home » Middle Ages Creation of a regular navy. History of the Russian fleet: creation and great victories. The composition of the ships of the Russian Navy

Creation of a regular navy. History of the Russian fleet: creation and great victories. The composition of the ships of the Russian Navy

HISTORY OF THE CREATION OF THE RUSSIAN FLEET BY PETER I

Peter I went down in history as a reformer, commander and naval commander, the first emperor of Russia. But his role in the creation of the fleet of the young empire is especially noticeable. Peter understood that without a fleet, his country would not be able to enter the "club" of the great powers. And he set to work to remedy the situation. Thus, the Azov Fleet first appears, the historical significance of which is simply impossible to underestimate, and 7 years later, in 1703, the Baltic Fleet is created - the strongest naval formation of modern Russia.

It cannot be said that before Peter there were no attempts to create naval forces. There were, but they were very disorganized, unsystematic and, as a result, unsuccessful. Ivan the Terrible, for example, actively used the river fleet in his campaigns against the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates. Later, during the war with the Swedes of 1656-1661, in the Muscovite kingdom they attended to the construction of a full-fledged fleet capable of operating in the Baltic. Voivode Ordin-Nashchekin distinguished himself especially in its creation. But under the terms of the peace signed in 1661, the Russians had to destroy all ships and shipyards. Having failed in the north, Ordin-Nashchekin drew the attention of the sovereign Alexei Mikhailovich to the south of the kingdom.

There it was decided to build a flotilla for the Caspian Sea, and even the beginning of this ambitious project was laid - in 1667-1668. a three-masted sailing ship "Orel" was built, the "great-grandfather" of the Russian sailing fleet (displacement 250 tons, length 24.5 meters, width 6.5 meters). It had two decks, artillery armament consisted of 22 guns, about the tests of which a note has been preserved:

« the cannons were shot and according to the shot the cannons are all intact and fit for the ship».

Unfortunately, the fate of the ship was tragic - it served little, and later was completely burned by Razin's rebels right in the harbor. The creation of a real fleet had to be postponed for several decades.

A landmark event for the entire Russian fleet happened in 1688 in the village of Izmailovo near Moscow. 16-year-old Peter found a small boat (length 6 meters, width 1 meter) in an old barn. This ship was brought from England as a gift to Tsar Alexei. About the amazing find, Peter later wrote:

« We happened (in May 1688) to be in Izmailovo, in the linen yard, and, walking through the barns, where the remains of things lay in the house of grandfather Nikita Ivanovich Romanov, between which I saw a foreign ship, I asked Franz (Timerman) [Peter's Dutch teacher], what ship is this? He said that the bot is English. I asked: where is it used? He said that with the ships - for driving and carting. I again asked: what advantage does it have over our courts (before I saw it in image and strength better than ours)? He told me that he sails not only with the wind, but also against the wind; which word brought me great surprise and allegedly incredibly».

Having repaired the boat, Peter immediately took a short walk along the Yauza River. Later, the “grandfather of the Russian fleet” (as Peter himself called the boat) was transferred to different places (Prosyanoe Lake, Pleshcheev Pond, Pereyaslavskoe Lake), as the prince’s skill in navigation grew. He built a shipyard right on Lake Pereyaslavl, and in 1692, in addition to the boat, two small frigates and three yachts sailed along the lake. The construction of the Amusing Flotilla was carried out by craftsmen under the leadership of the Dutchman Karshten Brant, who was hired by Peter's father Alexei Mikhailovich to build the Caspian Fleet. Interestingly, for a long trip to the lake, Peter had to lie to his mother Natalya Kirillovna: “Where did I ask my mother to go to the Trinity Monastery under the form of a promise?”

In 1689, the internal crisis was resolved - Princess Sophia was removed from power and tonsured a nun. Peter actually became the ruler of the whole country. By this time, the idea of organizing a fleet had completely taken over the king. He worked diligently, studied everything that could be useful for the king-warlord - geometry, navigation, carpentry, cannon casting and other sciences. And all this time he did not leave his passion for the fleet. But the young tsar clearly did not have enough lakes and he decides to go to Arkhangelsk, to the White Sea.

In 1693, the road from Moscow to Arkhangelsk took as much as 24 days - from July 6 to 30, Peter was on the road. Despite his mother's promise not to leave the shore, the young king, without any scruples of conscience, violated it. According to various sources, either on the very first day upon arrival, or towards the end of the visit, he goes to sea on the 12-gun yacht "Saint Peter" to escort Dutch and English merchant ships. This journey took 6 whole days and made a huge impression on the king.

In the same 1693, he built the first state shipyard in Arkhangelsk - Solombalskaya. And immediately lays down the 24-gun ship "Saint Paul the Apostle" there. This seemed not enough to Peter and he buys a 44-gun frigate "Holy Prophecy" in Holland. The trip to Arkhangelsk was an important milestone in the development of the young ruler's hobbies. The real sea, foreign ships and sailors, the construction of a shipyard - all this made a strong impression. But it was time to return - having been absent for almost three months, on October 1, the tsar returned to Moscow.

However, in January 1694, Peter's mother dies. Of course, this was a strong emotional shake-up for the king. But already at this age, he showed his nature - without indulging in excessive sadness, on May 1, Peter leaves for Arkhangelsk for the second time, by the beginning of summer navigation. This time he was accompanied by soldiers of the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments, who, according to the idea of the sovereign, were to become sailors on his ships. Upon arrival, Peter personally supervised the armament of the "St. Paul" and inspected the frigate "Holy Prophecy" that arrived from Holland (later both ships were converted into merchant ships). In general, the tsar spent a lot of time "in the field" - he was constantly on ships, participated in repair and rigging work, and communicated with foreign sailors.

As part of a squadron of three ships (“St. Apostle Paul”, “St. Prophecy” and “St. Peter”), Peter escorted the trading squadron to the exit from the White Sea. Unfortunately, this trip did not go well. During a fairly short transition, the shortage of naval officers became obvious - all of Peter's associates were good for the Amusing Flotilla, but they could hardly walk on real ships. If “Admiral” Romodanovsky and “Vice Admiral” Buturlin at the very least coped with their duties, then “Rear Admiral” Gordon only by a lucky chance did not land the yacht “Svya that Peter.

On the same yacht, Peter decided to visit the Solovetsky Monastery, but on the way the ship was caught violent storm. Nowadays, there is a maritime museum on Bolshoi Solovetsky Island. . According to some sources, the priests persuaded the king to take communion in order to die with a clear conscience. But Peter only brushed off the offer and took the helm of the yacht himself. Everything worked out - after spending some time on Solovki, he returned to Arkhangelsk.

Upon returning to Arkhangelsk, Peter took up armament and equipment of the ship "Apostle Paul", and after the arrival of the ship "St. Prophecy "took him under command and sailed in the White Sea to St. Nose in a squadron under the flag of Romodanovsky. From his second journey across the White Sea, Peter returned with an indomitable desire to start building the Russian fleet. Russia at that time owned two sea coasts - White Sea and Caspian.

