The first major victory in the history of the Russian fleet. Battle of Poltava (1709)

NOT ONLY ON LAND, BUT ALSO AT SEA

Gangut is a peninsula in Finland (now Hanko), near which on July 26-27, 1714, a naval battle took place between the Russian fleet under the command of Admiral F.M. Apraksin and the Tsar (99 galleys) and the Swedish fleet of Vice Admiral G. Vatrang (15 battleships, 3 frigates). In May 1714, Russian galleys set off for the Åland Islands for a landing. But at Gangut their path was blocked by the Swedish fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Vatrang.

Apraksin did not dare to take independent action due to the serious superiority of the Swedes in forces (primarily in artillery) and reported the current situation to the tsar. He arrived at the scene of action on July 20. Having examined the area, Peter ordered a portage to be set up in a narrow part of the peninsula (2.5 km) in order to drag some of his ships along it to the other side of the Rilaks Fjord and hit them from there in the rear of the Swedes. In an effort to stop this maneuver, Vatrang sent 10 ships to Rilaksfjord under the command of Rear Admiral N. Ehrenskiöld.

On July 26, 1714, there was no wind, which deprived the Swedish sailing ships of freedom of maneuver. Peter took advantage of this. His rowing flotilla oared around Vatrang's fleet and blocked Ehrenskiöld's ships in the Rilaksfjord. The Swedish rear admiral refused the offer to surrender. Then, on July 27, 1714, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, Russian galleys attacked Swedish ships in Rilaksfjord. The first and second frontal attacks were repelled by Swedish gunfire. For the third time, the galleys finally managed to get close to the Swedish ships, grappled with them, and the Russian sailors rushed to board them.

After a ruthless battle, the Swedish flagship, the frigate Elefant (Elephant), was boarded, and the remaining 10 ships surrendered. Ehrenskiöld tried to escape on a boat, but was caught and captured. The trophies of the winners were the entire detachment of Ehrenschild: the frigate "Elephant", the galleys "Ern", "Trana", "Gripen", "Laxen", "Geden" and "Walfisch" and the skerry boats "Flundra", "Mortan" and "Simpan". The Swedes lost 361 people. killed, the rest (about 1 thousand people) were captured. The Russians lost 124 people. killed and 350 people. wounded. They had no losses in ships.

The Swedish fleet retreated towards Stockholm, and the Russians occupied the island of Åland. This success significantly strengthened the position of Russian troops in Finland. Gangut is the first major victory of the Russian fleet. She raised the morale of the troops, showing that the Swedes could be defeated not only on land, but also at sea. Peter equated it in importance to the Battle of Poltava. Participants in the Battle of Gangut were awarded a medal with the inscription “Diligence and loyalty are superior.” “The first fruits of the Russian fleet. Naval victory at Aland on July 27, 1714.”

On September 9, 1714, celebrations on the occasion of the Gangut Victoria took place in St. Petersburg. The winners walked under the triumphal arch. It featured an image of an eagle sitting on the back of an elephant. The inscription read: “The Russian eagle does not catch flies.” The Church of St. Panteleimon was built in St. Petersburg. A monument was erected at the burial site of the fallen soldiers in 1871.

N. Shefov. Battles of Russia. Military-historical library. M., 2002

PETER I ABOUT VICTORY AT GANGUTA

“A state that has one land army has one hand, and one that has a fleet has both hands.”

“It is truly impossible to describe the courage of the Russian troops, both basic and rank and file, since the boarding was carried out so brutally that several soldiers were torn apart by the enemy’s guns, not with cannonballs and grapeshot, but with the spirit of gunpowder from the guns.”

RELATION

ABOUT THE NAVAL BATTLE THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN AVANTGARDE AND THE SWEDISH SQUADRON

On the 21st day, His Majesty went by sea to reconnoiter the enemy fleet... On the 22nd day, he went by land to Angut to reconnoitre the enemy fleet... Both from the sea and from the land it was considered (without cruisers, of which there were 6 ): 13 battleships, 4 frigates, 1 blockhouse, 2 bombardment galliots, 2 shnyavs, 6 large and small galleys; three ships beyond the island were visible, like our Russian brigantines, but it was impossible to truly see them. The commanders of the fleet were one admiral, a vice admiral, and two schoutbenachts. On the 23rd and 24th we went and inspected the portage and found it, which is only 1170 fathoms three arshins from the Vereminsky Bay to the other, which is on the western (western) side of Angut... At the inspection, it was ordered to build a bridge in order to drag and let several light galleys through for action and thus bring the enemy into embarrassment...

On the 25th day of July (that is, on Sunday) in the afternoon, considerable shooting was heard in the sea... From the fire guard they reported to the Admiral General that that shooting was from enemy cruisers... At that hour the Admiral General reported in writing - (Schautbenakht Peter I) - and at the same time asked that by morning he would come to him for a flying observation.

On the 26th day, the Admiral General arrived at that place, and the Swedish Vice Admiral Lilly, leaving the skerries from the Angut mouth, turned to Tveremindskoye. Then they truly learned that the enemy’s intention was not towards Revel, but to Tveremind... They sent a decree so that the entire fleet would prepare to leave the bottleneck where they were stationed, so that the enemy would not be locked in Avangut, seeing a free turn. They took a resolution to send 20 galleys, to pass by the enemy fleet (it was still quiet), which was done under the command of Captain-Commander Zmaevich, Brigadier Volkov and Captain Bredal. The enemy immediately gave the signal to march and began to tow as best he could; and especially the admiral's ship was quickly towed by boats and boats and they shot at ours a lot, but their cannonballs did not harm... When... our first messengers passed, they sent the remaining 15 galleys, which were here with brigadier Lefort and captains Dezhimont and Gris, who also... happily raked... Then the Swedish admiral raised the white flag for the return of his vice admiral. At the same time, when the galleys were being sent, information was received that one frigate and six galleys and two enemy skerries had arrived near the place where they intended to build a bridge, then both flagships went from that place back to the galley fleet, and Captain-Commander Zmaevich a decree was sent - it was ordered to attack them. But it was too late that day: the vice-admiral returned and united with his fleet... After all, the admiral-general and the ship’s schoutbenacht (who then transferred to the galley fleet) were not at close range with each other, and especially the darkness of the night separated them, for the sake of that night on the 27th of July there was a transfer between the aforementioned flagships through the secret office secretary of Makarov... According to that transfer, it is necessary to fight through the enemy with a galley fleet.

