Battering ram of warships of the usa, patrol ships of the ussr. Battering ram is a weapon of heroes. Armored oddities of the 19th century Sea ram

The case, which will be discussed in the article, although rare, but very indicative of the Soviet-American confrontation of the times cold war... We are talking about the so-called "bulk", that is, the collision of warships without the use of weapons. According to the definition of marine explanatory dictionary bulk is the contact of ships due to errors in the calculations of movement. In contrast to the collision, the damage caused by the bulkhead is practically minimal.

It was such a bulk that took place in the Black Sea between Yalta and Foros, when Soviet ships ousted American ships from the territorial waters of the USSR.

In general, in the 1980s, American ships were too frequent guests in the Black Sea, especially in the part that bordered on the territorial waters of the USSR. But the most famous incident occurred on February 12, 1988, when 6 warships of the US Navy violated state border THE USSR.

The head of the operation to drive out the intruder ships was Admiral V.E. Selivanov.

The Black Sea Fleet command knew about the upcoming voyage of American ships in advance: fleet reconnaissance monitored all the actions of the 6th US fleet (it was the ships of this fleet that became participants in the incident) and had already decided that in case of violation of the USSR border, the most severe measures would be taken to punish the violators.

The ships of the Black Sea Fleet of the USSR took the American ships for escort immediately after the latter left the Bosphorus. As expected, they greeted and said that they would continue to follow one course. Despite the fact that everything was said with humor, they say, "You are our guest, and according to the laws of Russian hospitality, it is not accepted to leave guests unattended," the situation was already aggravated almost from the first minutes of the meeting.

So, with escort, American ships approached the area southeast of Sevastopol (about 40-45 miles) and began completely incomprehensible maneuvers there. After staying there for about 2 days, they moved to the area near Sevastopol and, ignoring the numerous warnings, violated the state border.

After some time, the Black Sea Fleet ships were ordered to "Take up positions to drive out the intruder ships." A combat alert was immediately declared, hatches were sealed, torpedoes were brought into combat readiness, etc.

At almost exactly 11.00 o'clock, Mikheev reported: "I approached the cruiser up to 40 meters" ... and then the report every 10 meters. The sailors imagine how difficult and dangerous it is to perform such maneuvers: a huge cruiser with a displacement of 9,200 tons and a watchdog with a displacement of 3,000 tons is "moored" to it on the move, and on the other "flank" against a destroyer with a displacement of 7,800 tons there is a very small watchdog with a displacement of only 1,300 tons. Imagine: at the moment of rapprochement close to this little watchdog, put the destroyer abruptly steering wheel "left on board" - and what will happen to our ship? Wouldn't have turned over - and this could be! Moreover, the American will still be right in such a clash. So the commanders of our ships had to carry out a difficult and dangerous task.

Mikheev reports:"10 meters". And immediately: "I beg you to act!" Although he had already received all the orders, he apparently decided to play it safe - suddenly the situation changed, moreover, all the negotiations on the air were recorded by us and the Americans. I tell him again: "To act according to the plan of the operation!" And then there was silence ...

I follow the stopwatch - I spotted it with my last order: the hand ran for a minute, two, three ... Silence. I don’t ask, I understand what’s going on on the ships: it’s one thing to instruct and lose on maneuverable tablets, but another thing is how everything will turn out in reality. I can clearly imagine how the high forecastle of the Selfless, together with the suspended anchor, tears the side and the massive bow superstructure of the American cruiser Yorktown (its superstructure is designed at the same time as the ship's side). But what will happen to our ship from such mutual "kisses"? And what happens in the second pair of this sea "bullfight" between the SKR-6 and the destroyer Karon? Doubts, uncertainty ... It was thought that with this kind of "mooring" on the move, mutual suction ("sticking") of ships to each other is possible.

Well, how will the Americans rush to "board"? We have provided for such an opportunity - special landing platoons have been formed and are constantly being trained on the ships. But there are a lot more Americans ... All this rushes through my mind, while there are no reports. And suddenly I hear a completely calm voice of Mikheev, as if playing such episodes on the maps: "We walked along the left side of the cruiser. Broke the Harpoon missile launcher. Two broken missiles are hanging from the launch containers. They demolished all the rails of the cruiser's left side. Shattered the commander's commander. boat. In some places, the side and side skins of the bow superstructure were torn. Our anchor came off and sank. " I ask: "What are the Americans doing?" Answers: "We have played an emergency alert. Emergency personnel in protective suits are watering the Harpoon launcher from hoses and pulling the hoses inside the ship." "Are the rockets burning?" - I ask. "It seems not, fire and smoke are not visible." After that Mikheev reported for SKR-6: "Passed along the left side of the destroyer, the rails were cut down, the boat was broken. Breaks in the side sheathing. The ship's anchor survived. But the American ships continue to sail at the same course and speed." I give the command to Mikheev: "Perform a second bulk." Our ships began to maneuver to carry it out. "

Nikolai Mikheev and Vladimir Bogdashin tell us how everything actually happened in the "bulk" area: By the time they approached the terweds, the American ships followed, as it were, in a bearing formation with a distance between them of about 15-20 cables (2700-3600 m.), - at this cruiser is ahead and seaward, the destroyer is closer to the coastline at the cruiser's heading angle of 140-150 degrees. left side. SKR "Selfless" and "SKR-6" in tracking positions, respectively, for the cruiser and destroyer on their heading angles of the left sides of 100-110 degrees. at a distance of 90-100 m. Two of our border ships were maneuvering behind this group.

With the receipt of the order "Take up positions for displacement", a combat alert was declared on the ships, the nasal compartments were sealed, the personnel were withdrawn from them, the torpedoes in the vehicles were in combat readiness, cartridges were fed to the gun mounts up to the loading line in the breeches, emergency parties were deployed, landing platoons are ready according to the places of the schedule, the rest of the personnel at combat posts. The right anchors are hung on the anchor chains from the haws. On the navigating bridge of the self-contained ICR, Mikheev keeps in touch with the command post of the fleet and controls the ships of the group, Bogdashin controls the ship's maneuvers, and here the interpreter officer maintains constant radio communication with the American ships. We approached the cruiser at a distance of 40 meters, then at 10 meters ("SKR-6" is the same with the destroyer). On the deck of the cruiser, on the platforms of the superstructure, sailors and officers with cameras, video cameras poured out, laughing, waving their hands, doing obscene gestures, as is customary among American sailors, etc. The commander of the cruiser came out to the left open wing of the navigating bridge.

