Cruiser Varyag battle scheme. Immortal feat of the cruiser "Varyag"
By the beginning of the twentieth century, all the leading world powers entered the phase of imperialism. Growing empires sought to take control of as much territory and significant points on the world map as possible. China was weakened by internal and external wars, which led to the emergence on its territory of spheres of influence of great powers, including Russia. For the Russian Empire, control over the northern part of China, as well as the retention of Port Arthur, was part of the allied obligations that Russia assumed in 1896 under a treaty with China. Russia, with its land and sea forces, was supposed to protect the integrity of China from Japanese attacks. In order to isolate Russia in the Far East, Japan turned to Great Britain with a request to conclude an alliance treaty; as a result of short negotiations, such an agreement was signed in 1901 in London. England sought to weaken Russia, as the interests of these empires collided throughout Asia: from the Black Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
At the beginning of February 1904, two Russian ships with a diplomatic mission arrived at the port of the capital of Korea, Seoul: the cruiser “Varyag” under the command of captain of the first rank Vsevolod Fedorovich Rudnev and the gunboat “Koreets” under the command of captain of the second rank G.P. Belyaeva.
NO ONE WISHES SERVY
Up, you comrades, everyone is in place!
The last parade is coming!
Our proud “Varyag” does not surrender to the enemy,
Nobody wants mercy!
All the pennants flutter and the chains rattle,
The anchors are raised up.
The guns are preparing for battle in a row,
Sparkling ominously in the sun!
The words of this famous song are dedicated to the most famous event of the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905. - the feat of the cruiser "Varyag" and the gunboat "Koreets", which entered into an unequal battle with the superior forces of the Japanese squadron in the Korean Bay of Chemulpo. The lyrics of this song, impressed by the cruiser's feat, were written in 1904 by the Austrian poet Rudolf Greinz. The poem was published in one of the magazines, and soon its Russian translations appeared, the most successful of which was the translation by E. Studenskaya. Musician of the 12th Astrakhan Grenadier Regiment A.S. Turishchev set these poems to music. The song was first performed at a gala reception given by Emperor Nicholas II in honor of the officers and sailors of the Varyag and the Korean.
The feat of the sailors of the “Varyag” and “Korean” forever entered the history of the Russian fleet, becoming one of the heroic pages of the unsuccessful Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. Having withstood an unequal battle with the Japanese squadron and without lowering the flag in front of the enemy, the Russian sailors did not surrender to the enemy and sank their ship themselves.
On the night of January 27 (February 9), 1904, Japanese destroyers, without declaring war, attacked the Russian squadron on the outer roadstead of Port Arthur, a naval base leased by Russia from China. The Japanese attack had dire consequences: the battleships Retvizan, Tsesarevich and the cruiser Pallada were damaged. On the same day, in the neutral Korean port of Chemulpo (now Incheon), a Japanese squadron consisting of 1 armored cruiser, 5 light cruisers and 8 destroyers blocked the cruiser Varyag and the gunboat Koreets.
Captain Rudnev received a notice from Japanese Admiral Uriu, announcing that Japan and Russia were at war and demanding that the Varyag leave the port, otherwise the Japanese ships would fight right in the roadstead. "Varyag" and "Koreets" weighed anchor. Five minutes later they sounded a combat alarm. English and French ships greeted passing Russian ships with the sounds of an orchestra.
In order to break the blockade, our sailors had to fight through a narrow 20-mile fairway and break out into the open sea. The task is impossible. At half past eleven, the Japanese cruisers received an offer to surrender to the mercy of the winner. The Russians ignored the signal. The Japanese squadron opened fire...
The fight was brutal. Under hurricane fire from the enemy (1 heavy and 5 light cruisers, 8 destroyers), sailors and officers fired at the enemy, applied plaster, sealed holes, and put out fires. Rudnev, wounded and shell-shocked, continued to lead the battle. But, despite the heavy fire and enormous destruction, the Varyag still fired accurately at the Japanese ships from its remaining guns. “Korean” did not lag behind him.
According to the report of the commander of the Varyag, one destroyer was sunk by the cruiser’s fire and 4 Japanese cruisers were damaged. Losses of the Varyag crew - 1 officer and 30 sailors were killed, 6 officers and 85 sailors were wounded and shell-shocked, about 100 more people were slightly injured. There were no losses on the "Korean".
However, critical damage forced the Varyag to return to the bay roadstead an hour later. After assessing the severity of the damage, the remaining guns and equipment on it were destroyed if possible, and it itself was scuttled in the bay. The "Korean" was blown up by the crew.
PROGRESS OF THE BATTLE
On the Chemulpo roadstead there were Italian, American, Korean and English ships, as well as the Japanese cruiser Chiyoda. On the night of February 7, this cruiser, without lighting the identification lights, left the roadstead and went out to the open sea. The next day, the gunboat "Koreets" left the bay at about 16.00, where it met a Japanese squadron consisting of 7 cruisers and 8 destroyers. The cruiser "Asama" blocked the path of the "Korean" to the open sea, and the destroyers fired three torpedoes at the gunboat (2 missed, and the third sank a few meters from the side of the "Korean"). Belyaev decided to enter a neutral harbor and disappeared into Chemulpo.
On February 9 at 7.30 in the morning, the commander of the Japanese squadron, Admiral Urio Sotokichi, sent a telegram to the captains of the ships stationed in Chemulpo about the state of war between Russia and Japan, in which he reported that he was forced to attack the neutral bay at 16.00 if the Russian ships did not surrender or leave in open sea by noon.
At 9.30 a.m. this telegram became known to Captain 1st Rank Rudnev on board the English ship Talbot. After a short meeting with the officers, it was decided to leave the bay and give battle to the Japanese squadron.
At 11.20 minutes “Koreets” and “Varyag” left the bay. On foreign ships of neutral powers, all teams were lined up and saw off the Russian heroes with a loud “Hurray!” to certain death. On the Varyag, the orchestra played the national anthems of those countries whose sailors saluted the bravery of Russian weapons.
Japanese cruisers were located in battle formation near the island. Richie, covering both possible exits to the sea. Destroyers were located behind the Japanese cruisers. At 11.30 minutes, the cruisers Asama and Chiyoda began moving towards the Russian ships, followed by the cruisers Naniwa and Niitaka. Admiral Sotokichi offered the Russians to surrender; neither the Varyag nor the Koreyets responded to this proposal.
11.47 minutes on the Varyag, due to accurate hits from Japanese shells, a fire starts on the deck, which is extinguished, several guns are damaged. There are killed and wounded. Captain Rudnev is shell-shocked and seriously wounded in the back, but helmsman Snigirev remains in service.
