Russo-Japanese War 1904–1905 - a war between Russia and Japan to maintain and strengthen their influence in the Far East. On the night of January 27, 1904, the Japanese fleet, without declaring war, attacked the Russian squadron in Port Arthur and then locked it in the harbor. Japanese ground forces landed on the Liaodong Peninsula and launched an offensive to the north, deep into Manchuria, while simultaneously blocking Port Arthur from land. Russian troops fought several battles against them (near Wafangou, Liaoyang, on the Shahe River), but were unable to move forward. On December 20, after an 11-month heroic defense, Port Arthur, blocked from sea and land, fell. In February 1905, the Russian Manchurian Army under the command of A.N. Kuropatkina suffered a heavy defeat near Mukden, followed by the defeat of the Z.P. squadron. Rozhestvensky in the Tsushima naval battle, which showed the futility of further warfare. According to the Treaty of Portsmouth (August 23), Russia ceded southern Sakhalin, Port Arthur and part of the Chinese Eastern Railway to Japan. Japan's victory was explained by its maximum use of its military-economic and scientific-technical potential, the goals of the war, which were unclear to the Russian soldier masses, and the artlessness of the Russian command.
The feat of the cruiser "Varyag" and the gunboat "Koreets" (1904)
On January 26, 1904, the 1st rank cruiser "Varyag" and the gunboat "Koreets" were blocked by a detachment of Rear Admiral S. Uriu in the port of Chemulpo (Incheon), Korea. In addition to the Russian ships, there were: the English cruiser Talbot, the French Pascal, the Italian Elba and the American gunboat Vicksberg.
On the same day, the commander of the cruiser “Varyag”, Captain 1st Rank V.F. Rudnev sent the gunboat "Koreets" with reports to Port Arthur. When leaving Chemulpo, the gunboat met with a detachment of Uriu and was attacked by Japanese destroyers. The commander of the boat is captain 2nd rank G.P. Belyaev, without returning fire, was forced to return to the roadstead (two accidental shots were fired from a 37-mm cannon from the “Korean”).
Japanese ships entered Chemulpo and began landing troops. On the morning of January 27, Rear Admiral S. Uriu withdrew his cruisers and destroyers from the roadstead and handed over to V.F. Rudnev received an ultimatum, in which Russian ships were asked to leave the port before noon, otherwise they would be attacked in the port. The commander of the Varyag decided to leave Chemulpo and take the fight. The commanders of the foreign stationers limited themselves to a formal protest against the violation of Korea's neutrality.
The detachment of S. Uriu took an advantageous position in the narrow strait leading from the Chemulpo roadstead. The detachment consisted of 6 cruisers, including the armored cruiser "Asama", the armored cruiser "Naniwa" (flag of S. Uriu), "Takachiho", "Niitaka", "Akashi" and "Tiyoda", the advice note "Tihaya" and 8 destroyers . In terms of size, armor and weapon power, one Asama was superior to both Russian ships. The Varyag could not use its speed and found itself especially vulnerable due to the exposure of the ship's guns to enemy fire.
At 11:45, the Asama opened fire on the Varyag from a distance of 38.5 cables. The third Japanese shell hit the upper bow bridge of the Russian cruiser, destroyed the rangefinder station and disabled the rangefinders. Midshipman A.M., who determined the distance. Nirod was killed. This disrupted the shooting, and intense fire from the 152-mm and 75-mm Varyag guns on the Asama proved ineffective. The hits of Japanese high-explosive shells and their close explosions caused heavy losses to the servants of the Russian cruiser's guns. The crew of the "Varyag" fought bravely, many wounded remained at their posts, among them - plutong commander midshipman Pyotr Gubonin, senior gunner Prokopiy Klimenko, quartermaster Tikhon Chibisov, helmsman Grigory Snegirev, sailor 1st class Makar Kalinkin and others.
Seeing the impossibility of a breakthrough, V.F. Rudnev, also wounded, was forced to turn back. In an unequal battle that lasted about an hour, the Varyag received 11 shell hits from five Japanese cruisers, mainly from the Asama. 10 of the Varyag's 12 152-mm guns were out of action. Water entered the hull through 4 underwater holes. The electric steering control was not working. Personnel losses amounted to: 130 officers and sailors, incl. 33 people were killed or mortally wounded.
During the battle, the “Korean” supported the “Varyag” with rare fire from its guns, but did not achieve any hits. The shooting of the Japanese cruiser Chiyoda at the Korean also turned out to be ineffective. At the roadstead of Chemulpo V.F. Rudnev decided to destroy the ships. "Korean" was blown up. At the request of foreign commanders, the Varyag was sunk. Subsequently, the Japanese raised the cruiser and introduced it into their fleet under the name Soya.
The crews of Russian ships were taken on board by foreign stationers and, having avoided captivity, arrived in their homeland a few months later. The commander of the American gunboat Vicksberg refused to help even the wounded Russian sailors. In April 1904, the teams of “Varyag” and “Koreyets” were solemnly welcomed in St. Petersburg. All officers of the cruiser and gunboat were awarded the Order of St. George, IV degree, and the lower ranks received the insignia of the Military Order. "Varyag", about which songs were composed and books were written, became a unique symbol of the valor and heroism of the Russian fleet.
Defense of Port Arthur (1904)
On the night of January 27 (February 9), 1904, Japanese destroyers suddenly attacked the Russian squadron stationed in the outer roadstead in Port Arthur, damaging 2 battleships and 1 cruiser. This act started the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905.
At the end of July 1904, the siege of Port Arthur began (garrison - 50.5 thousand people, 646 guns). The 3rd Japanese Army, which stormed the fortress, numbered 70 thousand people, about 70 guns. After three unsuccessful assaults, the enemy, having received reinforcements, launched a new assault on November 13 (26). Despite the courage and heroism of the defenders of Port Arthur, the commandant of the fortress, Lieutenant General A.M. Stoessel, contrary to the opinion of the military council, surrendered it to the enemy on December 20, 1904 (January 2, 1905). In the fight for Port Arthur, the Japanese lost 110 thousand people and 15 ships, and 16 ships were seriously damaged.
Battle of Mukden (1904)
The Battle of Mukden took place on February 6 – February 25, 1904 during the Russian-Japanese War of 1904–1905. The battle involved 3 Russian armies (293 thousand bayonets and sabers) against 5 Japanese armies (270 thousand bayonets and sabers).
Despite the almost equal balance of forces, Russian troops under the command of General A.N. Kuropatkin were defeated, but the goal of the Japanese command - to encircle and destroy them - was not achieved. The Mukden battle in concept and scope (front - 155 km, depth - 80 km, duration - 19 days) is the first front-line defensive operation in Russian history.
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The battle of the cruiser “Varyag” is forever in the history of the Russian fleet and the memory of the Russian people
P.T. Maltsev. Cruiser Varyag. 1955
The fate of a ship is akin to the fate of a person. The biography of some includes only construction, measured service and decommissioning. Others face risky hikes, destructive storms, hot battles, and participation in important events. Human memory mercilessly erases the former, extolling the latter as witnesses and active participants in the historical process. One of such ships, without a doubt, is the cruiser “Varyag”. The name of this ship is well known, perhaps, to every resident of our country. However, the general public knows, at best, one of the pages of his biography - the battle in Chemulpo Bay. The short service of this ship coincided with the fatal military events, social and political changes that swept the world and Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century. The history of the Russian cruiser "Varyag" is unique. It began in the USA, continued in Korea and Japan, and ended in Scotland. American and English workers, Russian sailors, the Russian Tsar, Japanese cadets, revolutionary sailors walked along the decks of the Varyag...
