The history of the destroyer "Crushing"
Destroyer destroyer belonged to a series of destroyers of the project "7". The destroyers of the project "7" (or, as they are usually called, "sevens") rightfully occupy a prominent place in our naval stories. And it is not surprising - after all, they were active participants in the Great Patriotic War, were the most massive Soviet surface ships built 30-s, it is from the "sevens" that several generations of Russian destroyers, large rocket ships and even cruisers originate from their generations. One destroyer of the type "7" became a Guards, four - red banner. At the same time, much controversial has been said and written about them. This applies particularly to the fighting of the “sevens” during the war years - here the real, often tragic events were replaced for a long time by legends. Especially a lot of rumors were always going around the tragic death of the destroyer "Smashing". The first six “sevens” managed to be laid at the end of 1935 of the year, and the next year - and all the rest. By the beginning of World War II, the Soviet Navy included an 22 destroyer of the type "Wrath." These were our most massive ships of pre-war construction.
The squadron destroyer "Smashing" was built at the plant number 189 named after S. Ordzhonikidze. The serial number of the C-292. Laid on 29.10.1936 of the year, launched on 23.08.1937 of the year, the acceptance certificate is signed on 13.08.1939 of the year. Shortly after entry into service, it was transferred along the White Sea-Baltic Canal (September - November 1939) to the Northern Fleet. In November, the destroyer arrived in Polyarny. During the war with Finland, he carried out patrol and convoy service, then engaged in combat training. From 18 July 1940 of the year to 4 July 1941 of the year underwent warranty repair at the plant number 402 in Molotovsk. Just before the start of World War II, he passed 10 380 miles.
After completion of the sea trials, the “Smashing” was incorporated into the White Sea Flotilla, where it was located until September 29. During this time, he several times escorted transports, produced 3 mine settings (set 90 mines KB-1 and 45 mines sample 1908 of the year), underwent a short-term preventive repair.
October 1 "Smashing" arrived in the Polar and entered a separate division of destroyers.
During the years of the Great Patriotic War, the Northern Fleet was the youngest and the smallest, but at the same time the most active operational unit of our Navy. By June, the 1941 of the year, its largest ships were precisely the "sevens". Five destroyers of this type ("Loud", "Terrible", "Thundering", "Swift" and "Smashing"), along with three "new ones", formed the 1-th separate division of destroyers. At the end of 1942 of the year, with the arrival of the Pacific "Reasonable", "Enraged" and the leader of "Baku", a squadron destroyer brigade was formed (commander - captain of 1 rank, then rear admiral, PI Kolchin).
Before 1, January 1942, he went out 11 once to attack enemy positions, fired 1297 130-mm projectiles. In addition, together with the "Terrible" and the British cruiser "Kent" participated in the search for German destroyers (though without results), escorted transports. The escort operation 24 – 26 in December was the hardest to do with the “Grozny”. During the 9-point storm with the 7-point wave and heavy icing of the superstructures, the ship’s roll reached 45 °, and because of the salinity of the refrigerator, it took some time for one MAL. By some miracle, the ships escaped major damage. This time, "Smashing" just got lucky, and he got to the base.
28 March, after the completion of scheduled maintenance, "Smashing" together with the "Thundering" and the English destroyer "Oribi" came out to meet the convoy PQ-13, and the next morning entered into his guard. In 11 hours of 18 minutes, with poor visibility, gunfire was heard, and after 2 minutes bursts from the “Shattering” left side of five artillery shells rose. After 6 – 7 seconds, another 3 projectile fell on the bow and stern. The destroyer increased the speed. A few seconds later, on the 130 ° course angle and the 15 cable distance, the silhouette of the ship, identified as a German Reder type destroyer, was discovered. “Smashing” opened fire and with a second salvo he achieved a covering with a shell hit the area of the second pipe of the enemy ship. He stole and sharply turned left. Our destroyer followed the 4 salvo, but no more hits were observed. The flown snow charge hid the enemy from sight. Total "Smash" released 20 130-mm shells.
