"Admiral Nakhimov" (from 26.12.1922 - "Chervona Ukraine", from 6.2.1950 - "STZh-4", from 30.10.1950 - "TsL-53")
Laid down on October 18, 1913 at the Russud plant. March 18, 1914 included in the lists of the Black Sea Fleet. Launched on October 25, 1915. Construction was suspended in March 1918.
In January 1920, during the evacuation of whites from Nikolaev, in an unfinished state, he was taken to Odessa. During the evacuation from Odessa in February 1920, the whites tried to take the cruiser to Sevastopol. But he was frozen into the ice, and without the help of icebreakers, this was not possible. After the capture of Odessa by the Red Army, "Admiral Nakhimov" at the end of 1920 was transferred to Nikolaev at the "Naval" plant. In 1923, the completion of the cruiser began according to the original project.
By order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic of December 7, 1922, the cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" was given a new name "Chervona Ukraine". On October 29, 1924, the USSR Labor and Defense Council approved the report of the Supreme Government Commission on the allocation of funds for the completion, overhaul and renovation and modernization of a number of ships, including the cruisers Chervona Ukraine and Svetlana. Both cruisers were completed according to the original project, but with the strengthening of anti-aircraft and torpedo armament.
At the end of April 1926, Chervona Ukraine successfully completed the factory testing of mechanisms and mooring tests. The ship was brought into the dock to inspect and paint the underwater part of the hull. On June 13, 1926, the cruiser was presented for sea trials. The average speed for five runs was 29.82 knots, the highest speed obtained during the tests approached the requirements of the original design specifications (30 knots). On December 7, acceptance tests were successfully completed, and the plant began to eliminate minor remarks from the selection committee.
On March 21, 1927, the cruiser Chervona Ukraina entered service and was included in the Separate Destroyer Division of the Black Sea Naval Forces (MSCHM) - this was the name of the Black Sea Fleet until 1935. In the same 1927, the cruiser took part in the autumn maneuvers of the MSChM. For three years, before the battleship Parizhskaya Kommuna and the cruiser Profintern arrived from the Baltic, the Chervona Ukraina was the largest ship of the MSFM. It housed the headquarters of the Separate Destroyer Division (Divisional Commander Yu. V. Sheltinga). On the cruiser, the head of the MSChM V. M. Orlov raised the flag.
September 12, 1927 under the flag of the Commander of the MSChM V. M. Orlov's cruiser left Sevastopol. Abeam of Yalta, the ship hit the epicenter of the Crimean earthquake and was not damaged.
This is how N. G. Kuznetsov, who served as the chief of watch on the cruiser at that time, described this event: some kind of heavy object.
- Stop the car! - commanded Nesvitsky.
- What's happened? - the commander of the fleet V. M. Orlov, who was on the bridge, turned to him.
"Chervona Ukraine" shortly after commissioning
No one could give an answer. External and internal inspection of the cruiser showed that there was no damage, the mechanisms were in full working order, they were working normally, only for some reason the connection with the base was lost. Soon the news came: an earthquake in the Crimea. Its epicenter was just in the area where our cruiser was located (NG Kuznetsov. On the Eve. Voenizdat 1989, p. 50).
On September 13, the ship came to the roadstead of Sochi, the chief of the Naval Forces of the Red Army R. A. Muklevich arrived on it, and the ship headed for Sevastopol. September 14-22 "Chervona Ukraine" took part in the maneuvers of the MSFM.
From May 27 to June 7, 1928 "Chervona Ukraine" (commander NN Nesvitsky) with the destroyers "Petrovsky", "Shaumyan" and "Frunze" went to Istanbul in response to the visit of a detachment of Turkish ships to Sevastopol. On the night of June 3, a fire broke out on a cruiser stationed in Istanbul in the aft boiler room. The boiler was taken out, and a cover was put on the pipe to stop air access to the fire. For a while, the ship was de-energized, the fire pumps stopped. To fight the fire, the crew had only fire extinguishers and a hand pump. Soon the boiler in another department was lit and the fire was extinguished. In the afternoon of June 3, the detachment left Istanbul, escorting the yacht Izmir, on which the padishah of Afghanistan, Amannula Khan, was returning from Turkey. The detachment escorted the yacht to Batumi, where the padishah went ashore.
