Brazilian Navy. brazilian navy photo

Mikhail Grigoryevich Grigoriev was born in the village of Molodka, Kalinin Region. In 1917, my father returned from the front, wounded and sick, and a year later he died. The mother was left with three children in her arms. Here is what the illustrious general wrote in his autobiography: “From the age of 10, from 1927 to 1930, I worked as a laborer in the summer, and studied in a rural school in the winter. state funds (received a scholarship). In 1936 he entered the Artillery Academy in Leningrad. A year later, the course at which Grigoriev studied was transferred in full force to Moscow, to the F.E. Dzerzhinsky.

From the first days to the end of the Great Patriotic War, Mikhail Grigorievich in active army. At the age of 25, he was appointed commander of the 7th Guards Mortar Brigade. He personally formed it and then successfully commanded this unit on the Leningrad and Karelian fronts. As part of the 2nd Belorussian Front, the brigade participated in the liberation of Poland and Germany.

In December 1950, at the Kapustin Yar training ground, Colonel Grigoriev began to form a second Soviet army brigades special purpose RVGK (23rd BON), which he then commanded for five years. And in 1957, having just graduated from the Academy of the General Staff, he was entrusted with the management of the construction of the first positional area for intercontinental ballistic missiles(ICBM) in the north of the country. Now every Russian knows the word "Plesetsk". The merits of Mikhail Grigorievich in the creation of the test site are enormous. AT as soon as possible about ten combat launches for ICBMs were erected here.

On July 15, 1957, Colonel Grigoriev issued order No. 1, which announced his assumption of office and the beginning of the formation of a temporary staff unit as part of the unit’s administration, the capital construction department and the service unit - a total of 32 officers and 120 soldiers and sergeants. It was this date, July 15, that later began to be celebrated as the birthday of the training ground and the garrison. Then this place was without roads, but with billions of mosquitoes and midges. In autumn, it was "famous" for prolonged rains and impassable mud. Then came the time for deep snows, bitter frost. As before, they had to live in tents: But already in 1958, work on the creation of starting positions in Plesetsk unfolded on a wide front. More than 11,000 people were employed in the construction. And by the end of that year, the length of new and reconstructed sections railways was 60 km, and automobile - 70 km. During the construction of the launch pads alone, about a million cubic meters of soil had to be excavated and more than 30,000 cubic meters of concrete laid. Already on December 15, 1959, the state commission signed an act on the acceptance into operation of the first combat missile system of intercontinental ballistic missiles in the USSR.

Mikhail Grigoryevich commanded the first formation with the ICBM for almost six years. And in 1962 he was appointed first deputy commander of the largest missile army - Vinnitsa, then, from June 1966 to April 1968, he was its commander. In April 1968, the general became the first deputy commander-in-chief of the Strategic Missile Forces. The merit of Mikhail Grigorievich in the creation and improvement of new combat missile systems is truly invaluable. So, he headed the state commission for testing the ICBM R-36, which had no analogues in the world. For the creation and adoption of this missile, the general became a laureate of the Lenin Prize. He also headed the state commission for the Salyut (Almaz) manned orbital station. So it is clear why the International Astronomical Union on June 13 this year. named the planet No. 12219, discovered by the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, after Grigoriev.

He served in the Armed Forces for almost 50 years. He is still remembered in the Strategic Missile Forces and the Space Forces. This year, on the day of the 50th anniversary of the Plesetsk cosmodrome, a monument to him was unveiled in the city of Mirny. Mikhail Grigoryevich was highly valued and his opinion was taken into account by such outstanding designers of rocket and space technology as Sergei Korolev, Mikhail Yangel, Vladimir Chelomei, Alexander Nadiradze, Mikhail Reshetnev and many others. And the general had a strong male friendship with Yangel.

Mikhail Grigoryevich Grigoriev died on November 12, 1981. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery of the capital.