And on the 27th day, in the morning, Admiral General Count Apraksin, with his entire former fleet with him, set off from midnight and approached the enemy that same morning. The decree gave permission to break through it without raking around, which was done with the help of God. And so harmlessly that only one galley ran aground, which the enemy took... All the rest, both ships and people, passed through without harm, although from all over the enemy fleet they fired cruelly at our naval forces, from which the shooting knocked off one captain’s leg. .. When the admiral passed, then his captain-commander Zmaevich reported that he had blocked the enemy... When the admiral general arrived at that place and, having formed the fleet for battle, sent Adjutant General Yaguzhinsky to the commander of that Swedish squadron, Schoutbenacht Ernschild, so that he gave himself up; to which he said that he could not do that... Seeing their stubbornness, the Admiral General gave the signal to our vanguard to attack... The attack began at three o'clock in the afternoon and continued even until the fifth hour... Although the enemy had incomparable artillery in front of ours, however, due to extremely cruel resistance, first the galleys, one at a time, and then the frigate were taken. And the enemies defended themselves so strongly that not a single ship escaped from ours without boarding. Schoutbenacht, after the flag, jumped into the boat with his grenadiers and wanted to leave. But he was caught by ours, namely the Ingria Regiment by Captain Bakeev with the grenadiers.

One of the most dramatic episodes of the Northern War, as a result of which Russia opened its famous “window to Europe,” was the Gangut naval battle. It became Russia's first victory over the invincible Swedish fleet. In memory of him, a holiday was established - the Day of Military Glory of Russia, which is celebrated annually on August 9, on the anniversary of the battle.

Confrontation between the fleets of two powers

By the spring of 1714, Russia had captured the entire south of Finland and a significant part of its central territory. But land conquests alone were not enough. To reach it, a victory over the Swedish fleet, which unhinderedly controlled its waters, was necessary. It was precisely this task that Peter I set before the command of the Russian squadron.

In June, the need arose to strengthen the forces of the garrison guarding the port of Abu, which was an important strategic facility, captured by Russian troops. For this purpose, a flotilla of ninety-nine rowing ships under the command of F. M. Apraksin was sent to the shores of Gangut. It consisted of sixty-seven galleys and thirty-two scampaways (small ships for transporting troops). The Swedes were expecting Russian ships to appear in this area, and their entire naval fleet, led by Vice Admiral Gustav Vatrang, an experienced naval commander who had studied military affairs to its intricacies, came out to intercept them.

The Battle of Gangut - a duel between the rowing and sailing fleets

Unlike the Russian rowing flotilla, the Swedes were mainly armed with them, which created significant advantages, but at the same time made them dependent on weather conditions. Among the enemy ships were three frigates, fifteen-two bombardment galliots and nine large galleys. Thus, the Swedes had a clear superiority of forces, which forced F. M. Apraksin to retreat to Tverminn Bay and spend almost a month under the cover of its islands.

Having received news of the trap in which the Russian flotilla fell, Peter I hastened to their aid. The squadron he led left Revel and approached Gangut on July 20. Wanting to remain incognito, the emperor hid his real name under the pseudonym Pyotr Mikhailov. Here, in the face of the enemy, he showed himself to be an outstanding naval commander. The Gangut naval battle became a triumph for the Russian fleet thanks to the daring and original plan it drew up.

Tactical move of Peter I

Taking advantage of the geographical features of the peninsula, Peter I managed to tactically outplay the Swedish vice admiral. He initiated construction in its narrowest part, located opposite the harbor, in which Apraksin’s flotilla was locked, the so-called relocation. It was a two-kilometer-long log deck stretching from one shore to the other and making it possible to drag blocked ships along it to the other side of the peninsula into the Rilaks Fiord Bay. The implementation of such a plan would make it possible to free the flotilla from the blockade.

Having received this information from the scouts, Gustav Vatrang immediately divided his forces into two parts and sent a military flotilla commanded by Rear Admiral N. Ehrenskiöld to the waters of Rilaks Fjord. His task was to destroy the Russian flotilla with fire from his artillery during its transportation across the isthmus. The second group of ships, commanded by Vice Admiral Lillier, was, according to his plan, to attack the main forces of the Russians. This decision was quite logical, but nevertheless contained a mistake that became fatal for the Swedish fleet.

Breakthrough of the Russian squadron

The Russian emperor took advantage of this division of enemy forces. The weather that day - August 6 - was calm, and calm, as you know, deprives sailing ships of their main advantage - maneuverability. Thanks to this gift of fate, the squadron of Russian ships, commanded by M. Kh. Zmaevich, began a breakthrough and oared around the Swedish ships, which stood with their sails hanging powerlessly. The Swedes could only look in silent rage at the fleeing enemy, since the significant distance between them and the Russian ships did not allow the use of artillery.

Following the first detachment, the second, consisting of 15 ships, broke through. Having completed this maneuver, Zmaevich’s detachment circled the peninsula and, to the complete surprise of the Swedes, surrounded their ships, which were awaiting the land crossing of the Russian flotilla. Next, Vatrang clearly panicked. He very recklessly recalled a detachment of ships blocking Apraksin’s flotilla, which was still in Tverminn Bay. Thus, he opened the coastal fairway and gave the blocked ships the opportunity, connecting with the main forces of the rowing fleet, to break through to the vanguard of the fleet.

How the Battle of Gangut unfolded

It will forever preserve in its annals the evidence of the extraordinary tactical skill and personal courage of Russian sailors. From documents of those years it is known that during the day the ships that were part of Ehrenskiöld’s detachment and grouped off the northern coast of the peninsula were attacked by the vanguard of the Russian fleet.

The Swedish vice admiral built them in a concave line, the edges of which reached the islands. This gave them certain advantages for the use of artillery and helped repulse the first two attacks. But the third was fatal for them. It was launched against the flanks and thus did not allow the enemy to take full advantage of their artillery.