On July 24-25, 1929, the cruiser made a cruise from Sevastopol to Sochi along the coast of the Crimea and the Caucasus. On board were the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) I. V. Stalin, the chairman of the Central Control Commission of the CPSU (b), the People's Commissar of the RCI G. K. Ordzhonikidze, accompanied by the commander of the MChM V. M. Orlov. During the march, they watched the exercises of the diverse forces of the fleet, attended a concert of ship amateur performances. In memory of this passage, JV Stalin made an entry in the ship's log: “I was on the cruiser Chervona Ukraine. I attended an amateur evening … Wonderful people, brave cultural comrades, ready for anything for the sake of our common cause …"
"Chervona Ukraine" in Sevastopol, 1927-1929 The ship is equipped with a canvas hangar, and the jibs of aircraft cranes serve as the frame of its roof.
"Chervona Ukraine", 1927-1929
On March 9, 1930, by order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR No. 014, a brigade (from 1932 - a division) of cruisers MSChM was formed, which included the cruiser Chervona Ukraine, the battleship Parizhskaya Kommuna and the cruiser Profintern that arrived from the Baltic Sea, as well as Nikolaev "Red Caucasus". This unit was commanded by Kadatsky (1930-1932), Yu. F. Rall (1932-1935), I. S. Yumashev (1935-1937), L. A. Vladimirsky (1939-1940), S. G. Gorshkov (1940 -1941).
From October 2 to October 16, 1930, as part of a practical detachment of the MSChM (detachment commander Yu. V. Sheltinga, cruiser commander P. A. Evdokimov) with the destroyers Nezamozhnik and Shaumyan made a cruise along the route Sevastopol - Istanbul (3-5.10) -Messina (7-10.10) - Piraeus (11-14.10) -Sevastopol. During the transition, tactical exercises were practiced to repel attacks from submarines, destroyers, torpedo boats, navigators received rich practice in the study of the Mediterranean theater and the Black Sea straits.
IV Stalin and GK Ordzhonikidze among the sailors of the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine" on the way from Sevastopol to Sochi. June 1929
Before the transition from the Baltic Sea to "Profin-terna" and the entry into operation of the "Red Caucasus", the partner of "Chervona Ukrainy" was the ancient "Comintern" (in the foreground)
"Chervona Ukraine", late 1920s
On the deck of the "Chervona Ukrainy" during a trip abroad, June 1930
"Chervona Ukraina" in Messina, October 1930. On the starboard side are the destroyers "Shaumyan" and "Nezamozhnik"
On October 10-13, 1931, the cruiser took part in the autumn maneuvers of the MSChM.
From August 26 to September 6, 1932 with the cruiser "Profintern", three destroyers and three gunboats made a cruise to the Sea of Azov.
From November 1933 to September 1936 the cruiser was commanded by N. G. Kuznetsov, later the People's Commissar of the Navy, Admiral of the Soviet Union Fleet.
October 24, 1933 "Chervona Ukraina" with the cruiser "Profintern" left Sevastopol, escorting the Turkish steamer "Izmir", on which the Soviet government delegation headed by People's Commissar K. Ye. Voroshilov to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. On the way, the ships were caught in a violent storm. On the morning of October 26, they arrived in Istanbul, and after 6 hours the cruisers went back and on October 27 they arrived in Sevastopol. On November 9, both cruisers under the general command of the Chief of Staff of the MSChM KI Dushenov again went to Istanbul and on November 11 they joined the escort of the Izmir steamer with the returning delegation. On November 12, the detachment arrived in Odessa. As the best cruiser of the RKKF "Chervona Ukraine" was awarded the Challenge Red Banner and the certificate of the Central Committee of the Komsomol. In 1933, the commander of the cruiser N. G. Kuznetsov was awarded a diploma of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR and a personalized gold watch.