"Foreign military review" No. 7.2006 (42-47)

NAVAL FORCES

Captain 1st rank V. CHERTANOV

South Atlantic waters under Brazilian jurisdiction ( with total area 4.5 million km2), are rich in natural resources and therefore play a vital role in achieving and maintaining its national political and economic interests. The presence of sufficiently large and combat-ready naval forces is of decisive importance, because it guarantees the freedom of maritime merchant navigation and the observance of the legal regime in territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone of the country, as well as outside them.

The most significant changes in the strategic concept of construction and combat use of the Brazilian Navy correlate with three key events in the political and economic spheres of the country. Firstly, this is the formation of the Ministry of Defense within the government, which, according to the military leadership, contributed to a more coordinated approach to the processes of administrative and logistical support of the armed forces, especially in the case of aggregate purchases of weapons and military equipment for two or more types of aircraft, as well as a clearer planning joint operations of the Armed Forces according to the scenarios envisaged in the framework of the national defense policy. Secondly, the turning point in the operational use and balance of the Brazilian Navy was the commissioning in November 2000 of the São Paulo aircraft carrier (the former French AVM Foch) into the fleet, from which both helicopters and AF aircraft can operate. -1 / AF-1A Skyhawk. And thirdly, this is the consolidation of the defense (including shipbuilding) industry (including in the process of its nationalization), which stimulates the construction modern fleet with maximum independence from foreign technologies.

At the same time, the Brazilian Navy, which is objectively the most powerful among Latin American countries, is not aimed at dominating the South Atlantic region, but at achieving its defensive goals in partnership with neighboring states. They strive to strengthen comprehensive ties with the fleets of friendly countries by regularly participating in interethnic exercises. different orientation, as well as in programs for the exchange of personnel and military specialists.

The Brazilian Navy has 37 warships (an aircraft carrier, five submarines, a destroyer, nine frigates, four corvettes, eight patrol boats, three landing ships and six minesweepers), 33 boats (22 patrol and 11 landing ships), up to 68 auxiliary vessels for various purposes. (oceanographic, hydrographic and navigational support - 30, training - 8, transport - 4, tanker - 2, rescue - 1, hospital - 3, tugs - 14, other small, including river, vessels - 6).

The number of personnel of the naval forces as of the beginning of 2006 is 48,600 people, including 1,150 in the aviation of the fleet, and 14,600 in the marines.

Organizational structure of the Brazilian Navy. The Brazilian Navy, like other branches of the armed forces (SW and Air Force), is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense. The commander of the naval forces (since 2003 - Admiral Roberto de Guimaraes Carvalho) exercises direct control over subordinate formations (in operational and administrative organization) through the main headquarters (chief of staff - admiral). On the highest level operational organization- the command of naval operations (commander - admiral), to which three commands are subordinate - fleet (commander vice admiral), forces marines(lieutenant general), shipping control and nine naval areas. At the administrative level, the Commander of the Navy is in charge of the bodies of central subordination: the secretariat, the command of the Marine Corps (commander - general), three main departments - logistics, personnel, navigation (see diagram).

Fleet Command unites the homogeneous forces of the Navy - underwater, surface and air, two operational training commands, centers - training, operational support systems, maintenance of small ships and boats, and also includes the main naval base of Rio de Janeiro, located in the satellite city of Niteroi .

air force The fleet is represented by a VF-1 fighter-assault squadron (20 AF-1 fighters and three two-seater AF-1A Skyhawks) and 77 helicopters in eight squadrons: training HI-1 (19 IH-6B Jet Ranger III aircraft), anti-submarine HS-1 (13 SH-3A / B "Sea King"), reconnaissance and strike NA-1 (12 AN-11A "Super Links") and five auxiliary HU-1-5 (26 UH 12/13 "Esquilo" and seven UH-14 Super Puma). All of them, except for three (HU-3, -4, -5), are based at the AVB San Pedro d "Aldeia (in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro). An aviation training and instructor center, a logistics warehouse are also located on the territory of the air base and hospital.

