The navy of the Russian Federation strength. Navy of the Russian Federation

The Russian navy, which our country now has, is one of the most powerful and combat-ready in the world. The Russian fleet deserved this position not only by the current state of the seafarers, but also by the legacy inherited from the Soviet Union. This primarily concerns the level of training of command personnel and technical equipment fleet infrastructure. The huge naval economy, inherited from the Soviet navy, allows Russia to maintain its leading position at sea. Russia is still trying to continue the glorious maritime traditions that began with the time of Tsar Peter I.

The fleet continues to be one of the most powerful and combat-ready branches of the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Service in the Navy today is honorable. Despite the difficulties and trials, young people willingly go to serve in the fleet.

Paying tribute to the naval traditions, already in modern Russia an official holiday was approved - the day of the Navy of the Russian Federation. In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 31, 2006, every last Sunday of July is celebrated in the country as the day of the Russian Navy. The holiday is celebrated throughout the country, from the westernmost point on the map of the country to the eastern borders. From the Baltic naval base in the Baltic to the eastern borders, in Vladivostok and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. From the Polyarny country road and Murmansk in the Far North, to Sevastopol and Novorossiysk on the Black Sea. During the celebrations in the cities and in the places where the fleet is based, naval parades are held with the participation of ships and units of the Navy, units of the Marine Corps and Naval Aviation.

However, the parade and festivities are one side of the coin, and the daily work of keeping the ships and other units of the Russian Navy at a high level of combat readiness is completely different. The fleet is the most complex living mechanism, with its own skeleton - structure and thousands of technological and departmental connections that play the role of blood vessels of a huge mechanism. Without major capital investments, without updating the crew and putting the coastal infrastructure in order, the fleet will not be able to stay in a combat-ready state for a long time.

The ships of the Navy, which were commissioned back in the days of the Soviet state, are gradually falling into disrepair. The rear infrastructure of the fleet is morally obsolete, urgent military-technical modernization of combat ships in service is required. The fleet needs a radical technical re-equipment and re-equipment. Evidence that the country's leadership understands the importance of naval problems is the fleet development program adopted in July 2017, which provides for a phased modernization of the Russian fleet until 2030. The adopted program clearly spells out the necessary measures that will make the Russian Navy a modern combat mechanism by the specified time.

Russian fleet today. Organizational structure

Traditionally, the navy is separate view Armed Forces of our country, with its commander in chief and the General Staff. The tasks of the fleet include the armed protection of the sea borders of Russia, ensuring the interests Russian state in all maritime military theaters. In terms of its structure and composition, the Russian fleet is an ocean-going fleet capable of delivering nuclear missile strikes against a potential enemy, ensuring tactical operations in any corner of the globe, and acting on enemy communications on the high seas and near its coasts. Together with the ground forces and air force, the navy participates in repulsing the aggression committed against the Russian state with its entire composition. The army and navy act in close cooperation with each other in repelling aggression.

Like other types of armed forces, the Russian fleet has all the necessary attributes and regalia in accordance with the Charter and regulations on the navy. The main symbol is St. Andrew's flag. Each structural formation that is part of the fleet has its own distinct Navy badge, which allows you to distinguish sailors from the Northern Fleet from the military personnel of the Caspian Flotilla.

Today the composition of the Navy is as follows:

• submarine forces;
• surface forces;
• parts of naval aviation;
• Marines;
• subdivisions and units of coastal defense troops.

It should be noted that each branch of the military, which is part of the fleet, has its own specific goals and tasks, which together ensure the combat capability of the fleet at any time and in any place. The marines cannot fully operate without providing fire support from naval aviation and surface forces of the fleet. In turn, the submarine forces, being one of the main strike elements of the fleet, need the support of surface ships and naval aviation forces.

The organizational structure of the fleet is represented by associations, which in turn are geo-referenced. The united fleet of the Russian Federation includes the Northern, Pacific, Baltic and Black Sea fleets. A separate naval formation is the Caspian military flotilla, which also has its own headquarters and permanent bases. The fleets and flotillas include detachments of surface ships and submarines, naval aviation forces and special forces of the Navy, a special unit within the Russian fleet.

The size of the fleets differs both in the number of personnel and in the crew. In many ways, the combat capability is determined by the goals and tasks that this naval association is solving. Traditionally, the Northern and Pacific Fleets occupy a strategic position in the country's defense system. The Baltic, Black Sea Fleets and the Caspian Flotilla are more focused on solving tactical problems.

Under current conditions, the main striking force of the Russian Navy is nuclear strategic missile submarines carrying intercontinental ballistic missiles. There are brigades of nuclear submarines in the Northern Fleet and in the Pacific Ocean. The next types of ships in terms of importance and strength of weapons are missile and aircraft-carrying cruisers with nuclear or conventional power plant. The basis of the tactical formations of the Russian fleet today are ships of new types, missile frigates and corvettes. Patrol and escort ships operate in the near sea zone in all fleets. The special forces of the Navy, units of the Marine Corps represent the main strike force of the coastal units of the Navy.

Of these fleets, the largest and most powerful at the moment is Northern Fleet The Russian Navy, which includes the largest and most powerful warships.

The main bases of the Northern Fleet are:

• Severomorsk with fleet headquarters;
• Vidyaevo (submarines);
• Severomorsk;
• Gadzhiyevo;
• Polar.

The only naval base in the fleet is the White Sea Naval Base in Severodvinsk.

Today, the Black Sea Fleet is considered the smallest, which, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, ceased to play a key role in maritime theaters. Only in last years the situation with the technical equipment of the Black Sea Fleet began to change for the better. The old cruisers and frigates are being replaced by new missile ships and submarines. The fleet is based at Sevastopol and Novorossiysk. The Novorossiysk and Crimean naval bases are used as a strong point.

A difficult situation has developed in the Pacific Ocean. The once powerful and combat-ready Pacific Fleet is going through a difficult period today. Old ships inherited from Soviet times are scrapped or undergoing modernization. New warships are arriving extremely slowly to equip the fleet. Nuclear submarines based in Kamchatka today spend most of their time at the quay wall. Formidable missile submarines are being routinely decommissioned, and new or upgraded nuclear submarines are entering the fleet at an extremely slow pace.

The Pacific Fleet has the most extensive area of ​​responsibility. The locations are thousands of kilometers apart. The main naval service points in the Pacific are:

• Vladivostok with fleet headquarters;
• Fokino;
• Sovetskaya Gavan;
• Vilyuchinsk (submarines).

The Baltic Fleet, operationally locked in the cramped waters of the Baltic Sea, is in a dormant state. With the change in naval doctrine, in which multi-purpose universal ships play the main role at sea, the Baltic Fleet needs to be re-equipped and re-equipped with new ships. The headquarters of the fleet is located in Kaliningrad, and the main places of basing of ships and parts of the fleet are:

• Baltiysk;
• Kronstadt.

In the Baltic, the fleet has two naval bases at its disposal, the Baltic and the Leningrad. Since 2000, the Russian Navy has ceased to be based in Kronstadt, shifting its focus to the Western part of the Baltic Sea.

