Dumb fight

The beginning of the uprising caught the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral G.P. Chukhnin in St. Petersburg , where he was at a meeting to develop a new shipbuilding program designed to make up for the losses of the Russian fleet suffered in the Russo-Japanese war . Without detailed and accurate information about what happened at the Potemkin from his subordinates, he decided to urgently return to the main fleet base - to Sevastopol . A special emergency train allocated to G.P. Chukhnin was supposed to leave St. Petersburg on the evening of June 15 (28), 1905 , but the departure of G.P. Chukhnin was postponed by Nicholas II , who ordered him and Admiral F. K, the head of the Maritime Ministry Avelan to come to him for a meeting on the morning of June 16 (29), 1905 . ^[2]

Documentary evidence showing exactly what it was decided to do against the rebellious battleship at the meeting of Nicholas II, G.P. Chukhnin and F.K. Avelan, held in Peterhof on the morning of June 16 (29), 1905, is not known to historians, but all subsequent events they speak in favor of the fact that at the meeting it was decided to send the entire Black Sea squadron against the battleship "Potemkin" to Odessa with the task of forcing the rebels to surrender, and if that does not work out, then to sink the ship, for the execution of which the commander of the Black Sea Fleet G. Chukhnin was given the broadest powers and was ordered to immediately return to the Black Sea. ^[2]

Vishnevetsky Squadron

Even the day before, on the day of June 15 (28), 1905 , as soon as the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet received information about what happened on the battleship Potemkin, the senior officer of the Black Sea Fleet A. Kh. Krieger, in the absence of the fleet commander, decided to send a squadron to Odessa with powers "to take measures that circumstances require" , consisting of two armadillos, a mine cruiser and destroyers under the command of the youngest flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, Rear Admiral F.F. Vishnevetsky. As the headquarters of the fleet received alarming information about the development of the situation in Odessa, the composition of the squadron increased, the time required for its preparation for going to sea grew and, in the end, only at 1 hour 50 minutes on the night of June 16 (29), 1905 Squadron F. F. Vishnevetsky left Sevastopol in the following composition: ^[3]

Armadillos

• "Three Saints" ;
• The Twelve Apostles
• "George the Victorious" ;

Cruiser

• "Kazarsky" ;

Destroyers

• No. 255;
• No. 258;
• No. 272 ;
• No. 273

Admiral F. F. Vishnevetsky decided to lead his squadron to the area of Tendrovskaya Spit , where two days before the uprising of the battleship “Potemkin” began. At 8 ½ o'clock in the morning the orders were read out to the uprising on the battleship “Potemkin”. The artillery and traverse torpedo tubes of the cruiser "Kazarsky" were put on alert. ^[four]

The squadron arrived at the Tendra Spit at 5:00 p.m. on June 16 (29), 1905 . F.F. Vishnevetsky informed the ship commanders of his decision not to go to Odessa at night, to wait out the dark time on the Tendra Spit. In the direction of Odessa, destroyers No. 255 and No. 258 were sent for reconnaissance, the cruiser "Kazarsky" and the destroyers No. 272 ​​and No. 273 were ordered to guard the anchorage of the battleships in night watch. ^[4] At about ⁹ p.m. F.F. Vishnevetsky sent a telegram to the commander of the Odessa port, Major General V.P. Pereleshin, asking him about the location of the Potemkin parking lot and the mood of his team. The commander of the Odessa military district, General S.V. Kakhanov, in a telegram in response sent FF Vishnevetsky the requested information and asked the admiral to arrive in Odessa as soon as possible. ^[five]

Krieger Squadron

By order of F.K. Avelan, received in Sevastopol on the day of June 16 (29), 1905, additional forces were sent to the sea under the command of the senior flagship of the Black Sea Fleet A. Kh. Krieger. The composition of his squadron, which left Sevastopol at about 7 pm on the same day, included: ^[6]

Armadillos

• "Rostislav" ;
• "Sinop" ;

Destroyers

• "Cherished" ;
• "Ferocious" ;
• "Strict . "

Unreliability of the personnel of the Black Sea Fleet ships

Despite the efforts of the authorities and the command to keep secret about the uprising from the crews of the ships, even on the shore rumors began to reach the teams about the uprising at the Potemkin and about clashes between government forces and rioting residents in Odessa itself. Neither the teams of the Vishnevetsky squadron nor the teams of the Krieger squadron were informed about the goals of going to sea. Unreliable sailors were decommissioned from ships before going to sea ^[7]

The question of the loyalty of the squadron ship teams to their command was the most important issue of the moment. The command had information about the alarming mood among the sailors and had reason to doubt that orders for the destruction of the rebellious ships would be carried out. The lack of confidence of the command in the reliability of the naval teams predetermined all further actions of the officers and the course of the “battle” itself. ^[3]

On the side of the rebels were the battleship Potemkin, the destroyer No. 267 and the port ship Vekha, captured by the rebels in Odessa and used by them as a hospital ship .