Operational Training Command are responsible for the planning, staffing and training of fleet operational formations for the period of exercises or operations.

Fleet Marine Forces (headquarters based at MP Rio Meriti, northern suburb of Rio de Janeiro) combine two military formations of the MP (an amphibious division and a group of reinforcement and service forces) and a special operations battalion stationed at three MP bases in the Rio de Janeiro area (headquarters MP forces - based on MP Rio Meriti), as well as two training centers and a center for operational training of the MP.

Amphibious division It has a headquarters company, three infantry battalions, an artillery battalion, an anti-aircraft artillery battery and two companies - a tank company (SK-105A2S tanks) and communications. All these forces are stationed at a separate base of MP Ilha do Governador (Governador Island, Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro). The training and instructor center for corporals and sergeants of the MP is also located here.

Reinforcement and Service Force Group includes engineer, supply and amphibious armored personnel carrier battalions (AAV7 and AAV7A1 of American production), as well as military police and electronic warfare companies. It is located on the basis of MP Ilha da Flores (Flores Island, Guanabara Bay).

Special Operations Battalion stationed on the basis of MP Campo Grande (Rio de Janeiro). There is also a training center for initial training of MP recruits.

Operational Training Center The Marine prepares Marine subdivisions for deployment as part of operational fleet formations participating in naval exercises and operations. The location of the center - about. Marambaya (former Guanabara).

Naval Commands. Territory and adjacent water areas Atlantic Ocean, under the jurisdiction of Brazil, are divided into nine naval regions (BMP). BMP command headquarters are located in the following cities: Ladariu (6th BMP) and Brasilia (7th) in the western and central regions of the country, Belem (4th BMP) in the northern region, Natal (3rd) and Salvador (2nd th) in the northeast, Rio de Janeiro (1st) and Sao Paulo (8th) in the southeast, Rio Grande (5th BMP) in the south and Manaus (9th BMP , the former Naval Command in Western Amazonia, which was part of the 4th BMP until 2005).

Naval areas are intended to perform patrol functions and solve search and rescue tasks by the forces of patrol ships and boats attached to them, as well as ocean tugs (six). As needed, patrol forces can be involved in individual fleet operations when they are carried out in the BMP zone. The commands of some areas (5th, 6th and 9th) can use for their own purposes auxiliary helicopters from the fleet aviation squadrons based at AVB in Manaus (HU-3), Ladariu (HU-4) and Rio Grande (HU-5 ). In addition, in all BMPs (with the exception of the 8th) MP detachments are quartered, which are attached to them to ensure security. The command of the 9th BMP also has division of river patrol boats, and the command of the 2nd BMP is subordinate mine-sweeping forces as part of six base minesweepers (BTShch), based in the naval base of Aratu (Salvador). The district commands also have hospital ships, two river transports and a river navigation vessel at their disposal.

Meteorological, navigational and cartographic support of the Navy is entrusted to Department of Hydrography and Navigation, which uses for this purpose division of hydrographic ships. Two oceanographic vessels and four GISUs are based at GMBS Rio de Janeiro (Niteroi) and another six navigational support vessels are distributed across naval areas.

Operational and combat training of the Navy. The tasks of the EBP are actively worked out by the Brazilian fleet every year in the course of typical regional exercises with the participation, as a rule, of the navies of neighboring countries. The largest of these are maneuvers "Unitas", which are held by the navies of Latin American countries and the United States off the coast of South America. Except

Brazil, Argentina, the USA, Uruguay, as well as Canada, France, Peru and Spain. During the Unitas-46 exercise (November 2004), a Brazilian task force consisting of two frigates and a submarine practiced BP tasks off the coast of southern Brazil and Uruguay with ships from the United States, Argentina, Uruguay and Spain. She then participated in bilateral exercises off the coast of Brazil. "Fraterno-23" with ships of the Argentine Navy. At the Unitas 47-06 exercise in October 2005, Brazilian ships operated in a single combat order with the ships of the Spanish and Argentine navies. Other model exercises are regularly held: with Argentina - "Araex", with Uruguay - "Uruex" and "Aguas Claras" (mine), with Venezuela - "VenBraz", with Chile - "Rich".