This transient battle occupies a prominent place in the history of Soviet naval art, since it is the only episode in the entire Great Patriotic War when our surface combat ship collided with an opponent of his own class and even emerged as a winner. The German destroyer Z-26 is usually indicated as the enemy of the Smasher. Recently, however, materials appeared in the press in which other versions are being put forward. Thus, the authors of a number of publications, rightly pointing out that by the time being described, the Z-26 was badly damaged and shot from the cruiser "Trinidad" from the only surviving gun, and the Z-24 and Z-25 circling around the convoy were rather far from the scene of the fight. the hypothesis that the "Smashing" led the battle with ... the English destroyer "Fury". This seems unlikely, since hitting the allied destroyer (by the way, the next day, who came to Murmansk) would certainly be reflected in the documents and in the historical literature. It is more logical to assume that the Z-26 still served as the target for the Crusher’s commandos, except that someone else was firing at the Soviet destroyer, since the first 5-gunfire could not make any of the nearby destroyers ships had 4 guns of the main caliber). By the way, in the report of the Commander of the “Crushing” nothing is said about the Germans firing. So the two fallen at the side of the salvo could well have belonged to the same cruiser “Trinidad”, who took the “Smashing” and “Rattling” for the Z-24 and Z-25. In any case, there is no unequivocal explanation of some inconsistencies in the Soviet, German and English descriptions of this fight.
In April, “Smashing”, while in the escort of convoys, repeatedly repelled air attacks, again suffered an 9-10-point storm. On the evening of April 30, he entered the guard of the German submarine cruiser Edinburgh, which had five tons of gold on board, intended to pay the US on lend-lease. However, the lack of fuel made the “Smashing” 8 hours go into the base. Having replenished the supply of fuel oil, the "Smashing" evening 1 May returned to the location of the cruiser, but, alas, it was too late. Six hours before the destroyer Edinburgh arrived, it was sunk. Later, the British complained that the Soviet destroyers left their damaged cruiser at the most difficult moment. These claims had nothing to do with the Commander of the Destructive and his team, and they are completely related to the command of the Northern Fleet, which, when planning the operation, did not take into account the fuel reserves and their consumption on their ships.
May 8 "Smashing" twice went into the mouth of Ara for shelling coastal targets. According to intelligence data, both shelling were successful and caused the enemy some damage. The second campaign, however, almost ended in tragedy. During the shelling of coastal targets, "Smashing" suddenly attacked 28 German planes immediately. The destroyer managed to urgently open the anchor chain (there was no time to choose the anchor) and, successfully maneuvering, to avoid being hit by a hail of bombs falling on him. In this case, the anti-aircraft gunners managed to shoot down a bomber from the 37-mm machine gun.
From 28 to 30 in May, “Crushing” together with “Grozny” and “Kuibyshev” was in the guard of the allied convoy PQ-16. Convoy transports all this time were subjected to massive attacks by fascist bombers and torpedo bombers. On May 29, in just one attack, the Germans dropped X-NUMX torpedoes on convoy ships, but none of them hit the target, but the Focke-Wulf torpedo bomber shot down an 14-mm projectile with X-line cable from 76. The next day, a direct hit by the 35-mm projectile of the destroyer destroyed another aircraft, this time the Junkers-76, and the other two were damaged. And here the Smasher team was the best of the best. As for the destroyers of the destroyer, they were rightly considered the best in the entire Northern Fleet. In the evening of May 88, the convoy transports securely covered by our destroyers safely reached the Kola Bay.
July 8 "Smashing" together with "Thundering" were sent to meet the notorious convoy PQ-17. Along the way, the destroyers hit the floating 4-point ice. Forced to slow down to small and unable to maneuver, on the night of 10 July, they were attacked by four Yu-88 bombers who dropped 8 bombs on each ship. Fortunately, there were no direct hits, but from close gaps "Smashing" received light damage and deformation of the hull. Later, the attack was repeated, but the destroyers were again lucky - they lost this attack without loss. However, our ships did not succeed in meeting the vehicles, and they were forced to return to Vaengu.