At 12.05 the steering mechanisms on the Varyag were damaged. It was decided to give a full reverse, continuing to fire at the Japanese ships. The Varyag managed to disable the stern turret and bridge of the cruiser Asama, which was forced to stop and begin repair work. The guns on two other cruisers were also damaged, and one destroyer was sunk. In total, the Japanese lost 30 people killed, the Russians killed 31 people, and 188 wounded.
At 12.20, the Varyag received two holes, after which it was decided to return to Chemulpo, repair the damage and continue the battle. However, already at 12.45 the hopes of repairing the damage to most of the ship's guns did not materialize. Rudnev decided to scuttle the ship, which happened at 18.05. The gunboat "Koreets" was damaged by two explosions and was also sunk.
RUDNEV'S REPORT
“...At 11:45 a.m. the cruiser Asama fired the first shot from an 8-inch gun, after which the entire squadron opened fire.
Subsequently, the Japanese claimed that the admiral signaled an offer of surrender, to which the commander of the Russian ship responded with disdain, without raising any signal. Indeed, I saw the signal, but I did not find it necessary to respond to it, since I had already decided to go into battle.
After which, after zeroing in, they opened fire on the Asama from a distance of 45 cables. One of the first Japanese shells, hitting the cruiser, destroyed the upper bridge, causing a fire in the chart room, and broke the fore shrouds, and the rangefinder officer midshipman Count Nirod and all the rangefinders of station No. 1 were killed (at the end of the battle, one of Count Nirod’s hands was found, holding the range finder)…
... Having been convinced after examining the cruiser that it was completely impossible to engage in battle and not wanting to give the enemy the opportunity to defeat the dilapidated cruiser, a general meeting of officers decided to sink the cruiser, taking the wounded and the remaining crew to foreign ships, to which the latter expressed full consent due to my request...
... I present a special petition for rewarding the officers and crew for their selfless courage and valiant performance of duty. According to information received in Shanghai, the Japanese suffered heavy losses in people and had accidents on ships, the cruiser Asama, which went into dock, was especially damaged. The cruiser Takachiho also suffered a hole; The cruiser took 200 wounded and went to Sasebo, but the road plaster burst and the bulkheads did not hold up, so the cruiser Takachiho sank into the sea. The destroyer sank during the battle.
Reporting the above, I consider it my duty to report that the ships of the detachment entrusted to me with dignity upheld the honor of the Russian flag, exhausted all means for a breakthrough, did not allow the Japanese to win, inflicted many losses on the enemy and saved the remaining crew.
Signed by: commander of the cruiser 1st rank "Varyag" captain 1st rank Rudnev
HONOR TO THE HEROES
Sailors from Russian ships were accepted onto foreign ships and, having given an undertaking not to take part in subsequent hostilities, returned to Russia through neutral ports. In April 1904, the ship's crews arrived in St. Petersburg, and Sailors were greeted by Nicholas II. All of them were invited to a gala dinner at the palace, where special dinnerware was prepared for the occasion, which was given to the sailors after the celebration. All sailors of the Varyag were given personalized watches as a gift from Nicholas II.
The battle at Chemulpo showed the heroism of Russian sailors and officers who were ready to face certain death in order to preserve their honor and dignity. The brave and desperate step of the sailors was noted by the establishment of a special award for sailors “Medal for the battle of “Varyag” and “Korean” on January 27, 1904 at Chemulpo”, as well as the immortal songs “Our proud “Varyag” does not surrender to the enemy” and “Cold waves are splashing” .
The cruiser's sailors did not forget about the feat. In 1954, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the battle at Chemulpo, Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy N.G. Kuznetsov personally awarded 15 veterans with medals “For Courage”.
On August 9, 1992, a monument to the commander of the cruiser V.F. was unveiled. Rudnev in the village of Savina (Zaoksky district of the Tula region), where he was buried after his death in 1913. In the summer of 1997, a monument to the cruiser Varyag was erected in Vladivostok.
In 2009, after lengthy negotiations with the Korean side, relics associated with the feat of the cruiser “Varyag” and the gunboat “Koreets”, previously stored in the storerooms of the Icheon Museum, were brought to Russia, and on November 11, 2010, in the presence of Russian President D. A. Medvedev, the mayor of Icheon handed over the cruiser's gun to Russian diplomats. The ceremony took place at the Russian Embassy in Seoul.
NICHOLAS II - TO THE HEROES OF CHEMULPO
Speech of the Tsar in the Winter Palace
“I am happy, brothers, to see you all healthy and returned safely. Many of you, with your blood, have entered into the chronicle of our fleet a deed worthy of the exploits of your ancestors, grandfathers and fathers, who accomplished them on the Azov and Mercury; now with your feat you have added a new page to the history of our fleet, adding to them the names “Varyag” and “Korean”. They will also become immortal. I am confident that each of you will remain worthy of the reward that I gave you until the end of your service. All of Russia and I read with love and trembling excitement about the exploits that you showed at Chemulpo. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting the honor of St. Andrew’s flag and the dignity of Great Holy Rus'. I drink to further victories of our glorious fleet. To your health, brothers!”
THE FATE OF THE SHIP
In 1905, the cruiser was raised from the bottom of the bay and was used by the Japanese as a training ship called Soya. During the First World War, Russia and Japan were allies. In 1916, the cruiser was purchased and included in the Russian Navy under the same name. In February 1917, the Varyag went to Great Britain for repairs, where it was confiscated by the British because the new Soviet government refused to pay for its repairs, and was then resold to German companies for scrapping. While being towed, the ship encountered a storm and sank off the coast in the Irish Sea.
It was possible to find the site of the death of the legendary cruiser in 2003. In July 2006, a memorial plaque was erected in his honor on the shore near the site of the death of the Varyag. In January 2007, a fund to support the Navy “Cruiser “Varyag” was established. His goal, in particular, was to raise funds for the construction and installation of a monument to the legendary ship in Scotland. The monument to the legendary Russian cruiser was opened in September 2007 in the Scottish town of Lendelfoot.
"VARANGIAN"
...From the faithful pier we go into battle,
Towards the death that threatens us,
We will die for our Motherland in the open sea,
Where the yellow-faced devils wait!
It whistles and thunders and rumbles all around,
The thunder of guns, the hiss of a shell, -
And our fearless, our faithful “Varyag” became
Let's look like absolute hell!