In December 2004, the Brazilian Navy conducted exercises "Escuadrex II" with the participation of two frigates, a landing transport dock, two corvettes, a military transport, a tanker and an ocean tug. In the course of them, the tasks of containing the opposing forces (an unfriendly country) and preparing a bridgehead for the landing of a battalion were worked out peacekeeping forces(to the airport area), and then the battalion landing group of the MP during the landing operation carried out by the forces of the operational group of the fleet.

In December of the same year, the Mattoso Maya TDK delivered a fully equipped military contingent from Rio de Janeiro to about. Haiti in support of ground forces operating as part of a peacekeeping operation under the auspices of the UN in this country ("HaitiII»).

In the period from October 2004 to March 2005, the polar research vessel "Ari Ronzhel" (H44) from the division of hydrographic ships conducted an operation "AntarcticXXIII» in support of the Brazilian Antarctic Station and scientific research on this continent. In the first half of 2005, the Brazilian fleet also took part in NATO exercises. "Swordfish" and Linkd Siz.

In accordance with the course of the government of the country to establish partnership and cooperation (including through the Navy) with African countries since 2003 (after the signing of an appropriate agreement with South Africa), exercises of the fleets of two countries have been held in the Southeast Atlantic - ATLASUR, to which the Argentine and Uruguayan navies are also involved. Brazil attaches special importance to the establishment of cooperation between the fleets in solving problems of ensuring security in this part of the Atlantic Ocean.

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Naval Forces of Brazil(port. Marinha do Brasil) - one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of Brazil, responsible for conducting maritime operations. They include the navy, naval aviation, marines, as well as special forces and subunits. The Brazilian Navy is the largest naval force in the South and Latin America and the second largest in the Western Hemisphere after the US Navy.
In addition to the traditional tasks of the navy, the Brazilian navy also performs the tasks of the safe organization of the operational activities of the merchant fleet, which in other countries are usually assigned to the forces of the coast guard.

Prefix of ships and ships

Steam frigate of the Brazilian Navy Recife 1850

In the 1850s, the office of Secretary of State for the Navy was introduced, the headquarters of the Navy was significantly reorganized, and the Naval Academy was opened. The fleet received new ships, and ports and shipyards received new equipment. The Imperial Naval Corps was created on the basis of the Marine Corps, as well as the Naval Artillery Corps and several naval educational institutions.

In 1851-1852, the Brazilian Navy took part in the Laplata War under the command of British Rear Admiral John Pasco Grenfell.
Shortly after the reorganization of the fleet, Brazil entered the war with Paraguay, which was formally a land power. The Paraguayan fleet consisted of a single gunboat and several hastily armed civilian vessels. However, through the use of amphibious forces, the Paraguayans were able to occupy several important Brazilian strongholds. Soon, Argentina and Uruguay entered the war on the side of Brazil. On June 11, 1865, the Battle of Riachuelo took place between the fleets of the Triple Alliance and Paraguay, which ended in the unconditional defeat of Paraguay and became the decisive battle in this war.

Battleship Aquidaba 1893

After the end of the Paraguayan War, Brazil continued to build up its naval forces, as a result of which, in 1870, it had the fifth most powerful navy in the world, numbering 92 pennants. Wherein most of Brazilian ships were of modern construction, including steam corvettes, early ironclads, and other steel-hulled ships.