During the summer-fall of 1942, the "Smashing" underwent a short-term preventive maintenance. At this time, the ship was also used to escort transports, was engaged in combat training. Since the beginning of the war until September 1 of 1942, the "Smashing" 40 has done combat campaigns, having traveled a total of 22 385 miles over 1516 running hours. Without a doubt, it was one of the most combat ships of the Soviet Navy at that time.
In total, during the war years, “Smashing” launched 1639 130-mm projectiles (including 84 - by aircraft), 855 - 76-mm and 2053 - 37-mm projectile, while shooting down 6 enemy aircraft (2 of them together with other ships ). During the same time, two incidents of spontaneous torpedo firing occurred on the ship (during one of them the Red Navy Starchikov was killed). Two more sailors drowned in accidents - this exhausts the loss of personnel of the ship until his last voyage. Not a single person was injured from the combat impact of the enemy on the “Destructive”.
17 November 1942 of the year from Arkhangelsk went into the sea the next convoy QP-15. The allied transports and 26 of the British escort ships unloaded in the Arkhangelsk port 11 were returning to Iceland for a new batch of military cargo for the fighting Soviet Union.
At the first stage of the transition in the zone of responsibility of the Northern Fleet, the forces of the convoy were always strengthened by the Northern Fleet ships. This time, the leader of “Baku” was singled out to accompany the QP-15 under the pennant of the division commander of the battalion of 1 rank P.I. Kolchina (the leader’s commander is the captain of the 2 rank, VP Belyaev) and the destroyer destroyer (the commander is the captain of the 3 rank, MA Kurilekh). Under the conditions of a brutal storm that reached hurricane force on November 9, 20, with frequent snow charges and almost zero visibility, convoy ships and escort ships lost sight of each other. The convoy dispersed and it became, in essence, no one to protect. For convoy ships, the severity of the storm was compensated for by the safety of possible attacks by German submarines and aircraft. Attacking in a stormy sea with such a huge wind force and great excitement was impossible. Therefore, with the permission of the convoy commander, the Soviet ships, before reaching the designated escort point, began to return to the base independently.
When returning to Polarniy on the leader of “Baku”, the hull tightness was broken by the blows of nine-point force waves, all bow rooms on the 29-th frame were flooded, water penetrated into the 2-e and 3-e boilers - only boiler No. 1 remained in operation. The condition of the ship was critical, the roll reached the 40 ° aboard. The personnel led a desperate struggle for flooding. With serious damage, but "Baku" still reached the base, where he had to get in for repairs.
The destroyer Smasher had a lot worse. A strong wind with snow charges spread a big wave. The speed of the "Smasher" fell to a minimum, the ship held its nose against the waves. But it did not help much. Soon, “Baku” was lost sight of, and, in order to detect it, they started shooting from the destroyer with lighting shells and shining a searchlight, but to no avail ...
It is not known whether the battalion commander, captain of the 1 rank Kolchin, gave the order to the Kuriluha “Smashing” commander to go to the base on his own. The fact that they gave rockets to the “Smasher” while trying to find “Baku” indicates that, most likely, there was no command from the divisional commander on the destroyer at all. So Kuriluha had to act at his own peril and risk.
Thus, we can talk about the non-fulfillment of the divisional division of the direct duties of the divisional commander - after all, he, as the detachment commander, was responsible not only for the leader on whom he held his pennant, but also for the destroyer subordinate to him. Kolchin essentially quit the “Smashing” to the mercy of fate. The only thing that justifies the divisional division in this case is the plight of “Baku” itself, who barely made it to the base. Of course, in such a state, the leader could not render any substantial assistance to the destroyer. Most likely, it was this argument that was taken into account in the investigation of the incident with “Crushing”, and no one had accused Kolchin of anything. About him as if just forgotten.
