In On cuts and kickbacks in Tsarist Russia
The development of a fire control system for the battleship Borodino was entrusted to the Institute of Precision Mechanics at the court of His Imperial Highness. The creation of machines was carried out Russian Society steam power plants. A leading research and production team whose developments have been successfully applied on warships around the world. Ivanov's guns and self-propelled mines designed by Makarov were adopted as weapon systems...
All of you, there on the upper deck! Stop the ridicule!
The fire control system was French, mod. 1899. The set of instruments was first presented at an exhibition in Paris and was immediately purchased for the RIF by its commander, Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich (according to the recollections of relatives, le Beau Brummel, who almost permanently lived in France).
Barr and Studd horizontal base rangefinders were installed in the conning tower. Boilers of the Belleville design were used. Mangin spotlights. Worthington steam pumps. Martin's anchors. Ston pumps. Medium and anti-mine caliber guns - 152- and 75-mm cannons of the Canet system. Rapid-fire 47 mm Hotchkiss guns. Whitehead system torpedoes.
The Borodino project itself was a modified design of the battleship Tsesarevich, designed and built for the Russian Imperial Navy by specialists from the French shipyard Forges and Chantiers.
To avoid misunderstandings and unfounded reproaches, it is necessary to make an explanation for a wide audience. The good news is that most of the foreign names in the Borodino EDB design belonged to systems manufactured under license in Russia. On the technical side, they also met the best world standards. For example, the generally accepted design of the sectional boiler of the Belleville system and the very successful guns of Gustave Canet.
However, the French fire control system alone on the Russian EBR makes one think. Why and why? It looks as ridiculous as the Aegis on the Soviet Orlan.
There are two bad news.
A great empire with a population of 130 million people, with a quality education system (for the elite) and a developed scientific school- Mendeleev, Popov, Yablochkov. And yet all around is continuous foreign technologies! Where is our domestic “Belleville”? But he was an engineer-inventor V. Shukhov, an employee of the Russian branch of the Babcock & Wilksos company, who patented a vertical boiler of his own design.
In theory, everything was there. In practice, there are solid Belvilles, the Nikloss brothers and the Tsarevich EBR at the Forges and Chantiers shipyard as a standard model for the Russian fleet.
But, what is especially offensive, ships at domestic shipyards were built many times slower. Four years for EDB Borodino versus two and a half years for Retvizan (Cramp & Sans). Now you shouldn’t become like a recognizable hero and ask: “Why? Who did it?" The answer is on the surface - a lack of tools, machines, experience and skilled hands.
Another problem is that even with “mutually beneficial cooperation” in the conditions of an “open world market,” there are no torpedoes of the Makarov design in service with the French fleet. And in general there is nothing observed that would indicate an exchange of technologies. Everything, everything according to the old, proven scheme. We give them money and gold, in return they give them their technical innovations. Belleville boiler. Whitehead's mine. iPhone 6. Because Russian Mongols are completely impotent in terms of the creative process.
Speaking specifically about the fleet, even licenses were not always enough. We just had to take and place orders at foreign shipyards.
The fact that the cruiser “Varyag” was built in the USA is no longer hidden. It is much less known that the second participant in the legendary battle, the gunboat “Korean”, was built in Sweden.
Armored cruiser "Svetlana", built in Le Havre, France.
Armored cruiser "Admiral Kornilov" - Saint-Nazaire, France.
Armored cruiser "Askold" - Kiel, Germany.
Armored cruiser "Boyarin" - Copenhagen, Denmark.
Armored cruiser "Bayan" - Toulon, France.
The armored cruiser Admiral Makarov was built at the Forges & Chantiers shipyard.
The armored cruiser Rurik was built at the English shipyard Barrow Inn Furness.
The battleship Retvizan, built by Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia, USA.
Series of destroyers "Whale", Friedrich Schichau shipyard, Germany.
The Trout series of destroyers were built at the A. Norman plant in France.
Series "Lieutenant Burakov" - "Forges & Chantiers", France.
Series of destroyers “Mechanical Engineer Zverev” - Schichau shipyard, Germany.
The lead destroyers of the “Horseman” and “Falcon” series were built in Germany and, accordingly, Great Britain.
"Batum" - at the Yarrow shipyard in Glasgow, UK (the list is incomplete!).
A regular participant in “Military Review” spoke very caustically about this:
Well, of course, they ordered ships from the Germans. They built well, their cars were excellent. Well, clearly in France, like an ally, plus kickbacks to the Grand Dukes. One can also understand the order to the American Crump. He did it quickly, promised a lot and delivered everything no worse than the French. But it turns out that under the Tsar Father, we even ordered cruisers in Denmark.
Comment from Eduard (qwert).
The irritation is well understandable. Given the colossal gap in technology and labor productivity, building a series of armored cruisers is equivalent to building a modern spaceport. Outsourcing such “fat” projects to foreign contractors is unprofitable and ineffective in all respects. This money should go to the workers of the Admiralty shipyards and move the domestic economy. And together with it, develop our own science and industry. This is what everyone has strived to do at all times. Steal from profits, not losses. But we don’t do that.
We did it differently. The scheme was called “to steal a ruble, harm the country for a million.” The French have a contract, they, whoever needs it, get a kickback. Their shipyards are sitting without orders. Industry is deteriorating. Qualified personnel are not needed.
There was a time when they even tried to build dreadnought battleships, but it would be better not to try. During the implementation of the most complex project, all the shortcomings clearly appeared pre-revolutionary Russia. There is a widespread lack of production experience, machines and competent specialists. Multiplied by incompetence, nepotism, kickbacks and chaos in the offices of the Admiralty.
As a result, the formidable “Sevastopol” took six years to build and by the time the St. Andrew’s flag was raised it was completely outdated. “Empress Maria” turned out to be no better. Look at their peers. Who entered service at the same time as them in 1915? Isn't it the 15-inch Queen Elizabeth? And then say that the author is biased.
