The cruiser "Varyag" is a legend of the Russian fleet. It was built at the William Crump and Sons shipyard in Philadelphia (USA) to order Russian Empire and was launched from the Philadelphia docks (October 19) November 1, 1899. By technical specifications"Varyag" had no equal - it became the most fast cruiser Russian fleet, was equipped with powerful cannon and torpedo weapons, equipped with telephones, electrification, equipped with a radio station and steam boilers of the latest modification. In 1901, the Varyag entered service with the Russian Navy and was sent to Far East to strengthen the Pacific squadron. During the Russo-Japanese War, on February 9, 1904, the first-rank cruiser Varyag and the gunboat Koreets were blocked by a Japanese squadron of 15 ships in the Korean port of Chemulpo. The Russian sailors rejected the offer to surrender and lower their flags and entered into an unequal battle, which they lost. After the battle, the "Korean" was blown up, the "Varyag" was sunk. In 1905, the Japanese raised the Varyag and introduced it into their fleet under the name Soya. During the First World War, in 1916, Russia bought the Varyag from former enemies along with other captured ships of the First Pacific Squadron.

On March 22, 1916, the cruiser received former name, was enlisted in the flotilla of the Northern Arctic Ocean as a flagship, and on March 27, 1916, the St. George flag was raised on it again. The ship needed serious repairs. In February 1917 he was sent to the Glasgow shipyards. However, after the Russian revolution, Britain confiscated the cruiser for debts from the tsarist government and sold it to Germany as scrap metal in 1920. The Varyag's journey ended in 1920: on its way to being dismantled, the cruiser sat on rocks and sank off the coast of South Scotland, in the Firth of Clyde, near the village of Lendelfoot. In the spring of 2003, filming of the two-part documentary television film “Cruiser “Varyag”” began in Russia, and in the summer of the same year a special expedition was organized to search for the remains of the “Varyag” in the Irish Sea with the participation of Russian scuba divers. July 3, 2003 film crew discovered two miles from Lendelfoot, at a depth of 6-8 meters, the hull of the Varyag destroyed by an explosion. Russian scuba divers managed to bring several fragments of the legendary cruiser to the surface. The grandson of the Varyag commander Vsevolod Fedorovich Rudnev, Nikita Rudnev, who specially flew in from France, took part in the underwater expedition. On July 30, 2006, in the Scottish village of Lendelfoot, not far from the place where the Varyag found its final refuge, the opening took place memorial plaque in honor of the legendary Russian cruiser. On September 11, 2007, the monument to “Varyag” was unveiled. The monument was erected in the village of Lendelfoot - it was there, in the Irish Sea, that a Russian cruiser sank in 1920.

Orthodox calendar

Sermon

Gospel readings:
OK. 18:35-43
OK. 12:8-12

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

In the reading of the Holy Scriptures that we heard today, there is a story about a blind man named Bartimaeus from the Gospel of Luke. It talks about a man who for a long time was blind, and then, when he had already exhausted his possibilities, turning to doctors and healers, seeking support and wasting much of his material resources, he heard about Christ passing by. He felt a sense of trust and cried out to God. Those who walked with Christ had eyes. They understood where to go, but the unfortunate man was away from the crowd and shouted so that the Lord could hear him. But God heard his cry even before he screamed. And here are the interpreters sacred text They offer you and me to learn this cry - but not in a material, physical sense. After all, the Lord saw in the heart of the blind man the opportunity to convert warmly and sincerely, and when He heals the unfortunate blind man, He talks to him. To translate this into a language more accessible to us: God invites this person to go to God’s Kingdom, that is, to return home.

In the dialogue that took place between the blind man and God, there were no witnesses. How in Scripture these words entered and how can people of holy life interpret this conversation between God and man? When does a person begin to develop the ability to hear? God's Word and read Him, and when he then reaches a certain height, something is revealed to him that will never be revealed to anyone who has not taken the path of serious immersion in the Holy Scriptures. The Lord talked with that man until he screamed. But the saints who have walked the path of such dialogue on own experience, describe it and invite those who have not yet managed to accommodate all this to cry out to God in their hearts.

It works thoroughly and seriously. Insight comes precisely when, turning to God, a person has faith that he will receive what he asks for. Being in this state, a person receives mercy from God. After all, there are blind people who have never received their sight and will not receive their sight. But we are talking not only about external vision, first of all – about spiritual vision. Because the Lord then fulfills a person’s request when he sees his willingness to work on himself, to build his life according to God's Law and gain spiritual insight internally. That is why the Lord gives him sight, so that he can use this gift of His in order to bring greater benefit, rise higher, achieve greater height and find special fellowship with the Lord. Notice that God created people to communicate with Him. When we enter into dialogue with God, we feel that we get something from it. This is what motivates us to go to church, this is why we communicate with the priest, asking and receiving answers to our questions. But if you don’t plow this field within yourself, if you don’t develop these abilities, then empty space An empty concern will come into the heart, endless in its vanity, overwhelming a person, including him in the stream of events that cannot end. They are vain, external and earthly, and if a person begins to swear allegiance to them, then he shouts to this “god of the world,” the crafty demon, that he is ready to share blindness with him, plunging into it more and more, and he also achieves something and falls into a state of self-delusion, or delusion.

Today's Gospel text is a call to each of us to learn the art of insight, turning to God with a cry in our hearts, in order to find our heavenly home, where each of us is guided by the invisible Divine hand. Let us try, dear brothers and sisters, by carefully studying God’s Word, reading It daily, opening the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures and plunging into the depth of understanding of how each of us needs to gradually build our lives. Because our days are very short, and it is important to cherish the time God has given for improvement. Let us try to put into our hearts what was said and heard. Realizing that each of us is spiritually blind, let us ask God for mercy, and, knowing the secrets of our hearts, He will give each of us that insight, that ability to see, feel and think that we are ready to accept from Him. Because, in His mercy, He is ready to give infinitely much. We must appreciate all this and be ready to accept His Divine mercy. Amen!

Archpriest Andrey Alekseev

November 1, 1899 – the first-rank cruiser “Varyag” was launched

The cruiser "Varyag" is a legend of the Russian fleet. It was built at the William Crump and Sons shipyard in Philadelphia (USA) by order of the Russian Empire and launched from the stocks of the Philadelphia docks (October 19) on November 1, 1899. In terms of technical characteristics, the Varyag had no equal - it became the fastest cruiser in the Russian fleet, was equipped with powerful cannon and torpedo armament, equipped with telephones, electrification, equipped with a radio station and steam boilers of the latest modification. In 1901, the Varyag entered service with the Russian Navy and was sent to the Far East to strengthen the Pacific squadron.

During the Russo-Japanese War, on February 9, 1904, the cruiser Varyag and the gunboat Koreets were blocked by a Japanese squadron of 15 ships in the Korean port of Chemulpo. The Russian sailors rejected the offer to surrender and lower their flags and entered into an unequal battle. In total, during this battle, the crew of the cruiser “Varyag” fired more than a thousand shells, sank a Japanese destroyer and disabled two enemy cruisers.

But by the end of the battle, the “Varyag” itself had almost completely exhausted its combat capabilities for resistance due to large losses in personnel and numerous serious injuries. According to official document(sanitary report for the war), the cruiser's losses amounted to 130 people - 33 killed and 97 wounded.

The unequal battle lasted 50 minutes. Unable to break through, the ships returned to the port of Chemulpo, where they received an ultimatum from the Japanese to surrender. The Russian sailors refused. By decision of the officers' council, in order to avoid capture by the Japanese, the Varyag was sunk and the Koreets was blown up. This feat became a symbol of the courage and bravery of Russian sailors.

The crews of Russian ships were taken by foreign stationers to Shanghai (China), and from there they were sent to Russia on neutral transports.

The day after the legendary battle, the entire world community started talking about the selfless courage of Russian sailors. Dozens of colorful albums, paintings, books, commemorative medals and postcards with portraits of commanders and images of “Varyag” and “Korean”. Appeared famous song“In memory of “Varyag””. Poems were written Austrian poet Rudolf Greinz, translated by Evgenia Studenskaya, and set to music by Alexei Turishchev, a student of the Astrakhan Grenadier Regiment. The song has become truly popular.

For the first time in Russian history all participants in the battle (about 500 people) were awarded the highest military award- St. George's Cross. Commander Vsevolod Rudnev received a promotion and became the commander of the squadron battleship “Andrei Pervozvanny”, which was still under construction in St. Petersburg.

The actions of the “Varyag” during the battle delighted even the enemy - after the Russian-Japanese War, the Japanese government created a museum in Seoul in memory of the heroes of the “Varyag” and awarded Vsevolod Rudnev the Order of the Rising Sun.

In 1905, the Japanese raised the Varyag from the ocean floor and introduced it into their fleet under the name Soya. During the First World War, in 1916, Russia bought the Varyag from its former enemies along with other captured ships of the First Pacific Squadron. On March 22, 1916, the cruiser, which received its previous name, was enlisted in the Arctic Ocean flotilla as a flagship, and on March 27, 1916, the St. George flag was raised on it again. However, the ship needed serious repairs, and in February 1917 she was sent to the Glasgow shipyard. After the Russian Revolution, Britain confiscated the cruiser for debts from the tsarist government and sold it to Germany as scrap metal in 1920. The Varyag's journey ended in 1920: on its way to being dismantled, the cruiser sat on rocks and sank off the coast of South Scotland, in the Firth of Clyde, near the village of Lendelfoot.

In the spring of 2003, filming of the two-part documentary television film “Cruiser “Varyag”” began in Russia, and in the summer of the same year a special expedition was organized to search for the remains of the “Varyag” in the Irish Sea with the participation of Russian scuba divers. On July 3, 2003, the film crew discovered the hull of the Varyag, destroyed by an explosion, two miles from Lendelfoot, at a depth of 6-8 meters. Russian scuba divers managed to bring several fragments of the legendary cruiser to the surface. The grandson of the Varyag commander Vsevolod Fedorovich Rudnev, Nikita Rudnev, who specially flew in from France, took part in the underwater expedition.

On July 30, 2006, in the Scottish village of Lendelfoot, not far from the place where the Varyag found its final refuge, a memorial plaque was unveiled in honor of the legendary Russian cruiser. And on September 11, 2007, a monument to “Varyag” was unveiled there.

November 1 marked 110 years since the legendary cruiser Varyag was launched.

The cruiser "Varyag" was built by order of the Russian Empire at the William Crump and Sons shipyard in Philadelphia (USA). It left the Philadelphia docks on November 1 (October 19, O.S.) 1899.

In terms of technical characteristics, the Varyag had no equal: equipped with powerful cannon and torpedo weapons, it was also the fastest cruiser in Russia. In addition, the Varyag was equipped with telephones, electrification, and a radio station and steam boilers of the latest modification.

After testing in 1901, the ship was presented to St. Petersburg residents.

In May 1901, the cruiser was sent to the Far East to reinforce the Pacific squadron. In February 1902, the cruiser, having sailed halfway around the world, dropped anchor in the Port Arthur roadstead. From that moment his service began as part of the squadron. In December 1903, the cruiser was sent to the neutral Korean port of Chemulpo to serve as a stationary vessel. In addition to the Varyag, there were ships of the international squadron on the roadstead. On January 5, 1904, the Russian gunboat "Koreets" arrived at the roadstead.

On the night of January 27 (February 9, new style), 1904, the Japanese warships opened fire on the Russian squadron, which was stationed in the Port Arthur roadstead. The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) began, lasting 588 days.

The cruiser "Varyag" and the gunboat "Koreets", located in the Korean Bay of Chemulpo, were blocked by a Japanese squadron on the night of February 9, 1904. The crews of Russian ships, trying to break through from Chemulpo to Port Arthur, entered into an unequal battle with a Japanese squadron, which included 14 destroyers.

During the first hour of the battle in the Tsushima Strait, the crew of the Russian cruiser fired more than 1.1 thousand shells. "Varyag" and "Koreets" disabled three cruisers and a destroyer, but they themselves received heavy damage. The ships returned to the port of Chemulpo, where they received an ultimatum from the Japanese to surrender. Russian sailors rejected him. By decision of the officers' council, the Varyag was sunk and the Koreets was blown up. This feat became a symbol of the courage and bravery of Russian sailors.

For the first time in Russian history, all participants in the battle (about 500 people) were awarded the highest military award - the Cross of St. George. After the celebrations, the Varyag crew was disbanded, the sailors entered service on other ships, and commander Vsevolod Rudnev was awarded, promoted, and retired.

The actions of the "Varyag" during the battle delighted even the enemy - after the Russian-Japanese War, the Japanese government created a museum in Seoul in memory of the heroes of the "Varyag" and awarded its commander Vsevolod Rudnev the Order of the Rising Sun.

After the legendary battle in Chemulpo Bay, the Varyag lay at the bottom of the Yellow Sea more than a year. Only in 1905 was the sunken ship raised, repaired and put into service. Imperial Navy Japan under the name "Soya". For more than 10 years, the legendary ship served as a training vessel for Japanese sailors, but out of respect for its heroic past, the Japanese kept the inscription on the stern - “Varyag”.

In 1916, Russia acquired former Russian warships Peresvet, Poltava and Varyag from its now ally Japan. After paying 4 million yen, the Varyag was enthusiastically received in Vladivostok and on March 27, 1916, the St. Andrew's flag was raised again on the cruiser. The ship was enlisted in the Guards crew and sent to reinforce the Kola detachment of the Arctic Fleet. On November 18, 1916, the cruiser "Varyag" was solemnly welcomed in Murmansk. Here she was appointed the flagship Marine forces defense of the Kola Bay.

However, the cruiser's engines and boilers required immediate overhaul, and the artillery required rearmament. Just a few days before February Revolution"Varyag" went to England, to the ship repair docks of Liverpool. The Varyag remained in the Liverpool dock from 1917 to 1920. The necessary funds for its repair (300 thousand pounds) were never allocated. After 1917, the Bolsheviks permanently erased the Varyag as a hero of the Tsarist fleet from the history of the country.

In February 1920, while being towed through the Irish Sea to Glasgow (Scotland), where it was sold for scrap, the cruiser was caught in a strong storm and sat on rocks. All attempts to save the ship were unsuccessful. In 1925, the cruiser was partially dismantled on site, and the 127-meter hull was blown up.

It was withdrawn in 1947 feature film“The cruiser “Varyag”, and on February 8, 1954, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the “Varyag” feat, a gala evening was held in Moscow with the participation of veterans of the Battle of Chemulpo, where on behalf of the Soviet government the “Varangian” heroes were awarded medals “For Courage”. Anniversary celebrations took place in many cities across the country.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the heroic battle in 2004, the Russian delegation erected a monument to the Russian sailors "Varyag" and "Koreyts" in Chemulpo Bay. At the opening of the memorial in the port of Incheon ( former city Chemulpo) the flagship was present Pacific Fleet Russian guards missile cruiser "Varyag".

The current "Varyag" is the successor of the same name legendary ship first generation - armed with a powerful multi-purpose strike missile system, which allows you to hit surface and ground targets at a considerable distance. Also in its arsenal are rocket launchers, torpedo tubes and several artillery installations of various calibers and purposes. Therefore in NATO Russian ships This class is figuratively called “aircraft carrier killers.”

In 2007, in Scotland, where the legendary "Varyag" found its last refuge, it was opened memorial complex, which was attended by the large anti-submarine ship (BOD) of the Russian Navy "Severomorsk". These monuments, made in Russian maritime traditions, became the first memorials to the Russian military spirit abroad of Russia and eternal symbol gratitude and pride of descendants.

In 2009, on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the legendary battle with the Japanese squadron, a unique international exhibition project “Cruiser “Varyag” was created. The discovery of relics, including genuine rarities from the legendary ship and gunboat “Koreets” from the collections of Russian and Korean museums. A similar exhibition , demonstrating relics of the Russian fleet has never been seen in Russian history.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Cruiser "Varyag", Russia, 1899. Historical Directory

CRUISER "VARYAG"

ODYSSEY OF THE CRUISER "VARYAG"

Vladimir KRAVTSEVICH-ROZHNETSKY

80 years ago, at the end of March 1922, the heroic steel heart of the legend of the Russian fleet, the cruiser Varyag, stopped beating. During the passage to the shipbuilding company's plant near the town of Lendalfoot, the ship hit rocks in the Irish Sea and half-sank 500 meters from the Scottish coast. All attempts to refloat the cruiser were in vain, and the company dismantled the ship for scrap. “Varyag” is gone, but its glory, courage and bravery of the crew, who withstood the battle with the Japanese squadron at Chemulpo on January 27, 1904 and did not lower the flag, will forever remain in the memory of the Russian people.

Journey to the Motherland

The armored, high-sided, handsome cruiser "Varyag" was laid down 105 years ago at the shipyards of one of the largest shipbuilding enterprises in the United States - the Wilhelm Kramp plant (Philadelphia) by order of the Admiralty...

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“Our proud “Varyag” does not surrender to the enemy, no one wants mercy...” - everyone knows the words of this song, but the fact is that the song was originally written in Germany as a tribute to admiration for the feat of Russian sailors and only a little later was translated into Russian, not everyone remembers (music by A.S. Turishchev, lyrics by Rudolf Greinz, trans. E. Studenskaya, 1904). How not everyone today remembers what the unprecedented feat of our soldiers and officers was.

On the night of February 8-9, 1904, when guns were already thundering in Port Arthur, explosions were roaring and the beams of Russian searchlights were darting across the dark water in search of attacking Japanese destroyers, a tense silence thickened 260 miles to the south, over the Korean port of Chemulpo. In the light of the fires burning brightly on the shore, they landed on the city pier Japanese troops, and in the roadstead, Japanese cruisers and destroyers scattered among the foreign ships, holding the Russian cruiser “Varyag” and a gunboat at gunpoint with their guns and torpedo tubes...

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Heroic and tragic fate cruiser "Varyag"

More than 300 years ago, by decree of Peter the Great, the St. Andrew's flag was first raised on Russian ships. Since then, many heroic pages have been written in the history of the fleet, but the cruiser “Varyag”, which refused to lower the banner in front of a huge enemy squadron in 1904, will forever remain in people’s memory as the most striking symbol of fearlessness, self-sacrifice and military valor.

history of the cruiser "Varyag"

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From the conclusion of the domestic commission of experienced specialists who examined the Varyag: “...Nikloss boilers are very interesting, but they seem so only in idea, but in practice, apart from a number of malfunctions and difficulties, they will not give anything.”

On May 3, 1901, the Varyag completed its passage across the Atlantic, dropping anchor in the Kronstadt roadstead. After a series of repairs, in August of the same year the cruiser went to sea again. In Danzig, two emperors visited the ship at once: Nicholas II and Wilhelm II. At the end of September, the Varyag, which was in the Mediterranean Sea, received a secret order...

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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 sinking 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. In Russia, Japan was looked down upon, which is why the army and navy found themselves in difficult situation when the conflict broke out in earnest.

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...

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Few people in our country have not heard about the feat of the cruiser “Varyag”. However, despite huge amount material devoted to this topic, many nuances from the life of the ship remain in the shadows. This article does not claim to completeness or impartiality, since history by definition cannot be impartial, but it allows us to learn something new about fate famous cruiser− a symbol of heroism and valor of the Russian Navy.

The Varyag was built in Philadelphia and launched 113 years ago on November 1, 1899. According to many foreign newspapers, the cruiser was distinguished high speed and could well claim first place among ships of its class. However, from the very first day of its existence, “Varyag” showed itself not to be the best side, many systems and mechanisms constantly failed, broke down, and failed. The obstinate nature of the cruiser constantly demanded attention and “educated” the crew with endless problems. “Varyag” was the first ship built according to the new shipbuilding regulations, but this could only partly explain its countless design flaws. The most trouble for the crew was caused by Nikloss steam boilers, which turned out to be not only capricious in operation, but also dangerous, constantly burning the sailors with superheated steam.

From the conclusion of the domestic commission of experienced specialists who examined the Varyag: “...Nikloss boilers are very interesting, but they seem so only in idea, but in practice, apart from a number of malfunctions and difficulties, they will not give anything.”

In addition, there were errors in the project itself. There was not enough space for fresh water, coal, a mine arsenal, anchors, and spare parts. The officers' quarters were cramped and uncomfortable. But the biggest mistake of the developers was that the cruiser did not have the required stability. To correct the defect, it was necessary to add cast iron pigs with a total weight of 200 tons to the hold. And this led to a decrease in speed and excessive consumption of coal.

On May 3, 1901, the Varyag completed its passage across the Atlantic, dropping anchor in the Kronstadt roadstead. After a series of repairs in August of the same year, the cruiser went to sea again. In Danzig, two emperors visited the ship at once: Nicholas II and Wilhelm II. At the end of September, the Varyag was in the Mediterranean Sea received secret order to proceed to the Far East with a visit to the Persian Gulf to demonstrate to the naval powers (primarily Great Britain) the capabilities of the domestic fleet. For the same purpose, the ship visited the port of Nagasaki. In addition, due to numerous breakdowns and failures in operation, completely different systems new ship, our sailors were forced to make stops in Colombo, Karachi and a number of other ports. Finally, in February 1902, the Varyag ended up in Port Arthur.

In October, having completed another repair, the cruiser visited Chemulpo for the first time, but again spent the new year 1903 in endless eliminations malfunctions. In addition, due to the increased likelihood of war with Japan, various exercises were constantly carried out in the squadron. The routine of life on ships reached an unprecedented level of tension; for example, repairs to personal belongings began after a special signal from the flagship. In April, the Varyag, on a training cruise, fulfilled its main purpose - a high-speed reconnaissance cruiser for the squadron, although it was no longer distinguished by its fast speed.

The beginning of the Russo-Japanese War found our cruiser and gunboat "Koreets" in the Chemulpo roadstead. Other warships standing nearby belonged to England, France, Germany and the USA. On January 26, ships of the Japanese squadron appeared in the roadstead. Our ships are trapped. There was nowhere to wait for help in those days.

On the morning of January 27, 1904, the captain of the cruiser “Varyag” Rudnev told the crew: “There can be no talk about surrendering the cruiser. We will not surrender the ship to them, nor will we surrender ourselves, and we will fight to the last opportunity.”

By old tradition all the sailors changed into clean uniforms, clearly understanding that they were unlikely to survive. Having raised the anchors, “Varyag” and “Korean” moved towards inevitable death. The Allied ships were signaled: “Don’t remember us badly!” The crews of foreign powers, lined up on the decks, saluted, and brass bands played their anthems, as well as the anthem of the Russian Empire as a sign of special respect.

The Japanese squadron, consisting of six cruisers and eight destroyers, was waiting for the Russians ten miles from Chemulpo. Most of the ships were newer, more technically advanced and more powerful in terms of weapons. And two armored cruisers were head and shoulders superior to the armored Varyag. Japanese shells on basis The shimoses were more powerful than our pyroxylin ones. Artillery guns Russian ships (unlike the Japanese guns) did not have optical sights and were aimed at the “eye” as in the old days. And it was not worth talking about the Japanese advantage in firepower. The courageous “Varyag” took on the Japanese squadron without the slightest chance of victory. A squadron that will shoot him in cold blood and mercilessly. But it’s not for nothing that one glorious saying sounds: “Many enemies - a lot of honor!” On that day, the Japanese showed exceptional honor to our sailors.

Around noon, the first shots from the enemy's most formidable ship, the Asama, indicated weak points"Varyag": the lack of simple gun shields and armored turrets, which led to big losses in the personnel of the calculations. After twenty minutes of hurricane fire, almost all the starboard guns with which the Varyag was facing the enemy were destroyed or damaged, and fires started on the ship. Under continuous shelling with the help of the “Korean” covering it, the “Varyag” turns to the Japanese on the other side. His return shots find their targets, one destroyer goes to the bottom, and fires start on the other cruiser. Suddenly, the Varyag runs aground, making an excellent target. The Japanese squadron begins to quickly approach. But a miracle happens: a series of large-caliber hits on the left side pushes the ship aground. Having received a hole below the waterline, the cruiser lists to port, the crew unsuccessfully tries to pump out the water, and the firestorm continues to walk throughout the ship. Soon the steering is destroyed, Captain Rudnev miraculously survives as a result of a shell explosion in the conning tower. But the Russian sailors show miracles of courage, discipline and skill; the cruiser Asama, carelessly approaching, receives a number of direct hits. Out of harm's way, the Japanese decide to take him out in battle. Under the cover of the "Korean", the undefeated cruiser returns to the Chemulpo raid.

"...I will never forget this amazing sight“,” the captain of the French ship later recalled, “the entire deck was covered in blood, corpses and remains of bodies lay everywhere. Nothing remained intact, everything was rendered unusable, broken, riddled with holes. Smoke was coming out of many holes, and the tilt to the left side was increasing.”

As a result of the battle, which lasted about an hour, the Varyag sank one destroyer and damaged four cruisers; according to various estimates, the Japanese lost about thirty people killed and two hundred wounded. “Varyag” suffered more severely; it lost almost all its guns. 31 sailors were killed, 91 seriously wounded and about a hundred received minor injuries. In this situation, the wounded Rudnev, in agreement with the opinion of the military council, decided to destroy the ships and place the crews on allied ships. At 18:10 the Koreets was blown up and the Varyag was sunk. Russian sailors were placed on French, English and Italian ships. Allied military medics provided all necessary help wounded. And only the Americans did not accept a single one of our sailors on board, explaining this by the lack of permission from the capital.

One of French newspapers later wrote: “ American Navy"is probably still very young to have the high traditions that the navies of other nations have."
The domestic newspaper “Rus” answered them this way: “Youth hardly plays a significant role when it comes to basic moral decency...”.

Warm welcomes awaited the heroes who returned to their homeland everywhere. From European countries There were congratulatory letters and telegrams. The sailors who distinguished themselves in Chemulpo were awarded St. George's crosses, and captain of the first rank V.F. Rudnev was awarded the Order of St. George, fourth degree. In addition, he was elevated to the rank of aide-de-camp, receiving a place in the retinue of the Russian emperor. G.P. received the same order. Belyaev (captain of the "Korean") and every officer from the "Varyag". Later, Rudnev was appointed commander of the new battleship "Andrei Pervozvanny", but in October 1905 he fell out of favor for his sympathy for revolutionary-minded sailors and the unrest that occurred in the ship's crew. He was fired from service and sent to retire to a small family estate in the Tula province. In 1913, at the age of 58, after a long illness, Vsevolod Fedorovich died...

However, the story of the glorious cruiser does not end there. In 1904 the Japanese accepted solution raise the Varyag from the bottom. Contrary to calculations, the work took more than a year, costing the Japanese treasury a million yen, and ended only in October 1905. The ship was repaired and put into operation. "Varyag" received a new name - "Soya". A curious fact is that at the stern the Japanese kept original title proud cruiser. An extraordinary decision that violated the traditions of any sea ​​power, was enshrined by decree of Emperor Mutsuhito himself. And this best characterizes how highly the country valued Rising Sun valor Russian sailors. The fearlessness and contempt for death demonstrated was fully consistent with the spirit of the samurai and the code of honor of Bushido. And the fact that the Russians were their enemies changed little. The Japanese knew how to respect such opponents and admired their courage. The cruiser "Soya" was used as clear example for the education of Japanese sailors. Each new team of sailor recruits or cadets who arrived to study for it was lined up on the deck and told the story of how this Russian cruiser refused to surrender, taking on an entire squadron.

Only in 1916, during the First World War, Japan agreed to sell the Varyag and a number of other Russian ships it had captured. After paying four million yen on March 27, the ship was again consecrated and our flags, jacks and pennants were raised. This time a team of guards crew was sent to the valiant cruiser. When the team accepted the Varyag, it was in terrible condition; almost all systems, mechanisms and devices required repair. And again endless work began throughout the ship. In mid-June, the cruiser Varyag and the battleship Chesma left Vladivostok. They had a long journey ahead of them to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. Accidents on the Varyag occurred one after another, the guards constantly worked in emergency mode. At the end of August, our ships appeared in Aden, where they were repainted in war color. On September 8, the ships entered the Mediterranean Sea, where they separated. The battleship Chesma went to Alexandria, and the cruiser Varyag to La Valletta, performing complex anti-submarine maneuvers. At the beginning of October he was already in the Atlantic. Near Ireland, the cruiser was caught in a terrible storm, a leak formed in the hold, and the ship miraculously did not sink to the bottom. Also, only thanks to luck, “Varyag” manages to avoid the Germans. submarines. Although the British transport in the wake was destroyed by a German torpedo. On November 17, the cruiser reaches Russia and stops at Aleksandrovsk (now Polyarny).

Japanese cruiser "Soya" (1907-1916). In Vancouver, 1909

"Varyag" is appointed as the flagship of the ships protecting the Kola Bay. But since it urgently needs repairs, it was decided to send it to England. At the same time, it was planned to re-equip the ship with new guns. On February 25, 1917, the Varyag set sail for Glasgow. On board the ship were British and French officers, as well as Russian pilots sent for training to the allies. However, while the ship was sailing, a change of power occurred in Russia. On the evening of March 4, the cruiser stopped in Liverpool, and in the morning the crew was informed of the abdication of Nicholas II and the founding of the Provisional Government. After two days of anxious waiting, the Russian consul, keeping silent about the riots in Helsingfors and Kronstadt, congratulated the sailors on their newfound freedom, announcing that from now on the word “master” would be added to the ranks of junior ranks.

At the very end of March, the UK calculated the time and cost repair work on the Varyag - twelve months and 300 thousand pounds sterling. As a result, at the end of spring almost the entire team left. Some of them went to America to receive ships purchased from the United States, the rest went home to Russia. About a dozen sailors remained on the cruiser for security. When the new Soviet government announced our country’s withdrawal from the First World War, the British arrested everything in the ports domestic ships. Among them was the unarmed “Varyag”. The St. Andrew's flag was lowered on the ship and replaced with the naval banner of Great Britain. In the early spring of 1918, all the captured Russian sailors were freed and went to Murmansk on a Portuguese ship. And, since the Soviets categorically refused to pay old debts, the Varyag was scrapped.

Obviously, the wayward ship strongly did not agree to end its life this way... Obviously, being cut into pieces at the factory seemed shameful to him... Obviously, after spending so many years in Japanese captivity, he adopted something from the eastern power. In 1920, on the way to the cutting site in the Firth of Clyde off the coast of Scotland, the legendary “Varyag” was caught in a storm and committed hara-kiri, throwing itself onto the rocks and ripping open its bottom. Attempts to remove the ship were unsuccessful. Neither immediately nor later in the summer of 1923, when several German and English companies. By the autumn of 1924, all that was left of the ship was a skeleton broken in two: the bow part was jammed by rocks, and the stern part disappeared under water.

In the summer of 2003, Russian scuba divers conducted special work to search for the remains of a cruiser in the Irish Sea. The group discovered the destroyed hull of the Varyag two miles from the Scottish village of Lendelfoot at a depth of eight meters. They also managed to raise individual fragments of the famous ship to the surface. The grandson of V.F. Rudnev, Nikita Rudnev, who currently lives in France, took an active part in this underwater expedition. July 30, 2006 in the near future locality from the final resting place of the “Varyag”, in the village of Lendelfoot, the grand opening of a memorial plaque took place.

July 13, 2009 from South Korea a number of relics were brought to Russia related to the feat of our ships in Chemulpo, which on July 25, on the eve of the Day Navy as part of the traveling exhibition “Cruiser “Varyag”. Finding Relics” appeared in the State Hermitage. And on November 11, 2010 at the embassy Russian Federation In Seoul, the mayor of Incheon presented our ambassadors with the gun of the cruiser “Varyag”, which was kept in the local museum.

"Varyag" is the most famous warship in the history of the Russian fleet. Many articles and books have been written about his feat, songs have been written, and films have been made. And this is fair, because you need to know your history and carefully preserve it. And also to love the Motherland, not to forget the heroes who spared neither talents, nor strength, nor lives for it. We, living today, must be worthy of their blessed memory.