Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov (February 13 (24), 1745 - September 1817) - Russian admiral, one of the founders of the maneuver tactics of naval battles.

A great naval commander who did not suffer a single defeat and did not lose a single ship during his combat activities. In 2004, the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church was canonized as a church-wide holy ascetics.

Pedigree of Admiral Ushakov

The genealogy of Admiral Ushakov has been established since the time of Rededi, the Grand Duke of the Kasozh Horde, who died in a battle with Grand Duke Vladimir Mstislavovich in 1022. His son, named Roman at baptism, had from his wife, the daughter of the Grand Duke Mstislav Volodimerovich, the son of Vasily, whose descendant in the fifth generation was Grigory Slepoy. One of the sons of the latter was Usak. A descendant of Ushak in the third generation was Yuri Ushakov. Admiral Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov succeeded his son, Nemir, in the seventh generation (R. K. Skalovsky. Life of Admiral Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov. Table "Genealogy of Admiral Ushakov" after page 272 | St. Petersburg. Russian Symphony, 2006 -336 p.)

The admiral's father, Fyodor Ignatievich Ushakov (1710-1781), was a small estate nobleman who, like his closest relatives, had nothing to do with naval service. He, like all nobles in the post-Petrine era, served in the guards, but after the birth of his third son, the future admiral, he was dismissed from service with the award of the sergeant rank of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. A remarkable ancestor of the admiral was his own uncle, the Monk Theodore of Sanaksar (in the world Ivan Ignatievich Ushakov; 1718-1791). He was born and raised in the same village of Burnakovo, from here in his youth he left to serve in the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment, then, with the permission of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, he was dismissed from service and went to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, where he received monastic tonsure in 1748; In 1764 he became abbot of the Sanaksar Monastery.

Life and naval activities of Admiral Ushakov

Childhood and youth

For a long time, biographical materials provided conflicting information about the place and date of birth of Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov (1743-1744-1745; Tambov province, etc. was indicated as the place of birth). The studies of G. Shtorm, A. Firs, V. Ovchinnikov, V. Ganichev and other historians made it possible to establish accurate data based on the entry in the """ Book of the Rostov diocese of Romanovsky district of the Zdvizhensky camp of the Epiphany Ostrov Monastery ..." "", stored in Rostov branch State Archive Yaroslavl region - f. 197, op.1, d.781, l.14. The future admiral was born in the village of Burnakovo, Romanovsky district, Yaroslavl province, on February 13 (24), 1745.

“Until the age of 16, Ushakov spent his life in the secluded village of his father, left more to himself than to be led by anyone; but strict morality and high religious feelings, aroused by the examples of his family, which was distinguished by special truthfulness and piety, were deeply imprinted in his heart and survived throughout his subsequent life. F. Ushakov was distinguished by an innate fearlessness of character: with the headman of his village, he went to bear.

The Ushakov family, which consisted of the admiral's parents - Fyodor Ignatievich and Paraskeva Nikitichna and 4 sons - Gavrila, Stepan, Ivan and Fedor, belonged to the parish of the Church of the Epiphany-on-Ostrov, located 3 miles from Burnakovo, on the left bank of the Volga . In this temple, Fedor Fedorovich was baptized, here, at the temple, there was a school for noble children, where he received elementary education.

On February 15 (26), 1761, F. F. Ushakov entered the Naval Noble Cadet Corps. On February 12 (23), 1763, he was promoted to midshipman, a year later (April 10, 1764) he was appointed corporal. On May 1 (12), 1766, he was promoted to midshipman. In the list of 59 pupils who were released with him as officers, he is listed fourth, which testified to a good study. In the same year, on a kick, Nargin left Kronstadt to sail around Scandinavia to Arkhangelsk, from where she returned in 1767.

In 1768, on the ship "Three Hierarchs" under the command of Captain 1st Rank S.K. Greig, F.F. Ushakov was in practical navigation along the Gulf of Finland from Kronstadt to about. Gogland. On December 23 (January 3) of the same year, he was seconded to the Don under the command of Rear Admiral A. N. Senyavin to serve in the Azov Flotilla. ("Admiral Ushakov. Letters, notes" p. 28. Chronicle of "the most important dates in the life and work of F. F. Ushakov" (compiled by I. I. Bocharov). - M .: Military Publishing House, 2004. - 463 p.)

The period from enrollment in the Azov flotilla until 1787
The actions of the Azov flotilla in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774 they were mainly limited to protecting the mouth of the Don, on which, as well as on the tributaries of which, in the old shipyards of Peter the Great, ships were being built. F. F. Ushakov went on various small vessels along the Don and at its mouth. July 30, 1769 was promoted to lieutenant. In 1771, in command of transport ships, he delivered timber along the Don to the Taganrog port for the construction of the frigate "First". In 1772, he led the rescue of materials from sunken transports on the Don. Later in the same year, he took command of the deck boat "Courier", on which he sailed in the Sea of ​​Azov. In September 1773, F.F. Ushakov was appointed commander of the "newly invented" ship "Morea", and later - commander of a similar ship "Modon", commanding which, in 1774, he cruised as part of a squadron in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea.

In 1775 he was transferred from the Azov Flotilla to the St. Petersburg ship crew. On August 20 of the same year he was promoted to lieutenant commander.

In 1776, F.F. Ushakov, assigned to the frigate "Northern Eagle", participated in the Archipelago expedition to the Mediterranean Sea to escort three frigates flying merchant flags through the straits to the Black Sea. On September 12, he was appointed commander of the frigate "St. Paul". From January to October 1777, Ushakov was in Constantinople awaiting permission from the Turkish authorities to let the frigate into the Black Sea. In October, due to the refusal of a pass, he returned to Livorno. Throughout 1778, he sailed on the frigate "St. Paul" along mediterranean sea. In May 1779 he returned from the Mediterranean Sea to Kronstadt. Upon his return, on May 24, F.F. Ushakov was appointed commander of the ship "George the Victorious".

In December, on behalf of the Admiralty Board, he was sent to Rybinsk and Tver to deliver ship timber to St. Petersburg, which he regularly carried out until the spring of 1780. In August, by decree of the Admiralty Board, F.F. Ushakov was appointed commander of the Empress's yacht. In this position, which was a burden to him, he spent less than a month and a half. F. F. Ushakov "felt on this elegant ship ... completely cut off from the fleet. And although he performed all his duties with great zeal, he felt out of work. Others could not help but see such a discrepancy." (Admiral Ushakov: letters, notes. Introductory article by I. Bocharov, p. 8) Apparently, the order to give Ushakov a new appointment came from Catherine II herself. On September 15, he was appointed commander of the 64-gun battleship Viktor. In May-August 1781, commanding this ship, F. F. Ushakov sailed the Mediterranean Sea as part of the squadron of Rear Admiral Ya. F. Sukhotin (5 ships of the line and 2 frigates), assigned to protect neutral trade in accordance with the terms of the neutrality".

On January 1, 1782, F.F. Ushakov was promoted to captain of the 2nd rank. In July he was appointed commander of the new frigate "Provorny", in August and September he conducted its sea trials in the Baltic Sea. In June 1783, he was transferred to the Black Sea Fleet with the appointment of commander of ship No. 4, which was being built in Kherson. At this time, F.F. Ushakov proved himself in the fight against the plague that raged in Kherson and its environs. As a result of F. Ushakov's independent activity, the plague disappeared in his team 4 months earlier than in others. "Here, of course, his exceptional ability to solve the most difficult and unexpected problems was manifested; but mainly, the great love of Feodor Ushakov for his neighbors ... prompted him the most correct decisions. "" (The Life of the Holy Righteous Theodore Ushakov). For this, on January 1 (12), 1783, he was promoted to captain of the 1st rank, at the request of the Admiralty College he received the Order of Vladimir of the 4th degree, established shortly before that, and a written thanks from the college, on May 3 he was appointed commander of the newly built 66th cannon battleship "St. Paul", completed under his supervision and commissioned in 1785.

In the spring of 1787, Catherine II undertook a trip to survey New Russia and the Crimea. On May 11 (22) she held a review of the young Black Sea Fleet, which consisted of 3 battleships and 3 bombardment ships, 12 frigates and three dozen other ships. After the review, the highest awards followed: G. A. Potemkin received the title of the Most Serene Prince of Tauride, Captain 1st Rank M. I. Voinovich, the direct commander of the fleet, was promoted to rear admiral, and F. F. Ushakov on May 16 (27) In 1787 he was promoted to captain of the brigadier rank. As the commander of the ship "St. Paul" and the commander of the vanguard of the Black Sea Fleet, he met the war with Turkey in 1787-1791.

Russian- Turkish war 1787-1792

1787-1789
On August 5 (16), 1787, Turkey, having received a decisive refusal from Russia to demand that the Crimean peninsula be returned to it and that the treaty on perpetual peace be revoked, arrested the ambassador and sent a squadron to Ochakov. On August 21, before the declaration of war by Turkey, the Turkish squadron attacked the Russian frigate and boat in front of Kinburn. On September 9, 1787, the highest manifesto on the war with Turkey was published in St. Petersburg, "marked by the heroic deeds of the Russian army and covered it with almost fabulous glory." (R. K. Skalovsky. Specified essay, p. 62)

At the beginning of the war, offensive missions were assigned only to the Black Sea Fleet. G. A. Potemkin gave the following order to M. I. Voinovich: "" I confirm you to collect all the ships and frigates and try to do the work expected from the courage and courage of you and your subordinates. Even if everyone would die, they must show their fearlessness to attack and exterminate the enemy ... Wherever you see the Turkish fleet, attack it at all costs, even if everyone is abyss "". On August 31 (September 11), the Russian fleet, consisting of 3 battleships and 7 frigates, went on a cruise to search for the Turkish fleet. When approaching Varna at Cape Kaliakria on September 8 (19), the fleet was caught in a severe storm and dispersed. The ship "St. Mary Magdalene", having lost all the masts, was taken to the Bosphorus and taken prisoner by the Turks. The 44-gun frigate "Krym" sank. The ship "St. Paul", having lost two masts, was also close to death. He was carried to the shores of Abkhazia and rushed across the sea for several days. Leading a relentless struggle to save the ship, F. F. Ushakov brought him to Sevastopol.

The heavy damage that befell the fleet forced him to switch to defensive actions for a while. The Black Sea Fleet settled down at the Deep Pier, blocking the Turkish fleet's path to the Liman, and A.V. Suvorov, who commanded the troops on the Dnieper, moved his main apartment to the Kinburn Castle and gathered about 4 thousand infantry and cavalry in it, preparing to repel attacks on Kinburn braid. The attacks of the Turks on Kinburn ended in the defeat of 5 thousand. landing on the Kinburn Spit on September 30, 1787.

Hostilities resumed in the spring of 1788. The main objective of this campaign was to capture the Ochakov fortress by Potemkin's army. The purpose of the Black Sea Fleet and the rowing flotilla was to prevent the Turkish fleet from assisting Ochakov. The latter, numbering 18 battleships, 14 frigates and more than fifty other ships, arrived at Ochakovo at the end of May. The attempts of the Turks to destroy the Russian fleet in Liman ended in the complete defeat of their fleet. The shallow Ochakovsky estuary allowed the Russian fleet to interact with the fire of coastal batteries, fleeing from which on June 17, 2 Turkish battleships ran aground and were burned. Especially heavy were the losses of the Turkish fleet on June 18 (29), when it came under sudden fire from a disguised 50-gun battery arranged by Suvorov, and, having taken flight, pursued by the Nassau-Siegen rowing flotilla, ran aground. The Turks lost 2 battleships, 4 40-50 cannon ships and 7 other ships and over 6 thousand people killed, drowned and captured. Thus, in coastal battles, the forces of the Turkish fleet were significantly weakened.
However, the overall multiple numerical superiority remained with the Turks, which seemed to them decisive in achieving victory on the high seas.