Natural was the aspiration to the White, which connected the country with England, Holland and other countries. Far from everyone in Moscow understood these aspirations. Peter understood that a great country, its economy required access to the sea. He could not then fight for the return of the Baltic coast of Russia, a powerful power dominated there. And he turned his eyes to the south, to the Azov and Black Seas.

Russia was looking for an outlet to the sea. It was decided to start from the south ... In February 1695, Tsar Peter I ordered to gather an army - to win back the city of Azov from the Turks at the mouth of the Don. Under the name of bombardier Pyotr Mikhailov, the tsar set off along with the first Western-style regiments: Preobrazhensky, Semyonovsky and Lefortov. After a long siege, they decided to take the fortress of Azov by storm. Many Russian soldiers and officers died, but the city could not be taken. The Turks brought fresh troops and food by sea. The first Azov campaign of 1695 ended ingloriously...

Peter was very upset by the failure, but he did not think about retreat. It was difficult to take the seaside fortress without a navy. From all over Russia, thousands of “working people” began to be driven to Voronezh. It was necessary to build shipyards, harvest and transport timber, twist ropes, sew sails and cast cannons.

They built shipyards, barns, barracks. Two 36-gun ships, twenty-two galleys and four fireships were laid on the stocks. Everything was ready for spring. The second Azov campaign began. In May 1696, on the new 34-rowed Principium galley, Peter appeared near Azov at the head of an entire flotilla, and the ground forces, replenished and rested, again surrounded the fortress from land and built batteries at the mouth of the Don.

This time the Turks failed to fight back, although they defended themselves desperately. The Russian fleet prevented the supply of ammunition and food to the besieged fortress. The Turks had to surrender. For the first time in the history of Russia, a brilliant victory was won with the help of the fleet. It happened on July 18, 1696. From that day on, free access to the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov opened.

It was necessary to establish itself on the entire Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov, to move towards the Black. And for this it was necessary to continue to create a fleet and build harbors, because, as Peter I said, "the harbor is the beginning and end of the fleet, without it, whether there is a fleet or not, it still does not exist." July 27, after the capture of Azov, Peter began to go around the coast in boats. As the legend says, on one of the capes, or, as they were called here, horns, bonfires burned in the evening - then the shepherds cooked food on tagans. Here, on the horse-drawn horn, they decided to build a harbor (the future Taganrog) for Russia's first regular military navy.

Later, in the preface to the Naval Charter, Peter writes: "... the sovereigns of the navy who do not have only one hand, but who have a fleet - both!" Shortly after the capture of Azov, on October 20, 1696, the Boyar Duma, at the suggestion of Peter, adopted a resolution: “There will be sea vessels!” This day is considered the birthday of the Russian Navy.

In 1697, to study shipbuilding and maritime affairs, Peter I went as a volunteer at the Great Embassy to Holland. He worked first in Saardam at a private shipyard, then in Amsterdam at the shipyard of the East India Company, where he participated in the construction of the ship from laying to completion and received a certificate of knowledge of ship architecture from the master Class Field. At the same time, the tsar eagerly absorbed knowledge of various kinds, which he would use in the future to carry out reforms in Russia.

In 1698, noticing that the Dutch shipbuilders lacked theoretical knowledge and were more guided by experience and practice, Peter went to England and studied the theory of shipbuilding in Deptford. The future admiral sailed in the English fleet to the Isle of Wight, attended naval maneuvers arranged in his honor, visited museums, arsenals and other places of interest to him. During a trip abroad, sailors and other specialists were hired into the Russian service, including Vice Admiral Cornelius Kruys and Shoutbenacht (Rear Admiral) Rez, who set about putting the administration of the fleet in order.

European policy gave no reason to expect that Russia would receive support in the struggle against Turkey for access to the southern seas. Nevertheless, the king continued the construction of the Azov fleet. Upon his return from a trip abroad, Peter Mikhailov, as the tsar called himself, accepted the title of shipmaster and began to receive a salary of 366 rubles a year. On November 19, 1698, he laid down a 58-gun ship in Voronezh. But still, the path to the wide, world-wide sea spaces was difficult for Russian ships: Kerch Strait controlled by Turkey, as well as the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles - the straits connecting the Black and Mediterranean Seas.

The main orientation of the interests of the Russian sovereign changed, Peter I turned his eyes to the Baltic. But there was already dominated by a strong fleet of the young and desperate Swedish king Charles XII, who had just ascended the throne. Relying on the support of two other recognized maritime powers - England and Holland, he threatened not only his Baltic neighbors - Denmark and Poland, but also intended to capture Russian cities: Pskov, Novgorod and Arkhangelsk.

“The king dreams of only one war,” the French envoy wrote about Charles XII, “he was told too much about the exploits and campaigns of his ancestors. His heart and head are filled with this, and he considers himself invincible ... " Such confidence was given to Charles by the possession of not only a fleet of 50 ships, but also a 150,000-strong army recruited from Swedish peasants who, in peacetime, lived on land received from the state . This army surpassed in its fighting qualities many Western European mercenary armies.

Against Sweden in 1699, the anti-Swedish military Northern Union was created. Each state of the anti-Swedish coalition had its own interests: the Danish king Friedrich IV wanted to return the areas lost by his country in 1660 and 1689, in particular Schleswig (a region on the border of Denmark and Germany); Elector of Saxony Augusta II, who was also the king of Poland, attracted the lands of Livonia and Estonia (Baltic); Peter I sought not only to go to the sea, but also to return to Russia its ancestral territories with the cities of Korela, Koporye, Oreshek, Yam and Ivangorod, which had gone to Sweden along Stolbovsky Peace of 1617

In May 1703, on the orders of Peter I, a fortress with six bastions was founded on the banks of the Neva, on the island of Janni-Saari. She was given the name Petropavlovskaya. Thousands of men brought from all over Russia, standing waist-deep in water, drove piles into the swampy shore with oak "women". All thieves-kolodniks, on the orders of Peter, were also driven here to work. Hundreds of people lay down in the wet earth at the end of the world - they could not stand the labor, and there was not enough bread. “They are very sick here, and many have died,” Peter wrote to Moscow, demanding to send more people. This is how St. Petersburg began to be built - new capital Russia.

The capital had to be protected from the Swedes... Not far from the mouth of the Neva, in the Gulf of Finland, lay an island Kotlin, overgrown with a dense pine forest. Only close to it was it possible to pass to the mouth of the Neva - in other places the shoals interfered. Soon, construction of a new Russian fort began on the shallows south of Kotlin Island. Kronshlot, part of the future sea fortress Kronstadt. The instruction to the commandant of the fortress said: "To maintain this citadel with God's help, if anything happens even to the last man."

A year later, the Swedes began to attack the new fortress, and on the coast too. Although all attacks were repulsed, it was still impossible to reliably defend Petersburg without ships. Axes clattered again, saws screeched. On the banks of the rivers Syas and Svir, and then the Neva, shipyards arose. The young Baltic Fleet grew rapidly. The first ship of the Baltic Fleet was built in 1703 - the 30-gun frigate Shtandart.

