Rostislav is reported to displace 444 tons more than Victory despite having smaller dimensions. The heavier 36-pounder guns and additional crew seem insufficient to explain the whole difference, prompting suspicion that the figures were rounded upward to make the ship sound more impressive. Heavy construction is another possible explanation, particularly for an early first-rate design. That possibility remains open rather than establishing either figure as correct. A hull this heavy at the stated draught would also raise questions about buoyancy and operating clearance. The quoted draught is 6.55 metres, a constraint that matters in the Baltic's extensive shallows.
Notable Point · 8:40-11:43
Rostislav's disputed displacement and shallow Baltic draught
A reported 444-ton displacement advantage over the larger Victory raises questions about rounded figures, heavy construction, and Rostislav's 6.55-metre draught.