Battle of Fidonisi Island

In the second half of June, the Turkish fleet under the command of Gasan Pasha, numbering 17 battleships, 8 frigates and 24 small ships, went in search of the Sevastopol squadron. The forces of the Russian fleet consisted of 2 battleships, 10 frigates and 24 small ships. The volley of the Turkish fleet reached 410 pounds, while the Russians - 160. On July 3, the fleets discovered each other. Gasan Pasha, who was in the wind, decided to attack the Russian squadron, first of all, its vanguard. The frigates that made up the latter, under the command of F.F. Ushakov, increased their speed, creating the appearance of avoiding the battle, which seemed a natural step for the Russian squadron in this balance of power. The true purpose of the maneuver was the opposite. F. F. Ushakov decided to attack the three times the strongest Turkish fleet. According to his plan, the Russian avant-garde was supposed to bypass the Turkish and put it between two fires.

Gasan Pasha managed to unravel the maneuver and also increased speed, preventing Ushakov from completing the coverage. However, this decision was too late. The Turkish squadron stretched out, the ships were far apart compared to the ships of the Russian squadron, which was descending steeply on the enemy. When approaching the distance of a volley, the battle broke out along the entire line. Half an hour after the start of the battle, the advanced Turkish ships, having received damage, began to fail. The flagship 80-gun ship of Gasan Pasha turned out to be against two Russian frigates, "Berislava" and "Strela", which had 50 and 40 guns, and the following "St. Pavel" F. F. Ushakov, whose team had exceptional training, led a battle against several Turkish ships, not giving them the opportunity to arrive in time to help the flagship. 40 minutes after the start of the battle, the Turkish flagship, which received two full volleys from the frigates in the stern and lost its combat capability, left the battle. This was the beginning of the general retreat of the Turkish fleet, which was leaving the battle under heavy fire from the Russian squadron and was severely damaged.

The battle of Fidonisi, in which the young Black Sea Fleet won the first victory over the enemy on the high seas, was won thanks to the brilliant actions of the vanguard of F. F. Ushakov. However, the envious Voinovich, who commanded the fleet, attributed the victory to himself. In his report to Potemkin, he distorted the course of the battle, ignored the actions of the vanguard of the squadron, and did not want to present the commanders and other officers indicated by Ushakov for awards. Ushakov, having learned about this, wrote to Potemkin that Voinovich compiled a report about the battle "" "according to his own thoughts, without considering the reports of the squadron commanders" "". G. A. Potemkin managed to understand the state of affairs. F. F. Ushakov in August for excellent leadership in the battle near about. Fidonisi was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir of the 3rd degree, and in October, for bravery and courage in this battle, he was awarded the Order of St. George of the 4th degree.

Until late autumn, the Sevastopol squadron, the vanguard of which continued to command F.F. Ushakov, cruised off the coast of Crimea, in readiness to repel an attack on Ochakov by the Turkish fleet, which appeared near Ochakov on July 29 as part of 15 battleships, 10 frigates and more than 40 other ships . At the same time, Voinovich believed that his forces were not enough to force the Turkish squadron to retreat from Ochakov to the open sea. The Turkish fleet remained at Ochakov until November, in the expectation that the approach of winter would force the Russians to lift the siege. On November 4, he departed from Ochakov and on November 9 arrived in Constantinople. On December 6 (17), with a 23-degree frost, a bloody assault and the capture of the Ochakov fortress followed, which ended the hostilities of 1788.

On April 14, 1789, F.F. Ushakov, on the eve of a new campaign, was promoted to rear admiral and raised his flag on the ship St. Paul. In April, in view of the appointment of M. Voinovich as commander of all the naval forces of the Black Sea, F. F. Ushakov took command of the ship fleet based in Sevastopol. In 1789, there was an intensive build-up of the forces of the Black Sea Fleet, the number of battleships of which increased to 12 at the end of September. However, the actions of the Black Sea Fleet in 1789, due to the indecision of Voinovich, were not marked by decisive clashes with the enemy. Throughout the summer, the ship's fleet stood on the roads in Sevastopol. In September and October, the fleet went on a cruise, which did not lead to a collision with the enemy, and on November 3, 1789, all ships returned to Sevastopol. Turkey suffered a severe defeat in 1789 in the land theater of operations. On July 21, Suvorov defeated the 30,000th Turkish corps at Focsani, and on September 7 (18), commanding an army of 25,000, he defeated the 100,000th Turkish army in parts on the Rymnik River. The indecision shown by Voinovich led to his removal from the post of commander of the Black Sea Fleet and appointment to the Caspian Flotilla.

Fighting in 1790

Hike to Anapa

On March 14, 1790, Admiral Ushakov was appointed commander of the Black Sea ship fleet. In January - March, he was in Iasi - the headquarters of G. A. Potemkin, taking part in the discussion of the plan for the upcoming company and the preparation of the fleet for it. In the course of this discussion, it was planned to conduct a raid along the coasts of Anatolia and the Caucasus and strike at Anapa, which was an intermediate base for enemy expeditions. In early April, Admiral Ushakov arrived in Sevastopol and took command of the fleet.

On May 21, 1790, the squadron left Sevastopol, having 3 small 50-gun ships of the line, 4 44-gun frigates and 12 other ships. Admiral Ushakov held the flag on the ship "St. Alexander". On May 21, the squadron approached the shores of Sinop. Ushakov intended to capture the Turkish frigates located in the Sinop Bay and the ship under construction, but refused to attack due to unfavorable wind: "he considered this attack useless, because he intends to look for the most important things in the future" On May 22 and 23, the squadron conducted a cannonade on Sinop, destroying the walls of the fortress. On May 25, the squadron entered the middle of the Samsun Bay, from where the fortress was fired upon, after which it headed for Anapa and subjected it to heavy shelling, which lasted from May 29 to June 1. On June 5, the squadron returned safely to Sevastopol. In the course of the 20-day voyage, the squadron, according to Ushakov's report to Potemkin of June 5, "" went around the entire eastern side of Anatolia and the Abkhaz coast, ruling with a strong hand at them." " Eight Turkish transport ships were captured, burned and flooded twelve; inspection and removal of the plan of the Sinop and Samsun bays; great damage was done to the Turkish fortresses. The campaign of the Black Sea Fleet had a great influence on strengthening the morale of the Sevastopol sailors. This was the first campaign of the fleet, well prepared and exemplarily executed (Admiral Ushakov. Letters, notes. Introductory article, p. 14)

===== Battle of the Kerch Strait =====

The news of the campaign of the Russian squadron forced the Turkish fleet to go to sea at the end of June. Admiral Ushakov left Sevastopol on July 2 with a fleet of 10 battleships, 6 frigates and 17 other ships. Expecting the appearance of the Turkish fleet from Anapa, he took up a position near the Kerch Strait. On July 8, the Turkish fleet appeared, sailing in full sail towards the Russian fleet from the Anapa coast. He had 10 battleships, surpassing ours in the number of guns, 8 frigates and 36 other ships. The battle began at noon with an attack by the Turkish fleet on the Russian vanguard, which the Turks intended, like Ushakov in the battle of Fidonisi, to put between two fires.

However, the commander of the vanguard, the fleet foreman, Captain G.K. Golenkin skillfully repulsed the attack. The main forces of the parties approached from both sides. By order of Ushakov, the frigates left the squadron line, which was closed by battleships. Taking advantage of the favorable change in the wind, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the Russian ships quickly approached the enemy at a distance of a canister shot. "" The enemy, having accepted the change in this situation, became confused and began to turn directly against my ship and the Transfiguration ship in front of me with the whole dense column through the tack; while others, turning in the wind, descended even closer to us. The ship "Preobrazhenie" next in front of me and the ship "Christmas" under my flag fired such a fierce fire at all of them that they caused great harm on many ships, including the ship of Kapudan Pasha himself. Of these, two very damaged ships ... fell into our line and went so close that I was afraid of catching up with some of our rear ships. The vice admiral's ship was also very damaged ... fell into the wind and passed our entire line very close, and through that this ship and the two mentioned ... were broken to the extreme. From some ships, the flags were knocked down ... one vice admiral was taken and brought to the ship. ""

Being in the wind and preparing to cut through the formation of the heavily damaged Turkish squadron and strike at it with all his might, F.F. and by a signal he ordered all the ships, without observing their places, each according to the ability of the case, with all haste, to enter the wake of my ship, through which the line on the starboard tack settled very soon in the wind near the enemy "". The Turkish fleet took to flight in full sail. The Russian fleet, on a signal from F.F. Ushakov, descended closer and closer to the Turkish fleet, but "" the ease of movement of their ships saved them from this enterprise and from complete death ... the ensuing night darkness blocked the entire enemy fleet from our sight. ..Although all night, being in line, he followed the enemy ... he could not see where he had made his turn ... By the morning of the 9th, he was nowhere to be seen "". The Russian fleet anchored against the Feodosia Bay. “After the prayer of thanksgiving was brought for the victory, with cannon fire from the entire fleet, the ships began to repair the damage, and on the 10th in the afternoon they set sail to sail to Sevastopol, where they arrived safely by the evening of the 12th.” (Journal of the flagship "Rozhdestvo Christovo" (R.K. Skalovsky. Op. op. p. 95))

On July 29, 1790, F.F. Ushakov was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree, for the victory in the Kerch Strait.

Battle of Tendra

On the Sevastopol roadstead, F.F. Ushakov repaired all the damage, changed the masts, topmasts and yards, and on August 25 went to sea with the fleet in the same composition, having received information about the location of the Turkish fleet near the mouth of the Danube. The latter was reinforced and consisted of 14 battleships. On August 28, the Turkish fleet was discovered at the anchorage between Tendra and Gadzhibey, 40 miles from the coast.

At Ushakov's signal, the Russian fleet headed for the enemy in three columns in full sail, in order to take advantage of the surprise of the attack. The Turkish fleet, cutting off the ropes, got under sail in disarray and began a hasty retreat to the west. By 10 o'clock in the morning, when the line of the fleeing Turkish fleet was greatly stretched, F.F. Ushakov decided to cut off the rearguard of the Turkish fleet. Kapudan Pasha, in order to fend off the threat to the rear guard, deployed the ships, forming a line of the right tack. Ushakov ordered the fleet, which was in the wind, to descend on the enemy, at the same time rebuilding from three columns into the line of the left tack. When the line was built, Ushakov deployed the ships in the line of the left tack, parallel to the Turkish squadron. Then he ordered three frigates to leave the line in reserve and go parallel to the vanguard in case the Turkish vanguard ahead of ours decides to cover it. After that, Ushakov gave the order to go down to the enemy at a distance of a canister shot. The battle began at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. At 5 o'clock, when the obvious advantage of the Russian fleet was already indicated and the Turkish ships, having received damage, began to evade to the wind, Ushakov ordered to concentrate the attack on the best, including the flagships. Ushakov's ship "The Nativity of Christ", fighting simultaneously with three Turkish ships, forced them to leave the line. At the end of the day, the Turkish line was completely defeated and fled. The Russian fleet pursued the enemy until dusk and at 9 pm, in view of the approaching storm, anchored, losing sight of the Turkish fleet.