In May 1703, commanding a detachment of boats with a landing force of the guard, Peter boarded the Swedish ships Gedan and Astrild, which were stationed at the mouth of the Neva, for which he was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Finding themselves without support, the garrison of the Nyenschanz fortress capitulated after being shelled. The entire course of the Neva was at the disposal of Peter. In September, in the rank of captain, he brought the Shtandart ship from the Olonets shipyard to St. Petersburg.

By the end of 1705, he had more than two dozen ships, frigates and galleys. Three hundred guns stood on their decks, still smelling of fresh forest, and two thousand two hundred crewmen, sailors and gunners, were waiting for the order to set off. Tsar Peter appointed vice-admiral Cornelius Kruys as commander of the fleet.

The struggle went on for a long time and not always with success! For more than twenty years, from 1700 to 1721, there was a Northern War between Sweden and the countries of the Northern Union. Taking advantage of the fact that Frederick IV went with his main forces to recapture Schleswig, Charles XII, with the support of the Anglo-Dutch fleet, landed troops on the Danish island of Zeeland and besieged Copenhagen. Threatening to burn the capital of Denmark, Charles XII forced Frederick IV to capitulate and withdraw from the Northern Union. This happened on August 7, 1700.

This war is divided by modern historians into two periods: the first - from the autumn of 1700 (the beginning of the siege of Narva) to the summer of 1709 (the Battle of Poltava); the second from the middle of 1709 to 1721 (conclusion of the Peace of Nystadt).

With the outbreak of the Northern War, the Baltic Fleet also became necessary. In 1702-1704. the construction of ships unfolded in several places at once: on the rivers Syas, Svir, Luga, Volkhov, Izhora. In addition to seven frigates, 91 ships were built. At the end of 1704, the fortress created by Peter on the island of Kotlin already had more than 70 guns. By 1710, the fleet in the Baltic included 12 battleships. A strong fleet hastened the capture of Vyborg, Riga, and Revel by the Russian troops.

In 1706, Peter I was promoted to captain-commander. On November 30, 1707, in St. Petersburg, he laid down the 16-gun gun "Lizet", launched by him in 1708. From October 29, 1708, by decree of Admiral Count Apraksin, Pyotr Alekseevich began to receive a commander's salary of 600 rubles, a ship's master of 1200 rubles. From February 14 to May 27, 1709, he was at shipbuilding in Voronezh, surveyed the ports of Azov, sailed on a brigantine in the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov, and on April 7 launched 2 ships built by him in Voronezh: the 50-gun Lastka and the 80-gun Old Eagle ".

Although many different ships and galleys were built for Russian sailors, it was still far from the Swedish fleet. However, little by little, with the help of the fleet, Russian troops recaptured Narva, Vyborg, Riga and Revel from the Swedes, and finally, in July 1713, Helsingfors. The Swedes did not have a single stronghold in the Gulf of Finland. In July 1714, the Russian fleet defeated the Swedes in the Gangut naval battle, defeating and capturing a detachment of Swedish ships.

The next stage of sharp activation in the construction of new ships begins in 1711-1713. Russian shipyards were already building powerful 52- and even 60-gun ships. In 1714, the Russian fleet won a major naval victory over the Swedes on July 27 near the Gangut (Hanko) peninsula. The victory allowed the Russian fleet to control the Aland skerries and the coast. In an effort to transfer the war to the territory of the enemy, the Russian tsar increased the number of powerful battleships and the skerry fleet. The final approval in the Baltic Sea can be timed to coincide with the victory at Grengam on July 27, 1720. By the time the war ended, Russia had 29 battleships, 6 frigates, 208 galleys and other ships in the Baltic.

Since 1705, recruiting began specifically for the fleet. In the future, until 1715 there were 5 sets, approximately 1-1.5 thousand people each. However, the complete recruitment of the fleet became a reality only starting from 1718. The first nautical school was organized as early as 1698 in Azov. In 1701, a school of "mathematical and navigational" sciences was opened in Moscow, preparing personnel for both the army and the navy. Initially, it was designed for 200, and from 1701 - already for 500 people. In 1715, the St. Petersburg Naval Academy of Officers began to operate. In 1716, the so-called midshipman company was organized.

In 1718, the royal vice-admiral commanded the vanguard of the Apraksin F.M. fleet. sailing in the Gulf of Finland. On July 15, the built 90-gun ship Lesnoye was launched in St. Petersburg. In 1719 the tsar commanded the Baltic Fleet; the fleet went to Aland, where it stood for almost two months. In this and previous years, Peter worked diligently on the drafting of the maritime charter, sometimes working 14 hours a day.

Swedish senators tried to persuade their king Charles XII to make peace with Russia. However, Karl did not want to listen to anything. “If only all of Sweden was gone,” he declared, “but there will be no peace!” I had to again announce a new mobilization throughout Sweden ...

The young Baltic Fleet won many more victories over the Swedes, and in 1721 the Swedes were forced to sign the Treaty of Nystadt. Under this treaty, Russia ceded: Ingermanland, on whose lands Petersburg arose, Estland with the city of Revel, Livonia with Riga and part of Karelia with Vyborg and Kexholm.

In honor of the Peace of Nystadt, Peter ordered large festivities to be held, first in the autumn in St. Petersburg, and then in the winter of 1722 in Moscow. An unusual procession passed through the streets of Moscow: many large models of ships, placed on sleigh runners, were moving towards the Kremlin.

Peter I himself, who led this procession, sat on the flagship layout. And in the Kremlin he was met by an old friend. On a pedestal, decorated with paintings and inscriptions, stood "Grandfather of the Russian Fleet" - an old English ship's boat, on which the young Russian Tsar sailed along the Yauza, and all the "ships" saluted "grandfather" honor ...

By the end of the reign of Peter I, the Russian navy was one of the most powerful in Europe. It included 34 battleships, 9 frigates, 17 galleys and 26 ships of other types (Korobkov N.M. “The Russian Fleet in the Seven Years' War”, M., 1946). There were up to 30 thousand people in its ranks. Petersburg, Kronstadt, Revel, Arkhangelsk - these are the main ports and bases of his stay.

It is clear that without the work of many, many specialists, it would be impossible to create a fleet capable of defeating the original Swedish sailors. But it is equally obvious that it would have been impossible to accomplish this great deed in such a short time for history without the enthusiasm of the young Peter the Great, who fell in love with the maritime business, fully realized its importance for the state and forced those close to him to also become its enthusiasts.
Tsar Peter became the rarest example of a person who had full power, but who acted not so much by coercion as by personal example, especially in the field of maritime affairs. A worthy monument to the reformer is the fleet he created.

Navy is one of the most important foreign policy attributes of the state. It is designed for security and protection of interests Russian Federation in peacetime and wartime on the oceanic and sea frontiers.

The Navy is capable of striking enemy ground targets, destroying enemy fleet groupings in seas and bases, disrupting enemy ocean and sea communications and protecting its maritime transportation, assisting ground forces in operations in continental theaters of military operations, landing amphibious assault forces, and participating in repelling enemy landings and perform other tasks.