The Caspian flotilla operates in the waters of the Caspian Sea. The main basing point for ships and parts of the flotilla is Kaspiysk and Makhachkala. The headquarters of the flotilla is located in Astrakhan.

All fleet associations have marine brigades, naval special forces of the Navy, auxiliary and rescue units, coastal defense forces

Before the collapse of the USSR, the Soviet Navy was the second largest in the world after the US Navy and consisted of more than one and a half thousand ships of all types. By 2010, all four fleets included only 136 ships capable of going to sea and solving combat missions.

Command and controls

The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy of the Russian Federation today is Admiral Vladimir Ivanovich Korolev, who took office on April 6, 2016. The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy is responsible for the entire naval economy, spread over the entire vast territory of the country from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. All operational work is carried out by the First Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Chief of Staff of the Navy Andrei Olgertovich Volozhinsky with the rank of Vice Admiral. It should be noted that military ranks in the Russian modern fleet were inherited from Soviet times, which were finally adopted in 1943. The most senior in the fleet is the rank of Admiral of the Fleet. This is followed by ranks and ranks corresponding to military ranks in other branches of the armed forces and branches of service.

Today, the following classification of the ranks of the Navy of the Russian Federation is used, which was finally formed in the 70s of the XX century.

• sailors and foremen;
• midshipmen (midshipman was put into use in the mid-70s), for coastal units - ensigns;
• junior officers;
• senior officers - captain III rank, captain II rank and captain I;
• the highest officers are rear admirals, vice admirals, admirals and admirals of the fleet.

Military ranks are awarded for length of service or for special military merit. Accepting a new higher position in the navy, as in the army, implies the assignment of an extraordinary rank.

The erroneous decision to transfer the management and command of the fleet to St. Petersburg, taken in 2012, was canceled by the current leadership of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Since 2015, the general management of the Russian fleet, command and control is located in Moscow. From here, all the country's fleets are controlled, control is exercised over the operational situation in maritime theaters, and work is underway to organize the fleet economy.

Who goes to serve in the Navy

In organizational terms, the structure and procedures that operated in the Soviet Navy have been preserved in the modern Russian fleet. In Russia today, as well as in the United States and Great Britain, in many other countries the fleet, despite the highest technological effectiveness among the branches of the armed forces, is their most conservative part. Here innovation and reorganization are extremely reluctantly welcomed. Traditions, combat experience and maritime practice become the main engines of progress. Serving in the Navy today is fashionable and prestigious, given the significantly reduced terms of military service, up to 12 months, and the opportunity to go to serve in the navy under a contract.

The main contingent recruited for service in the fleet are contract soldiers. The significantly increased technological load on the crew of any modern warship requires a high level of knowledge and professionalism from the crew members. Basically, military personnel are recruited on warships, who conclude a contract with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. This category of servicemen goes to command and management positions. Conscripts are mainly completed by the crews of ships that serve in the near sea zone or are under scheduled repairs.

An applicant who wants to become a sailor, foreman or midshipman must have the second group of neuropsychic stability, fitness category A3 and above. It is obligatory to have a secondary education. For senior positions and midshipmen, the presence of civil secondary specialized education is welcome. The bulk of the conscripts go to serve in the Baltic Fleet. Other fleets prefer contractors.

Day Navy(Navy) in Russia is celebrated on the last Sunday of July. In 2015, this holiday falls on July 26.

The birth of the Navy in Russia began at the end of the 17th century with Peter I. In honor of the first victory of the Russian fleet on July 27 (August 7, according to a new style), 1714 at Gangut, Peter I ordered that this day be celebrated annually with solemn services, naval parades and fireworks.

From 1980 to the present, Navy Day in Russia is celebrated on the last Sunday of July.

Warships that are part of the Russian Navy serve for different purposes and are accordingly divided into different classes. AiF.ru talks in infographics about modern types of warships.

Depending on the purpose (task performed), ships can be divided into the following classes (types):

• aircraft carriers;
• cruisers;
• universal landing ships;
• destroyers;
• frigates;
• corvettes;
• landing ships.

Aircraft carriers

The cost of building a modern aircraft carrier with a nuclear propulsion system is about 4-6 billion dollars. The monthly cost of maintaining the aircraft carrier is over $10 million.

Since 1991, two aircraft-carrying cruisers have been built in Russia. Project number 1143.5. "Krechet" can accommodate up to 50 aircraft and helicopters on board. At the moment, only one remains in the Russian Navy - "Admiral Kuznetsov". "Varyag" was sold to China, now it bears the name "Liaoning".

Aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov". Photo: RIA Novosti / Oleg Lastochkin

Aircraft carriers perform a number of military purposes, in particular, they are used for:

• air defense of naval formations;
• anti-submarine defense;
• air support for ground forces in the coastal zone;
• destruction of enemy air defenses;
• to destroy enemy ships.

Cruisers

A guided missile cruiser is a large-displacement, multi-purpose warship armed with guided missile launchers. The cruiser is capable of hitting air, surface and underwater targets, shelling coastal areas.

One of the most powerful ships of the Russian Navy is the cruiser "Peter the Great". It is capable of performing assigned tasks anywhere in the world's oceans. It is currently the world's largest operational non-aircraft attack warship. Its main purpose is to destroy enemy aircraft carrier groups.

Cruiser Peter the Great. Photo: RIA Novosti / Vitaly Ankov

Universal Landing Ships

The universal amphibious assault ship (UDC) in terms of its combat potential corresponds to a medium aircraft carrier. Today, the costs of construction, staffing and operation make the contract for the supply of such a ship comparable to contracts for the construction of full-fledged aircraft carriers.

In Russia, the contract for the construction of the Mistral-type UDC for Russia is carried out by the French companies DCNS and STX. Its cost is 1.12 billion euros (about 1.52 billion dollars).

In accordance with the signed contract, during the construction of 2 UDCs of the Mistral type, the assembly of 12 blocks of the aft hull of each of the landing ships is carried out in Russia.

Russian-made helicopters based on the Ka-52 Alligator will be based on the UDC, and the possibility of deploying Ka-27M and Ka-226 helicopters is also being considered.

The first UDC "Vladivostok" will be delivered to the Russian Navy in 2014, the second - "Sevastopol" - at the end of 2015.

Launching of the aft part of the first Russian landing helicopter dock ship (DVKD) of the Mistral type - Vladivostok. Photo: RIA Novosti / Igor Russak

destroyers

Destroyers are multipurpose ships. They are designed for:

• delivering powerful missile, torpedo and artillery strikes against enemy ships;
• intelligence service at sea;
• protection of large ships from surface, air and underwater attacks.

Destroyers can also lay minefields and support amphibious assaults with artillery support.

Destroyer "Fast" of the Russian Pacific Fleet. Photo: RIA Novosti / Vitaly Ankov

Frigates

The main purpose of the frigate is to fight against air and underwater enemies while escorting the main forces of the fleet and especially important convoys. This is a universal ship capable of operating at any distance from the coast and taking part in military conflicts.

In Russia, after the departure of the sailing fleet, frigates correspond in size and function to patrol ships. They are designed for:

• search, detection and tracking of enemy submarines;
• ensuring anti-ship and anti-submarine defense of warships and ships at sea;
• strikes against ships and vessels at sea and at bases;
• support for the combat operations of the ground forces;
• ensuring the landing of amphibious assault forces and solving other problems.