With the confirmation of the order "to act according to the plan of the operation" we went to "bulk" the cruiser ("SKR-6" - the destroyer). Bogdashin maneuvered in such a way that the first blow fell on a tangent at an angle of 30 degrees. to the left side of the cruiser. From the impact and friction of the sides, sparks fell and the side paint caught fire. As the border guards later said, for a moment the ships appeared as if in a fiery cloud, after which a thick plume of smoke trailed behind them for some time. On impact, our anchor with one paw tore the side of the cruiser, and with the other made a hole in the bow of the side of the ship. From the impact, the TFR was thrown away from the cruiser, the stem of our ship went to the left, and the stern began to approach dangerously to the side of the cruiser.

An emergency alarm was played on the cruiser, the personnel rushed down from the decks and platforms, the cruiser commander rushed into the navigation bridge. At this time, apparently, for some time he lost control of the cruiser, and he turned slightly to the right from the impact, which further increased the danger of his piling up on the stern of the "Selfless" TFR. After that Bogdashin, having commanded "right to board", increased the stroke to 16 knots, which made it possible to slightly divert the stern from the side of the cruiser, but at the same time the cruiser turned to the left to the previous course - after that the next most powerful and effective bulk took place, or rather a ram of a cruiser. The blow fell in the area of ​​the helipad, - a high sharp stem with a forecastle of the TFR, figuratively speaking, climbed onto the cruising helicopter deck and with a roll of 15-20 degrees on the left side began to destroy with its mass, as well as an anchor suspended from the hawse, everything that came across to him, Gradually sliding towards the cruising stern: he tore the superstructure side skin, cut down all the helipad rails, broke the command boat, then slid down to the deck of the poop (at the stern) and also demolished all the rails with struts. Then I hooked on the Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher - it seemed that a little more and the launcher would be pulled from its attachment to the deck. But at that moment, catching on something, the anchor broke away from the anchor-chain and, like a ball (3.5 tons in weight!), Having flown over the aft deck of the cruiser from the left side, fell into the water already behind its starboard side, miraculously not having hooked any of the sailors on the deck of the cruiser's emergency party. Of the four containers of the Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher, two were broken in half along with the missiles, their severed warheads hanging from internal cables. Another container was bent.

Finally, the SKR forecastle slid from the stern of the cruiser into the water, we moved away from the cruiser and took a position at its abeam at a distance of 50-60 meters, warning that we would repeat the bulk if the Americans did not leave the tervod. At this time, on the deck of the cruiser, there was a strange bustle of the personnel of the emergency parties (all blacks): having stretched out fire hoses and slightly sprinkling broken rockets that did not burn with water, the sailors suddenly began to hastily drag these hoses and other fire-fighting equipment into the interior of the ship. As it turned out later, a fire started there in the area of ​​the cellars of the Harpoon anti-ship missile and Asrok anti-submarine missiles.

With the confirmation of the order "to act according to the plan of operation", the Soviet ships went to "bulk". From the impact and friction, the paint that covered the board caught fire. On impact, the anchor of one of our ships tore the skin of the American cruiser, but at the same time damaged its bow.

A few minutes later, the next, even stronger bulk took place, which, rather, became a ram: the strike hit the area of ​​the helipad - our ship simply began to destroy the enemy's ship, - tore the skin, cut down part of the helipad and hooked on the Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher.

After some time, the Americans began to prepare helicopters for takeoff from the wrecked ship. Almost immediately, the Soviet side sounded a warning that if the helicopters left the ship, it would be considered a violation of the airspace, and every helicopter that took off would be shot down. In order for the Americans to understand that no one was going to joke, Mi-26 helicopters were raised into the air, which, only by demonstrating a combat suspension, forced the Americans to abandon the idea of ​​raising helicopters into the air.

Valentin Selivanov: After a while I receive a report from Mikheev: "The destroyer Caron has turned off the course and follows straight at me, the bearing does not change." The sailors understand what it means "bearing does not change" - that is, it goes into collision. I tell Mikheev: "Go to the starboard side of the cruiser and cover yourself with it. Let Caron ram him."

Nikolay Mikheev: But "Caron" approached us at a distance of 50-60 meters from the port side and lay down on a parallel course. On the right, at the same distance and also on a parallel course, the cruiser was following. Further, the Americans began on converging courses, as it were, to clamp the TFR "Selfless" in pincers. He ordered to charge the RBU-6000 rocket launchers with depth charges (the Americans saw this) and deploy them traversely to the right and left sides, respectively, against the cruiser and the destroyer (however, both RBU installations operate in combat mode only synchronously, but the Americans did not know this). It seemed to work - the American ships were turned away. At this time, the cruiser began to prepare a couple of helicopters for departure. I reported to the command post of the fleet that the Americans were preparing some kind of dirty trick for us by helicopters.

Valentin Selivanov: On Mikheev's report I convey to him: "Inform the Americans - if they rise into the air, helicopters will be shot down as violating the airspace Soviet Union". At the same time he gave the order to the command post of the aviation of the fleet:" Raise a pair of attack aircraft on duty! Task: loitering over the American ships that have invaded the terrorists in order to prevent their deck helicopters from lifting into the air. " I propose to send a couple of helicopters instead of attack aircraft - this is much faster, besides, they will perform the task of "countering takeoff" more efficiently and visually. ”I approve this proposal and inform Mikheev about sending our helicopters to the area. -26 in the air, follow to the area. "

Nikolay Mikheev: I told the Americans what would happen to the helicopters if they were lifted into the air. It didn't work - I see the propeller blades are already spinning. But at that time, a pair of our Mi-26 helicopters with a full combat suspension of onboard weapons passed over us and the Americans at an altitude of 50-70 meters, making several circles over the American ships and demonstratively hovering a little to the side of them. This apparently worked - the Americans drowned out their helicopters and rolled them into the hangar.