Provided to itself, "Crushing", consistently changing the course from 210 to 160 ° and gradually slowing down to 5 nodes, with difficulty "raked" against the wave, having in operation the main boilers No. 1 and 3 (No. 2 was in the "hot reserve" ), 2 turbo-generator, 2 turbo-fire pump, fuel supply was about 45% of the total (only in the area of machine-boiler rooms), the remaining reserves were within normal limits. November 20 in 14 h. 30 min. in the aft cockpit, a strong crash was heard (audible and on the bridge) - the sheets of the upper deck between the aft superstructure and 130-mm gun No. 4 burst, just where the stringers ended and the hull area with a transverse dialing system (173 frame ). At the same time, a corrugation was formed on the outer lining of the left side, then a break in both shafting lines followed. Within 3 minutes, the aft part was torn off and sank, taking with it six sailors who did not have time to leave the steering and other fodder compartments. Soon followed by a powerful explosion - it worked, reaching a predetermined depth, detonators of depth charges ... The situation in an instant became critical.
The remaining feed compartments were quickly filled with water before the aft bulkhead of the 2-th engine compartment (159-th frame). The ship that lost its turn turned to the wave, the rolling motion reached 45 – 50 °, and keel - 6 °. There was a trim on the stern, the stability decreased slightly, which was noticeable by the increased period of pitching; the ship was "lying" in a tilted position. The deck and superstructures were continuously covered with a wave, movement along the upper deck was extremely difficult, and hard work was seething at the bottom; reinforced and sealed the aft bulkhead of the engine room, drained the compartments of the 159-173-th frame, using not only the standard ejector, but also the oil pumping pump. All mechanisms functioned flawlessly, the work of dewatering facilities and lighting was fully ensured, the water filtration almost stopped, the feed bulkheads absorbed the impacts of the waves, the ship's stability improved and the trim decreased. Even reserve boiler No. 2 was put into action (the commander of the electromechanical warhead took the initiative) in order to “load the personnel with the work”. It remained only to wait for help. However, even this hope in the conditions of the most severe storm was rather doubtful ...
Upon learning of the accident, Golovko ordered the leader of “Baku” to immediately go to the aid of “Shattering”. At the same time, orders were given to the destroyer destroyers Uritsky and Kuibyshev, located in Iokanka, and the destroyer destroyer Reasonable, located in the Kola Bay, also to go to the aid of the Destructive and, finding it, to lead to the Kola Bay; “Squall” and “Memory of Ruslan” rescue vessels, towing vessel No. 2 should be ready to sail.
Destroyers out on purpose. An hour later, another radiogram arrived from Kurilekh: “The stern was torn off in a wave to the engine room. Poop drowned. Hold on the surface. The wind is south, ten points ... ”
The “Shattering” location is latitude 75 degrees 1 minute, longitude 41 degrees 25 minutes. It is four hundred and twenty miles north of Iokanka.
About 18 hours 15 minutes approached “Kuibyshev” (commander Gonchar) and “Uritsky” (commander Kruchinin) under the general command of Simonov (commander of the division). Later approached "Reasonable" (commander of the ship Sokolov).
The state of the sea in the area where the “Shattering” was found was no better than the day before. Attempts by the “Reasonable” to approach the ship that had crashed and to take it in tow ended in failure. Twice we started the tug, and twice the tug burst. Meanwhile, the weather has deteriorated further. Reporting this, Sokolov asked for permission to remove people and refuse to tow. Apparently, to remove people is the only way to save them. Sokolov's decision is correct in the first part, but it is premature to refuse to tow. First you need to remove people, then we will see.
From the following report it is clear that Sokolov did not succeed in either one or the other. To approach the board of the “Shattering” was impossible. The ships threw so hard that when they approached, they had to crash against each other. Attempts to keep the “Reasonable” machines in place at the approach to the maximum possible distance were not successful. Many times, the “Reasonable” approached the “Shattering” in order to enable the people of the damaged ship to get on the deck of the “Reasonable”. It was possible to safely jump from the board of the “Crushing” to the deck of the “Reasonable” only one person. That ended Sokolov's attempts to remove people.
Soon came “Kuibyshev” and “Uritsky”, both types “Novik”. Ships of this type are better kept on the wave.
Since the fleet headquarters sent a warning about enemy submarines in the area, Sokolov on Rasumniy took on the task of providing ships with anti-submarine defense, and Kuybyshev and Uritzky engaged in removing the personnel from Smashing.