Frigate "Admiral Gorshkov". Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Corvettes

According to NATO classification, the class of corvettes included:

• Soviet small anti-submarine ships (MPK);
• small rocket ships (RTOs).

The main tasks of modern corvettes are anti-submarine defense of a ship formation (convoy) or a coastal facility (naval base, port, etc.).

In Russia, Project 20380 vessels are the first warships built in the Russian Federation under the official designation of the corvette class. Previously, in the Soviet and Russian Navy, the class of corvettes did not stand out separately.

As of July 1, 2014, the Russian Navy has four ships of the project - "Guarding", "Savvy", "Boikiy" and "Stoikiy", all of which are part of the Baltic Fleet; four more corvettes are under construction.

Corvette "Boiky". Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / CC BY-SA 3.0/Radziun

Large landing ship

A large landing ship (BDK) is designed to transport and disembark troops. These ships are capable of delivering (transporting, transporting) various types of armored vehicles, including tanks.

The main difference between such ships and universal landing ships is the presence of a bow ramp, which makes it possible to land troops ashore in a short time (including due to their smaller size).

BDKs are usually equipped with such means of self-defense as an anti-aircraft missile system and artillery pieces, as well as means of fire support for the assault.

Large landing ship "Azov". Photo: RIA Novosti / Igor Zarembo

Submarines

These ships have significant advantages over surface ships. They are characterized by secrecy of maneuver and suddenness of impact on the enemy. The main purpose of submarines are fighting on the sea lanes of the enemy, performing tasks of all types of reconnaissance (including radar patrol) and firing rockets at any enemy targets.

In accordance with the armament, submarines are divided into missile carriers, missile-torpedo, torpedo, mine-torpedo and special-purpose - transport boats, radar patrol boats, etc.

Depending on the displacement, submarines are divided into subclasses:

• large submarines with a submerged displacement of up to 8200 tons and a maximum speed of 25 knots, equipped with a nuclear power plant, with a diving depth of up to 450 m;
• medium submarines with an underwater displacement of up to 1500 tons and a speed of 15-20 knots;
• small submarines with an underwater displacement of up to 550 tons. This subclass includes submarines with a displacement of up to 3 tons.

The composition of the Russian Navy includes:

• 13 nuclear submarines with ballistic missiles,
• 27 nuclear submarines with missile and torpedo armament,
• 19 diesel submarines,
• 8 nuclear submarines for special purposes,
• 1 diesel submarine for special purposes.

Over the next 20 years, the submarine forces of the Russian Navy will be based on fourth-generation submarines of the Borey, Yasen and Lada classes developed by the two leading Russian design bureaus Rubin and Malachite. And after 2030, we can talk about creating fifth-generation submarines and related weapons based on Bulava-type ballistic missiles and Caliber-type cruise missiles.

Submarines moored in the port of Vladivostok. Photo: RIA Novosti / Alexander Wilf

Navy (Navy; in some states referred to as the naval forces - Navy)

a type of armed forces designed to carry out strategic and operational tasks in the oceanic and maritime theaters of military operations. The tasks of the Navy are carried out both independently and jointly with other branches of the armed forces. In terms of its combat capabilities, the modern Navy is capable of destroying important enemy ground targets, destroying the forces of its fleet at sea and in bases, supporting ground forces in land theaters of operations, landing amphibious assaults and repulsing enemy amphibious landings, disrupting enemy ocean and sea communications and protecting their maritime communications. The Navy solves problems by conducting maritime operations.

The main properties of the Navy as a branch of the armed forces are the great striking power of its main branches of forces, the high maneuverability of ship and air groupings, the large spatial scope of operations, the ability to covertly deploy its submarines in combat areas and suddenly inflict powerful strikes on the enemy, a constant high combat readiness its parts and connections.

The Soviet Navy consists of branches of forces: submarines (see Submarine Forces of the Fleet), aviation of the navy (See. Aviation of the Navy), surface ships (see. surface forces of the fleet), coastal missile and artillery troops, and marines (see Marine Corps). The main branches of forces are submarines and aviation of the Navy. The Navy includes vessels of the auxiliary fleet, various services and special-purpose units. Submarines are divided into missile and torpedo, nuclear and diesel; they are armed with long-range underwater-launched missiles and homing torpedoes with nuclear and conventional warheads. Submarines are capable of hitting enemy ground targets, attack groups of his fleet, including nuclear missile submarines, ships of aircraft carrier strike formations, as well as transports and escort ships from convoys, from long distances. The aviation of the Navy includes: naval missile-carrying, anti-submarine, reconnaissance aviation and special-purpose aviation. Its main tasks are to destroy enemy submarines, surface ships and transports. Naval missile-carrying aviation is armed with long-range aircraft with various missiles and high flight speeds. Anti-submarine aviation consists of aircraft and helicopters equipped with the means to search for and destroy submarines. Surface ships are designed to search for and destroy submarines, to fight against surface ships, to land amphibious assault forces on the coast of the enemy, to detect and neutralize mines, and to perform other tasks. Surface warships and boats, depending on their purpose, are divided into classes: missile, anti-submarine, artillery-torpedo, anti-mine, landing, etc. Rocket ships (boats) are armed with guided missiles and are capable of destroying enemy surface ships and transports at sea. Anti-submarine ships are designed to search, pursue and destroy enemy submarines in coastal and remote areas of the sea. They are armed with anti-submarine helicopters, homing missiles, torpedoes, depth charges. Artillery and torpedo ships (cruisers, destroyers, etc.) are mainly used to protect ships and vessels on sea lanes, landing detachments at sea crossings, for fire support of landings during landing and other tasks. Anti-mine ships are designed to detect and destroy sea mines placed by the enemy in the navigation areas of their submarines, surface ships and transports. They are equipped with radio-electronic means capable of detecting bottom and anchor mines, and various trawls for clearing mines. Landing ships are used to transport by sea and land on the coast and islands of the enemy units and units of the marines and ground forces acting as amphibious assault forces. Coastal missile and artillery troops are designed to defend the coast of the country and important objects of the fleet (front) on the coast from attacks by enemy fleet forces from the sea. The marines are used for operations as part of amphibious assaults in conjunction with ground forces and independently, has special weapons and various floating military equipment. The main tasks of auxiliary vessels are to ensure the basing and combat activity of submarines and surface ships.

In organizational terms, the Soviet Navy consists of fleets (the Red Banner Northern, Pacific, Black Sea and twice Red Banner Baltic), the Red Banner Caspian Flotilla, naval aviation, marines and coastal artillery. At the head of the Navy is the Commander-in-Chief - the Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. The Main Headquarters and the Central Directorate of the Navy are subordinate to him. The post of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy (or the position corresponding to it) was held by V. M. Altvater (October 1918 - April 1919), E. A. Berens (May 1919 - February 1920), A. V. Nemitz (February 1920 - December 1921), E S. Pantserzhansky (December 1921 - December 1924), V. I. Zof (December 1924 - August 1926), R. A. Muklevich (August 1926 - July 1931), V. M. Orlov (July 1931 - July 1937) , M. V. Viktorov (August 1937 - January 1938), P. A. Smirnov (January - August 1938), M. P. Frinovsky (September 1938 - March 1939), N. G. Kuznetsov (April 1939 - January 1947 ), I. S. Yumashev (January 1947 - July 1951), N. G. Kuznetsov (July 1951 - January 1956), S. G. Gorshkov (since January 1956).