Valentin Selivanov: Then the order came from the Central Command Center of the Navy: "The Minister of Defense demanded to investigate and report on this incident" (our naval wits later refined: report with a list of persons subject to removal from office and demotion). We presented a report on the instance of how everything happened. Just a couple of hours later, another order comes from the Central Command Center of the Navy: "The Minister of Defense demands that those who distinguished themselves be presented for reward" (our wits were found here too: the list of persons for demotion should be replaced with a register of defendants for rewarding). Well, everyone seemed to feel relieved from the heart, the tension subsided, all of us with the calculation of the command post of the fleet seemed to calm down.

The next day, the Americans, before reaching the territorial waters of the USSR in the Caucasus region, moved out of the Black Sea. Again accompanied by new group Soviet ships. A day later, the badly beaten group of ships of the 6th "Valiant" US Navy left the Black Sea.

That very moment:

P.S. In 1997 "Selfless" was transferred to Ukraine, proudly called the frigate "Dnipropetrovsk", but did not go out to sea, then it was disarmed and sold to Turkey. In March 2006, it was flooded while being towed, probably for the purpose of obtaining insurance. And "SKR-6" back in 1990 was cut into scrap metal.

The American military has never been particularly "politically correct". If there was an opportunity to arrange a provocation, they always went for it. However, more than thirty years ago, Soviet sailors repelled the intruders by ramming two enemy ships at once.

Radio silence in the fog

The perestroika, which was announced in our country in 1986, rather quickly led to a softening of morals regarding our "potential enemy", that is, the Americans. The good-heartedness of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU knew no bounds: soon from his light hand They began to cut combat missiles into pieces, transfer ships, submarines, and other military equipment, and not just combat-ready, but completely new, to pieces. The country's leadership suddenly decided that there was no longer any threat to the USSR from overseas "partners".

In the US itself, however, they were in no hurry to relax. On the contrary, in the second half of the 1980s in the Black Sea, for example, many provocative violations of the territorial waters of the USSR by enemy ships were recorded. Most often, it was possible to suppress such visits in the bud: the Soviet patrolmen simply became a "living wall" along the course of the violator, thus blocking the path to our territorial waters. But this was not always possible. And then the corvettes, destroyers and cruisers of the US Navy not only patrolled along our shores, but also made combat turns, prepared installations with missiles and depth charges for firing. In a word, they were swaggering as they could, as if making it clear who the real master was.

For the time being, for the time being, they got away with it - after all, our detente was gaining momentum. And the naval authorities, having received the appropriate benevolent orders from the country's leadership, did not dare to violate the order and enter into open confrontation with the provocateurs. However, in 1988, our sailors had to deal with a too arrogant violator. In February, an escort of American ships, consisting of the cruiser Yorktown and the accompanying destroyer Caron, proceeded through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. Moreover, the ships were sailing in complete radio silence and, as if deliberately choosing the time when the sea was covered with thick fog. And although it was known in advance about the unwelcome visit, thanks to reconnaissance, it was possible to detect the escort during the passage of the straits only by visual observation. Because locators fix only a point, and it is impossible to make out what it is - a warship or a civilian ship.

Pictured: US cruiser Yorktown / Photo: wikimedia

Unequal forces

Found the Americans from our ferry "Heroes of Shipka". Having intercepted the radiogram from the ferry and realizing that they had been uncovered, the commanders of the Yorktown and Caron initially decided to "sit out" off the Turkish coast. But in neutral waters, the Americans were already waiting for our two TFR (patrol ships): "SKR-6" and "Selfless". Apparently, this is why the provocateurs decided, no longer hiding, to do what, in fact, they had planned from the very beginning.

Having reached our border, the ships, without slowing down, rushed into the territorial waters of the Soviet Union. A warning radiogram flew from our patrol boats to the violators, which, however, did not have any result: the Americans confidently headed for the shore. It should be noted here that, in comparison with the "Selfless", "Yorktown", for example, had three times the displacement, and its crew was twice the number of sailors on the patrol. It was 50 meters longer than the TFR, carried on board helicopters, 2 missile and 4 anti-aircraft installations, two anti-submarine and 8 anti-ship systems (Asrok and Harpoon, respectively), not to mention torpedoes, guns, Aegis fire control system " etc.

"Selfless", in turn, was armed with two RBU-6000 rocket bombers, four launchers missile complex URPK-5 "Trumpet", two anti-aircraft missile systems, torpedoes and paired 76.2 mm artillery mounts. So, taking into account the difference in armament, the sailors prepared for the worst, uncovering the onboard guns and preparing them for firing (it’s more expensive to use missiles).

In response to these preparations, the Americans decided to raise their rotary-wing aircraft into the air: pilots and service personnel appeared on the helipad. Seeing this, the commander of the "Selfless" Captain Second Rank Vladimir Bogdashin ordered to send a radiogram to Yorktown, in which he warned the Americans that if they took off, they would immediately be shot down. However, the violators did not pay any attention to the warning.

Bulk, another bulk

It was at that moment that Bogdashin realized that it was impossible to do without decisive measures, but it was impossible to apply. And then he gave a desperate order - to go to the ram. Since the "Selfless" literally walked side by side with the Yorktown, at a distance of literally ten meters, the TFR just slightly changed its course and at first made only a slight bulk on missile cruiser, having taken down his ladder. The American sailors, who before that, having poured out on the deck, frivolously sent obscene gestures to the Soviet sailors and photographed our patrol, calmed down and hid in the ship's quarters. With the second blow, the TFR literally "climbed" on the cruiser, "shaving" the offender's helipad and damaging four Harpoon anti-ship complexes - the blow was so strong. A fire broke out in the Yorktown torpedo tubes.

In the photo: the bulk of the SKR "Selfless" on the cruiser "Yorktown" / Photo: wikimedia

At this very time, "SKR-6" went to ram "Caron", although the Soviet patrol ship was four times smaller than the destroyer. Nevertheless, the blow was tangible. The latter, in turn, decided not to contact the SKR-6, but to approach the other side of the Selfless, in order to take the SKR in ticks together with Yorktown. However, the escort ship's speed was higher and it easily parried this maneuver. However, the crew of the cruiser was no longer up to maneuvers and nothing at all - the battle for the survivability of the ship was in full swing on it. And after the team recovered from the shock, the Yorktown turned 180 degrees and was like that. Caron followed. After this incident, American ships disappeared for a long time from the waters of our Black Sea territorial waters.

