How the Black Sea Fleet developed from Catherine II to the fight against IS. Five glorious deeds of Catherine II The foundation of the Black Sea Fleet Catherine 2
Crimean War
First Russian Revolution
World War I
Marko Voinovich
Fedor Ushakov
Pavel Chichagov
Mikhail Lazarev
Vladimir Kornilov
Pavel Nakhimov
Andrey Ebergard
Alexander Kolchak
Robert Viren
Creation of a fleet
In the same year, for the direct management of the fleet in Kherson, a special Black Sea Admiralty Board was created, arranged like the St. Petersburg Admiralty College, and the staff of this board was approved: the chairman of the Admiralty Board was "the flagship commanding the fleet of admirals or vice admirals," and under it is a captain over the port of captains of the 1st rank. The members of the board were Ober-Kriegs-Commissar, Zeichmeister, Treasurer and Controller. central authorities management were the Office under the Board and six expeditions of the Kriegsrecht Affairs, Crew and Quartermaster, Control, Treasury, Commissariat and Artillery. In total, according to the state in 1785, the Board and Expeditions should have consisted of 145 people, with an annual salary of 17,758 rubles 50 kopecks [ ] .
In the same year, the first state of the Black Sea Fleet was approved, consisting of 12 battleships, 20 frigates, 5 schooners, 23 transport ships, personnel - 13.5 thousand people.
Later [ when?] 17 ships of the newly created Dnieper flotilla arrived here, which had already managed to defeat the Ottoman fleet near Ochakovo in 1788.
The chairman of the Admiralty board in 1792-1799 was N. S. Mordvinova.
Sailing fleet - development and combat use
In the war, the naval art of rear admirals John Paul Jones, Nassau-Siegen, N. S. Mordvinov, M. I. Voinovich and F. F. Ushakov was clearly manifested.
Russian-Turkish war 1806-1812
In 1807, a squadron under the command of Vice Admiral D.N. Senyavin, operating in the Aegean, defeated the Turkish fleet in the Dardanelles and Athos battles.
Russian-Turkish war 1828-1829
The Black Sea Fleet contributed to the advance of troops in the Balkan and Caucasian theaters of military operations. The brig "Mercury" covered itself with unfading glory, having won a battle with two Turkish battleships. During the command of hell. Lazareva M.P., by the middle of the 19th century, the Black Sea Fleet was the best sailing fleet in the world and included 14 sailing ships of the line, 6 frigates, 4 corvettes, 12 brigs, 6 steam frigates, etc.
Crimean War
The Crimean War of 1853-1856 was fought by Russia with a coalition of France, the Ottoman Empire, Great Britain and Sardinia for dominance in the Balkans, in the Black Sea basin, in the Caucasus.
Thus, until the end of the 90s, the Black Sea Fleet had much more full-fledged battleships than the Baltic, and in total, by the beginning of the 20th century, the Black Sea Fleet already had 7 squadron battleships, 1 cruiser, 3 mine cruisers, 6 gunboats, 22 destroyers and etc.
1905-1907
In 1905, riots took place in the fleet on the battleship Prince Potemkin-Tavrichesky and the cruiser Ochakov (Sevastopol uprising).
As of 1906, the Black Sea Fleet consisted of: 8 battleships (Chesma, Sinop, Catherine II, George the Victorious, XII Apostles, Rostislav, 3 Saints, Panteleimon), 2 cruisers (Cahul and Ochakov.), 1 cruiser (Memory of Mercury), 3 mine cruisers (Captain Saken, Griden, Kozarsky.), 13 destroyers, 10 destroyers, 2 mine transports, 6 gunboats and 10 transports. 2 squadron battleships ("Evstafiy" and "John Chrysostom") and 4 mine cruisers of the type "Captain Baranov" were built.
By the middle of 1914, the "Program for the New Strengthening of the Black Sea Fleet" was approved and approved, providing for the construction of the fourth battleship from the "Empress Maria" series - Emperor Nicholas I, 2 light cruisers of the "Svetlana" type ("Admiral Istomin", "Admiral Nakhimov" ), 8 destroyers of the Novik type, as well as 6 submarines, in addition to previous programs.
On October 7 (20), 1916, a powder magazine exploded on the battleship Empress Maria, the ship sank (225 dead, 85 seriously wounded). A. V. Kolchak personally led the operation to rescue the sailors and put out the fire, he was very worried about what had happened.
The commissioning of new battleships allowed the fleet to establish a blockade of the coal region in Anatolia (the ports of Zunguldak, Kozlu, Eregli, Kilimli), which served as the only source of local coal for Constantinople, as well as the Turkish fleet and railway transport. By October, the supply of coal from Zunguldak to Constantinople had practically ceased. The blockade led to a sharp reduction in the operations of the Turkish fleet, including the cessation of minesweeper work at the mouth of the Bosphorus. Due to the lack of coal in 1917, Goeben never went to sea.
From 1914 to 1917, the Black Sea Fleet actively assisted the ground forces of the Caucasian Front in coastal areas (delivery of food and ammunition, landings, etc.). Throughout 1916 and until the spring of 1917, active preparations were underway for the Bosphorus operation.
According to some researchers, the active and competent activity of A. V. Kolchak in mining the exit from the Bosphorus and the port of Varna led to the establishment of complete dominance of the Black Sea Fleet and "not a single enemy ship" until the summer of 1917 did not appear in the Black Sea.
After the October Revolution. Fleet liquidation
Despite the decomposition of discipline, by the end of 1917 the Black Sea Fleet remained a formidable force - only in Sevastopol on ships and in the fortress were 2294 officers and 25028 sailors and soldiers. . By this time, relations had developed on other ships that were not much different from relations in criminal communities.
According to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the fleet base in Sevastopol and the Crimean peninsula did not fall under the territories under the control of the Central Powers, however, Crimea was later included in the sphere of German interests under a secret agreement with Austria-Hungary, signed on March 29, 1918 in Baden. Using as a pretext for the invasion of the Crimea the fact that the ground detachments, consisting of sailors of the Black Sea Fleet, entered into battle with the German-Austrian troops advancing in Ukraine, Germany launched an invasion of the Crimea on April 18, 1918. On April 22, 1918, the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of Soviet Russia G.V. Chicherin sent a note of protest to the German government: Soviet Republic. The invasion threatens our Black Sea Fleet, which can lead to clashes caused by the interests of the fleet’s self-preservation ... ”, to which the German ambassador in Moscow Count Mirbach replied:“ The imperial government considers itself forced, in view of the attack of the fleet from Sevastopol against Kherson and Nikolaev, to move troops there and take Sevastopol.
