Five naval battles that ended in the complete defeat of the enemy. The largest naval battles

Naval battles of the Second World War: Pearl Harbor.

In 1939, the most important innovation in naval warfare was aircraft, which were used not only for reconnaissance purposes, as in 1916, but also as bombers and torpedo bombers - in other words, as carriers of weapons used to destroy the enemy. In the First World War, the radius of combat operations was determined by the range of the guns (18-20 km). But during the naval battles of the Second World War, everything depended on the flight range of the aircraft, i.e. ships could fight without seeing each other.

Classic examples of new methods of naval warfare are the British attack at Taranto on November 12, 1940 and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, where the main forces of the US Pacific Fleet were based during the Second World War. With the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Japan started the war in the Pacific. Causing enormous damage to the US fleet, destroying 8 battleships, 6 cruisers, 1 destroyer (3,400 people were killed and wounded). Thus, on the very first day of hostilities, Japan gained supremacy at sea, defeating the main naval base of the US Pacific Fleet in the central Pacific Ocean on the island of Oahu (Hawaii Islands).

The British attacked Taranto with the help of aircraft that took off from the aircraft carrier Illustries, which was located in the Adriatic Sea 170 miles from Taranto and 40 miles from Kefalonia (an island in the Ionian Sea, the largest

from the Ionian Islands). The Japanese planes that attacked Pearl Harbor took off from the aircraft carriers Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, Sokaku, and Zuikaku, located 230 miles from the island of Oahu in Pacific Ocean.

It is preferable to attack ships from the air from land bases rather than from aircraft carriers. The most striking and convincing example of this is the sinking of the British battleship Prince of Wales and the battle cruiser Repulse on December 10, 1941 near Malaya as a result of Japanese bombing from airfields in Indochina. Another example is a German Luftwaffe air raid from Sicilian airfields, which resulted in heavy casualties for British Navy convoys heading to Malta. Particularly memorable is the operation of August 12-15, 1942, when the convoy heading to Malta was escorted by the aircraft carriers Victoria, Indomitable and Eagle. The Eagle was sunk by the German submarine U-73 on August 11, and on the evening of August 12, a plane from the Sicilian base destroyed the Indomitable's runway deck.

The largest air and naval battles The Second World War took place in the waters of the Pacific Ocean between American and Japanese special forces, the composition of which was still determined by a large number of aircraft carriers.

The first naval battle where the ships did not see each other and did not fire was the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 6-8, 1942, during which the American and Japanese aircraft carriers Lexington and Soho were sunk. The Japanese aircraft carriers Soho, Sokaku, and Zuikaku and the American Yorktown and Lexington took part in this battle. The distance between the hostile fleets was about 200 miles. Probably the most significant naval battle in the Pacific Ocean was the so-called Battle of Midway on June 4-5, 1942 (Midway is an atoll in the Pacific Ocean, in the northwestern group of the Hawaiian Islands. Captured by the United States in 1867, since 1959 . part of the state of the Hawaiian Islands, occupies a favorable strategic position in the North Pacific Ocean). The Japanese aircraft carriers Soryu, Kaga, Akagi and Hiryu were sunk and

American Yorktown. The Japanese also lost the cruiser Mogami, 4 aircraft carriers, 250 naval aircraft and a huge number of technical and air group personnel, which led to problems with its replacement. During this World War II naval battle, Japanese aircraft carriers sent their aircraft from 240 miles away from targets in the Midway Islands, while American aircraft attacked Japanese ships from over 200 miles away.

War 1939-1945 was mainly a war of air-sea forces. But in some situations, the ships acted independently, however, their actions did not have the same significance as the collision of entire flotillas (such as near Jutland in 1916). A typical example is the pursuit of the German ships Bismarck and Prinz Eugen by the British fleet. These ships left Gdynia on May 18, 1941. Having rounded Iceland from the north, they were heading to the Atlantic. The British sent the battlecruiser Hood and the battleship Prince of Wales, plus the entire Inland Fleet, including the battlecruiser Repulse, from Scapa Flow. In the first collision, which occurred at the same latitude as Iceland, the Bismarck sank the Hood (0600 on May 24, 1941), firing from a distance of 18 kilometers. The second gun duel between the Bismarck and the battleships King George V and Rodney took place on May 27 at 8.30 from a distance of 15 kilometers. The Bismarck, which had already been damaged as a result of an attack by torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier Ark Royal on the evening of May 26, was turned into practically a floating wreck and was sunk two hours later by torpedoes from the cruiser Dorsetshire (10.36 on May 27, 1941). Despite the fact that aircraft were used in naval battles only for intermediate attacks, the experience of the war of 1939-1945. proved the uselessness of huge battleships and the urgent need for aircraft carriers. In addition to the use of aviation in the Second World War, it became possible to determine the location of the enemy in the worst visibility, day and night. The use of radar by the British Navy resulted in the loss of three Italian cruisers: Pola, Zara and Fiume on the night of March 28, 1941. Zara and Fiume were sent to help Pola, which was damaged by two torpedoes during an air raid. The Italian cruisers were unprepared for battle because they were not equipped to fire at night. Without hesitation, they entered the range of gunfire from the British battleships, which, having determined their location by radar, calmly waited until the enemy reached the position most suitable for shelling. The use of radar by the Germans' opponents was one of the reasons that German submarines lost the war over the Atlantic trade routes. By the way, before the introduction of radar, submarines remained practically invisible. During the day they were submerged and surfaced only at night (to recharge the batteries) when the human eye was unable to see them. In contrast, radar could locate submarines, allowing them to be attacked from the air, especially on their return - in the short distance between the Atlantic and the coasts of France and Germany.

The Battle of Gangut is a naval battle of the Great Northern War of 1700-1721, which took place on July 27 (August 7), 1714 at Cape Gangut (Hanko Peninsula, Finland) in the Baltic Sea between the Russian and Swedish fleets, the first naval victory of the Russian fleet in the history of Russia.
By the spring of 1714, the southern and almost entire central parts of Finland were occupied by Russian troops. In order to finally resolve the issue of Russia's access to the Baltic Sea, which was controlled by the Swedes, it was necessary to defeat the Swedish fleet.
At the end of June 1714, the Russian rowing fleet (99 galleys, scamps and auxiliary vessels with a 15,000-strong landing force) under the command of Admiral General Count Fyodor Matveevich Apraksin concentrated on the eastern coast of Gangut (in Tverminne Bay) with the goal of landing troops to reinforce the Russian garrison in Abo (100 km northwest of Cape Gangut). The path to the Russian fleet was blocked by the Swedish fleet (15 battleships, 3 frigates, 2 bombardment ships and 9 galleys) under the command of G. Vatrang. Peter I (Schautbenacht Peter Mikhailov) used a tactical maneuver. He decided to transfer part of his galleys to the area north of Gangut across the isthmus of this peninsula, 2.5 kilometers long. To fulfill his plan, he ordered the construction of a perevolok (wooden flooring). Having learned about this, Vatrang sent a detachment of ships (1 frigate, 6 galleys, 3 skerries) to the northern coast of the peninsula. The detachment was headed by Rear Admiral Ehrenskiold. He decided to use another detachment (8 battleships and 2 bombardment ships) under the command of Vice Admiral Lillier to strike the main forces of the Russian fleet.
Peter expected such a decision. He decided to take advantage of the division of enemy forces. The weather was also favorable to him. On the morning of July 26 (August 6), there was no wind, which is why the Swedish sailing ships lost their maneuverability. The vanguard of the Russian fleet (20 ships) under the command of Commander Matvey Khristoforovich Zmaevich began a breakthrough, bypassing the Swedish ships and remaining out of range of their fire. Following him, another detachment (15 ships) made a breakthrough. Thus, there was no need for relocation. Zmaevich's detachment blocked Ehrenskiöld's detachment near Lakkisser Island.