At dawn on August 29, it turned out that the Turkish ships were not far from the Russian fleet, the advanced ships were at a distance of a rifle shot. At 6 o'clock in the morning, the Russian fleet raised the flag and began to hastily anchor to complete the victory. Turkish ships, having cut off the ropes, scattered in different directions. Two battleships, which received heavy damage, were cut off. The 66-gun ship with 600 crew was the first to surrender; The 74-gun ship was surrounded by several Russian ships, including the ship "Christmas", which opened fire on it from a distance of 60 m, and surrendered only after receiving severe damage. All 3 of its masts were knocked down to the deck and a fire started on it. F. F. Ushakov, in his report, highly appreciated the courage of Admiral Sait Bey, who was driving the ship. By order of Ushakov, boats were sent to save the crew, but only Admiral Sait Bey himself, the captain of the ship and 18 officers managed to save. The ship exploded; out of 800 crew members, 81 people were saved after the explosion. Following the explosion of the Turkish ship, due to unfavorable wind, Admiral Ushakov ordered the pursuit to be stopped. The entire Turkish fleet fled straight to Constantinople. But on the way, another heavily damaged 74-gun ship and several small ships sank, several others were captured on August 29 and 30 by cruisers. The Turks lost about 2,000 killed and captured (733 people were taken prisoner in this battle, including Admiral Sait Bey, the Three-Bunch Pasha). Our losses consisted of 21 killed and 25 wounded.

Until September 6, the Russian fleet remained in front of Tendra, on September 8 it returned to Sevastopol. On September 16, for the victory at Tendra, F.F. Ushakov was awarded the Order of St. George, 2nd degree.

On October 15, the Russian fleet again went to sea, consisting of 14 ships, four frigates and 16 other ships to cover the passage to the Danube of the rowing flotilla, assigned to act against Ishmael together with the 30,000th army that besieged him. Until November 10, the fleet covered the approaches to the mouth of the Danube. On November 14, the fleet returned to Sevastopol. At the same time, Potemkin, Gudovich and Kutuzov, who were aimlessly standing along Izmail, made an attempt to take him to "fright": they opened fire on the fortress from all guns and offered the Turks to surrender. This was followed by a mocking refusal. On November 14, the fleet returned to Sevastopol. The Russian army was preparing to retreat from Ishmael. However, on December 2 (13), Suvorov was appointed commander of the army that besieged Izmail. On December 11 (22), Izmail was taken by storm, unprecedented in the history of wars. This ended the hostilities of 1790.

Battle of Cape Kaliakria, 1791

On May 20, 1791, the Russian fleet entered the Sevastopol raid. In early June, in Sevastopol, news was received from Gudovich, who was besieging Anapa, about the appearance of the Turkish fleet near the mouth of the Dniester, and on June 10, Admiral Ushakov withdrew the fleet from Sevastopol. The next day, our fleet near Cape Aya caught the Turkish fleet, which began to move south. After four days of unsuccessful pursuit, Ushakov stopped him, believing that the Turks would flee to Constantinople, and returned to Sevastopol on June 18. Meanwhile, on June 22, Gudovich's troops took Anapa by storm; On June 28, Repnin's troops defeated a 30,000-strong Turkish army at Machin. These defeats forced Turkey to agree to peace agreements. The preliminary terms were signed in Galati on July 31, the day of the Battle of Cape Kaliakria.

On July 28, F.F. Ushakov, having no information about successful negotiations and having received reports from cruisers that the Turkish fleet was at Anapa, set out from Sevastopol with a squadron of 16 ships, two frigates, three bombardment ships, one firewall and 17 cruising ships . The squadron headed west and at noon on July 31 found the Turkish fleet anchored near Cape Kaliakria under the cover of a coastal battery, which had 18 ships, 10 large linear frigates and fifty other ships. On the Turkish squadron was an Algerian pasha, a well-known pirate in the Mediterranean, Sait-Ali, who promised the Sultan to bring Ushakov to Constantinople in a cage. He commanded part of the Turkish fleet - the Algerian squadron, on which there was a large number of landing forces, intended, according to the plan of Sait-Ali, for a boarding battle. The appearance of the Russian fleet was sudden and caused confusion in the Turkish fleet. Chopping off the anchors, he began to leave to the wind. The construction of the Turkish fleet was unorganized: Kapudan Pasha began to build the fleet in the line of the right tack, while Sait-Ali built his part of the fleet in the line of the left tack; this was followed by Kapudan Pasha.

"" I continued to chase after them and (at half past three) gave a signal to build a battle line as soon as possible with NNO wind on the port tack, parallel to the enemy's front and descended on it with all possible haste ... Sait-Ali with the vice admiral's ship ...and other large ones and with several frigates...hurried to separate forward, winning the wind. Therefore, to warn his intentions, I chased him with the ship "Christmas of Christ", following our line forward ... When the line of our fleet was built at the closest distance against the enemy, I caught up with the advanced ship of Pasha Sait-Ali and ordered the entire fleet to descend to the enemy at the closest distance, and the ship under my flag, "Christmas", approaching the lead ship at a distance of half a cable, attacked it, bypassing several from the bow. then, at the given signal (at 5 o'clock), a fierce battle began with the whole line, which lasted from five to half past nine in the afternoon.

45 minutes after the start of the battle, the ship Sait-Ali, "broken to the extreme," and having lost almost 500 crew members, disappeared behind the line of the Turkish fleet. His place was taken by another flagship and two frigates, but they soon, having received severe damage, withdrew from the battle. The ship "Nativity of Christ", pursuing the ship Sait-Ali, ended up in the middle of the Turkish fleet and caused such confusion in it that "their ships themselves hit each other with their shots." At this time, the vanguard of the Turkish fleet was surrounded by three Russian battleships following Ushakov. After some time, our entire fleet surrounded the Turkish fleet and shot it before dark, forcing the Turkish ships "to take cover one after another. At the beginning of night darkness, the enemy fleet was completely defeated ... and fled in a cramped heap into the wind ... our ships closed distance, chasing him and hit him with bow guns, and with which it was capable, and with all the lags. The pursuit of the enemy continued throughout the night. At dawn, the Turkish fleet was out of sight, and F. F. Ushakov anchored to repair the damage. Most of the Turkish fleet fell into disrepair. Several battleships from underwater holes went to the bottom, others threw themselves ashore. Only a part of the Algerian squadron reached Constantinople in a heavily damaged state - 5 ships of the line and 5 other ships. Sait-Ali's ship began to sink in view of the shore and called for help with cannon shots.

The sight of part of the fleet returning from the battle, with destroyed ships without masts and huge losses of crews, forced Turkey to speed up peace negotiations. On August 5, Ushakov weighed anchor, intending to sail to the Bosphorus to look for the broken Turkish fleet and capture or sink and burn it. However, on August 8, near Varna, the Russian fleet was met by a Turkish ship carrying a message from Prince Repnin about the conclusion of a truce and the cessation of hostilities. Rear Admiral Ushakov for the victory at Kaliakria on October 14 [] was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. Since the victory at Kaliakria, he, like [[Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov|Suvorov]], was awarded the nickname among the Turks: """ Pasha Ushak """.

The result of the legendary exploits of the Russian army and navy, crowned with victory at Kaliakria, was the signing on December 29, 1791 (January 9, 1792) of the Iasi Peace Treaty, which secured the Crimea and Kuban for Russia and strengthened Russia's position in the Caucasus and the Balkans.

The period from the Russian-Turkish war to the entry into the Mediterranean Sea. In 1792, F.F. Ushakov, continuing to command the Black Sea Fleet, supervised the construction of the Sevastopol port, which he had been in charge of since 1789. Under his leadership, intensive construction took place: barracks, hospitals, roads, markets, wells were built; The cathedral church of St. Nicholas was rebuilt and significantly enlarged. Transportation through the bays on rowboats, country festivities, etc. were established. In November 1792, Ushakov was summoned by Catherine II to St. Petersburg. "" Catherine wished to see a hero who had acquired such a loud fame for himself and met in him a straightforward, modest man, little acquainted with the requirements of secular life. The strict admiral, created for the sea, completely bore the imprint of this vocation and could not express himself as accurately and eloquently as he could make the guns in the batteries of his ships speak "" (R. K. Skalovsky. The indicated work, p. 140)

In the spring of 1793, F. F. Ushakov returned to Sevastopol. On September 2, he was promoted to vice admiral. From 1794 to August 1798, the squadrons of the Black Sea Fleet under the command of Ushakov annually went to sea on a cruising voyage. Starting in 1796, when Catherine II was about to declare war on France, these voyages had one of the goals of covering the coast of Russia from attacks by the French fleet if it appeared in the Black Sea.

On July 25, Paul I ordered F.F. Ushakov to go with a squadron to the Bosphorus to join with Turkish fleet for joint action against the French in the Mediterranean.

225 years ago, on August 28-29 (September 8-9), 1790, the battle took place at Cape Tendra. The Black Sea Fleet under the command of Fyodor Ushakov defeated the Turkish fleet under the command of Hussein Pasha. The victory at Cape Tendra in the military campaign of 1790 ensured the firm dominance of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea.

September 11 is one of the Days military glory Russia - Victory Day of the Russian squadron under the command of F.F. Ushakov over the Turkish squadron at Cape Tendra (1790). It was established by Federal Law No. 32-FZ of March 13, 1995 "On the days of military glory and memorable dates in Russia."

Background. The struggle for dominance in the Black Sea

During the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. The Crimean Khanate became independent, and then the Crimean Peninsula became part of Russia. The Russian Empire was actively developing the northern Black Sea region - Novorossia, and was beginning to create the Black Sea Fleet and the corresponding coastal infrastructure. In 1783, on the shores of the Akhtiar Bay, the construction of a city and a port began, which became the main base of the Russian fleet on the Black Sea. The new port was named Sevastopol. The ships of the Azov Flotilla, built on the Don, became the basis for the creation of a new fleet. Soon the fleet began to replenish with ships built at the shipyards of Kherson, a new city founded near the mouth of the Dnieper. Kherson became the main shipbuilding center in the south of Russia. In 1784, the first battleship of the Black Sea Fleet was launched in Kherson. The Black Sea Admiralty was established here.

Petersburg tried to speed up the formation of the Black Sea Fleet at the expense of part of the Baltic Fleet. However, Istanbul refused to let Russian ships pass from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. The port yearned for revenge, and sought to prevent the strengthening of Russia in the Black Sea region, and to return the lost territories. First of all, the Ottomans wanted to return the Crimea. To throw Russia back from the sea and restore the situation that existed on the southern Russian borders for centuries. In this case, Turkey was supported by France and England, who were interested in weakening Russia.

The diplomatic struggle between the Ottoman Empire and Russia, which did not subside after the conclusion of the Kyuchuk-Kaynarji peace, escalated every year. The revanchist aspirations of the Porte were actively fueled by Western European diplomacy. The British and French exerted strong pressure on Istanbul, urging "to prevent the Russian navy from entering the Black Sea." In August 1787, an ultimatum was presented to the Russian ambassador in Constantinople, in which the Ottomans demanded the return of the Crimea and the revision of previously concluded agreements between Russia and Turkey. Petersburg rejected these impudent demands. In early September 1787, the Turkish authorities, without an official declaration of war, arrested the Russian ambassador Ya. A new Russian-Turkish war began.