Today The navy consists of four fleets: Northern, Pacific, Black Sea, Baltic and Caspian flotilla. The priority task of the fleet is to prevent the outbreak of wars and armed conflicts, and in the event of aggression, repulse it, cover the country's facilities, forces and troops from oceanic and sea areas, inflict defeat on the enemy, create conditions for preventing hostilities at the earliest possible stage and concluding peace at conditions that meet the interests of the Russian Federation. In addition, the task of the Navy is to conduct peacekeeping operations by decision of the UN Security Council or in accordance with the international allied obligations of the Russian Federation.

To solve the priority task of the Armed Forces and the Navy - to prevent the outbreak of war, the Navy has naval strategic nuclear forces and general-purpose forces. In the event of aggression, they must repel enemy strikes, defeat strike groups of his fleet and prevent him from carrying out large-scale naval operations, as well as, in cooperation with other branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, ensure the creation of the necessary conditions for the effective conduct of defensive operations in continental theaters of military operations.

The Navy consists of the following branches of forces (Fig. 1): underwater, surface, naval aviation, marines and coastal defense troops. It also includes ships and vessels, parts special purpose, units and subunits of the rear.

submarine force- the strike force of the fleet, capable of controlling the expanses, covertly and quickly deploying in the right directions and delivering unexpected powerful strikes from the depths of the ocean against sea and continental targets. Depending on the main armament, submarines are divided into missile and torpedo, and according to the type of power plant, nuclear and diesel-electric.

Rice. 1. Structure of the Navy

The main striking force of the Navy is nuclear submarines armed with ballistic and cruise missiles with nuclear warheads. These ships are constantly in various areas of the World Ocean, ready for the immediate use of their strategic weapons.

Nuclear-powered submarines armed with ship-to-ship cruise missiles are mainly aimed at fighting large enemy surface ships.

Nuclear torpedo submarines are used to disrupt enemy submarine and surface communications and in the defense system against underwater threats, as well as to escort missile submarines and surface ships.

The use of diesel submarines (missile and torpedo) is associated mainly with the solution of typical tasks for them in limited areas of the sea.

Equipping submarines with nuclear power and nuclear missile weapons, powerful sonar systems and high-precision navigation weapons, along with comprehensive automation of control processes and the creation of optimal living conditions for the crew, has significantly expanded their tactical properties and forms of combat use. Surface forces in modern conditions remain the most important part of the Navy. The creation of ships - carriers of aircraft and helicopters, as well as the transition of a number of classes of ships, as well as submarines, to nuclear energy have greatly increased their combat capabilities. Equipping ships with helicopters and aircraft significantly expands their capabilities to detect and destroy enemy submarines. Helicopters make it possible to successfully solve the problems of relaying and communications, target designation, transfer of cargo at sea, landing troops on the coast and rescuing personnel.

surface ships are the main forces for ensuring the exit and deployment of submarines in the areas of hostilities and return to bases, transportation and cover of landing forces. They are assigned the main role in laying minefields, in combating the mine danger and protecting their communications.

The traditional task of surface ships is to strike at enemy targets on his territory and to cover their coast from the sea from the enemy's naval forces.

Thus, a complex of responsible combat missions is assigned to surface ships. They solve these tasks in groups, formations, associations both independently and in cooperation with other branches of the fleet forces (submarines, aviation, marines).

Naval aviation- branch of the Navy. It consists of strategic, tactical, deck and coastal.

Strategic and tactical aviation Designed for confrontation with groups of surface ships in the ocean, submarines and transports, as well as for bombing and missile strikes against enemy coastal targets.

carrier-based aviation is the main striking force of the aircraft carrier formations of the Navy. Its main combat missions in the armed struggle on the sea are the destruction of enemy aircraft in the air, the starting positions of anti-aircraft guided missiles and other enemy air defense systems, the conduct of tactical reconnaissance, etc. When performing combat missions, carrier-based aviation actively interacts with tactical aviation.

Naval aviation helicopters are an effective means of targeting a ship's missile weapons when destroying submarines and repelling attacks by enemy low-flying aircraft and anti-ship missiles. Carrying air-to-surface missiles and other weapons, they are a powerful means of fire support for marines and the destruction of enemy missile and artillery boats.

Marines- a branch of the Navy, designed to conduct combat operations as part of amphibious assault forces (independently or jointly with the Ground Forces), as well as to defend the coast (naval bases, ports).

The combat operations of the marines are carried out, as a rule, with the support of aviation and artillery fire from ships. In turn, the marines use in combat operations all types of weapons characteristic of motorized rifle troops, while using landing tactics specific to it.

Coastal Defense Troops, As a branch of the Navy forces, they are designed to protect the bases of the Navy forces, ports, important sections of the coast, islands, straits and narrownesses from the attack of ships and amphibious landings of the enemy. The basis of their armament is coastal missile systems and artillery, anti-aircraft missile systems, mine and torpedo weapons, as well as special coastal defense ships (protection of the water area). Coastal fortifications are being set up on the coast to ensure defense by troops.

Units and divisions of the rear are intended for logistic support of the forces and military operations of the Navy. They ensure the satisfaction of the material, transport, household and other needs of formations and formations of the Navy in order to maintain them in combat readiness for the performance of assigned tasks.

The Navy has an aircraft carrier (Fig. 2), nuclear submarines armed with ballistic and cruise missiles with nuclear charges (Fig. 3), nuclear missile cruisers (Fig. 4), large anti-submarine ships, destroyers (Fig. 5), patrol ships, small anti-submarine ships, minesweeping ships, landing ships, aircraft (Su-33 - Fig. 6, A-40, MiG-29, Tu-22M, Su-24, MiG-23/27, 142, Be-12, Il-38), helicopters (Mi-14, Ka-25, Ka-27, Ka-29), tanks (T-80, T-72, PT-76), BRDM, BTR, self-propelled artillery guns (self-propelled guns of 122 and 152 mm caliber), self-propelled anti-aircraft installations, portable and self-propelled anti-aircraft missile systems.

Rice. 2. Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov": standard (full) displacement - 45,900 (58,500) tons; length (but waterline) - 304.5 (270) m; width (at the waterline) - 72.3 (35.4) m; draft - 10.5 m; maximum travel speed - 30 knots; cruising range (at speed) - 3850 miles (29 knots) or 8500 miles (18 knots); autonomy - 45 days; crew (officers) - I960 (200) + headquarters 40 people; flight crew - 626 people; fleet - 22 SU-33, 17 KA-27/31; maximum aircraft capacity - 36 SU-33, 14 helicopters; runway area - 14800 m 2; hangar capacity - 18 SU-33; means of support - 2 aircraft lifts, springboard, corner landing deck, 3 runways; weapons - shock, anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, radio-electronic

Rice. 3. Heavy nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles of project 941 "Typhoon": surface displacement (underwater) - 28500 (49800) tons; length - 171.5 m; width - 24.6 m; draft - 13 m; underwater speed - 27 knots; crew (officers) - 163 (55) people; autonomy - 120 days; immersion depth - 500 m; armament - 20 ICBMs, torpedo tubes, PLUR, missiles, torpedoes, hydroacoustic stations, electronic countermeasures

Rice. 4. Heavy nuclear missile cruiser project 1144 "Peter the Great": standard (full) displacement - 19,000 (24,300) tons; length - 252 m; width - 28.5 m; draft - 9.1 m; maximum travel speed - 30 knots; cruising range (at speed) - 14,000 miles (30 knots); crew (officers) - 744 (82) people: weapons - shock (PU anti-ship missiles), anti-aircraft, artillery, anti-torpedo, anti-submarine, aviation (3 Ka-27), electronic