Beginning in 1868, Russia constantly maintained a small detachment of warships in the Pacific Ocean. The forces of the Baltic Fleet were based here in Japanese ports on a rotational basis. In the 1880s, the strengthening of Japan's position began, accompanied by an increase in its population, the strengthening of its military power and military-political ambitions. In 1896, the Main Naval Staff prepared a special report on the need to urgently increase Russia's naval forces in the Far East and equip its bases there.
In 1898, a shipbuilding program was adopted in Russia. Due to the workload of Russian factories, some orders were placed at American shipyards. One of the contracts provided for the construction of an armored cruiser with a displacement of 6,000 tons and a speed of 23 knots. Nicholas II ordered the name “Varyag” to be given to the cruiser under construction in honor of the sail-screw corvette that participated in the American expedition of 1863.
Construction was accompanied by scandals and heated debates about what the future ship should be like. In the search for a compromise between the Crump shipyard, the monitoring commission and naval officials in St. Petersburg and Washington, important technical aspects were repeatedly revised. Some of these decisions subsequently cost the cruiser's crew dearly, playing a role in its fate. For example, at the insistent request of the shipbuilders, boilers were installed that did not allow the ship to reach its design speed. To lighten the weight of the ship, it was decided to abandon the armor shields protecting the gun crews.
The cruiser "Varyag" at the Kramp shipyard. USA
The results of sea trials caused no less controversy. However, despite the delay associated with strikes by American workers and the approval of documents between the Russian Maritime Department and the American shipyard, at the beginning of 1901 the ship was handed over to the Russian crew. Two months later, the armored cruiser Varyag headed for Russia.
The Russian fleet has been replenished with a wonderful ship. The length of the cruiser along the waterline was 127.8 m, width - 15.9 m, draft - about 6 m. The cruiser's steam engines, consisting of 30 boilers, had a total power of 20,000 hp. Many ship mechanisms were electrically driven, which made life much easier for the crew, but increased coal consumption. The deckhouses, cabins, posts, cellars, engine rooms and other service areas of the ship were connected by telephone, which was an innovation for Russian ships at that time. The Varyag was surprisingly good in its architecture, distinguished by four funnels and a high forecastle, which improved the seaworthiness of the ship.
The cruiser received powerful weapons: 12 152 mm guns, 12 75 mm guns, 8 47 mm guns, 2 37 mm guns, 2 63.5 mm Baranovsky guns. In addition to artillery, the cruiser was equipped with 6 381 mm torpedo tubes and 2 7.62 mm machine guns. To control artillery fire, the ship was equipped with 3 rangefinder stations. The sides and conning tower of the cruiser were reinforced with solid armor.
To staff the cruiser, it was planned to have 21 officer positions, 9 conductors and 550 lower ranks. In addition to this staff, from the first trip to sea until the last battle, there was also a priest on board. The command of the new ship was entrusted to Captain 1st Rank Vladimir Iosifovich Baer, who oversaw the construction of the cruiser in Philadelphia from the moment of its laying until the moment of transfer to the Russian fleet. Baer was an experienced sailor who, over the course of 30 years, went through all the necessary career steps from watch commander to commander. He had an excellent military education and spoke three foreign languages. However, contemporaries remembered him as a tough commander who kept the crew in exceptional strictness.
Having completed the transatlantic crossing, the cruiser “Varyag” arrived in Kronstadt. Here the new ship was honored with a visit from the emperor. Here is how these events are described in the memoirs of eyewitnesses: “Externally, it looked more like an ocean-going yacht than a battle cruiser. The appearance of “Varyag” to Kronstadt was presented as a spectacular spectacle. To the sounds of a military orchestra, an elegant cruiser in a dazzling white ceremonial livery entered the Grand Roadstead. And the morning sun was reflected in the nickel-plated barrels of the main caliber guns. On May 18, Emperor Nicholas II himself arrived to get acquainted with the Varyag. The king was captivated - he even forgave the builder for some assembly defects.”
“Varyag” was rightfully considered the most beautiful ship of the Russian Imperial Navy. This is how he looked in June 1901. Photo by E. Ivanov
However, very soon the ship had to go to the Far East. Relations with Japan worsened, and in ruling circles they spoke more and more often about the impending war. The cruiser "Varyag" had to make a long journey and strengthen Russia's military power on the eastern borders.
In the fall of 1901, the cruiser set off on a long voyage along the route St. Petersburg - Cherbourg - Cadiz - Algiers - Palermo - Crete - Suez Canal - Aden - Persian Gulf - Karachi - Colombo - Singapore - Nagasaki - Port Arthur. The technical imperfections in the cruiser’s design began to affect the transition. The boilers, the installation of which was so controversial, allowed the ship to travel at low speed. Only for a short time could the Varyag move at 20 knots (subsequent attempts, already in the Far East, to correct the situation led to a further decrease in speed. At the time of the battle in Chemulpo, the ship could not move faster than 16 knots).
Having made a significant number of calls to foreign ports, circumnavigating Europe and Asia, on February 25, 1902, the Varyag arrived at the Port Arthur roadstead. Here the cruiser was inspected by the head of the Pacific Squadron, Vice Admiral, and the Commander of the Pacific Naval Forces, Admiral. The ship became part of the Pacific Ocean squadron and began intensive combat training. In her first year of service in the Pacific alone, the cruiser covered nearly 8,000 nautical miles, conducting approximately 30 gunnery training exercises, 48 torpedo firing exercises, and numerous mine-laying and net-laying exercises. However, all this was not “thanks to”, but “in spite of”. The commission, which assessed the technical condition of the ship, gave it a serious diagnosis: “The cruiser will not be able to reach a speed above 20 knots without the risk of severe damage to the boilers and machinery.” Vice Admiral N.I. Skrydlov described the technical condition of the ship and the efforts of its crew as follows: “The stoic behavior of the crew is commendable. But the youth would not have had to mobilize all their strength to overcome a simple curriculum if the damned fate in the person of one American had not put them in such conditions with its incompetence in matters of engineering.”
The cruiser "Varyag" and the squadron battleship "Poltava" in the Western basin of Port Arthur. November 21, 1902 Photo by A. Diness
On March 1, 1903, a captain of the 1st rank took command of the cruiser. Unlike his predecessor, he had a humane outlook on working with the crew. With his humane attitude towards the sailors, he soon gained the respect of the crew, but faced misunderstanding from the command. Under the leadership of a talented commander, the cruiser continued to participate in the activities of the fleet. During artillery firing V.F. Rudnev discovered that almost a quarter of large-caliber shells do not explode. He reported this to the command, and achieved a complete replacement of ammunition. But the results of the shooting remained the same.
The cruiser continued to serve regularly as part of the Pacific Ocean Squadron. Frequent accidents of the Varyag's vehicles, as well as its low speed, forced the cruiser to be sent to the Korean port of Chemulpo as a stationary. In order not to once again overload the cruiser’s vehicles, the gunboat “Korean” was assigned to it as a courier.
In addition to the Varyag, ships from other countries were stationed in Chemulpo: England, the USA, France, Italy and Japan. The latter, almost without hiding, was preparing for war. Its ships were repainted in camouflage white, and its coastal garrisons were significantly strengthened. The port of Chemulpo was flooded with many vessels prepared for landing, and thousands of Japanese walked the streets of the city, masquerading as the local population. Captain 1st Rank V.F. Rudnev reported that the start of hostilities was approaching, but in response he received assurances that all this was just a demonstration by the Japanese of their strength. Realizing that war was inevitable, he conducted intense training with the crew. When the Japanese cruiser Chiyoda left the port of Chemulpo, Captain 1st Rank V.F. It became obvious to Rudnev that the start of hostilities was a matter of days, if not hours.