Although on March 22, 1918, the Board of the People's Commissariat for Maritime Affairs prepared a report for the Soviet government in which it was proposed to take measures to transfer the fleet from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk and to destroy the property that could not be taken out, the Soviet leadership did not take any measures to implement these proposals .
On April 29, 1918, the commander of the fleet, Rear Admiral M.P. Sablin, ordered the transfer of the fleet to Novorossiysk. In order to protect the ships from the fire of German artillery, Sablin gave the order to raise the flag of Ukrainian nationalists on the ships, but the destroyer brigade and a number of other ships refused to comply with this order. April 29 at 23:30, the first group of ships of the Black Sea Fleet began a breakthrough to Novorossiysk. On April 30, the main forces left Sevastopol, including the battleships "Will" (former "Emperor Alexander III") and "Free Russia" (former "Empress Catherine the Great").
On May 23, 1918, the Germans demanded the return of the fleet to Sevastopol, otherwise threatening to resume the offensive. This offensive began on June 9, and again a demand was put forward for the transfer of ships from Novorossiysk to Sevastopol. Unable to resist the German offensive, and not having the strength to fight the Germans, on June 6, on the orders of Lenin, the Soviet government decided to sink ships in Novorossiysk: “In view of the hopelessness of the situation, proved by the highest military authorities, destroy the fleet immediately. Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)." However, the crews of part of the ships, led by the battleship Volya, refused to comply with this order and on June 17 left Novorossiysk for Sevastopol, where the Germans seized the ships and took them to Turkish ports. Subsequently, these ships were returned by the Entente
230 years: The Black Sea Fleet in the history of the Fatherland
| May 13, 2013 |
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The importance of the fleet in connection with the tasks of the national policy of Russia in the reign of Catherine II. Measures for the revival of Russian naval power
The reign of Empress Catherine II, which lasted 33 years, is one of the most brilliant eras in the history of the Russian fleet. During this period, the Russian naval power, reborn after 40 years of non-existence, with its brilliant activity and military exploits on the waters of the Baltic, Mediterranean and Black Seas, successfully completed the task assigned to it by national policy, elevating Russia to the ranks of powerful maritime powers.
Well acquainted with the position of the fleet even before her accession to the throne, the empress from the very first days of her accession could begin a gradual revival of the national naval power. Having before her the example of Peter, having understood the whole essence of his activities and intentions, the empress firmly decided to follow in his footsteps.
First of all, the need was sharply felt to revive the extinguished Petrovsky
spirit and thereby initiate the reconstruction of the lost maritime school.
The Empress considered it her first duty to pay special attention to his personnel and to the restoration of his naval school. In order to raise the general level of naval development among the command staff, which had lagged behind science and technology for 40 years, the empress, following the example of Peter, decided to start by sending young naval officers abroad. Of course, the English was considered the best fleet of that time, and therefore the attention of the empress stopped on it.
Already at the end of 1762, in connection with the English government, the Admiralty Board received an order from the Senate to immediately send a party of 20 people. young nobles from the Naval Cadet Corps to serve on the ships of the English fleet. Somewhat later, at the suggestion of Admiral Mordvinov, officers who expressed their desire to do so were sent to England in several queues: from midshipman to captain of the 2nd rank inclusive.
All of them, painted upon arrival on military ships, were enrolled in active English service, receiving at the same time an allowance from the Russian government.
At the insistence of the empress, the English Admiralty appointed all those sent to the ships of the "distant voyage" - to East India and America.
All of them were ordered to keep detailed journals during their voyage, to study English and, upon return, pass the full examination of all marine sciences for promotion to the next rank and qualification for command of ships.
At the same time, attention was also paid to the reorganization of the Naval Corps, which was already in a severe decline. Understanding how important it is to start naval reforms by improving the training of young generations of sailors, the empress was primarily concerned with drawing up a plan for the reorganization of the corps, both from the training and educational sides.
Her choice settled on one of the most educated and energetic sailors, the young captain of the 2nd rank I. L. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, neither rank nor years of which prevented the empress from appointing him director of the corps with the most extensive powers.
Promising the latter her full cooperation, the empress, having given the main directives, provided the latter complete freedom initiative, not hampered either by the previous charters and instructions, or by the intervention of the central administrations of the fleet.
The staff of the corps was increased, significantly expanded training program, increased funds for maintenance, enhanced practical training of cadets and midshipmen at sea.
Each innovation of Kutuzov met with the full support of the Empress, and the era of his management of the corps should rightly be considered one of the best times in the history of our naval school.
For the same restoration of the naval school, the coastal summer voyages of the cadets were replaced by long-distance dispatches to the Baltic Sea under the command of the best commanders, and the ships with the cadets reached Arkhangelsk.
In the management of the fleet and the maritime department, Catherine chose three persons known to her for their useful activities in the previous time.
The first was Vice-Admiral S. I. Mordvinov, one of the few sailors who retained the spirit of the Petrine school, very smart and educated person, who had completed his entire service from the midshipman's rank on the deck of the ship and therefore had a huge supply of practical and scientific knowledge.
A student of the French maritime school, where he stayed for about 6 years, Mordvinov was also almost the only Russian maritime writer of that time. A number of his works on astronomy, navigation, marine evolution brought him honorable fame, and not only in Russia.
The second assistant and adviser to the Empress was gr. I. G. Chernyshev, although not
a sailor, but a man of rare common sense, known as one of the most talented diplomats of that time. Catherine did full justice to his state mind and diplomatic talents, and therefore did not hesitate to bring him closer to her as an adviser on issues related to the fleet and maritime policy of Russia.
Appointed in 1763 as a member of the Admiralty Colleges, he was subsequently appointed its vice-president, in which position he managed the fleet.