Rice. 5. Destroyer "Admiral Chabanenko": standard (full) displacement - 7700 (8900) tons; length - 163.5 m; width - 19.3 m; draft - 7.5 m; maximum travel speed - 30 knots; cruising range (at speed) - 4000 miles (18 knots); crew (officers) - 296 (32) people; weapons - shock (PU anti-ship missiles), anti-aircraft, artillery, anti-submarine, aviation (2 Ka-27), radio-electronic

Rice. 6. Ship-based fighter Su-33: wingspan - 14.7 m; length 21.19 m; height - 5.63 m; maximum takeoff weight - 32,000 kg; maximum speed at high altitude -2300 km / h; ceiling - 17,000 m; range - 3000 km; armament - 30-mm cannon (250 rounds), UR; crew - 1 person

The Russian Navy (USSR), as an independent branch of the Armed Forces, took shape in the period from the end of the 17th to the beginning of the 20th century.

The creation of a regular navy in Russia is a historical pattern. It was due to the urgent need of the country to overcome the territorial, political and cultural isolation, which became at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries. major obstacle to economic and social development Russian state.

The first permanent grouping of forces - the Azov Fleet - was formed from ships and vessels built in the winter of 1695-1696. and was intended to assist the army in the campaign to capture the Turkish fortress of Azov. On October 30, 1696, the Boyar Duma, on the proposal of Tsar Peter I, adopted a resolution "Sea courts to be ...", which became the first law on the fleet and recognition as the official date of its foundation.

During the Northern War of 1700-1721. the main tasks of the fleet were determined, the list of which remains practically unchanged to this day, namely: the fight against the enemy’s naval forces, the fight on sea lanes, the defense of its coast from the sea direction, the assistance of the army in coastal directions, strikes and ensure the invasion of the territory enemy from the sea. The proportion of these tasks changed as material means and the nature of armed struggle at sea changed. Accordingly, the role and place of the individual branches of forces that were part of the fleet changed.

So, before the First World War, the main tasks were solved by surface ships, and they were the main arm of the fleet. During World War II, this role was for some time transferred to naval aviation, and in post-war period With the advent of nuclear missile weapons and ships with nuclear power plants, submarines became established as the main branch of forces.

Prior to the First World War, the fleet was homogeneous. Coastal troops (marine infantry and coastal artillery) have existed since the beginning of the 18th century, however, organizationally they were not part of the fleet. On March 19, 1906, submarine forces were born and began to develop as a new branch of the Navy.

In 1914, the first units of Naval Aviation were formed, which in 1916 also acquired signs of an independent branch of force. Navy Aviation Day is celebrated on July 17 in honor of the first victory of Russian naval pilots in an air battle over the Baltic Sea in 1916. The Navy was finally formed as a diverse strategic association by the mid-1930s, when naval aviation, coastal defense and military units were organizationally part of the Navy. air defense.

The modern system of command and control of the Navy finally took shape on the eve of the Great Patriotic War. On January 15, 1938, by the Decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars, the People's Commissariat of the Navy was created, within which the Main Naval Headquarters was formed. During the formation of the Russian regular fleet, its organizational structure and functions were unclear. On December 22, 1717, by decree of Peter the Great, the Admiralty Board was formed for the daily management of the fleet. On September 20, 1802, the Ministry of Naval Forces was formed, later renamed the Naval Ministry and existed until 1917. Bodies of combat (operational) control of the forces of the Navy appeared after Russo-Japanese War with the creation on April 7, 1906 of the Naval General Staff. At the head of the Russian fleet were such famous naval commanders as Peter 1, P.V. Chichagov, I.K. Grigorovich, N.G. Kuznetsov, S.G. Gorshkov.

Permanent groupings of forces in the maritime theaters took shape as decisions were made. Russian state historical tasks associated with the acquisition of outlets to the oceans, the inclusion of the country in the world economy and politics. In the Baltic, the fleet has constantly existed since May 18, 1703, the Caspian flotilla since November 15, 1722, and the fleet on the Black Sea since May 13, 1783. In the North and pacific ocean groupings of naval forces were created, as a rule, on a temporary basis or, having not received significant development, were periodically abolished. The current Pacific and Northern Fleets have existed as permanent groupings since April 21, 1932 and June 1, 1933, respectively.

The fleet received the greatest development by the mid-80s. At that time, it included 4 fleets and the Caspian Flotilla, which included more than 100 divisions and brigades of surface ships, submarines, naval aviation and coastal defense.

Throughout their glorious history, Russian and Soviet warships could be seen at all latitudes of the seas and oceans, not only with military purposes, but also discovering new lands, penetrating the polar ice for scientific research. The study and description by military sailors of the northern coasts of Siberia, Kamchatka, Alaska, the Aleutian and Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, the Sea of Okhotsk, circumnavigation, the discovery of Antarctica had global importance. Russia was glorified by such famous navigators as M.P. Lazarev, F.F. Bellingshausen, G.I. Nevelskoy and others.

The role of the fleet in the history of Russia has always gone beyond the performance of purely military tasks. The presence of the fleet contributed to our country's active foreign policy. It has repeatedly become a deterrent for the enemy of our state in the event of a threat of war.

Great was the role of the fleet in the formation of national identity. The victories at Gangut, Grengam, Ezel, Chesme Fidonisi, Kaliakria, Navarino, Sinop became a matter of national pride. Our people sacredly honor the memory of the outstanding naval commanders F.F. Ushakov, D.N. Senyavin, M.P. Lazarev, V.N. Kornilova, P.S. Nakhimova, N.G. Kuznetsova.

Russia by geographic location, the totality of economic, political and military interests in the oceans - a great maritime power. This is an objective reality that Russians and the world community will have to reckon with in the next century.

Navy structure

The Navy is a powerful factor in the country's defense capability. It is subdivided into strategic nuclear forces and general purpose forces. Strategic nuclear forces have great nuclear missile power, high mobility and the ability to operate for a long time in various regions of the oceans.

The Navy consists of the following branches of forces: submarine, surface, naval aviation, marines and coastal defense troops. It also includes ships and vessels, special-purpose units, units and subunits of the rear.

Submarine forces are the strike force of the fleet, capable of controlling the expanses of the World Ocean, covertly and quickly deploying in the right directions and delivering unexpected powerful strikes from the depths of the ocean against sea and continental targets. Depending on the main armament, submarines are divided into missile and torpedo, and according to the type of power plant, nuclear and diesel-electric.

Nuclear-powered submarines armed with ship-to-ship cruise missiles are mainly aimed at fighting large enemy surface ships.

The use of diesel submarines (missile and torpedo) is associated mainly with the solution of typical tasks for them in limited areas of the sea.

