Home Front Workers of the Russian Navy. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Based on the circular of the Chief of the General Staff of the Navy dated March 15, 1940, a department of floating craft was formed within it - this date is considered the day of the creation of auxiliary control bodies fleetThis year we celebrate the 85th anniversary of their activities in providing comprehensive logistical support to the Navy.
The pages of "VO" contain numerous articles about the Russian Navy's auxiliary fleet, describing ship designs, but today's topic is different. It's about the changes the auxiliary fleet has undergone over 86 years in terms of its organizational structure, and a little about some of the ships.
The history of the auxiliary fleet cannot be separated from the naval history of our country. And here it is worth remembering M.V. Frunze. He played a significant role in developing the foundations of naval science. Under his leadership, the first military shipbuilding program was prepared. In the spring of 1926, during an extended meeting of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, after discussing the report "On the Purpose of Naval Forces within the System of the Armed Forces of the Country," a resolution was adopted that would have a historical impact on the development of the Navy.
In February 1929, the shipbuilding program for the first five-year plan was adopted. In 1932, the Naval Directorate (VMS) developed the "Basic Considerations for the Development of the Red Army Navy for the Second Five-Year Plan (1933–1937)." This document more fully substantiated the requirements for naval construction. In addition to the construction of a large number of submarines, the need for various classes of surface ships was justified. The improvement of auxiliary vessels was also given attention.
The decision to establish an independent People's Commissariat of the Navy was made in 1938, given the increasing importance of the navy in the national defense system. This facilitated the formation of a centrally located logistics authority—the Main Directorate of Naval Ports.
Based on a circular from the Chief of the General Staff of the Navy dated March 15, 1940, a floating craft department was established within the Navy—this date is considered the founding date of the auxiliary fleet command and control bodies. This year, we celebrate the 86th anniversary of the beginning of their activities to provide comprehensive logistical support to the Navy.
In the spring of 1943, the department was transformed into the Directorate of Auxiliary Vessels of the Rear and Harbors (UVSTG). In 1946, it was elevated to the level of a central agency. In the fleets, the auxiliary fleet's command body, according to the "Regulations on the Rear of the Fleet (Flotilla)" (introduced in the spring of 1941), was the Department of Floating Craft and Harbors (OPS i G). It reported to the Second Deputy Chief of the Fleet Rear (the commander of the main military port).
In turn, the deputy head of the naval base's logistics department oversaw the activities of the floating craft and harbors department, established in accordance with the "Resolution on the Logistics of the Naval Base and on the Logistics Department of the Naval Base Fleet." The primary task of these logistics departments was the timely and uninterrupted supply of floating craft.
Before the start of the Great Patriotic War, given the experience of the war with Finland (1939–1940), the number of auxiliary vessels did not meet the fleet's needs. They were primarily capable of performing tasks within naval bases. The auxiliary fleet consisted of a small number of both oil tankers and vessels for intra-base transport.
Only a limited number of dry cargo ships specialized in transporting certain types of cargo. Certain types of supply vessels were also used for temporary storage of supplies (fuel, mines, etc.). In the post-war period, the creation of a large ocean-going fleet gave a major boost to the service's development.
Dry cargo transport "Otto Schmidt"
One of the main factors in increasing the combat capability of naval detachments on active duty (since 1964) was the timeliness and comprehensiveness of logistical support. To increase the autonomy of naval groups, supplies were supplied by support vessels.
By the late 1960s, operational units and formations were already being organized for permanent combat duty in strategic areas of the world's oceans. During this period, military experts proposed a system for constructing an auxiliary fleet, which included the creation of multifunctional vessels and floating bases.
As a result, new classes and types of ships appeared:
- for supply weapons surface ships (SC) and submarines (SS) - floating missile-technical bases of project 323, weapons transports of project 1823, medium dry-cargo transports of project 572.
Floating missile and technical base PRTB
The floating workshop "PM-138" at the Coal Pier, Sevastopol (photo by A. Brichevsky, October 17, 2017)
The medium-sized sea tanker Koida at the Coal Pier in Sevastopol (photo by A. Brichevsky, October 29, 2009)
The medium-sized sea tanker Iman of the Russian Black Sea Fleet (photo by A. Brichevsky, March 27, 2019)
- for transportation of fuel - by medium tankers of project 577, 6404, 160; small tankers of project 1541;
- to ensure dispersed basing - floating submarine bases of Project 310, 1886, floating barracks of Project P801, refrigerated transports of Project 502r, floating cranes of Project 1505, 771, mooring vessels of Project 419, floating warehouses of Project 814;
- for comprehensive rear support - by the comprehensive supply ship of project 1833, large tankers of project 1559V, medium tankers of projects 577, 6404, 160, Dubna, and bulk tankers of project 1849;
- for repair of weapons and armament of NK (PL) - floating workshops of projects 300, 301T, 303, 304, 889;
- for medical support (rest between cruises) - by hospital ships of project 320.