By the beginning of the war, the Russian fleet was much weaker than the Ottoman one. Naval bases and the shipbuilding industry were in the process of being established. There was a shortage of the necessary supplies and materials for the construction, armament, equipment and repair of ships. The Black Sea was still poorly studied. The vast territories of the Black Sea region were at that time one of the distant outskirts of the empire, which was in the process of development. The Russian fleet was much inferior to the Turkish one in the number of ships: by the beginning of hostilities, the Black Sea Fleet had only 4 battleships, and the Turks - about 20. In terms of the number of corvettes, brigs, transports, the Turks had superiority by about 3-4 times. Only in terms of frigates, the Russian and Turkish fleets were approximately equal. The Russian battleships were also inferior in terms of quality: in speed, artillery weapons. In addition, the Russian fleet was divided into two parts. The core of the Black Sea Fleet, mainly large sailing ships, was based in Sevastopol, while rowing ships and a small part of the sailing fleet were located in the Dnieper-Bug Estuary (Liman Flotilla). The main task of the fleet was the task of protecting the Black Sea coast in order to prevent the invasion of the Turkish landing force.

Thus, if on land Turkey did not have an advantage over the Russian army, then at sea the Ottomans had an overwhelming superiority. In addition, the Russian fleet had a weak command. Admirals such as N. S. Mordvinov and M. I. Voinovich, although they had the full support of the court and many necessary connections for career development, were not warriors. These admirals were indecisive, inept and lack of initiative, they were afraid of battle. They believed that it was impossible to engage in open battle with an enemy with a visible superiority and adhered to linear tactics.

The Russian fleet was lucky that among the senior officers of the fleet was Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov, decisive and possessing outstanding military organizational skills. Ushakov had no connections at court, was not a well-born aristocrat, and achieved everything with his talent and hard work, devoting his whole life to the fleet. It should be noted that the Commander-in-Chief of the land and sea forces in the south of the empire, Field Marshal Prince G. A. Potemkin, saw Ushakov's talent and supported him.

As a result, the Russian Black Sea Fleet, despite its weakness, was able to successfully resist a strong enemy. In 1787-1788. The Liman flotilla successfully repulsed all enemy attacks, the Turkish command lost many ships. The Turks were unable to use their superiority in large sailing ships with powerful artillery weapons, since a situation developed on the Liman that resembled the situation in the Baltic skerries during the Northern War, when Tsar Peter's mobile rowing ships successfully fought the Swedish fleet.

While fierce battles were going on in the Dnieper-Bug estuary, the main part of the Black Sea Fleet - the Sevastopol squadron was inactive, being at its base. Rear Admiral Voinovich was afraid of a battle with superior Ottoman forces. The cowardly admiral constantly found reasons not to put ships out to sea. Being late with the withdrawal of the fleet to the sea, he set the ships under a strong storm (September 1787). For more than six months, the squadron was being repaired and put out of action. Only in the spring of 1788 was combat capability restored. However, Voinovich was again in no hurry to go to sea. Knowing the size of Hassan Pasha's fleet, he was afraid of meeting the Turks and came up with various pretexts to postpone the squadron's entry into the sea. Only after the decisive demands of Potemkin, Voinovich's squadron went to sea.

On June 18, 1788, the ships left Sevastopol. On the way, the squadron was delayed by a headwind and only 10 days later reached the island of Tendra. The Ottoman fleet moved towards. Admiral Hassan Pasha had a huge superiority in strength: against 2 Russian battleships there were 17 Turkish battleships. The Turks had a great advantage in artillery: more than 1,500 guns against 550 Russian guns. Voinovich was confused and could not lead the Russian ships into battle. In the moment of a decisive meeting with the enemy, he withdrew from the leadership of the Russian squadron, giving the initiative to the commander of the avant-garde, the commander of the battleship Pavel, captain of the brigadier rank F.F. Ushakov. For three days, Russian and Turkish ships maneuvered, trying to take a more convenient position for battle. By July 3, both fleets were against the mouth of the Danube, near the island of Fidonisi. The Ottomans were able to maintain a windward position, which gave a number of advantages to the ships. However, the Russians defeated the vastly superior enemy forces. This was the first baptism of fire of the Sevastopol squadron - the main combat nucleus of the Black Sea Fleet.

This battle had important consequences. Until now, the Ottoman fleet has dominated the Black Sea, preventing Russian ships from making long voyages. Flights of Russian ships were limited to coastal areas. After this battle, when the Turks for the first time retreated before the Russian squadron on the high seas, the situation changed. If, before the battle of Fidonisi, many Turkish commanders considered Russian sailors inexperienced and incapable of fighting on the high seas, now it has become clear that a new formidable force has appeared on the Black Sea.

In March 1790, Fyodor Ushakov was appointed commander of the Black Sea Fleet. He had to do a lot of work to improve the combat capability of the fleet. Much attention was paid to the preparation personnel and educational work. Ushakov took ships out to sea in any weather and conducted sailing, artillery, boarding and other exercises. The Russian naval commander relied on the tactics of maneuvering combat and the training of his commanders and sailors. He attached a great role to the “useful occasion”, when the indecision of the enemy, his hesitation and mistakes, allowed a more enterprising and strong-willed commander to win. This made it possible to compensate for the higher size of the Ottoman fleet and the best quality enemy ships.

The Ottoman fleet after the battle of Fidonisi did not take active actions in the Black Sea for about two years. The Turks built new ships and prepared for new battles. During this period, a difficult situation developed in the Baltic. The British actively incited Sweden to oppose Russia. The Swedish elite considered that the situation was very favorable for starting a war with Russia, in order to restore a number of positions in the Baltic that Sweden had lost during the previous Russian-Turkish wars. At this time, Petersburg planned to open fighting against Turkey in the Mediterranean, sending a squadron from the Baltic. The Mediterranean squadron was already in Copenhagen when it had to be urgently returned to Kronstadt. Russia had to wage war on two fronts - in the south and in the northwest. The Russian-Swedish war (1788-1790) went on for two years. Russians military establishment with honor came out of this war. The Swedes were forced to abandon their demands. But this conflict greatly depleted the military and economic resources of the Russian Empire, which led to the prolongation of the war with the Porte.

Battle of Cape Tendra

The Ottoman command planned in 1790 to land troops on the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea, in the Crimea and recapture the peninsula. Admiral Hussein Pasha commanded the Turkish fleet. The threat was serious, since there were few Russian troops in the Crimea, the main forces were in the Danube theater. The Turkish landing, planted on ships in Sinop, Samsun and other ports, could be transferred and landed in the Crimea in less than two days. Turkish troops had a bridgehead in the Caucasus that could be used against the Crimea. The stronghold of the Ottomans was the powerful fortress of Anapa. From here to Kerch to Feodosia, it took only a few hours of travel.

Sevastopol closely followed the situation. Ushakov actively prepared the ships for the campaign. When most of the ships of the Sevastopol squadron were ready for a long voyage, Ushakov went on a campaign in order to reconnoiter the enemy forces and disrupt his communications in the southeastern part of the sea. The Russian squadron crossed the sea, went to Sinop and from it went along the Turkish coast to Samsun, then to Anapa and returned to Sevastopol. Russian sailors captured more than a dozen enemy ships. Then Ushakov again took his ships to sea and on July 8 (July 19), 1790, defeated the Turkish squadron near the Kerch Strait. In terms of battleships, both squadrons were equal, but the Ottomans had twice as many other ships - bombardment ships, brigantines, corvettes, etc. As a result, the Turks had more than 1100 guns against 850 Russians. However, Admiral Hussein Pasha was unable to take advantage of superior forces. Turkish sailors faltered under Russian attack and took to their heels. The best driving performance of Turkish ships allowed them to escape. This battle disrupted the landing of enemy troops in the Crimea.

After this battle, Hussein Pasha's fleet fled to their bases, where the Turks carried out intensive work to restore damaged ships. The Turkish naval commander hid the fact of defeat from the Sultan, announced victory - the sinking of several Russian ships. To support Hussein, the Sultan sent an experienced junior flagship - Seid Bey. The Turkish command was still preparing a landing operation.

On the morning of August 21, the bulk of the Ottoman fleet was concentrated between Hadji Bey (Odessa) and Cape Tendra. Under the command of Hussein Pasha there was a significant power of 45 ships: 14 battleships, 8 frigates and 23 auxiliary ships, with 1400 guns. The presence of the Turkish fleet restrained the activity of the Liman flotilla, which was supposed to support the Russian offensive ground forces.

On August 25, Fyodor Ushakov took the Sevastopol squadron to sea, it included: 10 battleships, 6 frigates, 1 bombardment ship and 16 auxiliary ships, with 836 guns. On the morning of August 28, the Russian fleet appeared at Tendra. The Russians discovered the enemy, and Admiral Ushakov gave the order to move closer. It was a complete surprise for the Ottomans, they believed that the Russian fleet had not yet recovered from the Kerch battle and was standing in Sevastopol. Seeing the Russian ships, the Turks hastily rushed to cut off the anchors, set sails and moved in disorder to the mouth of the Danube.

The Russian squadron pursued the fleeing enemy. The Turkish avant-garde, led by the flagship of Hussein Pasha, taking advantage of the course, pulled ahead. Fearing that the lagging ships would be overtaken by Ushakov, pinned to the shore and destroyed, the Turkish admiral was forced to make a turn. While the Turks were rebuilding, the Russian ships, at the signal of Ushakov, lined up from three columns in a battle line; three frigates remained in reserve. At 3 pm both fleets went parallel to each other. Ushakov began to reduce the distance, and gave the order to open fire on the enemy. The Russian naval commander used his favorite tactic - he approached the enemy and concentrated his fire on the enemy's flagships. Ushakov wrote: "Our fleet drove the enemy under full sail and beat him incessantly." The Turkish flagships, on which the fire of Russian ships was concentrated, suffered the most.

The chase went on for several hours. In the evening, the Turkish fleet "during the darkness of the night closed out of sight." Hussein Pasha hoped that he would be able to get away from the chase at night, as was already the case during the Kerch battle. Therefore, the Turks went without lights and changed courses in order to shoot down their pursuers. However, this time the Ottomans were not so lucky.

At dawn the next day, the Turkish fleet was found on Russian ships, which was "scattered all over in different places." The Turkish command, seeing that the Russian squadron was located nearby, gave a signal to connect and withdraw. The Turks took a course to the southeast. However, the damaged ships noticeably slowed down and fell behind. The Admiral's 80-gun ship Kapitaniya brought up the rear. At 10 o'clock in the morning, the Russian ship "Andrey" was the first to approach the main ship of the Turkish fleet and opened fire. Behind him came the ships "George" and "Transfiguration". The enemy ship was surrounded and subjected to severe fire. However, the Ottomans stubbornly resisted. Then Ushakov's ship approached the Kapitania. He stood at a distance of a pistol shot - 60 meters and "at the slightest time inflicted the most severe defeat on him." The ship was on fire and lost all the masts. The Turks could not stand the powerful shelling and began to ask for mercy. The fire was stopped. They managed to capture Admiral Seyid Bey, the captain of the ship Mehmet and 17 staff officers. A few minutes after the fire, the Turkish flagship took off into the air. Other ships of the Russian squadron overtook the Turkish 66-gun battleship Meleki-Bagari, surrounded it and forced it to capitulate. The rest of the Turkish ships were able to escape.

