The Aral flotilla was created by Rear Admiral A.I. Butakov and was under his command until 1864 inclusively.
The base of the Aral flotilla was first the port of Raim (Aralsk), and then Kazalinsk. The staff of the flotilla on June 18, 1866 consisted of 13 officers and 344 lower ranks, and by 1879 increased to 15 officers, 15 free engineers and foremen and 597 lower ranks.
Because of the shallowness and variability of the fairway of the Syr Darya. Because of the shallowness and variability of the Syr Darya’s fairway, navigating it at night was dangerous and movement only occurred during the day. The distance from Chinaz to Perovsky fort steamboats covered in 8-14 days, and back – for 12-20 days; the way from Perovsky fort to Kazalinsk (Fort № 1) took 4 – 6 days down, and up – 6-12 days.
With the end of military expeditions in Central Asia, the Aral flotilla was abolished in 1883. Part of the ships and other property was sold on the spot, and some part was moved to Chardzhou City (since 1940 Chardzhou) and given to the Amu Darya Flotilla.
Sailing schooners
“Nikolay”. 2 guns. Length 11.73 m. Width 3.56 m. Draft 1.65 m. Built in 1847 in Orenburg. Is excluded from the lists of fleet ships on June 12, 1870.
“Konstantin”. 2 guns. Length 14,33 m. Width 4,88 m. The draught is 1,85 m. Built in 1848 in Orenburg. She was excluded from the lists of fleet ships on July 21, 1863.
Wheeled steamships
“Perovsky”. 5 guns. Length 35,81 m. Width 6,55 m. The draught 0,91 m. The displacement is 140 tons. Hull of iron. Machine of 40 nominal hp power. She was laid down in 1851 in Sweden on Mutal’s shipyard. She was launched in 1852. In 1853 she was delivered disassembled to Raim, where she was reassembled. In 1864 the new boilers were mounted. Excluded from the lists of fleet ships in 1883.
Armament for 1871: one 10-pounder copper “unicorn” of “new design” (frameless) on American loom and one 4-pounder rifled cannon.
“Obruchev”. 2 cannons. Length 21.34 m. Width 2.79 m. Draught 0.7 m. Displacement: 16 tons. Hull of iron. Machine of 12 nominal hp power. She was built in Sweden at the shipyard “Karlzund” in 1852. In 1853 she was delivered disassembled to Raim where she was reassembled. Excluded from the lists of fleet ships in 1883.
Armament: two 6-fn copper carronades.
“Aral“. Length 35.66 m. Width 7.1 m. Draught 0.6/0.9m (fore/aft). Displacement 149 tons. Crew of 40 people. Iron hull. Engine of 40 nominal horsepower. Mover – one rear wheel aft. Built in 1862 in England, Liverpool. Excluded from the lists of fleet ships in 1883.
Armament: two 10-pounder copper field “unicorns” of “new design” (frameless) on American looms.
“Syr Darya.” Length 29 m. Width 5.6 m. Draft 0.84/0.61 m (fore/aft). Displacement – 70 tons. Crew of 20 people. Iron hull. Vehicle has 20 nominal horsepower. Mover – one rear wheel aft. Built in 1862 in England, Liverpool. Excluded from the lists of fleet ships in 1883.
Armament: one 10-pounder copper field “unicorn” of “new design” (cameless) on American loom.
“Samarkand.” Length 45.72 m. Width 6.7 m. The draught 0,61 m. Displacement 154 tons. Crew: 2 officers, 50 lower ranks. Hull of iron. Machine of 70 nominal horsepower. Wheels normal lateral. She was built in 1866 in Belgium on “Kokkeril” shipyard. In 1881. Sank near Perovsky fort. She was excluded from the lists of fleet ships in 1883.
Armament by 1871: 2-10-fn copper field “unicorns” of “new design” (frameless) on American looms; 2-6-fn carronades; 2-4-fn rifled guns.
“Tashkent“. Length 31.93 m. Width 4.88 m. Draft 0.61/0.84 m (fore/aft). Displacement 86.5 tons. Machine power 35 nominal hp. Built in 1870 at the Votkinskiy plant. Excluded from the fleet in 1883.