BALTIC FLEET, operational-strategic association of the Navy in Russia and the USSR. It was created during the Northern War of 1700-21 after Russian troops established themselves at the mouth of the Neva River, returning Russia access to the Baltic Sea. The construction of ships for the Baltic Fleet began at the shipyards on the Syas River (1702), the Svir River and in Lodeynoye Pole (1703). The first base of the Baltic Fleet is St. Petersburg (since 1724, Kronstadt has become the main base). In 1703, the first ship entered the Baltic Fleet - the frigate Shtandart (the first sailing battleship Poltava, became part of the Baltic Fleet in 1712). Ships for the Baltic Fleet were built at the Admiralty shipyard in St. Petersburg, as well as at other Baltic shipyards, on the White Sea (Solombala shipyard) and were bought abroad. The Baltic Fleet assisted the Russian troops during the siege of Vyborg in 1710, the capture of Revel, Pernov and Riga in 1710, Helsingfors and Abo in 1713. He played a decisive role in the occupation of the Moonsund Islands by Russian troops in 1710 and Finland in 1712-13. He defeated the Swedes in the Battle of Gangut in 1714, the Battle of Ezel in 1719 and the Battle of Grengam in 1720, which allowed Russia to establish itself in the Baltic Sea and become a major maritime power. The actions of Russian ships and galleys in 1719-21 off the coast of Sweden influenced her willingness to conclude the Treaty of Nystadt in 1721. The forces of the Baltic Fleet were commanded by naval commanders F.M. Apraksin, N.F. Golovin, M.M. Golitsyn (1675-1730), N.A. Senyavin. In 1721, the Baltic Fleet included 32 battleships, about 100 other sailing ships and up to 400 rowing ships. Until the creation of the Black Sea Fleet in 1783, the Baltic Fleet was the only fleet of the Russian Empire.

During the Seven Years' War of 1756-63, the Baltic Fleet took part in the capture of Memel and Kolberg. During the Archipelago expeditions, the squadrons of the Baltic Fleet under the command of G. A. Spiridov, S. K. Greig, D. N. Senyavin, L. P. Geiden and others operated in the Mediterranean Sea, defeated the Turkish fleet in the Battle of Chesme in 1770 , the battle of Athos in 1807 and the battle of Navarino in 1827. In the Russian-Swedish war of 1788-90, the Baltic Fleet repulsed the attack of the Swedish fleet, which sought to capture Kronstadt and St. Petersburg, and won the Battle of Gogland in 1788, the Battle of Rochensalm in 1789 (see the Battle of Rochensalm), the Battle of Revel in 1790, the Battle of Krasnogorsk 1790 and the battle of Vyborg in 1790 (but was defeated in the second battle of Rochensalm in 1790). In 1826, the first armed steamship entered the Baltic Fleet, but until the middle of the 19th century it was based on sailing ships (26 battleships, 9 frigates), there were also 9 steam frigates, etc. In the beginning - the middle of the 19th century, ships of the Baltic Fleet participated in long-distance and round-the-world voyages, during which a number of geographical discoveries were made and knowledge in the field of oceanography was significantly expanded (expeditions of I.F. Kruzenshtern and Yu.F. Lisyansky, F.F. Bellingshausen, M.P. Lazarev, F.P. Litke , O. E. Kotzebue, G. I. Nevelsky and others).

During the Crimean War of 1853-56, the Baltic Fleet thwarted the attempts of the Anglo-French fleet equipped with steam ships to capture Kronstadt, Sveaborg, Helsingfors and blockade St. Petersburg from the sea. For the first time, Russian sailors successfully used minefields from anchor mines.

Since 1861, the construction of a steam armored fleet began in Russia for the Baltic Fleet. In 1877, the first seaworthy battleship Peter the Great entered the Baltic Fleet. By the end of the 19th century, the Baltic Fleet had 9 battleships, 20 coastal defense battleships and 11 armored cruisers. Since 1903, submarines (submarines) have entered service with the Baltic Fleet.

During the Russian-Japanese war of 1904-05, the 2nd and 3rd Pacific squadrons were formed from the Baltic Fleet, which made the most difficult transition of 18 thousand miles from the Baltic to the Far East, but then defeated in the Battle of Tsushima in 1905. The Baltic Fleet was restored during the Naval reforms of the 1900-10s. In 1912, aviation appeared in service with the Baltic Fleet.

During the First World War of 1914-18, the Baltic Fleet acted on the enemy's communications, supported ground forces, defended Petrograd from the sea, and carried out large-scale minefield operations, during which about 35,000 mines were delivered. The main base of the fleet was Helsingfors. In November 1914, the first Russian battleships-dreadnoughts of the Sevastopol type were included in the fleet. The Baltic Fleet carried out the Irben operation of 1915, participated in the Moonsund operation of 1917.

The sailors of the Baltic Fleet played a prominent role in revolutionary events, including the October Revolution of 1917.

Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of January 29 (February 11), 1918 included the Baltic Fleet in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Fleet. In connection with the advance of the German troops to Tallinn, and then the Finnish troops to Helsingfors, the Ice Campaign of the Baltic Fleet of 1918 was made. In 1918-19, the Baltic Fleet fought against the English fleet, the white North-Western Army. A significant part of the personnel of the Baltic Fleet participated in the Kronstadt uprising of 1921. In April 1921, the Baltic Fleet was transformed into the Naval Forces of the Baltic Sea (since 1935 - the Red Banner Baltic Fleet).

In the interwar period, new ships, submarines, aircraft entered service with the Baltic Fleet, the Air Force of the Baltic Fleet was created, air defense and coastal defense (BO) were organized. Part of the personnel and ships of the Baltic Fleet became the basis for the creation of the Northern Fleet and the Pacific Fleet.

