 In 1916 the Russian government decided to reinforce its naval strength outside the Baltic and Black Seas . As Japan and Russia were allies during World War I , the Japanese government sold Sagami and some other ex @-@ Russian warships back to Russia in March . She arrived in Vladivostok on 3 April , where she re @-@ assumed her former name of Peresvet , and was classified as an armored cruiser two days later . The ship ran aground on 23 May while conducting trials and was refloated by the IJN on 9 July . Peresvet arrived at Maizuru Naval Arsenal for repairs on 30 July and sailed for European Russia on 18 October . She was intended to serve with the White Sea Fleet and paused en route in Port Said for machinery repairs at the beginning of 1917 . On 4 January 1917 , about 10 nautical miles ( 19 km ; 12 mi ) north of the harbor , the ship struck two mines that had been laid by the submarine SM U @-@ 73 . Holed forward and abreast one of her boiler rooms , Peresvet sank after catching fire . Losses were reported as either 167 or 116 men . 