After the cruiser division was formed on the Black Sea in 1930, Chervona Ukraina received distinctive marks on the chimneys
"Chervona Ukraine", early 1930s
"Chervona Ukraine", 1935. The flying boat Dornier "Val" flies over the cruiser
"Chervona Ukraine", 1937-1938
In 1934, when leaving the Sevastopol Bay for autumn maneuvers, he wound boom nets on the screws, could not participate in a training battle and did not receive the first place in the Naval Forces, which he should have received at the end of the academic year.
In 1934-1935. Chervona Ukraina underwent modernization at Sevmorzavod.
In the summer of 1935, the cruiser under the flag of the brigade commander Yu. F. Ralla, went from Sevastopol to Istanbul, delivering the body of the deceased Ambassador of Turkey to the USSR Vasif Chinar to his homeland. On the way back, the cruiser passed the Bosphorus at night, which large ships usually did not do.
In July 1935, the cruiser delivered the People's Commissar of Heavy Industry GK Ordzhonidze with his wife and accompanying People's Commissar of Health of the RSFSR GN Kaminsky from Sochi to Yalta. For this campaign, the commander of the ship N. G. Kuznetsov was awarded a GAZ-A passenger car. In the same 1935, the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine" took first place in all types of combat training, the commander was awarded the Order of the Red Star.
In March 1937 "Chervona Ukraine" and "Krasny Kavkaz" made a circular trip along the shores of the Black Sea. On March 5, the ships parted ways with the Turkish battle cruiser Yavuz (formerly Geben), escorted by three destroyers.
June 22, 1939 "Chervona Ukraine" was included in the newly formed squadron of the Black Sea Fleet. From August 26, 1939 to May 1, 1941, the cruiser underwent a major overhaul at Sevmorzavod.
From 13 to 17 May 1941 "Chervona Ukraine" under the flag of Deputy People's Commissar of the Navy Vice Admiral GI Levchenko sailed along the route Sevastopol - Poti - Novorossiysk - Kerch - Feodosia - Sevastopol. From 14 to 18 June, she participated in fleet maneuvers - the last before the war.
The beginning of the Great Patriotic War "Chervona Ukraine" (commander Captain 1st Rank NE Basisty) met in the main base of the fleet - Sevastopol. The ship, one and a half months before the war, came out of repair, just started firing, so it was listed in the 2nd line.
"Chervona Ukraina" in Sevastopol, 1939. Photo from the cruiser "Krasny Kavkaz"
On the very first day of the war, the fleet began setting up defensive minefields near its bases. On June 22, 90 mines of obstacles were loaded onto the ship from an approaching barge. June 23 at 13.33 "Chervona Ukraine" under the flag of the commander of the cruiser brigade Captain 1st Rank SG Gorshkov together with the cruiser "Krasny Kavkaz" left the Main Base. At 16.20 the ships approached the minefield area, and at 19.15 they returned to Sevastopol.
On June 24, having received mines, with the cruiser Krasny Kavkaz, Chervona Ukraina at 8.40 went to sea under the flag of the brigade commander. After completing the setting of the barrage, the cruisers headed to the base at 11.38. While at the Inkerman alignment, they found a tug with a floating crane coming towards the cruisers from the base. At 12:52 a.m., at a distance of 40 m from the stem, a floating crane exploded and sank, the tugboat SP-2 was damaged by the explosion. The cruisers stalled their progress and worked full back. At 13.06, having received the semaphore of the OVR commander: "Follow the base keeping to the north edge of the In-Kerman alignment", the ships entered the roadstead.
The commander of the fleet, F. S. Oktyabrsky, later wrote: “Why was it necessary to lay minefields from the first days of the war? Who were they against? After all, the enemy is land-based, he has mainly aviation and torpedo boats at sea, for which mines are not a hindrance. And so, despite the fact that the mines will interfere more with us than the enemy, they forced us to plant mines, on which more of our ships died than of the enemy. We have only three destroyers perished on their mines."
The Naval War Council decided to redeploy the cruiser brigade. On the night of July 5, "Chervona Ukraina" together with the cruiser "Krasny Kavkaz" and three destroyers moved from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk - a new base.
Air reconnaissance discovered a concentration of enemy transports in the Constanta - Sulin area. To counter a possible landing, on August 13, three detachments of ships were formed. "Chervona Ukraine" with three destroyers were included in the 3rd detachment.
