The tragedy of the Russian fleet: the death of Admiral Makarov and Petropavlovsk
Squadron battleship "Petropavlovsk" - explosion on a mine near the Port Arthur fortress, March 31, 1904.
120 years ago, on March 31, 1904, the battleship Petropavlovsk hit a mine and sank in the outer roadstead of Port Arthur. About 700 crew members and Vice Admiral Makarov were killed
The Russian fleet suffered an irreparable loss, it was a disaster. After all, the Russian fleet lost not only its flagship, but also an experienced, talented and very popular naval commander, who was equally loved by sailors and officers. As soon as he arrived at the theater of military operations, Stepan Osipovich managed to efficiently organize the defense of Port Arthur. Many researchers consider this fatal event to be one of the reasons for Russia’s final defeat in the war with Japan.
General situation
From the very beginning of the war, the Japanese tried to paralyze the activities of the Russian Pacific fleet, since Russian ships were a threat to Japan's sea communications. The success of the Russian fleet could sharply worsen the position of the Japanese armed forces at the front and even lead the Japanese Empire to defeat in the war. Therefore, the Japanese considered the blockade of Port Arthur and the liquidation of the Russian fleet to be one of their main tasks.
On the night of January 27 (February 9), 1904, before the official declaration of war, 8 Japanese destroyers conducted a torpedo attack on the ships of the Russian fleet stationed on the outer roadstead of Port Arthur. As a result of the attack, two of the best Russian battleships (Tsesarevich and Retvizan) and the armored cruiser Pallada were disabled for several months. This allowed Japan to calmly land an army in Korea and occupy the peninsula.
On the morning of February 24, the Japanese attempted to scuttle several old transports at the entrance to Port Arthur harbor in order to trap the Russian squadron inside. The plan was foiled by the battleship Retvizan, which was located on the outer roadstead of the harbor.
On March 8, 1904, Admiral Makarov (at the same time he was a prominent scientist in the maritime field) and the famous shipbuilder Nikolai Kuteynikov arrived in Port Arthur, along with several wagons of spare parts and equipment for repairing damaged ships. Makarov immediately took energetic measures to restore the combat effectiveness of the Russian squadron, which led to an increase in military spirit in the fleet.
On March 27, the Japanese again tried to close the exit from Port Arthur harbor, using 4 old vehicles filled with stones and cement. The transports, however, were sunk too far from the harbor entrance.
The battleships "Sevastopol", "Poltava" and "Petropavlovsk" (right) at sea. 1904
Search for "Scary"
Having received intelligence information that the enemy was preparing to land troops on the Kwantung Peninsula, and about the concentration of a large number of ships in Korea in connection with this landing, Admiral Makarov sent for reconnaissance to the Elliot Islands. Enemy ships could be located there. On the evening of March 30 (new style April 12), 1904, eight destroyers (“Boevoy”, “Grozny”, “Hardy”, “Silent”, “Storozhevoy”, “Rastoropny”, “Brave” and “Terrible”) under the flags of the commander The 1st detachment of destroyers, captain 2nd rank E.P. Eliseev, and the commander of the 2nd detachment of destroyers, captain 2nd rank M.V. Bubnov, left Port Arthur.
Each of the detachment commanders led a group of 4 destroyers from his detachment. The destroyer "Strashny" was part of the second group. By midnight the detachment entered the group of islands. At night the weather worsened: it began to rain and fog appeared. There was a threat of losing each other, which is what happened. The destroyers turned back. Around 22 p.m. 15 minutes. That night, “Terrible” and “Brave” lost their squad and tried to find it together, but during the maneuvering they also lost each other.
The situation was complicated by the fact that the commander of the “Terrible”, captain of the 2nd rank Konstantin Yurasovsky, had only recently arrived in the Far East and was practically unfamiliar with local peculiarities. The destroyer was delivered by rail in parts, assembled in Port Arthur and became part of the Pacific Fleet on March 1 (old style) 1904 - just 30 days before her death.
Meanwhile, the Japanese began implementing a new plan to neutralize the Russian fleet. They planned to lay mines at the entrance to Port Arthur, and then lure the Russian squadron there, leaving bait (a small detachment) behind the minefield. The role of bait was played by a detachment of cruisers. The Koryu Maru transport has been converted for minelaying. He is accompanied by the 2nd, 4th and 5th destroyer detachments. They are also tasked with distracting the attention of the Russians. At 11 pm the destroyers arrived at their destination and laid mines. On the night of March 31 (April 13), the Japanese ships quietly left.