Bodies tremble in their death throes,
There is roar and smoke and groans all around,
And the ship is engulfed in a sea of fire, -
The moment of farewell has come.
Farewell, comrades! With God, hurray!
Into the boiling sea below us!
We didn’t think about it yesterday,
Why should we fall asleep under the waves today?
Neither the stone nor the cross will tell where they lay down
For the glory of the Russian flag,
Only the waves of the sea will glorify forever
Heroic death of the “Varyag”!
When in 1891, the heir to the Russian throne, Nikolai Alexandrovich, made a trip to the Far East, among the escort ships was the gunboat "Koreets", which entered service in 1887 and was assigned to the ships of the Siberian flotilla. By the time of the Russo-Japanese War, the “Korean” had already served enough for science—a bay on the island of Lichangshan and a strait near this island in the Yellow Sea were named in its honor—and for its direct military purpose: the boat participated in the transportation of the Russian landing corps from Port Arthur to Dagu during the suppression of the Yihetuan uprising in Northern China in 1900. The Varyag, built in the USA in 1899, appeared in the Far East much later and immediately became the pride of the Pacific squadron. When Russian-Japanese negotiations regarding the division of spheres of influence in Korea and Manchuria resumed on July 29, 1903, the light cruiser Varyag was stationed in Port Arthur.On December 29, 1903 (January 11, 1904 according to the present day), the Varyag arrived in Chemulpo, having on board a special detachment to guard the Russian embassy in Seoul. A week later, he was joined by the seaworthy gunboat "Korean". These ships replaced the light cruiser "Boyarin" and the gunboat "Gilyak", which were there as stationers, and themselves remained on duty in this capacity.
Chemulpo was considered a neutral port, since on January 3 the Korean government announced that it would remain neutral in a possible Russian-Japanese conflict. In addition to Russian warships and the Sungari steamer, which belonged to the CER, there were cruisers from third countries in the port: the British cruiser Talbot, the French cruiser Pascal, the Italian Elba and the American advice note Vicksburg.
The task of attacking Russian ships was assigned by the Japanese command to Rear Admiral Uriu. While the main forces of the Japanese United Fleet, under the leadership of Vice Admiral Togo, rushed to Port Arthur, the Uriu detachment went to Chemulpo. A landing force was landed from his transports, which captured Seoul on the same day, and Uriu's ships went to sea to wait for the Varyag and the Korean. Early in the morning of January 27, the Japanese consul in Korea handed over an ultimatum to the Russian vice-consul Zinovy Mikhailovich Polyanovsky, which contained a notification of the start of hostilities and a demand to leave the port roadstead before noon, otherwise both Russian ships would be attacked at 16.00 at the anchorage. At the same time, Uriu warned the commanders of ships belonging to third countries about this intention, recommending them to leave the port before the specified time of attack. Having received the Japanese demand at about half past ten in the morning, the commander of the Varyag V.F. Rudnev drew the attention of the raid chief, Lewis Bailey, to the Japanese violation of international law. Bailey convened a meeting of the commanders of the warships located in Chemulpo, at which Rudnev was asked to leave the raid before 14.00. Otherwise, foreign sailors reserved the right to withdraw their ships from the roadstead so as not to suffer themselves. “Varyag” and “Korean” had only one thing to do - to go through the line of Japanese ships without escort, because the Englishman, and under his influence the rest, refused to Rudnev’s proposal to escort the Russians to the border of Korean neutral waters as a sign of protest against the violation of international law.
The two Russian ships in this legendary battle were opposed by six Japanese cruisers and eight destroyers. The naval battle, perhaps the most famous in the history of the Russian fleet, has been repeatedly described in the literature. So, Yu.V. The treble in the book “Port Arthur” gives the following details: “At 11.20, to the sounds of the orchestra, accompanied by loud greetings from the French, English, Italian and American sailors gathered on the decks of their ships (on the cruisers “Pascal” and “Elbe” the orchestras performed the Russian anthem) , both Russian ships set off for the open sea... Uriu, noticing the Russian ships leaving, raised a signal on the yards of the flagship Naniva: “I propose to surrender without a fight.” However, Rudnev refused and at 11.45, when the distance between the detachments decreased to 8,300 meters, the first shots were fired from the Japanese side. Seven minutes later, the Varyag entered the battle, walking 180 meters ahead of the Korean, and it was on it that the Japanese detachment brought down the full force of its fire. 55 minutes later, Japanese artillery shells seriously damaged the Varyag; About half of all the guns placed on the deck without armored cover were disabled, the cruiser lost its foremast and third chimney, and fires started on it.” By the end of the battle, the crew counted 22 killed and 108 wounded, of whom 11 subsequently died.
The damage received by the Varyag, especially the holes below the waterline, which created a strong list to the left side, made the continuation of the battle futile, and the cruiser, controlled by machines, turned back to the port. Now the “Korean” was covering it, because it had closed with the Japanese to twenty-two cables (1 cable = 185.2 meters), and at this distance its two eight-inch guns (203 mm) were already able to operate. The Russian ships did not cause any noticeable damage to the Japanese, although the Japanese still (!) keep secret information about the number of hits on their ships from the Varyag and Koreyets and the nature of the damage caused by these hits. At the same time, they refer to the loss of control documents - log books and repair sheets.
Varyag after the battle
The Russian sailors faced a difficult choice: either, having moved the heavy guns of the "Korean" to the "Varyag", repair and try to break through to Port Arthur again, or sink the ship and go ashore either unarmed, meaning the neutrality of Korea, or with weapons , because by that time there were already Japanese military units in Chemulpo numbering about 3,000 people. An inspection of the cruiser revealed that the cruiser was unsuitable for battle, and Rudnev decided to blow it up right there in the roadstead, but Bailey asked to choose some other method, since an explosion in the relatively cramped space of the roadstead could damage foreign ships. At the same time, he stated that foreign ships would leave him before 16.00, because at that time Admiral Uriu threatened to resume the battle already in the roadstead. It was decided to transfer the crews of the “Varyag”, “Koreyets” and the steamship “Sungari” to foreign ships, as to neutral territory. The board of officers of the "Korean" agreed with the decision of the commander of the "Varyag". The crew of the "Korean" was transported to the French cruiser "Pascal", the crew of the "Varyag" - to the English "Talbot" and the Italian "Elba". The Chemulpo settlement formed a flying squad of the Red Cross to provide first aid to the wounded of the warring powers. A steam boat under the flag of this detachment delivered the crew of the Russian steamer Sungari to the Elba, and brought 24 seriously wounded from the Varyag to Chemulpo, where two of them died from their wounds. The Japanese agreed to consider these wounded shipwrecked and placed them in their Red Cross hospital.