On August 5, the defense of Odessa began, the ships of the Black Sea Fleet provided support to the troops, delivering reinforcements, ammunition and daily shelling enemy positions. Initially, these tasks were performed by Novik-class destroyers and gunboats.
"Chervona Ukraine" near Odessa, 1941
On August 20, 1941, the enemy launched an offensive near Odessa, and Red Army units were forced to retreat to new lines. After that, new destroyers and old cruisers were sent to Odessa.
On August 27, Chervona Ukraine left Novorossiysk and arrived in Sevastopol on the morning of August 28. Having taken on board the 6th detachment of volunteer sailors, consisting of 720 people, on the same day at 20.45 the ship left for Odessa. The cruiser flew under the flag of Vice-Admiral G. I. Levchenko, Deputy People's Commissar of the Navy, there were also a member of the Military Council of the Fleet, Counter-Admiral N. M. Kulakov and brigade commander S. G. Gorshkov. On August 29, at 7.10 am, the cruiser arrived in Odessa. Having disembarked the volunteers and sent a correction post to the shore, the ship went out to the roadstead. "Chervona Ukraina" was accompanied by two small hunters, who provided its anti-submarine defense, and also had the task of covering the cruiser with smoke screens from enemy batteries. From a distance of 70 kbt, the cruiser opened fire with eight-gun volleys at enemy positions in the area of the village. Ilyinka. The 6-inch battery tried to cover the cruiser, but, having finished firing, she came out of the fire. On the same day, the cruiser fired at the area with. Sverdlovo, firing at a 12-knot speed, alternately with both sides. Two enemy batteries attempting to shoot at Chervona Ukraine were suppressed by the artillery of the leader Tashkent and the destroyer Smyshleny. On August 30, the ship fired four times, and was twice fired upon by an enemy battery. On August 29 and 30, firing was conducted without any interference from the enemy, so the cruiser was able to stand with her vehicles locked for several hours to fire at the enemy in calm conditions. On August 31, the ship's artillery opened fire five times, supporting parts of the eastern defense sector. During firing, shells began to fall near the ship, as a result of which the cruiser was forced to withdraw from the firing zone. The enemy battery fired from the area of the village of Novaya Dofinovka.
On that day, at 4:20 pm, the cruiser, standing with its vehicles blocked, was attacked by a group of enemy aircraft. The cruiser ceased fire on the shore and gave a move, while turning to the left. Anti-aircraft gunners put a curtain in front of the planes, which dropped bombs that fell 2 kilobytes short of the stern.
On September 1, at 10.00, the cruiser entered the position on the 20-knot move and fired at the village. Vizirka and Sverdlovka. At the same time, he himself came under fire, but did not change course, so as not to knock down the aiming of his guns. Then, from a distance of 62 kbt, he opened fire on the battery that fired at the ships, eight minutes later it fell silent. At 11.56 the cruiser was attacked by seven Ju-88 bombers, the attack was repulsed without loss. At 13.45 the enemy battery from Novaya Dofinovka began shelling the harbor, in which the transports were being unloaded. The cruiser together with the destroyer "Soobrazitelny" opened fire on it, and at 13:56 the battery was destroyed, a strong explosion was observed at its position. During the operation near Odessa, the cruiser consumed 842 130 mm, 236 100 mm and 452 45 mm shells.
"Chervona Ukraine" fires its main caliber at coastal targets
On September 2-3, the cruiser moved from Odessa to the main base, and on September 4-5 - to Novorossiysk. On September 17 at 13.20 "Chervona Ukraina" left Novorossiysk, guarding the transports "Armenia" and "Ukraine", heading with troops to Odessa. On September 18, at 11.08, the cruiser handed over the transports to two destroyers, and he himself entered the main base. On the ship, they began to install a demagnetizing device, so he did not take part in the landing at Grigorievka.
On September 29, the Supreme Command Headquarters decided to evacuate the OOP and, at the expense of its troops, strengthen the defense of the Crimea. On October 2, at 16.00, the cruiser left Sevastopol for Tendra to evacuate parts of the Tendrovsky combat area. Having taken on board the 2nd battalion of the 2nd Marine Regiment, the ship at 12.53 on September 3 delivered it to Sevastopol. On October 6, the cruiser went to Tendra again. However, parts of the Tendrovsky combat area were not notified of the ship's departure and he returned to the main base on October 7.