They say that there was still the mighty “Ishmael”. Or it wasn't. The battle cruiser “Izmail” turned out to be an unbearable burden for the Republic of Ingushetia. It’s a rather strange habit to pass off as an achievement something that you didn’t do.
Even in peacetime, with the direct help of foreign contractors, ships over and over again turned into long-term construction projects. With the cruiser everything turned out to be even more serious. When Izmail reached 43% readiness, Russia entered into a war that lacked any purpose, objective benefit, and was impossible to win. For “Ishmael” this was the end, because... Some of its mechanisms were imported from Germany.
If we talk outside of politics, then the Izmail LCR was also not an indicator of the heyday of the empire. Dawn has already begun to glow in the East. Japan stood up to his full height with his 16-inch “Nagato”. One that even their British teachers were taken aback by.
Time passed, there was not much progress. From the author's point of view, industry in Tsarist Russia was in complete decline. You may have an opinion different from the author’s, which, however, will not be easy to prove.
Go down to the engine room of the destroyer Novik and read what is stamped on its turbines. Come on, bring some light here. Really? A.G. Vulkan Stettin. Deutsches Kaiserreich.
Things didn't work out with the engines from the very beginning. Climb into the engine nacelle of the same “Ilya Muromets”. What will you see there? Engines of the Gorynych brand? Right, surprise. Renault.
Legendary royal quality
All the facts indicate that the Russian Empire languished somewhere at the very bottom of the list of developed states. After Great Britain, Germany, the States, France and even Japan, which, having gone through the late Meiji modernization, by the 1910s. managed to bypass RI in everything.
In general, Russia was not at all where it should be for an empire with such ambitions.
After this, jokes about “Ilyin’s light bulb” and the state program for eliminating illiteracy no longer seem so funny. Years passed and the country healed. Fully. It would become a state with the best education in the world, with advanced science and a developed industry that could do everything. Import substitution in the most important industries (military industry, atom, space) was 100%.
And the descendants of the degenerates who fled will continue to whine in Paris for a long time about “the Russia they lost.”
Author A. Dolganov.
Into history Russo-Japanese War The cruiser "Varyag", which entered into an unequal battle with much superior enemy forces, wrote its heroic page. His feat, as well as the feat of the “Korean,” will forever remain in the hearts of people.
Russian sailors withstood an unequal battle with the Japanese, did not surrender to the enemy, sank their ship and did not lower the flag. This legendary battle with six enemy cruiser ships and eight destroyers made an indelible impression not only in Russia, but also abroad. We’ll talk about the history of the cruiser “Varyag” today.
Background
Considering the history of the cruiser "Varyag", it would be advisable to turn to the events that preceded it. The Russian-Japanese War (1904 – 1905) was fought between the two empires for control of the territories of Manchuria, Korea, and the Yellow Sea. After a long break, it became the first major military conflict in which such newest weapons, like long-range artillery, battleships and destroyers.
The issue of the Far East at that time was in first place for Nicholas II. The main obstacle to Russian dominance in this region was Japan. Nicholas foresaw the inevitable clash with her and prepared for it from both the diplomatic and military sides.
But there was still hope in the government that Japan, fearing Russia, would refrain from a direct attack. However, on the night of January 27, 1904, without a declaration of war, the Japanese fleet unexpectedly attacked the Russian squadron near Port Arthur. There was a naval base here that Russia leased from China.
As a result, several of the strongest ships belonging to the Russian squadron were out of action, which ensured that the Japanese military landed in Korea in February without any obstacles.
Attitude in society
The news that war had begun left no one in Russia indifferent. At its first stage, the prevailing mood among the people was a patriotic mood, an awareness of the need to repel the aggressor.
Unprecedented demonstrations took place in the capital, as well as in other big cities. Even revolutionary-minded youth joined this movement, singing the anthem “God Save the Tsar!” Some opposition circles decided to suspend their actions during the war and not put forward demands to the government.
Before moving on to the story of the feat of the cruiser "Varyag", let's talk about the history of its construction and characteristics.
Construction and testing
The ship was laid down in 1898 and built in the United States, in Philadelphia. In 1900, the armored cruiser Varyag was transferred to the Russian Navy, and since 1901 it has been in service. Ships of this type were common at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Their mechanisms, as well as gun magazines, were protected by an armored deck - flat or convex.
This deck was the ceiling of the ship's hull, located horizontally in the form of a flooring made of armor plates. It was intended to protect against bombs, shells, debris and shrapnel falling from above. Ships such as the armored cruiser Varyag constituted the largest part of the cruising fleet of most maritime powers at the turn of the century.
The ship's base was Port Arthur. Although some researchers claimed that it had poor boiler design and other construction defects that resulted in a significant reduction in speed, tests showed otherwise. During tests carried out in 1903, the ship developed high speed, almost equal to the speed in the initial tests. The boilers served well for many years on other ships.
State of war
In 1904, at the beginning of February, two ships from Russia arrived at the port of Seoul, the capital of Korea, on a diplomatic mission. These were the cruiser "Varyag" and "Koreets", a gunboat.
Japanese Admiral Uriu sent a notice to the Russians that Japan and Russia were at war. The cruiser was commanded by Rudnev V.F., captain of the 1st rank, and the boat was commanded by captain of the second rank G.P. Belyaev.
The admiral demanded that the Varyag leave the port, otherwise the battle would be fought right in the roadstead. Both ships weighed anchor, and a few minutes later they gave a combat alert. In order to break through the Japanese blockade, Russian sailors had to fight through the narrow channel and go out into the open sea.
This task was almost impossible. The Japanese cruisers conveyed a proposal to surrender to the mercy of the winner. But this signal was ignored by the Russians. The enemy squadron opened fire.