In the photo: SKR-6 leaned on the left side in the stern of the destroyer "Caron" / Photo wikipedia

We must pay tribute to the command, which supported the seamen of the "Selfless" and defended their good name before the country's leadership. A year later, Vladimir Bogdashin was awarded the Order of the Red Star ... for mastering new technology. At that time, he was no longer a patrol commander, but studied at the Grechko Naval Academy. Subsequently commanded the flagship Black Sea Fleet"Moscow". Now Vladimir Ivanovich is a retired rear admiral, he is director general training and research center of the Moscow Federation of Trade Unions.

After the collapse of the USSR, during the division of the fleet, "Selfless" went to Ukraine and became "Dnepropetrovsk", and then it was completely written off as scrap metal. I went "on pins and needles" and "SKR-6". So sad was the fate of the patrolmen, who gained fame for the Soviet navy.

On February 12, 1988, events took place in the Black Sea Fleet that received a "resounding" resonance in the political, military and naval circles of various countries. On this day, a serious incident took place with the participation of the battleships of the 6th US Fleet, the cruiser URO "Yorktown" and the destroyer URO "Karon", who came to the Black Sea and violated the state border of the USSR. Leaders and chiefs " actors"Operations to drive the Americans out of our territorial waters were: Admiral Valentin Egorovich SELIVANOV (formerly commander of the 5th Mediterranean Squadron of the Navy, at that time Vice Admiral, Chief of Staff of the Black Sea Fleet, later Chief of the Main Staff of the Navy), Vice Admiral Nikolai Petrovich MIKHEEV (at that time captain of the 2nd rank, chief of staff of the 70th brigade of the 30th division of anti-submarine ships of the Black Sea Fleet), Rear Admiral Vladimir Ivanovich BOGDASHIN (at that time captain of the 2nd rank, commander of the "Selfless" TFR), captain of the 2nd rank PETROV Anatoly Ivanovich (at that time the captain of the 3rd rank, the commander of the "SKR-6").
Valentin Selivanov. The operations of the Black Sea Fleet ships, which will be discussed below, were preceded by events in the country and their consequences related to the violation of the state border and the flight from the Baltic Sea through the entire western space of the Union (05/28/1987) of the German air adventurer Rust, who landed his sports airplane of the type " Sesna "right on Red Square in Moscow. After the destruction in the Far East of the Korean reconnaissance "Boeing" disguised as a civilian aircraft, the Minister of Defense issued an order: do not shoot down civilian aircraft! And in vain, there was no need to regret - after all, the consequences of this trick of Rust had an extremely negative impact on the entire military department.
The Black Sea command learned about the new voyage of American ships of the Yorktown cruiser URO (Ticonderoga type) and the Caron URO destroyer (Spruens type) in the Black Sea in advance of the preparation in February 1988 (fleet reconnaissance tracked all the actions of the 6th US Navy Fleet ). Considering, as I already explained above, the situation in the Armed Forces after Rust's "antics", we, naturally, could not allow the new provocation of the Americans to violate our sea borders, if they again decide to repeat their previous demarche, would pass for them with impunity. Therefore, before the arrival of American ships in the Black Sea, the fleet headquarters planned an operation to monitor and counteract them: the patrol ships "Bezzavetny" (Project 1135) and "SKR-6" (Project 35) were allocated, the commander of this ship group was appointed - the chief of staff 70th brigade of the 30th division of anti-submarine ships of the Black Sea Fleet, Captain 2nd Rank Mikheev Nikolai Petrovich. With the commanders of the ships and the ship group, a thorough briefing was made on the plan of the operation with the loss of all actions on the maps and maneuverable tablets. The ships in the operation were distributed as follows: SKR "Selfless", as a larger ship in displacement, was supposed to accompany and counteract the cruiser Yorktown, and "SKR-6" (small in displacement and dimensions) - to the destroyer Karon. All commanders were given specific instructions: as soon as it was discovered that the Americans intended to proceed to our troopers, take a position relative to the board of American ships from the side of our coast, warn them that the course of their ships leads to the troopers, then, if the Americans do not heed this warning, with the entry of them into the terrorists to make each of our ships "bulk" on the American ships. The commanders understood their tasks, and I was sure that they would fulfill their tasks. The plan of the operation was approved by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral of the Fleet V.N. Chernavin.
It was envisaged that with the entry of American ships into the Black Sea, our ships would meet them in the Bosporus region and begin tracking them. After meeting with the Americans, I instructed the group commander to greet their arrival in our Black Sea (namely, not to forget our word in our greeting) and to convey that we will sail with them. It was expected that the American ships would first proceed along the western coast of the Black Sea, "run" into the terrorists of Bulgaria and Romania (they used to do this), and then move to the eastern part to our shores. Well, and they will probably try to invade our tervods, as they did last time, in the area of ​​the southern tip of the Crimean peninsula (Cape Sarych), where the boundaries of the tervods are in configuration a triangle with a peak extended to the south. The Americans, most likely, will not go around this triangle again, but will go through the terrorists. There are no more places for such a "demonstration" violation of a terrorist at the Black Sea theater. And it was here that the main phase of the entire operation should have taken place, namely, the prevention or displacement of American ships with "bulk" on them from our troopers, if warnings about the violation of the troopers do not work on them. What is "bulk"? This is not a ram in the full sense of this concept, but an approach at speed at a small angle, as it were, tangentially to the side of the displaced object and its "polite" "pushing away", with a luff from the course it maintains. Well, and "politeness" - how it goes.
Our ships took the American ships for escort immediately after leaving the Bosphorus. They greeted them, warned them that they would sail with them, make them "company" in the Black Sea. The Americans replied that they did not need help. When I received these first reports, I conveyed to Mikheev: "Tell the Americans: they will have to swim together anyway. They are our guests, and according to the laws of Russian hospitality, it is not customary for us to leave guests unattended - but how will something happen to them?" ". Mikheev conveyed all this.
The Americans passed the tervods of Bulgaria, then the thervods of Romania. But there were no Romanian ships there (the command of the Romanian fleet even then ignored all our instructions and proposals). Further, the American ships turned to the east, moved to the region 40-45 miles southeast of Sevastopol and began some incomprehensible maneuvers there. Most likely, they were replacing or laying special equipment for retrieving information on our connected cable routes. The American ships were spinning in this area for more than two days. Then they crossed over and maneuvered directly in the sea zone adjacent to Sevastopol outside the tervod.
On February 12, I was at the command post of the fleet (the fleet commander, Admiral M.N. Khronopulo, flew away somewhere on business). At about 10 o'clock I received Mikheev's report: "The American ships laid down on a course of 90 °, which leads to our therweds, the speed is 14 knots. The lead is 14 miles" (about 26 km.). Okay, I think - there is still an hour to go before the tervod, let them go. I order Mikheev: "Continue tracking." Half an hour later, the following report: "The ships are sailing at the same course and speed. The lead is 7 miles." Again, I think what they will do next: will they enter the tervods or will they turn away at the last moment, "scaring" us? I remember that I myself in the Mediterranean "sheltered" the ships of the squadron from the wind and storm waves half a cable from the border of the tervod (6 miles wide) of the Greek island of Crete (its mountains weakened the force of the wind). And he did not think that we were violating something. And the Americans could also go up to the terrorists and then turn them away without breaking anything. The next report comes in: "There are 2 miles to the border." I tell Mikheev: "Warn the Americans: your course leads to the Soviet Union's terrorists, violation of which is unacceptable." Mikheev reports: "I have passed it on. The answer is that they are not breaking anything. They are following the same course and speed." Again I give the order to Mikheev: "Once again, warn the Americans: violation of the Soviet Union's terrorist forces is unacceptable. I have an order to force you out, up to and including the bulk and ramming. Broadcast it all in plain text twice in Russian and in English." Mikheev again reports: "I have given it. They repeat that they are not breaking anything. The course and speed are the same." Then I order Mikheev: "Take positions for displacement." During the briefing, we provided for the bulk to be tougher and cause more significant damage to the ships, to etch the starboard anchors and keep them in suspension on the anchor chains under the starboard haws. So the high forecastle of the SKR "Selfless", and even the anchor dangling to the right, could thoroughly break the side and everything that falls under the bulk on board the ship displaced from its course. Mikheev continues to report: "Before the pilot 5, .. 3, .. 1 cable. The ships have taken positions for bulk." Further report: "American ships entered the tervodov". To clarify the situation, I request the Fleet's Battle Information Post (BIP): "Report the exact location of all ships." I receive the BIP report: "11 miles, 9 cables from the coastline." This means that the Americans really did get into our tervods. I order Mikheev: "To act according to the plan of the operation." He replies: "Got it." Both of our ships began maneuvering to "pile" on American ships.