During this period, the main responsibilities of the auxiliary fleet management bodies to improve the reliability of the vessels became: proper operation, dry-docking, repairs, provision of basing, staffing, improving the level of training, maintaining discipline, as well as the analysis and prevention of accidents.
With the emergence of nuclear missile fleets among potential adversaries, our command had to expand its dispersed basing system. To provide logistical support for ships, floating logistics groups were formed at new bases.
Technical tanker of Project 1783A
In order to fulfill promising tasks, new projects and subclasses of vessels were developed: small tankers of project 1844; technical tankers of project 1783); floating technical base of project 2020; hoist vessel of project 419.
The hoisting vessel "KIL-25" of the Black Sea Fleet (photo by A. Brichevsky, September 11, 2007)
Cable ship of project 1274; icebreakers of projects 97, 97A; harbor tugs of projects 737, 498, 192; floating barracks of project R801.
Cable vessel of Project 1274 "Ingul"
Floating barracks PKZ-100
The large-scale expansion of the basing system required an improvement in the structure of auxiliary vessel management. Prior to its merger with the Navy's Emergency Rescue Service Directorate (in 1963), the Chief of the Naval Auxiliary Fleet headed the Naval Auxiliary Vessels and Harbors Directorate, which consisted of several divisions:
- department of organizational planning and combat training;
- operation and repair department;
- inspections of safety of navigation, deep-sea and diving operations;
- financial department.
The navy's command structure varied slightly. The chief oversaw the Fleet Auxiliary Vessels and Emergency Rescue Service Directorate (UVSiASS). Its structure included the Operations and Combat Training Department, the Electromechanical and Emergency Rescue Service Departments, the Accounting Department, Human Resources, and the Secret Service Department.
The composition of the formations, units and subdivisions subordinate to the head of the department included:
- a brigade of naval support vessels (BrMSO);
- two brigades of sea and roadstead support vessels (BrMRSO);
- a brigade of emergency rescue vessels (BrASS);
- warehouse for emergency rescue equipment;
- two coastal bases for support vessels;
- ship repair workshop;
- switchboard station;
- target vessel servicing group;
- fire brigade.
During the Perestroika years, the Soviet government and military leadership began a significant reduction in the Armed Forces. A series of organizational and staffing measures also affected the naval rear services. Command structures were streamlined. During this period, the Auxiliary Fleet Directorate of the Navy, together with other auxiliary command agencies, focused on developing a procurement program for the construction (purchase) of supply vessels.
These included:
- issues of justifying the rational distribution of new auxiliary vessels across fleets;
- control over the correct use of vessels in fleets (flotillas, naval bases);
- generalization of the experience of support courts on the ground and the introduction of advanced methods of their use.
In the Navy's operational formations, the control bodies for support vessels were the auxiliary fleet directorates (departments, sections). Through these directorates, the Chief of the Auxiliary Fleet Directorate supervised the activities of subordinate officials, departments, and structural units.
Support vessel units, subdivisions, and subunits also had command bodies, which were organized according to staffing levels and tables. For example, the command of a support vessel brigade included the brigade commander, deputy for political affairs, headquarters, political department, dispatch service, financial service, and personnel department. The total number of personnel ranged from 28 to 35, of which 18 to 23 were military personnel.
At the turn of the 21st century, following significant reductions in naval strength, the subordinate services of the auxiliary fleet remained largely unchanged. Their primary mission was to provide subordinate vessels to support the naval forces (troops).
The auxiliary fleet service of the Navy associations included an organizational and planning department, an electromechanical service, a secret unit, and individual officials (chief engineer, senior officer, chief accountant, chief economist, and lead accountant).
Thus, the service could organize the use, technical operation and repair of ships, maintain records and staff them with sailors, manage combat training and preparation for the fight for the survivability of ships.