Fierce fight
The battle of the cruiser "Varyag" with the Japanese was brutal. Despite the hurricane attack carried out by the ships, one of which was classified as heavy, and the other five as light (and also eight destroyers), Russian officers and sailors fired at the enemy, filled holes and extinguished the fire. The commander of the cruiser "Varyag" Rudnev, despite being wounded and shell-shocked, did not stop leading the battle.
Ignoring great destruction and heavy fire, the Varyag crew did not stop aimed fire from those guns that were still intact. At the same time, “Korean” did not lag behind him.
As stated in Rudnev’s report, the Russians sank 1 destroyer and damaged 4 Japanese cruisers. The losses of the Varyag crew in the battle were as follows:
- The following were killed: officers - 1, sailors - 30.
- Among those who were wounded or shell-shocked, there were 6 officers and 85 sailors.
- Approximately 100 more people were slightly injured.
The critical damage inflicted on the cruiser "Varyag" forced it to return to the bay roadstead one hour later. After the extent of the damage had been done, those guns and equipment that remained after the battle were, if possible, destroyed. The ship itself was sunk in the bay. The “Korean” did not suffer any casualties, but was blown up by its crew.
Battle of Chemulpo, beginning
In the roadstead near the Korean city of Chemulpo (now Incheon) there were ships of the Italians, British, Koreans, as well as Russian ships - “Varyag” and “Koreets”. The Japanese cruiser Chiyoda was also moored there. The latter, on February 7, at night, left the roadstead without turning on the identification lights and set off for the open sea.
At about 16:00 on February 8, the “Korean”, leaving the bay, met with a Japanese squadron, which consisted of 8 destroyers and 7 cruisers.
One of the cruisers, called "Asama", blocked the path of our gunboat. At the same time, the destroyers fired 3 torpedoes at her, 2 of which flew past, and the third sank a few meters from the side of the Russian boat. Captain Belyaev gave the command to go to a neutral harbor and hide in Chemulpo.
Developments
- 7.30. As mentioned above, the commander of the Japanese squadron, Uriu, sends a telegram to the ships stationed in the bay about the state of war between the Russians and the Japanese, where it was indicated that he would be forced to attack the neutral bay at 16 o’clock if the Russians did not appear on the open sea by 12 o’clock.
- 9.30. Rudnev, who was on board the British ship Talbot, became aware of the telegram. Here a short meeting takes place and a decision is made to leave the bay and give battle to the Japanese.
- 11.20. "Korean" and "Varyag" go to sea. At the same time, on the ships of foreign powers that observed neutrality, their teams were lined up, who greeted the Russians going to certain death with cries of “Hurray!”
- 11.30. The Japanese cruisers were in battle formation off Ritchie Island, covering the exits to the sea, with destroyers behind them. "Chiyoda" and "Asama" began the movement towards the Russians, followed by "Niitaka" and "Naniwa". Uriu proposed to the Russians to surrender and was refused.
- 11.47. As a result of precise attacks by the Japanese, the deck on the Varyag is on fire, but it can be extinguished. Some of the guns were damaged, there were wounded and killed. Rudnev was shell-shocked and seriously wounded in the back. Coxswain Snigirev remains in service.
- 12.05. The steering mechanisms on the Varyag are damaged. A decision is made to turn back completely, without ceasing fire on enemy ships. The Asama's aft turret and bridge were disabled, renovation work. The guns on two more cruisers were damaged, and one destroyer was sunk. The Japanese had 30 killed.
- 12.20. The Varyag has two holes. A decision is made to return to Chemulpo Bay, repair the damage and continue the battle.
- 12.45. Hopes for fixing most of the ship's guns are not justified.
- 18.05. By decision of the crew and captain, the Russian cruiser Varyag was sunk. The gunboat, being damaged by explosions, was also sunk.
Captain Rudnev's report
It seems that it will be interesting to familiarize yourself with the content of excerpts from Rudnev’s report, the meaning of which boils down to the following:
- The first shot was fired from the cruiser Asama with an 8-inch gun. It was followed by fire from the entire squadron.
- After the zeroing was carried out, they opened fire on the Asama from a distance of 45 cables. One of the first Japanese shells destroyed the upper bridge and started a fire in the navigator's room. At the same time, the rangefinder officer Count Nirod, a midshipman, as well as the rest of the rangefinders of the 1st station were killed. After the battle, they found the count's hand, which was holding a rangefinder.
- After inspecting the cruiser "Varyag", making sure that it was impossible to engage in battle, at a meeting of officers they decided to sink it. The remaining crew and the wounded were taken to foreign ships, which expressed full consent in response to the request.
- The Japanese suffered great casualties and there were accidents on ships. The Asama, which went into dock, was especially badly damaged. The cruiser Takachiho also suffered a hole. He took on board 200 wounded, but on the way to Sasebo his patches burst, his bulkheads broke, and he sank at sea, while the destroyer did in battle.
In conclusion, the captain considered it his duty to report that the ships of the naval detachment, which was entrusted to him, had exhausted all possible means for a breakthrough, prevented the Japanese from gaining victory, inflicted many losses on the enemy, while maintaining the honor of the Russian flag with dignity. Therefore, he petitioned for the team to be rewarded for the valiant performance of duty and the selfless courage shown at the same time.
Honors
After the battle, the Russian sailors were received by foreign ships. They were given an undertaking that they would not participate in further hostilities. The sailors returned to Russia through neutral ports.
In 1904, in April, the crews reached St. Petersburg. Tsar Nicholas II greeted the sailors. They were all invited to the palace for a gala dinner. Dinnerware was prepared especially for this event, which was then presented to the sailors. The king also gave them a personalized watch.
The battle at Chemulpo clearly demonstrated the miracles of heroism of people capable of facing inevitable death in order for honor and dignity to be preserved.
