Russia - landlocked country, but the length of its borders, crossing the water surface is 2/3 of their total length.Ancient Russian were able to walk on the seas and were able to fight at sea, but the real naval traditions of our country there are about 300 years old.
still arguing about a particular event or date, from which originates the history of the Russian fleet.One thing is clear to everyone - it happened in the era of Peter the Great.
first experiments
use the waterways to move armed forces in the country, where rivers were the main ways of communication, Russian began a long time ago.Mentions of the legendary way "from the Vikings to the Greeks" go back centuries.About the campaign "lodev" Prince Oleg to Constantinople composed epics.
War Alexander Nevsky with the Swedes and the German crusaders were one of the main objectives of improvement of Russian settlements near the mouth of the Neva, to be able to free navigation in the Baltic Sea.
the south of the struggle for the Black Sea with the Tatars and Turks were Zaporozhye and Don Cossacks.Their legendary "gull" in 1350 successfully attacked and seized Ochakov.
First Russian warship "Eagle" was built in 1668 on the river Oka, in the village of Dedinovo by order of the Emperor Alexei Mikhailovich.But his real birth of the Russian navy is obliged to dream and the will of his son - Peter the Great.
Dream Home
first young king just liked to sail on a small boat that was found in a barn in the village of Izmailovo.This 6-foot small boat, donated by his father, now kept at the Naval Museum of St. Petersburg.
future emperor said later that from him originates the Russian Imperial Navy, and called him "Grandfather of the Russian Fleet."Peter himself has restored it by following the masters of German settlement, because his master shipbuilders in Moscow was not.
When the future emperor at age 17 became the real ruler, he began to realize truly that Russia can not develop without the economic, scientific and cultural ties with Europe, and the best means of communication are the sea.
energetic and curious man, Peter sought to acquire knowledge and skills in different areas.His greatest passion was the theory and practice of shipbuilding, which he learned from the Dutch, German and English masters.He looked delved into the basics of cartography, I learned to use navigation devices.
first skill he began to invest in the creation of "amusing flotilla" Pleshcheyevo lake in Pereslavl in Yaroslavl.In June 1689 there were assembled in shipyards boat "Fortuna", 2 small frigates and a yacht.
access to the ocean
huge land giant, who was sixth of the Earth's land mass, Russia end of the XVII-th century, at least in other countries could claim the title of naval power.The history of the Russian fleet - it is also a story of the struggle for access to the world's oceans.There were two ways out to sea space - two "bottleneck": the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea, which hosted a strong Sweden, and the Black Sea through the narrow Strait of Dardanelles, which was under the control of the Ottoman Empire.
first attempt to stop the raids of Crimean Tatars and Turks on the southern borders, and to lay the foundations for a future breakthrough to the Black Sea was made by Peter in 1695.Fortress Azov, located at the mouth of the Don, Russian withstood assaults a military expedition, and for the systematic siege was not strong enough, not enough to cut the supply of funds to the Turks surrounded by water supplies.Therefore, to prepare for the next campaign, it was decided to build a fleet.
Azov fleet
Peter with unprecedented energy took up the construction of the ships.More than 25,000 farmers have been driven to work in the shipyards in the Transfiguration and on the river Voronezh.According to the model, brought from abroad, under the supervision of foreign masters were made 23 rowing galleys (hard labor), 2 large sailboat (one of whom - 36-gun "Apostle Peter"), more than 1,300 small vessels - barges, plows and the like.d.This was the first attempt to create what is called a "regular Russian Imperial Navy."He perfectly fulfilled its task of sending troops to the walls of the fortress and surrounded Azov block from the water.After a six-week siege of July 19, 1696 the garrison surrendered.
«lutche me to fight the sea ...»
This campaign showed the importance of the interaction of land and sea forces.It was crucial for the decision of the Boyar Duma on further construction of ships."Ships have!" - The royal decree on the allocation of funds for new vessels was approved October 20, 1696.Since that date, the history of the Russian fleet and conducts its count time.
Great Embassy
War of the south exit to the sea of Azov taking just begun, and Peter went to Europe to seek support against Turkey and its allies.King used his diplomatic tour that lasted one and a half years to enhance their knowledge in shipbuilding and military affairs.