Believing that other detachments of Russian ships would continue to break through in the same way, Vatrang recalled Lilje’s detachment, thus freeing the coastal fairway. Taking advantage of this, Apraksin with the main forces of the rowing fleet broke through the coastal fairway to his vanguard. At 14:00 on July 27 (August 7), the Russian vanguard, consisting of 23 ships, attacked Ehrenskiöld’s detachment, which built its ships along a concave line, both flanks of which rested on the islands. The Swedes managed to repulse the first two attacks with fire from naval guns. The third attack was launched against the flanking ships of the Swedish detachment, which did not allow the enemy to take advantage of their artillery advantage. They were soon boarded and captured. Peter I personally participated in the boarding attack, showing the sailors an example of courage and heroism. After a stubborn battle, the Swedish flagship, the frigate Elephant, surrendered. All 10 ships of Ehrenskiöld's detachment were captured. Part of the forces of the Swedish fleet managed to escape to the Åland Islands.
The victory off the Gangut Peninsula was the first major victory of the Russian regular fleet. She provided him with freedom of action in the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia and effective support for Russian troops in Finland. In the Battle of Gangut, the Russian command boldly used the advantage of the rowing fleet in the fight against the linear sailing fleet of the Swedes, skillfully organized the interaction of the forces of the fleet and ground forces, reacted flexibly to changes in the tactical situation and weather conditions, managed to unravel the enemy’s maneuver and impose its tactics on him.
Strengths of the parties:
Russia - 99 galleys, scamps and auxiliary ships, 15 thousandth landing force
Sweden - 14 battleships, 1 provision ship, 3 frigates, 2 bombardment ships and 9 galleys
Military losses:
Russia - 127 killed (8 officers), 342 wounded (1 brigadier, 16 officers), 232 prisoners (7 officers). Total - 701 people (including 1 brigadier, 31 officer), 1 galley - captured.
Sweden - 1 frigate, 6 galleys, 3 skerries, 361 killed (9 officers), 580 prisoners (1 admiral, 17 officers) (of which 350 were wounded). Total - 941 people (including 1 admiral, 26 officers), 116 guns.

Battle of Grenham

The Battle of Grengam - a naval battle that took place on July 27 (August 7), 1720 in the Baltic Sea near the island of Grengam (southern group of the Åland Islands), was the last major battle Great Northern War.
After the Battle of Gangut, England, concerned about the growing power of the Russian army, formed a military alliance with Sweden. However, the demonstrative approach of the joint Anglo-Swedish squadron to Revel did not force Peter I to seek peace, and the squadron retreated to the shores of Sweden. Peter I, having learned about this, ordered the Russian fleet to be moved from the Åland Islands to Helsingfors, and several boats to be left near the squadron for patrolling. Soon one of these boats, which ran aground, was captured by the Swedes, as a result of which Peter ordered the fleet to be returned back to the Åland Islands.
On July 26 (August 6), the Russian fleet under the command of M. Golitsyn, consisting of 61 galleys and 29 boats, approached the Åland Islands. Russian reconnaissance boats spotted the Swedish squadron between the islands of Lameland and Fritsberg. Because of strong wind it was impossible to attack it, and Golitsyn decided to go to the island of Grengam in order to prepare a good position among the skerries.
When on July 27 (August 7) ​​the Russian ships approached Grengam, the Swedish fleet under the command of K.G. Shoblada, having 156 guns, unexpectedly weighed anchor and approached, subjecting the Russians to massive shelling. The Russian fleet began to hastily retreat into shallow waters, where the pursuing Swedish ships ended up. In shallow water, the more maneuverable Russian galleys and boats went on the attack and managed to board 4 frigates (34-gun Stor-Phoenix, 30-gun Venker, 22-gun Kiskin and 18-gun Dansk-Ern) ), after which the rest of the Swedish fleet retreated.
The result of the Battle of Grengam was the end of undivided Swedish influence in the Baltic Sea and the establishment of Russia on it. The battle brought the conclusion of the Nystadt Peace closer.
Strengths of the parties:
Russian Empire - 61 galleys and 29 boats
Sweden - 1 battleship, 4 frigates, 3 galleys, 3 skerry boats, shnyava, galliot and brigantine
Military losses:
Russian Empire - 82 killed (2 officers), 236 wounded (7 officers). Total - 328 people (including 9 officers).
Sweden - 4 frigates, 103 killed (3 officers), 407 prisoners (37 officers). Total - 510 people (including 40 officers), 104 guns, 4 flags.




Battle of Chesma

The Battle of Chesma is a naval battle on July 5-7, 1770 in Chesma Bay between the Russian and Turkish fleets.
After the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War in 1768, Russia sent several squadrons from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean to divert the attention of the Turks from the Black Sea Fleet - the so-called First Archipelago Expedition. Two Russian squadrons (under the command of Admiral Grigory Spiridov and the English adviser Rear Admiral John Elphinstone), united under the overall command of Count Alexei Orlov, discovered Turkish fleet on the roadstead of Chesme Bay (west coast of Turkey).
July 5, battle in the Chios Strait
After agreeing on a plan of action, the Russian fleet, under full sail, approached the southern edge of the Turkish line, and then, turning around, began to take positions against the Turkish ships. The Turkish fleet opened fire at 11:30-11:45, the Russian - at 12:00. The maneuver failed for three Russian ships: “Europe” overshot its place and was forced to turn around and stand behind “Rostislav”, “Three Saints” went around the second Turkish ship from the rear before it could get into formation and was mistakenly attacked by the ship “Three Hierarch" and "St. Januarius was forced to turn around before getting into formation.
"St. Eustathius, under the command of Spiridov, began a duel with the flagship of the Turkish squadron, Real Mustafa, under the command of Hassan Pasha, and then tried to board it. After the burning mainmast of the Real Mustafa fell on the St. Eustathius,” he exploded. After 10-15 minutes, Real Mustafa also exploded. Admiral Spiridov and the commander's brother Fyodor Orlov left the ship before the explosion. The captain of “St. Eustathia" Cruz. Spiridov continued command from the ship "Three Saints".
By 14:00 the Turks cut off the anchor ropes and retreated to Chesme Bay under the cover of coastal batteries.
July 6-7, battle in Chesme Bay
In Chesme Bay, Turkish ships formed two lines of 8 and 7 battleships, respectively, the rest of the ships took a position between these lines and the shore.
During the day of July 6, Russian ships fired at the Turkish fleet and coastal fortifications from a great distance. Fireships were made from four auxiliary vessels.
At 17:00 on July 6, the bombardment ship "Grom" anchored in front of the entrance to Chesme Bay and began shelling Turkish ships. At 0:30 he was joined by the battleship "Europe", and at 1:00 - by "Rostislav", in the wake of which the fire ships arrived.