The appointment of Chernyshev - not a sailor - to such a responsible position is very typical for Catherine. Having a very limited choice of assistants among the senior command staff of the fleet, Catherine did not want to bring closer to the management of persons to whom their qualification or position gave them a formal right to do so.
It was more important for her to have one person with common sense around her than a number of people who were overwhelmed by the professional routine and for whom maintaining their authority was too difficult at the time of the radical reorganization of the Russian naval forces.
Chernyshev's appointment also had another profound meaning. Having set herself the goal of leading Russia onto the path of national politics, the empress could not otherwise look at the fleet as a means of realizing political plans. Therefore, the participation in the management of the fleet of a person - a diplomat by vocation, a person with great political talent - provided the empress with confidence that the creation of a naval force, its preparation for the upcoming combat activity would be carried out not in a formal way, but in accordance with the political tasks of the state.
Thus, from this side, the basis for the creation of naval power lay in the highest degree a logical thought about the correspondence of the requirements of the policy with the armed means of the state.
The third assistant to the Empress was Rear Admiral Spiridov, a real combat sailor who sailed a lot, loved by the fleet, who showed great hopes of becoming a naval commander, who later justified these hopes with his exploits in the Mediterranean.
So, the empress managed to surround herself with people who, with joint forces, under her leadership, could take on the difficult task of recreating the fleet in all its parts. Now it only remained to make efforts to provide the state with the necessary calm, at least for a short time, in order to make it possible to put on its feet the shattered offspring of Peter.
Meanwhile, it was very difficult to ensure peace with that turn to the south of the operational line of Russian policy, which, following the precepts of Peter, the empress outlined for herself, it was very difficult without sacrificing her goals and the dignity of the state. The revival of Russia and its conversion to purely national policy it was immediately felt in Europe and aroused serious fears there. Indeed, these fears of the powers had full justification.
Catherine's first steps in the field of international politics were marked by an act that showed that Russia would by no means remain an indifferent spectator in European affairs.
Such a step was the project known as the “Northern Accord”, or a system according to which Russia intended, in contrast to the union of the Catholic powers existing in Europe - France, Austria and Spain - to create from all the northern powers - England, Russia, Prussia. Sweden and Poland - a political system that can, on the basis of mutual friendship and benefit, influence the course of political events and oppose the plans of Catholic Europe.
The internal goal of Catherine and the author of the project Panin in carrying out this project was to create such an alliance in the north, which, on the one hand, could provide Russia with lasting peace, and on the other hand, give her the opportunity to peacefully take her rightful place in the European concert.
All the powers, both those to whom this alliance was proposed, and those against which it was created, saw in this step the first trial balloon for Russia to take a certain place in the political system of Europe and lay the foundation for its political influence. It couldn't smile at anyone.
Everyone was aware that Russia, entering into the close family of European powers that had been created, where all places and roles were distributed and occupied, every time it put forward its interests on the stage, it had to violate the interests of others, push its neighbors and rivals apart and, consequently, crowd out many of them. them.
The project of the "Northern System" was, in their opinion, a warning phenomenon, after which it was necessary to expect even more real steps.
Rejecting the general alliance, the powers, nevertheless, each individually, offered themselves as allies in order to gain the opportunity to influence Russian politics, but the empress categorically rejected all these searches, firmly deciding to conduct it independently, without accepting any obligations in advance that could tie her hands. in the next steps.
Indeed, not even two years had passed since Catherine's accession, when Europe felt, according to Panin, "that the Russian court began to play a role in common affairs equal to the role of the main powers, and in the north and superior", and European diplomats who tried to approve their influence at the court of Catherine, unanimously reported to their governments that "Russia has withdrawn from the political obedience that took place before, and does not want to know any goals other than those of its own benefit."
At first, no one wanted to believe that all the steps of Catherine were independent. Most saw in them the influence of Frederick II, who, with his diplomatic talents, allegedly managed to persuade Russia to his side and forced Catherine II to do what was beneficial to him. However, Catherine herself, having learned about such an absurd suspicion, wrote to Panin: “All this is nothing but jealousy, and time will show everyone that we are not dragging our tails behind anyone.”
Catherine's first major political step was the cooling of Russia towards her long-term traditional ally Austria and the beginning of a gravitation towards Prussia, caused by a common interest in Polish affairs. This turn, first of all, greatly worried and embittered France against Russia, which, both in the project of the "Northern Accord", and in cooling off towards Austria, could not but see symptoms that were clearly undesirable for itself.
Russia, Great Maritime Power. This greatness did not immediately and not simply become. This path was thorny and long, abundantly watered with the blood of thousands of brave Russian sailors. But the goal was sacred - to make the Russian State mighty and great, free from the encroachments of "the eyes of envious and grabbing hands." Navigation in Rus' has its roots in ancient times. But it took many centuries for the great maritime power Rus to establish itself in the Black Sea-Mediterranean region.
The Russian fleet owes its birth to Peter I. Through hard work and numerous sacrifices, fleets were born in the Baltic and the Black Sea region, a flotilla in the Caspian. In 1697, the first Admiralty in Russia was created. And in the spring of 1699, 10 ships just launched from the stocks entered the Sea of Azov. Until 1711, a fleet was built on Azov. But in 1711 Russia signed the Treaty of Prut. Azov and Taganrog under this agreement passed to Turkey. This ended the history of the Azov Fleet.
Path to the pier
It was the beginning of the 18th century, but almost all of this century, especially its second half, was full of numerous. Russia was supposed to win access to the Black Sea and establish control over it. In 1771, another war with Turkey began, ending with a brilliant victory for the Russian troops. 
The main result of this war was the signing of the famous Kyuchuk-Kainarji Treaty of 1774, according to which Russia received the cities of Azov and Kerch, as well as the Yenikale fortress and the Kinburn Spit.
From now on, Russia gained access to the Black and Azov Seas, as well as the Bosporus and Dardanelles. However, having received the opportunity to enter the Black Sea, Russia could not take full advantage of this - Russia did not have a fleet that could protect the Russian coast from the Turks. And it became clear that without powerful fleet on the Black Sea, without its base, Russia will no longer be able to do. But in order to create this fleet, to place it, it was necessary that he became part of Russian Empire, became Russian. Prince Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin repeatedly wrote about this to Catherine II.