October 13 at 16.30 "Chervona Ukraine" under the flag of the squadron commander Rear Admiral L. A. Vladimirsky with the cruiser "Krasny Kavkaz" left
Sevastopol to Odessa to participate in the final evacuation of the OOP. On the morning of October 14, the ships arrived in Odessa and anchored. L. A. Vladimirsky did not allow the cruisers to enter the harbor, since during air raids they were deprived of the opportunity to maneuver. On October 15, the command post of the OOP commander, Rear Admiral G. V. Zhukov, was deployed on the cruiser. On the night of October 16, rearguard battalions began to arrive at the port and load onto ships and transports. At about 7.00, the task force, led by the commander of the Primorsky Army, Major General I. E. Petrov, who was in charge of the withdrawal of troops, switched to a cruiser. At 5.28, accepting 1164 fighters and commanders from the 25th Chapayevskaya and 2nd cavalry divisions, the cruiser weighed anchor and, together with other ships, entered into the escort of transports. Then, increasing speed, he broke away from the caravan and arrived in Sevastopol in the afternoon.
On the night of October 30 to 31, the cruiser participated in the evacuation of the Tendrovsky combat area. Having accepted a battalion of marines (700 people), he delivered it to Sevastopol.
On October 30, German troops reached the distant approaches to Sevastopol, and the heroic defense of the city began. On November 1, "Chervona Ukraina" was included in the ship support detachment of the Sevastopol garrison, the detachment commander - the chief of staff of the squadron, Captain 1st Rank V. A. Andreev. The ship was anchored at the Sovtorgflot pier (located next to Grafskaya) at anchor and mooring lines with two barrels and bollards.
On November 5, Captain 1st Rank N. E. Basisty was appointed commander of the Light Forces Detachment of the Black Sea Fleet. The new commander of the cruiser, Captain 2nd Rank N. A. Zaruba, was delayed, N. E. Basisty handed over the affairs to the senior officer V. A. Parkhomenko and on November 7 left for Poti.
On November 7, in Sevastopol, a directive of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief No. 1882 was received, signed by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Stalin, Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army Marshal Shaposhnikov and People's Commissar of the Navy Admiral Kuznetsov. The directive stated: “The main task of the Black Sea Fleet is to consider the active defense of Sevastopol and the Kerch Peninsula by all means; Under no circumstances should Sevastopol surrender and defend it with all your might; keep all three old cruisers and old destroyers in Sevastopol, from this composition to form a maneuverable detachment …"
On November 8, the cruiser Chervona Ukraina was the first of the Black Sea Fleet ships to open fire on the German troops advancing on Sevastopol in the vicinity of the Mekenzia farm. On this day, the cruiser fired 230 shells. On November 9 and 10, the ship's artillery fired at the concentration of enemy troops on the southeastern approaches to Sevastopol, spending 48 and 100 shells, respectively.
"Chervona Ukraine" fires its main caliber at coastal targets
On the stern bridge "Chervony Ukrainy"
On November 11, German troops launched the first assault on Sevastopol. On this day, the cruiser fired at the Kadykovka-Varnutka area, using up 682 130-mm shells. As a result, three batteries were silenced, 18 vehicles and armored personnel carriers, 4 tanks were destroyed. The wear of the barrels of 130-mm guns has reached the limit.
On November 12, having received an application from the corps, the cruiser at 9.00 opened fire on a concentration of German troops near Balaklava, making 8 three-gun salvoes. Suffering heavy losses from naval artillery fire, the German command threw aviation against the ships. At 11.45, an air reconnaissance aircraft appeared over Sevastopol, a "combat alert" was played on the ship. A few minutes later, enemy bombers made a massive raid on the main base. The planes dealt the main blow to the ships stationed in the bay.