On the side of government forces in the combined squadron, which went to sea to fight the rebels, were five battleships, one cruiser, seven destroyers.

By the number of personnel, the forces of the combined squadron exceeded the rebels by more than four times, by the number of artillery guns - by five times, by the number of torpedo tubes - by seven times. The ships of the squadron were controlled by two admirals and 150 officers. The ships of the rebels were controlled by sailors. ^[6]

On the evening of June 16 (29), 1905, the radio operators of “Potemkin” intercepted the radiogram transmitted by F. F. Vishnevetsky ““ Potemkin is on the outer roadstead of Odessa ” . The rebels realized that the forces of the Black Sea Fleet were sent to them and they knew the location of the rebel ship. At the Potemkin began to prepare for battle. Wounded and sick sailors were transported to the ship "Milestone". ^{[8] The} “Ship Commission” —a body selected by the command of the battleship to guide the crew’s actions — judging by further events, chose the following tactics in case of meeting with the squadron: do not open fire first, start the battle only in case of clearly hostile actions from the squadron. Members of the commission believed that the sailors of the squadron would not be the first to open fire at the Potemkin, and if the Potemkin was the first to start shooting at the squadron, then the sailors of the squadron would have every reason to answer the battleship the same. If the course of the battle that has begun is unfavorable for Potemkin, destroy the ship and perish with it. ^[9]

Warrant Officer D.P. Alekseev , chosen by the crew as the commander of an armadillo, refused to command the ship. He said he was sick, but members of the ship’s commission forced him to go into the conning tower, possibly hoping that if the battle started, he would be forced to use his knowledge of the officer and help the rebels at least to save his own life. ^[ten]

At 4 o’clock in the morning on June 17 (30), 1905, the squadron of F.F. Vishnevetsky removed from the Tendra Spit to Odessa. The battleship “Potemkin” stood all night with divorced couples and a matched anchor, ready for a campaign and battle. As soon as it dawned, a party of sailors from the Potemkin left Odessa for reconnaissance on the Smely icebreaker captured in the port of Odessa. ^[8] The icebreaker did indeed meet with the ships of the squadron of F. F. Vishnevetsky, avoided meeting with her, but unexpectedly stumbled upon the squadron of A. Kh. Krieger. Having received the order to stop for the inspection of the vessel, the captain of the icebreaker increased his speed and began to go to sea. The “Courageous” chase was organized by the forces of one of the destroyers, but since the new icebreaker had a speed of 20 knots, and the destroyer - only 17, the “Courageous” managed to escape from the chase. The destroyer commander decided not to open fire on the icebreaker, as he considered that his captain was leaving the squadron, believing that her ships were also captured by the rebels. ^[9]

8-9 a.m. The meeting of Potemkin and the Vishnevetsky squadron

At 8.10 a.m., the rebels from Potemkin discovered a squadron of F. F. Vishnevetsky approaching Odessa in a 16- junction course and received a radiogram sent by him: “The Black Sea inhabitants are depressed by your deed. End the scandal. Humble yourself. A fault confessed is half redressed. Explain what you want. Admiral Vishnevetsky . " At "Potemkin" played a combat alert. At 8 hours 38 minutes on the flagship of F. F. Vishnevetsky “Three Saints” the response was received by “Potemkin”: “We earnestly ask you as your boss, send us an answer from the whole team. K. P. ” ^[8] - it must be assumed that the attempt to achieve a personal meeting between the insurgents and the sailors of the squadron was explained by the desire to unmask the sailors of the squadron and raise them to revolt. ^[9]

At 8 hours and 40 minutes, the Potemkin anchored and went towards the squadron. An alert was played on the flagship of the squadron, after which the squadron turned 90 ° to the left, increased its course and began to move away from the Potemkin into the open sea. At 8 hours 58 minutes, “Potemkin” stopped the pursuit and began to return to the Odessa raid. ^[eight]

9-12 hours. Squadrons of Vishnevetsky and Krieger met and united

At 9 a.m., the squadron of A. Kh. Krieger, approaching Odessa, discovered the squadron of F.F. Vishnevetsky leaving Odessa. At 10 ½ o'clock in the morning, both squadrons united and on board the flagship of Admiral A. Kh. Krieger a meeting of admirals took place, at which tactical issues were decided to meet with the rebelled battleship. At 10 hours and 50 minutes a radiogram was sent from the board of the battleship Three Saints to Potemkin: “To prove your sincerity, send representatives from the team to Three Saints for peace talks, I guarantee their safety. We are going to Odessa. Admiral Vishnevetsky ” and both squadrons headed for Odessa, reorganizing into a double front: all battleships marched in the first line, cruiser and destroyers in the second line. On the flagships of the united squadron, the guns were loaded with live ammunition. ^[11] Later, officers from other ships participating in the “battle” recalled that “... after breaking through the alarm, people were reluctant and sluggishly preparing their guns, the air pumps turned out to be inoperative, as a result of which it would be impossible to shoot from the guns, nor to launch a mine from apparatuses . " ^[12]