The fleet carried out maritime transport and delivered various cargoes at sea and at bases. Harbor waters were cleaned, polluted waters were collected from ships, and navigation safety measures were implemented on board.
During this period, the fleets had the following units and divisions of ships:
- brigade(s) of support vessels;
- divisions (groups) of support vessels;
- ship repair workshops;
- a control panel with a group for servicing target ships.
The rear of the support vessel brigade was the coastal base.
With this organizational structure of the auxiliary fleet, the principle of constructing support systems corresponded to the current form of vertical combat command: fleet – fleet formation – formation – ship (vessel). The command cycle time was close to what was reasonably possible, and tasking of ships was performed by their immediate superior—the respective formation commander (formation commander, or detachment (group) commander of warships).
By 2010, the actual capabilities of the Navy's auxiliary vessels had significantly diminished. The structure and staffing of the auxiliary fleet service became challenging. This necessitated drastic organizational and technical measures.
During the creation of the new logistics system for the Russian Armed Forces, the auxiliary fleet service was excluded from the Naval Logistics Department of the Naval General Command. When the Department of Transport Support of the Russian Ministry of Defense was formed, the service was incorporated into it, despite its significant role in specialized logistics for the fleet.
The service's staff was reduced to five members: a chief, a deputy, two chief inspectors, and a senior officer. The structure of the auxiliary fleet command body was changed. It included two elements:
- department for preparation of support vessels;
- electromechanical department.
Only the positions of the head of the Fleet Service and his deputy were filled with officers. Previously existing units (brigades and divisions of supply vessels) were thoroughly reorganized into logistics organizations (detachments and groups of supply vessels). Specifically, they were staffed entirely by civilian personnel, unlike the logistics brigades in the military districts.
In 2012, the Russian Minister of Defense approved the "Concept for the Development of the Auxiliary Fleet of the Russian Navy through 2020." One of the areas of improvement was the development of a future auxiliary fleet based on multifunctional vessels capable of providing comprehensive logistical support to naval forces (in ocean and maritime zones, in harbors, and at anchor). These new advanced models were to be built in series.
A number of factors influenced the implementation of the "Concept..." parameters. One of the most important was the imposition of numerous sanctions against Russia, which necessitated a significant import substitution program for the construction of new auxiliary vessels. Despite these difficulties, over 100 different projects were added to the Navy's auxiliary fleet.
Multipurpose support vessel "Pecha"
The most significant ones include:
- sea transport of weapons project 20181;
- sea-going logistics support vessel project 23120;
- medium sea tanker project 23130;
- integrated logistics support vessel project 03180;
- sea tugs of project 02790, 23740;
- diesel-electric icebreaker project 21180;
- self-propelled floating crane project 02690;
- roadstead tugs of projects 90600, 16609, 705b, 705bm.
Changes in the military and political situation surrounding the Russian Federation necessitated changes in the structure of the Armed Forces. The transfer of fleets from military districts to the operational command of the Navy General Command necessitated the return of the auxiliary fleet service to its ranks. In the summer of 2022, the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for Logistics was established. The newly created auxiliary fleet service consists of three officers.
Difficulties remain in staffing support vessel detachments (groups) with civilian personnel. One solution is to reorganize these organizations into auxiliary fleet units. Military positions should be added to the staffing of support vessel brigade and divisional commands.
One of the service's primary objectives remains the renewal of its fleet. Last year, the keel of the newest Project 23630 Argun-class small seagoing tanker was laid down, along with additional hulls for seagoing tugs and self-propelled floating cranes. The fleet now includes the new Project 21180M icebreaker Evpatiy Kolovrat and the 16th self-propelled floating crane SPK-61150. Articles about these vessels have appeared in the pages of "Voyenno-Morskoy Flot" (Military Navy). At the current stage of the Navy's development, the primary goals of the auxiliary fleet's central command bodies are to improve the structure and composition of the auxiliary fleet service, refine the organizational structure of command bodies in the Navy's operational formations, implement construction programs, and maintain the technical readiness of the fleet.
In response to modern challenges, the Navy's auxiliary fleet continues to develop, acquiring versatile and modern vessels. The areas of operation and the scale of assigned missions are expanding year after year. All this places greater responsibility on command bodies at various levels.
As we celebrate this significant anniversary of the creation of the Auxiliary Fleet Service, we wish our veterans good health and our active military and civilian personnel success in fulfilling their assigned tasks at this crucial juncture in our nation's development.
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