"Korean" was blown up at 16.05. The Varyag's seams were opened, and at 18:00 it sank into the water with its flag and jack raised. Rear Admiral Uriu demanded that the commanders of neutral cruisers hand over the Russian sailors as prisoners of war, but all of them, not without pressure from teams that sympathized with our compatriots, resolutely refused him. The Japanese had no choice but to inform the world that both ships were sunk in battle along with their crews. Nevertheless, it is known that on behalf of Admiral Uriu, the flagship doctor of the Japanese squadron, Yamamoto Yei, visited the Russian wounded in the Japanese hospital and even gave them gifts. The Japanese agreed to release the crews of the “Varyag” and “Koreyets” from Chemulpo on the condition that all military personnel sign a contract agreeing not to take part in hostilities against Japan. Russian sailors could give such a subscription only with the Highest permission, which was received from Emperor Nicholas. Only the senior officer of the cruiser “Varyag” V.V. Stepanov refused to give such a subscription.
Korean is blown up
It was not until January 28 that Japan officially declared war. “True to their eastern customs,” recalled Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, “the Japanese first struck and then declared war on us.”
In 1907, Rear Admiral V.F. Rudnev - while retired - was awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun in recognition of the heroism of Russian sailors, becoming one of the first Europeans and the first Russian to receive this order.
The cruiser "Varyag" was built in 1899. The ship became part of the Pacific Flotilla. On the eve of the Russo-Japanese War, the Varyag set sail for the neutral Korean port of Chemulpo (modern Incheon). Here he found himself at the disposal of the Russian embassy. The second such vessel was the gunboat “Koreets”.
On the eve of the battle
On New Year's Eve 1904, Captain Vsevolod Rudnev received a secret encryption. It reported that the Korean emperor learned about the movement of ten Japanese ships towards Chemulpo (the death of the cruiser "Varyag" occurred at one time in the bay of this port). So far there has been no war, although both countries were actively preparing for it. Japan was looked down upon in Russia, which left the army and navy in a difficult position when the conflict really broke out.
The Japanese flotilla was commanded by Admiral Sotokichi Uriu. His ships arrived off the Korean coast to cover the landing. The flotilla was supposed to stop the Varyag if it decided to leave the bay and interfere with the transfer of the ground army. On January 27 (old style), enemy ships appeared in the coastal waters. It was the first day of the Russo-Japanese War.
The situation in the port of Chemulpo was complicated by the fact that ships from other countries were there: Great Britain, France, Italy and the USA. On the morning of January 27, Japanese Admiral Uriu sent a message to their representatives that he was going to attack Russian ships. In this regard, neutral ships were asked to leave the roadstead before 16:00 so that they would not come under fire. The Europeans notified Captain Rudnev about the Japanese warning. It became clear that a battle was inevitable, despite the obvious violation of international law (the drama took place in the port of a third country).
The approach of the Japanese flotilla
By morning, the landing of the three thousand-strong ground contingent had already been completed. Now the transport ships had left the battle area, and the warships could begin preparing for the upcoming attack. In the port, a fire was visible at the Japanese landing site. The enemy deliberately put psychological pressure on the Russian sailors. The heroic death of the cruiser "Varyag" showed that all these attempts were doomed to failure. The Russian sailors and their officers were ready for anything, although they had to humiliatingly wait for the enemy to attack and helplessly watch the landing.
Meanwhile, the commanders of the foreign ships sent a written protest to the Japanese. This paper had no effect. The foreigners did not dare to take any other steps. Their ships retired to the port and did not show themselves in any way during the battle. and the gunboat were blocked in the bay. They could not go out to the open sea, since the road was blocked by a Japanese flotilla of ten ships. The subsequent death of the cruiser "Varyag" was largely due to paralysis and inept actions of the command in Port Arthur. The fleet commanders behaved irresponsibly. They made no attempt to prevent the disaster, although reports of the approaching Japanese squadron had been received for months.
"Varyag" leaves Chemulpo
Captain Vsevolod Rudnev, realizing that it was pointless to wait for help from foreigners or his own superiors, decided to break out of the bay and take the fight. There was simply no talk of capitulation. At 10 o'clock in the morning the captain arrived at the cruiser and informed the officers of his decision. The general opinion was unanimous - to try to break through, and if the attempt fails, then to sink the ships.
The doctors were the first to prepare for battle. Doctors, nurses and paramedics set up dressing stations. For the next few days they forgot about what sleep was - they had too much work. At 11 o'clock Rudnev gave a speech to the whole team. The sailors supported the captain with a loud “Hurray!” No one was afraid of the death of the cruiser "Varyag", no one wanted to give up, folding their hands in advance. The reaction to “Korean” was similar. Even the cook, who was a civilian worker, refused to leave the ship and take refuge in the consulate. When the Varyag left the port, foreign crews lined up on the decks of their ships. So the French, Italians and British paid tribute to the courage of the crew, who had an unequal battle ahead. In response, the national anthems of these countries were played on the Varyag.
The balance of forces between the parties
Which squadron was the cruiser Varyag supposed to confront? The story of the ship's death might not have happened at all if it had fought under different combat conditions. Every Japanese ship was within his power. The exception was Asama, one of the best armored cruisers in the whole world. "Varyag" was the embodiment of the idea of a strong and fast reconnaissance aircraft. His main advantage in the battle was a swift attack and a short but deafening blow to the enemy.
The Varyag could best demonstrate all these qualities on the open sea, where it would have room to maneuver. But its location, and subsequently the place of death of the cruiser “Varyag”, was in a narrow fairway full of shallows and stones. Under such conditions, the ship could not accelerate and effectively hit the enemy. Due to the narrow course, the cruiser had to fly at gunpoint from the Japanese. Therefore, the outcome of the battle was determined only by the ratio of the number of guns. A dozen ships had many more of them than a cruiser and gunboat.
The situation became especially hopeless due to the presence of Asama. The guns of this cruiser were practically invulnerable, as they were hidden behind thick turret armor. For comparison: on Russian ships the artillery was open and deck-based. In addition, half of the “Korean’s” guns were simply outdated. During the battle they were completely inactive.
Start of the battle
The Japanese ships predetermined the place of death of the cruiser "Varyag", standing ten miles from the Korean Chemulpo. When the squadrons met, a signal followed asking for surrender. “Varyag” proudly remained silent to this proposal. The first shots from the Asama were fired around 12 o'clock. They were produced at a time when the ships were at a distance of about 8 kilometers from each other.