In honor of this brave and at the same time desperate step of the Russian sailors, a special medal was established. The feat of the sailors has not been forgotten over the years. So, in 1954, on the 50th anniversary of the battle at Chemulpo, Kuznetsov N.G., commander of the naval forces of the Soviet Union, awarded 15 of its veterans with medals “For Courage”.
In 1992, a monument was erected to the commander of the cruiser Rudnev in the village of Savina, which is located in the Zaoksky district of the Tula region. It was there that he was buried in 1913. In the city of Vladivostok in 1997, a monument to the heroic cruiser “Varyag” was erected.
In 2009, after lengthy negotiations with representatives of Korea had successfully ended, relics associated with the feat of two Russian ships were delivered to Russia. Previously, they were kept in Icheon, in museum storerooms. In 2010, the mayor of Icheon, in the presence of Dmitry Medvedev, who was then president Russian Federation, handed over the guis (bow flag) of the cruiser “Varyag” to our diplomatic workers. This solemn ceremony took place in the capital of South Korea, at the Russian Embassy.
Speech of Nicholas II addressed to the heroes of Chemulpo
Tsar Nicholas II gave a heartfelt speech in the Winter Palace in honor of the heroes. In particular, it said the following:
- He called the sailors “brothers,” declaring that he was happy to see them return home safely and healthy. He noted that by shedding their blood, they thereby committed an act worthy of the exploits of our ancestors, fathers and grandfathers. We wrote a new heroic page in history Russian fleet, leaving in it forever the names “Varangian” and “Korean”. Their feat will become immortal.
- Nikolai expressed confidence that each of the heroes will be worthy of the award they receive until the very end of their service. He also emphasized that all residents of Russia read about the feat accomplished near Chemulpo with trembling excitement and love. The Tsar wholeheartedly thanked the sailors for maintaining the honor of St. Andrew's flag, as well as the dignity of Great and Holy Rus'. He raised a glass to the future victories of the glorious fleet and to the health of the heroes.
The further fate of the ship
In 1905, the Japanese raised the cruiser “Varyag” from the bottom of the bay and used it for training purposes, calling the ship “Soya”. During World War I, Japan and Russia were allies. In 1916, the ship was bought and included in the navy. Russian Empire under the previous name.
In 1917, the Varyag went to the UK for repairs. There it was confiscated by the British because the newly formed Soviet government would not pay for repairs. After this, the ship was resold to Germany for scrapping. While being towed, it encountered a storm and sank off the coast of the Irish Sea.
In 2003, it was possible to find the site of the sinking of the cruiser Varyag. A memorial plaque was installed next to it, on the shore, in 2006. And in 2007, they established a fund to support the navy, giving it the name “Cruiser “Varyag”. One of his goals was to collect Money, necessary for the construction and installation of a monument in Scotland dedicated to the legendary ship. Such a monument was opened in the city of Lendelfoot in 2007.
Our proud “Varyag” does not surrender to the enemy
This famous song is dedicated to the event of the Russian-Japanese War (1904-1905) described by us, which has become the most famous - the feat of the “Varyag” and “Korean”, who entered into an unequal battle in Chemulpo Bay with the forces of the Japanese squadron that were much superior to them.
The text of this song was written in 1904 by the Austrian poet and writer Rudolf Greinz, who was greatly impressed by the feat of Russian sailors. At first, a poem called “Varyag” was published in one of the magazines, and soon after that several Russian translations were made.
The translation by E. Studentskaya turned out to be the most successful. It was set to music by A.S. Turishchev, a military musician. The song was performed for the first time at a gala reception in the Winter Palace, which was described above.
There is another song dedicated to the legendary cruiser - “Cold Waves Splashing”. In the newspaper "Rus" 16 days after the "Varyag" and "Koreets" were sunk, a poem by Y. Repninsky was published, the music for which was later written by V. D. Benevsky and F. N. Bogoroditsky. The song also has an unofficial the name given by the people is “Korean”.
More than 300 years ago, by decree of Peter the Great, the St. Andrew's flag was first raised on Russian ships. Since then, many heroic pages have been written in the history of the fleet, but cruiser « Varangian“who refused to lower the banner in front of a huge enemy squadron in 1904 will forever remain in the memory of people as the most striking symbol of fearlessness, self-sacrifice and military valor.
history of the cruiser "Varyag"
The history of this ship began more than 100 years ago in 1898 in the American city of Philadelphia. Easy armored cruiser « Varangian"was built in the USA by order of the Russian Navy Ministry. The shipyard of the company was chosen as the site for the construction of the ship. American Company William Cramp & Sons"in the city of Philadelphia on the Delaware River. The parties signed a contract on April 11, 1898. The choice of this shipbuilding company was not accidental. The plant was well known in Russia. Cruisers purchased in America for the Russian Navy were also repaired and refitted here. In addition, the company promised to deliver ship in 20 months. This was much faster than the pace of ship construction at Russian state-owned factories. For example, at the Baltic Shipyard finished project It took about 7 years to build.
authentic photographs of the cruiser "Varyag"
cruiser "Varyag" in the Philadelphia dock
"Varyag" in Philadelphia before leaving for Russia
raid of Algiers, September 1901
cruiser "Varyag", 1916
However, all weapons " Varangian"was made in Russia. Guns at the Obukhov plant, torpedo tubes at the Metal plant in St. Petersburg. The Izhevsk plant manufactured equipment for the galley, and the anchors were ordered from England.
On October 19, 1899, after illumination and a prayer service, it was solemnly launched. " Varangian" amazed contemporaries not only with the beauty of its forms and perfect proportions, but also with the many technical innovations used during its construction. Compared to ships created earlier, it had significantly more electrically powered devices; boat winches, windlasses, elevators for feeding shells, and even dough mixers in the ship's bakery were equipped with electric drives. For the first time in the history of shipbuilding, all furniture cruisers « Varangian"was made of metal and painted to resemble wood. This increased the survivability of the ship in battle and during a fire. Cruiser « Varangian"became the first Russian ship on which telephone sets were installed in almost all service areas, including posts at the guns.