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, the Baltic Fleet included 2 battleships, 2 cruisers, 2 destroyer leaders, 19 destroyers, 48 ​​torpedo boats, 69 submarines, 656 aircraft, defense and air defense formations, a marine infantry brigade (MP). The main base of the fleet was Tallinn. During the war, the Baltic Fleet, together with the ground forces, defended naval bases and coastal areas, including during the defense of Tallinn in 1941, the defense of the Moonsund Islands in 1941 and the defense of Hanko in 1941, acted on enemy communications. In August 1941, long-range bombers of the Baltic Fleet launched the first strikes on Berlin from the island of Saaremaa. The Baltic Fleet suffered heavy losses in ships and personnel in August 1941 during the Tallinn crossing to Kronstadt. Together with the ground forces, the fleet participated in the Battle of Leningrad in 1941-44, provided transportation on Lake Ladoga, took part in operations to break through (1943), and then completely lift the blockade (1944) of Leningrad. The Baltic Fleet carried out the Moonsund operation in 1944. The actions of the ships and aviation of the Baltic Fleet to support the ground forces and disrupt the enemy's sea communications in 1944-45 contributed to the defeat of the enemy on the Karelian Isthmus, in the Baltic States, East Prussia and East Pomerania. For military merit, over 20 ships and units of the Baltic Fleet became Guards, 58 were awarded orders. Over 100,000 Baltics have been awarded orders and medals, 137 have been awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

In February 1946, the Baltic Fleet was divided into the 4th and 8th fleets (in December 1955 it was restored to its previous organization). The Baltic Fleet was able to be based in the ports of the GDR and Poland. Since the 1950s, the Baltic Fleet, like the entire Soviet Navy, has been equipped with qualitatively new military equipment. The Baltic Fleet included diesel missile submarines, missile ships and missile-carrying aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons, as well as diesel torpedo submarines, destroyers, anti-submarine ships, missile boats, minesweepers, landing ships (including hovercraft), other medium and small craft, aircraft of various types.

By the beginning of 1991, the Baltic Fleet was the largest navy in the Baltic Sea region, had 232 warships (including 32 submarines), 328 aircraft and 70 helicopters, 16 launchers of coastal missile units, BO and MP formations, parts of the rear and technical support. After the collapse of the USSR, the forces of the Baltic Fleet were withdrawn from the territory of the former GDR, Poland, the Baltic countries (the fleet lost up to 80% of its bases, 60% of enterprises and about 50% of the barracks and housing stock). In 1995, the Leningrad Naval Base became part of the Baltic Fleet. Of particular importance was the protection of sea routes of communication with the isolated Russian enclave - the Kaliningrad region. The main base of the Baltic Fleet is the city of Baltiysk. By 2004, the Baltic Fleet had about 70 ships and submarines.

Until the beginning of the 20th century, in the Baltic Fleet, in fact, there were permanent positions only for squadron commanders, the fleet commander was appointed, as a rule, for the period of hostilities. The functions of managing the fleet on the shore were performed by the commanders of military ports. The first actual commander of the Baltic Fleet in May 1904 was Admiral A. A. Birilev, who was appointed chief commander of the Baltic Fleet and head of the naval defense of the Baltic Sea. In 1908, the post of Commander of the United Baltic Sea Detachments was established to manage the Baltic Fleet (since 1911 Commander of the Baltic Sea Naval Forces, since 1914 Commander of the Baltic Sea Fleet). The commanders of the Baltic Fleet were: I. O. Essen (1908-15), M. V. Viktorov (1921-24, 1926-32), L. M. Galler (1932-37), V. F. Tributs (1939- 46), Vice Admiral, since 1964 Admiral A. E. Orel (1959-67), Vice Admiral, since 1969 Admiral V. V. Mikhailin (1967-75), I. M. Kapitanets (1981-85 ), Vice Admiral, since 1987 Admiral V.P. Ivanov (1986-91) and others.

The Baltic Fleet was awarded 2 Orders of the Red Banner (1928, 1965).

Lit .: Veselago F.F. Essay on Russian maritime history. SPb., 1875. Part 1; Navy in the First World War. M., 1964. Vol. 1: Actions of the Russian fleet; The Red Banner Baltic Fleet in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. M., 1981; Baltic, twice Red Banner. Vilnius, 1987; Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet. 3rd ed. M., 1990; The Red Banner Baltic Fleet in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet people 1941-1945, 2nd ed. M., 1990-1992. Book. 1-4; Essays on the history of the Baltic Fleet. Kaliningrad, 1997-2003. Book. 1-6; Baltic Fleet: Three centuries in the service of the Fatherland. SPb., 2002.

The Navy of the Russian Federation is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of our state. Its main task is the armed protection of state interests in the sea and ocean theaters of military operations. The Russian fleet is obliged to protect the sovereignty of the state outside its land territory (territorial waters, rights in the sovereign economic zone).

The Russian Navy is considered the successor to the Soviet naval forces, which, in turn, were created on the basis of the Russian Imperial Navy. The history of the Russian Navy is very rich, it has more than three hundred years, during which time it has come a long and glorious military path: the enemy has repeatedly lowered the battle flag in front of Russian ships.

In terms of its composition and number of ships, the Russian Navy is considered one of the strongest in the world: in the global ranking, it ranks second after the US Navy.

The Russian Navy includes one of the components of the nuclear triad: submarine nuclear missile carriers capable of carrying intercontinental ballistic missiles. The current Russian fleet is inferior in its power to the Soviet Navy, many of the ships that are in service today were built back in the Soviet period, so they are outdated both morally and physically. However, in recent years, active construction of new ships has been underway and the fleet is replenished with new pennants every year. According to the State Armaments Program, by 2020 about 4.5 trillion rubles will be spent on updating the Russian Navy.

The ensign of the Russian warships and the ensign of the Russian naval forces is the St. Andrew's flag. It was officially approved by presidential decree on July 21, 1992.