The navies of the socialist countries (PRB, GDR, Poland, SRR, etc.) consist of surface ships for various purposes, submarines, naval aviation, and marine infantry units.

The US, British and French navies include: strike forces (nuclear missile submarines and attack aircraft carriers), anti-submarine, escort and amphibious forces, naval aviation and marines. Nuclear missile submarines are armed with 16 Polaris or Poseidon missiles and are designed to destroy enemy ground targets at ranges up to 4600 km. Strike aircraft carriers are considered as the main means of the fleet in the fight against the naval enemy in local and limited wars and as a reserve of strategic forces in a nuclear war. Anti-submarine forces are designed to combat submarines and include: anti-submarine aircraft carriers carrying anti-submarine aircraft and helicopters; nuclear and diesel anti-submarine submarines armed with torpedoes and rocket-torpedoes; cruisers, frigates, destroyers and other ships. Ships with missile and anti-aircraft weapons are used for air defense of aircraft carrier strike formations, aircraft carrier anti-submarine groups, amphibious force formations at sea crossings, as well as for the protection of convoys. The amphibious forces are used for landing troops and consist of landing helicopter carriers, landing ships and ships for various purposes. Naval aviation includes carrier-based aviation and base aviation formations. Its main task is to fight against the forces of the enemy fleet, strike at ground targets and support landings and ground forces from the sea. The Marine Corps is intended for operations in independent amphibious operations of the fleet and in operations conducted jointly with the Air Force and ground forces, where it is used as the first assault echelon.

In organizational terms, the US Navy consists of two strategic fleets - the Atlantic and the Pacific, from which operational fleets (special purpose formations) are allocated to perform operational and strategic tasks in various regions of the globe. The overall direction of the US Navy is provided by the Secretary of the Navy, who reports to the Secretary of Defense. The Naval Headquarters is the operational management body of the US Navy. In the UK, the leadership of the Navy is performed by the Chief of Staff of the Navy - the First Sea Lord. The French Navy is headed by the Secretary of State for the Navy; operational management is entrusted to Naval Headquarters, whose chief in peacetime is the Assistant Secretary of State for the Navy, and in war time- Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.

The Navy of Italy, Germany, Canada, Turkey, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and other NATO member countries, as well as Sweden, the Commonwealth of Australia, Argentina, Brazil, the United Arab Republic, India, Israel, Pakistan, Japan, etc. includes diesel-powered submarines, combat surface ships, including (in some countries) armed with missiles, naval aviation, marines and support vessels.

The history of the emergence and development of the Navy goes back to ancient times, the fleet and navigation originated in ancient China, Egypt, Phenicia and other slave states. Initially, merchant ships were built, and then military ships (rowing ships), which were most developed in Ancient Greece and Rome (see Rowing fleet). In the Greek fleet in the 5th c. BC e. the main class of warship was the trireme. The most common types of ships of the Roman fleet in the 3rd-2nd centuries. BC e. were Trireme (the same as trireme) and pentera (ship large sizes with 5 rows of oars). In the 1st century BC e. in Rome, along with these types of ships, liburns became widespread - small ships with single-row placement of oars and greater maneuverability. As the main weapon, a ram was used (a blow by the bow of the ship against the enemy ship), as well as throwing machines - ballistas and catapults, installed in the bow of the ship and firing stones and incendiary shells. The fleet was used mainly to destroy the enemy fleet at sea. The basis of naval tactics was combat using throwing weapons and then boarding or ramming.

In the 7th century On the basis of the Roman liburna, the Venetians created an improved type of rowing ship - the galley (See Galley), which gradually replaced other types of rowing ships and by the end of the early Middle Ages became the main warship. From 10-11 centuries. in a number of Mediterranean countries, sailing ships called naves appear. Sailing ships, from which the navies of England, France, Holland, Denmark and Sweden originate, also appeared in the North Sea, where the Anglo-Saxons, Normans and Danes were engaged in navigation. The ships of the Normans, called drakars (dragons), reached a length of 30-40 m. They had direct sails as the main mover, oars as an auxiliary, located in one row of 16-32 oars from each side. The transition from rowing to sailing ships was basically completed by the middle of the 17th century. AT selected countries(for example, in Russia and Sweden) rowing warships existed until the 19th century. The great influence on the transition from the rowing fleet to the sailing fleet was geographical discoveries 15th-16th centuries The development of the sailing fleet accelerated significantly with the invention of gunpowder and the improvement of artillery, which gradually turned into the main weapon. sailing ships. The tactics of the first sailing fleets of the 15th-16th centuries. still differed little from the methods of conducting a rowing fleet battle.

In the 17th century in Great Britain, France, Spain and Holland, permanent navies are being created. For the construction of ships and the management of the fleet, shipyards were created and admiralties were established. Based on the experience of the 1st Anglo-Dutch War of 1652-54, a classification of ships was established for the first time and their tasks were determined. Depending on the displacement, the number of guns and the number of crew, the ships were divided into 6 ranks. Ships of the first three ranks, which had from 44 to 100 guns, were called battleships (See battleship). They were the main combat core of the fleet and were intended for artillery combat; ships of the 4th and 5th ranks were called Frigates and were used for reconnaissance and operations on sea lanes; ships of the 6th rank were used as messenger ships. In the course of the Anglo-Dutch wars, the combat organization of the sailing fleet took shape for the first time. It began to be subdivided into 3 squadrons, each of which, in turn, was divided into 3 divisions: vanguard, center and rearguard. The tactics of naval combat by sailing fleets was to, having built the ships in a wake column, take a windward position in relation to the enemy and, approaching him, destroy his ships with the fire of their artillery. When the artillery did not achieve decisive success, the Fireships were brought into the battle, sometimes the battle reached boarding skirmishes.

In Russia, the birth of the Navy dates back to the 6th-7th centuries. However, until the 18th century. the fleet did not receive much development (see Russian Navy). The creation of a regular fleet began in 1696, when, by decree of Peter I, the construction of the Azov fleet began. During the Northern War of 1700-21 for a relatively short term a strong navy was created in Russia, which played an important role in winning victory over Sweden. Russia has moved into the ranks of first-class maritime powers.

The rapid development of capitalism in the second half of the 18th century. led to the accelerated development of fleets. Great Britain in the 18th century thanks to the rapidly developing fleet in the fight against Holland and Spain, the fleet turned into a huge colonial empire; France took over large overseas territories. Wars between Great Britain and France were fought not only in the European theater, but also covered the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The development of capitalist production, military technology and science, numerous inventions and discoveries in the field of metallurgy and shipbuilding in the 18th century. made it possible to significantly improve the design of the hulls of warships, their sailing and artillery armament. The displacement of large ships has increased from 1-2 thousand tons. t up to 3-4 thousand t. At the same time, the number of guns on battleships increased to 120-135. Bronze guns were replaced with cast iron ones, the rate of fire of naval artillery increased to one shot in 3 min, firing range - from 300 to 600 m. AT North America D. Bushnell built a submarine, which in 1777 tried to attack the English sailing ship Eagle, but due to the technical imperfection of the boat, the attack failed.