Equipping submarines with atomic energy and nuclear missile weapons, powerful sonar systems and high-precision navigational weapons, along with the comprehensive automation of control processes and the creation of optimal conditions for the life of the crew, has significantly expanded their tactical properties and forms of combat use. Surface forces in modern conditions remain the most important part of the Navy. The creation of ships carrying aircraft and helicopters, as well as the transition of a number of classes of ships, like submarines, to nuclear power have greatly increased their combat capabilities. Equipping ships with helicopters and aircraft significantly expands their capabilities to detect and destroy enemy submarines. Helicopters create an opportunity to successfully solve the problems of relaying and communications, target designation, transfer of cargo at sea, landing troops on the coast and rescuing personnel.

Surface ships are the main forces to ensure the exit and deployment of submarines to combat areas and return to bases, transport and cover landings. They are assigned the main role in laying minefields, in combating the mine danger and protecting their communications.

The traditional task of surface ships is to strike at enemy targets on its territory and cover its coast from the sea from the enemy's naval forces.

Naval aviation is a branch of the Navy. It consists of strategic, tactical, deck and coastal.

Strategic and tactical aviation is designed to confront groups of surface ships in the ocean, submarines and transports, as well as to deliver bombing and missile strikes against enemy coastal targets.

Carrier-based aviation is the main striking force of the Navy's aircraft carrier formations. Its main combat missions in armed struggle at sea are the destruction of enemy aircraft in the air, the starting positions of anti-aircraft guided missiles and other means of enemy air defense, the conduct of tactical reconnaissance, etc. When performing combat missions, carrier-based aviation actively interacts with tactical aviation.

The Marine Corps is a branch of the Navy, designed to conduct combat operations as part of amphibious assault forces (independently or jointly with the Ground Forces), as well as to defend the coast (naval bases, ports).

Coastal defense troops, as a branch of the Navy, are designed to protect naval bases, ports, important sections of the coast, islands, straits and narrownesses from attack by enemy ships and amphibious assault forces. The basis of their armament is coastal missile systems and artillery, anti-aircraft missile systems, mine and torpedo weapons, as well as special coastal defense ships (protection of the water area). Coastal fortifications are being set up on the coast to ensure defense by troops.

Logistic units and subunits are intended for logistic support of the forces and military operations of the Navy. They ensure the satisfaction of the material, transport, household and other needs of formations and formations of the Navy in order to maintain them in combat readiness for the performance of assigned tasks.

| Types of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation | Navy

Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

Types of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

Navy

From the history of creation

In 1695, the young Tsar Peter I made an attempt to seize the Azov fortress occupied by the Turks. The siege ended in failure, as the Turkish fleet, which dominated the Sea of Azov, provided great assistance and support to the garrison of the fortress.

After analyzing the reasons for the unsuccessful siege in Russia, the Admiralty was established, and on the river. Shipbuilding yards were laid in Voronezh. As a result of the energetic measures taken in 1696. managed to create the first in the history of Russia connection of military and transport ships, the so-called naval military caravan. It consisted of 2 frigates, 23 galleys, 4 fire ships and about 1000 small rowing vessels. In May 1696, the ground army (about 75 thousand people) and the naval military caravan reached Azov and blocked it from land and sea, and on May 20, a detachment of 40 Cossack boats attacked the Turkish squadron. The Turks lost 2 ships and 10 cargo ships. At the same time, the main part of the military caravan took up a position at the mouth of the river. Don and did not allow the Turkish fleet, which arrived to help the Azov garrison, to approach the coast and land reinforcements for the besieged.

As a result of these actions, on July 19, 1696, Azov surrendered. In connection with these events, 1696 is rightfully considered the year of foundation of the Russian Navy.

Organizational structure of the Navy

Naval High Command
surface forces
submarine forces
Naval aviation
- Coastal Rocket and Artillery Troops
- Marines

Navy- a type of the Armed Forces designed to strike at industrial and economic regions (centers), important military targets of the enemy and defeat his naval forces. The Navy is capable of inflicting nuclear strikes on enemy ground targets, destroying its ships at sea and in bases, disrupting its ocean and maritime communications and defending its own, assisting ground forces in conducting operations, landing amphibious assaults and repulsing enemy amphibious assaults, transporting troops, material funds and perform other tasks.

Part Navy includes several branches of forces: submarine, surface, naval aviation, coastal troops. It also includes ships and vessels of the auxiliary fleet, special forces and various services. The main types of forces are submarine forces and naval aviation.

Navy is one of the most important foreign policy attributes of the state. It is designed to ensure the security and protection of the interests of the Russian Federation in peacetime and wartime at the ocean and sea frontiers.

The Navy is capable of inflicting nuclear strikes on enemy ground targets, destroying enemy fleet groups in the sea and bases, disrupting the enemy’s ocean and sea communications and protecting its maritime transportation, assisting ground forces in operations in continental theaters of military operations, landing amphibious assault forces, participating in repelling enemy landings and perform other tasks.

Today the Navy consists of four fleets: Northern, Pacific, Black Sea, Baltic and Caspian flotilla. The priority task of the fleet is to prevent the outbreak of wars and armed conflicts, and in the event of aggression, repulse it, cover the country's facilities, forces and troops from oceanic and sea areas, inflict defeat on the enemy, create conditions for preventing hostilities at the earliest possible stage and concluding peace at conditions that meet the interests of the Russian Federation. In addition, the task of the Navy is to conduct peacekeeping operations by decision of the UN Security Council or in accordance with the international allied obligations of the Russian Federation.

Navy (Navy)

underwater
surface
naval aviation
Marine Corps and Coastal Defense Forces.
- ships and vessels
- special purpose parts
- units and divisions of the rear.

Submarine nuclear powered ships, armed with ship-to-ship cruise missiles, are aimed mainly at combating large enemy surface ships.

Nuclear-powered torpedo submarines are used to disrupt the enemy's underwater and surface communications and in the defense system against an underwater threat, as well as to escort missile submarines and surface ships.

The use of diesel submarines (missile and torpedo) is associated mainly with the solution of typical tasks for them in limited areas of the sea.

Equipping submarines with nuclear power and nuclear missile weapons, powerful sonar systems and high-precision navigation weapons, along with comprehensive automation of control processes and the creation of optimal living conditions for the crew, has significantly expanded their tactical properties and forms of combat use. Surface forces in modern conditions remain the most important part of the Navy. The creation of ships carrying aircraft and helicopters, as well as the transition of a number of classes of ships, like submarines, to nuclear power have greatly increased their combat capabilities. Equipping ships with helicopters and aircraft significantly expands their capabilities to detect and destroy enemy submarines. Helicopters make it possible to successfully solve the problems of relaying and communications, target designation, transfer of cargo at sea, landing troops on the coast and rescuing personnel.

The traditional task of surface ships is to strike at enemy targets on his territory and to cover their coast from the sea from the enemy's naval forces.

Naval aviation- branch of the Navy. It consists of strategic, tactical, deck and coastal.

The Russian Imperial Fleet is one of the very first and official names of the Russian Navy. The name existed until 1917 - I think it’s not worth specifying why it was in this year that the word “imperial” was “cut out” from the official name. Nevertheless, let's turn to more important things - to the history of the creation of Russia's naval power.

Today, the era of the reign of Peter the Great is condemned in the most natural and familiar way. Many of his reforms are controversial even centuries later, and all of them are based on a Europeanized version of Russia. After all, it was he, the Russian Emperor Peter, who took the European model of Russia's development as a basis.