Of Simonov's intention to bring the “Kuibyshev” overboard to the “Shattering”, of course, nothing happened. I had to adjust the crossing of people with the help of an arbor. Simultaneously with the emergency ship was produced fuel oil, which somewhat reduced the excitement of the sea at the side. And yet the steel ends almost immediately broke off. Then the hemp rope from “Kuibyshev” was wound up and a gazebo was attached to the cable. It was impossible to transport people in such a way, into such a wave, and even in snow charges. And yet it was done. Simonov was in charge of the stern, from where he got the cable and where the people of the “Shattering” began to ship, and the commander of the “Kuibyshev” Gonchar controlled the machines with the help of a machine telegraph, trying to maneuver the moves so as not to tear the hemp cable. Both, Simonov and Gonchar, acted not only skillfully, but also with great skill, both fully possess maritime prowess, flair and will.
Ninety-seven people of the “Shattering” had already been transferred to the “Kuybyshev”, when the hemp rope had burst.
The weather continued to deteriorate. It was necessary to resort to another method: to shoot people with the help of lifebuoys tied every two meters to the new hemp cable. Such cables, each 300 meters in length, were fed to the “Smashing” from one side of the “Kuibyshev”, from the opposite side - the “Uritsky”. It’s hard to imagine how it all looked in the snow charges, covering the ships every now and then, in the swell of the sea, seven or eight points, in the dark ... Nevertheless, there is already a message that in this way, pulling lifebuoys with people in them, it was possible to take on board “Kuibyshev” seventy-nine more. “Uritsky” took eleven.
An 15 man was left aboard the “Smashing”, among them was a miner, Senior Lieutenant Lekarev, and Deputy Commander for the Political Section of CU-5, Senior Lieutenant Vladimirov. Where are the other officers? It is clear with Kurilekh: he was in a hurry to save his person, and where is the deputy, first mate, navigator, artilleryman and others? Did they follow the example of Kurilikha? ..
Asked by the fleet headquarters, Vladimirov said that the command had left the ship. Immediately, he very sensibly reported on the measures he had taken: he raised pairs, launched mechanisms. The final words of the report of Vladimirova: - the destroyer keeps well.
In connection with the departure of destroyers from the “Shattering” Golovko ordered to immediately go there “Loud”. He came out at 17 hours. Information about his movement is not very encouraging. In 18 hours 10 minutes, when leaving the Kola Bay, lay on the course 60 degrees, walked at a speed of 20 knots with light wind and calm sea. However, as the ship moved north toward the 21 hour, the wind and the wave gradually increased to six points. Due to the strong impacts of the wave into the hull, the “Loud” stroke is reduced to 15 nodes. After 45 minutes, the wind and the wave are already seven points. Reducing the course to ten knots, “Loud” turned the wind to reduce the impact of the waves.
Golovko later recalled in his memoirs:
“I regret that I did not send minesweepers yesterday to the“ Shattering ”. Rumyantsev offered to send them, but then I did not accept his proposal. That's my fault. I was sure, after the destroyers discovered the “Smashing”, they would be able to take it in tow. Lost day, because you still need to send minesweepers.
I call P.V. Panfilova (commander of the minesweepers' battalion) and set him the task of reaching the “Destructive” with two minesweepers - TSC-36 and TSC-39; remove all who stayed on the broken ship; then take it in tow and lead to the Kola Bay, if the weather permits; if the weather does not allow either to take people off or to tow the ship, then stay with the “Shattering” and guard it until the weather improves; if the destroyer cannot be towed due to its good condition in good weather, remove all personnel from it, after which the ship will be destroyed and destroyed. In 23 hours, both minesweepers went to their destination. ”
“Reasonable” in 15 hours 15 minutes, and “Kuibyshev” and “Uritsky” in 15 hours 30 minutes left from “Smashing”, as you cannot continue saving personnel with the ends and lifebuoys, and wait for better weather does not allow fuel : it on all three ships was left on the way back. Before leaving, Simonov gave a semaphore to “Smashing” that everyone who remained on board the broken ship would be removed by a submarine as soon as the weather improved.