The last boarding battle, which became a victory

An interesting fact: the Battle of Gangut under Peter 1 was the last, the outcome of which was determined by a boarding battle. It is known that on that day the Russian emperor himself rushed to board, and, having climbed a rope aboard the enemy ship, set an example of courage and heroism. Soon all the enemy ships were captured, and those members of their crews who were lucky enough to survive were taken prisoner.

The Gangut naval battle (1714) ended with the capture of the Swedish flagship ship "Elephant". In addition to him, ten more ships under the command of Vice Admiral Ehrenskiöld became trophies of the Russians. Some of their ships still managed to escape and go to the Åland Islands. Ehrenskiöld himself was also taken prisoner. Although on this day happiness turned away from the old sea wolf, he did not stain himself with shame and, having been wounded seven times, surrendered to the Russian sailors, only submitting to inevitability.

Factors that contributed to the Russian victory

Modern researchers name the main factors that formed the victorious history of the Gangut battle. Briefly, they can be described as the ingenuity shown by the command of the Russian flotilla, brilliant tactical thinking, which made it possible to use the advantages of a light rowing fleet over a sailing fleet - more powerful, but less mobile, and the personal outstanding naval leadership qualities of Emperor Peter the Great.

Until now, researchers do not have a consensus on the number of attacks undertaken by Russian sailors against the Swedish fleet. The version presented above is based on the testimony of historians of the defeated side, and raises some doubts. There is reason to believe that in reality there was only one attack, and the other two were an invention of the Swedes, who wanted to somehow support the then shaken prestige of their fleet and show that the Russians had won at a high price.

The meaning of the victory at Gangut

Thus, on that day, the still nascent Russian fleet won its first naval battle. Under Gangut, Russia showed itself to be an emerging new powerful maritime power. This significantly increased its prestige among other European states and made it possible to negotiate on equal terms with the monarchs of the leading countries of the world. In addition, the naval battle of Gangut, won in 1714, significantly influenced the overall course of the Northern War.

Thanks to this victory, Russian ground forces were able to operate unhindered on the coast of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia. And although there were still seven years left before the complete defeat of Sweden, after the Gangut naval battle - the first major victory at sea - showed the whole world the irreversibility of the process of Russia’s emergence as one of the trendsetters in world politics.

Triumph of the winners

In September 1714, the winners returned to St. Petersburg. Here they were greeted by crowds of enthusiastic citizens and marched solemnly under the arches of the specially erected Arc de Triomphe. It was crowned with an image of a Russian eagle sitting astride an elephant. Elephant - this is how the name of the Swedish flagship "Elephant" is translated. The allegory was completed by an ironic inscription: “The Russian eagle does not catch flies.”

For the Gangut naval battle, Peter I was awarded the rank of vice admiral, which was well deserved, given his leading role in fleet command and ability to make competent decisions in a difficult tactical situation. Many other participants in this battle also received awards.

Immediately after the crews returned to the capital, a thousand sailor medals “For the Victory at Gangut” were minted, but, according to contemporaries, they were not enough to award all those who distinguished themselves in battle, and in the next two years this number was tripled. Special awards were also issued for officers. Russia honored the heroes thanks to whom the Battle of Gangut was won. It is not without reason that the naval power of a power has always been considered the most important component of its defense capability.

Captured ships

The captured Swedish ships were delivered to St. Petersburg. They were placed for general viewing along the Kronverkskaya channel, separating the Peter and Paul Fortress from the north from the part of the bank where the Artillery Museum is located today. Among them was the famous flagship "Elephant".

Peter I valued it very much as a memory of a glorious victory, and ordered it not to be used in future for military operations, but, having been repaired, to be pulled ashore and made into something like a memorial. That's what they did. The once formidable warship stood on the shore until 1737, when, finally rotting, it was dismantled for firewood.

Church - memorial to the glory of sailors

The Gangut naval battle claimed the lives of many Russian, but even more Swedish sailors. Among them, 361 people were killed and 350 were injured. Among Russian sailors, 124 people died a heroic death and 342 were wounded. In honor of their victory, won on the day when the Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of St. Panteleimon, a church was built in St. Petersburg. On its facade there were memorial marble plaques, which indicated the naval and land units that took part in the battle.

Church in the period 1735-1739 was rebuilt under the leadership of the famous Russian architect I.K. Korobov and has come to us in an updated form. Many people are familiar with this building, located in the city center on the corner of Pestel Street and Solyanoy Lane. This is how the Battle of Gangut, Russia’s first naval victory, was immortalized by the architectural monument.

Naval battles for Grengam and the defense of Khanka

The same church serves as a monument to another glorious victory of the Russian fleet, won in 1720 in the battle with Swedish ships for the island of Grengam. Gangut witnessed the heroism of Russians during the Great Patriotic War. By that time it began to be called the Khanka Peninsula. Its defense, which began in the first days after the German attack on our country and lasted 164 days, has gone down in history forever. The church of St. Panteleimon, located opposite, on the opposite side of Pestel Street, reminds of them.

Let it be cool word by word,
Let words be stones
May the glory of Russian Gangut
She will remain alive forever.

Mikhail Dudin

The year was 1714. The Northern War, which was grueling for Russia, had been going on for almost 15 years. Behind were the shameful defeat of Russian troops near Narva in 1700, which forced Tsar Peter I to urgently create a new regular army, and the glorious victory of Russian weapons near Poltava in 1709, which showed the power of a renewed Russia and put an end to Swedish hegemony in Central Europe. However, even after losing a 30,000-strong land army, the Swedish king Charles XII did not lose hope of winning this war.

In order to crush Sweden, Russia needed to take possession of the Baltic Sea, which the Swedes themselves called “Swedish Lake”, thereby trying to emphasize the dominance of their navy here. Russia has been preparing for the solution of this strategic task for a long time. The Northern War itself was started by the Russians with the goal of winning access to the Baltic. And although Russian troops managed to gradually occupy the entire eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, it was still too early to talk about achieving control over the entire Baltic. To dominate the Baltic, a powerful navy was needed, and its creation was not an easy task.