It would be absurd and stupid of me to argue on the topic: "was he right or not" great emperor in your decision. For me, it's not a bad idea to learn from those who are more and better at some things. And in this context, it would be right to ask the most important questions - under Peter, was Russia built and developed, or did it degrade for all political and economic reasons?

It is unequivocal that Peter I developed the country, strengthened and made it more powerful, even taking into account the fact that European touches and the borrowed experience of neighboring countries were very frankly looming. I repeat, the main thing is the development of the state, and it would be absurd to reproach Peter for the opposite. The most important argument in support of the above is creation of the Imperial Navy- the pride of Peter the Great!

October 30, 1696 is considered the official date, when the Boyar Duma, at the insistence of Peter I, decided to create a regular Russian navy: "Sea ships to be."

Azov Fleet of Peter I

Azov Fleet. Engraving from Johann Georg Korb's book "Diary of a Journey to Muscovy" (Russian translation, 1867)

The emperor's military failures served as prerequisites for the creation, in particular, the first Azov campaign* clearly showed Tsar Peter that the seaside fortress could not be taken without any strong fleet.

The very idea of Peter I to build a fleet on land, in Voronezh, 1,200 miles from the sea, was considered ambitious by all standards, but not for Peter. The task was completed in one winter.

Azov campaigns of 1695 and 1696 - Russian military campaigns against the Ottoman Empire; were a continuation of the war started by the government of Princess Sophia with the Ottoman Empire and the Crimea; taken by Peter I at the beginning of his reign and ended with the capture of the Turkish fortress of Azov. They can be considered the first significant accomplishment of the young king.

This gigantic enterprise alone could have been the glory of man, and only later, even more glorious deeds somehow obscured in our memories this famous emergence of the navy on land.

When Peter I was pointed out the almost impossible difficulties of keeping the fleet on a completely alien sea, where there was not a single harbor of its own, he replied that "a strong fleet will find a harbor for itself." One can think that Peter, having mastered Azov and decided to build large ships in Taganrog, expected to talk with the Turks about the world not on the Prut (constrained by their hordes), but on the Bosphorus, where his ships would threaten the Sultan's palace with their guns.

True, foreign envoys reported to their governments that most of the ships of the Azov fleet were good only for firewood. The ships of the first construction, cut down in the middle of winter, from a frozen forest, in most cases by inexperienced and poor shipbuilders, were really not important, but Peter I did everything so that the Azov fleet was a real sea power, and, admittedly, he achieved this.

The king himself worked tirelessly. “His Majesty,” wrote Kruys, “was vigilant in this work, so with an ax, an adze, a caulk, a hammer and anointing ships, he was much more diligent and working more than an old and highly trained carpenter.”

Almost immediately at that time, military shipbuilding began in Russia, ships were built in Voronezh and St. Petersburg, on Ladoga and in Arkhangelsk. In the second Azov campaign against Turkey in 1696, 2 battleships, 4 fireships, 23 galleys and 1300 plows built in Voronezh on the river participated. Voronezh.

In order to gain a foothold on the Sea of Azov, in 1698 Peter began the construction of Taganrog as a naval base. During the period from 1695 to 1710, the Azov fleet was replenished with many battleships and frigates, galleys and bombardment ships, fire ships and small ships. But he did not last long. In 1711, after an unsuccessful war with Turkey, according to the Prut peace treaty, Russia was forced to give the Turks the shores of the Sea of Azov and pledged to destroy the Azov fleet.

The creation of the Azov Fleet was an extremely important event for Russia. Firstly, it revealed the role of the navy in the armed struggle for the liberation of coastal lands. Secondly, the much-needed experience in the mass construction of military ships was acquired, which made it possible to quickly create a strong Baltic Fleet in the future. Thirdly, Europe was shown Russia's enormous potential to become a powerful maritime power.

Baltic Fleet of Peter I

The Baltic Fleet is one of the oldest Russian navies.

The Baltic Sea washed the shores of Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Russia. It makes no sense to dwell on the strategic importance in controlling the Baltic Sea itself - it is large and you need to know this. Peter the Great also knew this. Should he not know about the Livonian War, begun in 1558 by Ivan the Terrible, who already at that time was striving in every possible way to provide Russia with a reliable outlet to the Baltic Sea. What did it mean for Russia? I will give just one example - in 1558, having captured Narva, the Russian tsar made it the main trading gate to Russia. The turnover of Narva grew rapidly, the number of ships entering the port reached 170 per year. You need to understand that such a combination of circumstances cut off a significant part of other states - Sweden, Poland ...

To gain a foothold in the Baltic Sea has always been one of the fundamentally important tasks of Russia. Attempts were made by Ivan the Terrible, and very successful, but the final success was secured by Peter the Great.

After the war with Turkey for the possession of the Sea of Azov, the aspirations of Peter I were directed to the struggle for access to the Baltic Sea, the success of which was predetermined by the presence of military force at sea. Knowing this very well, Peter I set about building the Baltic Fleet. At the shipyards of the Syaz, Svir and Volkhov rivers, river and sea warships are being laid down, seven 52-gun ships and three 32-gun frigates are being built at the Arkhangelsk shipyards. New shipyards are being created, and the number of iron and copper foundries in the Urals is growing. In Voronezh, the casting of ship cannons and cores for them is being established.

In a fairly short time, a flotilla was created, which consisted of battleships with a displacement of up to 700 tons, a length of up to 50 m. Up to 80 guns and 600-800 crew members were placed on their two or three decks.

For a confident exit to the Gulf of Finland, Peter I concentrated his main efforts on mastering the lands adjacent to Ladoga and the Neva. After a 10-day siege and a fierce assault, with the assistance of a rowing flotilla of 50 boats, the Noteburg (Nutlet) fortress was the first to fall, soon renamed Shlisselburg (Key City). In the words of Peter I, this fortress "opened the gates to the sea." Then the Nyenschanz fortress was taken, located at the confluence of the Neva river. Oh you.

In order to finally block the entrance to the Neva for the Swedes, on May 16 (27), 1703, at its mouth, on Hare Island, Peter I laid the foundation for a fortress called Peter and Paul, and the port city of St. Petersburg. On Kotlin Island, 30 versts from the mouth of the Neva, Peter I ordered the construction of the Kronstadt fort to protect the future Russian capital.

In 1704, on the left bank of the Neva, the construction of the Admiralty shipyard began, which was destined to soon become the main domestic shipyard, and St. Petersburg - the shipbuilding center of Russia.

In August 1704, Russian troops, continuing to liberate the Baltic coast, stormed Narva. In the future, the main events of the Northern War took place on land.

On June 27, 1709, the Swedes suffered a serious defeat in the battle of Poltava. However, for the final victory over Sweden, it was necessary to crush its naval forces and establish itself in the Baltic. It took another 12 years of stubborn struggle, primarily at sea.

In the period 1710-1714. By building ships at domestic shipyards and buying them abroad, a fairly strong galley and sailing Baltic Fleet was created. The first of the battleships laid down in the autumn of 1709 was named "Poltava" in honor of the outstanding victory over the Swedes.