Russian Navy Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of July. This tradition was established by the decision of the Soviet government in 1939.

At present, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy is Admiral Vladimir Ivanovich Korolev, and his first deputy (Chief of the General Staff) is Vice Admiral Andrey Olgertovich Volozhinsky.

Goals and objectives of the Russian Navy

Why does Russia need a navy? American Vice Admiral Alfred Mahen, one of the greatest naval theorists, wrote as early as the end of the 19th century that the navy influences politics by the very fact of its existence. And it's hard to disagree with him. For several centuries, the borders of the British Empire were fastened by the sides of its ships.

The oceans are not only an inexhaustible source of resources, but also the most important global transport artery. Therefore, the importance of the Navy in the modern world is hard to overestimate: a country that has warships can project armed force anywhere in the oceans. The ground forces of any country, as a rule, are limited to their own territory. Maritime communications play an important role in the modern world. Warships can effectively operate on the enemy's communications, cutting him off from the supply of raw materials and reinforcements.

The modern fleet is characterized by high mobility and autonomy: ship groups are able to stay in remote areas of the ocean for months. The mobility of naval groupings makes it difficult to strike, including with the use of weapons of mass destruction.

The modern navy has an impressive arsenal of weapons that can be used not only against enemy ships, but also to strike at ground targets hundreds of kilometers away from the coastline.

The navy as a geopolitical instrument is highly flexible. The Navy is able to respond to a crisis situation in a very short time.

Another distinguishing feature of the Navy as a global military and political instrument is its versatility. Here are just some of the tasks that the navy is capable of solving:

• demonstration of military force and flag;
• combat duty;
• protection of own sea lanes and protection of the coast;
• conducting peacekeeping and anti-piracy operations;
• conducting humanitarian missions;
• the transfer of troops and their supply;
• waging conventional and nuclear war at sea;
• ensuring strategic nuclear deterrence;
• participation in strategic missile defense;
• conducting landing operations and combat operations on land.

Sailors can operate very effectively on land as well. The most obvious example is the US Navy, which has long been the most powerful and versatile instrument of American foreign policy. To conduct large-scale ground operations on land, the fleet needs a powerful air and land component, as well as a developed rear infrastructure capable of supplying expeditionary forces thousands of kilometers from its borders.

Russian sailors repeatedly had to participate in land operations, which, as a rule, took place on their native land and were of a defensive nature. An example is the participation of military sailors in the battles of the Great Patriotic War, as well as the first and second Chechen campaigns, in which units of the Marine Corps fought.

The Russian fleet performs many tasks in peacetime. Warships ensure the safety of economic activity in the World Ocean, monitor the strike ship groups of potential enemies, and cover the patrol areas of potential enemy submarines. The ships of the Russian Navy participate in the protection of the state border, sailors can be involved in the elimination of the consequences of man-made disasters and natural disasters.

Composition of the Russian Navy

As of 2014, the Russian fleet included fifty nuclear submarines. Of these, fourteen are strategic missile submarines, twenty-eight submarines with missile or torpedo weapons, and eight submarines have a special purpose. In addition, the fleet includes twenty diesel-electric submarines.

The ship structure of the surface fleet includes: one heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser (aircraft carrier), three nuclear missile cruisers, three missile cruisers, six destroyers, three corvettes, eleven large anti-submarine ships, twenty-eight small anti-submarine ships. The Russian Navy also includes: seven patrol ships, eight small missile ships, four small artillery ships, twenty-eight missile boats, more than fifty minesweepers of various types, six artillery boats, nineteen large landing ships, two landing hovercraft, more than two dozens of landing craft.

History of the Russian Navy

Kievan Rus already in the 9th century had a fleet that allowed it to carry out successful sea campaigns against Constantinople. However, these forces can hardly be called a regular Navy, the ships were built immediately before the campaigns, their main task was not battles at sea, but the delivery of ground forces to their destination.

Then there were centuries of feudal fragmentation, invasions of foreign conquerors, overcoming internal turmoil - besides, the Moscow principality did not have access to the sea for a long time. The only exception was Novgorod, which had access to the Baltic and conducted successful international trade, being a member of the Hanseatic League, and even made sea voyages.

The first warships in Russia began to be built during the time of Ivan the Terrible, but then the Moscow principality plunged into the Time of Troubles, and the navy was again forgotten for a long time. Warships were used during the war with Sweden in 1656-1658, during this campaign the first documented Russian victory at sea was won.

Emperor Peter the Great is considered to be the creator of the regular Russian navy. It was he who defined Russia's access to the sea as a paramount strategic task and began the construction of warships at the shipyard on the Voronezh River. And already during the Azov campaign, Russian battleships for the first time took part in a massive naval battle. This event can be called the birth of the regular Black Sea Fleet. A few years later, the first Russian warships appeared in the Baltic. The new Russian capital St. Petersburg for a long time became the main naval base of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Empire.

After Peter's death, the situation in domestic shipbuilding deteriorated significantly: new ships were practically not laid down, and the old ones gradually fell into disrepair.

The situation became critical in the second half of the 18th century, during the reign of Empress Catherine II. At that time, Russia pursued an active foreign policy and was one of the key political players in Europe. The Russian-Turkish wars, which continued with short breaks for almost half a century, forced the Russian leadership to pay special attention to the development of the navy.

During this period, Russian sailors managed to win several glorious victories over the Turks, a large Russian squadron made the first long-distance voyage to the Mediterranean Sea from the Baltic, the empire conquered vast lands in the northern Black Sea region. The most famous Russian naval commander of that period was Admiral Ushakov, who commanded the Black Sea Fleet.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian fleet was the third in the world in terms of the number of ships and gun power after Great Britain and France. Russian sailors made several trips around the world, made a significant contribution to the study of the Far East, Russian sailors Bellingshausen and Lazarev discovered the sixth continent - Antarctica in 1820.