For the first time, large-scale construction of military courts was undertaken by Peter I in Voronezh, after an unsuccessful campaign against the Turkish fortress of Azov in the summer of 1695. Then, within a few months, two 36-gun ships “Apostle Peter” and “Apostle Paul”, 23 galleys and more than a thousand plows were built. This motley flotilla, led by the first Russian admiral, friend and associate of Peter, Franz Yakovlevich Lefort, took part in the second Azov campaign and, blocking the fortress from the sea, forced its garrison to surrender. This happened on July 19, 1696.

And on October 20 of the same year, the Boyar Duma, having discussed the results of the Azov campaigns, decided: “There will be sea vessels!”, thereby authorizing the creation of the Russian Navy. However, the state treasury did not have the necessary funds for this. A solution was found in the organization of "kumpans" - associations of nobles, monasteries and merchants to finance the construction of warships.

To manage the construction, the first admiralty was established in Voronezh in 1697, headed by the future Admiral General of the Fleet Fyodor Matveevich Apraksin. By the spring of 1698, 52 ships had been built, forming the basis of the Azov fleet.

A year later, the Russian Navy got its own flag. Its description was made by Peter I: “A white flag, through which is the blue cross of St. Andrew, for the sake of the fact that Russia received baptism from this apostle.” Tsar Peter believed that this symbol would give the naval army of the Russian state heavenly protection, courage and spiritual strength.

But the fleet needed not only ships, but also specialists. Therefore, in 1697, Peter I sent 35 young nobles as part of the “Great Embassy” to study maritime affairs in Holland and England, among whom he himself went under the name of bombardier Peter Mikhailov. Later, in 1701, a school of mathematical and navigational sciences was opened in Moscow, which became the first naval educational institution in Russia.

Unfortunately, the Azov Fleet was not able to achieve glory in successful naval operations at that time, and the Baltic Fleet had yet to be born.

During the Northern War, in May 1702, a shipbuilding shipyard was founded at the mouth of the Syas River, which flows into Lake Ladoga. Here the first ships were laid down, intended for future military operations for the reconquest of the Baltic Sea. The only way to the Baltic Sea for the Russians was the Neva River, connecting Lake Ladoga with the Gulf of Finland, but the entrance to it from Ladoga was menacingly covered by the Swedish fortress of Noterburg. This powerful fortress, with numerous artillery, located on an island located at the confluence of the Neva into the lake, was a tough nut to crack. By the way, before the Swedes took possession of it, it was called Oreshek.

Peter I, at the head of 14 regiments, arrived under the walls of the fortress in the fall of 1702. The Swedes refused to capitulate to the Russians. Then the fortress was subjected to a two-week bombardment, and on October 11 a decisive assault followed. Russian troops, under heavy enemy fire, crossed by boat to the island and, climbing the walls using siege ladders, captured the fortress after a bloody 12-hour battle. Remembering the ancient Russian name of the fortress, Peter I triumphantly said: “It is true that this nut was extremely cruel, however, thank God, it was happily chewed.”

Subsequently, Noterburg was renamed by Peter Shlisselburg (Key City), which should have meant not only the importance of its strategic position, but also a reminder that it was the capture of Noterburg that was the first step towards recapturing access to the Baltic.

The next step towards achieving this goal was the capture of the mouth of the Neva in the spring of 1703. On April 30, after artillery shelling, another Swedish fortress, Nieshantz, located at the confluence of the Okhta River with the Neva, surrendered. The first naval battle in the Northern War took place on May 7. The day before, two Swedish ships from the squadron of Admiral Numers, unaware of the fall of Nyenskans, entered the mouth of the Neva. Peter decided, using the morning fog, to unexpectedly attack them on river boats and board them. The king brilliantly implemented this bold plan. 30 ordinary fishing boats with soldiers of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky guards regiments, under the command of Peter himself and his closest ally, Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, captured these two Swedish warships in a fierce battle. Moreover, out of the 77 crew members of these ships, only 19 remained alive. In honor of this incredible and brilliant victory, Peter ordered a commemorative medal to be knocked out with the inscription: “The unthinkable can happen!” It was awarded to all participants in this desperate operation. Peter himself and Prince Alexander Menshikov received, as a reward for personal courage, the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called - the highest award of the Russian Empire.

If it was quite easy to take possession of the mouth of the Neva, it was much more difficult to keep it in your hands. The Swedish fortress of Nyenschanz was poorly fortified, and was located quite far from the mouth of the Neva. Therefore, for protection from the sea, on the island of Hare, located at the mouth of the river, on May 16, 1703, a new fortress was founded, named in honor of the holy apostles Peter and Paul - Petropavlovskaya. It was she who laid the foundation for the future capital of the Russian Empire - the city of St. Petersburg.

In 1704, on the island of Kotlin, located in the Gulf of Finland opposite the mouth of the Neva, the construction of the sea fortress Kronshlot (future Kronstadt) began. It was supposed to cover the approaches to St. Petersburg, and later became Russia's main naval base in the Baltic. In 1705, a large shipyard for the Baltic Fleet was founded in the city, which was still under construction, and a new admiralty was created. The construction of a new fleet has acquired a wide scope.

This could not but worry Sweden. In order to destroy the nascent Russian fleet and its main naval base, Charles XII in the summer of 1705 sent a squadron under the command of Admiral Ankerstern consisting of 7 battleships, 6 frigates and 8 auxiliary ships with landing troops on board to the mouth of the Neva. However, the Russians already had something to counter the enemy’s onslaught.

The Swedes' road to St. Petersburg was blocked by a detachment of Russian ships under the flag of Vice Admiral K.I. Kruys (8 frigates*, 5 frigates**, 2 fire ships*** and several rowing ships), which took up a position near Kotlin Island in advance and, Relying on the support of its coastal batteries, from June 4 to 10, it repelled repeated enemy attempts to land troops on Kotlin Island or break through to St. Petersburg.

The last attempt by the Swedes to capture Kotlin was made a month later - on July 14. The Swedes managed, having suppressed the fire of our batteries and ships, to land a landing force of 1,600 people on the island. The furious hand-to-hand battle lasted for several hours. The Swedes lost 560 people killed and 114 wounded, after which they ingloriously returned to their ships and left, as they say, “without a meal.” Thus, thanks to the fortitude and courage of ordinary now unknown Russian sailors and soldiers, the young Baltic Fleet and the new capital of the Russian state were saved.