One of weak points cruisers there were new steam boilers " Nickolas“They made it possible to reach high speeds, sometimes up to 24 knots, but were extremely unreliable in operation. Due to some deficiencies found when receiving the ship, “ Varangian"was commissioned at the beginning of 1901. During the construction of the cruiser, 6,500 people worked at the shipyard. Simultaneously with the construction of " Varangian"Russian leadership ordered the construction armadillo « Retvizan"for the Russian Pacific squadron. It was being built on a nearby slipway.
St. Andrew's flag and pennant were raised on cruiser « Varangian"January 2, 1901. In March of that year, the ship left Philadelphia for good. On the morning of May 3, 1901 " Varangian» dropped anchor in the Great Kronstadt roadstead. Two weeks later, a review took place, which was attended by Emperor Nicholas II himself. Ship The king liked it so much that he was included in the squad heading to Europe. After official visits to Germany, Denmark and France cruiser « Varangian» departed for his permanent base at Far East. On February 25, 1902, the warship arrived at the Port Arthur roadstead. Before cruiser « Varangian»managed to visit the Persian Gulf, Singapore, Hong Kong and Nagasaki. Everywhere the appearance of a new spectacular Russian ship made a huge impression.
Port Arthur on the map
Japan, not happy with the strengthening of Russian influence in the Far East, was feverishly preparing for war with Russia. Its fleet was practically rebuilt in English shipyards. The army was increased by 2.5 times. The most advanced developments of the type of weapons were taken for equipment. The Land of the Rising Sun, just like Russia, considered the Far East a zone of its vital interests. The result of the coming war, according to the Japanese, was to be the expulsion of the Russians from China and Korea, the separation of Sakhalin Island and the establishment of Japanese dominance in the Pacific Ocean. Clouds were gathering over Port Arthur.
heroic battle of the cruiser "Varyag"
December 27, 1903 commander cruisers « Varangian» Vsevolod Fedorovich Rudnev received an order from the Russian governor to go to the Korean international port of Chemulpo (the current port of Inchhon, South Korea). According to the command's plan, the cruiser was supposed to establish reliable communications between Port Arthur and our envoy in Seoul, as well as indicate the Russian military presence in Korea. It was forbidden to leave the port of Chemulpo without an order from senior command. Due to the difficult fairway and shallow water " Varangian» dropped anchor in the outer roadstead. A few days later he was joined by “ Korean" Very soon it became clear that the Japanese were preparing for a major landing operation. On January 25, the commander of the cruiser V.F. Rudnev personally went to the Russian ambassador to pick him up and go home with the entire mission. But Ambassador Pavlov did not dare to leave the embassy without an order from his department. A day later, the port was blocked by an armada of a Japanese squadron consisting of 14 ships. The flagship was an armored cruiser « Osama».
January 27 commander cruisers « Varangian"received an ultimatum from Admiral Urio. The Japanese commander offered to leave the port and surrender to the mercy of the victors, otherwise he threatened to attack Russian ships right in the roadstead. Having learned about this, the ships of foreign states sent a protest - to go into battle in a neutral roadstead, at the same time they refused to accompany the Russians to the sea, where they would have more opportunities to maneuver and repel an attack.
On cruiser « Varangian"and gunboat" Korean"We began to prepare for battle. According to tradition, all sailors and officers changed into clean shirts. At 10:45 V. F. Rudnev addressed the crew with a speech. The ship's priest blessed the sailors before the battle.
At 11:20 cruiser « Varangian"and gunboat" Korean"weighed anchor and went towards the Japanese squadron. As a sign of the sailors' admiration, the French, British, and Italians lined up the crews of their ships on the decks. On " Varangian“The orchestra played the anthems of the states, in response, the anthem of the Russian Empire sounded on the Italian ship. When Russian ships appeared in the roadstead, the Japanese raised a signal offering to surrender, commander cruisers ordered not to respond to enemy signals. Admiral Urio waited in vain for several minutes for an answer. At first, he could not believe that the Russians were not coming to surrender, but to attack his squadron. At 11:45 the flagship " Osama"opened fire on the cruiser" Varangian" One of the first shells hit the upper bow bridge and destroyed the rangefinder station, the navigator's combat unit was killed. In two minutes " Varangian" opened strong return fire from the starboard side.
It was especially hard for the gunners who were on the upper deck. The Japanese used new tactics for the first time in this battle - they literally fell asleep cruiser « Varangian» high-explosive projectiles with a strong explosive effect, even when hitting the water such a projectile would scatter into hundreds of pieces.
The Russian fleet used powerful armor-piercing shells. They pierced the sides of enemy ships without exploding.
paintings with the cruiser "Varyag"
Battle of the cruiser "Varyag"
There was blood and gore everywhere, burnt arms and legs, torn bodies and exposed flesh. The wounded refused to leave their places; only those who could no longer stand on their feet were taken to the infirmary. The upper deck was broken in several places, all fans and grilles cruisers turned into a sieve. When the stern flag was torn off by another explosion, the boatswain raised a new one, risking his life. At 12:15 Rudnev decided to bring the left side gun into battle. When ship began to turn around and was simultaneously hit by two large shells. The first hit the room where all the steering gears were located, fragments of the second flew into the conning tower, three people standing next to Rudnev were killed on the spot. The commander himself cruisers « Varangian"was wounded in the head, but, despite the concussion, remained at his post and continued to lead the battle. When the distance between the opponents was reduced to 5 km, a gunboat entered the battle " Korean».