At 07:00 on January 24, the combined Japanese fleet left the port of Sasebo and entered the Yellow Sea. He had to strike at Russian ships five days before the official declaration of war. A detachment of Rear Admiral Uriu separated from the general forces and was tasked with blockading the port of Chemulpo and accepting surrender from the ships stationed there.
On January 26, 1904, the gunboat "Korean" was sent to Port Arthur, but at the exit from Chemulpo Bay it encountered a Japanese detachment. Japanese ships blocked the Korean's path and fired a torpedo salvo at it. The gunboat had to return to port, and this incident became the first clash in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 - 1905.
Having blocked the bay and entered it with several cruisers, the Japanese began landing troops on the shore. This went on all night. On the morning of January 27, Rear Admiral Uriu wrote letters to the commanders of the ships stationed in the roadstead with a proposal to leave Chemulpo in view of the upcoming battle with Russian ships. Captain 1st Rank Rudnev was asked to leave the port and take battle at sea: “Sir, in view of the currently existing hostilities between the governments of Japan and Russia, I respectfully ask you to leave the port of Chemulpo with the forces under your command before noon on January 27, 1904 Otherwise, I will be obliged to open fire against you in the port. I have the honor to be, sir, your humble servant. Uryu."
The commanders of the ships stationed in Chemulpo organized a meeting on board the English cruiser Talbot. They condemned the Japanese ultimatum and even signed an appeal to Uryu. Captain 1st Rank V.F. Rudnev announced to his colleagues that he was going to break out of Chemulpo and fight on the open sea. He asked them to provide escort to the “Varyag” and “Korean” before going to sea, however, he was refused. Moreover, the commander of the cruiser Talbot, Commodore L. Bailey, notified the Japanese of Rudnev’s plans.
At 11:20 on January 27, “Varyag” and “Korean” began moving. The decks of foreign ships were filled with people who wanted to pay tribute to the bravery of Russian sailors. It was a sublime and at the same time tragic moment in which some people could not hold back their tears. The commander of the French cruiser Pascal, Captain 2nd Rank V. Senes, subsequently wrote: “We saluted these heroes who walked so proudly to certain death.” In Italian newspapers this moment was described as follows: “On the bridge of the Varyag, its commander stood motionless, calm. A thunderous “hurray” burst from everyone’s chests and rolled around. The feat of great self-sacrifice took on epic proportions.” As much as possible, foreign sailors waved their caps and caps after the Russian ships.
Rudnev himself admitted in his memoirs that he did not remember the details of the battle, but he remembered in great detail the hours that preceded it: “Leaving the port, I thought which side the enemy would be on, which guns would have which gunners. I also thought about the hot send-off of strangers: will this be beneficial, will it not undermine the morale of the crew? I thought briefly about my family and mentally said goodbye to everyone. And I didn’t think about my fate at all. The consciousness of too much responsibility for people and ships obscured other thoughts. Without strong confidence in the sailors, I might not have made the decision to engage in battle with the enemy squadron.”
The weather was clear and calm. The sailors of the Varyag and Koreyets clearly saw the Japanese armada. With every minute, Azama, Naniwa, Takachiho, Chiyoda, Akashi, Niitoka and the destroyers were getting closer. It was hardly possible to seriously count on the combat capabilities of the gunboat "Korean". 14 Japanese ships against one Russian. 181 guns versus 34. 42 torpedo tubes versus 6.
When the distance between the opponents was reduced to the distance of an artillery shot, a flag was raised over the Japanese flagship, indicating an offer to surrender. The answer to the enemy was Russian topmast battle flags. At 11:45, the first shot of this battle, which forever went down in world naval history, was fired from the cruiser Azama. The Varyag's guns were silent, waiting for the optimal approach. When the opponents got even closer, all Japanese ships opened fire on the Russian cruiser. The time has come for Russian gunners to join the battle. The Varyag opened fire on the largest of the Japanese ships. Captain 1st Rank V.F. It was obvious to Rudnev, who controlled the battle from the bridge, that it would not be possible to break into the sea, much less break away from the superior enemy forces. It was necessary to inflict as much damage on the enemy as possible.
The unprecedented battle of “Varyag” and “Korean” near Chemulpo. Poster 1904
The Japanese shells were getting closer and closer. When they began to explode at the very side, the deck of the cruiser began to be covered with a hail of fragments. At the height of the battle, the Japanese fired dozens of shells per minute at the Varyag. The sea around the brave ship was literally boiling, billowing with dozens of fountains. Almost at the very beginning of the battle, a large Japanese shell destroyed the bridge, caused a fire in the chart room, and destroyed the rangefinder post along with its personnel. Midshipman A.M. died Nirod, sailors V. Maltsev, V. Oskin, G. Mironov. Many sailors were injured. The second accurate hit destroyed six-inch gun No. 3, near which G. Postnov died and his comrades were seriously wounded. Japanese artillery fire disabled six-inch guns No. 8 and 9, as well as 75-mm guns No. 21, 22 and 28. Gunners D. Kochubey, S. Kapralov, M. Ostrovsky, A. Trofimov, P. Mukhanov, sailors K. Spruge, F. Khokhlov, K. Ivanov. Many were injured. This is where the savings in the ship's mass had an impact, due to which the guns were deprived of armor, and the crews were deprived of protection from fragments. Participants in the battle later recalled that real hell reigned on the upper deck of the cruiser. In the terrifying noise it was impossible to hear a human voice. However, no one showed any confusion as they concentrated on their work. The crew of the Varyag is most clearly characterized by the massive refusal of medical care. The wounded commander of the plutong, midshipman P.N. Gubonin refused to leave the gun and go to the infirmary. He continued to command the crew while lying down until he lost consciousness from loss of blood. Many “Varangians” followed his example in that battle. The doctors were able to take to the infirmary only those who were completely exhausted or lost consciousness.
The tension of the battle did not subside. The number of Varyag guns that were damaged by direct hits from enemy shells increased. Sailors M. Avramenko, K. Zrelov, D. Artasov and others died near them. One of the enemy shells damaged the combat mainsail and destroyed the second rangefinder post. From that moment on, the gunners began to shoot, as they say, “by eye.”
The conning tower of the Russian cruiser was smashed. The commander miraculously survived, but staff bugler N. Nagl and drummer D. Koreev, who stood next to him, died. Orderly V.F. Rudneva T. Chibisov was wounded in both arms, but refused to leave the commander. The helmsman, Sergeant Major Snegirev, was wounded in the back, but he did not tell anyone about it and remained at his post. The commander, who was wounded and concussed, had to move to a room located behind the conning tower and direct the battle from there. Due to damage to the steering gear, we had to switch to manual control of the rudders.
One of the shells destroyed gun No. 35, near which gunner D. Sharapov and sailor M. Kabanov died. Other shells damaged the steam line leading to the steering gear. At the most intense moment of the battle, the cruiser completely lost control.
Trying to hide from the destructive fire behind the island in order to give the crew the opportunity to put out the fires, the cruiser began to describe a large circulation in the narrow strait and received serious damage to the underwater part on the underwater rocks. At this moment, confusion arose among the guns, caused by rumors about the death of the commander. Captain 1st Rank V.F. Rudnev had to go out onto the wing of the destroyed bridge in a bloody uniform. The news that the commander was alive instantly spread around the ship.