And in December 1782, Potemkin received from Catherine II a "secret rescript", which spoke of 
the need for the speedy accession of Crimea to Russia. Diplomatic efforts, his negotiations with the Crimean Khan Shahin-Giray bore fruit. In February 1783, the Crimean Khan abdicated, giving himself and the Crimea under the protection of Russia. Somewhat later, in 1791, the Yassy Peace Treaty was signed, according to which the Ottoman state recognized the Crimea forever as the territory of Russia. But long before the signing of the Iasi Treaty, the Russian military began to study and survey the Crimea, with the goal of finding a place for the main base of the future Russian Black Sea Fleet.
In 1773, the Descriptive Party, headed by navigator Ivan Baturin, researched, gave detailed description and made the first map of the Akhtiar (now Sevastopol) bay. Moreover, not only the bay itself, but also its environs. A.V. Suvorov was the first to understand the significance of this bay. Then he wrote that 
best place for the fleet is not found in the entire Black Sea, and not only in the Crimea. However, it was not enough to find a suitable place for basing ships. These ships still needed to be built. Shipyards were needed.
In June 1778, Catherine II signed a Decree, according to which Kherson Fortress was ordered to be laid at the mouth of the Dnieper. And less than four years later, in November 1782, two new ships - the frigates "Cautious" and "Brave" entered the Akhtiar Bay. Captain of the first rank Ivan Maksimovich Odintsov commanded this transition. The frigates stayed here for the winter. Taking advantage of the favorable weather, the sailors got down to business - they erected a comfortable barracks on the shore in the northern part of the bay. But the primary task was to carry out careful measurements of the bay, describe in detail all the coasts, indicate all the heights, all the bays, and also estimate the parking lots for ships of various classes.
In addition, it was necessary to outline the location of the barracks, officers' houses, warehouses, workshops. By the spring of 1783, this work was completed, and I.M. Odintsov handed over to Kherson the result of painstaking work - a detailed map of the Akhtiar Bay.
Fleet to be!
Even before the Crimea was officially included in the Russian Empire, Catherine II, by her Decree of January 11, 1783, appointed Vice Admiral Fedot Alekseevich Klokachev, who heroically distinguished himself in the Battle of Chesma, as commander of the future Black Sea Fleet. It was to him that I.M. Odintsov handed over the map of the Akhtiar Bay. On April 8, 1783, a rescript of Catherine II was issued, according to which the status of Crimea as a territory of the Russian Empire was legally fixed. For his efforts, G.A. Potemkin received the title of Prince of Taurida.
In pursuance of the rescript, G.A. Potemkin led the construction of Sevastopol, which was to become the main military and commercial port of Russia on the Black Sea, and the creation of the Russian Black Sea Fleet itself. Moreover, not only military, but also commercial. On May 2 (13), 1783, a squadron of 13 Russian ships entered the Akhtiar Bay under the command of Vice Admiral F.A. Klokachev, the first commander of the Black Sea Fleet in history.
On June 3 (14), 1783, under the leadership of the chief of staff of the squadron, flag-captain Dmitry Nikolayevich Senyavin, the sailors of the ship's crews began to clear the shores of the bay from the forest and build the city of Sevastopol. It is this day - June 14 according to the new style (June 3rd according to the old style) that is considered the birthday of the city of Sevastopol. detailed map Akhtiar (Sevastopol) Harbor Vice-Admiral F.A. Klokachev on June thirteenth presented in St. Petersburg, to the Admiralty College. This map fixed the names of the bays of the Sevastopol Harbor. And in the future, this map served as a guide for all work in the port of Sevastopol.
From now on and forever!
Despite the difficulties, by the spring of 1784, Sevastopol had already rebuilt quite decently. And on February 10, Catherine II approved the name of the city - Sevastopol and ordered the medal "Benefit of Russia" to be knocked out in honor of this. At the same time, Sevastopol was opened for trade to both Russian and foreign ships. The birthday of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia is traditionally considered the thirteenth of May 1783 - on this day the squadron under the command of F.A. Klokachev entered the Akhtiar Bay.
But formally, the official chronicle of the Black Sea Fleet begins from the day of signing the Decree of Catherine II of August 24, 1785 on the approval of the state of the Black Sea Fleet. By the same Decree, its creator, Field Marshal General Prince G.A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky, was appointed Commander of the Black Sea Fleet. At the same time, the Black Sea Admiralty was created. In honor of the creation of the Black Sea Fleet, the medal "Glory to Russia" was knocked out. In less than fifteen years, the Black Sea Fleet was to engage in battle with the French fleet ...
1783 - the year of foundation of the city of unfading glory of Sevastopol - the future main base of the fleet and the domestic Black Sea Fleet.
At the end of 1782, Empress Catherine II decided to create the Black Sea Navy and, by her decree of January 11 of the following year, ordered the Admiralty College: accepting the necessary instructions to appear at our Novorossiysk and Azov Governor-General Prince Potemkin. We most graciously granted 2,000 rubles for the passage of his Klokachev, and moreover, as long as he remains in command of the fleet there, until the admiral is appointed there, to make him 200 rubles a month on the table. We will not apply to appoint other flagships to command him. The Admiralty Board must, at the request of its vice-admiral, give him any allowance that depends on it. The main core of the fleet being created was the operating squadrons of frigates and "newly invented ships" of the Azov Flotilla.
By this time, F. A. Klokachev had the well-deserved authority of an experienced sailor, military admiral and was considered one of the most educated and decent people of his time.
Simultaneously with the creation of the Black Sea Fleet, another important question. Taking into account that over the past years Turkey has repeatedly violated the obligations it assumed under the Kyuchuk-Kainarji Treaty, continued to excite the inhabitants of the Crimea and Kuban through its agents, incite internecine discord in the Khanate, Prince G. A. Potemkin held negotiations with Khan Shagin-Giray and persuaded enter "under the power of the All-Russian". Justifying the significance of the completed negotiations in strengthening Russia's position in the south of the country, he ended his report to Catherine II on this issue with the following words: “Most Gracious Empress! Acquisition of the Crimea can neither strengthen nor enrich you, but only bring peace ... with the Crimea, you will also gain dominance in the Black Sea. On April 8, 1783, the imperial manifesto announced the satisfaction of the request of Khan Shahin-Girey and the acceptance of the Crimean Khanate, as well as Taman and the entire Kuban side under the Russian crown.