The most important event in the history of the Russian fleet was the Crimean War of 1853-1856. Due to a number of diplomatic and political miscalculations, Russia had to fight against an entire coalition, which included Great Britain, France, Turkey and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The main battles of this war took place in the Black Sea theater of operations.

The war began with a brilliant victory over Turkey in the naval battle of Sinop. The Russian fleet under the leadership of Nakhimov completely defeated the enemy. However, in the future, this campaign was unsuccessful for Russia. The British and French had a more advanced fleet, they were seriously ahead of Russia in the construction of steam ships, they had modern small arms. Despite the heroism and excellent training of Russian sailors and soldiers, Sevastopol fell after a long siege. Under the terms of the Paris Peace Treaty, Russia was no longer allowed to have a Black Sea navy.

The defeat in the Crimean War led to the intensification of the construction of steam-powered warships in Russia: battleships and monitors.

The creation of a new steam armored fleet actively continued in the late XIX - early XX century. To overcome the backlog from the world's leading maritime powers, the Russian government purchased new ships from abroad.

The most important milestone in the history of the Russian fleet was the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The two strongest powers in the Pacific region, Russia and Japan, entered the fray for control of Korea and Manchuria.

The war began with a sudden Japanese attack on the harbor of Port Arthur, the largest base of the Russian Pacific Fleet. On the same day, the superior forces of Japanese ships in the port of Chemulpo sank the cruiser "Varyag" and the gunboat "Korean".

After several battles lost by the Russian ground forces, Port Arthur fell, and the ships in its harbor were sunk by enemy artillery fire or their own crews.

The second Pacific squadron, assembled from the ships of the Baltic and Black Sea fleets, which went to the aid of Port Arthur, suffered a crushing defeat near the Japanese island of Tsushima.

The defeat in the Russo-Japanese War was a real disaster for the Russian fleet. He lost a large number of pennants, many experienced sailors died. Only by the beginning of the First World War, these losses were partially compensated. In 1906, the first submarines appeared in the Russian fleet. In the same year, the Main Naval Staff was established.

During World War I, Germany was Russia's main adversary in the Baltic Sea, and the Ottoman Empire in the Black Sea theater of operations. In the Baltic, the Russian navy followed a defensive tactic, as the German navy outnumbered it both quantitatively and qualitatively. Mine weapons were actively used.

The Black Sea Fleet since 1915 almost completely controlled the Black Sea.

The revolution and the civil war that broke out after it became a real disaster for the Russian fleet. The Black Sea Fleet was partially captured by the Germans, some of its ships were transferred to the Ukrainian People's Republic, then they fell into the hands of the Entente. Some of the ships were sunk by order of the Bolsheviks. Foreign powers occupied the coasts of the North Sea, the Black Sea and the Pacific coast.

After the Bolsheviks came to power, a gradual restoration of the naval forces began. In 1938, a separate type of armed forces appeared - the Navy of the USSR. Before the outbreak of World War II, he was a very impressive force. There were especially many submarines of various modifications in its composition.

The first months of the war were a real disaster for the Soviet Navy. Several key military bases were abandoned (Tallinn, Hanko). The evacuation of warships from the Hanko naval base resulted in heavy losses due to enemy mines. The main battles of the Great Patriotic War took place on land, so the Soviet Navy sent more than 400 thousand sailors to the ground forces.

After the end of the war, a period of confrontation began between the Soviet Union with its satellites and the NATO bloc led by the United States. At this time, the Soviet Navy reached the peak of its power, both in terms of the number of ships and their quality characteristics. A huge amount of resources was allocated for the construction of a nuclear submarine fleet, four aircraft carriers, a large number of cruisers, destroyers and missile frigates (96 units at the end of the 80s), more than a hundred landing ships and boats were built. The ship structure of the USSR Navy in the mid-80s consisted of 1380 warships and a large number of auxiliary vessels.

The collapse of the Soviet Union led to catastrophic consequences. The USSR Navy was divided among the Soviet republics (however, most of the ship's composition went to Russia), due to underfunding, most projects were frozen, part of the shipbuilding enterprises remained abroad. In 2010, the Russian Navy included only 136 warships.

Structure of the Russian Navy

The Russian Navy includes the following forces:

• surface;
• underwater;
• naval aviation;
• coastal troops.

Naval aviation consists of coastal, deck, tactical and strategic.

Associations of the Russian Navy

The Russian Navy consists of four operational-strategic formations:

• The Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy, its headquarters is in Kaliningrad
• The Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy, its headquarters is located in Severomorsk
• The Black Sea Fleet, its headquarters is located in Sevastopol, belongs to the Southern Military District
• The Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy, headquartered in Astrakhan, is part of the Southern Military District.
• The Pacific Fleet, headquartered in Vladivostok, is part of the Eastern Military District.

The Northern and Pacific Fleets are the strongest in the Russian Navy. It is here that submarines carrying strategic nuclear weapons are based, as well as all surface and submarine ships with a nuclear power plant.

The only Russian aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, is based in the Northern Fleet. If new aircraft carriers are built for the Russian fleet, then, most likely, they will also be placed in the Northern Fleet. This fleet is part of the Joint Strategic Command North.

Currently, the Russian leadership is paying a lot of attention to the Arctic. This region is disputed, in addition, a huge amount of minerals has been explored in this region. It is likely that in the coming years it is the Arctic that will become a “bone of contention” for the largest world states.

The Northern Fleet includes:

• TAKR "Admiral Kuznetsov" (project 1143 "Krechet")
• two nuclear missile cruisers of project 1144.2 "Orlan" "Admiral Nakhimov" and "Peter the Great", which is the flagship of the Northern Fleet
• missile cruiser "Marshal Ustinov" (project "Atlant")
• four BOD project 1155 "Frigate" and one BOD project 1155.1.
• two destroyers of project 956 "Sarych"
• nine small warships, sea minesweepers of various projects, landing and artillery boats
• four large landing ships of project 775.