The battle ended with the complete victory of the Russian fleet. In a two-day battle, the Ottomans were defeated, put to flight and completely demoralized, losing two ships of the line and several smaller ships. On the way to the Bosphorus, another 74-gun ship of the line and several small ships sank due to damage. In total, more than 700 people were captured. According to Turkish reports, the fleet lost up to 5.5 thousand people killed and wounded. Turkish ships, as usual, were overcrowded with people, due to regular desertions, they recruited excess crews, plus landing forces. Russian losses were insignificant - 46 people were killed and wounded, which indicates the high military skill of Ushakov's squadron.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet won a decisive victory over the Ottomans and made a significant contribution to the overall victory. A significant part of the Black Sea was cleared of the Turkish fleet, which opened up access to the sea for the ships of the Liman flotilla. With the assistance of the ships of the Liman flotilla, the Russian army took the fortresses of Kiliya, Tulcha, Isakchi and, then, Izmail. Ushakov wrote one of its brilliant pages into the maritime chronicle of Russia. Maneuverable and decisive tactics sea ​​battle Ushakova fully justified itself, the Turkish fleet ceased to dominate the Black Sea.

Congratulating the Russian sailors on the victory at Tendra, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian troops Potemkin wrote: “The famous victory won by the Black Sea forces under the leadership of Rear Admiral Ushakov on the 29th day of last August over the Turkish fleet ... serves to the special honor and glory of the Black Sea fleet. May this memorable incident be included in the journals of the Black Sea Admiralty Board to the everlasting memory of the brave fleet of the Black Sea exploits ... "

Righteous warrior FEODOR USHAKOV (†1817)

Fedor Fyodorovich Ushakov - an outstanding Russian naval commander, admiral (1799), commander of the Black Sea Fleet. The Russian Orthodox Church canonized as a righteous warrior Theodore Ushakov. A native of the Yaroslavl province, Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov remained in the history of the Russian Empire as a brilliant naval commander, a devoted servant of his homeland and a righteous Christian. The memory of this amazing man still lives in the Fatherland. Awards, magnificent sea vessels are named after him, and an interesting film was made about such amazing life admiral. In honor of Fyodor Ushakov, an asteroid is named, and the Orthodox Church canonized him as the patron saint of the naval forces.

Childhood and youth

Fedor Ushakov born (13) February 24, 1745 in the village of Burnakovo (now the Rybinsk district of the Yaroslavl region) in an impoverished noble family. The father of the brilliant admiral was dismissed from the service of the Life Guards with the rank of sergeant of the Preobrazhensky Regiment and had nothing to do with the fleet. A remarkable relative of Ushakov was his uncle Fyodor Sanaksarsky, with whom he is often confused. However, in reality they are completely different individuals. Admiral Ushakov inherited from his uncle boundless faith in God, as well as the ability to humbly endure all life changes, even not the most successful ones. The Ushakov family was distinguished by strict observance of Orthodox customs, and Fedor Fedorovich himself was characterized as a meek and modest person.

Ushakov spent his childhood and youth in his father's village of Burnakovo and received his primary education at the Church of the Epiphany-on-Ostrov. The conditions of his upbringing were distinguished by a special severity and modesty of life, since the family adhered to high moral principles and was not at all rich. In addition to Fedor Fedorovich, three more brothers grew up in the family: Semyon, Gavrila and Ivan. Daily prayer and regular fasting remained forever in the life of the admiral. However, despite his meek disposition and modesty, Fedor Fedorovich was distinguished by his courage and already in his youth he went with the headman to the forest to hunt, including a bear.

As soon as the boy was 16 years old, he was sent to the Marine gentry corps cadets, where he distinguished himself by success in the field of history and military sciences. Fedor Fedorovich graduated from the St. Petersburg Corps fourth in terms of academic performance. In 1763 Ushakov became midshipman , and a year later corporal. In 1766, Fedor graduated from the Marine cadet corps and went to serve in the Baltic midshipman .

The beginning of a military career

Since 1767, he went on his first sea voyage on a ship with the name "Nargin". Acquaintance with the open sea on the way from Kronstadt to Arkhangelsk was the beginning of Ushakov's brilliant military career. Going around Scandinavia, the young and inexperienced Fyodor Ushakov received the most valuable knowledge and comprehended the science of navigation. A flexible, sharp mind and a good memory allowed him to become one of the best on the ship and earn the respect of his comrades.

In 1768, Ushakov served under the command of Captain Greig on the ship "Three Hierarchs" and, after sailing through the Gulf of Finland, was sent under the command of Senyavin to the Azov Fleet. It was under the command of Senyavin that Fedor Fedorovich was able to practice maneuvering and shooting for the first time. Basically, the task of the Azov flotilla was to protect the expanses of water and the coastal zone in order to prevent the landing of enemy troops. In 1769 Ushakov received the title lieutenant .

After the Russian-Turkish war was over, the Russian Empire was able to deploy its fleet on the Black Sea. For the first time, Ushakov became captain ships of the sailing "Hector" and then a boat called "Courier", which was cruising in the Black Sea along the southern coast of Crimea. Each new position allowed the future admiral to accumulate invaluable experience, which was so useful to him in the future. Ushakov also sailed on the improved Moreya ship, as well as on the Modon 16-gun ship, on which he participated in repelling the Turks who had landed in Balaklava. Since 1775 he commanded a frigate, being in the rank lieutenant commander . Participated in a campaign to the Mediterranean Sea with the aim of escorting frigates to the Black Sea. Each new ship became the next stage in honing the skills of the young commander, and the tasks were carried out at the highest level.

In 1780, the prospect of a successful secular career opened before the still young Ushakov and was given the opportunity to approach the favors of the imperial court. He is appointed captain of an imperial yacht .

However, such an appointment was accepted by Fedor Fedorovich without much enthusiasm, and soon he achieved a transfer to the battleship Viktor in Sukhotin's squadron. As part of the squadron, he participated in military operations in the Mediterranean Sea. When serving in Sukhotin's squadron, Fedor Fedorovich gains additional experience and deserves the respect of commanders for his courage and the love of his subordinates.

It must be said that throughout his entire service in the fleet of the empire, Ushakov did not change his way of life and strictly adhered to the Orthodox canons. He was a caring, but fair and stern commander. The future admiral was distinguished by the fact that he never spared himself, and protected his subordinates and did not throw them into rash enterprises. Each action associated with a risk to people was weighed and calculated to the smallest detail.

Fedor Fedorovich also made his significant contribution to the construction of impregnable Sevastopol. According to the testimony of his contemporaries, Ushakov was so selflessly involved in the work that sometimes, with a lack of funds, he transferred his own salary and savings to pay for certain works. Upon arrival at the fortress, Catherine the Great noted Ushakov among the most distinguished officers.

Russian-Turkish war 1787-1791

However, a decisive rise up the career ladder began from the moment he entered the war with Turkey in 1787. At the beginning Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1792 Ushakov is appointed commander of the St. Paul battleship and the vanguard of the Black Sea Fleet.

Battle near the island of Fidonisi (1788)

July 14, 1788 in the battle near Serpent's Island (otherwise called Fidonisi), thanks to the resourceful actions of 4 frigates under the command of Ushakov, the Turkish ships, several times superior to the Russian forces (the Turkish squadron consisted of 15 battleships, five of them 80-gun), suffered a crushing defeat and were forced to flee.

The tactics of the talented captain of the brigadier rank were quite simple: not to let the ring close around the Russian ships; to impose a battle on the Turkish flagship, appointed to lead the entire course of the attack. The ability to unravel the intentions of the enemy only by some signs of formation and maneuvers, to instantly make a competent decision, as well as amazing courage and rejection of standard techniques and methods, became a special feature that distinguished Ushakov from a number of other officers. Despite the fact that the battle at Fidonisi did not have a significant impact on the course of the campaign, it was the first victory of the fleet, a victory over vastly superior enemy forces, which had great psychological significance.

However, the brilliant actions of the budding Ushakov became the basis for a conflict with Commander Voinovich. The career of Fedor Fedorovich was saved by the timely intervention of Potemkin. In his appeal to the Empress, Voinovich pointed out the complete inability of Voinovich to organize the successful actions of the Black Sea Fleet, and at the same time, attention was focused on the merits of the promising Ushakov. Potemkin expressed his admiration for the sharpness of mind and abilities of Fedor Fedorovich, comparing him with the unfortunate Voinovich. The result was not long in coming, already in 1789 he was awarded the title rear admiral .

The personal relationship between Potemkin and Ushakov developed very well. Two talented and devoted to Russia commanders understood and respected each other. Fedor Fedorovich, due to his active nature, could not tolerate various kinds of bureaucratic delays and administrative routine, therefore he was released from its execution by order of Potemkin.

Kerch naval battle (1790)

After the defeat at Fidonisi, the Turkish commanders were instructed to take revenge. The ships of Ushak Pasha, and that is how the Turks called Ushakov, were ordered to break. However, a series of clashes, with the Russian fleet gaining strength, showed the superiority of Ushakov. Even a superior enemy could not withstand the lightning-fast and non-standard decisions of the commander in chief. The advantage of the rear admiral was the rejection of the usual and stereotypical actions and moves. The Turks could not predict the plans of Fedor Fedorovich and inevitably suffered defeat. The name of Ushak Pasha thundered not only within Russia, the Turkish commanders were frankly afraid of him. Even superiority in firearms could not save the enemy from defeat, since Ushakov skillfully fought at very close distances and used all possible artillery and guns.

July 8, 1790 between the Russian squadron under the command of Rear Admiral Ushakov and the stronger and more equipped Turkish fleet of Kapudan Pasha Hussein took place Battle of the Kerch Strait . During the battle, the Russian squadron, led by Ushakov's flagship 80-gun ship "The Nativity of Christ", again defeated the Turks, which did not allow the Ottoman Empire to land its troops in the Crimea. This clash can be called a battle very conditionally, since when Ushakov’s forces were discovered, the Turks hastily and disorganized began to retreat. Fedor Fedorovich had only to go on the offensive and smash the enemy ships.

Battle of Cape Kaliakria (1791)

The battle at Cape Kaliakria took place on July 31, 1791. The aspect ratio was 2:1 in favor of the Turks. Ushakov's flagship "Rozhdestvo Khristovo", having become the advanced one, entered into battle with four ships, preventing them from developing an attack. At the same time, the ships “John the Baptist”, “Alexander Nevsky” and “Fedor Stratilat”, which came to the rescue, entered the battle, which “unanimously” attacked the Turkish fleet, carrying out a powerful fire defeat of the enemy. As in the previous battle, Ushakov's tactics were of an active offensive nature. As a result, the initial disadvantageous tactical position of the Black Sea Fleet became favorable for the attack. The unexpected appearance of the Russian fleet led the enemy "into confusion." Turkish ships were so cramped that they fired at each other. Soon the resistance of the Turks was broken and they took to flight.

After the brilliant victory of the Russians at Cape Kaliakria, peace was concluded on favorable terms for Russian Empire conditions, and the successful commander was awarded the title vice admiral .

commander in chief

In 1798, after the death of the Empress, Emperor Paul I appointed Ushakov to the position Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet . Here, Fedor Fedorovich, who has become almost a world celebrity, was entrusted with the assistance of the anti-French coalition. Former adversaries became allies. The Turkish government instructed its commanders not only to obey the talented commander, but also to learn diligently from him.

