Russian cruiser Asia (1878)
 The Asia (Russian: А́зия) was a cruiser of the Imperial Russian Navy. The ship was one of three merchantmen purchased in the United States by the Russian government in 1878 to be transformed into cruisers; the State of California became the Europa the Saratoga became the Afrika and the Columbus became the Asia.The steamship Columbus was built 1873/74 in Philadelphia and was purchased by the Russians in May 1878.