At the beginning of the 19th century steam warships appeared. The first experimental steamship "Clermont" (displacement 150 t, machine engine 24 HP sec., speed up to 5 knots) was built by R. Fulton in America in 1807. In the Russian fleet, the first armed steamer Izhora was built in 1826. In the 1830s. in a number of countries, including Russia (1836), steamship-frigates were created (displacement up to 1400 t, machine power 250-300 l. sec., speed 8-9 knots, armament: 20-28 small-caliber guns or 16 large-caliber guns). Steam-frigates, along with sailing ships, were part of the military fleets and were used for reconnaissance, as messenger ships and for towing sailing ships. With the invention in the 1st half of the 19th century. propeller began to build ships of the line with steam power plants. At the same time, the fleets of some countries (France, Russia, etc.) received bombing guns with a caliber of 68-80 pounds (200-220 mm), which fired explosive bombs and, in addition to destroying the side, caused severe fires on ships. In the 1st half of the 19th century. mine weapons were adopted by the Russian fleet.

As a result of experience Crimean War 1853-56 all countries in the 2nd half of the 19th century. switched to the construction of a steam armored fleet with armor thickness up to 610 mm. Calibers of smooth-bore naval artillery increased to 460 mm. The development of mine weapons and the appearance in the 70s of the 1970s had a great influence on the construction of the fleet. 19th century self-propelled mine, called a torpedo, which made it necessary to increase the survivability and unsinkability of ships by dividing the hull into compartments. The theoretical basis for solving this problem was the work of the outstanding Russian scientists S. O. Makarov a and A. N. Krylov a. New ships became the basis of the fleet's strike power - Battleships With powerful artillery and strong armor. Initially, these were ships that had a wooden or iron hull protected by an armor belt (up to 150 mm thick). mm), passing along the entire side of the ship. Artillery battleship consisted of up to 30 guns. In 1861 the first Russian iron armored ship, Opyt, was built. Later, casemate, barbet and turret battleships were created. In the 70s. 19th century abandoned the use of sails on armored ships as an auxiliary propulsion and switched to the construction of sparless (without sails) seaworthy battleships. One of the first such ships was the Russian battleship Peter the Great (See Peter the Great) (commissioned in 1877). The final stage in the development of an armored ship in Russia and other major maritime powers was the creation in the 1890s. squadron battleship (displacement up to 12 thousand tons) t, speed 16-18 knots, main artillery - four 305 -mm guns, medium-caliber artillery - most often 6 or more guns 152 -mm caliber, armor belt 300-450 mm). These ships had great survivability and unsinkability. For reconnaissance and operations on communications, the Cruiser a was built, which had somewhat less armament and armor protection than squadron battleships, but had a higher speed. The development of mine-torpedo weapons led to the appearance in the second half of the 19th century. new classes of ships - minelayers and destroyers (See Destroyer). The change in the material and technical base of the fleet required the creation of a fundamentally new tactics of naval combat. The first fundamental work in this area was the book of the Russian admiral G. I. Butakov "New foundations of steamship tactics" (1863). Admiral S. O. Makarov made a major contribution to the development of the foundations of the tactics of using mine-torpedo weapons.

Under the influence of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, battleships were recognized as the decisive force in the struggle at sea in many fleets of the world, the improvement of which went towards increasing the number of main artillery barrels, strengthening armor and increasing speed. The first ship that met these requirements was built in Great Britain (1905-06) and received the name "Dreadnought". In the future, battleships of this type began to be called dreadnoughts, and with their development, the construction of squadron battleships ceased. The best battleships of that time were Russian battleships of the "Sevastopol" type (1914), on which 4 three-gun turrets with 12 305 guns were installed for the first time -mm caliber. The linear arrangement of the main artillery adopted on this ship was tactically more advantageous than the linear-rhombic arrangement on the Dreadnought. For reconnaissance, combating enemy destroyers and operations on maritime communications light cruisers were built in many countries. In connection with the increased role of torpedo weapons, the class has undergone major changes. destroyers. The Russian-built destroyer Novik (1913) significantly outperformed foreign destroyers in terms of artillery and torpedo armament, survivability, and speed. The rapid development of mine weapons required the creation of minelayers. In 1908-12 Russia began building the world's first minesweepers. In foreign fleets, small-draft merchant and fishing vessels were adapted for minesweeping. Thanks to the great successes achieved in improving the internal combustion engine, electric motors, batteries and periscopes, the construction of submarines was further developed, which in most countries were intended to combat enemy surface ships in coastal waters and for reconnaissance. In the Russian fleet, they were also used for covert laying of minefields off the coast of the enemy. In 1914-15, according to the project of the Russian designer D. P. Grigorovich, the world's first military seaplane was built. As part of the Black Sea Fleet, air transports were created, each of which could receive up to 7 seaplanes. The armament of the ships has undergone significant changes: the rate of fire of large guns has increased (up to 2 shots per 1 min) and firing range, anti-submarine weapons began to be created, and radio was used. The military doctrines of the maritime powers did not undergo significant changes, and before the start of World War I, as in the era of sailing fleets, their main position was considered to be the conquest of dominance at sea through a general battle of the main forces of the fleets. In Russia, much attention was paid to the conduct of a defensive battle on a previously prepared mine and artillery position.

The First World War of 1914-18 involved hundreds of surface ships, submarines, and, at its last stage, aircraft. Due to the sharply increased threat from the use of mines, submarines and other means, battleships were used extremely limitedly. Their development followed the path of increasing the artillery of the main caliber and the thickness of the armor belt (up to 406 mm), the number and caliber of anti-aircraft guns increased, the speed was increased to 25 knots, the displacement was up to 35 thousand tons. t. battlecruisers, which had weak reservations, did not justify their purpose, and their construction was stopped. During the war, light cruisers were widely used, the displacement of which by the end of the war increased to 8 thousand tons. t, and speed up to 30 knots or more. Destroyers were recognized as universal-purpose ships, which became the most numerous in the fleets of the warring states. Their displacement was increased to 2 thousand tons. t, speed up to 38 knots. Minelayers and minesweepers were further developed. Special types of minesweepers appeared: squadron high-speed minesweepers, basic minesweepers-searchers and minesweepers. An important role in combat operations at sea was played by submarines, which turned into an independent branch of the Navy, capable of successfully solving not only tactical, but also operational tasks. A classification of submarines was established, which were divided into large, medium and small; transport submarines were created. The cruising range of submarines was about 5500 miles, the surface speed was about 18, and the underwater speed was 9-10 knots, the number of torpedo tubes increased to 6, there were 1-2 guns of caliber from 20 to 152 in service. mm. Submarines were used especially effectively for operations on communications; during the war they sank about 6,000 ships. The serious threat from submarines required measures to be taken to protect large surface ships on their return to base, on passage by sea and in battle. During the war, new classes of ships appeared: aircraft carriers, patrol ships, torpedo boats. The first aircraft carrier with a landing deck was converted in the UK from the unfinished cruiser Furies and could take over 4 reconnaissance aircraft and 6 fighters. For the first time, aviation was used in military operations at sea. She conducted reconnaissance, bombed ships and fleet bases, and corrected the artillery fire of ships. Along with bombs, torpedoes became the weapons of the aircraft. The Navy began to turn into an association of heterogeneous forces - surface ships, submarines and aviation, with the dominant position of surface forces.