Luck did not leave Ushakov in the Mediterranean either. Within a short time, Russian forces, together with the Turkish fleet, liberated ionian islands from the French presence. In the course of actions, not only the commander's abilities of the vice admiral, but also diplomatic talent were manifested. For example, the impregnable fortress of Corfu was helped to take the commander-in-chief by local residents, to whom he turned on the eve of the attack. In 1799, the flotilla successfully occupied cities on the Italian coast, while Suvorov won brilliant victories on land.

Thanks to Suvorov and Ushakov, the authority of the Russian military forces soared to an unattainable height. In 1799, Fedor Fedorovich was finally awarded the title admiral. However, already in 1800, Russian ships were recalled to Sevastopol, due to the deterioration of relations between the allies.

Last years

With the coming to power of Alexander I, the importance of the fleet fell, since the new emperor did not consider it significant for the country at that time. The merits of Ushakov were not appreciated by the emperor, and in 1807 Alexander I dismissed him. Fedor Fedorovich adequately accepted this fact.

Throughout his service, faith in God and high moral principles guided the behavior of the admiral. Instilled from youth, meekness, modesty and self-sacrifice, combined with devotion to the Fatherland and the sovereign, allowed Ushakov to take this turn of fate calmly. Back in 1804, he wrote a report on his service for the good of the Motherland, in which it was said that during the entire period of his command the enemy could not sink any of the ships entrusted to him, and also take prisoners. The brilliant career of an amazing person was over.

A huge number of orders, awards, titles, memorable gifts - the famous commander had all this. Despite the opportunity to stay in a secular society, where he was respected and appreciated by everyone without exception, and young men simply bowed before him, Ushakov preferred to retire to his village.

His life in old age was more like a monastic one. Fedor Fedorovich never married, and spent all his savings on charity. He made large contributions for the benefit of the church, participated in the fate of the unfortunate and destitute, took care of orphaned nephews. Terrible admiral Russian fleet he lived in modesty and, one might even say, in poverty, because he considered it worthy of a real Christian. He prayed a lot and lived for a long time in the monastery, standing idle for hours in the church at divine services.

During Patriotic War 1812 Ushakov was elected head of the militia of the Tambov province, but due to illness he resigned. Nevertheless, righteous and selfless, the admiral organized a hospital for the wounded, and also donated large sums, both to the militia and to other needs.

Fyodor Fyodorovich Ushakov died October 2 (15), 1817 in his estate in the village of Alekseevka (now the Republic of Mordovia). Buried in Sanaksar monastery near the city of Temnikova. Fyodor Fedorovich was buried in the Transfiguration Church of the Savior in the city of Temnikov. When the coffin with the body of the deceased admiral was carried out of the city by a large gathering of people, they wanted to put it on a cart, but the people continued to carry it to the very Sanaksar monastery.

Ushakov's grave in the Sanaksar Monastery

In the post-revolutionary years, the Sanaksar monastery was closed. The chapel built over the grave of the admiral was destroyed. During the Great Patriotic War, an order named after him was established and the question arose about the burial place of the admiral. A state commission was created, which opened the admiral's grave on the territory of the monastery near the wall of the cathedral church. The remains turned out to be incorrupt, which was recorded in the relevant document of the commission. According to the Holy Synod, this fact is proof of the holiness of man.

The admiral's grave was restored and, together with the remains of the monastery complex, was taken under state protection.

In 2001 Orthodox Church canonized Ushakov and ranked him among the righteous, which he certainly deserved.

Memory is committed (according to the Julian calendar) May, 23rd(Cathedral of Rostov Saints), July 23 and 2 October.

Material prepared by Sergey Shulyak

for the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Sparrow Hills

Prayer to the righteous warrior Feodor Ushakov
Oh, glorious defender of the Russian land and the Orthodox faith, zealous champion, invincible warrior Theodore! No thankful words, below graceful ornateness prevail, in a hedgehog to glorify your righteous and wondrous life, having acquired a strong faith in Christ and love for the Fatherland from a young age, the prosperous growth of honest parents appeared. For this sake, for the sake of God's gift, he will name it, you appeared to your country in mournful times of war against foreigners. For, imitating the righteous governors, not only by number and skill, but more by faith, you defeated enemies, showing the power of true piety. We inflame with love for you, we sing of your many virtues: great love for the Lord and your neighbors, for those for the sake of your stomach you put it: angel-like purity, as if you surprised you with all abstinence: true non-acquisition, for you despised the good and red world of this. To her, most blessed Theodora, the servant of God and the faithful boyar of the Orthodox kings, look at our wretched prayer, from sinful captivity ascended to you. Incline to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he will not repay according to our deeds, but both will grant forgiveness of sins, deliver from the evil ones who are upon us and give our power over the people diligent care, the army courage in the army, sober piety to the people. And he will make us worthy to reach a serene haven in the Kingdom of Heaven, where with all the saints we will glorify the all-holy name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. A min.

Troparion to the righteous warrior Theodore Ushakov, tone 1
The invincible archangel appeared to the power of Russia, having imputed and ruined Agarin’s malice for nothing: not worldly glory, seeking lower wealth, but you served God and your neighbor, pray, holy Theodora, to grant our army overpowering enemies, to the fatherland in piety, unshakable, and son Russian save.

Kontakion to the righteous warrior Theodore Ushakov, tone 2
Archangel of Russia, servant of the people of God, the liberator of the poor and the oppressed, the wicked punisher, ask us useful and great mercy, as our companion the righteous boyar Theodora.

P. Bazhanov "Portrait of Admiral F.F. Ushakov"

Of the 43 naval battles, he did not lose a single one ...

Under his command, not a single Russian ship was lost, not a single sailor was captured by the enemy.

Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov was one of the creators of the Black Sea Fleet, and from 1790 - its commander. Thanks to a series of major victories over the Turkish fleet, Russia was able to establish a lasting peace in the Crimea. Ushakov successfully conducted the Mediterranean campaign of Russian ships during the war against France, which aroused the admiration and envy of the famous English admiral Nelson. But Ushakov received his first award (the Order of St. Vladimir of the 4th degree) in 1793 not for military operations, but for his work during the fight against the plague epidemic and for taking care of the sailors.

Icon of F. Ushakov

In August 2001, Admiral Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov was canonized as a righteous saint and became the heavenly patron of military sailors.

“The strength of his Christian spirit manifested itself not only in glorious victories in the battles for the Fatherland, but also in great mercy, which amazed even the enemy he defeated ... the mercy of Admiral Theodore Ushakov covered everyone; he was truly a mourner of people's needs: subordinate sailors and officers, all the suffering and destitute who turned to him, and all the peoples he liberated outside of Russia. And he did good to everyone, as much as he could, and the people repaid him a hundredfold with reciprocal love. At the same time, he was an ascetic of great virtues, an intercessor and intercessor for the Russian army ”(From the Acts of Canonization).

The life path of F.F. Ushakov

P. Bazhanov “Portrait of Admiral F.F. Ushakov" (1912)

The beginning of the biography

Fedor Ushakov was born on February 13 (24), 1745 in the village of Burnakovo (now it is the Rybinsk district of the Yaroslavl region). His father, Fedor Ignatievich Ushakov, was a retired sergeant in the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. There was a special person in their family, whose spiritual path left a deep mark in the soul of the future commander - this is his uncle, later the elder Theodore of Sanaksar. He was a monk, abbot of the Sanaksar monastery, where F.F. Ushakov. Theodore of Sanaksar was glorified in 1999 as a locally venerated saint of the Saransk diocese.

F. Ushakov dreamed of the sea since childhood. It would seem, where could the attraction to the sea, which he had never seen and from which he lived very far, come from in the soul of a boy? But there is an explanation for this: the craving for the sea was born in his soul under the influence of the stories of an old fellow villager who served as a gunner in the Peter's fleet. Parents did not dismiss their son's childhood dream and sent a 16-year-old boy to St. Petersburg to study at the Naval Corps.

After graduating from the Naval Cadet Corps in 1766, Ushakov served in the Baltic Fleet. But while still within the walls of the corps, already a midshipman, he made his first training voyage on the ship St. Eustathius.

Russian-Turkish war 1768-1774

From 1769, F. Ushakov served in the Don (Azov) flotilla, in the same year he received the rank of lieutenant. At the end of 1772, under his command, in cruising in the Black Sea along the southern coast of the Crimea, there was a tram "Courier".

Pram with 48 guns

Pram- This is a flat-bottomed artillery sailing vessel of the 18th century. Armament from 18 to 38 guns was used for actions in shallow water, along the coast and in rivers against fortresses and coastal fortifications.

In 1773, Ushakov commanded the 16-gun ship "Modon", participating in the reflection of the Turks who landed in Balaklava.

The results of this war were very important for Russia: the Crimea was declared independent from Turkey. Russia received Greater and Lesser Kabarda, Azov, Kerch, Yenikale and Kinburn, with the adjacent steppe between the Dnieper and the Bug. Russian ships were free to navigate Turkish waters; Russian subjects received the right to enjoy all the benefits that were enjoyed within Turkey by the peoples allied to the Turks; The Porte recognized the title of Russian emperors and undertook to call them padishahs, granted amnesty and freedom of religion to Balkan Christians, and allowed Russian representatives to assume the role of defenders of the Slavs and intercede for them. The Port also undertook to extend the amnesty to Georgia and Mingrelia and not to take more taxes from them by the youths and maidens. Russian subjects received the right to visit Jerusalem and other sacred places without any payment. Turkey pledged to pay Russia 4.5 million rubles for military expenses. On January 13, 1775, the Kuchuk-Kainarji peace was signed.

But this very unfavorable treaty for Turkey was main reason new Russian-Turkish war.

I. Aivazovsky "Black Sea Fleet" (1890)

F. Ushakov's service in the navy continued. From 1775 he commanded a frigate, and in 1776-1779. participated in a campaign to the Mediterranean Sea with the aim of escorting frigates to the Black Sea. Performed other tasks as well. For two years (1780-1782) he commanded the battleship "Victor", which participated in the implementation of the policy of "armed neutrality" as part of a squadron in the Mediterranean. In subsequent years, Ushakov participated in the construction of a fleet base in Sevastopol, the vanguard of the Black Sea Fleet.

Monument to F.F. Ushakov in Kherson

During the construction of ships in Kherson, he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir IV degree (1785) for the successful fight against the plague in the city.

Russian-Turkish war 1787-1791

At the beginning of the war, Ushakov commanded the battleship St. Paul. F.F. Ushakov was already an experienced commander, he made a serious contribution to the development of the tactics of the sailing fleet. Using the accumulated tactical experience, he boldly reorganized the fleet into battle formation, put his ship in the forefront and, at the same time, occupied dangerous positions, encouraging his commanders with his own courage. He could quickly assess the combat situation, carry out a decisive attack. Admiral F.F. Ushakov is rightfully considered founder of the Russian tactical school in naval affairs. In battles, he won brilliant victories, while maintaining the crew of the ship and the ship itself.

Battle of Fidonisi

Battle of Fidonisi

The battle at Fidonisi on July 14, 1788 was the first naval battle of the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1792. between the fleets of Russia and the Ottoman Empire, as well as the baptism of fire of the Sevastopol squadron. And although the battle at Fidonisi did not have a significant impact on the course of the campaign, the first victory of the fleet over the vastly superior enemy forces was of great psychological importance.

