance. By the time of the Russo-Japanese War, these ships were overweight, overloaded, and carried low-lying gun batteries that flooded in heavy seas. Despite their size and firepower, the Borodinos were untested, incomplete, and ill-prepared for combat. Their poor performance at the Battle of Tsushima—where four out of five were lost—underscored their weaknesses in both design and doctrine.

What unites these two classes is more than just instability or rushed development. Brennus and the Borodinos represent the struggles of naval powers trying to innovate under pressure—whether political, technological, or strategic. They were built in an age when nations were still figuring out what a modern battleship should be. Their flaws teach us more than their firepower ever did.

If you’re interested in unusual warships, unstable giants, and the design battles that raged behind the steel, this video is for you. Like, comment, and subscribe for more naval history content, from forgotten cruisers to dreadnought disasters and everything in between.

Intro 0:00
Brennus 0:40
Borodino Class 11:43
Conclusion 20:09

Sources/Other Reading:

https://www.amazon.com/Mussolinis-Nav...

https://www.amazon.com/War-Mediterran...

https://www.amazon.com/French-Warship...

https://www.amazon.com/The-French-Fle...

https://www.amazon.com/French-Battles...

https://www.usni.org/press/books/russ...

https://www.amazon.com/Warships-Sovie...

https://www.amazon.com/Warship-2015-J...

https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Battleship...

Video Information:
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