"Europe", "Rostislav" and the approaching "Don't touch me" formed a line from north to south, engaging in battle with Turkish ships, "Saratov" stood in reserve, and "Thunder" and the frigate "Africa" ​​attacked the batteries on the western shore of the bay . At 1:30 or a little earlier (midnight, according to Elphinstone), as a result of the fire of the Thunder and/or Touch Me Not, one of the Turkish battleships exploded due to the transfer of flames from the burning sails to the hull. Burning debris from this explosion scattered other ships in the bay.
After the explosion at 2:00 of the second Turkish ship Russian ships ceased fire, and fireships entered the bay. The Turks managed to shoot two of them, under the command of captains Gagarin and Dugdale (according to Elphinstone, only Captain Dugdale’s fireship was shot, and Captain Gagarin’s fireship refused to go into battle), one under the command of Mackenzie grappled with an already burning ship, and one under the command of Lieutenant D. Ilyina grappled with an 84-gun battleship. Ilyin set fire to the fireship, and he and his crew left it on a boat. The ship exploded and set fire to most of the remaining Turkish ships. By 2:30, 3 more battleships exploded.
At about 4:00, Russian ships sent boats to save two large ships that were not yet burning, but only one of them, the 60-gun Rhodes, was taken out. From 4:00 to 5:30, 6 more battleships exploded, and in the 7th hour, 4 exploded simultaneously. By 8:00, the battle in Chesme Bay was over.
After the Battle of Chesme, the Russian fleet managed to seriously disrupt the communications of the Turks in the Aegean Sea and establish a blockade of the Dardanelles. All this played an important role in the conclusion of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty.
Strengths of the parties:
Russian Empire - 9 battleships, 3 frigates, 1 bombardment ship,
17-19 small craft, approx. 6500 people
Ottoman Empire - 16 battleships, 6 frigates, 6 shebeks, 13 galleys, 32 small vessels,
OK. 15,000 people
Losses:
Russian Empire - 1 battleship, 4 fire ships, 661 people, of which 636 were killed in the explosion of the ship St. Eustathius, 40 wounded
Ottoman Empire - 15 battleships, 6 frigates, a large number of small ships, approx. 11,000 people. Captured: 1 battleship, 5 galleys



Battles of Rochensalm

The first Battle of Rochensalm was a naval battle between Russia and Sweden, which took place on August 13 (24), 1789, in the roadstead of the Swedish city of Rochensalm and ended in the victory of the Russian fleet.
On August 22, 1789, the Swedish fleet with a total of 49 ships under the command of Admiral K. A. Ehrensvärd took refuge in the Rochensalm roadstead among the islands near the modern Finnish city of Kotka. The Swedes blocked the only Rochensalm Strait accessible to large ships, sinking three ships there. On August 24, 86 Russian ships under the command of Vice Admiral K. G. Nassau-Siegen launched an attack from two sides. The southern detachment under the command of Major General I.P. Balle distracted the main forces of the Swedes for several hours, while the main forces of the Russian fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Yu.P. Litta made their way from the north. The ships fired, and special teams of sailors and officers cut a passage. Five hours later Rochensalm was cleared and the Russians broke into the roadstead. The Swedes were defeated, losing 39 ships (including the admiral's, which was captured). Russian losses amounted to 2 ships. The commander of the right wing of the Russian vanguard, Antonio Coronelli, distinguished himself in the battle.
Strengths of the parties:
Russia - 86 ships
Sweden - 49 ships
Military losses:
Russia -2 ships
Sweden - 39 ships




The Second Battle of Rochensalm was a naval battle between Russia and Sweden, which took place on July 9-10, 1790 in the roadstead of the Swedish city of Rochensalm. The Swedish naval forces inflicted a crushing defeat on the Russian fleet, which led to the end of the Russian-Swedish war, which Russia had almost already won, on conditions unfavorable for the Russian side.
The attempt to storm Vyborg, undertaken by the Swedes in June 1790, was unsuccessful: on July 4, 1790, the Swedish fleet, blocked by Russian ships in the Vyborg Bay, escaped from encirclement at the cost of significant losses. Having taken the galley fleet to Rochensalm (the main composition of the sailing warships that survived the breakthrough of the Vyborg blockade went to Sveaborg for repairs), Gustav III and the flag captain, Lieutenant Colonel Karl Olof Kronstedt, began preparations for the expected Russian attack. On July 6, final orders for the organization of defense were made. At dawn on July 9, 1790, in view of the approaching Russian ships, the order was given to begin the battle.
Unlike the first Battle of Rochensalm, the Russians decided to break through to the Swedish raid from one side of the Rochensalm Strait. The head of the Russian rowing fleet in the Gulf of Finland, Vice Admiral Karl Nassau-Siegen, approached Rochensalm at 2 a.m. and at 9 a.m., without preliminary reconnaissance, began the battle - probably wanting to give a gift to Empress Catherine II on the day of her accession to the throne. From the very beginning of the battle, its course turned out to be favorable for the Swedish fleet, which was entrenched in the Rochensalm roadstead with a powerful L-shaped anchor formation - despite the significant superiority of the Russians in personnel and naval artillery. On the first day of the battle, Russian ships attacked the southern flank of the Swedes, but were driven back by hurricane winds and fired from the shore by Swedish coastal batteries, as well as Swedish galleys and gunboats at anchor.
Then the Swedes, skillfully maneuvering, moved the gunboats to the left flank and mixed up the formation of the Russian galleys. During the panicked retreat, most of the Russian galleys, and after them the frigates and shebeks, were broken by storm waves, sank or capsized. Several Russian sailing ships anchored in combat positions were boarded, captured or burned.
The next morning, the Swedes consolidated their position with a new successful attack. The remnants of the Russian fleet were finally driven away from Rochensalm.
The Second Battle of Rochensalm cost the Russian side about 40% of the Baltic coastal defense fleet. The battle is considered one of the largest naval operations (in terms of the number of vessels involved) in all of naval history; a larger number of warships - if we do not take into account the data from ancient sources about the battles of Salamis Island and Cape Eknom - took part only in the battle in Leyte Gulf on October 23-26, 1944.
Strengths of the parties:
Russian Empire - 20 battleships, 23 galleys and xebeks, 77 sloops of war, ≈1,400 guns, 18,500 people
Sweden - 6 battleships, 16 galleys, 154 sloops of war and gunboats, ≈1000 guns, 12,500 men
Military losses:
Russian Empire - more than 800 killed and wounded, more than 6,000 prisoners, 53-64 ships (mostly galleys and gunboats)
Sweden - 300 killed and wounded, 1 galley, 4 small vessels




Battle of Cape Tendra (Battle of Hajibey)