Senior navigator E.A. Behrens reported to the commander that the cruiser was losing buoyancy and was gradually sinking. Several underwater holes immediately filled the ship with sea water. The bilges bravely fought against its arrival. But in the conditions of a fierce battle, it was impossible to eliminate the leaks. As a result of the shaking, one of the boilers moved and leaked. The boiler room was filled with scalding steam, in which the stokers continued their efforts to seal the holes. V.F. Rudnev decided, without changing course, to go back to the Chemulpo roadstead to repair the damage and continue the battle. The ship set off on a reverse course, receiving several more accurate hits from large-caliber shells.
Throughout the entire hour of the battle, boatswain P. Olenin was on duty at the mainmast, ready to change the flag on the gaff every minute if it was shot down. P. Olenin was wounded by shrapnel in his leg, his uniform was torn, and the butt of his weapon was broken, but he did not leave his post for a minute. Twice the sentry had to replace the flag.
The gunboat "Koreets" maneuvered after the "Varyag" throughout the battle. The distance at which the shooting was carried out did not allow her to use her guns. The Japanese did not fire at the boat, concentrating their efforts on the cruiser. When the “Varyag” left the battle, a signal was raised on its yardarm to the “Korean”: “Follow me at full speed.” The Japanese fired after the Russian ships. Some of them began to pursue the Varyag, fighting an artillery duel with it. The Japanese stopped firing at the Russian cruiser only when it stood on the Chemulpo roadstead in close proximity to the ships of neutral countries. The legendary battle of Russian ships with superior enemy forces ended at 12:45.
There is no reliable information about the shooting performance of Russian gunners. The results of the battle at Chemulpo are still a source of debate among historians. The Japanese themselves insist that their ships did not receive a single hit. According to information from foreign missions and military attaches in Japan, Rear Admiral Uriu's detachment nevertheless suffered losses in this battle. Three cruisers were reported damaged and dozens of sailors were killed.
The cruiser "Varyag" was a terrifying sight. The sides of the ship were riddled with numerous holes, the superstructures were turned into piles of metal, the rigging and torn, crumpled sheets of plating hung from the sides. The cruiser was almost lying on the left side. The crews of the foreign ships looked at the Varyag again, taking off their hats, but this time there was not delight in their eyes, but horror. 31 sailors died in that battle, 85 people were seriously and moderately wounded, and more than a hundred were slightly wounded.
Having assessed the technical condition of the ship, the commander assembled a council of officers. A breakthrough at sea was unthinkable, a battle in the roadstead meant an easy victory for the Japanese, the cruiser was sinking and could hardly stay afloat for long. The officers' council decided to blow up the cruiser. The commanders of foreign ships, whose crews provided considerable assistance to the Varyag, taking on board all the wounded, asked not to blow up the cruiser in the narrow waters of the port, but simply to drown it. Despite the fact that the Korean did not receive a single hit and suffered no damage, the council of gunboat officers decided to follow the example of the cruiser officers and destroy their ship.
The mortally wounded Varyag was about to capsize when the international signal “In Distress” went up on its mast. The cruisers of neutral states (the French Pascal, the English Talbot and the Italian Elba) sent boats to remove the crew. Only the American ship Vicksburg refused to accept Russian sailors on board. The commander was the last to leave the cruiser. Accompanied by the boatswain, he made sure that all the people were removed from the cruiser, and went down into the boat, holding in his hands the Varyag flag, torn by shrapnel. The cruiser was sunk by the discovery of the kingstons, and the gunboat "Korean" was blown up.
It is noteworthy that the significantly superior Japanese detachment failed to defeat the Russian cruiser. It sank not from the enemy’s combat influence, but was sunk by the decision of the officers’ council. The crews of “Varyag” and “Koreyets” managed to avoid the status of prisoners of war. Russian sailors were taken on board by the French, British and Italians in response to Rudnev's signal "I am in distress" as victims of a shipwreck.
Russian sailors were taken from Chemulpo by chartered ship. Having lost their uniforms in battle, many of them were dressed in French ones. Captain 1st Rank V.F. Rudnev thought about how his action would be accepted by the Tsar, the naval leadership and the Russian people. The answer to this question was not long in coming. Upon arrival at the port of Colombo, the commander of the Varyag received a telegram from Nicholas II, with which he greeted the crew of the cruiser and thanked them for their heroic feat. The telegram informed that Captain 1st Rank V.F. Rudnev was awarded the title of aide-de-camp. In Odessa, the “Varangians” were greeted as national heroes. A worthy welcome was prepared for them and the highest awards were presented to them. The officers were awarded the Order of St. George, and the sailors were awarded the insignia of this order.
The heroes of the Varyag, led by the cruiser commander V.F. Rudnev in Odessa. April 6, 1904
The further journey of the “Varangians” to St. Petersburg was accompanied by general rejoicing and stormy applause from the people who met their train along the route. In large cities, the train with heroes was greeted with rallies. They were presented with gifts and all kinds of treats. In St. Petersburg, the train with the sailors of the “Varyag” and “Koreyets” was personally met by Admiral General Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich, who told them that the Sovereign himself was inviting them to the Winter Palace. The procession of sailors from the station to the palace, which caused an unprecedented stir among St. Petersburg residents, turned into a real celebration of the Russian spirit and patriotism. In the Winter Palace, the crews were invited to a ceremonial breakfast, each participant of which was presented with cutlery in memory.
When Japanese engineers examined the Varyag at the bottom of Chemulpo Bay, they came to a disappointing conclusion: design flaws, coupled with significant battle damage, made raising the ship and repairing it economically unprofitable. However, the Japanese nevertheless went through an expensive procedure, raised, repaired and commissioned the cruiser as a training ship under the name Soya.
Lifting of the cruiser "Varyag" by the Japanese
At the height of the First World War, when the Russian Empire was in dire need of warships, after lengthy negotiations, the cruiser was bought from Japan for a lot of money. Under his native name, he joined the Russian fleet. The technical condition of the Varyag was depressing. The right propeller shaft was bent, causing the hull to vibrate severely. The ship's speed did not exceed 12 knots, and its artillery consisted of only a few small-caliber guns of an outdated type. In the cruiser's wardroom there hung a portrait of Captain 1st Rank Rudnev, and in the sailor's quarters, at the initiative of the crew, a bas-relief depicting a battle scene in Chemulpo was placed.
In March 1917, the cruiser received orders to sail from Vladivostok to Murmansk via the Suez Canal. This campaign was very difficult for 12 officers and 350 sailors under the command of Captain 1st Rank Falk. In the Indian Ocean, during a storm, a leak opened in a coal pit, which the crew continuously struggled with. In the Mediterranean Sea, the ship's roll reached alarming levels, and the ship had to be repaired in one of the ports. In June 1917, the ship arrived in Murmansk, where it was supposed to strengthen the Arctic Ocean flotilla.
The cruiser's condition was so serious that immediately upon arrival in Murmansk, the naval command sent it to the English port of Liverpool to undergo major repairs. Taking advantage of the political confusion in Russia, the British refused to repair the ship. They forcibly took most of the Varyag crew to the United States. When, after the October Revolution, the few Russian sailors left on the cruiser for security tried to raise the flag of the Soviet Republic on it, they were arrested, and the cruiser was declared the property of the British Navy.
While en route to the dismantling site in the Irish Sea, the long-suffering cruiser ran aground. Attempts to remove it from the coastal rocks were unsuccessful. The legendary ship found its final resting place 50 meters from the shore in the small town of Landalfoot in the Scottish county of South Ayrshire.