It is curious that not a single Japanese shell hit it. The day before, the commander ordered the masts to be shortened, which prevented the Japanese from accurately determining the distance and adjusting the shooting.
At 12:25 " Varangian"opened fire from the left side. The Osama's aft bridge was destroyed by a direct hit, after which a severe fire broke out on the flagship. By this time the second Japanese cruiser « Takatiha", having received serious damage, was forced to withdraw from the battle. One of the destroyers sank. At 12:30 two shells pierced the side of the cruiser " Varangian" under the water. Cruiser began to list to the left side. While the team was sealing the holes, Rudnev decided to return to the port of Chemulpo. At the raid, he planned to repair the damage and put out the fires, so that he could then return to battle again.
At 12:45, as the raid approached, the general fire stopped. During the battle " Varangian"managed to fire 1,105 shells at the enemy. At 13:15, wounded and smoking " Varangian» dropped anchor in the roadstead. According to eyewitnesses, its entire deck was covered in blood. There were 130 wounded sailors lying in the charred premises of the cruiser. 22 people died during the battle. Of the 12 six-inch guns, two remained in working order. Further resistance was not possible. And then the military council of the cruiser decided to prevent the Japanese from sinking the ships, and to place the crew on foreign ships by agreement. Having received Rudnev’s appeal, the commanders of European ships immediately sent boats with orderlies. Several sailors died during the evacuation. Most of all - 352 people - took French cruiser « Pascal", the British took 235 people, the Italians - 178. At 15:30 on " Varangian" opened the kingstons and flood valves, " Korean" was blown up.
February 9, 1904 at 18:10 light armored deck cruiser « Varangian"lay down on the left side and disappeared under the water.
Not a single officer or sailor was captured after the battle. Respecting the courage shown in that battle, Admiral Urio agreed to let them pass through the combat zone to return to their homeland.
Two months later with the sailors " Varangian" And " Korean"arrived in Odessa. The heroes of Chemulpo were greeted with the thunder of orchestras and demonstrations of thousands. The sailors were showered with flowers and an unprecedented explosion of patriotic feelings. All participants in the battle were awarded St. George's crosses. Each sailor received a personalized watch from the emperor. Then the first songs dedicated to the cruiser appeared “ Varangian"and gunboat" Korean».
second life of the cruiser "Varyag"
after battle
after the rise in August 1905
Japanese cruiser "SOYA" ("Varyag")
However, on this history of the legendary cruiser didn't end. Soon after the battle it became clear that " Varangian"It didn't sink very deep. During low tides, the water level in Chemulpo Bay dropped to 9 meters. Having learned about this, the Japanese began work on raising the cruiser " Varangian" Within a month, divers and special equipment were delivered to Chemulpo from Japan. The cruiser's guns, masts and pipes were removed, coal was unloaded, but all attempts to raise it in 1904 ended in failure. Only on August 8, 1905, after the creation of special caissons, was it possible to tear off cruiser from the muddy bottom. In November 1905 " Varangian» reached Japan under its own power. Almost two years cruiser « Varangian"was in the city of Yokosuka undergoing major repairs. The work to raise and restore it cost the Japanese treasury 1 million yen. In 1907, he was enlisted in the Japanese Navy under the name " Soya" At the stern, as a sign of respect for the enemy, an inscription of the cruiser's former name was left. For nine years cruiser was a training ship for a cadet school. It taught how to defend the honor of your homeland.
LJ user drugoi writes: The 44th Red Banner Brigade of anti-submarine ships of the Russian Pacific Fleet is located in the very center of Vladivostok, next to the sea terminal, opposite the fleet headquarters building. Four large Project 1155 anti-submarine ships stand side by side against the wall. From here these ships go on combat duty to the Gulf of Aden, where they protect merchant ships from pirates.
To the right of the four BODs is the floating hospital Irtysh, and to the left is the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, the guards missile cruiser Varyag.
The Project 1164.1 missile cruiser "Chervona Ukraine" was laid down at the 61st Communard plant in Nikolaev on July 31, 1979 (serial number 2010), on November 5, 1982 it was included in the list of ships of the USSR Navy, launched on August 28, 1983, entered service commissioned on December 25, 1989, and on February 28, 1990 included in the Pacific Fleet. After the collapse of the USSR, the cruiser went to Russia and in 1996, at the initiative of the ship’s crew, it was named “Varyag” - in honor of the famous armored cruiser of the 1st Pacific Squadron of the Russian Navy, a participant in the Battle of Chemulpo in 1904.
The main cruiser is the homing cruise missiles of the P-1000 “Vulcan” complex. The SM-248 missile launchers are located on the sides of the ship; they look very impressive and can easily distinguish the Varyag from other ships. Project 1164 cruisers are also called “aircraft carrier killers” - in fact, that’s what they were created for.
1. The pattern of missile action is impressive - after a salvo from one side, all eight missiles, after opening their wings, form a single group, a “wolf pack” with a leader - a separately flying missile, which guides the entire group to the target, adjusts the course for the remaining missiles, dumping information on them. When approaching the target, the lead missile selects the largest object (an aircraft carrier), directs one of the missiles with the so-called at it. “special ammunition” and divides the remaining objects between the rest of the “flock” missiles. All missiles include homing heads and strike objects. The mass of one rocket is almost five tons, the flight speed is about 2900 km/h. An enemy ship has no chance of staying afloat after being hit by such a missile. If the lead missile is shot down, another one, exactly the same, takes its place. The attack takes place without the participation of the ship’s crew using a “fire and forget” system. Interestingly, all this is technology from the early 70s.
2. Acquaintance with “Varyag” begins with prosaic bags of cabbage and carrots. Standing nearby The Admiral Panteleev BOD is preparing to set off on a trip to the shores of Africa and is loading a supply of food.
3. They go on sea voyages for a long time and seriously stock up on everything they need. This is only a small part of the drinking water that is loaded into the holds of a warship.