In the period between the 1st and 2nd World Wars, the construction of fleets in the capitalist states, despite negotiations and agreements between the maritime powers on some limitation of the naval arms race, continued. In 1936, the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were launched in Nazi Germany, this was a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles, which was condoned by the Western powers. With a displacement of 37 thousand tons t these ships had nine 280 -mm guns in three-gun turrets, armor belt thickness at the waterline 320 mm and a speed of 31 knots. In 1939, Germany launched two Bismarck-class battleships (displacement 45,000 tons). t, eight 381 -mm guns, armor thickness 330 mm and a speed of 30 knots). In 1936-1938, 6 Washington-class battleships (displacement 35,000 tons) were laid down in the USA. t, nine 406 -mm guns, armor thickness 406 mm and a speed of 30 knots). In the UK at the same time, construction began on 5 battleships of the King George V type (displacement 35,000 tons). t, artillery of the main caliber - ten 356 -mm guns, armor thickness 406 mm). Further improvement of battleships in the USA, Great Britain, Japan, Germany and other capitalist countries went along the line of improving their tactical and technical data. Obsolete or unfinished battleships, cruisers and merchant ships were rebuilt into aircraft carriers. In 1937-38 Great Britain, Japan and the USA switched to serial construction of aircraft carriers. The standard displacement of these ships ranged from 17 to 22.6 thousand tons. t, speed 30-34 knots. Such ships were the American Enterprise and Yorktown, the Japanese Soryu and Hiryu, and the English Ark Royal. By the beginning of World War II (1939–45), the British Navy had 7 aircraft carriers, the US 5, France 1, and Japan 6. Cruisers, destroyers, and torpedo boats were intensively built. Submarine construction slowed down. All fleets had bomber, mine-torpedo, reconnaissance and fighter aircraft. The artillery and torpedo weapons of ships have received significant development, new non-contact mines, new anti-submarine weapons, radar and sonar have been created. The military doctrines of the capitalist powers underestimated the developing forces and means of combat at sea - aviation, submarines, and the new methods of combat operations arising in connection with this.

Despite the fact that the outcome of World War II was decided on land, and primarily on the Soviet-German front, the scope armed struggle at sea, compared with all previous wars, has increased significantly. More than 6 thousand ships and vessels and about 14 thousand aircraft took part in it. Almost the entire World Ocean has become the arena of the armed struggle of the fleets. During the war years, 36 major naval operations were carried out. The warring parties lost 2017 ships of large and medium displacement. During the course of the war, battleships lost their former importance, giving way to aircraft carriers as the main strike surface forces of the fleet. Battleships and cruisers became support forces for aircraft carriers. The use of carrier-based aviation made it possible to conduct naval battles in conditions when opposing groups of ships were several hundred miles apart. At such distances, destroyers could not use their torpedo weapons for their intended purpose, at the same time they took on a significant part of the tasks of protecting aircraft carriers, landing troops, convoys and protecting the fleet's basing system. A prominent place in the fighting was occupied by submarines, which were used mainly to combat enemy shipping. Only in fascist Germany in 1939-45 1175 submarines were built. To combat them, surface ships, aircraft, submarines and mine weapons were used. big development during the war, received naval aviation, which turned into an independent branch of the fleet. Carrier aviation played a special role in combat operations, the use of which led to the emergence of battles between aircraft carrier forces and made it possible to spread the air threat to the forces of the enemy fleet in almost all areas of the World Ocean. Groupings of surface forces, covered by carrier-based fighters, were able to approach the enemy coast. Joint actions of the forces of the fleet with the ground forces were used. The number of landing operations has increased. During the war years, the allies landed more than 600 large landings, of which 6 were of a strategic scale. The largest was the Normandy landing operation of 1944, in which 860 ships and over 14 thousand aircraft took part, which ensured the landing of three combined arms armies of the American-British troops. Radar has become widespread. Air defense ships were used as part of the fleets. In naval operations, the great importance of secrecy in preparing operations, thorough reconnaissance, swiftness of maneuver, and ensuring air supremacy in the area of ​​​​operation was confirmed in practice. World War II confirmed the conclusion that the goals of armed struggle at sea should be achieved by navies, consisting of heterogeneous forces, with close interaction between them.

In the post-war period, in the construction of the navies of the capitalist states, primarily the United States and Great Britain, the main efforts were directed to the creation of nuclear missile submarines armed with ballistic missiles, as well as aircraft carrier aircraft and strike aircraft carriers. Surface ships began to be equipped with anti-aircraft and anti-submarine missiles of various classes, and nuclear submarines - with medium-range missiles (2800-5000 km) for strategic purposes. Carrier-based strike aircraft are assigned great tasks in combat operations at sea in a general nuclear war and in limited or local wars. The saturation of ships and aircraft of the naval aviation with various radio-electronic means has sharply increased. There is a qualitative renewal of the Navy aircraft fleet. Much attention is paid to the development of forces and means for combating submarines. In this regard, the importance of anti-submarine and amphibious transport helicopters in the composition of the fleet increased, new classes and types of ships appeared (amphibious and anti-submarine helicopter carriers, etc.). The development of the German Navy has significantly intensified due to the construction of submarines, missile ships and boats, anti-submarine ships, landing craft, and the purchase of aircraft and helicopters for the Navy.

The Soviet Navy, the successor and continuer of the best traditions of the Russian fleet, was created and developed together with all the Soviet Armed Forces. The decree on the creation of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Fleet was signed by V. I. Lenin on January 29 (February 11), 1918. On the instructions of Lenin, on February 22-27, 1918, Soviet sailors transferred Soviet warships from Reval to Helsingfors, which Soviet Russia, under the Brest Peace Treaty, is obliged was withdrawn from the western part of the Gulf of Finland to its eastern part or immediately disarmed. In March - April 1918, the ships made the transition to Kronstadt and Petrograd. It was an unprecedented Ice Campaign in history, which made it possible for Soviet Russia to preserve the main core of the Baltic Fleet (236 ships and auxiliary vessels, including 6 battleships, 5 cruisers, 54 destroyers, 12 submarines, 5 minelayers, 6 minesweepers, 11 guard ships).