“By God’s hastening mercy, we, Catherine the Second, Empress and Autocrat of All Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Vladimir, Novgorod, Queen of Kazan, Queen of Astrakhan, Queen of Siberia, Empress of Pskov and Grand Duchess of Smolensk, Princess of Estonia, Li-Fland, Korel, Tver, Ugra , Permian, Vyatka, Bulgarian and others; Sovereign and Grand Duchess of the New Town of the Nizovsky lands, Chernihiv, Ryazan, Polotsk, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Beloozersk, Udora, Obdorsk, Kondia, Vitepsk, Mstislav and all northern countries, sovereign, and Iberian lands, Kartalin and Georgian kings and Kabardian lands, Cherkasy and mountain princes and others, the hereditary empress and owner of:
In the war that took place with the Ottoman Port, when the strength and victories of our weapons gave us the full right to leave in favor of our Crimea, in the hands of our former, we then sacrificed this and other extensive conquests to the renewal of good harmony and friendship with the Ottoman Port, transforming the peoples to that end Tatar to a free and independent region, in order to remove forever the cases and ways of strife and cold, which often took place between Russia and the Port in the former state of the Tatars.
We have not achieved, however, even within that part of the Empire our peace and security, which should have been the fruits of this decree. The Tatars, bowing to other people's suggestions, immediately began to act contrary to their own good, bestowed from us.
Their autocratic khan, chosen by them in such a change of being, was ousted from the place and homeland by a stranger who was preparing to return them under the yoke of their former domination. Some of them blindly clung to him, the other was unable to resist.
In such circumstances, in order to preserve the integrity of the building we erected, one of the best from the acquisition war, WE were forced to accept well-intentioned Tatars under our patronage, to give them the freedom to elect another legitimate khan in the place of Sahib Tirey and establish his rule; for this it was necessary to set our military forces in motion, to detach from them in the most severe time a noble corps to the Crimea, to keep it there for a long time and, finally, to act against the rebels by force of arms, which is why a new war almost flared up with the Ottoman Porte, as with all in fresh memory.
Thanks be to God! Then this storm passed with the recognition by the Porte of the legitimate and autocratic khan in the person of Shagin Giray. The work of this turning point cost our Empire dearly; but WE, at least, hoped that it would be rewarded with future security from the neighborhood. Time, and a short one, has, however, actually challenged this assumption.
The new rebellion that arose last year, whose true origins are not hidden from us, forced us again to fully arm and to a new detachment of our troops in the Crimea and the Kuban side, which still remain there: for without them peace, silence and a device among the Tatars, when the test that has been active for many years already proves in every possible way that, just as their former submission to the Porte was an occasion for coldness and strife between both powers, so their transformation into a free region, with their inability to taste the fruits of such freedom, serves as a constant for US to the anxieties, losses and hardships of our troops.
The world knows that, having only just reasons from our side to send our troops into the Tatar region more than once, as long as the interests of our state could agree with a better hope, we did not appropriate the authorities there, lower we avenged or punished the Tatars who acted hostilely against our army who fought the intention to quench harmful disturbances.
But now, when, on the one hand, we accept in respect the noble expenses used until now for the Tatars and for the Tatars, which, according to the correct calculation, stretch for twelve million rubles, not including here the loss of people, which is beyond any monetary value; on the other hand, when it was known to us that the Ottoman Port was beginning to correct the supreme power on the Tatar lands, and namely: on the island of Taman, where her official, who arrived with an army, was sent to him from Shahin-Girey Khan with a question about the reason for his arrival in public he ordered to cut off his head and declared the inhabitants there to be Turkish subjects; then this act destroys our previous mutual obligations about the freedom and independence of the Tatar peoples, assures us more strongly that our proposal at the conclusion of peace, having made the Tatars independent, does not suffice to weed out all the reasons for strife, which might happen for the Tatars, and supplies us with all those rights that were acquired by our victories in the last war and existed in full measure before the conclusion of peace: and for this, in accordance with the duty of care that is set before us for the good and greatness of the Fatherland, trying to establish its benefit and security, as well as considering the means , forever alienating unpleasant causes that disturb eternal peace, between the All-Russian and Ottoman Empires, a prisoner, which we sincerely desire to keep forever, no less than in replacement and satisfaction of our losses, we decided to take the Crimean Peninsula, Taman Island and the entire Kuban side under our power .
Returning to the inhabitants of those places, by the power of this our Imperial Manifesto, such a change in their being, we promise holy and unshakable, for ourselves and the successors of our Throne, to support them on an equal basis with our natural subjects, to protect and protect their faces, property, temples and natural faith, of which the free administration with all legal rites will remain inviolable, and finally allow each of them to state all those rights and advantages that such in Russia enjoys; on the contrary, from the gratitude of our new subjects we demand and expect that in their happy transformation from rebellion and disorder into peace, silence and lawful order, they will strive with fidelity, zeal and good morals to become like our ancient subjects and deserve, on an equal footing with them, our royal mercy and generosity. » -Catherine -April 8, 1783
This made it possible to begin the development of the Akhtiar (now Sevastopol) harbor, which was previously accepted for basing the fleet. The preparation of frigates and other ships for passage and permanent basing in the Akhtiar harbor has begun. According to the statement of those years dated April 13, 1783, the composition of the squadron assigned to the campaign for this purpose is presented as follows: in the unit under the vice admiral's flag, the frigates "Ninth" and "Thirteenth", the bombardment ship "Azov", schooners "Pobedoslav" and "Izmail", Pole "Patmos". The rear admiral will be led by the Tenth frigate, the Khotyn ship, the Vecheslav schooner, the Ekaterina Pole and the Bityug deck boat. At the end of the month, the Poles were replaced by frigates. A grenadier battalion arrived on the Crimean coast, and at the end of April, the Kaporsky and Dnieper regiments, which were entrusted with protecting the coast of the peninsula.
The arriving troops occupied the previously prepared fortifications, retrofitted them, built living quarters and formed a central store-warehouse.