Then I received reports only on the maneuvering of the "Selfless" TFR. Maneuvering "SKR-6" controlled and received reports from its commander Mikheev. I remember that it was almost exactly at 11.00 o'clock, Mikheev reported: "I approached the cruiser up to 40 meters" ... and then the report every 10 meters. The sailors imagine how difficult and dangerous it is to perform such maneuvers: a huge cruiser with a displacement of 9,200 tons and a watchdog with a displacement of 3,000 tons is "moored" to it on the move, and on the other "flank" against a destroyer with a displacement of 7,800 tons there is a very small watchdog with a displacement of only 1,300 tons. Imagine: at the moment of rapprochement close to this little watchdog, put the destroyer abruptly steering wheel "left on board" - and what will happen to our ship? Wouldn't have turned over - and this could be! Moreover, the American will still be right in such a clash. So the commanders of our ships had to carry out a difficult and dangerous task.
Mikheev reports: "10 meters." And immediately: "I beg you to act!" Although he had already received all the orders, he apparently decided to play it safe - suddenly the situation changed, moreover, all the negotiations on the air were recorded by us and the Americans. I tell him again: "To act according to the plan of the operation!" And then there was silence. The situation at the command post of the fleet is tense: I am directly in touch with Mikheev, the OD of the fleet, with the receiver of the ZAS apparatus in hand, simultaneously transmits all actions, orders, reports to the Central Command Center of the Navy, from there all this is transmitted to the Central Command Center of the Armed Forces. The entire calculation of the CP is in operation.
I follow the stopwatch - I spotted it with my last order: the hand ran for a minute, two, three ... Silence. I don’t ask, I understand what’s going on on the ships: it’s one thing to instruct and lose on maneuverable tablets, but another thing is how everything will turn out in reality. I can clearly imagine how the high forecastle of the Selfless, together with the suspended anchor, tears the side and the massive bow superstructure of the American cruiser Yorktown (its superstructure is designed at the same time as the ship's side). But what will happen to our ship from such mutual "kisses"? And what happens in the second pair of this sea "bullfight" between the SKR-6 and the destroyer Karon? Doubts, uncertainty ... It was thought that with this kind of "mooring" on the move, mutual suction ("sticking") of ships to each other is possible. Well, how will the Americans rush to "board"? We have provided for such an opportunity - special landing platoons have been formed and are constantly being trained on the ships. But there are a lot more Americans ... All this rushes through my mind, while there are no reports. And suddenly I hear a completely calm voice of Mikheev, as if playing such episodes on the maps: "We walked along the left side of the cruiser. Broke the Harpoon missile launcher. Two broken missiles are hanging from the launch containers. They demolished all the rails of the cruiser's left side. Shattered the commander's commander. boat. In some places, the side and side skins of the bow superstructure were torn. Our anchor came off and sank. " I ask: "What are the Americans doing?" Answers: "We have played an emergency alert. Emergency personnel in protective suits are watering the Harpoon launcher from hoses and pulling the hoses inside the ship." "Are the rockets burning?" - I ask. "It seems not, fire and smoke are not visible." After that Mikheev reported for SKR-6: "Passed along the left side of the destroyer, the rails were cut down, the boat was broken. Breaks in the side sheathing. The ship's anchor survived. But the American ships continue to sail at the same course and speed." I give the command to Mikheev: "Perform a second bulk." Our ships began to maneuver to complete it.
How everything really happened in the "bulk" area, they say Nikolay Mikheev and Vladimir Bogdashin.
By the time they approached the thervoids, the American ships followed, as it were, in a bearing formation with a distance between them of about 15-20 cables (2700-3600 m.), While the cruiser was ahead and seaward, the destroyer was closer to the coastline at the cruiser's heading angle 140-150 hail. left side. SKR "Selfless" and "SKR-6" in tracking positions, respectively, for the cruiser and destroyer on their heading angles of the left sides of 100-110 degrees. at a distance of 90-100 m. Two of our border ships were maneuvering behind this group.
With the receipt of the order "Take up positions for displacement", a combat alert was declared on the ships, the nasal compartments were sealed, the personnel were withdrawn from them, the torpedoes in the vehicles were in combat readiness, cartridges were fed to the gun mounts up to the loading line in the breeches, emergency parties were deployed, landing platoons are ready according to the places of the schedule, the rest of the personnel at combat posts. The right anchors are hung on the anchor chains from the haws. On the navigating bridge of the self-contained ICR, Mikheev keeps in touch with the command post of the fleet and controls the ships of the group, Bogdashin controls the ship's maneuvers, and here the interpreter officer maintains constant radio communication with the American ships. We approached the cruiser at a distance of 40 meters, then at 10 meters ("SKR-6" is the same with the destroyer). On the deck of the cruiser, on the platforms of the superstructure, sailors and officers with cameras and video cameras poured out - laughing, waving their hands, doing, as is customary among American sailors, obscene gestures, etc. The commander of the cruiser came out to the left open wing of the navigating bridge.
With the confirmation of the order "to act according to the plan of the operation" we went to "bulk" the cruiser ("SKR-6" - the destroyer). Bogdashin maneuvered in such a way that the first blow fell on a tangent at an angle of 30 degrees. to the left side of the cruiser. From the impact and friction of the sides, sparks fell and the side paint caught fire. As the border guards later said, for a moment the ships appeared as if in a fiery cloud, after which a thick plume of smoke trailed behind them for some time. On impact, our anchor with one paw tore the side of the cruiser, and with the other made a hole in the bow of the side of the ship. From the impact, the TFR was thrown away from the cruiser, the stem of our ship went to the left, and the stern began to approach dangerously to the side of the cruiser.