Immediately after the historical battle in Chemulpo, many people appeared who wanted to perpetuate the name “Varyag” in the names of ships and vessels. This is how at least 20 “Varyags” appeared, which during the Civil War were noted for their participation in hostilities on both the side of the Whites and the Reds. However, by the beginning of the 1930s there were no ships with that name left. Years of oblivion have come.
The feat of the “Varangians” was remembered during the Great Patriotic War. Military newspapers glorified the battle of the patrol ship "Tuman", saying that its sailors accepted death to the song about the "Varyag". The icebreaking steamer "Sibiryakov" received the unofficial nickname of the "polar Varyag", and the boat Shch-408 - the "underwater Varyag". Immediately after the end of the war, a film was made about the cruiser "Varyag", in which its role was played by an equally famous ship - the cruiser "Aurora".
The 50th anniversary of the battle in Chemulpo Bay was celebrated on a grand scale. Historians managed to find many sailors who participated in those memorable events. Several monuments dedicated to the historical battle appeared in the cities of the Soviet Union. Veterans of “Varyag” and “Koreyets” were assigned personal pensions, and from the hands of the Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy they received medals “For Courage”.
The leadership of the Soviet fleet decided to return the well-deserved name “to service.” “Varyag” was the name given to the Project 58 missile cruiser under construction. This guards ship was destined for a long, interesting service. He happened to pass the Northern Sea Route. During its 25 years of service, it was recognized 12 times as an excellent ship of the USSR Navy. No one before or since has managed to hold this title for 5 years in a row.
Project 58 missile cruiser "Varyag"
After the Varyag missile cruiser was decommissioned, it was decided to transfer this name to an aircraft-carrying cruiser being built in Nikolaev. However, political upheavals again interfered with the fate of the Varyag. Due to the collapse of the USSR, it was never completed. The well-deserved name was transferred to the missile cruiser of the Russian Pacific Fleet of Project 1164. This ship is still in service to this day, providing an invisible connection between generations of Russian sailors with its daily military labor.
Missile cruiser "Varyag" project 1164
The battle of the cruiser “Varyag” is inscribed in the history of the Russian fleet in golden letters. It was reflected not only in the names of subsequent ships, but also in many works of art. A monument to V.F. was erected in Tula. Rudnev with a bas-relief depicting the battle in Chemulpo. The Russian people composed many songs about “Varyag”. Artists, filmmakers, and publicists turned to the history of “Varyag”. The battle of a cruiser is in demand by creative people because it represents an example of unparalleled courage and loyalty to the Fatherland. Russian museums cherish the memory of the “Varyag” with special care. After the death of Captain 1st Rank Rudnev, his family donated the commander’s unique materials for storage to museums in Sevastopol and Leningrad. Many artifacts related to the battle in Chemulpo are kept in the Central Naval Museum.
It is not for nothing that they say that a war is not over until its last participant is buried. The situation when the legendary Russian cruiser lay forgotten by everyone on the coastal rocks of Scotland was unbearable for people who were not indifferent to the fate of the Russian fleet. In 2003, a Russian expedition examined the site of the sinking of the Varyag. A memorial plaque was installed on the Scottish coast, and in Russia, fundraising began for the installation of a memorial to the legendary Russian ship.
On September 8, 2007, a solemn opening ceremony of the memorial to the cruiser “Varyag” took place in the town of Lendelfoot. This monument became the first monument to Russian military glory on the territory of the United Kingdom. Its components were a bronze cross, a three-ton anchor and an anchor chain. Capsules with soil from places dear to the Varyag sailors were placed at the base of the cross: Tula, Kronstadt, Vladivostok... It is noteworthy that the memorial project was chosen on a competitive basis, and a student of the Nakhimov Naval School Sergei Stakhanov won this competition. The young sailor was given the honorable right to tear off the white sheet from the majestic monument. To the sounds of a song about the cruiser “Varyag”, sailors of the large anti-submarine ship “Severomorsk” of the Northern Fleet marched past the monument in a solemn march.
More than a century after the battle of the Varyag in Chemulpo Bay, the memory of this event continues to live. The eastern borders of Russia are guarded by the modern missile cruiser Varyag. The memorial to the cruiser is included in all Scottish guidebooks. Exhibits related to the cruiser occupy pride of place in museum exhibitions. However, the main thing is that the memory of the heroic cruiser continues to live in the hearts of the Russian people. The cruiser "Varyag" has become an integral part of the history of our country. Now, when Russia is on the path of understanding its history and searching for a national idea, the unprecedented feat of the Varyag sailors is in demand more than ever.
Major Vladimir Pryamitsyn,
Deputy Head of the Research Department
Institute (military history) VAGSh RF Armed Forces,
candidate of military sciences
There is probably not a single person in Russia who has not heard about the suicidal feat of the cruiser Varyag. Despite the fact that more than a hundred years have passed since the events described below, the memory of unheard-of heroism still lives in the hearts and memories of people. But at the same time, knowing in general terms the history of this legendary ship, we lose sight of many amazing details with which its fate is rich.
The beginning of the 20th century was marked by a clash of interests of two rapidly developing empires - Russian and Japanese. The stumbling block was the Russian-owned territories in the Far East, which the Japanese emperor slept and saw as belonging to his country. On February 6, 1904, Japan broke off all diplomatic relations with Russia, and already on February 9, it blocked the port of Chemulpo, where the then unknown Varyag was located.
The 1st rank armored cruiser was laid down in 1898. Construction was carried out at the William Cramp and Sons shipyards in Philadelphia. In 1900, the cruiser was transferred to the Navy of the Russian Empire. According to the commander of the cruiser Rudnev, the ship was delivered with many construction defects, due to which it was expected that it would not be able to reach speeds above 14 knots. “Varyag” was even going to be returned back for repairs. However, during tests in the fall of 1903, the cruiser developed a speed almost equal to that shown in the initial tests.
Diplomatic mission "Varyag"
Since January 1904, the famous cruiser was at the disposal of the Russian embassy in Seoul, stood in the neutral Korean port of Chemulpo and did not take any military action. By an evil irony of fate, the Varyag and the gunboat Koreets had to engage in an obviously losing battle, the first in an ingloriously lost war.
Before the fight
On the night of February 8, the Japanese cruiser Chiyoda secretly sailed from the port of Chemulpo. His departure did not go unnoticed by Russian sailors. On the same day, the “Korean” set off for Port Arthur, but at the exit from Chemulpo it was subject to a torpedo attack and was forced to return back to the roadstead. On the morning of February 9, Captain First Rank Rudnev received an official ultimatum from Japanese Admiral Uriu: surrender and leave Chemulpo before noon. The exit from the port was blocked by a Japanese squadron, so the Russian ships were trapped, from which there was no chance of getting out.
"No talk about giving up"
At about 11 o'clock in the morning, its commander addressed the cruiser's crew with a speech. From his words it followed that he did not intend to surrender to the enemy so easily. The sailors fully supported their captain. Soon after, the Varyag and Koreets pulled out of the raid to set off for their final battle, while the crews of the foreign warships saluted the Russian sailors and sang the national anthems. As a sign of respect, brass bands on Allied ships played the national anthem of the Russian Empire.