A few days later, on a bright sunny morning on May 2, the first Russian combat squadron consisting of eleven ships under the flag of Vice Admiral F. A. Klokachev, commander of the new fleet, entered the vast Akhtiar harbor. It included the "newly invented" ships "Khotin" and "Azov", 44-gun frigates "Ninth", "Tenth", "Twelfth", "Thirteenth" and "Fourteenth", three armed schooners and a boat.
The thunder of the artillery salute and the rumble of anchors testified to the practical implementation of the Empress's manifesto on the inclusion of Crimea into Russia, the beginning of the creation of the Black Sea Fleet and the founding of the fortress city of Sevastopol. The officers and crews of the frigates Cautious and Brave, Captain 1st Rank I. M. Odintsov, who were wintering here, as well as the arriving units of the ground forces, solemnly welcomed the squadron.
The commander of the fleet gave the order to the commanders of the ships to be permanently located in the harbor, taking into account the upcoming wintering. For this purpose, the South Bay was chosen, where each ship received a permanent mooring place and a plot on the shore for the construction of barracks and other necessary premises. In connection with the slow development of the construction of ships at the Kherson shipyard, G. A. Potemkin ordered F. A. Klokachev to transfer the Sevastopol squadron to the temporary command of Rear Admiral Thomas Fedorovich Mekenzi, and "to leave without delay to establish shipbuilding in Kherson."
In the following days, the fleet commander launched energetic activities to organize the upcoming basing of ships in Akhtiar, establish ship service in the new conditions, prevent hostile actions of Turkish agents and other aspects of the life of the squadron. On May 8 he left for Kherson. Two days before his departure, the admiral sent a report to the vice-president of the Admiralty Colleges in St. Petersburg, Count Ivan Grigorievich Chernyshev, where he reported on the occupation of the harbor and wrote in part of its assessment: “At the same time, I will not fail to inform Your Excellency that at the very entrance to the Akhtiar harbor, I marveled at its good position from the sea. Having entered and looked around, I can say that in all of Europe there is no such harbor - position, size, depth. It is possible to have a fleet of up to a hundred ships of the line in it, and besides, nature itself also arranged estuaries, which in themselves are separated into different harbors, that is, military and merchant ... "
About Count I. G. Chernyshev, it should be said that from June 4, 1769, for 28 years he was vice-president of the Admiralty Colleges under the nominal president of this department, Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich, who was appointed to the position at the age of eight. In fact, he managed the naval affairs of those significant years and was the only one in Russia who had military rank Field Marshal General of the Navy. He received this title in 1796, and Emperor Paul I granted him with a note: "He will not be an Admiral General."
The activities of I. G. Chernyshev were remarkable for their enviable diversity. Prior to his appointment in 1763 as a member of the Admiralty Colleges and the change of the rank of lieutenant general assigned to him to vice admiral, he held the posts of minister, envoy in Dresden, Vienna and Paris, then became the chief director of the Commission on Commerce and Manufactory, and, finally, in In 1761 he was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Augsburg at the General Grain Congress. This man who had seen a lot ended his life in 1797 in Rome.
Fulfilling the task of G. A. Potemkin, who received the honorary title of “Highest Prince of Tauride” after the annexation of Crimea, Rear Admiral Mekenzie, who remained senior in Sevastopol, launched the construction of a port with an admiralty, city buildings and additional fortifications. On the western shore of the South Bay, ship crews and soldiers of the garrison built barracks, office buildings and small houses for officers from local materials, planted trees, and marked the future Ekaterininskaya Street. At the beginning of June, the first four stone buildings were laid and during the summer of 1783 were built: the admiral's house, the pier, the chapel and the blacksmith's workshop of the future admiralty. On June 12, F. A. Klokachev sent a report to St. Petersburg by courier, in which he reported on the state of affairs, the beginning of ship repair activities and the construction of the Admiralty in the Akhtiar harbor.
By a special decree of February 10, 1784, Catherine II ordered Prince G. A. Potemkin to strengthen the work "on the construction of a large fortress of Sevastopol, where there should be an Admiralty and a shipyard for the first rank of ships, a port and a military settlement". Under the constant supervision of the Most Serene Prince of Tauride, construction work in the port and the city was carried out at a fairly rapid pace.
"Nominal Decree
Given to the Yekaterinoslav and Tauride Governor-General Prince Potemkin on the construction of new fortifications along the borders of the Yekaterinoslav province
As with the spread of the borders of the All-Russian Empire, it is necessary to think about securing them, appointing new fortresses according to convenience and destroying those that have now become internal, then, as a result of this, we, after considering your ideas, declare our will to this symbol.
First: starting from the borders of the Yekaterinoslav Viceroyalty, where it borders on Poland, build the following fortifications:
1- e. A small but strong fortification at the confluence of the Tyasmin River into the Dnieper, where both banks of this river begin to be Russian;
2 e. Fortress of Olviapol, for the sake of three states that border so closely;
3 e. A small fortification at the mouth of the Nigula River to the side of the Ochakov district, both to provide for the inhabitants, and to cover the shops that should be here during the war with the Turks;
4 e. Kherson, where there are large reserves for the Admiralty, ground forces and siege artillery;
5 e. Dnieper fortress on the Zburievsky estuary, where there are shipyards for military and merchant ships;
6- e. Kinburn, about which WE have been notified from you that it has been brought into proper condition;
7 e. Perekop, leaving it as it is, but only with an external correction;
8th Evpatoria, or Kozlov, a small fortification, from which to keep a battery near Serbulat, as only places for mooring ships in that region convenient;
9th. The great fortress of Sevastopol, where Akhtiyar is now and where the Admiralty should be, a shipyard for the first rank of ships, a port and a military settlement;
10 e. Balaklava, fixing it as it is, and keeping its guard with the Greek troops settled here;
11 e. Theodosius, or Kafu, correcting the old castles and supplying them with artillery;
12th. Instead of Kerch and Yenikal, a strong fortress called Vospor, at the Pavlovsk redoubt, at the entrance to Cimmeric Vospor;
13th Phanagoria, a rather strong fortification on the island of Taman;
14 e. Blockhouse near Yenichi, where the transfer to the Arbat Spit;
15th Yeysk fortification, bringing it into good condition.