After the failure of the operation to capture St. Petersburg and Kronshlot, Sweden no longer dared to conduct active military operations at sea. Its fleet was used only to support ground forces, transport and protect its sea coasts. But the Russian fleet was not yet ready for offensive naval operations. Its main strength then consisted of light rowing vessels - galleys and scampaways*, designed for operations in coastal waters, and several frigates. The construction of large battleships was just beginning. However, the war, already burdensome for the Russian economy, dragged on. For its speedy completion, active operations at sea were necessary.

The situation forced the Russians to be more decisive in their actions. In the spring of 1713, a 16,000-strong Russian army landed in Finland and captured Helsingfors (Helsinki), Borgo (Porvo) and Abo (Turku). Now Russian troops were separated from Swedish territory only by the Gulf of Bothnia. Peter I plans to transport his army from the Finnish coast to the Aldan Islands, located right in the center of the bay, and from there to land in Sweden. But for this it was necessary to bring sufficient forces here and to have a large number of transportation means at hand.

In July 1714, a flotilla of Russian rowing ships consisting of 99 galleys and scampaways with 15 thousand soldiers on board left St. Petersburg. She was heading to the western coast of Finland, to the Abo fortress, which served as a concentration point for Russian troops before rushing to the Aldan archipelago. But at Cape Gangut, on the southern tip of the Gangut (Hanko) peninsula, the path of the Russian ships was blocked by the Swedish fleet under the command of Admiral Vatrang. It consisted of 15 battleships, 3 frigates and a detachment of rowing ships. In terms of the number of artillery, the Swedish fleet significantly exceeded the Russian forces.

Peter I, who personally headed this naval operation, ordered the construction of a wooden flooring - a portage - across the narrow isthmus of the peninsula in order to drag the galleys overland and bypass the Swedish barrier. Having learned about this, Vatrang divided his forces and sent 1 frigate, 6 galleys and 3 skerboats *, under the command of Rear Admiral Ehrenschild, to the skerries located north of the peninsula, to the place where the Russian galleys were launched into the water. Another detachment, consisting of 8 battleships and 2 bomber ships**, led by Rear Admiral Lilje, was sent to the site of the Russian flotilla to prevent the galleys from being pulled ashore.

But unfortunately for the Swedes, the sea was completely calm. The Swedish sailing ships stood motionless.

Taking advantage of the calm and dispersal of enemy forces, Peter I decided to radically change his plans. Early in the morning of July 26 (August 6, new style), the Russian advance detachment, consisting of 20 scampaveys, under the command of Captain-Commander Matiy Khristoforovich Zmaevich, bypassed the Swedes by sea on oars and, rounding the cape, blocked a detachment of Ehrenschild's ships in the skerries. Vatrang, in order to block the path of the rest of the Russian forces, ordered the ships to be towed using boats into the sea, while simultaneously recalling Lilje’s detachment. On the morning of the next day, the remaining Russian ships, under the command of Admiral General Fyodor Mikhailovich Apraksin, passed through the shallow water between the shore and the Swedish squadron and headed to help Zmaevich’s detachment. Thus, Ehrenschild's ships were completely cut off from the main forces and practically deprived of the help of Vatrang.

The famous Battle of Gangut began in the middle of the day on July 27. It was preceded by an offer of surrender. When it was rejected, a blue flag was raised on Admiral Apraksin's ship, and then a cannon shot was heard. These were signals of attack.

The vanguard of the Russian fleet under the command of Schoutbeinacht Peter Mikhailov did not attack the entire Swedish squadron, but the blocked detachment of Rear Admiral Ehrenschild, consisting of the frigate "Elephant" and nine smaller ships. The Swedes had powerful artillery (116 guns versus 23), but this did not bother Peter at all. For two hours the Swedes managed to repel the onslaught of the Russians, but then the attackers boarded the ships and grappled with the enemy hand-to-hand. “Truly,” Peter recalled about this battle, “it is impossible to describe the courage of ours, both the initial and the rank-and-file, since the boarding was carried out so cruelly that several soldiers were torn apart by the enemy’s cannons, not with cannonballs, but with the spirit of gunpowder.” Ehrenschild tried to escape by boat, but was captured. “It’s true,” Peter wrote to Catherine, “both in this war we and the Alirts (that is, allies) with France have many not only generals, but also field marshals, but not a single flagship.”

The bloody battle ended in complete victory for the Russian fleet. The Swedes lost more than 700 people killed in this battle, 230 sailors surrendered. Our losses amounted to 469 people. All of Ehrenschild's ships became Russian trophies. The calm prevented the Swedish squadron from providing assistance to the defeated detachment of Rear Admiral Ehrenschild. The success of the Russian fleet horrified the Swedish court: it began to evacuate from the capital. The Tsar compared the naval victory at Gangut with the Poltava Victoria.

The naval battle, which brought glory to the Russian fleet, was followed by two ceremonies. On September 9, the population of St. Petersburg solemnly greeted the winners. Three Russian galleys decorated with flags entered the Neva. They were followed by captured Swedish ships. Then the commanding galley of Schoutbeinakht Peter Mikhailov appeared. The procession was closed by two galleys with soldiers. The parade continued on land: the winners carried banners and other trophies. Ehrenschild was among the prisoners. The procession was closed by the battalions of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, led by Peter. The winners walked through a triumphal arch, which was decorated with intricate images. One of them looked like this: an eagle was sitting on the back of an elephant. The inscription read: “The Russian Eagle does not catch flies.” The meaning of the ironic inscription will become clear if we remember that the captured frigate was called "Elephant" (elephant).

The ceremony continued in the Senate. Surrounded by senators, “Prince Caesar” Romodanovsky sat in a luxurious chair. Shautbeinakht Pyotr Mikhailov asked permission to enter the hall to give a report and a letter of recommendation from Admiral General Apraksin about his service. The papers were read aloud, and the script assigned a laconic role to the “Prince Caesar,” who was not distinguished for eloquence: after asking a few insignificant questions, he said: “Hello, Vice Admiral!” So the king received the rank of vice admiral. From that time on, he began to sign for an annual salary of 2,240 rubles.