At "Potemkin", taking a radiogram of F. F. Vishnevetsky requested her repetition. At exactly noon, after receiving a repeated radiogram from the “Three Saints”, “Potemkin”, preparing for battle and death, went towards the united squadron. An alert was played on the battleship. The team changed into everything clean. ^[eleven]

12-14 hours. The meeting of "Potemkin" and the combined squadron. Uprising on the battleship George the Victorious

At 12.20 p.m., the Potemkin and the squadron ships became so close that they could exchange messages using semaphore signals . “Potemkin” handed over to the squadron ships: “Sinop, Three Saints, Twelve Apostles” - to anchor. Stop the car . ” Potemkin went to the squadron. His main-caliber guns were aimed at the battleships “Twelve Apostles” and “Rostislav”, guns on the starboard side - at the battleship “Three Saints”. Meanwhile, from “Rostislav” they passed semaphore to “Three Saints”: “ Whitehead’s mines are on Potyomkin.” At 12.40 am with the Potemkin they repeated the order with a semaphore so that the squadron’s battleships would stop the vehicles. ^[eleven]

Having directed the Potemkin directly at the battleship Three Saints, the rebels forced the latter to change course to avoid a clash with the Potemkin and disrupt the front. At 12 hours and 50 minutes, the Potemkin, with the signals "squadron to anchor", cut through the squadron system, while the command of the battleship "George the Victorious" left the place of military service, gathered on the open decks of his ship and greeted the rebels with exclamations of "Hurray!" ^[eleven]

At 13 o’clock, turning 180 °, the Potemkin again cut through the front of the squadron, which also turned back. At this time, the "George the Victorious" was already in full swing the uprising of the team against their officers. Despite the exhortations of the battleship commander and senior officer, the sailors of the ship, armed with anything at all (shovels, command hooks, tips from fire hoses and the like) shouting “Hurray!”, “We want to Potemkin!” , “What we need to be sovereign, we need will, down with the officers! ” climbed onto the captain’s bridge and threatened with “ throwing all officers overboard ”they demanded that the commander leave the squadron and follow the Potemkin. In the end, pyramids with rifles were hacked and the sailors armed. Ammunition was captured and the team placed armed sentries near all exits of the ship. The team removed the officers from control of the ship and stopped the battleship. ^[13]

At 13 hours and 10 minutes, Admiral A. Kh. Krieger semaphore asked "George the Victorious": "Why are people upstairs on the deck and not in their places on alert alert?" From "George" they answered: "The team is rebelling, wanting to throw the officers overboard. The team requires joining Potemkin. ” A. Kh. Krieger ordered the squadron to increase speed and go to Sevastopol. Until 13 hours and 50 minutes, the exchange of mutual orders continued between the flagship battleship A. Kh. Krieger “Rostislav” and the rebel “George the Victorious”, but seeing that it was not possible to end the uprising on “Georgi,” A. Kh. Krieger at about 14 o’clock stole the remaining ships of the squadron to the Tendra Spit. At 14 hours 10 minutes, the rebellious battleships “Prince Potemkin-Tauride” and “George the Victorious” began a joint movement to Odessa. ^[13]

The rebels, yielding to the united squadron in all military-technical indicators, had a moral advantage over it, which led to the actual victory of the rebels. ^[6] The results of the “battle” strengthened the Potemkin’s faith in the success of the uprising, raised their spirits and encouraged the continuation of the uprising. ^[14]

The result of the “battle” for forces loyal to the government was the transfer of the crew of the battleship “George the Victorious” to the side of the uprising ^[6] and an attempt to start an uprising on the battleship “Sinop”. The command of the Black Sea Fleet and the Naval Ministry became convinced of the complete loss of the fleet's combat effectiveness. ^[15]

The combined squadron retreated to the area of ​​the Tendra Spit. Admiral A.H. Krieger assembled a council of war, at which it was decided, in view of a possible uprising on the squadron’s ships, to urgently return the ships to Sevastopol and there to form a destroyer group with specially selected teams from volunteers for the sinking of the rebellious battleship. ^[16] Contemporaries called the campaign of the Black Sea Fleet squadrons against the rebels "shameful . " ^[6]

The uprising on the battleship “Potemkin” became the plot of the film by S. Enzenstein “The battleship“ Potemkin “ ”.

• Гаврилов Б. И. Глава III. «Немой бой» // В борьбе за свободу: Восстание на броненосце «Потёмкин» . — 1-е. — Москва: Мысль, 1987. — С. 86—125. — 222 с. - 50,000 copies.
• Кардашев Ю. П. Восстание. Броненосец «Потёмкин» и его команда. — 1-е. — Киров: Дом печати «Вятка», 2008. — 544 с. - 1000 copies. — ISBN 5-7897-0193-0 .
• Шигин В. В. «Непобеждённая территория революции» // Лжегерои русского флота . — 1-е. — М. : Вече, 2010. — 452 с. — (Морская летопись). — ISBN 978-5-9533-5064-8 .