The Turkish fleet consisted of 15 battleships (of which five were 80-gun), eight frigates, three bombardment ships and 21 small ships.

The fleets met on the morning of July 14, 1788 near Fidonisi (Snake) Island. The balance of forces of the parties was unfavorable for the Russian fleet. The Turkish squadron had 1120 guns against 550 for the Russian. The Turkish ships were armed with cast-iron or copper guns, mostly of 22-pounder (156 mm) caliber. The Russian squadron consisted of 2 ships of 66-gun rank, 10 frigates (from 40 to 50 guns) and 24 small ships.

The Turkish fleet lined up in two wake columns and began to descend to the Russian line, attacking the Russian vanguard under the command of Brigadier F.F. Ushakov. Soon, two Turkish battleships were forced to withdraw from the battle. "St. Pavel "under the command of Ushakov went to the aid of the frigates. The ship of Kapudan Pasha was under fire from frigates from one side, and from the other by Ushakov's ship. All attempts by Turkish ships to remedy the situation were immediately thwarted by Russian frigates. A successful salvo from the frigate damaged the stern and mizzen mast of the flagship, and Gassan Pasha began to rapidly leave the battlefield. The entire Turkish fleet followed him.

The success was very impressive. The Turkish fleet no longer had dominance over the sea, and the Crimea was not in danger of landing. The Turkish fleet went to the Rumelian shores, and Voinovich's squadron went to Sevastopol for repairs. Potemkin appreciated the martial art of Ushakov, awarding him the Order of St. George IV degree, promoted him to rear admiral and appointed him commander of the entire ship fleet in Sevastopol.

Kerch naval battle

Kerch battle

On July 8, 1790, the Kerch naval battle took place. The Turkish squadron with 10 battleships, 8 frigates, 36 auxiliary ships left Turkey for landing in the Crimea. She was met by a Russian squadron (10 battleships, 6 frigates, 1 bombardment ship, 16 auxiliary ships) under the command of Ushakov.

The Turkish fleet attacked the Russian on the move, sending its main blow to the vanguard of the fleet foreman G.K. Golenkin. However, he withstood the attack of the enemy and with accurate return fire brought down his offensive impulse. Kapudan Pasha continued his onslaught. Then Ushakov, separating the weakest frigates, closed the ships tighter and hurried to the aid of the vanguard. With this maneuver, Ushakov wanted to divert the enemy to weak ships, but Hussein Pasha increased pressure on the vanguard.

It turned out that the nuclei from Russian frigates do not reach the enemy. Then Ushakov gave them a signal to leave the line for possible assistance to the vanguard, and the rest of the ships to close the distance formed between them. Unaware of the true intentions of the Russian flagship, the Turks were very happy, but in vain. Ushakov, instantly assessing the situation, gave a signal to the reserve frigates to protect their forward ships. The frigates arrived in time and forced the Turkish Vice Admiral to pass between the lines under the crushing fire of the Russian ships. Meanwhile, Ushakov began to approach the enemy at a distance of a canister shot and fired a volley of all artillery. The enemy was bombarded with buckshot. The Turks were confused. They began to turn the whole column, substituting themselves under the powerful volley of Ushakov's flagship 80-gun ship "Christmas of Christ" and the 66-gun "Transfiguration of the Lord", having received great destruction and losses in manpower, because. on board the Turkish ships there was a landing force intended for landing in the Crimea. Ushakov, leaving the line, threatened with boarding (a method of conducting naval combat in the days of the rowing and sailing fleets, as well as a method of coupling ships to transfer (receive) cargo or people).

The Turks trembled and fled, only the lightness of the Turkish ships saved them from complete defeat.

Ushakov proved to be a skilled commander, able to think creatively and make extraordinary tactical decisions. In the battle, the advantage of Russian sailors in naval training and fire training was clearly manifested. The victory of the Russian fleet in the Battle of Kerch thwarted the plans of the Turkish command to seize the Crimea.

Battle of Cape Tendra

This battle was unexpected: the Turkish fleet at anchor noticed the Russian fleet sailing under full sail in march formation under the command of Ushakov. The ratio of guns was in favor of the Turkish fleet - the Turks had 14 battleships, 8 frigates and 14 small ships, the Russians had 5 battleships, 11 frigates and 20 smaller ships. However, the Turkish fleet began to hastily withdraw. But, having approached the enemy at a distance of a canister shot, F.F. Ushakov forced him to fight.

The victory of the Black Sea Fleet at Tendra left a bright mark in the combat annals of the Russian fleet and is inscribed in the history of naval art. The tactics of Ushakov's actions had an active offensive character. If in the two previous battles the Black Sea Fleet initially carried out defensive actions with a transition to a counterattack, then in this case Initially, there was a decisive attack with a clear tactical plan. The factor of surprise was skillfully and effectively used and the principles of concentration of forces in the direction of the main attack and mutual support were implemented.

Ushakov personally participated in all episodes of the battle, being in the most responsible and dangerous places, showing his subordinates an example of courage, encouraging them to take decisive action by personal example. But he did not hamper the initiative of junior flagships and ship commanders. The Turkish fleet lost in this battle 2 thousand people wounded and killed, and the Russians lost only 21 people killed and 25 wounded.

Battle of Kaliakria

The battle at Cape Kaliakria took place on July 31, 1791. Turkish fleet: 18 ships of the line, 17 frigates and 43 smaller ships at anchor. The Black Sea Fleet under the command of F. F. Ushakov: 16 battleships, 2 frigates, 2 bombardment ships, 17 cruising ships, a fire ship and a rehearsal ship. The ratio of guns was 1800 against 980 in favor of the Turks.

Rear Admiral Ushakov, finishing the restructuring of the fleet in a battle order, on the fastest flagship "Christmas of Christ", contrary to the rule established in naval tactics to be in the center, went ahead, overtaking his advanced ships. This allowed him to thwart the plan of the Algerian pasha to go around the lead ships of the Black Sea Fleet. With well-aimed fire, he inflicted significant damage on him. The Algerian flagship was wounded and forced to retreat inside his battle formation.

Monument to F.F. Ushakov at Cape Kaliakra

The Black Sea Fleet, approaching the enemy at an extremely short distance, attacked the Turkish fleet. Ushakov's flagship, having become the front ship, entered into battle with four ships, preventing them from developing an attack. With this maneuver, Ushakov finally violated the order of battle of the advanced part of the Turks, and the Black Sea Fleet successfully developed the attack. At the same time, the Turkish ships were so cramped that they fired at each other. Turkish ships began to leave.

On August 8, Ushakov received news from Field Marshal N.V. Repnin about the conclusion of a truce and an order to return to Sevastopol.

In 1793, F. Ushakov was promoted to vice admiral.

F. Ushakov's Mediterranean campaign

In 1798-1800. By order of Emperor Paul I, Ushakov was appointed commander of the Russian naval forces in the Mediterranean to support the actions of the troops of the anti-French coalition.

During this campaign, Ushakov proved himself to be a major naval commander, a skilled politician and diplomat in the creation of the Greek Republic of the Seven Islands under the protectorate of Russia and Turkey. Under his command, the Russian fleet, in cooperation with the army, took possession of the Ionian Islands, the island of Corfu (Kerkyra), and participated in other operations. In 1799 he was promoted to admiral, and in 1800 Ushakov's squadron returned to Sevastopol.

As a result of Ushakov's actions in the Mediterranean, France lost its dominance in the Adriatic, lost the Ionian Islands, and the acquisition by Russia naval base Corfu helped the Allies in the subsequent wars with France in 1805-1807.

last years of life

In 1807, Ushakov was dismissed with a uniform and a pension, and after some time he settled in the acquired village of Alekseevka, Temnikovsky district, Tambov province, not far from the Sanaksar monastery. During the Patriotic War of 1812, he was elected head of the militia of the Tambov province, but due to illness he resigned.

AT last years life F. F. Ushakov devoted himself to prayer, was engaged in charitable activities. He died on October 14, 1817 in his estate in the village of Alekseevka (now the Republic of Mordovia).

In honor of Admiral F. Ushakov

Ships, educational military institutions, streets and squares, cathedrals are named after the famous naval commander. A bay in the southeastern part of the Barents Sea and a cape on the northern coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk are named after him. The asteroid 3010 Ushakov is named after Ushakov. Numerous monuments have been erected to him, including in Bulgaria and Italy.

Ushakov medal

Ushakov medal

State award of the USSR and the Russian Federation. Established by the Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces of March 3, 1944 "On the establishment of military medals: the Ushakov medal and the Nakhimov medal." By Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation of March 2, 1992 No. 2424-1, the medal was left in the system of state awards of the Russian Federation. Re-established by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March 2, 1994 No. 442. The medal was designed by architect M. A. Shepilevsky.

The Ushakov medal was awarded to sailors and soldiers, foremen and sergeants, midshipmen and warrant officers of the Navy and naval units of the border troops for courage and courage shown in the defense of the socialist Fatherland at the maritime theaters both in wartime and in peacetime.

Order of Ushakov

Order of Ushakov, 1st class

Order of Ushakov II degree

Soviet naval award of the Great Patriotic War. Established by the Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces of March 3, 1944 on the establishment of military orders: the Order of Ushakov I and II degrees and the Order of Nakhimov I and II degrees, simultaneously with the Order of Nakhimov specifically for awarding officers of the Navy. The order was designed by the architect M. A. Shepilevsky. The Order of Ushakov is awarded to officers of the Navy for outstanding success in the development, conduct and support of naval active operations, as a result of which victory was achieved in battles for the Motherland over a numerically superior enemy.

In 1787 another Russian-Turkish war began. Its marine part is associated with the name of Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov, who is often called in our country both the creator of maneuver tactics and almost the teacher of Nelson himself. The real contribution of the great Russian naval commander to the development of naval tactics, of course, is best seen in the battles he fought.

Fidonisi

Let's take a quick look at everything naval battles this war. Let's start with the Battle of Fidonisi in July 1788. Alexander Chernyshev writes:

“On July 1 and 2, the fleets were close to each other and maneuvered, trying to win the wind. On July 3, off the island of Fidonisi, the former Kapudan Pasha, who had an overwhelming superiority in forces, attacked our fleet after 13 hours, descending in two columns and sending five opponents to each of the ships and large frigates. The vanguard under the command of Hassan Pasha attacked the Russian avant-garde under the command of the captain of the brigadier rank F.F. Ushakov - the battleship "St. Pavel” and the frigates “Berislav” (captain of the 2nd rank Ya. N. Sablin), “Arrow” (captain-lieutenant M. N. Neledinsky) and “Kinburn” (captain of the 2nd rank N. P. Kumani). The Turkish corps de battle and rearguard descended on the Russian center and rearguard in order to prevent them from supporting their vanguard. Having taken an advantageous position, Hasan Pasha kept a distance from which the Russian frigates with 12-pounder guns could not fire effectively. His attempt to cut off the two frigates of the Russian avant-garde "Berislav" and "Strela" that came forward failed.

Battle of Fidonisi

In the battle of Fidonisi, linear tactics were used on both sides. The battle distance was at least 500-600 meters, since the Russian 12-pounders (and these are rather large guns) could not fire effectively. The attempt of the junior flagship of the squadron, brigadier Ushakov, to bypass the head of the Turkish line and put the vanguard of the Turks in two fires also fits into the postulates as a Russian Maritime charter 1720, and linear tactics. Those who doubt this should turn to the writings of Pavel Gost or Brian Tunstall.