The Russians again surprised all European countries! No one has yet succeeded in cunningly planning and defeating a large navy using rowing ships alone. After such a defeat, the Swedish fleet was unable to prevent the landing of Russian troops on the Aldan Islands, from where they launched significant attacks on the Swedish coast throughout the final stage of the war. Peter equated the victory at Gangut with the glorious Poltava victory and ordered the minting of gold and silver award medals depicting his portrait on one side and the battle scene on the other. The inscription on the medal read: “Diligence and loyalty greatly exceed. July 27, 1714.” This medal was awarded to 144 officers and 2,813 soldiers and non-commissioned officers who directly took part in this naval battle.

The victory at Gangut went down in the history of the Russian fleet as the first major naval victory, which marked the beginning of the defeat of Sweden at sea. It is significant that it was on the sixth anniversary of the Gangut victory - July 27, 1720 that the Russian fleet won its second major naval victory off the island of Grengam, which became the decisive battle of the Northern War and put an end to Swedish dominance in the Baltic.

After the brilliant victories at Gangut in 1714 and at Grenham in 1720, European states seemed to wake up from hibernation and discovered a powerful state in the east - Russia with a first-class navy. There was something to think about for England, Holland, and France.

Russia, with the genius of Peter I, his associates, domestic and foreign masters, created a powerful fleet. By the end of the reign of Peter I, it included: 34 battleships, 9 frigates, 17 galleys, 26 ships of other types. There were up to 30 thousand people in its ranks, and it had a number of brilliant victories.

Tsar Peter I was already a recognized military sailor. In the summer of 1716, maneuvers took place in the Baltic Sea, in which 84 warships took part. Russian flags flew over 21 of them. Peter I was awarded the honor of commanding a united squadron of ships from England, Holland, Denmark and the ships of Russia. He wrote in his diary: “Hardly anyone in the world has received such an honor to command the fleets of foreign peoples and their own together. I remember with pleasure the power of attorney of those powers.” .

Nikolay Kolesnikov

I walk by the cherished side,
Where the sea beckons with its spaciousness,
Where the wind embraces the wave
It hits ancient granite.
There I go, where every stone is familiar,
Where the heroic surf is mighty,
The moon has its horns in the sky
Into the golden bulk of the clouds...
Sea! Let's remember your hum and your splash
Our friendship from day one.
I understood you from a half-splash
Just like you, without saying a word to me.
You tormented me and caressed me;
Without you the world would be boring and quiet,
I would like the winds on the groaning halyards
They didn’t play such melodies.
I wouldn't know the price of dating
Not the saltiness of girlish tears,
And the sailor has a high rank
I wouldn't be able to comprehend it seriously...
...You, who in the world cannot be found more beautiful,
Don't promise me quiet moments,
Fight forever on the shores of Russia,
Where do eagles and sailors live!

The first naval victory in the history of Russia of the Russian fleet over the Swedish squadron at Cape Gangut (Hanko Peninsula, Finland), Baltic Sea, August 9, 1714

The Battle of Gangut between the Russian and Swedish fleets played an important role in the favorable outcome for Russia of the Northern War of 1700-1721. By the spring of 1714, the southern and almost entire central parts of Finland were occupied by Russian troops. In order to finally resolve the issue of Russia's access to the Baltic Sea, which was controlled by the Swedes, it was necessary to defeat the Swedish fleet. At the end of June 1714, the Russian rowing fleet (99 galleys and auxiliary ships with a 15,000-strong army) under the command of Admiral General F.M. Apraksina concentrated on the eastern coast of Gangut (in Tverminne Bay) with the goal of breaking through to the Abo-Aland skerries and landing troops to reinforce the Russian garrison in Abo (100 km northwest of Cape Gangut). The path to the Russian fleet was blocked by the Swedish fleet (15 battleships, 3 frigates and a detachment of rowing ships) under the command of G. Vatrang.

Peter I used a tactical maneuver. He decided to transfer part of his galleys to the skerry area north of Gangut across the isthmus of this peninsula, 2.5 kilometers long. To fulfill his plan, he ordered the construction of a perevolok (wooden flooring). Having learned about this, Vatrang sent a detachment of ships (1 frigate, 6 galleys, 3 skerries) to the northern coast of the peninsula. The detachment was headed by Rear Admiral Ehrenskiöld. He decided to use another detachment (8 battleships and 2 bombardment ships) under the command of Vice Admiral Lillier to strike the main forces of the Russian fleet.

Peter expected such a decision. He decided to take advantage of the division of enemy forces. The weather was also favorable to him. On the morning of August 6 (July 26) there was no wind, which is why the Swedish sailing ships lost their maneuverability. Vanguard of the Russian fleet (20 ships) under the command of Commander M.Kh. Zmaevich began the breakthrough, bypassing the Swedish ships and remaining out of range of their fire. Following him, another detachment (15 ships) made a breakthrough. Thus, there was no need for relocation. Zmaevich's detachment blocked Ehrenskiöld's detachment near Lakkisser Island.

Believing that other detachments of Russian ships would continue the breakthrough in the same way, Vatrang recalled Lilje’s detachment, thus freeing the coastal fairway. Taking advantage of this, Apraksin with the main forces of the rowing fleet broke through the coastal fairway to his vanguard. At 14:00 on August 7 (July 27), the Russian vanguard, consisting of 23 ships, attacked Ehrenskiöld’s detachment, which built its ships along a concave line, both flanks of which rested on the islands. The Swedes managed to repulse the first two attacks with fire from naval guns. The third attack was launched against the flanking ships of the Swedish detachment, which did not allow the enemy to take advantage of their artillery advantage. They were soon boarded and captured. Peter I personally participated in the boarding attack, showing the sailors an example of courage and heroism. After a stubborn battle, the Swedish flagship also surrendered. All 10 ships of Ehrenskiöld's detachment were captured. Part of the forces of the Swedish fleet managed to escape to the Åland Islands.