The Battle of Cape Tendra (Battle of Hajibey) is a naval battle on the Black Sea during the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791 between the Russian squadron under the command of F. F. Ushakov and the Turkish squadron under the command of Hasan Pasha. Happened on August 28-29 (September 8-9), 1790 near the Tendra Spit.
After the annexation of Crimea to Russia, a new Russian-Turkish war began. Russian troops launched an offensive in the Danube region. A galley flotilla was formed to help them. However, she could not make the transition from Kherson to the combat area due to the presence of a Turkish squadron in the western Black Sea. The squadron of Rear Admiral F.F. Ushakov came to the aid of the flotilla. Having under his command 10 battleships, 6 frigates, 17 cruising ships, a bombardier ship, a rehearsal ship and 2 fire ships, on August 25 he left Sevastopol and headed to Ochakov to connect with the rowing fleet and give battle to the enemy.
The commander of the Turkish fleet, Hasan Pasha, having gathered all his forces between Hajibey (now Odessa) and Cape Tendra, longed for revenge for the defeat in the battle of the Kerch Strait on July 8 (19), 1790. With his determination to fight the enemy, he managed to convince the Sultan of the imminent defeat of Russian naval forces on the Black Sea and thus earned his favor. To be faithful, Selim III gave the experienced admiral Said Bey to help his friend and relative (Hasan Pasha was married to the Sultan’s sister), intending to turn the tide of events at sea in favor of Turkey.
On the morning of August 28, the Turkish fleet, consisting of 14 battleships, 8 frigates and 23 other ships, continued to anchor between Cape Tendra and Hajibey. And suddenly, from the direction of Sevastopol, Hasan discovered Russian ships sailing under full sail in a marching order of three columns. The appearance of the Russians threw the Turks into confusion. Despite their superiority in strength, they hastily began to cut the ropes and retreat to the Danube in disarray. Ushakov ordered all sails to be carried and, remaining in marching order, began to descend on the enemy. The advanced Turkish ships, having filled their sails, moved away to a considerable distance. But, noticing the danger looming over the rearguard, Hasan Pasha began to unite with him and build a battle line. Ushakov, continuing to approach the enemy, also gave the order to rebuild into a battle line. As a result, the Russian ships “very quickly” lined up in battle formation in the wind of the Turks.
Using the change in the battle order that had justified itself in the Battle of Kerch, Fyodor Fedorovich withdrew three frigates from the line - “John the Warrior”, “Jerome” and “Protection of the Virgin” to provide a maneuverable reserve in case of a change in the wind and a possible enemy attack from two sides. At 15 o'clock, having approached the enemy within range of a grape shot, F.F. Ushakov forced him to fight. And soon, under powerful fire from the Russian line, the enemy began to duck into the wind and become upset. Approaching closer, the Russians attacked the leading part of the Turkish fleet with all their might. Ushakov's flagship ship "Rozhdestvo Khristovo" fought with three enemy ships, forcing them to leave the line.
By 5 p.m. the entire Turkish line was completely defeated. Pressed by the Russians, the advanced enemy ships turned their stern towards them in order to get out of the battle. Their example was followed by the rest of the ships, which became advanced as a result of this maneuver. During the turn, a series of powerful volleys were fired at them, causing them great destruction. Two Turkish flagship ships, located opposite the Nativity of Christ and the Transfiguration of the Lord, were especially damaged. On the Turkish flagship, the main topsail was shot down, the yards and topmasts were broken, and the stern section was destroyed. The fight continued. Three Turkish ships were cut off from the main forces, and the stern of the Hasan-Pasha ship was blown to pieces by Russian cannonballs. The enemy fled towards the Danube. Ushakov pursued him until darkness and increased wind forced him to stop the pursuit and anchor.
At dawn the next day, it turned out that the Turkish ships were in close proximity to the Russians, whose frigate Ambrose of Milan ended up among the enemy fleet. But since the flags had not yet been raised, the Turks took him for one of their own. The resourcefulness of the commander - Captain M.N. Neledinsky - helped him get out of such a difficult situation. Having weighed anchor with other Turkish ships, he continued to follow them without raising his flag. Little by little falling behind, Neledinsky waited until the danger had passed, raised St. Andrew's flag and went to his fleet. Ushakov gave the command to raise the anchors and set sail to pursue the enemy, who, having a windward position, began to scatter in different directions. However, the heavily damaged 74-gun ship "Kapudania", which was Said Bey's flagship, and the 66-gun "Meleki Bahri" lagged behind the Turkish fleet. The latter, having lost his commander Kara-Ali, killed by a cannonball, surrendered without a fight, and “Kapudania”, trying to break away from the pursuit, headed towards the shallow water that separated the fairway between Kinburn and Gadzhibey. The vanguard commander, captain of brigadier rank G.K., was sent in pursuit. Golenkin with two ships and two frigates. The ship "St. Andrey" was the first to overtake "Kapudania" and opened fire. Soon “St. George”, and after him - “The Transfiguration of the Lord” and several more courts. Approaching from the wind and firing a volley, they replaced each other.
Said Bey's ship was practically surrounded, but continued to bravely defend itself. Ushakov, seeing the enemy’s useless stubbornness, at 14 o’clock approached him at a distance of 30 fathoms, knocked down all the masts from him and gave way to the “St. George." Soon the “Rozhdestvo Khristovo” again stood broadside against the bow of the Turkish flagship, preparing for the next salvo. But then, seeing his hopelessness, the Turkish flagship lowered the flag. Russian sailors boarded the enemy ship, already engulfed in flames, first of all trying to select officers to board the boats. With heavy winds and thick smoke, the last boat, at great risk, again approached the side and removed Said Bey, after which the ship took off along with the remaining crew and the treasury of the Turkish fleet. The explosion of a large admiral's ship in front of the entire Turkish fleet made a strong impression on the Turks and completed moral victory, obtained by Ushakov at Tendra. The increasing wind and damage to the spar and rigging did not allow Ushakov to continue pursuing the enemy. The Russian commander gave the order to stop the pursuit and link up with the Liman squadron.
In a two-day naval battle, the enemy suffered a crushing defeat, losing two battleships, a brigantine, a lanson and a floating battery.
Strengths of the parties:
Russian Empire - 10 battleships, 6 frigates, 1 bombardment ship and 20 auxiliary ships, 830 guns
Ottoman Empire - 14 battleships, 8 frigates and 23 auxiliary ships, 1400 guns
Losses:
Russian Empire - 21 killed, 25 wounded
Ottoman Empire - 2 ships, more than 2 thousand killed




Battle of Kaliakria

Battle of Kaliakria - the last naval battle Russian-Turkish War 1787-1791 between the fleets of Russia and Ottoman Empire, which took place on July 31 (August 11), 1791 in the Black Sea near Cape Kaliakra (northern Bulgaria).
The Russian fleet under the command of Admiral Fyodor Fedorovich Ushakov, consisting of 15 battleships, 2 frigates and 19 smaller ships (990 guns), left Sevastopol on August 8, 1791, and at noon on August 11 discovered the Turkish-Algerian fleet under the command of Hussein Pasha, consisting of 18 ships of the line, 17 frigates (1,500-1,600 guns) and a large number of smaller ships anchored near Cape Kaliakra in northern Bulgaria. Ushakov built his ships in three columns, from the northeast, between the Ottoman fleet and the cape, despite the fact that there were Turkish batteries on the cape. Seit Ali, commander of the Algerian fleet, weighed anchor and headed east, followed by Hussein Pasha with 18 ships of the line.
The Russian fleet turned south, forming one column and then attacked the retreating enemy fleet. The Turkish ships were damaged and fled from the battlefield in disarray. Seit-Ali was seriously wounded in the head. Losses of the Russian fleet: 17 people were killed, 28 were wounded and only one ship was seriously damaged.
The battle brought the end of the Russo-Turkish War closer, which ended with the signing of the Treaty of Iasi.
Strengths of the parties:
Russian Empire - 15 battleships, 2 frigates, 19 auxiliary ships
Ottoman Empire - 18 battleships, 17 frigates, 48 ​​auxiliary ships, coastal battery
Losses:
Russian Empire - 17 killed, 28 wounded
Ottoman Empire - Unknown