The high quality of Russian ships was recognized by many foreign shipbuilders and sailors. So, one of his contemporaries, the English Admiral Porris wrote:

"Russian ships are equal in all respects the best ships of this type, which are available in our country, and, moreover, more fairly finished ".

The successes of domestic shipbuilders were very significant: by 1714, the Baltic Fleet included 27 linear 42-74-gun ships, 9 frigates with 18-32 guns, 177 scampaways and brigantines, 22 auxiliary ships. The total number of guns on the ships reached 1060.

The increased power of the Baltic Fleet allowed its forces on July 27 (August 7), 1714 to win a brilliant victory against the Swedish fleet at Cape Gangut. In a naval battle, a detachment of 10 units was captured along with Rear Admiral N. Erenskiold, who commanded them. In the battle of Gangut, Peter I fully used the advantage of the galley and sailing and rowing fleet over the enemy's linear fleet in the skerry region of the sea. The sovereign personally led the advance detachment of 23 scampaways in battle.

The Gangut victory provided the Russian fleet with freedom of action in the Gulf of Finland and Bothnia. She, like the Poltava victory, became turning point during the entire Northern War, which allowed Peter I to begin preparations for an invasion directly into the territory of Sweden. This was the only way to force Sweden to make peace.

The authority of the Russian fleet, Peter I as a naval commander became recognized by the fleets of the Baltic states. In 1716, in the Sound, at a meeting of the Russian, English, Dutch and Danish squadrons for joint cruising in the Bornholm area against the Swedish fleet and privateers, Peter I was unanimously elected commander of the united Allied squadron.

This event was later commemorated by the issuance of a medal with the inscription "Reigns over four, at Bornholm". In 1717 troops from northern Finland invaded Swedish territory. Their actions were supported by large amphibious assault forces landed in the Stockholm area.

On August 30, 1721, Sweden finally agreed to sign the Treaty of Nystad. The eastern part departed to Russia Gulf of Finland, its southern coast with the Gulf of Riga and the islands adjacent to the conquered shores. The composition of Russia included the cities of Vyborg, Narva, Revel, Riga. Emphasizing the importance of the fleet in northern war, Peter I ordered to knock out on the medal, approved in honor of the victory over Sweden, the words: "The end of this war by such a world was received by nothing else than the fleet, because it was impossible to achieve it in any way." The tsar himself, who had the rank of vice admiral, "as a sign of the labors incurred in this war," was promoted to admiral.

The victory in the Northern War strengthened the international prestige of Russia, promoted it to the ranks of the largest European powers and served as the basis for being called the Russian Empire since 1721.

Having achieved the approval of Russia on the Baltic Sea, Peter I again turns his gaze to the south of the state. As a result Persian campaign Russian troops, with the support of the ships of the flotilla, occupied the cities of Derbent and Baku with adjacent lands, which went to Russia under a treaty concluded with the Shah of Iran on September 12 (23), 1723. For the permanent basing of the Russian flotilla on the Caspian Sea, Peter founded a military port and Admiralty.

To imagine the grandeur of the accomplishments of Peter the Great, it is enough to note that during his reign, more than 1,000 ships were built at Russian shipyards, not counting small ships. The number of teams on all ships reached 26 thousand people.

It is interesting to note that there is archival evidence dating back to the reign of Peter I, about the construction by a peasant Efim Nikonov of a “hidden vessel” - a prototype of a submarine. In general, about 1 million 200 thousand rubles were spent on shipbuilding and maintenance of the fleet by Peter I. So, by the will of Peter I in the first two decades of the eighteenth century. Russia has become one of the great maritime powers of the world.

Peter I came up with the idea of creating "two fleets": a galley fleet for operating jointly with the army in coastal areas and a ship fleet for predominantly independent operations at sea.

In this respect military science considers Peter I an expert in the interaction between the army and the navy, unsurpassed for his time.

At the dawn of the domestic state shipbuilding for operations in the Baltic and Azov Seas, Peter had to solve the problem of creating ships of mixed navigation, i.e. those that could operate both on rivers and at sea. Other maritime powers did not need such military vessels.

The complexity of the task lay in the fact that navigation along shallow rivers required a small draft of the vessel with its relatively large width. Such dimensions of ships when sailing at sea led to a sharp pitching, which reduced the effectiveness of the use of weapons, worsened physical state teams and troops. In addition, for wooden ships, the problem of ensuring the longitudinal strength of the hull was difficult. In general, it was necessary to find a "good proportion" between the desire to obtain good driving performance by increasing the length of the vessel, and to have sufficient longitudinal strength. Peter chose the ratio of length to width equal to 3:1, which guaranteed the strength and stability of the ships with a slight decrease in speed.

In the 2nd half of the XVIII - early XIX centuries The Russian Navy in terms of the number of warships came out on the 3rd place in the world, the tactics of military operations at sea were constantly improved. This allowed the Russian sailors to win a number of brilliant victories. The life and exploits of admirals G.A. Spiridova, F.F. Ushakova, D.N. Senyavina, G.I. Butakova, V.I. Istomina, V.A. Kornilov, P.S. Nakhimova, S.O. Makarov.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet fleet withstood severe tests and reliably covered the flanks of the fronts, crushing the Nazis at sea, in the sky and on land.

The modern Russian navy has reliable military equipment: powerful missile cruisers, nuclear submarines, anti-submarine ships, landing craft and naval aircraft. This technique works effectively in the capable hands of our naval specialists. Russian sailors continue and develop the glorious traditions of the Russian Navy, which has more than 300 years of history.

Russian Navy TODAY

The Russian Navy (Russian Navy) includes five operational-strategic formations:

The Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy, the headquarters of Kaliningrad, is part of the Western Military District
The Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy, headquartered in Severomorsk, is part of the Western Military District
The Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy, headquartered in Sevastopol, is part of the Southern Military District
The Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy, headquartered in Astrakhan, is part of the Southern Military District
The Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy, headquartered in Vladivostok, is part of the Eastern Military District

Targets and goals

Deterrence from the use of military force or the threat of its use against Russia;

Protection by military means of the sovereignty of the country, extending beyond its land territory to internal sea waters and the territorial sea, sovereign rights in the exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf, as well as freedom of the high seas;

Creation and maintenance of conditions for ensuring the safety of maritime economic activity in the World Ocean;

Ensuring the naval presence of Russia in the World Ocean, demonstration of the flag and military force, visits of ships and ships of the Navy;

Ensuring participation in military, peacekeeping and humanitarian actions carried out by the world community that meet the interests of the state.

The Russian Navy consists of the following forces:

surface forces
submarine forces
Naval aviation
Coastal
deck
strategic
Tactical
Fleet Coastal Troops
Marines
Coastal Defense Troops

Navy today is one of the most important foreign policy attributes of the state. It is designed to ensure the security and protection of the interests of the Russian Federation in peacetime and wartime at the ocean and sea frontiers.

It is very important to remember and know about such an important event in the history of Russia as the creation of the Russian Navy on October 30, 1696, as well as to feel a sense of pride in the achievements and successes of the Russian Navy in the light of today's events in the world.

Caspian Fleet in Syria