An emergency alarm was played on the cruiser, the personnel rushed down from the decks and platforms, the cruiser commander rushed into the navigation bridge. At this time, apparently, for some time he lost control of the cruiser, and he turned slightly to the right from the impact, which further increased the danger of his piling up on the stern of the "Selfless" TFR. After that Bogdashin, having commanded "right to board", increased the stroke to 16 knots, which made it possible to slightly divert the stern from the side of the cruiser, but at the same time the cruiser turned to the left to the previous course - after that the next most powerful and effective bulk took place, or rather a ram of a cruiser. The blow fell in the area of ​​the helipad, - a high sharp stem with a forecastle of the TFR, figuratively speaking, climbed onto the cruising helicopter deck and with a roll of 15-20 degrees on the left side began to destroy with its mass, as well as an anchor suspended from the hawse, everything that came across to him, Gradually sliding towards the cruising stern: he tore the superstructure side skin, cut down all the helipad rails, broke the command boat, then slid down to the deck of the poop (at the stern) and also demolished all the rails with struts. Then I hooked on the Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher - it seemed that a little more and the launcher would be pulled from its attachment to the deck. But at that moment, catching on something, the anchor broke away from the anchor-chain and, like a ball (3.5 tons in weight!), Having flown over the aft deck of the cruiser from the left side, fell into the water already behind its starboard side, miraculously not having hooked any of the sailors on the deck of the cruiser's emergency party. Of the four containers of the Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher, two were broken in half along with the missiles, their severed warheads hanging from internal cables. Another container was bent.
Finally, the SKR forecastle slid from the stern of the cruiser into the water, we moved away from the cruiser and took a position at its abeam at a distance of 50-60 meters, warning that we would repeat the bulk if the Americans did not leave the tervod. At this time, on the deck of the cruiser, there was a strange bustle of the personnel of the emergency parties (all blacks): having stretched out fire hoses and slightly sprinkling broken rockets that did not burn with water, the sailors suddenly began to hastily drag these hoses and other fire-fighting equipment into the interior of the ship. As it turned out later, a fire started there in the area of ​​the cellars of the Harpoon anti-ship missile and Asrok anti-submarine missiles.
Valentin Selivanov. After a while I receive a report from Mikheev: "The destroyer Caron has turned off the course and follows straight at me, the bearing does not change." The sailors understand what it means "bearing does not change" - that is, it goes into collision. I tell Mikheev: "Go to the starboard side of the cruiser and cover yourself with it. Let Caron ram him."
Nikolay Mikheev. But "Caron" approached us at a distance of 50-60 meters from the port side and lay down on a parallel course. On the right, at the same distance and also on a parallel course, the cruiser was following. Further, the Americans began on converging courses, as it were, to clamp the TFR "Selfless" in pincers. He ordered to charge the RBU-6000 rocket launchers with depth charges (the Americans saw this) and deploy them traversely to the right and left sides, respectively, against the cruiser and the destroyer (however, both RBU installations operate in combat mode only synchronously, but the Americans did not know this). It seems to have worked - the American ships turned away.
At this time, the cruiser began to prepare a couple of helicopters for departure. I reported to the command post of the fleet that the Americans were preparing some kind of dirty trick for us by helicopters.
Valentin Selivanov. In response to Mikheev's report, I convey to him: "Inform the Americans - if they rise into the air, helicopters will be shot down as violating the airspace of the Soviet Union" (the ships were in our ships). At the same time, he gave the order to the command post of the fleet aviation: "Raise a pair of attack aircraft on duty! Task: patrol over the American ships that have invaded the terrorists in order to prevent their deck helicopters from lifting into the air." But the OD of Aviation reports: "A group of landing helicopters is working out tasks in the area near Cape Sarych. I propose to send a couple of helicopters instead of attack aircraft - this is much faster, besides, they will perform the task of" counteracting takeoff "more efficiently and visually." I approve this proposal and inform Mikheev about sending our helicopters to the area. Soon I receive a report from the OD of Aviation: "A pair of Mi-26 helicopters in the air, heading for the area."
Nikolay Mikheev. I told the Americans what would happen to the helicopters if they were lifted into the air. It didn't work - I see the propeller blades are already spinning. But at that time, a pair of our Mi-26 helicopters with a full combat suspension of onboard weapons passed over us and the Americans at an altitude of 50-70 meters, making several circles over the American ships and demonstratively hovering a little to the side of them. This apparently worked - the Americans drowned out their helicopters and rolled them into the hangar.
Valentin Selivanov. Then the order came from the Central Command Center of the Navy: "The Minister of Defense demanded to investigate and report on this incident" (our naval wits later refined: report with a list of persons subject to removal from office and demotion). We presented a detailed report on how everything happened. Just a couple of hours later, another order comes from the Central Command Center of the Navy: "The Minister of Defense demands that those who distinguished themselves be presented for reward" (our wits were found here too: the list of persons for demotion should be replaced with a register of defendants for rewarding). Well, everyone seemed to feel relieved from the heart, the tension subsided, all of us with the calculation of the command post of the fleet seemed to calm down.
The next day, the Americans, not reaching our Caucasian sea areas, moved out of the Black Sea. Again, under the vigilant control of the new ship group of our ships. A day later, the "battered" ships of the valiant 6th Fleet of the US Navy left the Black Sea, inhospitable for them on this voyage.
Vladimir Bogdashin the next day, by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, flew with all the documents to Moscow to report to the command of the Navy and the leadership of the General Staff of all the details of the incident.
Vladimir Bogdashin. In Moscow, I was met by officers of the General Staff of the Navy and taken directly to the General Staff. In the elevator we went upstairs together with Colonel-General V.N. Lobov. Having found out who I am, he said: "Well done, son! The sailors did not let us down after this Rust. We did everything right!" Then I reported everything to the officers of the General Staff, explained the maneuvering schemes and photographic documents. Then I had to tell and explain everything again to a group of assembled journalists. Then I was "picked up" by the correspondent of the military department of the Pravda newspaper, Captain 1st Rank Alexander Gorokhov, and taken to the editorial office, where I had to repeat everything. In the issue of the newspaper for February 14, 1988, his article was published "What do they need off our shores? Inadmissible actions of the US Navy" with brief description our "exploits".
Prepared by Vladimir Zaborsky, Captain 1st Rank

Any interaction between the hulls of two ships is considered a battering ram in World of Warships. When dealing damage, several parameters are taken into account.

1. The masses of the ships. How more mass participating in the ramming of the ships - the more damage is done to them.
2. Relationships and differences in ship masses. In a collision of two ships, the ship with the lower mass takes more damage, and vice versa.
3. The relative speed of the ships. The higher the speed, the more damage will be done.
4. Directions of movement of ships and the place of collision. If the blow hits along a sliding trajectory, minor damage will be inflicted. If the blow fell head-on or at a right angle to the side, the damage will be great.

If you collide with an ally, then under any circumstances, both will receive significantly less damage than when colliding with the enemy.

When ramming, there is a possibility of breaking the ship in half. This can only happen if the following conditions are met:

1. The battering ram led to the death of the ship.
2. The ram was produced by the bow of the enemy ramming into the side.
3. The displacement of the ramming ship is at least 80% of the target's displacement.
4. The angle at which the ram was made was from 75 to 105 degrees.

The story that happened on February 12, 1988 in the area of ​​the main base of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol is still remembered by US Navy sailors with a shudder and studied in detail in naval educational institutions.

Then, as if sensing the imminent demise of the Soviet Union, the American cruiser Yorktown and the destroyer Caron rudely violated the USSR border, invading our territorial waters for 7 miles. For which they paid: the patrol ships of the Black Sea Fleet "Selfless" and SKR-6 went to ram the violators. Little-known details of that high-profile incident were told to Komsomolskaya Pravda by Vladimir BOGDASHIN, who was on the command bridge of the Selfless in February 1988.

- Vladimir Ivanovich, why did the Americans need it?

- It was a show of strength. Show that there is no one cooler than them. The same ships of the US Navy two years earlier, in the 86th, passed the same route. And then ours did nothing: they only raised flags of protest, warning that the passage was prohibited. And the day before, there was also an offensive incident with Matias Rust ... It was clear: if this is still allowed, no one will reckon with us anymore. And Gorbachev set the task: to react toughly to such cases. The Soviet Navy worked on this task for two years. The whole system of disruptions of such entrances was thought over. But the activities of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation * "Selfless" were not planned in these plans!

- Like this?

“When our people learned that Yorktown and Caron were entering again, preparations began for their meeting. And I just returned from the Mediterranean Sea, unloaded the missiles, let some of the crew go on vacation ... And then the division commander got in touch: the "BOD" Krasny Kavkaz (it was being prepared for a meeting with the Americans) has technical problems, so tomorrow at 6 in the morning you shoot and go out for tracking ...

- Were the weapons in combat?

- Yes, the only thing - instead of four cruise missiles, I had two. The SKR-6 also had everything in combat. He joined us in the Bosphorus region.

- They were led from Turkey?

- Yes. They arrived in the evening, and the next day the Americans were to pass the Bosphorus and go to the Black Sea. Two reconnaissance aircraft were supposed to find and bring us into contact.

- That is, you had to settle in and accompany?

- But first - to find out, and with this there were problems. The Americans walked in complete radio silence, and it was impossible to figure out where they were in this large stream of ships that passed the Bosphorus, all ships look the same on the radar. Plus complete fog. Then I contacted our ferry "Heroes of Shipki", which was entering the Bosphorus. And he asked: when visually detecting our guests, inform us. Soon he saw them and gave a signal with coordinates.

- Did they figure it out?

- It seems. For a long time we rushed about the Turkish territorial waters, but then headed for Sevastopol, accompanied by us.

- Did you try to warn them in advance?

- And how! We had constant contact with them.

- "We are not breaking anything." At that time they were on the high seas and really did not violate anything. We walked with the Yorktown nearby, about 10 meters away, they had 80 percent of the crew on deck. Everyone took pictures, showed indecent gestures. And, when their ships crossed the border, an order was received to pile on ... SKR-6 went to the rapprochement with "Karon". I went to Yorktown. The first bulk was light, casual. They rubbed their sides, demolished his ladder, and that's all.

- And what about the second bulk?

- After the first blow, we received the command to move away and not make contact. But I had a tricky situation:

"Yorktown" in its displacement is three times the "Selfless", and in size - twice as large. And when I hit him for the first time on the port side, from the impact the bow of my ship went sharply to the left, the stern, on the contrary, to the right. And we began to approach each other by the stern parts. It was very dangerous both for them and for us: on the "Selfless" there were two four-tube torpedo tubes from each side, prepared for battle. Torpedoes from impact could ignite. The American has eight Harpoon missile launchers aft. And if we touched the stern parts, my torpedo tubes would go under its rocket tubes ... There was nothing left to do but give the fullest speed, turn sharply to the right, towards it, and thereby throw the stern aside. Our nose went at speed towards it, we climbed onto the Yorktown with a roll of about 13-14 degrees to the port side. The left side of the helipad was completely demolished and everything further along the side began to be destroyed. And before that, the right anchor was lowered. From the blow, he entered their side, flew a bullet over their deck, broke the chain and fell into the sea.

- How much does he weigh?

- 3 tons ... It's a pity: the loss of an anchor is considered a shame in the Navy. And the one who loses it is considered a bad commander who did not calculate the underwater obstacles. But I had a different situation.

- And the missiles, they say, were demolished from the Americans?

- Well, yes, those "Harpoons". New then tactical weapon. They were at the stern and stood. Four out of eight installations were demolished. Broken heads dangled on the wires ... Black sailors who came running to eliminate the consequences, as they saw all this, immediately ran away. It seems like there was a fire below deck on the Yorktown: we saw that rescue teams were working in the area of ​​their torpedo tubes.

"They tried to pinch me in pincers"

- What damage did "Selfless" receive?

- The hull burst in the bow, there was a crack about one and a half meters. In the bow, the hole was about forty centimeters, but it was higher than the waterline, so it is not dangerous. Leer * was blown away, the anchor was lost. During the repair, it also turned out that powerful bolts were bent by four centimeters, which fastened the engine couplings. Already in April, it was discovered that the titanium bulb, which protects the hydroacoustic complex in the bow, burst into shreds upon impact. But the renovation was still small.

- What's the story with the explosion?

- The border guards reported about him to the shore. On the first impact, they saw sparks and a huge cloud of smoke, believing it to be an explosion. Than misinformed the command. In fact, the paint smoked so sharply.

- And the SKR-6?

- It is less than "Caron" four times. He poked his nose into the side, flew off, and that was all.

- After the bulk, did the Americans immediately leave the territorial waters of the USSR?

- Not really. The Caron gave maximum speed and went to our port side. They wanted to take us in pincers! I increased my speed to full speed and entered from the other side of the Yorktown. "Caron" calmed down and together with the beaten "colleague" came out of our waters. There was so much welding on board! They also had to go through the Bosphorus again and did not want, apparently, to show the Turks that they were hard hit. Therefore, they cut off all the visible facts of mutilation of the ship: rocket launchers, fences of the helipad - and everything overboard. Then we were replaced by four of our ships that came up from Sevastopol, we returned to the base.

- How did the command react?

- The position of the command was not worked out. The fleet commander scolded me for my lost anchor. Our international experts generally said that we were impudent. The chief navigator of the fleet handed over a sheaf of documents: "Here, look where you are right and where you are wrong." On February 13, I was summoned to Moscow. I thought: everything, life has failed ... At the General Staff I go into the elevator and meet the Deputy Chief of the General Staff: "Well, thank you, Navy!" He shook his hand. There were two pilot generals in the same elevator. He turned to them and continued: “Otherwise, our aviation allows everyone to enter Red Square ...” Only later did I learn that this man insisted that I be seriously punished. But Chebrikov (at that time the chairman of the KGB. - Ed. Note) reported to Gorbachev that the fleet had done everything right. Gorbachev agreed with him. And everyone finally sighed.

- What political consequences did the bulk have?

- Very good for the USSR. The Yorktown commander was removed. The American Senate froze funding for all reconnaissance voyages of the US 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean and Black Seas for six months. After that, NATO ships did not approach our shores closer than 120 miles.

- Were you awarded for the feat?

- A year later, when I studied at the Naval Academy, I was awarded the Order of the Red Star. “We know why,” said the head of the faculty. - But it says here "for mastering new technology." None of the crew were awarded. And my guys deserved it!

- Was it offensive?

- You know, I love leaders who keep their word. If you set the task to give a tough rebuff, then do not move the arrows for the sake of big politics, and even more so, don’t even think about punishment for fulfilling the order!

- How, by the way, did our sailors behave?

- Nobody, unlike the American ones, has drifted! Not a single violation, everything is clear. My midshipman was Shmorgunov - just superhuman strength! And when these "Harpoons" approached our side, he stood there with a rope: "Just a little more, I would have hooked their rocket and pulled them out!" I know him: he loaded our 120-kilogram rockets by hand!

- And the Americans?

- They are good as sailors. But psychologically weaker. Dying for their homeland is not part of their plans ... They were dumbfounded: the legend that they were the best had collapsed. They got something from a group of ships that are smaller than them. They, when I offered them help (as it should be), sat in the cabins. The cruiser was as if dead - they were so shocked ...

- What is the fate of the ships participating in the conflict?

- “Selfless” during the division of the fleet, we handed over to Ukraine, which renamed it to “Dnepropetrovsk”, and then sent it for scrap. Although he could still serve. The SKR-6 was old, it was also cut.

- When did you part with "Selfless"?

- In the same 88th. Then he studied at the Grechko Naval Academy for two years. After that I was appointed commander of the anti-submarine cruiser "Leningrad", then - on the anti-submarine cruiser "Moscow". And when he was written off, at the request of Luzhkov, I went to the commander of the current "Moscow", the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet (then it was called "Slava"). This cruiser was a stumbling block in the division of the Black Sea Fleet. But that's a completely different story ...

Here is a video of that battering ram. Filming was carried out from the board of an American ship