Under the name of Peter Mikhailov, he worked in the shipyards of the Netherlands.He gained experience with dozens of Russian carpenters.Within three months of their participation it was built frigate "Peter and Paul", who went then to Java under the flag of the East India Company.
In England, the king is also working at the shipyards and mechanical workshops.English King specifically for Peter arranges naval maneuvers.Seeing concerted interaction 12 and huge ships, Peter gets excited and says that he wanted to be an English admiral than Russian tsar.Since then, the dream of having a powerful Russian Imperial Navy has strengthened in him completely.
Young Russia
Marine business develops.In 1700, Peter the Great establishes ensign ships of the Russian Navy.It was named after the first Russian Order - St Andrew the First-Called.300 years of the Russian fleet, and almost all the time overshadowed Russian sailors oblique blue cross of St. Andrew's flag.
a year in Moscow the first naval school - the school of mathematical and navigational sciences.There shall be a Navy order to lead the new branch.Accepted Naval Charter entered naval ranks.
But most importantly - the Admiralty, in charge of the shipyard - there is construction of new ships.
Plans Poroshenko for further conquests ports on the Black Sea and the base there shipyards prevented more formidable enemy to the north.Denmark and Sweden have started a war over the disputed islands, and Peter joined her on the Danish side, aiming to break the "window to Europe" - access to the Baltic Sea.
Battle Gangut
Sweden led by a young and cocky Charles XII was the main military force of that time.Inexperienced Russian Imperial Fleet was waiting ordeal.In the summer of 1714 the Russian squadron rowing boats, headed by Admiral Fyodor Apraksin met with powerful Swedish sailing ships at Cape Gangut.Yielding to the enemy artillery, the admiral did not dare to direct confrontation and reported the situation to Peter.
King made a feint: the flooring ordered to arrange for ferry ships on dry land, and to show the intention to come across the isthmus to the rear of the enemy fleet.To prevent this, the Swedes shared fleet, sending a detachment of 10 ships bypassing peninsula to the place Perevoloka.At that time the sea was established complete calm that has deprived Swedes the possibility of any maneuver.Massive ships lined stationary arc for the front of battle, and the ships of the Russian fleet - fast rowing galleys - broke along the coast and attacked a group of 10 vessels, locking it in the bay.The flagship frigate "Elephant" was taken on board the ship, Peter was personally involved in a melee attack, drawing sailors by example.
victory of the Russian fleet was complete.About a dozen ships were captured, more than a thousand Swedes captured, more than 350 - were killed.Without losing a single ship, Russian lost 120 killed and 350 - wounded.
first Victoria sea - at Gangut and later at Grengam and land Poltava victory - all this was the key to the signing of the Swedes Nystadt the world (1721), in which Russia began to prevail in the Baltic Sea.The goal - access to the West European ports - has been achieved.
legacy of Peter the Great
basis for the creation of the Baltic Fleet was founded by Peter even ten years before Gangutskaya battle, when the Swedes conquered from the mouth of the Neva was founded St. Petersburg, the new capital of the Russian Empire.At the military base located nearby - Kronstadt - they became the gates closed to the enemy and to open for trading.
For a quarter century, Russia has gone on which the leading maritime nations took several centuries - the way from small ships for coastal navigation to large vessels capable of overcoming the global expanse.The flag of the Russian fleet was known and respected in all the oceans of the earth.
history of victories and defeats
Peter's reforms and his favorite child - the first Russian fleet - waiting for a difficult fate.Not all subsequent rulers of the country shared ideas of Peter the Great, or had his strength of character.
Over the next 300 years of the Russian fleet had a chance to win great victories Ushakov and Nakhimov times and suffering severe damage in Sevastopol and Tsushima.After the heaviest raids Russia was deprived of the status of sea power.Periods of recovery after the complete collapse of the Russian Navy knows the history and the past centuries, and recent times.
Today the fleet is gaining strength after a devastating stagnation, and it is important to remember that it all started with energy and the will of Peter I, who believed in the greatness of his country's sea.