4. The officer accompanying me advised me not to use mobile phone: “If you have a smartphone, it’s better to turn it off, otherwise it may burn out.” I didn’t believe it, but I turned it off just in case. The ship has a full set of radar weapons of the MP-152 “Ring” complex for detecting operating radios and location stations, homing heads of enemy missiles, their direction finding and suppression. Perhaps there was some reason in the officer’s words.
5. On the forecastle of the Varyag there is an AK-130 - a ship’s automatic cannon. Fires a high-explosive fragmentation projectile at a speed of 90 rounds per minute and a range of up to 23 kilometers. Fully automatic - operates independently until the ammunition runs out. They say it has no analogues in the world. We knew how to do something, but something that shoots. There were problems with consumer goods, but the guns were always excellent. AK-130 is no exception. In the initial sketches of the ship, there were 12 launchers (six per side) and instead of one twin-barrel gun there were two single-barreled A-100s. In 1972, Admiral Gorshkov ordered the addition of four more launchers to fire two full eight-missile salvoes, and the two AK-100s were replaced with one twin-barreled AK-130. The ship became significantly heavier, the speed and ammunition of artillery guns decreased (720 rounds versus 2000).
6. Despite modern means communications, the signal flag system remains the main communication for watercraft in the fleet. On navy Russia uses the code of signals of the USSR fleet. 32 signal flags correspond to the letters of the Russian alphabet: Vedi - “The course leads to danger”, Zhivete - “Make a medium move”, Y - “Detected a mine”, etc. This photo shows the signalman's position on the cruiser. The metal box contains signal flags, which, if necessary, are raised on vertical halyards to the yardarm. To the left of the box are black “running balls”, which in the sea indicate the speed of the ship. The lower the “ball” is located, the higher the speed. By the way, the Varyag can travel at a speed of 32 knots. When he goes at such speed, the breakers behind him are ten meters high.
7. “What is that little red thing turning blue?” On the wall are silhouettes of ships and planes of Russia and NATO countries. A hint for the signalman who is observing what is happening around the ship.
8. This is the wheelhouse of the ship. From here it is controlled in everyday conditions. The cabin is connected to the combat information center BIUS "Lesorub-1164" by a command elevator.
9. Place of the commander of the cruiser “Varyag”, guard captain 1st rank Eduard Moskalenko.
10. Everything here really reminds us of the 70s. So reliable and iron. "Warm tube sound." I tried my best not to photograph anything secret, but go figure, where everything is.
11. “Tovs” - I love these naval words. Huys, biteng, twindeck, southwest, coaming, sternpost, binnacle - all this smells of the salty sea wind and is incredibly exciting.
12. The shifts went to their places of work. The Kavtarangs racked their brains: “What would I show you that’s so unclassified?” We agreed on some screen No. 22. Sailor Renat from Bashkortostan sat in the operator’s seat and began pressing buttons, turning on monitors - depicting the activities at the combat post. It looked quite authentic.
13. The same Renat, who caught the attention of the officers at the wrong time, enlivened the ship’s library room, pretending to be sorting out the mail that had arrived on the ship. The library is good. Small, but everything is there. In general, the Varyag is a fairly comfortable ship. The wardrooms are decorated with wood, there are paintings hanging, and carpets on the floor. There is a swimming pool with a waterfall, healing showers, a large steam room, and a sauna. The accommodation cabins are air conditioned and the ship has four air refrigeration units.
14. Walking on a cruiser involves long walks along endless corridors and sudden descents and ascents along vertical ladders. In the fourth compartment we go lower and lower, to where the sailors' quarters are. Weapons are, of course, interesting, but I really wanted to see how sailors live on one of the most powerful cruisers in the world.
16. On the screen of the competition for the best cabin, you can see, for example, that cabin No. 14, who scored a bolt for the competition in December, apparently received big stars from the commanders and then became advanced, without falling below the rating of “four”.
17. This is how the night shift rests in the now exemplary cockpit No. 14. I opened the door for a couple of seconds and took a few pictures of the sleeping sailors.
18. In the next cockpit, a sailor was writing something important in a journal. Next to him stands a cage with a parrot screwed to the table. The parrot was there and resting.
19. The holy of holies of the missile cruiser is the galley. The ceilings here are low and a sailor with a rag in his hand, putting things in order, walked with his head bent, which gave his figure a sad look. Nearby, two other sailors began to open cans with a simple knife, for which I immediately received a scolding from the officers accompanying me. Everything has to be perfect for someone else's eyes, I understand.
20. A ship's cat is an indispensable accessory for any warship to combat rodents. Or, as they say here, “squirrels.” Seals and vital cables in a metal braid - these are the conditions for the coexistence of people and rodents. There are several cats on the ship, they are brought in one at a time. combat unit. The cats of the cruiser "Varyag" are popular with guests in different countries where the ship calls. It happens that they are given as gifts - one of the ship’s cats now lives in Orthodox Church in Singapore. Mother, they say, was happy with such a gift. Another was given to a local admiral in Indonesia.
21. I wanted to take one Lifebuoy as a keepsake. They didn’t give me a government circle, but they gave me something else.
22. We had lunch with the officers, talked, then moved to the work cabin, where we talked some more. I didn’t want to leave, but time was running out for them and for me. When leaving, I took a few more pictures on the deck of the Varyag and on the shore.
24. It seemed to me that everything was in order on the cruiser. He goes to sea and conducts training exercises. The Varyag is a welcome guest in foreign ports; people line up to see it and take a tour of the ship. As the officers said: “The French Mistral is parked nearby - there is no one there, but to us there is a queue for the entire pier, thirty thousand people come for several days of visit.” You can see how proud the sailors are of their “Varyag” and their service. They invited me to go on a hike - I have to think about it, I’m not friends with the jocks, although I really want to, of course. Because this is real.