On November 30, 1883, a practical torpedo school was founded in Rio de Janeiro, the first in South America. The Brazilian torpedo fleet by that time consisted of four steam gunboats and one schooner adapted to launch torpedoes. The Imperial Armada reached its zenith with the commissioning of the ironclads Riachuelo and Aquidabã. These ships, equipped with torpedo tubes, allowed the Brazilian Navy to maintain its position as one of the world's leaders. By 1889, the Brazilian Navy had 60 ships. In the late 1880s, the Minister of the Navy, Admiral José da Costa Azevedo, began a radical reorganization, but in 1889, as a result of a peaceful revolution, Emperor Pedro II was removed from power and expelled from the country. At the same time, the fleet led by Admiral Saldan da Gama sided with the supporters of the preservation of the monarchy, but this uprising was brutally suppressed, and many naval officers confused, sentenced to prison or expelled from the country.

Naval uprising of 1893-1894

In September 1893, Admiral Castodio de Mello again raised an uprising against the dictatorship of the President, Marshal Florian Peixoto, who led the Brazilian army. For two months there was a firefight between the ships and forts of Rio de Janeiro, during which the rebel destroyer was sunk, and the old cruiser Javary was shaken by her own shots and sank. During the siege of Rio de Janeiro, Marshal Peixot managed to create his own fleet by buying several ships abroad. March 10, 1894 new fleet appeared in direct line of sight of the rebel ships, which caused panic and the flight of the crews to the shore. All ships were captured without firing a shot, and the flagship ironclad Aquidabã was sunk on 15 April with two mines.

South American Dreadnought Race

Ship of the line São Paulo

At the beginning of the 20th century, the aggravation of relations between Brazil, Argentina and Chile led to the beginning of a naval rivalry, called the "South American dreadnought race." The Brazilian government, seeking to bring its country to the ranks of world leaders, initiated a radical re-equipment of its own navy, ordering the construction of three battleships. But soon the government abandoned the construction of these ships and decided instead to build three dreadnoughts of the Minas Gerais type. Argentina and Chile also ordered the construction of similar ships, in response to which Brazil placed an order in the UK for the construction of the Rio de Janeiro super-dreadnought, and the order for the construction of a third Minas Gerais-class ship was canceled. Brazil became the third country after Great Britain and the USA to receive ships of the dreadnought type in their fleet. This put the Brazilian fleet ahead of its competitors in the face of France, Germany, Russia and Japan. The arms race that began in South America led to the buildup of naval forces around the world, and above all in Europe.

world wars

Monitor Fluvial Paraguassu

Brazil entered the First World War at the end of 1917 and its participation in this war was declarative, although it lost several merchant ships as a result of attacks by German submarines. These attacks forced the Brazilian fleet to begin patrolling the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, but no combat clashes were recorded during these patrols.

AT post-war period The next reorganization of the Brazilian fleet was carried out taking into account the negative experience of the dreadnought race and the main attention was paid to the construction of small ships, as well as strengthening the submarine fleet.
After the outbreak of World War II, Brazil long time maintained fairly close and friendly relations with both Germany and its opponents. The Brazilian army received weapons from Germany, but at the same time took part in a joint operation with the United States to capture the Netherlands Guiana. Only in 1942 did Brazil join the Inter-American Defense Council, finally taking the side of the Allies. This allowed German submarines to begin destroying Brazilian merchant ships previously considered allied. The result of these attacks was Brazil's declaration of war on the Axis on August 22, 1942.

Destroyer Beberibe, 1943

Off the coast of Brazil, a grouping of US Navy ships began to operate, later called the US Fourth Fleet. Together with the Americans, Brazilian ships also carried out military operations, in addition, the United States got the opportunity to use military bases and airfields in Brazil.

By that time, Brazil's own fleet consisted mainly of obsolete ships, so the Americans took an active part in its re-equipment and reorganization. After the strengthening of the Brazilian Navy, they actively participated in the fight against German submarines in the South and Central Atlantic, as well as in the Caribbean. The main task The fleet was guarding allied convoys heading to North Africa and the Mediterranean. During the years 1942-1945, the Brazilian fleet participated in escorting 574 convoys, providing protection to 3164 merchant ships. At the same time, the loss of convoys amounted to only three ships, while the Brazilian ships carried out more than sixty-six attacks on German submarines, in total, 9 German submarines were destroyed off the Brazilian coast: U-164, U-128, U-590, U- 513, U-662, U-598, U-199, U-591, U-161. Brazil lost 32 merchant ships and one warship during the war years. In addition, during the war years, the corvette Camaquã sank during a storm, and the cruiser Bahia sank after an explosion of ammunition.

post-war period

In the post-war years, the Brazilian fleet received several ships from the allies represented by the United States and Great Britain, in addition, several captured German ships were transferred to Brazil. In the 1950s, more modern ships, as a rule, of foreign construction, began to enter the fleet.

lobster war

A squadron of Brazilian ships during the Lobster War

In 1961, the Brazilian Navy took part in what became known as the Lobster War. The cause of the conflict was the actions of French fishermen who began catching lobsters off the coast of Brazil, which caused discontent among local fishermen. Brazilian Admiral Arnoldo Toscano sent two corvettes to the conflict area and, under the threat of force, forced the French to leave the shelf zone. In response, France sent its destroyer to the Pernambuco region, but it was blocked by the squadron forces led by the aircraft carrier Minas Gerais. Finally opposing sides decided to resort to a peaceful way to resolve the conflict. During the trial, an incident arose related to the different approaches of the parties to determining the ownership of lobsters. The Brazilians believed that lobsters were a species of inhabitants of the continental shelf, while the French ranked them among the free-floating crustaceans in international waters. In response to the version of the French, the Brazilian admiral Paolo Morreira da Silva suggested that the French take the kangaroo to the birds, since these animals spend part of their lives in the air. In the end, the court decided to extend the coastal zone in favor of Brazil by 200 nautical miles, but allowed French fishermen to fish for lobsters in this zone for the next 5 years.

Peacekeeping activities

In 1964, the sailors of the Brazilian Navy took part in a coup d'état, as a result of which Marshal Humberto Castelo Branco came to power. This period marked the beginning of a new policy both in the organizational structure and in priority areas for the development of the fleet. Old ships began to be gradually decommissioned, and modern frigates, corvettes and submarines were built instead. The changes also affected the criteria for selecting sailors for military service and for further training.
After the reorganization, the Brazilian Navy has taken part in various peacekeeping missions under the auspices of the UN, including the 2004 missions in Haiti and 2011 in Lebanon.

Organization

Operation Felino to land the Brazilian Marines

The Brazilian Navy is currently subdivided into:

Aircraft carriers NAe São Paulo and USS Ronald Reagan

• Navy
  • 1st Naval Region (Rio de Janeiro)
  • 2nd Naval Region (El Salvador)
  • 3rd Naval District (Natal)
  • 4th Naval District (Belem)
  • 5th Naval District (Rio Grande)
  • 6th Naval District (Ladariu)
  • 7th Naval Region (Brazilia)
  • 8th Naval Region (São Paulo)
  • 9th Naval District (Manaus)
  • 1st Navy
  • 2nd Navy
  • Submarine forces
• Naval aviation
• Marine Corps
• Navy Special Forces

Locations

Naval Aviation Base São Pedro da Aldea

• • submarine base Castro e Silva
  • the main naval base of Rio de Janeiro
  • Navy Yard Arsenal Rio de Janeiro
  • Naval Air Station São Pedro da Aldeia
  • Marine Corps Base Ilya Governador
  • Marine Corps Base Ilya Flores
  • Marine Corps Rio Meriti

190 mm guns of Copacabana Fort

• • Arathu Naval Repair Base
• Rio Grande do Norte:
  • naval base Natal
  • Naval Repair Base Almirante Aru Parreiras
• Pair:
  • Naval Repair Base Val de Cayes
• Mato Grosso do Sul:
  • base of river aviation and fleet Fluvial de Ladario
• Amazonas:
  • base of the Rio Negro River Fleet
  • base of the Rio Grande River Fleet

Equipment and weapons

As of 2014, the Brazilian Navy includes:

Aircraft carrier São Paulo

* 1 aircraft carrier:

Submarine S31 Tamoio

* 9 frigates

Coastal-based naval aviation is used for search and rescue and training purposes.

Story

Aeronautics Directorate of the Naval Forces (port. Diretoria de Aeronautica da Marinha ), headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, was formed by Decree No. 15847 of November 18, 1922 as Coastal Air Defense Command(port. Comando da Defesa Aérea do Litoral ), and received its current name by Decree No. 16237 of December 5, 1923.

It was reorganized by Law No. 1658 of August 4, 1952 and its activities are regulated by Decree No. 36327 of October 15, 1954.

Modern provisions were adopted by a resolution of the Main Material Directorate of the Navy (port. Director-Geral do Material da Marinha ) No. 29 of 1 April 2003 .

Organization

Naval Aviation Command(port. Comando da Força Aeronaval)

Locations

combat composition

Equipment and weapons

Brazilian Navy Aviation Insignia

brazilian navy aviation roundel.svg

identification mark

Brazil Naval aviation fin flash.svg

Keel mark

Gallery

Aérospatiale AS 332 Super Puma Força Aeronaval, Esquadrão UH-14.jpg

Eurocopter AS332F

Bell 206 JetRanger Força Aeronaval, Esquadrão HI-1.jpg

Bell Helicopter Textron 206B

Helicopter of the Brazilian Navy.jpg

Westland Lynx HAS Mk 21A

SH-3 Sea King Força Aeronaval, Esquadrão HS-1.jpg

see also

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Notes

Links

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An excerpt characterizing the Aviation of the Brazilian Navy