During the years of the Civil War and the military intervention of 1918-20, the Baltic Fleet defended the approaches to Petrograd from the sea, repulsed the attempts of the English fleet to break into the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland to support the White Guards, supported the Red Army units on the coast with artillery fire, ensured the rapid suppression of the White Guard rebellion in the forts " Krasnaya Gorka and Gray Horse (June 1919), which were key points in the defense of Petrograd from the sea. In connection with the threat of seizure of the ships of the Black Sea Fleet by the German invaders who invaded Ukraine, the battleship "Free Russia" and 9 destroyers were sunk by order of V. I. Lenin on June 18, 1918 near Novorossiysk; part of the ships went to the Sea of ​​Azov and formed the core of the Azov military flotilla, and part was captured by the invaders. From the ships of the predominantly Baltic Fleet during the years of the Civil War, more than 30 sea, lake and river flotillas were created. The largest of them - the Volga, Caspian, Dnieper, Severo-Dvinsk, Onega and Azov military flotillas - together with the Red Army troops fought against the enemy's river and lake forces, disrupted his transportation and crossings. In 1918-20, over 7600 mines were laid on the seas, lakes and rivers, on which 23 enemy warships and auxiliary ships were blown up and sunk. More than 75 thousand sailors were sent to land fronts. During the Civil War, elements of Soviet naval art were born (See Naval Art).

In March 1921, the 10th Congress of the RCP (b) decided to revive and strengthen the Navy. The personnel of the ships began to be completed mainly from factory workers. Under the Political Directorate of the Red Army, a Naval Department was created to direct party political work in the navy. The restoration of the ships began. In 1922-23, the active ships of the Baltic Fleet included the battleship Petropavlovsk, the cruiser Aurora, the training ship Okean, a separate division consisting of 8 destroyers, a separate division of 9 submarines, a minesweeper detachment of 20 minesweepers, Finnish-Ladoga border guard detachment consisting of 17 patrol ships and other ships. In 1923, the cruiser Comintern (formerly the Memory of Mercury), the destroyers Nezamozhnik and Petrovsky, 2 submarines, and a number of other ships were introduced into the Black Sea Fleet. Simultaneously with the restoration of the naval composition of the fleet, the training of qualified command personnel was carried out. In 1922, the Fleet Command Staff School was reorganized into the Naval School (now the MV Frunze Higher Naval School). In the summer of 1922, the mechanical, shipbuilding and electrical departments of this school were transformed into the Naval Engineering School (now the Higher Naval Engineering School named after F. E. Dzerzhinsky). In 1923, the Higher Courses for Naval Officers were opened. The training of highly qualified personnel began at the Naval Academy.

By 1928, a significant part of the ships had been repaired, a partial modernization of battleships was carried out, destroyers were restored and modernized, and naval bases were restored. During the years of the pre-war five-year plans of 1929-40, the Navy received hundreds of new first-class ships. Strengthened the Baltic and Black Sea fleets. By decision of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, two new fleets were created - the Pacific (1932) and the Northern (1933). In 1938 Communist Party a program for the construction of a large sea and ocean fleet was adopted. The People's Commissariat of the Navy was formed in 1937. New naval schools have been set up in Sevastopol, Baku, and Vladivostok. Combat regulations and manuals for the Navy were re-developed.

On the eve of the Great Patriotic War 1941-45 the Navy included about 1000 warships of various classes, including 3 battleships, 7 cruisers, 59 leaders and destroyers; 218 submarines, 269 torpedo boats, more than 2 thousand aircraft of naval aviation. The basing system of the Navy has been significantly improved. From the first days of the war, the Navy reliably protected sea communications, ensured the evacuation of the population, industrial enterprises and the supply of troops blocked by the enemy from land. The Northern Fleet established direct contact with the Allied navies (Great Britain, USA) and provided external communications that connected the northern ports of the USSR with their ports. To ensure the movement of ships in the Arctic and, in particular, along the Northern Sea Route, the White Sea Flotilla was created. Many seaside bridgeheads and naval bases were held for a long time by the joint efforts of the ground forces and the navy. The Northern Fleet (commander A. G. Golovko), together with the troops of the 14th Army, fought on the distant approaches to the Kola Bay and Murmansk. In 1942, he was entrusted with the defense of the Sredny and Rybachy peninsulas. The Baltic Fleet (commander V.F. Tributs) participated in the defense of Liepaja, Tallinn, the Moonsund Islands, the Hanko Peninsula, the Oranienbaum bridgehead, the islands of the Vyborg Bay and the northern coast of Lake Ladoga. The fleet played an important role in the heroic defense of Leningrad. The Black Sea Fleet (commander F. S. Oktyabrsky, from April 1943 L. A. Vladimirsky, from March 1944 F. S. Oktyabrsky), together with the ground forces, carried out operations to defend Odessa, Sevastopol, Novorossiysk, and participated in the defense of the North Caucasus. On high-water rivers and lakes, river and lake flotillas were used to create defensive lines: Azov, from which detachments of ships were allocated for operations on the river. Don and Kuban; Danube, Pinsk, Chudskaya, Ladoga, Onega, Volga, detachment of ships on Lake Ilmen. The Ladoga flotilla played a big role in providing communication through Lake Ladoga (“the road of life”) to the besieged Leningrad. In 1943 the Dnieper and in 1944 the Danube river flotillas were recreated. The first (relocated in the Oder basin) took part in Berlin operation. The Danube Flotilla fought in the river basin and participated in the liberation of Belgrade, Budapest and Vienna. During the war, the Navy landed more than 110 landings. The Pacific Fleet (commander I. S. Yumashev) and the Red Banner Amur Flotilla (commander N. V. Antonov) in August - September 1945 participated in the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army, in the liberation of Korea, Manchuria, South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.

During the war, the Soviet Navy sank 1,245 warships and auxiliary ships and over 1,300 enemy transport ships. For outstanding military merits in the Great Patriotic War, more than 350 thousand sailors were awarded orders and medals, 513 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and 7 people were awarded the title twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

In the post-war period, the Soviet Navy developed taking into account combat experience. The advantage was given to the development of large surface ships. There was also the construction of diesel submarines capable of operating at great distances from their bases. The aircraft fleet of naval aviation was updated due to the arrival of jet aircraft that replaced piston aircraft. At the same time, new combat technical means and weapons were being developed. In the early 1950s nuclear charges for missiles and sea torpedoes were created, missiles designed to destroy ground and air targets were successfully improved, the first shipboard nuclear power plants were developed, and the construction of nuclear submarines began in 1953. All this allowed the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Soviet government to determine new directions for the development of the Navy and set a course for the construction of a qualitatively new, ocean-going, nuclear-missile fleet. The ships were equipped nuclear missile weapons, the latest electronic means. Nuclear submarines for various purposes, missile ships, boats, anti-submarine ships capable of successfully combating modern high-speed and deep-sea submarines were created. To solve special problems, surface ships of various classes have been created. Naval aviation received more advanced jet planes capable of carrying long-range missiles over long distances. The combat strength of aviation was replenished with new anti-submarine aircraft and helicopters. Coastal rifled artillery began to be replaced by missile systems, capable of reliably hitting naval targets on the distant approaches to the coast. Along with the technical development of the Navy, the forms and methods of its operational-strategic use are being improved.

S. G. Gorshkov.

The Russian Navy was created to ensure the security of the state's maritime borders and demonstrate military power in the international arena. The possibility of political influence in the world depends on how seriously other countries will take our fleet. That is why the country's leadership has always paid special attention to the development of the fleet.

History reference

A great contribution to the development of the fleet of the Russian Empire was made by Peter I, who was a great admirer of the sea and ships. During his reign, the first large warships, equipped at that time with modern weapons, appeared. Thanks to this, Russia managed to defend many of its lands, both from the north and from the south.