Battle of Sinop

The Battle of Sinop is the defeat of the Turkish squadron by the Russian Black Sea Fleet on November 18 (30), 1853, under the command of Admiral Nakhimov. Some historians view it as the "swan song" of the sailing fleet and the first battle Crimean War. The Turkish fleet was destroyed within a few hours. This attack served as a pretext for Britain and France to declare war on Russia.
Vice Admiral Nakhimov (84-gun battleships "Empress Maria", "Chesma" and "Rostislav") was sent by Prince Menshikov to cruise to the shores of Anatolia. There was information that the Turks in Sinop were preparing forces for a landing at Sukhum and Poti. Approaching Sinop, Nakhimov saw a detachment of Turkish ships in the bay under the protection of 6 coastal batteries and decided to closely blockade the port in order to attack the enemy with the arrival of reinforcements from Sevastopol.
On November 16 (28), 1853, Nakhimov’s detachment was joined by the squadron of Rear Admiral F. M. Novosilsky (120-gun battleships “Paris”, “ Grand Duke Constantine" and "Three Saints", frigates "Kahul" and "Kulevchi"). The Turks could be reinforced by the allied Anglo-French fleet located in Beshik-Kertez Bay (Dardanelles Strait). It was decided to attack in 2 columns: in the 1st, closest to the enemy, the ships of Nakhimov’s detachment, in the 2nd - Novosilsky, the frigates were supposed to watch the enemy steamers under sail; It was decided to spare the consular houses and the city in general if possible, hitting only ships and batteries. For the first time it was planned to use 68-pound bomb guns.
On the morning of November 18 (November 30), it was raining with gusty winds from OSO, the most unfavorable for the capture of Turkish ships (they could easily run ashore).
At 9.30 in the morning, keeping the rowing vessels at the sides of the ships, the squadron headed for the roadstead. In the depths of the bay, 7 Turkish frigates and 3 corvettes were located moon-shaped under the cover of 4 batteries (one with 8 guns, 3 with 6 guns each); Behind the battle line there were 2 steamships and 2 transport ships.
At 12.30 p.m., on the first shot from the 44-gun frigate "Aunni-Allah", fire was opened from all Turkish ships and batteries.
The battleship "Empress Maria" was bombarded with shells, most of its spar and standing rigging were broken; at the mainmast only one shroud remained intact. However, the ship moved forward non-stop and, operating with battle fire at enemy ships, dropped anchor against the frigate "Aunni-Allah"; the latter, unable to withstand half an hour of shelling, jumped ashore. Then the Russian flagship turned its fire exclusively on the 44-gun frigate Fazli-Allah, which soon caught fire and also washed ashore. After this, the actions of the Empress Maria focused on battery No. 5.
The battleship "Grand Duke Konstantin", having anchored, opened heavy fire on battery No. 4 and the 60-gun frigates "Navek-Bakhri" and "Nesimi-Zefer"; the first was blown up 20 minutes after opening fire, showering debris and the bodies of sailors on battery No. 4, which then almost ceased to operate; the second was thrown ashore by the wind when its anchor chain was broken.
The battleship "Chesma" destroyed batteries No. 4 and No. 3 with its shots.
The battleship Paris, while at anchor, opened battle fire on battery No. 5, the corvette Guli-Sefid (22 guns) and the frigate Damiad (56 guns); then, having blown up the corvette and thrown the frigate ashore, he began to hit the frigate “Nizamiye” (64 guns), whose foremast and mizzen masts were shot down, and the ship itself drifted to the shore, where it soon caught fire. Then "Paris" again began to fire at battery No. 5.
The battleship "Three Saints" entered into battle with the frigates "Kaidi-Zefer" (54 guns) and "Nizamiye"; the first enemy shots broke his spring, and the ship, turning to the wind, was subjected to well-aimed longitudinal fire from battery No. 6, and its mast was badly damaged. Turning the stern again, he very successfully began to act on the Kaidi-Zefer and other ships and forced them to rush to the shore.
The battleship "Rostislav", covering the "Three Saints", concentrated fire on battery No. 6 and on the corvette "Feize-Meabud" (24 guns), and threw the corvette ashore.
At 1 ½ o'clock in the afternoon, the Russian steam frigate "Odessa" appeared from behind the cape under the flag of Adjutant General Vice Admiral V. A. Kornilov, accompanied by the steam frigates "Crimea" and "Khersones". These ships immediately took part in the battle, which, however, was already nearing its end; The Turkish forces were greatly weakened. Batteries No. 5 and No. 6 continued to harass the Russian ships until 4 o'clock, but the Paris and Rostislav soon destroyed them. Meanwhile, the rest of the Turkish ships, apparently set on fire by their crews, took off one after another; This caused a fire to spread throughout the city, and there was no one to put it out.
About 2 o'clock the Turkish 22-gun steam frigate "Taif", armament 2-10 dm bomb, 4-42 lb., 16-24 lb. guns, under the command of Yahya Bey, broke out of the line of Turkish ships, which were suffering a severe defeat, and fled. Taking advantage of the speed advantage of the Taif, Yahya Bey managed to escape from the Russian ships pursuing him (the frigates Cahul and Kulevchi, then the steam frigates of Kornilov’s detachment) and report to Istanbul about the complete destruction of the Turkish squadron. Captain Yahya Bey, who was expecting a reward for saving the ship, was dismissed from service and stripped of his rank for “inappropriate behavior.”
Strengths of the parties:
Russian Empire - 6 battleships, 2 frigates, 3 steamships, 720 naval guns
Ottoman Empire - 7 frigates, 5 corvettes, 476 naval guns and 44 on shore batteries
Losses:
Russian Empire - 37 killed, 233 wounded, 13 guns
Ottoman Empire - 7 frigates, 4 corvettes, >3000 killed and wounded, 200 prisoners, including Admiral Osman Pasha




Battle of Tsushima

Tsushima naval battle - a naval battle on May 14 (27), 1905 - May 15 (28), 1905 in the area of ​​Tsushima Island (Tsushima Strait), in which the Russian 2nd squadron of the Pacific Fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Zinoviy Petrovich Rozhdestvensky suffered a crushing defeat defeated by the Imperial Japanese Navy under the command of Admiral Heihachiro Togo. The last decisive naval battle Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905, during which the Russian squadron was completely defeated. Most of the ships were sunk or scuttled by the crews of their ships, some capitulated, some were interned in neutral ports, and only four managed to reach Russian ports. The battle was preceded by a grueling, unprecedented in the history of steam fleets, an 18,000-mile (33,000-kilometer) crossing of a large, varied ship's personnel, Russian squadron from the Baltic Sea to the Far East.


The Second Russian Pacific Squadron, under the command of Vice Admiral Z. P. Rozhdestvensky, was formed in the Baltic and was intended to reinforce the First Pacific Squadron, which was based in Port Arthur on the Yellow Sea. Having started its journey in Libau, Rozhdestvensky’s squadron reached the shores of Korea by mid-May 1905. By that time, the First Pacific Squadron had already been practically destroyed. Only one full-fledged naval port remained in the hands of the Russians in the Pacific Ocean - Vladivostok, and the approaches to it were covered by a strong Japanese fleet. Rozhestvensky's squadron included 8 squadron battleships, 3 coastal defense battleships, one armored cruiser, 8 cruisers, one auxiliary cruiser, 9 destroyers, 6 transports and two hospital ships. The artillery armament of the Russian squadron consisted of 228 guns, 54 of them with calibers ranging from 203 to 305 mm.
On May 14 (27), the Second Pacific Squadron entered the Korean Strait with the goal of breaking through to Vladivostok, and was discovered by the Japanese patrol cruiser Izumi. The commander of the Japanese fleet, Admiral H. Togo, by this time had 4 squadron battleships, 8 armored cruisers, 16 cruisers, 6 gunboats and coastal defense ships, 24 auxiliary cruisers, 21 destroyers and 42 destroyers, armed with a total of 910 guns, of which 60 had a caliber from 203 to 305 mm. The Japanese fleet was divided into seven combat detachments. Togo immediately began deploying his forces with the goal of imposing battle on the Russian squadron and destroying it.