The victory off the Gangut Peninsula was the first major victory of the Russian regular fleet. She provided him with freedom of action in the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia and effective support for Russian troops in Finland. In the Battle of Gangut, the Russian command boldly used the advantage of the rowing fleet in the fight against the linear sailing fleet of the Swedes in the skerry area, skillfully organized the interaction of naval forces and ground forces, reacted flexibly to changes in the tactical situation and weather conditions, managed to unravel the enemy’s maneuver and impose its tactics on him . The high moral and combat qualities of soldiers, sailors and officers allowed the Russian fleet to defeat the numerically superior Swedish fleet.

Assessing the importance of the fleet for the state, Peter I said after the victory at Gangut: “A state that has one land army has one hand, and a state that has a fleet has both hands.”.

The most striking combat pages are associated with actions against Sweden and Turkey, Russia’s rivals in the Baltic, Black and Aegean Seas. Each of these adversaries - both Sweden and Turkey - ceased to exist as naval powers as a result of less than a century of consistent military struggle.

Let us briefly describe the most glorious victories of the Russian fleet:

1. “The Russian eagle doesn’t catch flies.” Battle of Gangut July 27 (August 7), 1714. The battle took place during the Northern War of 1700-1721 between Russian and Swedish squadrons in the Baltic Sea, near the Hanko Peninsula.

The purpose of the Russian fleet was to land troops to reinforce the Russian garrison in Abo in modern Finland. The Swedish fleet (15 battleships, 3 frigates, and 11 more ships) under the command of Admiral G. Wattrang blocked the path of the Russian rowing fleet (99 galleys, scamps and auxiliary ships) with a landing force of fifteen thousand people under the command of Admiral General F.M. Apraksina.

Personally, Peter I decided to use a tactical maneuver and transfer some of his galleys across the isthmus north of Gangut. The Swedish commander dispatched Admiral Ehrensköld's squadron (1 pram "Elephant" (translated as "Elephant"), 6 galleys and 3 skerries, 116 guns, 941 sailors) to prevent the Russians.

But the prevailing calm helped the Russian fleet to pass by the Swedish and board the entire Ehrenskiöld squadron. 361 Swedes were killed and the rest were taken prisoner. The Russians lost 127 people and 342 were wounded.

The victory was marked by the erection of an arch depicting an Eagle sitting on the back of an Elephant with the inscription “The Russian Eagle does not catch flies.”

2. "Good initiative." Battle of Ezel May 24 (June 4), 1719 between Russian and Swedish squadrons in the Baltic, near the island of Saaremaa, modern Estonia. Seven Russian ships attacked 3 Swedish ships and forced them to lower their flags. Swedes' losses were 50 killed, 14 wounded, and another 387 surrendered. This was the first victory in a naval artillery duel of the Russian naval fleet.

Tsar Peter I called this victory a “good initiative.”

Emperor Peter I. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

3. "Bringing the Nystadt Peace closer." Battle of Grenham July 27 (August 7), 1720 between the Russian rowing squadron under the command of General-in-Chief Prince M. M. Golitsyn (61 galleys and 29 boats) and the Swedish squadron under the command of K. G. Shoblad (1 battleship, 4 frigates, 3 galleys, 3 skerry boats, shnyava, galliot and brigantine, 156 guns). The Russians, retreating, lured the Swedish ships into shallow water, where, launching a counterattack, they boarded four frigates (103 killed, 407 captured), the rest retreated.

Russian losses: 82 killed, 236 wounded.

4. "Count Orlov Chesmensky". Battle of Chesme June 24-26 (July 5-7) 1770, during the First Archipelago Operation of the Russian fleet (9 battleships, 3 frigates, and about 20 auxiliary ships, about 6,500 people) under the command of Count A.G. Orlov in the Aegean Sea against the Turkish fleet (16 battleships, 6 frigates, 6 shebek, 13 galleys and 32 small ships, about 15,000 people) under the command of Kapudan Pasha Husameddin Ibrahim Pasha. Having driven the Turkish fleet as a result of the Battle of Chios (one ship on both sides exploded) into Chesme Bay, the Russian fleet (losing 4 fire ships and about 20 people) burned it with its artillery fire and the actions of its fire ships in the next two days. The Turks lost 15 battleships, 6 frigates, most small ships, about 11,000 people. One battleship and 5 galleys were captured by Russian sailors.

The Russian commander received the right to add the name “Chesmensky” to his surname.

5. "Destruction of the Dulcyonist fleet." Battle of Patras October 26-29 (November 6-9) 1772, during the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774 in the Aegean Sea. The Russian squadron (2 battleships, 2 frigates and three small ships, 224 guns) under the command of Captain 1st Rank M. T. Konyaev defeated the Turkish squadron (9 frigates, 16 shebeks, 630 guns) under the command of Kapudan Pasha Mustafa Pasha . During the three-day battle, 9 frigates, 10 shebeks and more than 200 Turks were destroyed by Russian artillery and burned by gunfire. Russian losses: 1 killed and 6 wounded.

6. "Cutting in the roadstead." First Battle of Rochensalm August 13(24), 1789 in the Gulf of Finland, during the Russian-Swedish war of 1788-1790. The Russian fleet (86 ships) under the command of Prince K. G. Nassau-Siegen defeated the Swedish fleet (49 ships) under the command of Admiral K. A. Ehrensvärd in the roadstead of the fortified city of Rochensalm, the modern Finnish city of Kotka. Swedish losses: 39 ships (including the admiral's, captured), 1,000 killed and wounded, 1,200 prisoners. The Russians lost 2 ships and about 1,000 people killed and wounded.

7. "Running through the gauntlet." Battle of Reval 2 (13) May 1790 in the Baltic during the Russian-Swedish war of 1788-1790. Ships of the Swedish fleet (22 battleships, 4 frigates and 4 auxiliary vessels) under the command of Duke Karl of Südermanland, passing by the battle line of the Russian fleet (10 battleships, 5 frigates and 9 auxiliary vessels) under the command of Admiral V. Ya. Chichagov, in turn They were subjected to long-term concentrated fire from all Russian artillery and were “driven through the ranks,” suffering severe damage. As a result, the Swedes lost 1 ship destroyed, 1 captured and 1 stranded, 61 sailors were killed, 71 wounded and 520 captured. Russian losses: 8 killed and 27 wounded.