Battle of Chemulpo
“Varyag” almost alone (a short-range gunboat doesn’t count) went up against a Japanese squadron consisting of 6 cruisers and 8 destroyers, equipped with more powerful and modern weapons. The very first hits showed all the vulnerabilities of the Varyag: due to the lack of armored turrets, the gun crews suffered heavy losses, and explosions caused the guns to malfunction. During the hour of battle, the Varyag received 5 underwater holes, countless surface holes and lost almost all its guns. In a narrow fairway, the cruiser ran aground, presenting itself as a tempting motionless target, but then, by some miracle, to the surprise of the Japanese, it managed to get off it. During this hour, the Varyag fired 1,105 shells at the enemy, sank one destroyer and damaged 4 Japanese cruisers. However, as the Japanese authorities subsequently claimed, not a single shell from the Russian cruiser reached its target, and there was no damage or loss at all. On the Varyag, losses among the crew were heavy: one officer and 30 sailors were killed, about two hundred people were wounded or shell-shocked.
According to Rudnev, there was not a single opportunity left to continue the battle in such conditions, so it was decided to return to the port and scuttle the ships so that they would not go to the enemy as trophies. The teams of Russian ships were sent to neutral ships, after which the Varyag was sunk by opening the kingstons, and the Koreets was blown up. This did not stop the Japanese from getting the cruiser from the bottom of the sea, repairing it and including it in the squadron called “Soya”.
Medal for defeat
In the homeland of the Chemulpo heroes, great honors awaited them, despite the fact that the battle was actually lost. The crew of the "Varyag" was given a ceremonial reception by Emperor Nicholas II and received many awards. The crews of the French, German and English ships stationed in the roadstead during the battle in Chemulpo also responded enthusiastically to the brave Russians.
Another thing is surprising: the act of the Russian sailors was also considered heroic by their opponents, the Japanese. In 1907, Vsevolod Rudnev (who had by then fallen out of favor with Nicholas II) was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese Emperor as a tribute to the courage and fortitude of Russian sailors.
The further fate of the "Varyag"
After the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese government created a memorial museum for the heroes of the Varyag in Seoul. After ten years of captivity, the Varyag was bought from Japan in 1916, along with other Russian ships captured as war trophies.
After the October Revolution, the British government ordered the arrest of all Russian ships in its ports, among which was the Varyag. In 1920, it was decided to scrap the cruiser to pay off the debts of Tsarist Russia, but on the way to the plant, it was caught in a storm and hit rocks near the Scottish coast. Everything looked as if the “Varyag” had its own will and, wanting to complete its destiny with honor, committed hara-kiri. Which is not surprising, given that he spent 10 years in Japanese captivity. They tried to get the tightly stuck ship off the rocks more than once, but all attempts ended in failure, and now the remains of the legendary cruiser rest at the bottom of the Irish Sea. On July 30, 2006, a memorial plaque appeared on the Scottish coast, not far from the site of the death of the Varyag, perpetuating the memory of the most famous ship in the history of the Russian Navy.
More than 300 years ago, by decree of Peter the Great, the St. Andrew's flag was first raised on Russian ships. Since then, many heroic pages have been written in the history of the fleet, but cruiser « Varangian“who refused to lower the banner in front of a huge enemy squadron in 1904 will forever remain in the memory of people as the most striking symbol of fearlessness, self-sacrifice and military valor.
history of the cruiser "Varyag"
The history of this ship began more than 100 years ago in 1898 in the American city of Philadelphia. Easy armored cruiser « Varangian"was built in the USA by order of the Russian Navy Ministry. The shipyard of the company was chosen as the site for the construction of the ship. American Company William Cramp & Sons"in the city of Philadelphia on the Delaware River. The parties signed a contract on April 11, 1898. The choice of this shipbuilding company was not accidental. The plant was well known in Russia. Cruisers purchased in America for the Russian Navy were also repaired and refitted here. In addition, the company promised to deliver ship in 20 months. This was much faster than the pace of ship construction at Russian state-owned factories. For example, at the Baltic Shipyard it took about 7 years to build a ready-made project.
authentic photographs of the cruiser "Varyag"
cruiser "Varyag" in the Philadelphia dock
"Varyag" in Philadelphia before leaving for Russia
raid of Algiers, September 1901
cruiser "Varyag", 1916
However, all weapons " Varangian"was made in Russia. Guns at the Obukhov plant, torpedo tubes at the Metal plant in St. Petersburg. The Izhevsk plant manufactured equipment for the galley, and the anchors were ordered from England.
On October 19, 1899, after illumination and a prayer service, it was solemnly launched. " Varangian" amazed contemporaries not only with the beauty of its forms and perfect proportions, but also with the many technical innovations used during its construction. Compared to ships created earlier, it had significantly more electrically powered devices; boat winches, windlasses, elevators for feeding shells, and even dough mixers in the ship's bakery were equipped with electric drives. For the first time in the history of shipbuilding, all furniture cruisers « Varangian"was made of metal and painted to resemble wood. This increased the survivability of the ship in battle and during a fire. Cruiser « Varangian"became the first Russian ship on which telephone sets were installed in almost all service areas, including posts at the guns.
One of the weak points cruisers there were new steam boilers " Nickolas“They made it possible to reach high speeds, sometimes up to 24 knots, but were extremely unreliable in operation. Due to some deficiencies found when receiving the ship, “ Varangian"was commissioned at the beginning of 1901. During the construction of the cruiser, 6,500 people worked at the shipyard. Simultaneously with the construction of " Varangian"Russian leadership ordered the construction armadillo « Retvizan"for the Russian Pacific squadron. It was being built on a nearby slipway.
St. Andrew's flag and pennant were raised on cruiser « Varangian"January 2, 1901. In March of that year, the ship left Philadelphia for good. On the morning of May 3, 1901 " Varangian» dropped anchor in the Great Kronstadt roadstead. Two weeks later, a review took place, which was attended by Emperor Nicholas II himself. Ship The king liked it so much that he was included in the squad heading to Europe. After official visits to Germany, Denmark and France cruiser « Varangian"Departed for his permanent base in the Far East. On February 25, 1902, the warship arrived at the Port Arthur roadstead. Before cruiser « Varangian»managed to visit the Persian Gulf, Singapore, Hong Kong and Nagasaki. Everywhere the appearance of a new spectacular Russian ship made a huge impression.
Port Arthur on the map
Japan, not happy with the strengthening of Russian influence in the Far East, was feverishly preparing for war with Russia. Its fleet was practically rebuilt in English shipyards. The army was increased by 2.5 times. The most advanced developments of the type of weapons were taken for equipment. The Land of the Rising Sun, just like Russia, considered the Far East a zone of its vital interests. The result of the coming war, according to the Japanese, was to be the expulsion of the Russians from China and Korea, the separation of Sakhalin Island and the establishment of Japanese dominance in the Pacific Ocean. Clouds were gathering over Port Arthur.
heroic battle of the cruiser "Varyag"
December 27, 1903 commander cruisers « Varangian» Vsevolod Fedorovich Rudnev received an order from the Russian governor to go to the Korean international port of Chemulpo (the current port of Inchhon, South Korea). According to the command's plan, the cruiser was supposed to establish reliable communications between Port Arthur and our envoy in Seoul, as well as indicate the Russian military presence in Korea. It was forbidden to leave the port of Chemulpo without an order from senior command. Due to the difficult fairway and shallow water " Varangian» dropped anchor in the outer roadstead. A few days later he was joined by “ Korean" Very soon it became clear that the Japanese were preparing for a major landing operation. On January 25, the commander of the cruiser V.F. Rudnev personally went to the Russian ambassador to pick him up and go home with the entire mission. But Ambassador Pavlov did not dare to leave the embassy without an order from his department. A day later, the port was blocked by an armada of a Japanese squadron consisting of 14 ships. The flagship was an armored cruiser « Osama».