Submarines are the main force of the Northern Fleet. These include:

• Ten nuclear submarines armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles (projects 941 "Shark", 667BDRM "Dolphin", 995 "Borey")
• Four nuclear submarines armed with cruise missiles (projects 885 "Ash" and 949A "Antey")
• Fourteen torpedo-armed nuclear submarines (projects 971 "Pike-B", 945 "Barracuda", 945A "Condor", 671RTMK "Pike")
• Eight diesel submarines (projects 877 "Halibut" and 677 "Lada"). In addition, there are seven nuclear deep-sea stations and an experimental submarine.

The Northern Fleet also includes naval aviation, coastal defense troops and marine corps units.

In 2007, the construction of the Arctic Shamrock military base began on the Franz Josef Land archipelago. The ships of the Northern Fleet are taking part in the Syrian operation as part of the Mediterranean squadron of the Russian fleet.

Pacific Fleet. This fleet is armed with submarines with nuclear power plants, armed with missiles and torpedoes with a nuclear warhead. This fleet is divided into two groups: one is based in Primorye, and the other is based on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Pacific Fleet includes:

• Missile cruiser "Varyag" project 1164 "Atlant".
• Three BOD project 1155.
• One destroyer of project 956 "Sarych".
• Four small missile ships of project 12341 "Gadfly-1".
• Eight small anti-submarine ships of project 1124 Albatross.
• Torpedo and anti-sabotage boats.
• Minesweepers.
• Three large landing ships of project 775 and 1171
• Landing boats.

The composition of the submarine forces of the Pacific Fleet includes:

• Five missile submarines armed with strategic intercontinental ballistic missiles (project 667BDR Kalmar and 955 Borey).
• Three nuclear submarines with Project 949A Antey cruise missiles.
• One multi-purpose submarine of project 971 "Pike-B".
• Six diesel submarines of project 877 "Halibut".

The Pacific Fleet also includes naval aviation, coastal troops and marines.

Black Sea Fleet. One of the oldest Russian fleets with a long and glorious history. However, due to geographical reasons, its strategic role is not so great. This fleet participated in the international campaign against piracy in the Gulf of Aden, in the war with Georgia in 2008, and its ships and personnel are currently involved in the Syrian campaign.

The construction of new surface and underwater vessels for the Black Sea Fleet is underway.

The composition of this operational-strategic association of the Russian Navy includes:

• Missile cruiser project 1164 "Atlant" "Moskva", which is the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet
• One BOD project 1134-B "Berkut-B" "Kerch"
• Five patrol ships of the far sea zone of different projects
• Eight large landing ships of projects 1171 "Tapir" and 775. They are united in the 197th brigade of landing ships
• Five diesel submarines (projects 877 "Halibut" and 636.3 "Varshavyanka"

  The Black Sea Fleet also includes naval aviation, coastal troops and marines.

  Baltic Fleet. After the collapse of the USSR, the BF found itself in a very difficult situation: a significant part of its bases ended up on the territory of foreign states. Currently, the Baltic Fleet is based in the Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions. Due to the geographic location, the BF's strategic importance is also limited. The Baltic Fleet includes the following ships:

  • Project 956 destroyer "Sarych" "Persistent", which is the flagship of the Baltic Fleet.
  • Two Project 11540 "Hawk" patrol ships of the far sea zone. In domestic literature, they are often called frigates.
  • Four patrol ships of the near sea zone of project 20380 "Guarding", which are sometimes called corvettes in the literature.
  • Ten small rocket ships (project 1234.1).
  • Four Project 775 large landing craft.
  • Two Project 12322 Zubr small landing hovercraft.
  • A large number of landing and missile boats.

  The Baltic Fleet is armed with two Project 877 Halibut diesel submarines.

  Caspian flotilla. The Caspian Sea is an inland body of water, which in the Soviet period washed the shores of two countries - Iran and the USSR. After 1991, several independent states appeared in this region at once, and the situation became seriously complicated. Water area of ​​the Caspian International treaty between Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan, signed on August 12, 2018, defines it as a zone free from NATO influence.

  The composition of the Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Federation includes:

  • Patrol ships of the near sea zone of the project 11661 "Gepard" (2 units).
  • Eight small ships of different projects.
  • Landing boats.
  • Artillery and anti-sabotage boats.
  • Minesweepers.

  Prospects for the development of the Navy

  The navy is a very expensive branch of the armed forces, therefore, after the collapse of the USSR, almost all programs related to the construction of new ships were frozen.

  The situation began to improve only in the second half of the "zero". According to the State Armaments Program, by 2020 the Russian Navy will receive about 4.5 trillion rubles. Russian shipbuilders plan to produce up to ten Project 995 strategic nuclear missile carriers and the same number of Project 885 multi-purpose submarines. In addition, the construction of diesel-electric submarines of Projects 63.63 Varshavyanka and 677 Lada will continue. In total, it is planned to build up to twenty submarines.

  The Navy plans to purchase eight Project 22350 frigates, six Project 11356 frigates, more than thirty corvettes of several projects (some of which are still under development). In addition, it is planned to build new missile boats, large and small landing ships, and minesweepers.

  A new destroyer with a nuclear power plant is being developed. The Navy is interested in buying six of these ships. They are planned to be equipped with anti-missile defense systems.

  A lot of controversy raises the question of the future fate of the Russian aircraft carrier fleet. Is he needed? "Admiral Kuznetsov" clearly does not meet modern requirements, and from the very beginning this project was not the most successful.