Everyone understood that the death of the cruiser Varyag was inevitable. The fight, however, was accepted. Two minutes after the first Japanese shots, shooting began on the starboard side of the Varyag. It was led by Kuzma Khvatkov, the senior gunner. On the eve of the battle, he was lying in the hospital after an operation. Having learned about the upcoming battle, the gunner demanded to be discharged and soon arrived on board the Varyag. Khvatkov, with rare courage, continued to fire continuously throughout the entire battle, even after all his assistants were killed and wounded.
The first hit of a Japanese shell destroyed the upper bow bridge and broke the fore shrouds. Because of this, a fire started in the chart room. An explosion followed, killing junior navigator Alexei Nirod and signalman Gavriil Mironov. Timofey Shlykov, a brave and determined boatswain, began to lead the fire extinguishing efforts.
Fire on board
Columns of black smoke were the first signs that marked the death of the cruiser Varyag. The date January 27, 1905 became the day of courage and persistence of the Russian crew. The fire allowed the Japanese to easily adjust fire on the enemy. The Varyag's guns were aimed mainly at Asama. The fire was carried out with armor-piercing shells, which actually tore through the thick armor and exploded inside the ship. Therefore, the damage caused to the Japanese was not as obvious as the fire on the Russian cruiser.
The cruiser "Asama" fired diversionary fire. It distracted the attention of the Varyag's guns, thanks to which other ships of the Japanese flotilla could shoot the enemy with impunity. The shells began to hit the target more and more often. Thus, the death of the cruiser “Varyag” was gradually approaching. Photos of the heroic crew and their ship soon appeared in all the world's newspapers.
But on the afternoon of January 27, the sailors and officers clearly had no time for the future. After another hit, the deck flooring caught fire. The fire became extremely dangerous, because there was a signal system nearby, as well as elevators. They tried to put out the flames with powerful jets of water supplied from hoses. Meanwhile, the gunners standing at the open guns fell dead due to the deadly whirlwind of fragments raised by enemy shells.
The doctors worked intently and silently. The flow of wounded increased. People who were seriously injured found the strength to get to the hospital on their own. The lightly wounded did not pay any attention to the damage and remained at their posts. The death of the cruiser “Varyag” was so heroic and unprecedented. And the main ship also happened to find itself under heavy fire from the enemy, who reveled in their numerical superiority.
Maneuver
When the Varyag moved eight miles away from Chemulpo, the captain decided to turn to the right in order to get out of the fire and bring the guns on the left side into battle. The ship began to maneuver, and at that moment the ship was hit by two large shells. The heroic death of the cruiser "Varyag" has become even closer. Due to the explosion, the ship lost its steering control. Some of the fragments went straight into the control room, where, in addition to the captain, there were some officers and musicians. The drummer and staff bugler died, many were wounded, but no one wanted to go to the infirmary and leave Rudnev.
Due to the loss of the steering wheel, the order was given to switch to manual control. No one wanted the enemy to have the sinking of the cruiser Varyag easily. The Russo-Japanese War had just begun, and there were many more similar battles ahead, when Russian ships found themselves outnumbered. Their crews, following the crew of the Varyag, showed miracles of courage and devotion to duty.
The cruiser got within five miles of the enemy flotilla. The Japanese fire intensified. It was at this time that the Varyag received the most severe and fatal damage. A large-caliber shell pierced the stern on the left side. Water poured into the holes and began to flood the coal stokers. Quartermasters Zhigarev and Zhuravlev rushed into the room. They prevented the further spread of water and flooding of other stokers. The death of the cruiser Varyag was postponed over and over again. In short, the Russian crew fought with that stubbornness that only happens to doomed people driven into a corner.
Retreat
Meanwhile, the “Korean” began to cover the “Varyag”, which was making an important maneuver. His small projectiles were finally able to reach enemy ships. Return shooting began. Soon a fire broke out on one of the Japanese cruisers, and another destroyer began to sink. When the turn was completed, the guns on the left side joined the battle. The gunners, the main heroes of the battle, enraged by the death of their comrades, fired without stopping. The result was not long in coming. One of the shells destroyed the stern bridge of the Asama, the best Japanese cruiser. The author of the successful shot was gunner Fedor Elizarov, who stood behind the six-inch gun No. 12.
After the turn, the captain directed the ship back to the roadstead, trying to delay the death of the cruiser Varyag. The date of this event became one of the most striking and tragic in the history of the Russian fleet. By 13 o'clock the battle had stopped, as the Varyag was finally back in the roadstead.
During the battle they fired more than 1,100 shells. The crew lost half of the team on the upper deck. Fans and boats were turned into sieve. The deck and sides received numerous holes, which is why the Varyag began to list to the left side.
Sinking of the cruiser
Foreign ships, which had previously been in the roadstead, prepared to leave for the port so as not to interfere with the Japanese to finish off the Russians. Rudnev, assessing the situation, realized that the cruiser had lost most of its combat power. It was impossible to fight in such conditions. At a short military council, the captain decided to open the seams and scuttle the ship.
The evacuation of the team began. The wounded sailors and officers were passed on to each other in their arms. The death of the cruiser "Varyag" and the boat "Koreets" was approaching. Most of the Russians moved to neutral ships. The last crew members left on the ship to scuttle it remained in the water. Someone got to the ships by swimming, but Vasily Belousov remained holding on to the ice floe waiting for the arrival of the French boat.
"Korean" was blown up. Foreigners asked to do without such a measure in relation to the cruiser. The fact was that the wreckage of the gunboat collided at great speed with the water surface next to the neutral ships. The roll of the "Varyag" became stronger and stronger. From a distance, new explosions were periodically heard on it - this fire consumed the surviving cartridges and shells. Finally the ship sank. At 18 o'clock the final death of the cruiser "Varyag" was noted. The image of a ship that entered battle against unequal forces and its heroic crew remained forever in the memory of the Russian fleet.
Return of the crew to their homeland
23 people died in the battle, another 10 seriously wounded died in hospitals after evacuation. The remaining crew left for their homeland in mid-February. The heroic death of the cruiser "Varyag" and the gunboat "Koreets" has already become known to the whole world. Sailors and officers in every country where they stopped were greeted with cordiality and undisguised admiration. Telegrams and letters were sent to them from all over.
A large delegation of compatriots met the crew in Shanghai, where the gunboat Manjur was then located. The Consul General and Ambassador of Russia in Constantinople hurried to meet the heroes, despite their very short stop in this city. Glory was ahead of the sailors. The crew had to return to their homeland, landing in Odessa. In this city, preparations for his meeting took place for several weeks.