The Russian squadron sailed along the Eastern Passage of the Korea Strait (Tsushima Strait), leaving Tsushima Island on the left side. She was pursued by Japanese cruisers, following in the fog parallel to the course of the Russian squadron. The Russians discovered the Japanese cruisers at about 7 am. Rozhestvensky, without starting the battle, rebuilt the squadron into two wake columns, leaving transports and the cruisers covering them in the rearguard.
At 13:15, at the exit from the Tsushima Strait, the main forces of the Japanese fleet (battleships and armored cruisers) were discovered, which were trying to cross the course of the Russian squadron. Rozhdestvensky began to rebuild the ships into one wake column. During the rebuilding, the distance between the enemy ships decreased. Having finished rebuilding, the Russian ships opened fire at 13:49 from a distance of 38 cables (over 7 km).
The Japanese ships returned fire three minutes later, concentrating it on the lead Russian ships. Taking advantage of the superiority in squadron speed (16-18 knots versus 12-15 for the Russians), the Japanese fleet stayed ahead of the Russian column, crossing its course and trying to cover its head. By 14:00 the distance had decreased to 28 cables (5.2 km). Japanese artillery had a higher rate of fire (360 rounds per minute versus 134 for the Russian), Japanese shells were 10-15 times more explosive than Russian shells, and the armor of Russian ships was weaker (40% of the area versus 61% for the Japanese). This superiority predetermined the outcome of the battle.




At 2:25 p.m., the flagship battleship “Prince Suvorov” broke down and Rozhdestvensky was wounded. Another 15 minutes later, the squadron battleship Oslyabya died. The Russian squadron, having lost its leadership, continued to move in a column to the north, changing course twice to increase the distance between itself and the enemy. During the battle, the Japanese ships consistently concentrated fire on the lead ships, trying to disable them.
After 18 hours, command was transferred to Rear Admiral N.I. Nebogatov. By this time, four squadron battleships had already been lost, and all the ships of the Russian squadron were damaged. Japanese ships were also damaged, but none were sunk. The Russian cruisers, traveling in a separate column, repelled the attacks of the Japanese cruisers; one auxiliary cruiser "Ural" and one transport were lost in the battle.
On the night of May 15, Japanese destroyers repeatedly attacked Russian ships, firing 75 torpedoes. As a result, the battleship Navarin sank, and the crews of three armored cruisers that lost control were forced to scuttle their ships. The Japanese lost three destroyers in the night battle. In the darkness, the Russian ships lost contact with each other and then acted independently. Under the command of Nebogatov, only two squadron battleships, two coastal defense battleships and one cruiser remained.
Some of the ships and Nebogatov’s detachment still tried to break through to Vladivostok. Three cruisers, including the Aurora, sailed south and reached Manila, where they were interned. Nebogatov's detachment was surrounded by Japanese ships and surrendered to the enemy, but the cruiser Izumrud managed to break through the encirclement and escape to Vladivostok. In the Gulf of St. Vladimir, he ran aground and was blown up by the crew. The destroyer Bedovy with the wounded Rozhdestvensky also surrendered to the Japanese.
On May 15 (28), one battleship, one coastal defense battleship, three cruisers and one destroyer, who fought independently, were killed in battle. Three destroyers were sunk by their crews, and one destroyer went to Shanghai, where it was interned. Only the cruiser Almaz and two destroyers broke through to Vladivostok. Overall, the Russian fleet lost Battle of Tsushima 8 squadron battleships, one armored cruiser, one coastal defense battleship, 4 cruisers, one auxiliary cruiser, 5 destroyers and several transports. Two squadron battleships, two coastal defense battleships and one destroyer surrendered to the Japanese.
Strengths of the parties:
Russian Empire - 8 squadron battleships, 3 coastal defense battleships, 3 armored cruisers (2 obsolete), 6 cruisers, 1 auxiliary cruiser, 9 destroyers, 2 hospital ships, 6 auxiliary ships
Empire of Japan - 4 1st class battleships, 2 2nd class battleships (obsolete), 9 armored cruisers (1 obsolete), 15 cruisers, 21 destroyers, 44 destroyers, 21 auxiliary cruisers, 4 gunboats, 3 advice notes, 2 hospital ships
Losses:
Russian Empire - 21 ships sunk (7 battleships), 7 ships and vessels captured, 6 ships interned, 5045 people killed, 803 wounded, 6016 captured
Empire of Japan - 3 destroyers sunk, 117 killed, 538 wounded

As a sign of memory of the three great victories of the Russian fleet - Gangut, Chesma, Sinop - Russian sailors traditionally wear three white stripes on their sails*.

* Guys - a large blue collar on a uniform - a sailor's outer cloth or linen shirt.

GANGUT SEA BATTLE.

The naval battle of the Great Northern War of 1700-1721, which took place on July 27 (August 7), 1714. at Cape Gangut (now Hanko) between the Russian fleet under the command of Admiral F.M. Apraskin and Emperor Peter I and the Swedish fleet of Vice Admiral G. Vatrang. Gangut is the first major victory of the Russian fleet. She raised the morale of the troops, showing that the Swedes could be defeated not only on land, but also at sea. The captured Swedish ships were delivered to St. Petersburg, where on September 9, 1714, a solemn meeting of the winners took place. The winners passed under triumphal arch. Peter I highly appreciated the victory at Gangut, equating it to Poltava. On August 9, in honor of this event, a holiday was officially established in Russia - Military Glory Day.

CHESMENSKY SEA BATTLE.

Naval battle in the Aegean Sea off the western coast of Turkey June 24-26 (July 5-7), 1770. between the Russian and Turkish fleets ended in the complete victory of the Russian fleet over the enemy, which was twice the number of ships of the Russian squadron, but was almost completely destroyed. The victory was achieved thanks to the right choice moment to deliver a decisive blow, surprise attack at night, well-organized interaction of forces, as well as high morale and combat quality personnel and the naval art of Admiral G.A. Spiridov, who boldly abandoned the formulaic linear tactics that were dominant at that time in the Western European fleets. The whole of Europe was shocked by the victory of the Russians, which was achieved not by numbers, but by skill. Today a naval museum dedicated to the victory at Chesma has been opened in St. Petersburg.

SINOPE SEA BATTLE.

Naval battle on November 18 (30), 1853 between the Russian squadron under the command of Vice Admiral P.S. Nakhimov and the Turkish squadron under the command of Osman Pasha. The Turkish squadron was heading to the Caucasus coast for a large landing. Along the way, she took refuge from bad weather in Sinop Bay. Here it was blocked by the Russian fleet. However, the Turks and their English instructors did not allow the thought of a Russian attack on the bay protected by strong coastal batteries. However, the Russian corrals entered the bay so quickly that the coastal artillery did not have time to inflict significant damage on them. During the four-hour battle, the artillery fired 18 thousand shells, which almost completely destroyed the Turkish fleet. Sinop victory became the result of a century and a half history of the Russian sailing fleet, since this battle was the last major naval battle of the era of sailing ships. With its victory, the Russian fleet gained complete dominance in the Black Sea and thwarted Turkish plans to land troops in the Caucasus.