Secondly, we entrust the construction of these fortifications to your main department and order, commanding you, when writing plans for each of them, to submit to us and an estimate of the amounts needed to maintain them, so that WE can give them OUR orders.
Third: if necessary, connect the Mozdok line with these fortifications, continuing it to Taman, we command you, through whom you judge for the good, to make a proper and thorough examination and then present to us with your opinion.
Fourth: the city of Taganrog, the fortress of St. Elizabeth and others, lying along the old and new lines, remaining within the boundaries of the State, should not be considered fortresses from now on, but leave them in their current state; regarding the fortifications made until now in these lands, turning them into inner cities or towns, or how, according to their condition and the quality of the inhabitants in them, they can remain; as for the garrisons and artillery, you will dispose of them at your best discretion.
On February 22, 1784, the imperial manifesto announced the opening for all peoples who are in friendship with our empire, in favor of their trade with our faithful subjects, along with Kherson and Feodosia, gifted with a beautiful sea pier of the city of Sevastopol, known until now under the name Akht- Yar". By this time, there were already three dozen warships based in the bay.
On August 13, 1785, the first official states of the Black Sea Fleet and Admiralty were approved by the highest rescript. According to them, the composition of large ships of the young fleet was established in the amount of two 80-gun and ten 66-gun ships of the line and twenty frigates of 50, 32 and 22-gun ranks. Eight units were approved for large frigates, and six for the rest. The states regulated 23 units of smaller courts. This number lasted six years, in 1791 the number of ships of the line increased to fifteen. The royal rescript granted the Black Sea Admiralty Board independence from the Admiralty Colleges in St. Petersburg. The fleet on the Black and Azov Seas, as well as shipbuilding in Kherson, the lower reaches of the Don and in the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov, headed by the Taganrog Admiralty Office, were now controlled from Kherson and completely subordinated to the local governor, Prince G. A. Potemkin Tauride.
Such independence and subordination to an active and energetic leader, who enjoyed the unlimited confidence of the Empress, contributed to the rapid success in the construction of the fleet. The separation from the Admiralty Boards made it possible to independently and quickly, depending on specific local conditions, distribute the financial, material and human resources allocated for the creation of the fleet, the construction of shipyards, ports, fortifications, residential settlements and other necessary facilities.
In addition, at the Kherson shipyard, new ships and vessels were built according to projects and drawings developed by local specialists, taking into account the experience and specific conditions of navigation in the southern seas. Aft superstructures were lowered on them, sailing armament was improved, the underwater part of the hull was sheathed with copper sheets.
The young navy and the new southern city matured and developed. By the campaign of 1786, the squadron already included a multi-gun ship of the line, fourteen frigates and over three dozen other ships. The crews rallied and increased their combat readiness, mastered the experience of Chesme and other battles.
Finishing her magnificent journey through the conquered lands of Taurida, Empress Catherine II visited Sevastopol in May 1787. Numerous distinguished foreign guests traveled with her in the retinue: the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, the Prince of Nassau, the Prince de Lin, English ambassador Fitzherbert, French and Austrian envoys Segur and Cobenzl and others. On the way, near Kremenchug, G. A. Potemkin, who had already held the rank of field marshal general of the Russian army for three years, arranged for the empress and guests large maneuvers of troops under the command of Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, who had been promoted to general-in-chief a year ago. The maneuvers were a success and caused a corresponding reaction from the guests. However, the main reason for which Catherine II made such a long journey was the desire to show Europe that Russia was firmly established on the Black Sea and in the Crimea.
By her arrival, Sevastopol, immersed in greenery, was beautifully spread out on the previously deserted shores of the Akhtiar harbor, and the numerous Black Sea military fleet was located in its convenient deep-water bays. Ready to go to sea, large 66-gun battleships Slava Ekaterina and others with a displacement of up to 3000 tons with a crew of almost 800 people, high-speed frigates with up to 50 artillery pieces on their battery decks, and many other various ships and courts. Among those standing on the roadstead was a new battleship built by Kherson shipbuilders “St. Pavel", commanded by Captain 1st Rank Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov.
The meeting was exceptionally solemn and impressive. The sight of the battle fleet built in such a short time amazed foreign guests, and the practical firing and maneuvers of ships carried out on the orders of the Prince of Taurida showed a significant increase in Russia's military strength in the Black Sea. Particularly distinguished was St. Pavel" and his commander. Potemkin noticed Ushakov's maritime talents and introduced him to the empress, and then entrusted him with the training of the sailors of the Sevastopol squadron.
The Sevastopol demonstration greatly alarmed the European powers. Turkish provocations and violations of the peace treaty intensified and took on a defiant character. Anticipating a quick break, soon after leaving the Crimea, Catherine II ordered the fleet to be ready to meet the enemy at sea, and the Liman flotilla to protect Kherson and Kinburn. At the same time, given the need to further strengthen the Black Sea Fleet, she wrote and drew Potemkin's attention: "It is very important to stretch out two years, otherwise the war will interrupt the construction of the fleet." Unfortunately, it was not possible to get the necessary peaceful years, the situation on the Black Sea off the Crimean coast and in the Dnieper-Bug Estuary became more acute and dangerous every day.
Under pressure from England, the Turkish government issued an ultimatum in July 1787: return the Crimea, withdraw Russian troops from Georgia and renounce the won right of free passage of Russian ships through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. On August 5, the Turks arrested the envoy of Russia, Yakov Ivanovich Bulgakov, in Constantinople. Based near Ochakov, a numerous Turkish fleet consisting of more than 35 sailing and rowing ships attacked without warning two Russian ships: the 44-gun frigate Skory and the small boat Bityug. Despite the huge superiority of forces among the Turks, our ships accepted the battle and for three hours fired back from the advancing enemy, and then withdrew to the Deep Pier under the protection of our batteries.
The second Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791 began.