8. "Trafalgar of the Baltics" or "Vyborg Spitzrutens". The Battle of Vyborg on June 22 (July 3), 1790 on the Baltic Sea during the same Russian-Swedish war. The Russian fleet (50 battleships and frigates, 20 galleys, 8 rowing skerry frigates, 52 small galleys, 21,000 sailors and soldiers) under the command of Admiral V. Ya. Chichagov blocked the Swedish fleet (22 battleships, 13 frigates, 366 small ships, 3 000 guns, 30,000 sailors and soldiers) under the command of King Gustav III and Prince Charles of Südermanland in the Gulf of Vyborg, after another unsuccessful attempt to capture St. Petersburg. Breaking through, the Swedes lost 7 battleships, 3 frigates, almost 60 small ships and up to 7 thousand killed, wounded and prisoners. The Russians lost 117 killed and 164 wounded.

Admiral F. F. Ushakov. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

9. “Great thanks to Rear Admiral Ushakov.” Battle of the Kerch Strait July 8 (19), 1790 years during the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791 between the Russian fleet (10 battleships, 6 frigates, and 17 other ships, 837 guns) under the command of Vice Admiral F. F. Ushakov with the Turkish fleet (10 battleships, 8 frigates , 36 other ships, 1100 cannons) under the command of Kapudan Pasha Giritli Hussein Pasha, who went to conquer the Crimea. By concentrating the artillery onslaught on the Turkish flagship, the Russian commander gained victory. The Turks fled, having lost one ship, and suffered heavy losses as part of their landing force.

Empress Catherine II expressed her great gratitude to our commander, Rear Admiral Ushakov.

10. "Surprise attack." Battle of Cape Tendra August 28-29 (September 8-9) 1790 in the Black Sea during the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791. The Russian Black Sea Fleet (10 battleships, 6 frigates, and 21 auxiliary vessels, 830 guns) under the command of Rear Admiral F.F. Ushakov unexpectedly attacked the anchored Turkish fleet (14 battleships, 8 frigates and 23 auxiliary vessels, 1 400 guns) under the command of Giritli Husen Pasha and overturned his formation. The Turks lost 2 battleships and 3 auxiliary vessels, the flagship battleship was captured, and more than 2,000 people were killed. Another battleship and several Turkish auxiliary ships sank on the way home. Russian losses: 21 killed, 25 wounded.

11. "Go down on the enemy." Battle of Kaliakra on July 31 (August 11), 1791. Present-day Northern Bulgaria, Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791. The Russian fleet (15 battleships, 2 frigates and 19 auxiliary vessels) under the command of Rear Admiral F. F. Ushakov passed between the Turkish fleet (18 battleships, 17 frigates and 48 auxiliary vessels) under the command of Giritli Husen Pasha and the coastal batteries and forced the Turks to flee. The Turks suffered heavy losses. The flagship sank in the strait near Constantinople.

12. "Near the capital of the Ottoman Empire." Battle of the Dardanelles, May 10 (22)-11 (23), 1807 in the Aegean Sea, near the Dardanelles during the Russian-Turkish War of 1806-1812. Conducting its Second Archipelago Operation, the Russian fleet (10 battleships, 1 frigate) under the command of Vice Admiral D.N. Senyavin as a result of the battle forced the Turkish fleet (8 battleships, 6 frigates, 55 auxiliary ships) under the command of Kapudan Pasha Seit -Ali go back to the straits with the loss of 3 ships and about 2,000 people.

Russian losses: 26 killed and 56 wounded.

13. "Between Athos and Lemnos." Battle of Athos, June 19 (July 1), 1807 in the Aegean Sea, between the Athos peninsula and the island of Lemnos. The Russian fleet (10 battleships) under the command of the same Vice Admiral D.N. Senyavin inflicted a crushing defeat on the Turkish fleet that had once again emerged from the straits (10 battleships, 5 frigates, 3 sloops and 2 brigs) under the command of the same Kapudan Pasha Seit -Ali.

The Turks lost 2 battleships, 2 frigates, 1 sloop, and up to 1,000 people were killed. One battleship was captured along with 774 prisoners. Two more ships never returned to the Dardanelles.

Russian losses: 77 killed and 189 wounded.

The Ottoman Empire lost the combat capability of its fleet for a whole decade.

14. “The enemy will be dealt with in Russian.” Battle of Navarino October 8 (20), 1827, Aegean Sea. When bidding farewell to the Russian squadron (9 ships) under the command of Rear Admiral L.P. Heyden, on the ship "Azov" Emperor Nicholas I said: "I hope that in the event of any military action the enemy will be dealt with in the Russian way."

United Russian-English-French squadron (10 battleships (4 Russian, 3 English, 3 French), 10 frigates (4 Russian, 4 English, 2 French), 4 brigs, 2 corvettes (1 Russian), and 1 tender) supported the Greek liberation movement and faced opposition from the Turkish fleet (3 battleships, 17 frigates, 30 corvettes, 28 brigs, more than 10 other ships). The battle took place in Navarino harbor, where over 60 Turkish ships and more than 4,000 sailors were destroyed. The flagship battleship Azov of the Russian squadron especially distinguished itself, destroying five Turkish ships, including the Turkish flagship. For the first time in the Russian fleet, the Azov was awarded the St. George flag for this battle.

Allied losses: 181 killed and 480 wounded.

"Sinop Massacre" Photo: www.globallookpress.com

15. "Sinop Massacre". Battle of Sinop November 18 (30), 1853. The scene is the Black Sea during the Crimean War of 1853-1856. The Russian squadron (6 battleships, 2 frigates, 3 steamships, 720 guns) under the command of Vice Admiral P. S. Nakhimov in the harbor of the Black Sea coast of Turkey defeated the Turkish fleet (7 frigates, 3 corvettes, 2 steamships and 2 transports, 478 guns and 44 coastal guns) under the command of Vice Admiral Osman Pasha.

The Turks lost all 7 frigates, 2 corvettes, about 3,000 people were killed and wounded, 200 prisoners (along with the admiral).

The Battle of Sinop was the last major battle of the sailing fleets.

The great M.I. Kutuzov said best about the people of heroism and victory, whose deeds we described: “Your iron chest is not afraid of either the severity of the weather or the anger of enemies: it is a reliable wall of the Fatherland, against which everything will be crushed.”