The Black Sea Fleet was one of the most prepared formations of our army at the beginning of the war. The fleet included about three hundred ships and boats different classes. Among them are 1 battleship, 6 cruisers, 16 leaders and destroyers, 47 submarines. The Black Sea Fleet Air Force included 600 aircraft various types. The fleet had five bases: Odessa, Nikolaev, Novorossiysk, Batumi and the main one in Sevastopol.

Black Sea residents were among the first to enter the Great Patriotic War. Relying on surprise, at about 3 a.m. on June 22, 1941, enemy aircraft launched a massive air strike on the main fleet base, Sevastopol. The Germans' hopes of taking our sailors by surprise were not realized. The fleet was ready, and the ships were in full combat readiness. The attack was repulsed.

On June 25, 1941, Soviet naval forces, together with aviation, carried out a raid operation to shell Constanta, the main base of the Romanian fleet, which was an ally of the Germans. In total, during the battles on the Black Sea, three such raids were carried out. The second and third were committed in December 1942 and October 1943, respectively.

The fleet showed itself heroically in the defense of Odessa, Sevastopol and Novorossiysk. The Black Sea Fleet and the Azov Flotilla provided fire support to the defending cities, carried out supplies, transported reinforcements, and evacuated the wounded. Black Sea sailors joined the ranks of the marines and garrisons defending the cities. For his form and fury in battle, the Germans called them the "Black Death". Odessa withstood 73 days of siege. Sevastopol defended itself for almost 10 months, taking upon itself significant enemy forces, which the enemy was unable to use at Stalingrad. For comparison, it took the Germans just over a month to capture France, Belgium and Holland.

The Black Sea Fleet included a unique ship - Anti-aircraft floating battery No. 3. Steel square with cannons and anti-aircraft machine guns.
This unusual ship was invented by Captain 1st Rank Grigory Aleksandrovich Butakov. The basis was taken from the steel hull of an unfinished battleship, which the sailors used as a target for training torpedo launches and shooting.

The steel box was cleaned of rust, the holes were sealed, and painted the color of the sea for camouflage. An observation post was installed on a deck of 600 square meters, searchlights were installed and a battery was placed. The Iron Island was armed with three 76mm anti-aircraft guns, four 37mm guns, one quadruple machine gun and two anti-aircraft machine guns. The compartments below the deck were equipped with a cockpit, a weapons room and an autonomous power station. The crew consisted of 120 people. The “Iron Island” was taken by tug to the outer roadstead in front of Sevastopol at a distance of 300 meters from the shore.

On August 3, 1941, the floating battery began its first duty. The battery was commanded by Lieutenant-Commander S. Ya. Moshensky.

Our sailors called the ship “Kalambina” or after the first lines of the song invented in the battery - “Don’t touch me.” The Germans called the battery the “square of death,” “God bless you,” or the “black square.”

During 9 months of combat operations, the battery alone documented more than 20 downed aircraft. The battery commander left it only once during all this time, in order to receive the “Order of the Red Star”. The end of June 1942 was the hardest. By the 26th, only half of the crew remained alive, and less than half the guns could fire. But the battery held on sailors died right at the guns, fighting until the last seconds of their lives.

On June 27, the battery commander died. The bomb hit the command post exactly. By that time there were no more shells, only machine gun cartridges remained. The next day the battery was disbanded, and two weeks later Sevastopol, which it so courageously defended, also fell.

During this difficult initial period of the war, the Black Sea Fleet heroically fulfilled its assigned duties. Plans for the rapid capture of the Caucasus and Transcaucasia were thwarted: the enemy did not reach the Baku oil, important industrial facilities were evacuated, new fleet bases were created in Batumi, Poti, Sukhumi and Tuapse, where the fleet later withdrew. The main bases were lost, the fleet lost many ships, but The enemy failed to destroy (as Hitler planned) the Black Sea Fleet.

The preservation of a combat-ready Black Sea Fleet was of exceptional military importance. The loss of the fleet would mean the loss of the entire Caucasus and Transcaucasia, and possibly defeat in the war. As a result, at the beginning of 1943, most of the Black Sea coast was near German army, A from the opposite shore of the Black Sea, Soviet troops were threatened by the Romanian army, an ally of Germany.

But the Black Sea Fleet and our military presence in the Black Sea were important not only in the military aspect. The fleet played a huge role in the geopolitical issue. There was another power in the Black Sea region - Türkiye. Having a serious fleet and a million-strong army right on our border, Turkey's position could play a decisive role. She was ready to take the side of the Axis countries. But the defeat of the Germans at Stalingrad and the active offensive of our troops on the Caucasian front forced Turkey to maintain neutrality.

The submarines of the Black Sea Fleet provided invaluable assistance. Operating on enemy communications from the first days of the war, they seriously complicated the delivery of cargo, fuel and soldiers. An attempt to arrange supplies of oil and petroleum products by Italian and Romanian tankers across the Bosporus was stopped by our submariners. On September 29, 1941, the crew of the submarine "Shch-211" (commander - Lieutenant Commander A.D. Devyatko) distinguished themselves: they managed to sink the tanker "Superga". And the submarine under the command of Yevgeny Petrovich Polyakov sank as many as four enemy transports. The S-33 submarine was plagued by failures for a long time. She had the most contacts with enemy ships in the Black Sea, but was considered one of the lagging behind in the fleet. However, on April 20, 1943, luck finally smiled on the crew under the command of Boris Aleksandrovich Alekseev. The submarine attacked the Romanian transport Suceava with a displacement of about 7,000 tons, which quickly sank.

One of the most famous submariners on the Black Sea was captain 3rd rank Mikhail Vasilievich Greshilov. On the M-35 submarine, he and his crew sank 4 enemy transports. And at the end of 1942, having switched to the Shch-215 boat, he added 4 more enemy transports and two barges to his combat tally. On May 16, 1944, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Our submarines patrolled the sea routes until the very end of hostilities in the Black Sea, causing serious difficulties in supplying the German land group.

The end of 1942 - the beginning of 1943 became a turning point both for the Black Sea theater of operations and for the entire Soviet-German front. The landing on Malaya Zemlya was the first offensive operation of the Black Sea Fleet in 2 years of fighting in this region.

Stronger than armor

Sergeant Major Moravin's boat was supposed to throw a group of scouts behind enemy lines.

The landing site was already close when the Germans noticed the boat. The enemy opened heavy machine gun and mortar fire. The fiery trails rushed towards the shore. One enemy machine gun fell silent, then another, but the rest continued to fire. The boat has already received a dozen bullet holes. Water flowed through them. In the living quarters, mattresses were set on fire by incendiary bullets. Several Red Navy men were injured. Machine gunner Zhukov was hit in the leg by a bullet, mechanic Menshikov was wounded in the head.

The Red Navy men quickly put out the fire, repaired the largest holes, and pumped out the water in the cockpits. The wounded did not leave their combat posts. Bleeding, Zhukov continued to fire and suppressed another firing point. Machine gunner Shlykov silenced three enemy firing points. Engine driver Menshikov bandaged his wound and continued to keep watch.

Having broken the resistance of the Germans, the boat approached the shore, landed the first batch of scouts, then returned, took the second group and, in the same way, under fire, transferred it to the enemy’s rear.

The crew of the boat under the command of Moravin carried out the combat order brilliantly.