The heroes were awarded right on board the arriving ship. It should be said that all crew members were awarded, regardless of rank. A fireworks display was given in honor of those who arrived. The whole city was choked with festive rejoicing. The picture was similar in Sevastopol, where the Black Sea Fleet was based. On April 10, 1904, 600 sailors and 30 officers of the Varyag and Koreyets left for St. Petersburg in a special train. Along the way, the train stopped in Moscow and at several other stations. Everywhere, townspeople and top officials of the cities were invariably waiting for the train.
On the 16th the crew finally arrived in St. Petersburg. On the platform of the Nikolaevsky station he was met by relatives, representatives of the city duma, the army, the nobility and, of course, all the highest ranks of the Russian fleet. At the head of this crowd stood Admiral General Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich.
The sailors marched solemnly along the festively decorated Nevsky Prospect. The street was packed to capacity with citizens. Soldiers from the capital's garrison were lined up along the entire avenue to hold back the crowd. The ceremonial orchestra was inaudible amid the incessant shouts and applause. The culmination was the meeting of the crew and Tsar Nicholas II.
The further fate of the ship
The Japanese were amazed by the behavior and courage of the Russians. It is significant that Emperor Mutsuito in 1907 sent Captain Vsevolod Rudnev the Order of the Rising Sun, II degree. The death of the cruiser "Varyag" was remembered year after year not only in Russia, but also in Japan. In Tokyo they decided to raise and repair the cruiser. It was incorporated into the Imperial Navy and given the name "Soya". For seven years she was used as a training ship. The name "Varyag" on the stern of the ship was retained by the Japanese as a sign of respect for the courage of Russian sailors and officers. Once the cruiser even went on a trip to
Russia and Japan became allies. The tsarist government bought Varyag back. In 1916, he returned to Vladivostok under the Russian flag. The ship was transferred to the Arctic Ocean flotilla. On the eve of the February Revolution, the cruiser went to Great Britain for repairs. The authorities of this country confiscated the Varyag when the Bolsheviks refused to pay the debts of the tsarist government. In 1920, the ship was sold to the Germans for scrap metal. In 1925, the cruiser was caught in a storm while being towed and finally sank in the Irish Sea.
The Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905 began with two attacks by the Japanese Navy on the fleet of the Russian Empire. The document declaring war was not provided to the Russian side, and a note on the termination of diplomatic relations was sent to St. Petersburg four days before the start of hostilities. The battle at Chemulpo was the second incident of the Russo-Japanese War, but it was the one that was remembered by Russian society thanks to the unparalleled courage of the crew of the cruiser Varyag, which took on the enemy ships.
By the end of January 1904, the Japanese government had exhausted ways to put diplomatic pressure on Russia. St. Petersburg refused to recognize Japan’s “exclusive” rights to the Korean Peninsula and did its best to prevent the establishment of a Japanese protectorate over Japan. At the same time, the Russian army increased its presence in Manchuria and planned to transfer the fleet from its European ports to the Far Eastern ones.
In January 1904, the Imperial Privy Council of Japan decided to send troops into Korea and attack the Russian military base in Port Arthur. The following arguments were given in favor of this decision:
- Negotiations on delimiting spheres of influence in the Far East have reached a dead end.
- The Japanese fleet had a significant advantage over the Russian in the Yellow Sea. The rapid elimination of the Russian fleet and the blockade of the base in Port Arthur could guarantee Japan a strategic advantage in the conflict.
- Shortly before the war, Japan entered into an alliance with the British Empire, the strongest state of its time. He had to guarantee the non-interference of third parties in a new war.
- The war party in the Japanese government longed for victory over the European state, which would serve as proof of the superiority of the yellow race over the white.
In accordance with the chosen strategy, the Japanese General Staff decided to attack Russian ships stationed in the Yellow Sea: in the Port Arthur roadstead and in Chemulpo Bay.
Tasks of "Varyag" in Korea
The cruiser "Varyag" and the gunboat "Koreets" entered Chemulpo Bay (now Joseon, South Korea) in December 1903. their main goal was to ensure the security of the Russian diplomatic mission in neighboring Seoul. The crew of the Varyag numbered about 500 people. Part of the crew was ready to leave the ship if unrest occurred in Seoul that threatened the lives of Russian diplomats. At the same time, ships from Japan, Great Britain, France, Italy and the USA were in Chemulpo, having similar goals. In addition to the well-known task, the Varyag sailors had secret instructions. The landing force from the Varyag was supposed to go ashore not only in the event of unrest in the Korean capital, but also in the event that the Japanese army appeared in Korea. In fact, the crews of the Varyag and the Japanese Chiyoda were watching each other. On January 21, the Korean government notified Tokyo and major European capitals that it would remain neutral in the brewing Russo-Japanese conflict. International law obliged both sides to refrain from aggressive actions in the neutral bay. Nevertheless, Russian and Japanese sailors closely watched each other, expecting a provocation. After the announcement of the severance of diplomatic relations, the commander of the Varyag, Vsevolod Rudnev, began to develop a plan for the evacuation of the Russian embassy from Seoul.
Progress of the battle in Chemulpo
On the morning of January 26 (February 8), 1904, a squadron of six cruisers and three destroyers formed in the Japanese port of Sasebo headed for Chemulpo with the goal of landing troops there. In the afternoon, the Japanese squadron met the Korean boat, which was heading from Chemulpo to Port Arthur. The Japanese fleet made it difficult for the Korean to move, and the Russian boat opened fire, and a torpedo was launched from the cruiser Chiyoda at the Korean. The Russian gunboat was not damaged, but was forced to change course and return to Chemulpo.
In the evening of the same day, the Japanese squadron entered Chemulpo. The commander of the Chemulpo raid, English Captain Bailey, notified the Japanese side of the inadmissibility of military operations on the territory of a neutral state. However, the Japanese fleet received permission from its command to conduct battle both in neutral waters and in the Chemulpo roadstead.
On the night of January 26-27, the crews of “Varyag” and “Koreyets” prepared for battle.” On the morning of January 27, the entire Japanese squadron except the cruiser Chiyoda left Chemulpo for the outer roadstead. “Varyag” received an ultimatum: the Japanese command demanded that the Russian ships leave the bay and fight in neutral waters. Otherwise, the Japanese threatened to return to Chemulpo and open fire right in the port.
Captain Rudnev decided to break through the outer raid. In fact, he took the fight. Around noon, “Varyag” and “Koreets” opened fire on enemy forces, which had a multiple advantage. In the one and a half hour battle, the Varyag received 11 holes. During the battle, 23 of the 500 crew members were killed. A fire started on the ship. The Varyag officers decided to abandon and scuttle the ship. The crew of the "Korean" also evacuated and blew up their gunboat. Russian sailors were evacuated by Western ships stationed in Chemulpo.
01/27/1904 (02/09). – The heroic death of the cruiser "Varyag" and the gunboat "Koreets" in an unequal battle with the Japanese squadron
Our proud "Varyag" does not surrender to the enemy
Impressed by the feat of the crew of the cruiser "Varyag", the Austrian writer and poet Rudolf Greinz wrote the poem "Varyag" dedicated to this event. It was published in the German magazine Jugend (1904, No. 10). In April 1904 N.K. Melnikov and E.M. Studenskaya published translations of this poem. The translation of E. Studenskaya was considered more successful by Russian society. And soon the musician of the 12th Astrakhan Grenadier Regiment A.S. Turishchev, who took part in the ceremonial meeting of the heroes of "Varyag" and "Korean", set these poems to music.
The song was first performed at a gala reception held in honor of the officers and sailors of the Varyag and the Korean.
The song became very popular in Russia. Military sailors especially loved her. Over the years, the third verse was removed from the song, since the Japanese were already allies in this war. And they also tried to forget about the author of the song.
Under the rule of the Bolsheviks, many military songs of Tsarist Russia were banned and only with the beginning many of them were returned, including the song about “Varyag”.
Up, you, comrades, everyone is in place,
The last parade is coming.
Our proud “Varyag” does not surrender to the enemy,
Nobody wants mercy!All the pennants are waving and the chains are rattling,
Raising the anchors up,
The guns are preparing for battle in a row,
Sparkling ominously in the sun!From the faithful pier we go into battle,
Towards the death that threatens us,
We will die for our homeland in the open sea,
Where the yellow-faced devils wait!It whistles and thunders and rumbles all around.
The thunder of guns, the hiss of shells,
And our immortal and proud “Varyag” became
Like absolute hell.Bodies tremble in their death throes,
The thunder of guns, and smoke, and groans,
And the ship is engulfed in a sea of fire,
The moment of farewell has come.Farewell, comrades! With God, hurray!
The boiling sea is below us!
Brothers, you and I didn’t think yesterday,
That today we will die under the waves.Neither the stone nor the cross will tell where they lay down
For the glory of the Russian flag,
Only the waves of the sea will glorify alone
Heroic death of the “Varyag”!Original German text:
Auf Deck, Kameraden, all" auf Deck!
Heraus zur letzten Parade!
Der stolze Warjag ergibt sich nicht,
Wir brauchen keine Gnade!An den Masten die bunten Wimpel empor,
Die klirrenden Anker gelichtet,
In stürmischer Eil` zum Gefechte klar
Die blanken Geschütze gerichtet!Aus dem sichern Hafen hinaus in die See,
Fürs Vaterland zu sterben
Dort lauern die gelben Teufel auf uns
Und speien Tod und Verderben!Es drohnt und kracht und donnert und zischt,
Da trifft es uns zur Stelle;
Es ward der Warjag, das treue Schiff,
Zu einer brennenden Holle!Rings zuckende Leiber und grauser Tod,
Ein Aechzen, Rocheln und Stöhnen -
Die Flammen um unser Schiff
Wie feuriger Rosse Mähnen!Lebt wohl, Kameraden, lebt wohl, hurra!
Hinab in die gurgelnde Tiefe!
Wer hätte es gestern noch gedacht,
Dass er heut` schon da drunten schliefe!Kein Zeichen, kein Kreuz wird, wo wir ruh`n
Fern von der Heimat, melden -
Doch das Meer das rauschet auf ewig von uns,
Von Warjag und seinen Helden!
Discussion: 15 comments
This is a great song. It was necessary to write the anthem of the new Russia to its melody - jubilant, bright, memorable! It is wrong, we are not using such a treasure in a proper manner. It is songs like these that bring people together.
I am looking for translations of "Varyag" into other languages. Who can help?
Thank you in advance.
Vladimir
Even some 100 years ago, our enemies showed at least some manifestations of honor and respect for the enemy. What will happen after our children?
Thank you for the article! I read everything, very interesting. You are doing the right thing. To my shame, I must admit that I knew nothing about the author of the text! And I dedicated such a poem to the feat of Varyag. Here is the link to it http://www.stihi.ru/2009/06/12/5729
HURRAY, HURRAH, HURRAY. Glory to our wars!
May God rest all the fallen defenders of the honor of the Navy and forgive them everything... And grant them Your kingdom
Speech by cruiser commander V.F. Rudnev before the battle: “Today I received a letter from the Japanese admiral about the start of hostilities with a proposal to leave the raid until noon. Of course, we are going for a breakthrough and will engage in battle with the squadron, no matter how strong it is. There can be no questions about surrender - we will not surrender the cruiser, nor ourselves, and we will fight to the last opportunity and to the last drop of blood. Perform your duties accurately, calmly, without haste, especially gunners, remembering that every shell must harm the enemy. In case of fire, extinguish it quietly, letting me know. Let us pray to God before the campaign and with firm faith in God’s mercy, let us boldly go into battle for the faith, the Tsar and the fatherland. Hurray!” [source: [Rudnev V.F.] “The Battle of the Varyag near Chemulpo on January 27, 1904.” – St. Petersburg, 1907 – pp. 11-12]
At the end of the commander’s speech, the ship’s priest said a prayer “for the granting of victory.” The music played the anthem and the team expressed their willingness to fight to the death.
After 15 minutes, 2 Russian ships entered the battle against 14 Japanese, 726 Russian sailors - against 2,680 Japanese. The outcome of the battle was predetermined in advance...
“Even at the very beginning of the Russian-Japanese War, the priest on the cruiser “Varyag” declared himself a courageous, selfless hero. Mikhail Rudnev. Every minute during the fierce battle at Chemulpo, putting his life in danger, he fearlessly walked along the deck of the ship, covered in blood, littered with the wounded and mutilated corpses of the dead, admonishing the dying, consoling the suffering and inspiring those fighting. He also helped most actively in caring for the wounded.” [N. Petrov. "Heroes-priests. (Anniversary memories.)" // "Kherson Diocesan Gazette". dept. unofficial - No. 13-14 – Odessa – July 15, 1914 – p. 443] What is the courage of being under fire? According to the report of Dr. M. L. Banshchikov, published in the collection ["Sanitary report on the fleet for the Russian-Japanese war of 1904-1905." – part 1 – Kronstadt., 1915 – p. 321] of those under the armor protection of the cruiser “Varyag”, only 5 sailors were injured. But “out of 263 people who were on the upper deck and on the tops,” 125 sailors were injured - almost every second!
“Few people know that when the Russian sailors left the sinking cruiser “Varyag”, the last one left was not the ship’s captain, but the ship’s priest, who continued to stand on the bridge with the cross raised up to the end. Such facts were simply thrown out of our history by Soviet historians.” [Archpriest Alexander Sychev. “The Army of Christ” // “Master Gun” - No. 54 – M., 2001 – p. 60]
The Varyag's feat delighted the Japanese. At the end of the war, the Japanese government created a museum in Seoul in memory of the heroes of “Varyag” and awarded V. F. Rudnev the Order of the Rising Sun. The cruiser raised by the Japanese became a training ship, where groups of Japanese sailors came on excursions as an example of courage.
Yes, there is rightfully something to be proud of.
Blokhin Pyotr Pavlovich. I was not lucky enough to serve in the navy, although it was the dream of my childhood and stupid youth. However, I remember the history of the Russian Navy and the exploits of Russian sailors forever. And the feat of the Russian sailors of the cruiser "Svetlana" (1905) is in no way inferior to the valor of the battleship "Eustathius" from the squadron of Admiral Spiridov in the Battle of Chesma. The feat of the Baltic sailors during the evacuation of Tallinn is also a feat. It is easy to be a hero when you win. And to criticize those who, at the cost of their lives, only slightly brightened up the bitterness of defeat and everyone tried to forget about them, or worse, hang all dead dogs on them - this, guys, is disgusting. We have reached the point where we criticize our best generals and naval commanders. Everyone fancies himself a strategist, seeing the battle from the outside. How humiliated even in official historiography is Rear Admiral Vitgeft, who died heroically on the battleship "Tsesarevich". If the Nazis had not turned General D. Karbyshev into an ice floe, I think no one would have remembered him, although in captivity he behaved like a thrice HERO. Therefore, it seems to me wildness to look for mistakes, flaws and unseemly actions among our HEROES OF THE FATHERLAND. This is a crime against the GOD OF THE MOTHERLAND and one’s descendants. And therefore, I consider the controversy surrounding the actions of the commander of the “Varyag” V.F. Rudnev immoral and criminal.
How enduring are stupid fairy tales in Russia... including about the feat of the armored cruiser of the 1st rank "Varyag" that never existed in reality, which has already been repeatedly exposed in the same Russian Empire immediately after the Russo-Japanese War... and they came forward with the revelations participants in this war.
For example, in 1906, E.I. Martynov’s book “From the Sad Experience of the Russian-Japanese War” was published in St. Petersburg, in which he, in particular, spoke out about the false campaign organized in the country to honor the crews of the Varyag and the Korean " (I quote): "The dissatisfaction among the officers became even stronger when it later became clear that in general in the indicated battle the crew of the Varyag did not accomplish any feat, and there were even almost no losses on the Koreyets." (end of quotation).
But Russian rabid lies are still alive and well - apparently to dumb down the younger generation of Russia.
You posted 5 huge texts here, but the comment format is not intended for this. Briefly state the essence of your objection and provide a link to the published material.
It is difficult to summarize the essence of my five texts, because I have already reduced the topic to a minimally substantiated state. If you shorten it further, then the cause-and-effect relationships will no longer be visible and the entire logic of events will fall apart. And how then can you prove that everything is not as it is briefly stated in your article “The heroic death of the cruiser “Varyag” and the gunboat “Koreets” in an unequal battle with the Japanese squadron”?
There are enough references to sources in my texts (if you read them) ... In particular, Russian reports, reports, acts and partly Japanese documents are given in the book of a great enthusiast of the cruiser "Varyag" V.I. Kataev ("Cruiser "Varyag", Publishing House " Collection", "Yauza", "Eksmo", Moscow, 2008). Kataev wrote a whole trilogy on the theme of "Varyag" (gradually moving to more and more prosaic and unheroic conclusions, although he did not refuse to state the "feat"), and also published a separate monograph about the gunboat “Koreets”... and even visited the scene of the event - the port of Incheon, to which the Chemulpo region adjoins, and walked along the fairway along which these Russian ships once went into battle.
In addition (from what is not given in my previous five texts) I can refer to journals in which Japanese documents and a description of Japanese actions at Chemulpo were published, as well as a version of a neutral party (although now I only have an American one, but in Russian Both French and English have been published).
"Naval Campaign", number 7 of 2007, article "Amphibious operation of the Japanese army and navy in Inchon on February 8-9, 1904 (part 1)." New information about the Russo-Japanese War: preparation of the landing operation in Chemulpo (Incheon).
"Naval Campaign", number 10 of 2007, article "Amphibious operation of the Japanese army and navy in Inchon on February 8-9, 1904 (part 2)." The Battle of Chemulpo: a view from the Japanese side.
"Naval War", number 2 from 2008, article "Events in Chemulpo. A view from under the Stars and Stripes." Handwritten diary, reports, received letters and telegrams from the commander of the American gunboat (stationary in Chemulpo) "Vicksburg" W.A. Marshall.
You sent several huge texts again. Give me an email. links to their publications on the Internet, so as not to overload the comments here.
I do not know the addresses on the Internet for the sources of information I named in the previous message (which detail the background, history and post-history of the battle of Chemulpo and the tactical and technical details of this battle), since all these sources are in my hands in the form of ordinary paper media - printed books and magazines with diagrams, tables and photographs.
However, if I have an “extra hour” to spare, I’ll look, although it’s a very tedious task to dig through our domestic trash heap, called the Runet.
However, you yourself can compare, for example, photographs of the Russian cruiser Varyag, which was well preserved after the battle, and the German light cruiser Emden after an unequal battle in November 1914 - a pile of shapeless, twisted metal. And all because “Varyag” simply imitated a breakthrough attempt “for form’s sake,” while “Emden” fought for real...
To Andrey Ulybin... Is it okay that Martynov, to whom you so carelessly refer, himself behaved at the REV, to put it mildly, “inappropriately”? At least there were considerable complaints from his colleagues against him, and after the war the subject simply decided to make a career out of criticism. As for the Varyag, something can only be brought against Rudnev for a biased report on the events and for the “sinking” of the cruiser, but not for the battle itself. However, in the RIF they committed similar acts both before him and after him, didn’t they?