  In total, by 2020, the Russian Navy plans to receive 54 new surface ships and 24 submarines with nuclear power plants, a large number of old ships must undergo modernization. The fleet should receive new missile systems that will be able to fire the latest Caliber and Onyx missiles. These complexes are planned to equip missile cruisers (Orlan project), submarines of the Antey, Shchuka-B and Halibut projects.

  If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

On February 2, 1701, Tsar Peter I issued a Decree in which he ordered the construction of six 18-gun ships and 9 auxiliary ships to begin on Lake Ladoga. In the winter of 1702, they began to build a shipyard on the Syas River, which flows into Lake Ladoga. In 1703, the Olonets shipyard was laid in Lodeynoye Pole on the Svir River. 7 frigates, 5 shnyavs, 7 galleys, 13 semi-galleys, 1 galliot and 13 brigantines were laid down here. Another shipyard was laid on the Volkhov River. The ships built at these shipyards became the backbone of the Baltic Fleet. Therefore, it is February 2 that is considered the day of the founding of this one of the most powerful and combat-ready fleets of Russia. Many ships were built for him. Here are just ten of them, recognized as the most powerful and entered the history of the Russian Navy.

1. The first Russian frigate

On August 22, 1703, the first ship, the 28-gun frigate Shtandart, was launched at the Svir shipyard. It had 3 masts, a displacement of 220 tons, a hull length of 27.5 meters, a width of 7 meters, a draft of 3.3 meters, and a design speed under sail of 10-11 knots. Its crew was 120 people. In September 1703, the frigate moved to St. Petersburg. He took part in the Northern War. From 1705 to 1709, from May to October, he annually went to Kronshlot as part of a squadron to protect St. Petersburg from the sea. In 1725, by decree of the Admiralty Board, the frigate was transferred to the Kronverk harbor and pulled ashore. It was supposed to be preserved as the first line ship of the Baltic Fleet. However, the hull of the ship was so dilapidated that when trying to lift it with cables, it was literally cut into pieces. In 1730, the frigate was dismantled. In 1999, the Shtandart frigate was recreated according to the surviving drawings. Now it serves as a training and tourist vessel.

2. Battleship "Poltava"

The first ship that was laid down and built at the shipyards of St. Petersburg. It was launched on June 15, 1712. Length along the upper deck: 40.1 meters, keel length 34.7 meters, width - 11.7 meters. It had a displacement of 1100 tons, a draft of 4.6 meters. It was armed with 54 guns and had a crew at various times from 300 to 460 people. The most active battleship "Poltava" fought in the Northern War of 1713. Repaired twice, decommissioned in 1732.

3. Sloops "Vostok" and "Mirny"

The sloop "Vostok" was built in 1818 in St. Petersburg. Displacement - 900 tons, armament - 28 guns, crew - 117 people. The sloop "Mirny" (former transport "Ladoga") was built in 1818 in Lodeynoye Pole, displacement - 530 tons, armament - 20 guns, crew - 73 people. The ships were commanded by experienced officers of the Russian Navy, Captain 2nd Rank F.F. Bellingshausen and Lieutenant M.P. Lazarev. It was on these ships that one of the greatest geographical discoveries was made - the sixth continent, Antarctica. This happened on January 18, 1820.

4 Cruiser of Revolution

On May 23, 1897, at the state shipyard "New Admiralty" in St. Petersburg, a solemn laying of three armored cruisers - "Diana", "Pallada" and "Aurora" took place, the same cruiser that fired a blank salvo at the Winter Palace in October 1917. The total displacement of the cruiser "Aurora" is 6731 tons, length - 127 meters, width - 16.8 meters, draft - 6.4 meters. Maximum speed - 19.2 knots. The Aurora was equipped with eight 152mm guns, twenty-four 75mm guns, eight 37mm quick-firing guns, and two 64mm landing guns. The cruiser had three torpedo tubes: two underwater, located on the starboard and port sides of the ship, and one surface, located in the bow. The cruiser participated in the Battle of Tsushima. From 1906 to 1914, the Aurora was used as a training ship, on which cadets and midshipmen of the Naval Corps mastered shipboard practice. With the outbreak of the First World War, the Aurora again took up combat service. In 1916, he got up for repairs in Petrograd and took part in the revolutionary events of 1917.

5. "Gangut" - "October Revolution"

The battleship, originally named in honor of the first victory of the Russian fleet at Cape Gangut, was laid down on June 3, 1909 at the Novoadmiralteysky shipyard in St. Petersburg and launched on September 24, 1911. At the end of November 1914, he was included in the 2nd brigade of battleships of the Baltic Fleet. On June 27, 1925, the battleship was given the name "October Revolution", and on July 23, 1926, it was again included in the Baltic Sea Naval Forces. provide fire support to ground troops. Hundreds of tons of heavy shells were brought down in those days by the "October Revolution" on the enemy, crushing all designated targets. Its displacement is 26,692 tons, length 184.9 meters, width 26.9 meters, draft 9.5 meters. Armament: large-caliber artillery mounts, anti-aircraft machine guns, four torpedo tubes and 4 guard paravanes. Crew 1411 people. In 1953, the battleship was transferred to training ships, and three years later it was expelled from the fleet.

6. Hero of the Tallinn campaign

"Kirov" - Soviet light artillery cruiser of project 26. Launched on November 30, 1936. Excluded from the fleet in 1974. Displacement 7880 tons, length 191.3 meters, width 17.7 meters, draft 5.27 meters. It was armed with 9 turret guns, anti-aircraft guns, two triple-tube torpedo tubes and depth charges. Could launch a Henkel-class aircraft using a catapult. June 22, 1941 was on the raid of Riga. He participated in the defense of Tallinn: from August 22 to 27, he fired 36 at enemy troops, in response, up to 500 shells were fired at the ship and 326 bombs were dropped by German aircraft. On the raid of Tallinn, the cruiser received one hit by a large German shell in the stern, 9 crew members were killed, 30 were injured. In the famous withdrawal of the Baltic Fleet from Tallinn, she walked as the flagship of the detachment of the main forces. The KBF Military Council, members of the Estonian government, valuables of the Estonian State Bank and the Red Banner of the Baltic Fleet were evacuated on the cruiser.

7. Guards destroyer "Thundering"

"Thundering" was laid down on July 23, 1936. Three years later, he became part of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, and a few months later, in tandem with the destroyer destroyer "Crushing", along the White Sea-Baltic Canal, he made the transition from Kronstadt to Polyarnoye. repelled 112 enemy air raids, destroying 14 and damaging 23 aircraft. 11 times supported the flanks of the Red Army and the landings of the Northern Fleet with artillery fire. He ensured the passage of 39 allied and 24 domestic convoys, three times, together with other ships, acted on enemy sea lanes, sank one and damaged two submarines. In April 1956, the destroyer was disarmed and transferred to the class of experimental ships, and two years later was expelled from the Navy. The destroyer had a displacement of 2380 tons, a length of 112.9 meters, a width of 10.2 meters, a draft of 4 meters. It was armed with four 130 mm guns and other artillery, two 3-pipe torpedo tubes. The same one had 2 bombers and 2 paravan-trawls. Took on board 56 mines, 30 large and 24 small depth charges. Crew 246 people.

8. The flagship of the modern fleet

Now the flagship of the Baltic Fleet is the destroyer Persistent. It was launched on January 19, 1991. Its length is 156 meters. Destroyer speed - 62 km / h. Crew - 296 people. In autonomous navigation, it can be 30 days.
The ship is armed with 2 twin AK-130/54 artillery mounts, AK-630 six-barreled artillery mounts, P-270 Moskit anti-ship cruise missile launchers, two Uragan anti-aircraft missile systems, two RBU-1000 six-barreled rocket launchers, two twin torpedo tubes. There is one Ka-27 helicopter on board.

9. Destroyer "Restless"

Project 956 BF destroyer "Bespokoyny" is a multi-purpose combat high-speed maneuverable ship designed to combat submarines, aircraft (including missiles), and enemy ships, guard and defend formations of ships. It is also used for reconnaissance and patrol services, artillery support during landings and for laying minefields. It was laid down on April 8, 1987, and entered the Baltic Fleet on February 11, 1992. Displacement 6600 tons, length 156.5 meters, width 17.2 meters and draft 5.96 meters. It is armed with 8 unique anti-ship missiles of the "Moskit" type, two launchers of anti-aircraft missiles "Shtil", a 130-mm two-gun universal artillery system. The destroyer can carry a Ka-27 carrier-based helicopter in anti-submarine and rescue versions.

10. In memory of a heroic ancestor

One of the main ships of the modern Baltic Fleet is the Guardian corvette. It was launched on May 16, 2006 and commissioned into the Baltic Fleet on February 28, 2008. It has a displacement of 1800 tons. The greatest length is 104.5 meters, width 13 meters, draft 7.95 meters. The crew includes 95 people. The ship is armed with artillery mounts, Uranus-type cruise missiles, and carries a helicopter on its board. "Guarding" is named after the famous destroyer "Guarding", which on March 10 (February 26), 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War, took an unequal battle with the Japanese squadron. To prevent the enemy from getting the destroyer, the sailors themselves sank the ship, repeating the feat of the Varyag.

May 18 is annually celebrated as the Day of the Baltic Fleet, which was established by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral of the Fleet Felix Gromov "On the introduction of annual holidays and professional days in the specialty" dated July 15, 1996.

On this May day in 1703, Peter I, at the head of his flotilla, won the first military victory, capturing two Swedish warships (Gedan and Astrild) during the battle.

The Baltic Fleet is the oldest fleet in Russia. It is a large, diverse operational-strategic territorial formation of the Russian Navy in the Baltic Sea, capable of operating effectively both directly in the sea zone, as well as in the air and on land. Also, the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy is the main training and testing base of the Russian Navy. The fleet includes 2 diesel submarines, 41 surface ships, 15 boats, of which 9 landing and 6 missile. The flagship of the fleet is the destroyer Persistent.

The headquarters of the Baltic Fleet is located in Kaliningrad. The main points of deployment: Baltiysk (Kaliningrad region) and Kronstadt (St. Petersburg).

I must say that the formation of the Baltic Fleet is closely connected with the history of St. Petersburg. Indeed, in May 1703, the construction of the city on the Neva began, and a year later the construction of the Admiralty Shipyard began here, which later became one of the centers of shipbuilding in Russia. Since then, the Baltic Fleet has selflessly defended the borders of the Fatherland, passing through all the historical milestones of the Russian State.

During the existence of the Baltic Fleet, outstanding victories were won by Baltic sailors. During the Great Northern War (1700-1721) they bravely and selflessly fought against the forces of the Swedish crown. They valiantly defended the Baltic coast during the Crimean War (1853-1856). During the Great Patriotic War, the fleet took part in the defense of Leningrad (1941-1944), supported the offensive of the Red Army in the Baltic States (1944), in East Prussia and East Pomerania (1944-1945).

More than 110,000 Baltic sailors fought on the land fronts. Baltic submariners destroyed 52 enemy transports and 8 ships. The fleet landed 24 troops. The aviation of the fleet made more than 158 thousand sorties, including sorties under heavy enemy fire. About 82 thousand Baltic sailors were awarded orders and medals, of which 173 were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, including four twice.

The Baltic Fleet became the ancestor of Russian round-the-world research expeditions. On the world map you can see the names of admirals and officers of the Baltic Fleet, who made 432 (!) geographical discoveries. In modern textbooks of geography and history, this outstanding achievement not only of the Baltic separately, but of the entire naval school of the country, is actually not reflected in any way today.

For outstanding services to the Motherland, the Baltic Fleet was awarded two Orders of the Red Banner in 1928 and 1965.

Now the Baltic Fleet has modern ships, the latest weapons and technical equipment of the latest generation. Almost every year, new or modernized ships, warships enter the sea

In December 2016, the Andreevsky flag was hoisted on the Alexander Obukhov ship, created for the main base of the Baltic Fleet. This project 12700 lead ship is unique in the world's largest fiberglass hull.

The technology of blown shipbuilding is used in the Russian fleet for the first time. It allows, with an increase in the strength of the ship, to reduce its mass, increase its service life and significantly reduce the magnetic field, which provides additional safety when minesweeping.

The length of the ship is 70 meters, the displacement is 800 tons, the maximum speed is 15 knots, the cruising range is up to 1.5 thousand miles. Thanks to the thrusters, the minesweeper maneuvers well, and much attention was paid to the comfort of the crew during its creation.

Currently, three more ships of project 12700 (Georgy Kurbatov, Ivan Antonov and Vladimir Yemelyanov) are under construction, and in the coming years it is planned to create another 20 minesweepers of this type.

As for the geography of the activities of the Baltic Fleet, it is currently very extensive. The ships and vessels of the Baltic Fleet solve the problems of the security of international shipping and the fight against terrorism in areas of the World Ocean remote from the coast of the Russian Federation, including the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Baltic Fleet is Russia's outpost in the western region and ensures the stability of the military-political situation and the state interests of the country.

"Military Review" congratulates the Baltic sailors on the holiday!

In the mood I wanted to show these pictures here. Shooting - the end of July 2012, the city of Baltiysk, Kaliningrad region, where I rode to photograph the parade on the occasion of the Navy Day (photo report from the parade lies). But any trips to some naval base on the eve of the day of the fleet are just valuable in that it is possible to film not only the parade itself and the rehearsals preceding it, but also all the “movement” that accompanies this - ships going to sea, returning, building ships from different angles and under different lighting, and just take a walk with a camera along the bays. Actually, here is the result of such shootings.

2. The fortress canal is a permanent base for all sorts of small minesweepers. In the photo - raid trawls of project 10750, the one in front (onboard 239) - RT-252. Both were fully involved in the parade and in all rehearsals.

3. Even smaller ones - raid minesweepers, project 12592.

4. The inner harbor of Baltiysk, around eight in the morning. Another Baltic OVR in all its glory. Small anti-submarine ship "Kalmykia" pr. 1331M.

5. Submarine "Magnitogorsk" project 877. Not local, from the north, ended up in Baltiysk for some reason. I accidentally managed to catch her at the exit from the Military Harbor. She went to sea for a couple of days on business. Then she returned and obediently stood in the front line.

6. A very meditative activity - sunbathing on the pier from the opposite bank of the canal, from the Baltic Spit - sometimes brought results. This is the killer "Alexander Pushkin" returning to the base.

7. The first two ships put into parade formation are the Guardian corvette (left) and the Korolev large landing ship (right).

8. RTO "Downpour" pr. 12341. It passed, and through the loud broadcast from the bridge, the voice of the commander was heard - that the ship was going to St. Petersburg in order to participate in the celebration of the day of the fleet there. True, a couple of days before that there was information that the ships had already left for the parade from Baltiysk to St. Petersburg, including RTOs, another, Geyser. The answer will be below :)

9. Hydrography. Hydrographic vessel "Hygrometer" pr. 860.

10. Hardworking tugboat, "Cheerful", saw him very often. I went to the sea in the direction of another boat, which will be a little further away :) And in the background ...

11. Here is this couple. With the pace that they were slowly and sadly returning to Baltiysk, I already thought that I would not take them off - it would get dark. But no, they did manage to get drawn into the Baltic Canal until it was completely dark. And lucky with the sky.

12. Vopchem, RTO "Geyser" did not reach St. Petersburg, it was instead of him that "Rain" went there. So a little military secret was revealed :)

13. Again we return to the formation of ships. BDK "Korolev".

14. Basic minesweeper BT-212 pr. 1265.

15. Beauty and pride, stealth corvette "Guarding". In the glamorous pink rays of the sunset.

16. BDK "Kaliningrad" at the exit to the sea.

17. Another unexpected present. During my entire stay in Baltiysk, I saw him several times far out to sea, near the horizon, but now - I was lucky, and at the moment when I once again sunbathed on the pier, he decided to return.
Patrol ship pr. 11356, which are being built on the "Yantar" in Kaliningrad. St. Andrew's flag is only for a while - the ship is undergoing sea trials, and after that it is exported to the Indians. This is the second hull of the second trio of ships of this project ordered by the Indians, the Tarkash.

18. Missile boat "Zarechny" project 12411.

19. He, a couple of hours later. And completely different lighting.

20. The long-suffering "Geyser", having not reached St. Petersburg, eventually got into the formation of ships in Baltiysk.

21. "Guarding" again, in the beautiful sun.

22. "Small" part of the formation of ships, its beginning. Minesweeper, border guard, missile boat, MRK.

23. And once again "Guarding". A day or two before the parade, the illuminations were already turned on with might and main, on the occasion of which I got out for a walk along the embankment with a tripod. The most vivid impression - during these shootings, mosquitoes simply devoured me completely: ((((

24. And another night shot, with a missile boat.

25. Early, early, early in the morning, about six o'clock. An unscheduled rehearsal of the parade, and the ships participating in it, leave the Baltic Canal into the sea. And I - I sit and take pictures of the whole thing. The first to slip was the MPK-227.

26. Alrosa. I have special feelings for this boat, it was unexpected and pleasant to see her here in Baltiysk. And she herself - from Sevastopol, at the moment - is the only active submarine of the Black Sea Fleet.

27. Minesweepers in the sun, the most beautiful. "Sergei Kolbasiev"...