Admiral Makarov was reported about the strange maneuvers of unknown destroyers. However, he considered that these were our destroyers, which had previously gone to sea on his orders. Therefore, no measures were taken. In the morning, the fleet commander, who was on the duty cruiser Diana, was going to start a search.
Stepan Osipovich Makarov (December 27, 1848 - March 31, 1904) - Russian naval leader, hero of the Russo-Japanese War, oceanographer, polar explorer, shipbuilder, vice admiral. Inventor of mine transport, developer of the theory of unsinkability, pioneer of the use of icebreakers. In 1895 he developed the Russian semaphore alphabet
"Terrible" takes the fight
At this time, the Russian destroyer is looking for its ships. The search was unsuccessful, and Yurasovsky sent the ship to the lighthouse of Mount Laoteshan. At about 2 o'clock in the morning, the signalmen of the "Terrible" noticed the lights and silhouettes of six ships in the sea - this was one of the detachments of Japanese destroyers. On the "Terrible" they mistook them for their ships and joined the detachment. The Japanese also mistook it for their ship. At dawn, the call signs were raised on the Scary.
The Japanese realized their mistake and offered to surrender. Yurovsky rejected the offer. Japanese ships opened fire on the Russian ship. Four Japanese destroyers and two twin-tube cruisers fanned out and began shooting at the Scary. An unequal battle takes place abeam Sikau Bay, 15-18 miles from Port Arthur.
The destroyer tried to break through to its base, but was overtaken. With the second salvo, the Japanese managed to hit the destroyer with a 6-inch shell, which killed commander Yurasovsky and destroyed the bow 76-mm gun. Lieutenant Ermiy Maleev took command. The destroyer, using a torpedo from the bow apparatus, was able to damage the enemy cruiser. A second cruiser came to his aid. There were 4 destroyers left against the "Terrible".
According to Japanese data, 4 Ikazuchi-class destroyers of the detachment of Captain 1st Rank Ishida (Ikazuchi, Inazumo, Oboro, Akebono) initially took part in the battle with the “Terrible”; there were no cruisers in the battle area at all , the Japanese also deny that a torpedo hit their ships.
Approximately 7 minutes after the start of the battle, a torpedo exploded in the stern apparatus of the “Terrible” from a shell that hit it. As a result of this explosion, almost all the servants of the torpedo tube and the stern 47-mm gun were killed, the cylinders of both vehicles were damaged and the main steam line was interrupted. The ship lost speed. The Japanese then shot down the ship's rear funnel. Many dead.
Of stories:
“The destroyer was completely beaten up, the boats were turned into chips, the rudder was damaged, there were many holes, three quarters of the crew were out of action.”
After a short meeting, the survivors agree to die, but not surrender to the enemy.
The Japanese ships approached the Russian destroyer, which had lost the ability to maneuver and most of its weapons, to a distance of 70-80 meters and shot at point-blank range. At this time, the “Brave” approached the sounds of shooting, but when the enemy ships turned in its direction and opened fire, its commander M.K. Bakhirev did not accept the battle and left at full speed for Port Arthur. In his defense, Bakhirev reported that the “Terrible” was already sinking by that time, but this was not the case.
The unequal battle ended with the death of the Russian destroyer. About 6 o'clock. 15 minutes. In the morning the ship sank with the St. Andrew's flag raised. From 8 to 12 surviving sailors with Lieutenant Maleev ended up in the water. The battle lasted almost an hour and a half. 4 officers and 53 lower ranks died with the ship.
About 6 o'clock. 30 min. the cruiser Bayan arrived, the Japanese destroyers retreated. Only 5 sailors of the “Terrible” were rescued from the water, as a detachment of Japanese cruisers (6 pennants) appeared on the horizon. The commander of the Bayan, R. Viren, ordered the rescue operation to be canceled (3 more sailors were seen in the water) and to retreat to the main forces of the squadron, which was leaving Port Arthur. "Bayan" left. It is possible that the Japanese picked up and captured three Russian sailors.
In memory of the heroic battle, four Russian destroyers were named: “Terrible”, “Captain Yurasovsky”, “Lieutenant Maleev”, “Mechanical Engineer Dmitriev”
The death of "Petropavlovsk"
At 7 o'clock in the morning, Admiral Makarov personally comes to the aid of Bayan with the battleship Poltava and four cruisers (Bayan, Askold, Diana, Novik). The commander's banner on the Petropavlovsk. Other ships were not waiting, the raid was not cleared, but the minefield was successfully passed.