It was impossible to continue the removal of the personnel of the “Destructive” on the destroyers in the situation that had developed. The waves began to roll through the ships, and a threat was created for the lives of all people on all ships. The withdrawal of personnel was accompanied by victims: eight people died from the blows of the waves on the hull and under the screws, ten people were taken aboard the Kuibyshev and Uritzky in an unconscious state, they could not be saved.
Total accepted: on the “Kuibyshev” 179 people, on the “Uritsky” - 11, on the “Reasonable” - one.
Finally, they asked how many people were left on board. From the destroyer they answered: “Fifty mazut”. The question was repeated, adding that the minesweepers were already on the way. Then a rocket flew over the G-7, then another, a third ... At first they decided on the bridge that a table of conditional signals was used, but the fourth rocket went, the fifth, and it became clear that each rocket is a farewell volley over a grave that has not yet been dug counted fifteen.
Both minesweepers (TSC-36 and TSC-39) arrived at 9 10 hours on November 25 minutes in the area of the “Shattering” accident and began to search the front, shifting tacks to the east. Ships kept at the limit of each other's visibility. Visibility at the start of the search from 10 to 12 cable. The search is carried out in conditions of snow charges with a northwest wind of up to five points. The excitement of the sea four points. Nothing like what happened for several days. “Shattering” was not found ...
November 26 Commissar of the Navy N.G. Kuznetsov signed a directive to investigate the death of the destroyer Smash No. 613 / Ш, and on November 30 a directive on the preparation of an order for the death of the destroyer Smash No. 617 / Ш.
In mid-December, the Northern Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Golovko 1942, with pain in his heart, as he writes in his memoirs, signed an order: stop the search for "Smashing", consider the ship dead.
Were brought to court Kurileh, Rudakov, Kalmykov, Isaenko. The navigator, signalman and lukpoy sent to the penal platoon. The commander of the ship Kurilekh was shot.
The story of the tragedy of the destroyer "Crushing" showed not only examples of cowardice, but also great self-sacrifice in the name of saving the comrades. Therefore, those who are trying to hide the truth about this tragic page of our naval history are wrong. “Smashing” was, and we are obliged to remember those who died in his military posts, having fulfilled his military and human duty to the end.
1. Lekarev Gennady Evdokimovich, 1916 year of birth, senior lieutenant, commander of the warhead-3.
2. Vladimirov Ilya Alexandrovich, (1910), political instructor CU-5.
3. Belov Vasily Stepanovich, (1915), chief senior engineer, bilge machinist team foreman.
4. Sidelnikov Semen Semenovich, (1912), midshipman; main boatswain.
5. Boyko Trofim Markovich, (1917), foreman of the 2 article, commander of the turbinist machinist department.
6. Nagorny Fedor Vasilyevich, (1919), sailor, signalman
7. Lyubimov Fedor Nikolaevich, (1914), senior sailor, boiler driver senior.
8. Nikolai Kuzmich Gavrilov, (1917), senior sailor, turbinist senior engineer.
9. Purygin Vasily Ivanovich, (1917), senior sailor, boiler driver senior.
10. Zimovets Vladimir Pavlovich, (1919), sailor, electrician.
11. Savinov, Mikhail Petrovich, (1919), sailor, bilge driver.
12. Ternovoy Vasily Ivanovich, (1916), foreman of the 2 article, the commander of the mechanics department.
13. Artemiev Prokhor Stepanovich, (1919), sailor, boiler driver.
14. Dremlyuga Grigory Semenovich, (1919), sailor, boiler driver.
15. Chebiryako Grigory Fedorovich, (1917), senior sailor, range finder senior.
16. Shilatyrkin Pavel Alekseevich, (1919), sailor, boiler driver.
17. Bolshov Sergey Tikhonovich, (1916), senior sailor, electrician senior.
Approximate place of death of the destroyer “Smashing”: 73 latitude 30 minutes north, longitude 43 00 degrees east. Now, this region of the Barents Sea has been declared a memorable place, passing which the ships of the Northern Fleet lowered the St. Andrew’s flags.
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