January 27 commander cruisers « Varangian"received an ultimatum from Admiral Urio. The Japanese commander offered to leave the port and surrender to the mercy of the victors, otherwise he threatened to attack Russian ships right in the roadstead. Having learned about this, the ships of foreign states sent a protest - to go into battle in a neutral roadstead, at the same time they refused to accompany the Russians to the sea, where they would have more opportunities to maneuver and repel an attack.
On cruiser « Varangian"and gunboat" Korean"We began to prepare for battle. According to tradition, all sailors and officers changed into clean shirts. At 10:45 V. F. Rudnev addressed the crew with a speech. The ship's priest blessed the sailors before the battle.
At 11:20 cruiser « Varangian"and gunboat" Korean"weighed anchor and went towards the Japanese squadron. As a sign of the sailors' admiration, the French, British, and Italians lined up the crews of their ships on the decks. On " Varangian“The orchestra played the anthems of the states, in response, the anthem of the Russian Empire sounded on the Italian ship. When Russian ships appeared in the roadstead, the Japanese raised a signal offering to surrender, commander cruisers ordered not to respond to enemy signals. Admiral Urio waited in vain for several minutes for an answer. At first, he could not believe that the Russians were not coming to surrender, but to attack his squadron. At 11:45 the flagship " Osama"opened fire on the cruiser" Varangian" One of the first shells hit the upper bow bridge and destroyed the rangefinder station, the navigator's combat unit was killed. In two minutes " Varangian" opened strong return fire from the starboard side.
It was especially hard for the gunners who were on the upper deck. The Japanese used new tactics for the first time in this battle - they literally fell asleep cruiser « Varangian» high-explosive projectiles with a strong explosive effect, even when hitting the water such a projectile would scatter into hundreds of pieces.
The Russian fleet used powerful armor-piercing shells. They pierced the sides of enemy ships without exploding.
paintings with the cruiser "Varyag"
Battle of the cruiser "Varyag"
There was blood and gore everywhere, burnt arms and legs, torn bodies and exposed flesh. The wounded refused to leave their places; only those who could no longer stand on their feet were taken to the infirmary. The upper deck was broken in several places, all fans and grilles cruisers turned into a sieve. When the stern flag was torn off by another explosion, the boatswain raised a new one, risking his life. At 12:15 Rudnev decided to bring the left side gun into battle. When ship began to turn around and was simultaneously hit by two large shells. The first hit the room where all the steering gears were located, fragments of the second flew into the conning tower, three people standing next to Rudnev were killed on the spot. The commander himself cruisers « Varangian"was wounded in the head, but, despite the concussion, remained at his post and continued to lead the battle. When the distance between the opponents was reduced to 5 km, a gunboat entered the battle " Korean».
It is curious that not a single Japanese shell hit it. The day before, the commander ordered the masts to be shortened, which prevented the Japanese from accurately determining the distance and adjusting the shooting.
At 12:25 " Varangian"opened fire from the left side. The Osama's aft bridge was destroyed by a direct hit, after which a severe fire broke out on the flagship. By this time, the second Japanese cruiser " Takatiha", having received serious damage, was forced to withdraw from the battle. One of the destroyers sank. At 12:30 two shells pierced the side of the cruiser " Varangian" under the water. Cruiser began to list to the left side. While the team was sealing the holes, Rudnev decided to return to the port of Chemulpo. At the raid, he planned to repair the damage and put out the fires, so that he could then return to battle again.
At 12:45, as the raid approached, the general fire stopped. During the battle " Varangian"managed to fire 1,105 shells at the enemy. At 13:15, wounded and smoking " Varangian» dropped anchor in the roadstead. According to eyewitnesses, its entire deck was covered in blood. There were 130 wounded sailors lying in the charred premises of the cruiser. 22 people died during the battle. Of the 12 six-inch guns, two remained in working order. Further resistance was not possible. And then the military council of the cruiser decided to prevent the Japanese from sinking the ships, and to place the crew on foreign ships by agreement. Having received Rudnev’s appeal, the commanders of European ships immediately sent boats with orderlies. Several sailors died during the evacuation. Most of all - 352 people - took French cruiser « Pascal", the British took 235 people, the Italians - 178. At 15:30 on " Varangian" opened the kingstons and flood valves, " Korean" was blown up.
February 9, 1904 at 18:10 light armored deck cruiser « Varangian"lay down on the left side and disappeared under the water.
Not a single officer or sailor was captured after the battle. Respecting the courage shown in that battle, Admiral Urio agreed to let them pass through the combat zone to return to their homeland.
Two months later with the sailors " Varangian" And " Korean"arrived in Odessa. The heroes of Chemulpo were greeted with the thunder of orchestras and demonstrations of thousands. The sailors were showered with flowers and an unprecedented explosion of patriotic feelings. All participants in the battle were awarded St. George's crosses. Each sailor received a personalized watch from the emperor. Then the first songs dedicated to the cruiser appeared “ Varangian"and gunboat" Korean».
second life of the cruiser "Varyag"
after battle
after the rise in August 1905
Japanese cruiser "SOYA" ("Varyag")
However, on this history of the legendary cruiser didn't end. Soon after the battle it became clear that " Varangian"It didn't sink very deep. During low tides, the water level in Chemulpo Bay dropped to 9 meters. Having learned about this, the Japanese began work on raising the cruiser " Varangian" Within a month, divers and special equipment were delivered to Chemulpo from Japan. The cruiser's guns, masts and pipes were removed, coal was unloaded, but all attempts to raise it in 1904 ended in failure. Only on August 8, 1905, after the creation of special caissons, was it possible to tear off cruiser from the muddy bottom. In November 1905 " Varangian» reached Japan under its own power. Almost two years cruiser « Varangian"was in the city of Yokosuka undergoing major repairs. The work to raise and restore it cost the Japanese treasury 1 million yen. In 1907, he was enlisted in the Japanese Navy under the name " Soya" At the stern, as a sign of respect for the enemy, an inscription of the cruiser's former name was left. For nine years cruiser was a training ship for a cadet school. It taught how to defend the honor of your homeland.
On May 10, 1899, at the Crump and Sons shipyard in Philadelphia, the official ceremony of laying down an armored cruiser of the 1st rank for the Russian fleet took place. The ship was largely experimental - in addition to the new Nickloss boilers, its design contained a large number of innovations. Three times a workers' strike at the plant disrupted the plans Russian Admiralty, finally, the Varyag was solemnly launched on October 31, 1899. The orchestra began to play, 570 Russian sailors from the crew of the new cruiser burst out: “Hurray!”, momentarily drowning out even the orchestra pipes. American engineers, having learned that the ship would be christened according to Russian custom, shrugged their shoulders and opened a bottle of champagne. The one that, according to American tradition, should have been smashed against the hull of the ship. Head of the Russian Commission E.N. Shchensnovich informed his superiors: “The descent went well. No deformations of the hull were found, the displacement coincided with the calculated one.” Did anyone present know that he was not only at the launch of the ship, but also at the birth of a legend of the Russian fleet?
There are shameful defeats, but there are also those that are worth more than any victory. Defeats that strengthen the military spirit, about which songs and legends are composed. The feat of the cruiser "Varyag" was a choice between shame and honor.
On February 8, 1904, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the Russian gunboat "Koreets" was fired upon by a Japanese squadron while leaving the port of Chemulpo: the Japanese fired 3 torpedoes, the Russians responded with fire from a 37 mm revolver cannon. Without getting further involved in the battle, the “Korean” hastily retreated back to the Chemulpo roadstead.
