 Tsesarevich 's most obvious design feature was her tumblehome hull . This had several advantages because it allowed greater freeboard since the narrow upper decks reduced the structural weight of the vessel 's hull , it increased the field of fire of guns mounted on the sides , and it reduced the ship 's roll in heavy seas . Its great disadvantage was that it reduced buoyancy and stability which contributed to excessive heel during turns . During the Battle of the Yellow Sea in August 1904 , Imperial Japanese Navy observers thought the Tsesarevich was going to capsize when she suddenly turned out of the battleline . 