The enemy continued to attack despite huge losses in men and equipment. Already hundreds of corpses of fascist soldiers and officers, dozens of burned tanks and downed planes were lying around, but the Germans again and again moved forward, urged on by their officers.

Senior Lieutenant Martynov's company moved unnoticed at night and occupied the most critical sector of the defense.

Let's congratulate the Krauts on the Black Sea sunrise! - the senior lieutenant passed along the chain.

The Marines waited for the enemy to get closer and boldly entered the battle. With friendly fire they cut off the German infantry from the tanks, and then began to destroy them in volleys. Several dozen fascists were already sprawled on the ground. But the tanks continued to move towards our positions.

Red Navy soldier Steinberg, who had previously destroyed several Germans with a machine gun, crawled forward and began to adjust the fire on the tanks. The Germans opened hurricane fire from mortars. Steinberg was killed by a mine fragment. Senior Sergeant Vershinin immediately took his place. The artillerymen and armor-piercers, following the instructions of the spotter, knocked out one tank. Gaps began to grow in front of other German cars. The tanks turned back. The enemy infantry, deprived of cover, also retreated.

In this battle, the unit of senior lieutenant Martynov destroyed half of the enemy company. The Germans launched several more fierce counterattacks, but they were also successfully repulsed with heavy losses for the enemy.

Captain V. Vakulin.
Novorossiysk district.

The only way to supply the bridgehead was by sea. Under heavy artillery fire and continuous air raids, our ships carried out their assigned tasks with honor: they transported reinforcements and weapons, and evacuated the wounded.

Success offensive operations Soviet troops on the North Caucasus Front in April-May 1943 led to the fact that on the southern flank of the Soviet-German front, German troops lost most of their land communications. Under these conditions, communication with a group of German troops isolated on the Taman Peninsula became possible only by sea. Therefore, the Germans significantly increased their activity at sea, the intensity of transport traffic increased, and additional military boats were deployed to escort cargo and troops. The main directions along which German ships moved were the following routes: Odessa - Sevastopol, Constanta - Sevastopol, Sevastopol - Kerch, Feodosia - Anapa, Kerch - Anapa, Kerch - Taman. In May-June 1943, an average of about 200 convoys per month passed along these routes.

Daytime attack by torpedo boats

BLACK SEA FLEET. May 17. (By telegraph from our correspondent). Aerial reconnaissance reported that self-propelled landing barges, torpedo boats and other small vessels were concentrated in the enemy port. Our torpedo boats received orders to carry out a raid.

Unlike most similar operations, in in this case had to operate during daylight hours.

Having carefully worked through the task and prepared the material, the boats left the base. The weather promised to be favorable: it was calm and a thick fog hung over the sea. But it soon dissipated.

The boats walked along the coast occupied by the enemy. Soon the fog again lay in large stripes, like smoke screens, over the water. The commander of the lead boat, Senior Lieutenant Smirnov, used this for covert movement.

By time the ships were already approaching their intended target. This was evidenced by the discovered anti-boat barrier. Coming out of the fog, the commanders identified a coastal landmark and headed for the port. Soon they found themselves in an enemy raid. A large barge appeared. A little further along the pier there were many small ships. From a short distance, Smirnov fired a torpedo at the barge. Under its deafening explosion, the next torpedo fired by Lieutenant Stepanenko hit the watercraft concentrated there.

Having made a turn, the boats set out on a retreat course. Only now the enemy came to his senses and opened fire, but the boats escaped without damage. On the return journey, they were fired twice by coastal artillery without success.

The next day, the fleet commander visited the sailors. He highly appreciated the results of the operation and awarded the crews of the boats that participated in the daring raid with orders and medals of the Soviet Union. Senior Lieutenant Smirnov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, Lieutenant Stepanenko - the Order of the Red Star.

Captain I. Vlasov.

Under the current conditions one of the main tasks of the Black Sea Fleet was to disrupt enemy maritime transport. At the same time, the Germans tried in every possible way to secure their communications from the invasion of our forces, for which they used coastal artillery batteries, radar equipment, and mined the approaches to the ports. The movement of transport ships took place in convoys under the cover of aviation and surface ships. In addition, there was a wide network of coastal airfields, so enemy aircraft had the opportunity to quickly make sorties to targets. One of these airfields was located near the village of Su-Psekh not far from Anapa. At the airfield, according to intelligence data, up to 60 light fighters of the Green Heart squadron and a group of aircraft of the 52 squadron were based. The group of missile boats was tasked with striking the airfield. These boats, built with money from employees of vocational schools, for the first time received civilian names - “Moscow Craftsman” and “Labor Reserves” (full name “Young Patriot of Labor Reserves”). At the end of May - beginning of June, the armament of torpedo boats was improved with a rocket launcher. The new boats had elongated deckhouses, on which a Katyusha rocket launcher was mounted.

The link, which included the boat “Moscow Craftsman” under the command of V. Pilipenko and the “Labor Reserves”, captained by V. Kvartsov, was supposed to launch a missile strike from the sea at a ground airfield located at an altitude of 30 meters. On May 29, 1943, under the cover of night, the boats approached the shore of Anapa and brought down hurricane fire from their Katyushas on the enemy airfield. The enemy was completely unprepared for such a turn of events: not only was the attack on the airfield carried out from the sea, but also using rocket launchers. As a result, the airfield and dozens of enemy aircraft were put out of action for a long time, and many aircraft were destroyed.

Later, the crew under the command of Vladimir Stepanovich Pilipenko proved that rocket fire can be used not only against ground targets, but also to destroy enemy aircraft and surface ships. The crew of the boat was awarded several times, and the commander was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Another task of the Black Sea Fleet at this time was to provide maritime transportation to supply our troops with equipment, food, ammunition and manpower. These transportations were carried out from the ports of Batumi, Poti, Sukhumi, Tuapse and were of exceptional importance for ensuring the livelihoods of the coastal group of our troops.

Military convoys did not always end well. On the morning of May 22, 1943, at 9:45 a.m., the Soviet transport International left Tuapse in the direction of the port of Gelendzhik. It was guarded by two base minesweepers “Garpun” and “Mina” and a sea hunter “SKA-041”. On the way, the convoy was attacked by a group of 17 enemy bombers and 7 fighters. The International was hit by two bombs, as a result of which the chassis was damaged and a fire broke out. The crew coped with the fire, but lost 3 sailors. The minesweeper "Mina" was completely pierced by a bomb weighing half a hundredweight, which exploded already in the water. A huge hole measuring 2x2.3 meters appeared, a fire started, the telegraph and the machine gun on the starboard side stopped functioning, and the left side machine gun was washed overboard along with its crew. However, the Mina crew, having lost two, managed to put out the fire and keep the ship afloat, restoring the operation of the fire pumps and sealing the hole. Thanks to their heroic efforts, the crippled ship was still able to return to the port of Tuapse under its own power at two o’clock in the afternoon. The sea hunter "SKA-041" suffered the saddest fate. A Yu-87 dived onto the ship and dropped three bombs, which sank it. 18 crew members died along with the ship, six managed to escape. As it turned out later, the sea hunter, already going on a mission, had problems with the propulsion system: two of his engines did not work, which deprived him of the ability to quickly maneuver and avoid deadly air strikes.

To save the transport from Tuapse, the patrol ships “Storm” and “Shkval”, the sea hunter “SKA-105” and the tugboat “Petrash” came to the rescue. Ten of our Yak-1 aircraft repelled air attacks on the convoy. By joint efforts, at 18:50 the International transport was delivered to the port of Tuapse.