The day ended without incident. On the cruiser "Varyag" the military council spent the whole night deciding what to do in this situation. Everyone understood that war with Japan was inevitable. Chemulpo is blocked by a Japanese squadron. Many officers spoke out in favor of leaving the port under cover of darkness and fighting their way to their bases in Manchuria. In the dark, a small Russian squadron would have a significant advantage than in a daylight battle. But Vsevolod Fedorovich Rudnev, the commander of the Varyag, did not accept any of the proposals, expecting a more favorable development of events.
Alas, in the morning at 7 o'clock. 30 minutes, the commanders of foreign ships: English - Talbot, French - Pascal, Italian - Elba and American - Vicksburg received a notice indicating the time of delivery of the notification from the Japanese admiral about the beginning of hostile actions between Russia and Japan, and that the admiral invited the Russian ships to leave the roadstead before 12 o'clock day, otherwise they will be attacked by the squadron in the roadstead after 4 o'clock. the same day, and foreign ships were asked to leave the roadstead for this time, for their safety. This information was delivered to the Varyag by the commander of the cruiser Pascal. At 9:30 a.m. on February 9, on board HMS Talbot, Captain Rudnev received a notice from Japanese Admiral Uriu, announcing that Japan and Russia were at war and demanding that Varyag leave port by noon, otherwise at four o'clock Japanese ships will fight right in the roadstead.
At 11:20 “Varyag” and “Koreets” weighed anchor. Five minutes later they sounded a combat alarm. English and French ships greeted the passing Russian squadron with the sounds of an orchestra. Our sailors had to fight through a narrow 20-mile fairway and break out into the open sea. At half past twelve, the Japanese cruisers received an offer to surrender to the mercy of the winner; the Russians ignored the signal. At 11:45 the Japanese opened fire...
In 50 minutes of an unequal battle, the Varyag fired 1,105 shells at the enemy, of which 425 were large-caliber (although, according to Japanese sources, no hits were recorded on Japanese ships). It’s hard to believe this data, because several months before the tragic events of Chemulpo, “Varyag” participated in the exercises of the Port Arthur squadron, where it hit the target three times out of 145 shots. In the end, the shooting accuracy of the Japanese was also simply ridiculous - 6 cruisers scored only 11 hits on the Varyag in an hour!
On the Varyag, broken boats were burning, the water around it was boiling from explosions, the remains of the ship's superstructures fell with a roar onto the deck, burying Russian sailors. The knocked out guns fell silent one after another, with the dead lying around them. Japanese grapeshot rained down, and the deck of the Varyag turned into a terrible sight. But, despite the heavy fire and enormous destruction, the Varyag still fired accurately at the Japanese ships from its remaining guns. “Korean” didn’t lag behind him either. Having received critical damage, the Varyag described a wide circulation in the Chemulpo fairway and was forced to return to the roadstead an hour later.
Legendary cruiser after the battle
“...I will never forget this stunning sight that presented itself to me,” the commander of the French cruiser, who witnessed the unprecedented battle, later recalled, “the deck is covered in blood, corpses and body parts are lying everywhere. Nothing escaped destruction: in places where shells exploded, the paint was charred, all the iron parts were broken, the fans were knocked down, the sides and bunks were burnt. Where so much heroism had been shown, everything was rendered unusable, broken into pieces, riddled with holes; The remains of the bridge hung deplorably. Smoke was coming from all the holes in the stern, and the list to the left side was increasing..."
Despite such an emotional description of the Frenchman, the cruiser’s position was by no means so hopeless. The surviving sailors selflessly extinguished the fires, and emergency crews applied a plaster to a large hole in the underwater part of the port side. Of the 570 crew members, 30 sailors and 1 officer were killed. The gunboat "Koreets" had no casualties among its personnel.
Squadron battleship "Eagle" after the Battle of Tsushima
For comparison, in the Battle of Tsushima, out of 900 people from the crew of the squadron battleship "Alexander III", no one was saved, and out of 850 people from the crew of the squadron battleship "Borodino", only 1 sailor was saved. Despite this, respect for these ships remains in the circles of military history buffs. "Alexander III" led the entire squadron under fierce fire for several hours, skillfully maneuvering and periodically throwing off the Japanese's sights. Now no one will say who competently controlled the battleship in the last minutes - whether the commander or one of the officers. But the Russian sailors fulfilled their duty to the end - having received critical damage in the underwater part of the hull, the flaming battleship capsized at full speed, without lowering the flag. Not a single person from the crew escaped. A couple of hours later, his feat was repeated by the squadron battleship Borodino. Then the Russian squadron was led by the "Eagle". The same heroic squadron battleship that received 150 hits, but partially retained its combat capability until the very end of the Battle of Tsushima. This is such an unexpected remark. Happy memory to the heroes.
However, the situation of the Varyag, which was hit by 11 Japanese shells, remained serious. The cruiser's controls were damaged. In addition, the artillery was seriously damaged; out of 12 six-inch guns, only seven survived.
V. Rudnev, on a French steam boat, went to the English cruiser Talbot to negotiate the transportation of the Varyag crew to foreign ships and report on the supposed destruction of the cruiser right in the roadstead. The commander of the Talbot, Bailey, objected to the explosion of the Russian cruiser, motivating his opinion by the large crowding of ships in the roadstead. At 1 p.m. 50 min. Rudnev returned to the Varyag. Hastily gathering the officers nearby, he informed them of his intention and received their support. They immediately began transporting the wounded, and then the entire crew, ship documents and the ship's cash register to foreign ships. The officers destroyed valuable equipment, smashed surviving instruments and pressure gauges, dismantled gun locks, throwing parts overboard. Finally, the seams were opened, and at six o'clock in the evening the Varyag lay on the bottom on the left side.
Russian heroes were placed on foreign ships. The English Talbot took 242 people on board, the Italian ship took 179 Russian sailors, and the French Pascal placed the rest on board. The commander of the American cruiser Vicksburg behaved absolutely disgustingly in this situation, flatly refusing to accommodate Russian sailors on his ship without official permission from Washington. Without taking a single person on board, the “American” limited himself to only sending a doctor to the cruiser. French newspapers wrote about this: “Obviously, the American fleet is still too young to have those high traditions that inspire all the fleets of other nations.”
The crew of the gunboat "Koreets" blew up their ship
Commander of the gunboat "Koreets", captain of the 2nd rank G.P. Belyaev turned out to be a more decisive person: despite all the warnings of the British, he blew up the gunboat, leaving the Japanese with only a pile of scrap metal as a souvenir.
Despite the immortal feat of the Varyag crew, Vsevolod Fedorovich Rudnev still should not have returned to the port, but scuttled the cruiser in the fairway. Such a decision would have made it much more difficult for the Japanese to use the port and made it impossible to raise the cruiser. The most important thing is that no one could say that “Varyag” retreated from the battlefield. After all, now many “democratic” sources are trying to turn the feat of Russian sailors into a farce, because supposedly the cruiser did not die in battle.
In 1905, the Varyag was raised by the Japanese and introduced into the Japanese Imperial Navy under the name Soya, but in 1916 the Russian Empire bought the legendary cruiser.
Finally, I would like to remind all “democrats” and “truth seekers” that after the armistice, the Japanese government found it possible to reward Captain Rudnev for the Varyag’s feat. The captain himself did not want to accept the reward from the opposing side, but the Emperor personally asked him to do so. In 1907, Vsevolod Fedorovich Rudnev was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun.
Bridge of the cruiser "Varyag"
Map of the battle at Chemulpo from the Varyag logbook