Anna Pavlovna smiled and promised to take care of Pierre, who, she knew, was a paternal relative of Prince Vasily. The elderly lady, who had previously been sitting with ma tante, hastily got up and overtook Prince Vasily in the hall. All the old pretense of interest was gone from her face. Her kind, weepy face expressed only anxiety and fear.
- What will you tell me, prince, about my Boris? she said, catching up with him in the front. (She pronounced the name Boris with a special emphasis on o). – I cannot stay longer in Petersburg. Tell me, what news can I bring to my poor boy?
Despite the fact that Prince Vasily listened reluctantly and almost impolitely to the elderly lady and even showed impatience, she smiled affectionately and touchingly at him and, so that he would not leave, took his hand.
“That you should say a word to the sovereign, and he will be directly transferred to the guards,” she asked.
“Believe me that I will do everything I can, princess,” answered Prince Vasily, “but it’s hard for me to ask the sovereign; I would advise you to turn to Rumyantsev, through Prince Golitsyn: that would be smarter.
The elderly lady bore the name of Princess Drubetskaya, one of the best families in Russia, but she was poor, long gone from the world and lost her former connections. She has come now to procure a definition for the guards of her only son. Only then, in order to see Prince Vasily, did she name herself and come to Anna Pavlovna's for the evening, only then did she listen to the history of the viscount. She was frightened by the words of Prince Vasily; sometime Beautiful face she was exasperated, but it lasted only a minute. She smiled again and gripped Prince Vasili more firmly by the arm.
“Listen, prince,” she said, “I never asked you, I will never ask, I never reminded you of my father’s friendship for you. But now, I conjure you by God, do this for my son, and I will consider you a benefactor,” she added hastily. - No, you are not angry, but you promise me. I asked Golitsyn, he refused. Soyez le bon enfant que vous avez ete, [Be a good fellow, as you were,] she said, trying to smile, while there were tears in her eyes.
“Papa, we will be late,” said Princess Helene, turning her beautiful head on antique shoulders, who was waiting at the door.
But influence in the world is a capital that must be protected so that it does not disappear. Prince Vasily knew this, and once he realized that if he began to ask for everyone who asks him, then soon he would not be able to ask for himself, he rarely used his influence. In the case of Princess Drubetskaya, however, after her new call, he felt something like a reproach of conscience. She reminded him of the truth: he owed his first steps in the service to her father. In addition, he saw from her methods that she was one of those women, especially mothers, who, once taking something into their heads, will not lag behind until they fulfill their desires, otherwise they are ready for daily, every minute pestering and even on the stage. This last consideration shook him.
“Chere Anna Mikhailovna,” he said with his usual familiarity and boredom in his voice, “it is almost impossible for me to do what you want; but in order to prove to you how much I love you and honor the memory of your late father, I will do the impossible: your son will be transferred to the guards, here is my hand to you. Are you satisfied?
- My dear, you are a benefactor! I did not expect anything else from you; I knew how kind you are.
He wanted to leave.
- Wait, two words. Une fois passe aux gardes ... [Once he goes to the guards ...] - She hesitated: - You are good with Mikhail Ilarionovich Kutuzov, recommend Boris to him as adjutant. Then I would be calm, and then I would...
Prince Vasily smiled.
- I don't promise that. You do not know how Kutuzov has been besieged since he was appointed commander in chief. He himself told me that all the Moscow ladies conspired to give him all their children as adjutants.
“No, promise me, I won’t let you in, dear, my benefactor…
- Dad! - the beauty repeated again in the same tone, - we will be late.
- Well, au revoir, [goodbye,] goodbye. See?
- So tomorrow you will report to the sovereign?
- Certainly, but I do not promise Kutuzov.
“No, promise, promise, Basile, [Vasily],” Anna Mikhailovna said after him, with a smile of a young coquette, which once must have been characteristic of her, but now did not suit her emaciated face.
She apparently forgot her years and used, out of habit, all the old women's means. But as soon as he left, her face again assumed the same cold, feigned expression that had been on it before. She returned to the circle, in which the viscount continued to talk, and again pretended to be listening, waiting for the time to leave, since her business was done.
“But how do you find all this latest comedy du sacre de Milan?” [Milanese anointing?] – said Anna Pavlovna. Et la nouvelle comedie des peuples de Genes et de Lucques, qui viennent presenter leurs voeux a M. Buonaparte assis sur un trone, et exaucant les voeux des nations! Adorable! Non, mais c "est a en devenir folle! On dirait, que le monde entier a perdu la tete. [And here is a new comedy: the peoples of Genoa and Lucca express their desires to Mr. Bonaparte. And Mr. Bonaparte sits on the throne and fulfills the desires of the peoples. 0! It's amazing! No, it's crazy. You'll think the whole world has lost its head.]
Prince Andrei grinned, looking directly into the face of Anna Pavlovna.
- “Dieu me la donne, gare a qui la touche,” he said (the words of Bonaparte, spoken at the laying of the crown). - On dit qu "il a ete tres beau en prononcant ces paroles, [God gave me the crown. Trouble for the one who touches it. - They say he was very good pronouncing these words,] - he added and repeated these words again in Italian: "Dio mi la dona, guai a chi la tocca".
- J "espere enfin," continued Anna Pavlovna, "que ca a ete la goutte d" eau qui fera deborder le verre. Les souverains ne peuvent plus supporter cet homme, qui menace tout. [I hope that it was finally the drop that would overflow the glass. Sovereigns can no longer tolerate this man who threatens everything.]
– Les souverains? Je ne parle pas de la Russie,” said the viscount politely and hopelessly: “Les souverains, madame!” Qu "ont ils fait pour Louis XVII, pour la reine, pour madame Elisabeth? Rien," he continued animatedly. - Et croyez moi, ils subissent la punition pour leur trahison de la cause des Bourbons. Les souverains? Ils envoient des ambassadeurs complimenter l "usurpateur. [Sovereigns! I'm not talking about Russia. Sovereigns! But what did they do for Louis XVII, for the Queen, for Elisabeth? Nothing. And believe me, they are punished for their betrayal of the Bourbon cause. Sovereigns! They send envoys to greet the stealer of the throne.]