The innovation here was different: the junior flagship, probably for the first time in the Russian fleet, took the lead! A clear hierarchy was spelled out in the Charter, the initiative of the lower ones was not welcomed, and Ushakov violated precisely these points. Moreover, he violated competently and won.

Kerch Strait

In the battle in the Kerch Strait on July 8, 1790, Ushakov was already a full commander. This was also a battle in lines, but its ending is unusual for our fleet: "the ships approached at a distance that buckshot from small guns could be valid."

That is, the opponents agreed on the range of a canister shot, which is 75-100 yards (that is, up to 100 meters). Ushakov simply went into close combat, which was an unpleasant revelation for the Turks: they could not stand the firing at close range and retreated.

Tendra

“Wishing to use his advantage of a surprise attack, F.F. Ushakov, having ordered to set all the sails, descended on the enemy in marching order in three columns, without wasting time rebuilding in battle formation.

Noticing the approach of the Russians at the ninth hour, the Turks, who did not expect an attack, hurried to cut the ropes and, going under sail, tried to evade the battle, heading for the mouths of the Danube. F. F. Ushakov, adhering to the wind and adding sails, took such a course as to cut off the lagging ships of the enemy rearguard. Kapudan Pasha, the same Hussein, under whom the experienced Admiral Said Bey was an adviser, turned to the starboard tack and, building in the battle line, went to the aid of the cut off ships. To help his rearguard, Hussein gybeed to the starboard tack at about 12 o'clock and began to line up the squadron in a wake column. F. F. Ushakov, continuing the pursuit, rebuilt his squadron, which went in three wake columns, into the battle line on the left tack. After rebuilding, the squadron turned “all of a sudden” by 180 ° and, being in the wind, lay down on the starboard tack parallel to the Turkish squadron.

Let's note one more tactic, clearly learned by Ushakov from Kingsbergen or the British - an attack in marching columns. But, as we see, the Turks managed to build a line, and our ships also had to rebuild.

At 15:00 on August 28, Ushakov again approached the Turks at a distance of a canister shot (75–100 meters). The Turks could not stand it, and Ushakov was able to cut their formation in two.

Battle of Tendra

The next day the fight resumed. The order of the general chase followed, and the best walkers of the Black Sea Fleet were able to catch up with the Melek-i Bahri and Mansurie damaged during the battle. At 10:00, the 50-gun "Apostol Andrei" overtook the "Melek-i Bahri" and entered into battle with him. Soon the shelling of the "wounded man" was joined by the same type of "George the Victorious", and after 20 minutes the 66-gun "Transfiguration of the Lord" attacked the unfortunate Turk from the other side. The Ottoman ship bravely defended, but was quickly overwhelmed by a huge advantage, and no one came to his aid.

Half an hour later, the flagship 84-gun Nativity of Christ also took over the Melek-i Bahri. Ushakov signaled to his ships to move away from the Turkish ship, not to interfere with each other in the shelling and to deal with other enemy ships. By that time, the Turk was a terrible sight: a broken skeleton, all the masts were knocked down, clouds of smoke were coming from the ports. "Christmas" went a little forward, cut off the enemy's nose and gave a longitudinal volley. Sailors poured out onto the upper deck with their hands up, begging for mercy. Flames appeared from the hatches, and Ushakov gave the order to lower the boats to save the Turks jumping into the water.

As for Mansurie, he also resisted to the last. By 14:00, the ship was surrounded. Russian ships, replacing each other, plunged cores into the motionless, without masts, the flagship of the Algerian squadron. The approaching "Christmas" stood side by side to the nose of the "Mansurie", intending to fire a longitudinal volley, and Said Bey ordered to surrender. Later, the ship was brought to Sevastopol, where it was repaired and commissioned under the name "Leonty Martyr".

Thus, a decisive rapprochement with the enemy at a distance of a canister shot became the key to victory. Fedor Fedorovich himself explained this circumstance in the following words: "the enemy is strong but irregular", that is, individually strong ships do not have meaningful command, perform maneuvers poorly, etc. In this regard, the more controlled squadron of the Black Sea Fleet had an advantage.

kaliakria

In the battle of Kaliakria on August 11, 1791, Admiral Ushakov, unexpectedly for the enemy, passed in march formation between the coast and the Turkish fleet. This allowed him to take up a windward position and threw Hussein's fleet into confusion.

Battle of Kaliakria, scheme

Seeing that Seydi-Ali took the initiative and built a line of battle after his ship, Ushakov on the ship "Christmas" (80-gun, the strongest in our fleet) left the line and headed for the head of the formation in order to attack himself " Algerian." Damage and failure of the ship Seydi-Ali and heavy fire (again from a short distance, 75–100 meters) from all 16 ships of the Russian line led to the gradual retreat of the entire Turkish fleet.

Innovations of a local nature

In these four battles, Ushakov used a large arsenal of maneuvers within the framework of the same linear tactics. This includes the coverage of the enemy's head, and the transition to a close combat distance, and the attack in marching columns, and the general pursuit. At the same time, although all these methods belonged to the usual linear tactics, they contradicted the Charter of 1720.

It is clear that it was necessary, if not to touch the Charter itself, then at least to update the Signal Book. From Mordvinov's book "Admiral Ushakov":

“Such Ushakov’s methods as an attack on the enemy’s flagships, an attack on the enemy fleet with smaller forces, its dismemberment and encirclement in parts, followed by destruction, were reflected in 16 articles of the Signal Book. The issue of using reserve ships (the experience of the battles of Kerch, under Tendra and Kaliakria) is devoted to a special section of the Signal Book, where six articles show exemplary cases of using the reserve corps.

The pursuit of the enemy without observing the order of numbers (the experience of the battles near Kerch, Tendra, Kaliakria) was also reflected in the six articles of the Signal Book. And, finally, almost half of the book is occupied by the section “On coastal actions: that is, on the landing, attacking fortresses and fortified ships in ports.” This section, consisting of almost 200 articles, has much in common with the practice of Ushakov's actions both near Corfu and in the Italian campaign.» .

But these innovations were not included in the Charter itself. And if the captains in Ushakov's squadron understood what was meant by this or that new maneuver, then the officers of the same Baltic Fleet did not.

In 1788, the Russo-Swedish war began. In the Battle of Gogland, according to the order of the commander of the Baltic Fleet Samuil Karlovich Greig, it was ordered to approach the distance to the cable length (185 meters), and some of the ships did not comply with this order. And after the death of Greig in the winter of 1788, the new commander of the Chichagov fleet switched to literally following the Naval Charter. The battle of Reval took place as a purely defensive battle with a distance of 3-4 cables, that is, from about 700 meters. The Krasnogorsk battle was fought at a distance of 2–3.5 cables (360–650 meters).

Reval battle

In the battle of Vyborg, Povalishin's detachment, which took the main part in the battle, fought at a distance of 2 cables (360 meters). Hence the choice of Potemkin in favor of Ushakov is understandable. From a letter to Catherine II :

“what other admiral could I introduce a rule to fight at close range? And with him - the line starts the battle at 120 sazhens (218 meters. - Approx. Author)!.

But the most interesting thing is different. Despite the outdated tactics of warfare, Russia won all the battles of sailing ships in the Russo-Swedish War of 1788-1790. And in order to understand why, it probably makes sense to compare Russian guiding documents with Swedish charters and instructions for campaigning and combat. As far as the author knows, such work has not yet been done by historians. However, based on an analysis of the actions of the Swedish fleet in the period from 1640 to 1790, it can be argued with a high degree of probability that the situation with the development of tactics was even worse than in Russia.

New Charter, or all down the drain

However, by the 1790s it became clear that the writing of a new Naval Charter was long overdue. And it was created in 1797 by Admiral Grigory Grigoryevich Kushelev on the basis of ... sea fun of the then Tsarevich Pavel on White Lake in Gatchina. From the description of the “Maneuver on the Gatchina Waters” in the spring of 1796 :

“The fleet was divided into three squadrons - the vanguard, the corps de battalie, the rear guard. The corps debatalia under the command of Major General S. I. Pleshcheev consisted of the Nadezhnaya yacht and five skiffs; the avant-garde, headed by Colonel G. G. Kushelev, from the Tverdy trash-hout and four skiffs; the rear guard, under the command of Colonel A. A. Arakcheev - from the Brave trash-hout and four skiffs.

The entire fleet gathered on a small lake and, divided into squadrons, moved to a large one through three straits. Having entered the large lake, the fleet continued to move in three lines past the temple of Venus, and then lined up in one line and opened fire. Having reached the green bridges, the fleet turned back and formed the front line. When he again approached the temple of Venus, a signal was given from the main vessel, the yacht "Nadezhnaya", to look for a convenient place for landing. While the vanguard carried out this order, the rest of the fleet lay adrift and fired along the coast. When the place was chosen, all the ships approached the shore. The flagships continued to fire, and the small ones began to bring in troops. Further, the action unfolded already on land. It ended with the retreat of Colonel Kushelev, his retreat to the coast, boarding ships and a skirmish between the retreating fleet and those remaining in the coastal fortifications.

There are strong suspicions that Major General Sergei Ivanovich Pleshcheev, who served in the British Navy from 1765 to 1770, did the main work on the charter. So, Pleshcheev or Kushelev, without thinking for a long time, simply took and translated into Russian British articles of war and Fighting instructions sample of 1734.

Vyborg battle

Together with this Charter, quite necessary innovations came to our fleet: for example, building in line with a step of 0.5 cable tons, adopted in the British fleet, opening fire in battle from half a cannon shot (from 200 yards, and not from 400, as before ), the use of a reserve squadron, etc.

But it was someone else's Charter, besides, already outdated and completely unsuitable for our Signal Book with all its changes. And the new leadership decided simply: they abandoned the old Book and wrote a new one! And extremely overcomplicated: 1500 signals, as the same Ushakov joked, “there is an attempt to provide for all possible cases that cannot occur at sea”.

Transferring the old British Charter to Russian soil, Kushelev and his followers simply rejected all the experience gained by the Russians of 1768-1791. That is, all the work of Spiridov, Ushakov, Greig, Chichagov went down the drain! The new signal systems that regulate the actions of our squadrons in typical situations that happened to our fleet were simply ignored.

Take, for example, article 40 of the instructions: "in the event of heavy losses by the enemy - organizing an attack with subsequent boarding of the latter". It is quite clear that the ears of the British fleet, which acted in a similar way at Passaro or Lagos, come out here. In the situations of 1768-1791, the Russian fleet did not have a single situation when such an attack was needed. Moreover, a similar attack at Chesma led to the death of "Efstafiy".

Special mention should be made of the Signal Book. At this point, all the major European fleets (English, French, Dutch) were switching to a numerical system. In it, the signal flags are assigned numbers from 0 to 9, and the main orders can be conveyed by numerical combinations expressed in flag signals.

The new Russian signal book used a combination of flags and shots, which doomed the squadron to loss of control in battle in advance. Indeed: here flagship in battle he fired a volley - did he shoot at the enemy or did he want to convey something? Or maybe one gun transmitted a signal, while the rest fired at the enemy?

At the same time, in 1790, a numerical table of signals was also compiled by Vice Admiral Sukhotin. But due to the blind copying of the Charter by people completely far from the fleet, military sailors once again received instructions that were mostly divorced from reality.

To be continued.