During the existence of the Soviet Union, a large number of heavy warships were built, many of which continue to perform their functions today.

Structure and deployment of the Russian Navy

Submarines

Submarines are divided into the following types:

• Multi-purpose diesel-electric submarines - types "Halibut", "Varshavyanka" and "Lada" - currently 18 ships are in service. They carry Caliber cruise missiles, ZM-54 and Oniks anti-ship missiles, mine-torpedo weapons.
• Strategic missile submarines of the Kalmar and Delfin types - 10 units, which are equipped with R-29R and R-29RM ballistic missiles, SET-65, SAET-60M and 53-65K torpedoes, Vodopad PLUR.
• Nuclear torpedo submarines, including those equipped with cruise missiles, types: "Pike", "Shark", "Barracuda", "Condor", "Antey", "Pike-B" and "Ash". Total ships in service - 17 units. In service are cruise and anti-ship missiles "Caliber", S-10 "Granat" and "Onyx", self-guided torpedoes USET-80.
• SSBN "Borrey" - 3 ships, including solid-propellant ballistic missiles "Bulava", torpedoes 533 mm and 324 mm, cruise missiles "Onyx" and "Caliber", etc.

destroyers

As part of Russian fleet there are 6 escort destroyers of the Sarych project, which carry the following weapons:

• Missiles P-270 "Mosquito", SAM "Hurricane";
• Anti-submarine RBU-1000;
• Torpedoes SET-65.

Battleships

The last battleships were in service with the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 20th century, with the advent of Soviet power this species vessels were not produced due to lack of need.

Frigates

Russian frigates of project 22350 are under construction. At the moment, 8 ships have been ordered, 2 of which have already been launched and are being tested. Planned weapons: ZRAK "Broadsword", anti-ship missiles ZM55, air defense systems "Redut", PLR 91R2, PTZ "Planet-NK" and others.

boats

Speaking of missile boats, which are also called light corvettes, we mean types 12411T "Lightning-1" and 12411 "Lightning-1". The total number is 26 units. Missile weapons includes P-15 Termit anti-ship missile launchers, P-120 Moskit anti-ship missile launchers, Strela-3 MANPADS and Kortik air defense systems.

Minesweepers

Russian minesweepers are gradually leaving the armament of Russia, as their functions are performed by modern submarines. The ships currently located include the RBU-1200 installations, the Igla and Strela-3 air defense systems.

Corvettes

Corvettes of project 20380 began to be produced in 2001, at the moment there are 5 ships in service, which include the Uran SCRC, the Kortik-M air defense system, and the Redut air defense system. At the end of 2018, it is planned to commission an amphibious corvette of project 20385.

The Russian Navy is a branch of the Armed Forces designed to provide military security states from oceanic (maritime) directions, protection of the strategic interests of the Russian Federation in oceanic, maritime areas (zones).

The Russian Navy consists of four fleets (Northern, Pacific, Baltic and Black Sea) and the Caspian flotilla and includes the types of forces:

• submarine forces;
• surface forces;
• naval aviation;
• coastal troops (motorized rifle, tank formations and units, marines and coastal rocket and artillery troops);
• units and subdivisions of support and maintenance.

The basis of the Northern and Pacific Fleets are strategic missile submarines and multi-purpose nuclear submarines, diesel submarines, aircraft carriers, rocket-artillery, landing ships and boats, naval, missile-carrying and anti-submarine aviation.

The basis of the Baltic and Black Sea Fleets and the Caspian Flotilla are multi-purpose surface ships, mine-sweeping ships and boats, diesel submarines, coastal missile and artillery troops and attack aircraft.

submarine force are designed to destroy enemy ground targets, search for and destroy enemy submarines, strike at groups of surface ships, including aircraft carriers, ship strike groups, landing detachments and convoys, both independently and in cooperation with other forces of the fleet.

surface forces are designed to search for and destroy submarines, to fight surface ships, to land amphibious assault forces on the enemy coast, to detect and neutralize sea mines, and to perform a number of other tasks.

Naval aviation designed to destroy ship groupings, convoys, enemy landings at sea and at bases; to search for and destroy enemy submarines, to disrupt its surveillance and control systems in maritime theaters; to cover groupings of their ships, conduct reconnaissance and issue target designations in the interests of using weapons by naval forces.

Coastal troops are intended for operations in amphibious assaults, defense of the country's coast and important objects of the fleet (front) on the coast and coastal communications from attacks by enemy fleet forces.

Parts and divisions of support and maintenance designed to ensure the basing and combat activities of the submarine and surface forces of the fleet.

Armament and military equipment of the Navy

Surface ships are subdivided into aircraft-carrying, rocket-artillery, anti-submarine, mine-sweeping, and landing ships. Heavy aircraft carrier cruiser project 1143.5 "Admiral N. G. Kuznetsov" - designed to impart combat stability to strategic missile submarines, groups of surface ships and naval missile-carrying aircraft. Project 1144.2 heavy missile cruiser "Pyotr Veliky" is designed to destroy large enemy surface targets and provide integrated air defense and anti-submarine defense of warship formations. Project 956 destroyer "Fearless" - designed to launch missile attacks on enemy surface ships, provide fire support to landing forces, air and anti-ship defense of ships and transports. Submarines are subdivided into strategic missile submarines, multi-purpose submarines, and special-purpose submarines. Project 941 "Typhoon" heavy strategic missile submarine - Designed for long-range missile strikes against large military-industrial facilities. Project 667.BDRM strategic missile submarine - designed to deliver missile strikes against large enemy military-industrial facilities. Project 971 multi-purpose nuclear submarine - designed to strike at ship groups and coastal targets. Missile submarine cruiser with cruise missiles of project 949 - designed for missile strikes against ship groups and coastal facilities.

conclusions

1. The navy of the Russian Federation is intended mainly to strike at important enemy targets and defeat its naval forces in the oceanic (maritime) theater of operations.
2. The modern Navy of the Russian Federation has nuclear missile power, high mobility of ships and air groups, high autonomy, and the ability to operate under any conditions. weather conditions in various regions of the oceans.
3. The Navy of the Russian Federation consists of branches of forces: underwater, surface, naval aviation, coastal missile and artillery troops and marines.
4. The Russian Navy consists of four fleets (Northern, Pacific, Baltic and Black Sea) and the Caspian Flotilla and includes the types of forces: submarine forces, surface forces, naval aviation, coastal troops (motorized rifle, tank formations and units, marines and coastal rocket and artillery troops ), parts and subdivisions of support and maintenance.

Questions

1. What is the main mission of the Navy?
2. What types of forces are part of the Navy of the Russian Federation?
3. What are the main tasks that the submarine forces of the Navy of the Russian Federation are called upon to perform?
4. What famous landing operations were carried out by the Marine Corps during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945?

Tasks

1. Prepare a report on the topic "The main types of weapons and military equipment of the Navy."
2. Pick up materials in the library and prepare a message on one of the topics: "History of the Marine Corps of Russia", "Admiral Fedor Ushakov - an outstanding naval commander."
3. Using historical literature and the Internet, write an essay on the topic “The use of the marines in the defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855. and during the Great Patriotic War in 1941-1942.