"Chervona Ukraina" in the period from 12.00 to 12.15 was attacked by three groups of aircraft (a total of 23 aircraft). The first of nine bombers was repelled by the ship's anti-aircraft guns, one plane was shot down. It was followed by the second, which managed to accurately drop bombs on the cruiser, and the dive bombers completed the strike.
At 12.08 a high-explosive bomb weighing 100 kg exploded at a distance of 5-7 m from the starboard side at an abeam of 92-100 sh. A few seconds later, a second similar bomb exploded in the area of the 4th torpedo tube on the left side waist. The explosion tore off the torpedo tube from the foundation and threw it overboard. A fire broke out on the deck.
Three minutes later, a time bomb weighing 500 kg exploded on the ground in the immediate vicinity of the starboard side of the ship in the area of 9-12 shp. The explosion broke the anchor-chain of the right anchor and the perlin, wound on the barrel. The cruiser was pressed against the dock with its nose. Burst aft mooring line from the port side. At 12.12 the same bomb exploded under the bottom of the ship on the left side, in the area of 48-54 shp. From the explosions, the ship's hull vibrated. The cruiser began to roll to the left side, a trim appeared on the bow. In the premises, the lights went out for a short time, but the emergency lighting was turned on.
From the combat posts at the GKP and the commander of the BCh-5, reports were received on what was happening in the premises of the ship and the measures taken. Since communication with individual combat posts and command posts was interrupted, messengers were also used. The fight for survivability at combat posts was developed on the initiative of the post commanders themselves.
As a result of a bomb explosion in the water in the area of 9-12 sp., Rooms from 0 to 15 sp. Were flooded. The lower deck is deformed and torn in places. Sheathing of the starboard side at a length from 0 to 25 shp. and in height from the waterline to the forecastle deck it is pierced by numerous fragments. At 49 shp. from side to side, the seam of the upper deck flooring parted, a gap of about 150 mm wide appeared; for 48 shp. a crack appeared on the lower deck planking; the lining of the sides burst and a wedge-shaped crack went under the armor belt; trim was especially pronounced from 49 shp. towards the stem and was 1 m. Upper deck up to 10 shp. went under the water.
On the upper deck, in the area of the 4th torpedo tube from the explosion of an aerial bomb, a hole with an area of 4 m2 was formed. In the area of the workshop, splinters damaged spare oil tanks, three barrels with smoke mixture and gasoline. Spilled gasoline, paint on superstructures, wood from the shattered deck and fuel hoses were burning. In the area of the infirmary compartment (92-100 shp) in 23 places, bomb fragments pierced the side above the armor belt. Mattresses and linens were on fire in the infirmary. A wall of fire across the deck rose up to the bridge.
130mm guns # 2, 3, 4 jammed; 6, 11, 12, all three 100-mm anti-aircraft guns and four 45-mm guns were out of order, 14 sailors were killed, 90 were injured.
Fighting the fire on the waist was carried out by two emergency teams. The tug "Komsomolets" took part in fighting the fire. Small fires were eliminated after 6 minutes. Barrels of smoke and gasoline, the burning warhead of the torpedo was thrown overboard. Fortunately, the torpedoes did not detonate (it is unclear against whom the cruiser could use its 12 torpedoes if the enemy ships did not leave their bases.
The GKP received an order to put out the fire on the waist more quickly, to flood the torpedo cellar. The commander also ordered the flooding of the main artillery cellars. They were flooded slowly, as the pressure in the fire main was low. The commander of BCh-5 requested permission from the ship commander not to flood the artillery cellars located on the left side, especially the eighth cellar, the condition of which was
checked by the commander of the hold compartment. The fire did not threaten the cellars located in the bow of the ship. But the commander confirmed his order. This led to the loss of part of the buoyancy reserve and the loss of all the main battery ammunition.
After the explosion, fuel oil and water poured into the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th boiler rooms through the flooring of the second bottom after the explosion. The launched bilge and fire pump could not cope with drainage, and the hydraulic turbine was damaged. When the water level reached the furnace of the operating boiler No. 4, it had to be taken out of operation. The commander of the BCh-5 ordered to urgently fire up the boiler No. 11.