November 1 marked 110 years since the legendary cruiser Varyag was launched.
The cruiser "Varyag" was built by order of the Russian Empire at the William Crump and Sons shipyard in Philadelphia (USA). It left the Philadelphia docks on November 1 (October 19, O.S.), 1899.
By technical specifications The Varyag had no equal: equipped with powerful cannon and torpedo weapons, it was also the fastest cruiser in Russia. In addition, the Varyag was equipped with telephones, electrification, a radio station and steam boilers the latest modification.
After testing in 1901, the ship was presented to St. Petersburg residents.
In May 1901, the cruiser was sent to the Far East to strengthen the squadron Pacific Ocean. In February 1902, the cruiser, having sailed halfway around the world, dropped anchor in the Port Arthur roadstead. From that moment his service began as part of the squadron. In December 1903, the cruiser was sent to the neutral Korean port of Chemulpo to serve as a stationary vessel. In addition to the Varyag, there were ships of the international squadron on the roadstead. On January 5, 1904, the Russian gunboat "Koreets" arrived at the roadstead.
On the night of January 27 (February 9, new style), 1904, Japanese warships opened fire on the Russian squadron, which was stationed in the Port Arthur roadstead. The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) began, lasting 588 days.
The cruiser "Varyag" and the gunboat "Koreets", located in the Korean Bay of Chemulpo, were blocked by a Japanese squadron on the night of February 9, 1904. The crews of Russian ships, trying to break through from Chemulpo to Port Arthur, entered into an unequal battle with a Japanese squadron, which included 14 destroyers.
During the first hour of the battle in the Tsushima Strait, the crew of the Russian cruiser fired more than 1.1 thousand shells. "Varyag" and "Koreets" disabled three cruisers and a destroyer, but they themselves received heavy damage. The ships returned to the port of Chemulpo, where they received an ultimatum from the Japanese to surrender. Russian sailors rejected him. By decision of the officers' council, the Varyag was sunk and the Koreets was blown up. This feat became a symbol of the courage and bravery of Russian sailors.
For the first time in Russian history all participants in the battle (about 500 people) were awarded the highest military award - the Cross of St. George. After the celebrations, the Varyag crew was disbanded, the sailors entered service on other ships, and commander Vsevolod Rudnev was awarded, promoted, and retired.
The actions of the "Varyag" during the battle delighted even the enemy - after the Russian-Japanese War, the Japanese government created a museum in Seoul in memory of the heroes of the "Varyag" and awarded its commander Vsevolod Rudnev the Order of the Rising Sun.
After the legendary battle in Chemulpo Bay, the Varyag lay at the bottom of the Yellow Sea for more than a year. It was not until 1905 that the wreck was raised, repaired, and commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy under the name Soya. For more than 10 years, the legendary ship served as a training vessel for Japanese sailors, but out of respect for its heroic past, the Japanese kept the inscription on the stern - “Varyag”.
In 1916, Russia acquired former Russian warships Peresvet, Poltava and Varyag from its now ally Japan. After paying 4 million yen, the Varyag was enthusiastically received in Vladivostok and on March 27, 1916, the St. Andrew's flag was raised again on the cruiser. The ship was enlisted in the Guards crew and sent to reinforce the Kola detachment of the Arctic Fleet. On November 18, 1916, the cruiser Varyag was solemnly welcomed in Murmansk. Here she was appointed the flagship of the Kola Bay Naval Defense Forces.
However, the cruiser's engines and boilers required immediate overhaul, and artillery - rearmament. Just a few days before the February Revolution, the Varyag left for England, to the ship repair docks of Liverpool. The Varyag remained in the Liverpool dock from 1917 to 1920. The necessary funds for its repair (300 thousand pounds) were never allocated. After 1917, the Bolsheviks permanently erased the Varyag as a hero of the “tsarist” fleet from the history of the country.
In February 1920, while being towed through the Irish Sea to Glasgow (Scotland), where it was sold for scrap, the cruiser was caught in a strong storm and sat on rocks. All attempts to save the ship were unsuccessful. In 1925, the cruiser was partially dismantled on site, and the 127-meter hull was blown up.
In 1947, the feature film “Cruiser “Varyag”” was shot, and on February 8, 1954, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the “Varyag” feat, a gala evening was held in Moscow with the participation of veterans of the Battle of Chemulpo, where, on behalf of the Soviet government, the “Varangian” heroes received medals “For Courage” were awarded.Anniversary celebrations took place in many cities of the country.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the heroic battle in 2004, the Russian delegation erected a monument to the Russian sailors "Varyag" and "Koreyts" in Chemulpo Bay. At the opening of the memorial in the port of Incheon ( former city Chemulpo) the flagship of the Russian Pacific Fleet, the guards missile cruiser "Varyag", was present.
The current "Varyag" - the successor to the legendary first-generation ship of the same name - is armed with a powerful multi-purpose strike missile system, which allows you to hit surface and ground targets at a considerable distance. Also in its arsenal are rocket launchers, torpedo tubes and several artillery installations of various calibers and purposes. Therefore, NATO figuratively calls Russian ships of this class “aircraft carrier killers.”
In 2007, in Scotland, where the legendary "Varyag" found its last refuge, it was opened memorial Complex, which was attended by the large anti-submarine ship (BOD) of the Russian Navy "Severomorsk". These monuments, made in Russian maritime traditions, became the first memorials to the Russian military spirit outside Russia and an eternal symbol of gratitude and pride for descendants.
In 2009, on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the legendary battle with the Japanese squadron, a unique international exhibition project “Cruiser “Varyag” was created. The discovery of relics, including genuine rarities from the legendary ship and gunboat “Koreets” from the collections of Russian and Korean museums. A similar exhibition , demonstrating relics of the Russian fleet has never been seen in Russian history.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources