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

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

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

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

Icon of F. Ushakov

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

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

The life path of F.F. Ushakov

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

The beginning of the biography

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

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

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

Russian-Turkish war 1768-1774

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

Pram with 48 guns

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

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

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

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

I. Aivazovsky "Black Sea Fleet" (1890)

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

Monument to F.F. Ushakov in Kherson

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

Russian-Turkish war 1787-1791

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

Battle of Fidonisi

Battle of Fidonisi

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

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

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

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

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

Kerch naval battle

Kerch battle

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

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

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

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

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

Battle of Cape Tendra

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

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

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

Battle of Kaliakria

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

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

Monument to F.F. Ushakov at Cape Kaliakra

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

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

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

F. Ushakov's Mediterranean campaign

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

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

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

last years of life

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

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

In honor of Admiral F. Ushakov

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

Ushakov medal

Ushakov medal

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

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

Order of Ushakov

Order of Ushakov, 1st class

Order of Ushakov II degree

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

February 24, 1745 was born Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov, an outstanding Russian naval commander, admiral, commander of the Black Sea Fleet. Admiral Ushakov is recognized as the founder of the Russian tactical school in naval affairs. During the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791, Ushakov made a serious contribution to the development of the tactics of the sailing fleet. Largely thanks to Ushakov, Russia won the Russian-Turkish war. We will talk about five brilliant victories of Ushakov.

Battle of Fidonisi Island

On July 14, 1788, the battle of Fidonisi took place - the first naval battle of the Russian-Turkish war between the fleets of Russia and the Ottoman Empire.

Occupying a windward position, the Turkish fleet lined up in two wake columns and began to descend to the Russian line. The first column of the Turks, led by Eski-Gassan, attacked the Russian vanguard under the command of Ushakov. After a brief skirmish with two Russian frigates - "Berislav" and "Strela" - and 50-gun frigates, two Turkish battleships were forced to withdraw from the battle.

The ship "St. Paul" under the command of Ushakov rushed to the aid of the frigates. The ship of Kapudan Pasha was under fire from frigates from one side, and from the other by Ushakov's ship. The concentrated firing of Russian ships caused serious damage to the Turkish flagship.

Finally, a successful salvo from the frigate damaged the stern and mizzen mast of the flagship, and Gassan Pasha began to rapidly leave the battlefield. The entire Turkish fleet followed him.

Despite the fact that the battle at Fidonisi did not significantly affect the course of the campaign, it was the first victory of the fleet, a victory over vastly superior enemy forces, which had great psychological significance.

The Turkish fleet no longer had dominance over the sea, and the Crimea was not in danger of landing.

Kerch naval battle

The battle took place on July 8, 1790. The Turkish squadron consisted of 10 battleships, 8 frigates, 36 auxiliary ships. She went from Turkey to land troops in the Crimea. She was met by a Russian squadron (10 battleships, 6 frigates, 1 bombardment ship, 16 auxiliary ships) under the command of Ushakov.

Using the windward position and superiority in artillery (1100 guns against 836), the Turkish fleet attacked the Russian on the move, directing its main attack on the vanguard of the fleet brigadier G.K. Golenkin. However, he withstood the attack of the enemy and with accurate return fire brought down his offensive impulse. Kapudan Pasha nevertheless continued his onslaught, reinforcing the forces in the direction of the main attack with ships with large guns. Seeing this, Ushakov, separating the weakest frigates, closed the ships tighter and hurried to help the vanguard.

With this maneuver, Ushakov tried to divert the enemy to weak ships, dividing his forces. However, Hussein Pasha increasingly increased pressure on the vanguard.

In the ensuing battle, it turned out that the cannonballs from the Russian frigates, placed in line due to the lack of battleships, did not reach the enemy. Then Ushakov gave them a signal to leave the line for possible assistance to the vanguard, and the rest of the ships to close the distance formed between them. Unaware of the true intentions of the Russian flagship, the Turks were very happy about this circumstance. Their vice admiral's ship, leaving the line and becoming the advanced one, began to descend on the Russian avant-garde in order to bypass it.

But Ushakov foresaw the possible development of events, and therefore, instantly assessing the situation, gave a signal to the reserve frigates to protect their forward ships. The frigates arrived in time and forced the Turkish Vice Admiral to pass between the lines under the crushing fire of the Russian ships.

The victory of the Russian fleet in the Battle of Kerch thwarted the plans of the Turkish command to seize the Crimea.

Battle of Cape Tendra

On the morning of August 28, 1790, the Turkish fleet under the command of the young Kapudan Pasha Hussein, consisting of 14 ships of the line, 8 frigates and 14 small ships, was at anchor and found the Russian fleet sailing under full sail in a marching order of three columns, consisting of 5 ships of the line, 11 frigates and 20 smaller ships under the command of Ushakov.

Using the change in battle formation that justified itself in the Kerch battle, Ushakov withdrew three frigates from the line - John the Warrior, Jerome and Pokrov of the Virgin - to provide a maneuverable reserve in case of a change in the wind and a possible enemy attack from two sides.

The tactics of Ushakov's actions had an active offensive character. If in previous battles the Black Sea Fleet initially carried out defensive actions with a transition to a counterattack, then in this case, a decisive attack with a clear tactical plan initially took place. The factor of surprise was used, and the principles of concentration of forces in the direction of the main attack and mutual support were skillfully implemented.

The victory at Tendra left a bright mark in the combat annals of the Russian fleet. The federal law "On the days of military glory (victory days) of Russia" dated March 13, 1995, the victory day of the Russian squadron under the command of F.F. Ushakov over the Turkish squadron at Cape Tendra was declared the Day of Military Glory of Russia.

Battle of Cape Kaliakria

The battle took place on July 31, 1791. The Turkish fleet consisted of 18 battleships, 17 frigates and 43 smaller ships anchored off the coast under the protection of coastal batteries. The Black Sea Fleet under the command of F.F. Ushakov consisted of 16 battleships, 2 frigates, 2 bombardment ships, 17 cruisers, a fireship and a rehearsal ship. The ratio of guns was 1800 against 980 in favor of the Turks.

To reduce the time of approach to the enemy, Ushakov began to approach him, remaining in the marching order of three columns. As a result, the initial disadvantageous tactical position of the Black Sea Fleet became favorable for the attack. The situation began to take shape in favor of the Black Sea Fleet. The unexpected appearance of the Russian fleet led the enemy into confusion. On the Turkish ships, in a hurry, they began to cut the ropes and set the sails. Losing control on a steep wave, with gusty winds, several ships collided with each other and received damage.

As in the battle of Tendra, Ushakov's tactics were of an active offensive nature, and the use of tactics was determined by the specific situation.

At dawn on August 1, there was no longer a single enemy ship on the horizon. On August 8, Ushakov received news from Field Marshal N.V. Repnin about the conclusion of a truce on July 31 and the order to return to Sevastopol.

mediterranean hike

In 1798-1800, Emperor Paul I appointed Ushakov commander of the Russian naval forces in the Mediterranean. Ushakov's task was to support the actions of the troops of the anti-French coalition at sea.

During the Mediterranean campaign of 1798-1800, Ushakov proved himself as a major naval commander, a skilled politician and diplomat in the creation of the Greek Republic of the Seven Islands under the protectorate of Russia and Turkey. He showed examples of the organization of interaction between the army and the navy during the capture of the Ionian Islands, and especially the island of Corfu (Kerkyra), during the liberation from the French of Italy, during the blockade of Ancona and Genoa, during the capture of Naples and Rome.

During the campaign, he had disagreements with the British Admiral Nelson regarding the blockade (Nelson's proposal) or the assault (Ushakov's proposal) of the island of Malta. As a result, the British agreed with Ushakov's arguments - and Malta was taken.

Video

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

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

Background. The struggle for dominance in the Black Sea

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

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

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

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

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

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

As a result, the Russian Black Sea Fleet, despite its weakness, was able to successfully resist a strong enemy. In 1787-1788. The Liman flotilla successfully repulsed all enemy attacks, the Turkish command lost many ships. The Turks could not use their superiority in large sailing ships with powerful artillery weapons, since a situation developed on the Liman that resembled the situation in the Baltic skerries during the Northern War, when Tsar Peter's mobile rowing ships successfully fought the Swedish fleet.

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

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

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

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

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

Battle of Cape Tendra

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

Sevastopol closely followed the situation. Ushakov actively prepared the ships for the campaign. When most of the ships of the Sevastopol squadron were ready for a long voyage, Ushakov went on a campaign in order to reconnoiter the enemy forces and disrupt his communications in the southeastern part of the sea. The Russian squadron crossed the sea, went to Sinop and from it went along the Turkish coast to Samsun, then to Anapa and returned to Sevastopol. Russian sailors captured more than a dozen enemy ships. Then Ushakov again took his ships to sea and on July 8 (July 19), 1790, defeated the Turkish squadron near the Kerch Strait. In terms of battleships, both squadrons were equal, but the Ottomans had twice as many other ships - bombardment ships, brigantines, corvettes, etc. As a result, the Turks had more than 1,100 guns against 850 Russians. However, Admiral Hussein Pasha was unable to take advantage of superior forces. Turkish sailors faltered under Russian attack and took to their heels. The best driving performance of Turkish ships allowed them to escape. This battle disrupted the landing of enemy troops in the Crimea.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The famous Russian naval commander Admiral Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov was born on February 13, 1744. He died on October 2, 1817 at the age of 73. During the years of military service, he showed outstanding tactical abilities. In 1789 he received the military rank of Rear Admiral. In 1793 he was awarded the rank of Vice Admiral. In 1799, the talented naval commander was awarded the rank of admiral. This man made a great contribution to the development of naval combat tactics of the sailing fleet. He did not act according to patterns and stereotypes, but was always guided by the specific situation and specific local conditions.

In battle, he showed extraordinary courage and determination. He neglected the generally accepted rule to put the command ship in the middle of the battle formation. The flagship was always ahead, and in the most dangerous place. Thus, the commander set an example of courage to the commanders of other warships.

Fedor Fedorovich instantly assessed the combat situation and made the only right decision that ensured the complete defeat of the enemy. This man entered the annals of history as the founder of the Russian tactical school of naval art. The memory of the courageous naval commander has not faded over the centuries. His name is well known not only in Russia, but all over the world.

Childhood

A glorious naval commander was born in the village of Burnakovo. Today, these lands belong to the Yaroslavl region, and there are no permanent residents in the village itself. In the 17th century it was a large settlement for 2 thousand peasant souls. It belonged to the noble family of the Ushakovs.

Immediately after birth, the baby was enrolled in military service. The boy's father, Fedor Ignatievich, once served in the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment. But he assigned his son to the maritime department. In 1766, the young man graduated from the Naval Cadet Corps in St. Petersburg. He was sent to serve in the Baltic Fleet.

glorious deeds

In 1769, the young officer was transferred to the Azov Fleet. He took part in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. The main goal of this company was access to the Black Sea. The war ended with the signing of the Kyuchuk-Kainarji Treaty on July 21, 1771. According to him, the Russian Empire firmly established itself on the northern Black Sea coast.

Our hero also made a feasible contribution to the victory. He commanded a flat-bottomed artillery sailing vessel (pram). His task included military operations near the coastal fortifications of the enemy. In 1773 he was given command of the 16-gun warship Modon. In 1775 he became commander of a three-masted warship with two gun decks. Such sailboats were called frigates.

In 1780, Ushakov was awarded the highest honor. He was appointed commander of the imperial yacht. But in the character of a military officer there was no servility and desire for a well-fed, carefree life. Therefore, after 3 months of such service, our hero achieved a transfer to a battleship.

Battleships were larger than frigates. They were armed with up to 135 combat guns and a crew of up to 800 people. These were real floating fortresses. This is the ship that the future famous naval commander received under his command. It bore the name "Victor" and constantly cruised in the Mediterranean Sea, accompanying Russian merchant ships.

In 1783, our hero was sent to Kherson (a seaport on the Dnieper), where he dealt with the construction of warships. In the same year, an epidemic of plague broke out in Kherson. Military sailors took an active part in the fight against it. They built and guarded tent camps, where they brought the sick, and provided active medical care. For the fight against the plague, the future Admiral Ushakov received the Order of St. Vladimir IV degree.

Russian-Turkish war (1787-1791)

Quiet life ended in 1787 with the beginning of the Russian-Turkish war. Our hero received under his command the battleship of the Russian fleet "Saint Pavel". It was laid down at the Kherson shipyard and launched in 1784. With the outbreak of hostilities, as part of a squadron under the command of Rear Admiral M. I. Voinovich, the ship made a raid towards Varna. Caught in a strong storm, lost the masts of the mainsail and mizzen. Using only the foremast, returned to the port of Sevastopol.

July 3, 1788 "St. Paul" took part in the naval battle of Fridonosi as part of the Voinovich squadron. The Turkish fleet was defeated, and Russian ships pursued enemy ships for 2 days. At the beginning of 1789, Fedor Fedorovich was awarded the rank of Rear Admiral. He received command of the squadron, and "St. Paul" became the flagship in it.

On July 8, 1790, the Battle of Kerch took place.. The forces of the Turkish and Russian squadrons were approximately equal. In this naval battle, our hero fully revealed his military talent. He proved that he is able to think creatively and extraordinary. The flagship was ahead and took the main blow of the enemy. At the same time, the rear admiral controlled other ships, in no way infringing on the initiative of their commanders. This battle showed that the Russian sailors were superior to the Turks in fire training, discipline and training. The Turkish fleet was defeated. Thus, the capture of the Crimea was thwarted.

On August 28, the battle took place at Cape Tendra. This time, the forces of the Turks were almost 2 times superior to the Russian ones. But Ushakov's tactics were of a fearless offensive character. The Russian fleet effectively used the element of surprise. Forces were competently and skillfully concentrated in the direction of the main blows. The firepower of the ships was used to the maximum. To do this, it was necessary to significantly reduce the distance of the volley, which had never been done before.

The naval commander himself took an active part in the battle. He was always in the most dangerous and critical places. Thus, he was a model of selfless courage, courage and courage. As a result, the Turkish fleet was defeated. The enemy lost more than 2 thousand people killed and wounded. The losses of the Russian fleet were estimated at only 2 sailors killed and 30 wounded.

On July 31, 1791, the battle took place at Cape Kaliakria.. The enemy forces exceeded the forces of the Russian flotilla by almost 2 times. The Turkish fleet included desperate Algerian corsairs. Of the 18 battleships, they owned 7.

The battle lasted all day and ended with the victory of the Russian fleet. But the victors did not pursue the vanquished. This was prevented by the darkness that descended on the sea surface. The next morning, not a single Turkish ship was visible on the horizon, and soon an order was received to stop hostilities, as the Turks requested a truce.

In this battle, active offensive tactics were again used. The surprise factor played a decisive role in the victory. A powerful blow was dealt to the flagship and the ships accompanying it. This disrupted the order of battle of the Turkish fleet, introduced confusion and panic into the actions of people. A powerful fire attack from a short distance completed everything. At the same time, the enemy suffered huge losses both in manpower and materiel.

Service in the Mediterranean

In 1798, our hero was appointed commander of all naval forces in the Mediterranean. This appointment was not only military, but also political. The point was that France from 1792 to 1802 was shaken by revolutionary wars. In 1798, France took control of Switzerland. In opposition to this, the European countries created a coalition, which included England, Russia, Sweden, Austria, Southern Italy (Kingdom of Naples) and Turkey.

On land, Russian-Austrian troops smashed the French under the command of Suvorov. And at the head of the naval forces stood Admiral Ushakov. His military talent was in no way inferior to the talent of the illustrious generalissimo, he only showed himself on the water surface, and not on the earth's firmament.

Fedor Fedorovich stood at the head of the combined Russian-Turkish squadron. Its main task was to capture the island of Corfu, occupied by the French invaders. They concentrated large land and sea forces on the island. The allied squadron blocked the island from the sea, and early in the morning of February 18, 1799, the assault on the French fortifications began. On February 20, the invaders threw out the white flag. For this victory, our hero received the rank of admiral.

The further actions of the talented naval commander were to strengthen the military and political power of the Russian Empire in the Mediterranean. It should be noted that Fedor Fedorovich coped with this task brilliantly. He supported the British in the siege of Malta. But in June 1800, Austria made peace with France. The coalition has ceased to be a single and monolithic force. Therefore, the presence of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean became inappropriate. At the end of October 1800, the squadron returned to the port of Sevastopol after 2 and a half years of sailing.

Career decline

After the assassination of Paul I, the Russian throne was taken by his son Alexander I. He treated the brilliant naval commander without due respect. Fedor Fedorovich was removed from all posts and given command of the Baltic Rowing Fleet. In 1807, our hero was dismissed.

He left for the Tambov province in the village of Alekseevka. Here they bought the estate in 1805. In 1812, the great naval commander did not participate in any military operations for health reasons. Died October 2, 1817. He was buried on the territory of the Sanaksar Monastery, 3 km from the city of Temnikov.

Canonization

In August 2001, the glorious Russian naval commander was canonized as a locally venerated saint. In 2004, he was canonized as a righteous saint. He is revered as the patron saint of the Russian naval forces.

Alexander Arsentiev

"... do not stick to the rules, like a blind wall, because there the orders are written, but there are no times and cases."
Peter I

The activities of Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov left a deep mark on the development of the maritime power of our state. His military path and naval victories are forever inscribed in the Russian tablets, and devotion to faith, service and the Fatherland is an example for many generations of Russian soldiers. All the strategy and tactics of the brilliant naval commander were subordinated to only one goal - the destruction of the enemy. He never neglected caution and at the same time he was never afraid to engage in battle with a stronger opponent. Fedor Fedorovich always considered the courage and steadfastness of his sailors to be the main factor in victories. He tirelessly cared for the personnel of the squadrons, a well-thought-out system of education and a humane attitude towards a simple sailor in many respects made him related to Suvorov, who highly valued the moral qualities of the Russian people. The admiral often repeated to his officers: "Remember the immutable rule - the commander of the ship is revered as the father of the entire crew."

Fedor Ushakov was born on February 24, 1745 in the village of Burnakovo, which lies in the Yaroslavl province. He came from a poor noble family. His father, Fyodor Ignatievich, and his mother, Paraskeva Nikitichna, were people of strict morals, deeply religious. In post-Petrine times, it was customary for young noblemen to be assigned to the guard. He served in the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment and was the father of the future admiral. Returning to his native village, Fedor Ignatievich took up raising children and household chores. The Ushakov family was listed in the parish of the Church of the Epiphany-on-Ostrov, which stood on the banks of the Volga near Burnakovo. In this temple, little Fedor was baptized, and there, at the school for the children of nobles, he studied counting and literacy.

In the rural wilderness there was enough space for physical development. The boy grew up active and mobile, loved hunting and fishing. With adults, I repeatedly went to bear. The qualities discovered in childhood - fearlessness, conscious riskiness - later became stronger in the character of Ushakov. Modest, compliant in ordinary conditions, Fyodor Fyodorovich was transformed in moments of danger.

At the age of sixteen, the future admiral was presented to the Heraldmeister Office of the Senate for a review, where he expressed his ardent desire to study at the Naval Cadet Corps, located in St. Petersburg. It was there that Ushakov was enrolled in February 1761. He distinguished himself by good studies, diligently comprehended the sciences he taught. He showed a special attraction to history, navigation and arithmetic. Five years later, among the best students, Fedor graduated from the corps, was awarded the rank of midshipman and sworn in - "I swear and promise ... to serve unhypocritically and faithfully, to the last drop of blood not sparing my stomach ...". The whole further life of Fedor Fedorovich became proof that he did not change this oath in any way.

After graduation from the corps in 1766, Ushakov was sent to the Baltic galley fleet. The North Seas are rarely calm, and for a still young officer, this was good practice. The first years of service were spent in intense study under the mentorship of experienced sailors. Thanks to his diligence, zealous attitude to the tasks assigned, inquisitiveness of mind and high moral qualities, midshipman Ushakov was highly appreciated by his commanders. A couple of years later he was transferred to the Azov Flotilla. Fedor Fedorovich received his first combat experience during the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. At this time, he was already sailing on the Black Sea as the captain of a small vessel. Not content with participating in hostilities, young Ushakov studied in detail the actions of our fleet in the Mediterranean, in particular in the Chesme and Navarino battles, as well as in the Seven Years' War. From the end of spring 1781, Fedor Fedorovich, heading the battleship Viktor, sailed the Mediterranean as part of Sukhotin's squadron.

In 1775, the Empress decided to create a linear fleet on the Black Sea. In 1778, thirty kilometers above the mouth of the Dnieper, an admiralty was built and the city and port of Kherson was founded. Work began on the creation of boathouses for ships, but due to the great difficulties in delivering timber from the deep regions of Russia, the construction was delayed. Things began to improve with the arrival of teams on the ships under construction. In August 1783, Fyodor Ushakov also arrived in Kherson - by that time he was already a captain of the second rank.

At the same time, an epidemic of plague broke out in the city. Quarantine was imposed everywhere, as it was believed that the disease was spread by air. In order to drive away the pestilence, people fumigated dwellings, and lit bonfires in the streets. However, the epidemic only intensified. Despite the need to continue the construction of ships, the order was given to completely stop work, throwing all their forces into the fight against the disease. The crews of the ships were withdrawn to the steppe. Doctors were sorely lacking, their duties were taken over by officers. Fedor Ushakov has developed his own quarantine regime. He divided his people into artels, each of which had a tent made of reeds with goats for airing the linen. There was a hospital tent at a distance from them, to which all the sick were immediately sent. Their clothes, along with things, were burned at the same time. Communication between artels was prohibited, and people who communicated with the sick were transferred to quarantine. Ushakov himself followed all this. As a result of Fedor Fedorovich's actions, the plague among his people ended five months earlier than in other teams. In the most difficult time, the captain did not send anyone to an overcrowded general hospital, which saved many from certain death. The diligence shown did not go unnoticed, "for skillful actions" Ushakov was promoted to captain of the first rank and awarded the Order of St. Vladimir of the fourth degree.

In the summer of 1785, Fyodor Ushakov sailed to Sevastopol from Kherson on the ship "Saint Paul". On August 11, 1787, Türkiye declared war on Russia. Two immediately deployed armies - Yekaterinoslavskaya G.A. Potemkina and Ukrainskaya P.A. Rumyantsev received orders to guard the country's borders. Only the Sevastopol fleet had orders to act decisively. And the first battle was not long in coming. Opponents discovered each other on June 29, 1788, and on July 3, a naval battle took place near Fidonisi. With a triple superiority in guns, the Turks attacked in two columns, one of which fell on the vanguard headed by Fedor Fedorovich, and the second rushed to the rest of the Russian squadron, trying to paralyze it and not let it help. The enemy was the first to open fire on the Russian vanguard - two battleships and two 50-gun frigates. Since the distance did not allow our sailors to effectively shoot from 12-pounder guns, Ushakov decided to perform a daring maneuver. He gave the order to the captains of the frigates to bypass the leading Turkish ships from the windward side, placing them "in two fires." "Saint Paul" went on a decisive counterattack. "Using skill and diligence", maneuvering, Fedor Fedorovich deprived the commander of the Turkish ships of the opportunity to surround his ships and capture them for boarding. As a result of the battle at close range, the enemy flagship received serious damage. The Turks abandoned their original plans and chose to leave the battle area.

This battle did not have much effect on the position of the entire campaign, but it was remarkable in another way. A small Russian squadron for the first time won a victory over superior enemy forces in open battle. Leading only the vanguard, Ushakov actually controlled the battle of the entire fleet. It was only thanks to his personal courage, skillful tactical moves and outstanding qualities of the commander that the battle was decided in our favor. His attack could have brought much more fruit if not for the inaction of the commander of the entire squadron, Voinovich, who did not support Ushakov and limited himself to a rare skirmish with the ships of the second part of the Turkish forces. In the report, Fedor Fedorovich attributed all the success to the actions of his subordinates:

“Everyone in the team of the “St. Paul” entrusted to me performed the positions assigned by him from me with such a brave spirit and excellent diligence that I consider it a necessary duty to attribute worthy praise to them ...”.

From that moment, the true formation of the Black Sea Fleet began, its famous military traditions began to be laid. The first year of the war ended with convincing victories for Russian sailors, who brought the Ottoman Port "into incredible fear and horror." At the beginning of 1790, Fedor Ushakov received the rank of Rear Admiral and was placed in command of the entire Black Sea Fleet. In May, he visited with a squadron under the walls of Anapa and Sinop, destroying enemy ships, reconnaissance Turkish fortresses, causing panic in their garrisons. In the middle of the summer of 1790, a new major battle took place near the Kerch Strait, in which Ushakov again won a brilliant victory. He wrote: "I myself am surprised at the courage and agility of my people." Perhaps such fearlessness shown by the participants in the battle speaks of the example of their commander. Russian sailors already knew: where Ushakov is, there is victory! Potemkin informed the Empress:

"... the battle was cruel, and for us it is all the more glorious that the rear admiral attacked the enemy twice as strong as himself ..., severely defeated and drove until night...".

After the defeat at Kerch, Turkish ships scattered all over the sea began to gather again in one squadron. Selim III - Turkish Sultan, wanted revenge. He sent an experienced sailor, Admiral Said Bey, to help the commander of Gassan Pasha, intending to turn the course of events in his favor. But it is one thing to assume, and another to meet face to face with Ushakov's squadron. On August 28, early in the morning, the sailors of the Turkish fleet, anchored between the island of Tendra and Gadzhibey (in the future Odessa), were surprised to find the Russian fleet coming at them under full sail from Sevastopol. The sight of our ships brought the Turks into terrible confusion. Despite the numerical superiority, their ships began to leave for the Danube. Ushakov's squadron, approaching the distance of a canister shot, brought down on the Turks the full power of airborne artillery. The ensuing battle was astounding in its enormity. After an hour and a half of the battle, the Turkish ships, having suffered losses in personnel and received severe damage, began to leave the line one by one. The pursuit of the disorderly retreating ships continued until dark and resumed the next day. Pursuing the Turks, the Russian squadron cut off and surrounded two battleships. One of them, the Meleki-Bahri, was later captured, the other, the flagship of Said Bey, the 74-gun Kapudaniya, bravely defended itself until well-aimed shots from the Nativity of Christ knocked all the masts off it. Only after that the flag was lowered on Kapudaniya. Subsequently, Ushakov reported: “People from the Turkish ship, jumping upstairs, asked for mercy and salvation. Noticing this, I ordered the battle to be stopped and armed boats sent for rescue, because during the battle the desperation and courage of Admiral Said Bey were boundless. He did not surrender the ship until it was utterly wrecked." The Russian sailors managed to remove Said Bey and most of his crew from the Kapudaniya in flames, after which the flagship took off into the air. “Our people gave such a pepper to the Turks, whatever,” Prince Potemkin enthusiastically spoke about this event.

The Russian-Turkish war at sea ended in 1791 with the brilliant victory of Fyodor Fedorovich at Cape Kaliakria. Turkish ships stood on the approaches to the cape in a line under the cover of coastal batteries. As before at Tendra, the appearance of the Russians was a complete surprise for the enemy. Being in the wind, Ushakov, taking advantage of the turmoil in the camp of the enemy, made an amazing decision - to lead the fleet in a marching formation, consisting of three columns, between Turkish ships and a scorching coastal battery. A tremendous battle ensued. The ships of the Turks were so cramped that they hit each other. Ushakov on the flagship "Christmas" approached the ship of the commander, the Algerian Seit-Ali. The core from the Russian ship smashed the fore-topmast to smithereens, and the flying off chip wounded Seit-Ali in the chin. The Algerian leader, who boasted of the capture of Ushakov, was taken bloodied to the cabin. Russian ships at that time were completing the defeat of the enemy, and only a change in the wind, powder smoke and the ensuing darkness saved the Turkish fleet from complete destruction. The enemy lost twenty-eight ships, the rest were blown across the sea. Soon the remnants of the flotilla of the "glorious Algerian" reached the fortresses of the Bosphorus. The sight of five battleships and five small ships was terrifying. “Many without masts were also damaged that they would not be able to serve in the future,” the decks were littered with the wounded, and to top it all, the sinking ship Seit-Ali entered the raid, asking for help with cannon volleys. "Great! Our fleet is no more!” the Turkish sultan was informed.

The victory at Kaliakria greatly influenced the outcome of the entire campaign. The peace treaty was concluded in Iasi on December 29, 1791. For this victory, Rear Admiral Fyodor Ushakov was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. The Turks were afraid to meet on the high seas with the formidable admiral, who received their nickname "Ushak Pasha". Until the very signing of the treaty, they did not dare to lean out of the Bosporus Strait. In this war, Fedor Fedorovich created a new maneuvering tactic, fundamentally different from the linear tactics adopted in his time. Its main features were: the allocation of a reserve, the use of unified marching and combat formations, rapid rapprochement with the enemy without rebuilding at a short distance, concentration of fire on the enemy's flagships, pursuit of the enemy until captured or completely destroyed. Each battle conducted by Ushakov contained new tactics that corresponded to specific conditions. The saturation of each of his battles with new tricks, their skillful combination with previously known ones, clearly testify to the phenomenal speed with which Fedor Fedorovich was able to navigate the situation and find the right solutions. Ushakov also attached great importance to the fire and sea skills of the personnel. Intense study both in wartime and in peacetime was the style of the admiral's daily activities. Ushakov paid considerable attention to the study of the enemy and the organization of reconnaissance.

Freed from military affairs, the illustrious naval commander returned to Sevastopol, over which he had taken command at the beginning of the war. Here he immediately set about repairing ships and building small vessels. With his personal participation, new piers were founded on the shores of local bays, and barracks and a hospital were built in the healthiest, most elevated places. Fyodor Fedorovich took care of the construction of wells, markets, roads, of supplying the city with all life supplies. Often, government funds allocated for the maintenance of the Black Sea Fleet did not arrive on time. In this case, Ushakov allocated money from his own funds so that work would not stop. At the beginning of 1793 the Empress called him to Petersburg. She wanted to see a sailor who had acquired such a loud fame, and found in him "a modest, straightforward man, not familiar with the peculiarities of secular life." In the same year, Fedor Fedorovich became vice admiral.

In 1796, Paul I ascended the throne. This was the time when revolutionary France "turned to the enslavement of neighboring states." Ushakov received an order to put the Black Sea Fleet on alert. Some time later, Sultan Selim III, having accepted the proposal of the Emperor of Russia for an alliance against France, asked to send him an auxiliary squadron. In August 1798, Fyodor Fedorovich was given the Highest order to "follow and assist the Turkish fleet against the malicious intentions of France." The Turks met our fleet with surprising friendliness. They were amazed at the neatness and strict order that prevailed on the courts. One influential nobleman remarked that "a dozen Russian ships make less noise than one Turkish boat." After staying in Constantinople for two weeks and "giving the Turks the experience of unheard of discipline and order," on September 8, the Russian squadron weighed anchor and headed for the Dardanelles, where it joined up with the main Turkish forces. Ushakov was appointed commander of the combined fleet. The Turks completely entrusted their ships to him, their leader Kadyr Bey revered the Russian Vice Admiral "like a teacher."

Thus began the famous Mediterranean campaign of Ushakov. The main task of his squadron was the capture of the Ionian Islands, the most important of which - Corfu - had hitherto been considered impregnable. The local residents of the islands occupied by the French were Orthodox Greeks, and Fyodor Fedorovich acted wisely, turning to them with a written appeal, in which he urged them to assist "in the overthrow of the atheists." The answer was the armed assistance of the population. No matter how desperately the French fought, the Russian landing by force cleared the islands of Tserigo, Kefalonia, Zante, St. Maura from them. On November 10, 1798, Ushakov noted in a report: "... except for Corfu, all the other islands were liberated from the hands of the French." After that, having gathered all his forces, the vice-admiral laid siege to Corfu. The close blockade of the island deprived the French garrison of the opportunity to receive outside help. And in order to stop their attempts to procure provisions, an assault force was landed on Corfu. On the extremities of the island, batteries were built, which since November began to systematically shell the fortifications in order to exhaust the enemy.

And yet, the assault on the most powerful European fortress seemed an impossible task for many experienced military men - Ushakov did not have siege artillery, there were not enough ground forces. Help from the Turkish squadron was also much less than the hassle and trouble. For all their readiness to cooperate, the foreigners were so wild and disorganized that Ushakov preferred to keep them behind his forces, not letting them get involved. In addition, interruptions began in the supply of ammunition, food and materials necessary for the repair of ships. Under the contract, the Turkish side was obliged to provide all this, however, quite often there were inconsistencies due to the abuses of Turkish officials. Landing ships of the Turks, collected from the Albanian coast, instead of the promised fourteen thousand people, brought two-thirds less. In addition to problems with the allies, the siege was complicated by the most stubborn resistance of the defenders and an unusually harsh winter for southern Europe. The admiral, maintaining morale, gave the sailors examples of tireless activity, "staying day and night in labor, teaching sailors to shoot, to land and to other actions of land wars."

The period of the siege lasted three and a half months. The assault began on February 18, 1799 at seven in the morning. The combat instruction of Fedor Fedorovich was downloaded with the words:

"... to act prudently, with courage and in accordance with the laws." The first blow of the Russian squadron hit the island of Vido, which covered the main fortress from the sea. Eyewitnesses reported: "... the unfortunate island was completely blown up by buckshot ... not even a tree was left that was not damaged by this iron hail ...". The Turkish ships were behind the Russians, the admiral wrote: “if they fired at the island, then through us, and they put a couple of cores in the side of my ship ...”.

The Russian squadron under the command of F F Ushakov going through the Strait of Constantinople 1799 - Ivanov Mikhail Matveevich (1748-1823)

After the batteries on the island were destroyed, the landing began, which had been planted in advance on rowboats. Having entrenched themselves on the shore, the assault detachments, under the cover of naval artillery, moved into the middle of the island. The Turkish soldiers who were part of the landing force, fierce with resistance, killed everyone who fell into their hands. Witnesses described the cruel scenes that took place as follows: “For each head, the Muslims were given a piece of gold ... our officers and sailors, seeing all their convictions as invalid, began to ransom the prisoners with their own money.”
At two o'clock in the afternoon the defense of Vido fell, and the very next day the main stronghold of Corfu fell. It was the day of the great triumph of Fyodor Ushakov, the triumph of his strong will and military talent, supported by the courage and skill of his subordinates, their trust in their leader and his confidence in their courage. The captive General Pivron was seized with such horror that during the meal at Ushakov's he could not hold the spoon in his trembling hands. Upon learning of the victory, Suvorov exclaimed: “Hurrah for the Russian fleet! I say to myself: why was not Corfu at least a midshipman? For this victory, Emperor Paul I granted Fedor Fedorovich the rank of admiral. This was the last award he received from the sovereigns of Russia.

After the suspension of hostilities, Ushakov continued to carry out the tasks assigned to him. He was ordered to create a new statehood on the liberated islands. Fedor Fedorovich, as a representative of Russia and a faithful servant of the Fatherland, without giving up his Christian convictions, managed to organize a form of government on the Ionian Islands, which received the name of the Republic of the United Seven Islands, which became the first Greek national state of modern times. Subsequently, Ushakov said that

"I had the good fortune to liberate these islands, establish governments and keep harmony and peace in them"

At the same time, Fyodor Fedorovich had to endure considerable moral suffering. In particular, the Russian envoy in Constantinople V.S. Tomara, in a secret message, informed him of what was needed

“the more you can irritate France and Porto mutually and not force the Turks ... Let them do what they want, do with the captured French. You should not and cannot be burdened with them.”

Meanwhile, the task of Fedor Fedorovich in the Mediterranean was not yet completed. In northern Italy, our troops under the command of Suvorov destroyed the "invincible" French army. Alexander Vasilyevich asked Ushakov to give him support from the south. The two great sons of Russia, being in close cooperation, beat the enemies on land and at sea, showing the whole world what the Russian army is. Swift groups of ships with landing, moving along the southwestern coast of Italy and across the Adriatic, terrified the French garrisons. However, the activities of our naval commander were greatly complicated due to the intrigues of the commander of the “allied” English squadron, the famous Admiral Horatio Nelson. He sought to prevent our troops from gaining a foothold in the Ionian archipelago, tried in every possible way to divert Ushakov from the Adriatic Sea and Malta and send our squadron to the Levant. To do this, he sent gifts and honorary reports to Paul I, incited hostility towards the Russians on the part of the Turkish commanders who acted together with Ushakov. Fedor Fedorovich did not fall for the tricks of the Englishman, boldly and honestly expressed his disagreement to him and continued to pursue a firm line to protect the interests of our country in the Mediterranean. The calm politeness of the Russian admiral unnerved Nelson, in correspondence he stated:

“holds himself so high that it’s just disgusting ..., under his suave appearance there is a bear lurking ...”.

Our sailors took Bari, then Naples, and during the preparation of the attack on Rome, Nelson appeared on the scene again. Not wanting to see the Russians in the Eternal City, he secretly sent the French an offer of surrender with extremely favorable conditions for them. In particular, the French were allowed to keep their weapons and fight again. In addition, the British promised to send them to France on their ships. Naturally, the French agreed to such a "surrender". Ushakov, deeply indignant at the betrayal, nevertheless did not cancel the campaign against Rome. September 30, 1799 Russian sailors solemnly entered the city left by the French. They still had to take possession of Malta, but at the end of the year, relations between Russia and the allies finally went wrong, and the admiral received Paul's order to return with the squadron entrusted to him back to Sevastopol. Having prepared the ships for a long voyage, Fedor Fedorovich forever said goodbye to his beloved Islands. The Senate of Corfu presented him with a diamond-studded sword. And on a medal of pure gold from the inhabitants of the island of Ithaca, it was engraved:

"To Fyodor Ushakov, the chief commander of the Russian naval forces, the courageous liberator of Ithaca"

No less memorable were gifts from other Islands. And yet, the admiral, who knew too well the vicissitudes of high politics, left the Ionian Islands with a feeling of deep anxiety for their future fate.

On October 26, 1800, Ushakov's squadron entered the Sevastopol Bay. And on the night of March 11, 1801, Pavel was killed by conspirators. The Russian throne was occupied by his son, Alexander I, and the policy of Russia changed dramatically. Fedor Fedorovich was transferred to St. Petersburg. At the Court, opinions were expressed about the uselessness of a large fleet for a "land" country. Even the naval minister said that the fleet "is a burdensome luxury." The merits of Ushakov did not impress Alexander I, who appointed him in May 1802 to the secondary position of commander of the Baltic galley fleet. In 1804, Ushakov prepared a detailed report on his service to the Fatherland, in which he summarized his work:

“Thanks to the Lord, with all the marked battles with the enemy and during the entire stay of the fleet under my command, with the preservation of the Most High Goodness, not a single ship from Onago was lost and not a single person from our enemy got captured.”

It should be noted that ordinary people often came to the admiral's house in the northern capital with requests for help. He provided some of the needy with clothes and money, for others he was busy with wealthy gentlemen. In addition, he took upon himself the guardianship and patronage of orphaned nephews. In addition to commanding the Baltic Rowing Fleet, he was the chairman of the qualification commission at the Naval Cadet Corps and the head of the St. Petersburg naval teams. Fedor Fedorovich tried to fulfill all his duties with diligence and zeal, as was characteristic of him in any business. But the years took their toll. Diseases worsened, spiritual sorrows multiplied. The admiral watched with pain the events taking place in Europe - one of the stages of the Franco-Russian war ended, the Tilsit peace treaty passed, the Emperor of Russia became an ally of Napoleon, and the Ionian Islands were transferred to the French. All this Fedor Fedorovich had to endure.

Ushakov submitted his resignation letter to Alexander I on December 19, 1806. After retiring from official affairs, he remained in St. Petersburg for some time, continuing to help his nephews and preparing for the move. At home, in the Yaroslavl province, the admiral had several small villages, there was also a land plot near Sevastopol. However, the soul of the famous sailor asked for solitude and peace. Fedor Fedorovich decided to go to the Tambov province, to the quiet village of Alekseevka. This place was located not far from the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery, in which during the feats of arms Ushakov lived his own uncle-monk - the Monk Theodore of Sanaksar. In 1810, before leaving the capital, Ushakov, "remembering with what suddenness the hour of death happens," prepared a will. The admiral, who never had a family and children, transferred all his poor possessions to his nephews, writing:

“whom I honor as my children, and as a father I strive for their good”

.

For the rest of his life, Fedor Fedorovich lived in the village of Alekseevka in his own house. He lived in solitude, coming to the monastery for services only on Sundays and holidays. Periodically, he donated significant sums to the monastery, and also helped the surrounding tramps and the poor with alms. When the Patriotic War began, the entire Russian people rose to fight Napoleon's army. In the Tambov province, a militia was created to defend the Motherland. At the provincial meeting of the nobles, Fedor Fedorovich was elected by the majority of votes as the head of the Tambov internal militia. However, the sixty-seven-year-old sailor refused:

“With diligence and jealousy, I would like to accept this position and serve the Fatherland, however, due to the great weakness of health and illness, I can’t take it upon myself and can’t fulfill it in any way”

Meanwhile, Ushakov participated in the organization and maintenance of a hospital for the wounded, contributed a sum of money to the formation of the Tambov Infantry Regiment. And twenty thousand rubles were also transferred to them in favor of the victims of the war: “I had a long time desire to distribute all this money to the wandering and distressed, who do not have food, clothing and dwellings.” And about the French who invaded the country, the admiral said: “Do not despair! These menacing storms will yet turn to the glory of Russia. The rest of his days Ushakov lived "extremely abstemious", ending his life on October 14, 1817. He was buried in accordance with his wishes in the Sanaksar monastery.

Almost two centuries have passed since the death of the famous admiral. Many generations of Russian naval commanders and sailors lived by his precepts, who increased the glory of the national fleet. When the time came for the persecution of the church, the monastery where Fedor Ushakov rested was closed, and the chapel erected over the grave of the naval commander was destroyed. During the Great Patriotic War, the military victories of Fedor Fedorovich were again remembered. A medal and the Order of Admiral Ushakov were introduced, which became the highest awards for sailors. And his name, along with the names of Dmitry Donskoy, Alexander Nevsky and Alexander Suvorov, inspired the defenders of the Fatherland to new feats.

In 1991, the Sanaksar Monastery was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. Memorial services began to be served at Ushakov's grave, pilgrims come to bow to Fedor Fedorovich. The commission for the canonization of the saints of the Russian Orthodox Church, having carefully examined the works of the admiral in the service of Russia, did not find any obstacles to canonization. At the end of 2000, Patriarch of All Rus' Alexy II gave his blessing to glorify Fedor Ushakov in the face of the righteous.

Based on materials from the sites http://www.st-nikolas.orthodoxy.ru and http://www.navy.ru

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