Japanese cruisers opened fire on the Russian squadron. Makarov ordered to answer. The Japanese ships retreated. Meanwhile, the enemy’s main forces appear in sight - six battleships and two new armor-piercing cruisers, Nissin and Kasuga. The enemy has superior forces. Makarov decides to turn to Port Arthur. Here he was joined by the battleships Pobeda and Peresvet, and the commander again approached the enemy. This time the course led directly to the mines.
The squadron commander, Admiral Heihachiro Togo, orders to turn back without firing a single shot.
Under the Petropavlovsky, which was heading a detachment of battleships and cruisers, two miles from the lighthouse on the Tiger Peninsula at 9 o'clock. 43 min. a mine explodes. It was a disaster. The ammunition detonated. The force of the explosion threw the bow 305-mm gun turret, chimneys and casings overboard. The collapsed foremast destroyed the commander's and navigation bridges. A minute later, the flagship plunged into the water with its bow. This was followed by an explosion of the boilers, after which the Petropavlovsk, breaking into two parts, went under water.
The death of the battleship "Petropavlovsk". Drawing by unknown author
Eyewitnesses recalled:
“With a terrible explosion, a huge pillar grew above the battleship, twice the size of the battleship, which completely enveloped the battleship, covering the nose and middle of the battleship.”
Another eyewitness described the death of Petropavlovsk as follows:
“I stood on Quail Mountain, where a crowd of people with binoculars and telescopes had gathered. Everyone tensely watched the movement of the squadrons, expecting a battle. A cold wind was blowing. However, the sea horizon was covered with a bluish haze - fog. At first it was not clear to us why our ships were returning to the roadstead, but soon we noticed the appearance of unclear silhouettes on the eastern side - one, another, a third, another and another... Suddenly a column of smoke appeared near the Petropavlovsk, one, another with a huge flame. Screams and screams were heard: “Petropavlovsk is dying!” I don’t want to believe it, but he’s no longer above the water...”
The ship sank in less than 2 minutes. Therefore, most of the crew died.
At 10 o'clock 10 min. The battleship Pobeda also hit a mine. The explosion occurred on the starboard side in the area of the bow coal pits. The dimensions of the hole are 8x5,3 m, the center of the hole is 5 m below the waterline. The ship took on more than 500 tons of water, but then the water was stopped by watertight bulkheads. Deciding that the squadron was under attack by a submarine, Pobeda and other ships opened fire on the water. The ship was out of action for several weeks.
Squadron battleship Pobeda at anchor, probably March 1904
Results
The Russian fleet suffered an irreparable loss. The tragedy completely demoralized the Russian Pacific Fleet, because the country lost not only its flagship, but also an experienced, talented and very popular naval commander, who was equally loved by sailors and officers. As soon as he arrived at the theater of military operations, Makarov managed to efficiently organize the defense of Port Arthur. Many researchers are inclined to consider the death of Stepan Osipovich one of the prerequisites for the future defeat of Russia. The new command was unable to intelligently organize the combat activities of the Pacific Fleet.
“The most terrible, most difficult day for Port Arthur! The most terrible day for our fleet! Admiral Makarov died today. In his person we lost no less than half of our entire naval strength. The loss is irreparable!”
- wrote war correspondent Pavel Larenko in his book “The Sad Days of Port Arthur”.
Along with the admiral, the outstanding battle painter Vasily Vereshchagin, who sketched sketches for future paintings, the chief of staff of the Pacific squadron, Rear Admiral Mikhail Molas, ten staff and 18 naval officers, two doctors, a priest, two military officials, as well as about 650 sailors died on the battleship . Only 80 participants in the fatal campaign managed to escape, including the shell-shocked commander of Petropavlovsk, Captain 1st Rank Nikolai Yakovlev, Captain 2nd Rank, Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, former aide-de-camp and head of the naval department of Makarov’s headquarters (cousin Tsar Nicholas II).
The death of Makarov and the flagship significantly weakened the Russian Pacific Fleet. The sailors were demoralized and afraid of mines. There was no new naval commander who could replace Makarov and inspire people.
The British Times newspaper noted:
“Russia lost a beautiful ship, but even more lost in the person of a man who was likely to make the Russian fleet an important factor in the war. His loss and manner of death deal a heavy blow to the Russian fleet, not to mention the disappearance of a valiant and inspiring commander, whose influence, introducing a new element into the war, was recognized by the Japanese. The enemy's judgment is the best proof that Makarov combined the qualities of a great sailor with his recognized mastery of maritime science. Without at all wanting to doubt the presence of Russia’s mental strength, we can say that with the death of Admiral Makarov, Russia is losing a leader who will be difficult to replace.”
Carrying out victims of the Petropavlovsk explosion. In the background is a damaged Pobeda. March 31, 1904
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