In March 1790, Rear Admiral Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov took command of the Black Sea Fleet and ports. The future largest naval commander was born in 1744 in the family of a small estate nobleman of the Tambov province, he graduated from the Naval gentry corps and began his service in the Baltic Fleet as a twenty-two-year-old midshipman. In 1769 he was transferred to the Azov flotilla, where he participated in the first Russian-Turkish war. Returning six years later to the Baltic, young Ushakov commands a frigate, spends a lot of time on long voyages, in 1780 he was entrusted with the command of an imperial yacht, but he soon abandoned his court career and was appointed commander of the 66-gun battleship Viktor. The next two years he made trips to the Mediterranean Sea to protect merchant ships from the pirate actions of the English fleet. In 1783, the captain of the 2nd rank
F. F. Ushakov was sent to reinforce the newly created military fleet on the Black Sea; in August, at the head of a large team of sailors and artisans, he arrived in Kherson, where he contributed to the fight against the plague and accelerated the construction of ships at the shipyard. For skillful and selfless actions, he was awarded an order here, promoted to captain of the 1st rank and appointed commander of the St. Paul". Four years later, at the suggestion of G. A. Potemkin, Ushakov was promoted to captain of the brigadier rank and became commander of the Third Squadron of the ship fleet, in 1789 he was awarded the rank of rear admiral and instructed to lead the fleet based in Sevastopol.
Courageous, active and having versatile experience, the admiral quickly won the authority and love of the sailors. He widely introduced practical artillery firing everywhere on ships, taught how to conduct aimed fire in any conditions, skillfully combine it with maneuver, act decisively and until the enemy ships were completely destroyed. The chief commander of the fleet and ports in a new way organized and ensured the implementation of a large and painstaking work on staffing ships with ship supplies and spare parts, paid much attention to the timely completion of repairs in the Sevastopol Admiralty, demanded regular pitching and go to sea with the underwater part of the hull cleared of fouling . These innovations have significantly increased the combat capabilities of ships. Under Ushakov, the Black Sea Fleet raised its combat readiness and gained proper maneuverability.
On December 29, 1791, a peace treaty was signed in Iasi, which ended the second Russian-Turkish war. Turkey again recognized the terms of the Kyuchuk-Kaynardzhy Treaty of 1774, confirmed the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, Taman and the Kuban side to Russia, and renounced claims to Georgia. New lands between the Dniester and the Bug, the cities of Gadzhibey and Ochakov, went to the Russians. The new treaty strengthened Russia's position in the Balkans and the Caucasus, played a major role in the further development of the Black Sea by the Russians, the strengthening of the military and merchant fleet on it, and the further development of maritime shipbuilding in southern Russia.
The reorganization of the Black Sea Fleet and the management of local shipbuilding belong to the same time. Field Marshal G. A. Potemkin Tavrichesky, who was in charge of them, summarizing the combat experience of the war that had already lasted for the fourth year, in May 1791, a few months before his death, developed a broad program for the further development of the fleet and shipbuilding on the Black Sea. The project provided for the creation of twenty battleships here, of which two or three flagships armed with 90-80 guns, the rest 74-gun, four 40-gun frigates, a rowing flotilla of 36 light ships and brigantines. The brave and resolute statesman did not have time to carry out his plan. However, Catherine II did not disregard his plans, she put them in the basis of the new states of the Black Sea Fleet, which she instructed to draw up Vice Admiral N. S. Mordvinov, who again in 1792 took the post of chairman of the Black Sea Admiralty Board.
The Russian statesman and public figure, count and admiral N. S. Mordvinov gave about 50 years of his life to the fleet. A comprehensively educated and energetic officer with a clear mind and knowledge, he sailed a lot, commanded ships and fleet formations, held high command positions, made a significant contribution to the development of the Black Sea basin and the development of the Kherson and Sevastopol admiralties. Knowing foreign languages, he translated into Russian a number of books on marine sciences and wrote many scientific works himself. In 1802, on September 8, he was appointed the first naval minister in the history of Russia, stayed in this post for only about three months, retired and was engaged in social activities in various state and elective posts. In 1826, as a member of the Supreme Court, one of all the members of this court refused to sign the death warrant for the Decembrists.
A commission appointed in February 1793, consisting of Admirals V. Ya. Chichagov and I. Pushchin, State Treasurer A. N. Samoilov and others, considered the project of states for the Black Sea sailing and rowing fleets and admiralties developed in Kherson. By decree of the Empress of July 27, 1794, the new states were approved. The composition of the fleet is determined from 15 battleships, 18 frigates, 75 small ships, 50 gunboats and eight brigantines, as well as various auxiliary ships.
Together with the development of the above fleet states in the Black Sea, work was carried out to improve the design of battleships and frigates. Back in 1793, the shipbuilder A. S. Katasanov, on the instructions of the Black Sea Admiralty Board, developed a project for a 74-gun "new manner" battleship of the new series. When designing, he used the progressive East Indian type of ships, created in England in the middle of the 18th century and widely used in advanced European fleets. The designed ships had a hull length increased by 3.7 meters, less sheer, almost continuous upper deck due to the reduction of the aft superstructures and the connection of the quarterdeck with the forcastle, more advanced sailing equipment and a rational arrangement of boats, and various other improvements.
In 1796, Empress Catherine II died, and a short, but fraught with strange affairs, period of the reign of Paul I began. The Black Sea Admiralty Board lost its independence and became subordinate to the Admiralty Colleges, the board and all its services were relocated to Nikolaev, and the commander of the fleet also moved there. An audit of the fleet states approved two years ago has begun.
Created in 1796, the Special Committee proposed to bring all battleships in the Black Sea Fleet into one division consisting of three squadrons with a total number of 15 units. Each squadron was supposed to consist of one flagship 100-gun ship, three 74-gun ships and one reserve ship with 66 guns. To reinforce the fleet of the line, it was planned to have six large 50-gun-rank frigates with large-caliber artillery, allowing these ships to be in the line of battle along with battleships. The work of the Special Committee continued for about two years. On January 1, 1798, the new states of the Russian fleets were approved. In the Black Sea, in addition to the above ships, it was planned to have four 36-gun frigates, six smaller ships with 14-24 guns, three boats and two bombardment ships, as well as a rowing flotilla of four frigates, three golets, ten floating batteries, one hundred gunboats, three bombardment boats and six guard ships.
Instead of the Black Sea Admiralty Board, a decree of January 9, 1798 established the Office of the Chief Commander of the Black Sea Fleet and Ports. It consisted of the commander of the fleet and ports, the vice-admiral, the zeichmester (chief gunner) and five advisers on the number of expeditions, the chief auditor of the special office, the accounting department and the archivist.