Lubricating oil poured into the 2nd engine room through the ventilation shaft, the battery lighting was out of order. The 3rd engine room was filled with smoke, so the personnel put on gas masks. Water was supplied to the 4th engine room in the area of the circulation pump, the place of intake could not be established due to the large smoke. A bilge-fire pump was started up for drainage and a hydraulic turbine was periodically started.
Turbogenerators No. 1 and No. 2 had to be stopped due to insulation failure in the nasal quarters and the left aft quarter of the electrical circuit. Turbine generators # 3 and # 4 were connected to the starboard trunk line to provide aft compartments.
To straighten the roll, five heeling compartments on the starboard side were flooded. But this did not give the desired results. The ship had a slight trim on the bow and a roll to the port side of 3, 5-4 °. In total, he received about 3300 tons of water.
Photographs of the Sevastopol harbor on November 12, 1941, taken by a German reconnaissance aircraft before (above) and after (below) the raid. In the top picture, the arrow indicates the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine"
The power plant was in the following state. Boilers from 5th to 10th were in flooded compartments, four bow boilers were cut off from the general system due to a break in the body for 49 shp. with possible damage to individual pipelines. The 4th boiler was soon taken out, and at 13.05 the 2nd boiler room was flooded along the current waterline. Due to a drop in the pressure of live steam in the auxiliary main, by 12.40, turbine generators No. 3 and No. 4 and all operating auxiliary mechanisms were stopped. For the further struggle for the survivability of the ship, four boilers remained serviceable, located to the stern of 69 shp., And two boilers in the bow. At 12.50 the boiler No.1 was put into operation, the main condenser No.3 was prepared for operation. When boiler no. 11 was connected to the auxiliary main, despite its forcing, the steam pressure in the main dropped. Then the section of the main line of the starboard side going from the 6th boiler room to the bow was turned off. The steam pressure in the main line rose, turbine generators # 3 and # 4 were started up.
When the bilge-fire pumps were connected to the fire main, it turned out that the pressure in it did not rise more than 3 kg / cm2. This indicated that it was damaged in the bow. Disconnection of the damaged section up to the 6th boiler room made it possible to raise the pressure to 15 kg / cm2 by 13.30. It was now possible to reuse the stationary means for draining the compartments. The water turbine and the bilge-fire pump were started up to drain the 4th engine room, the water began to subside.
At about 2.30 pm a diving boat and a rescue ship "Mercury" approached the ship. The divers examined the underwater part of the cruiser, and the rescuer took part in draining the compartments (the capacity of its dewatering pumps is 1200 t / h).
After inspecting the starboard side, the divers reported that the cruiser had a bow of up to 20 shp. lies on the ground. In the bottom there is a hole from 5 to 9 shp. with ragged edges, passing to the port side, with an area of about 10 m2. From 9 to 40 shp. there are shrapnel holes of different sizes. The stem is broken. The ship's left cheekbone leans against the dock.
Crack in the skin of the starboard side for 49 shp. with a width of about 150 mm goes down from the armor belt. Near the keel, this crack turns into a hole with ragged edges, which extends to the port side. The keel stringer is broken. In essence, the ship broke in two at 49 shp. The size of the hole near the keel is up to 8 m2, its edges are bent outward. The commander of the BCh-5 ordered to put on her a plaster, which should have been mounted from three regular soft plasters. Only one of them, 5x5 m in size, turned out to be intact. But this patch could not be installed either, since the podkilny ends, brought from the stern further 55 shp. did not go, they were hindered by the torn edges of the hole.
The divers were ordered to inspect the port side, but the German air raid that had begun forced them to stop working. Rescuer "Mercury" left to help destroyer "Merciless" damaged by the explosion.
Since it was not possible to level the roll by flooding the heeling compartments, the commander of the BC-5 decided to level the roll by draining water from the sixth torpedo cellar into the 6th boiler room and from the eighth artillery to the 4th engine room, saline boiler water from the side compartments of the 7th boiler room lower the port side into the hold, and remove all water from the holds overboard by hydraulic turbines. But the position of the ship has not changed. The cruiser kept a roll of 4 ° to the port side.
At about 16 o'clock, the ship commander, considering the state of the ship catastrophic and trying to avoid losses in personnel in case of possible repeated air raids, reported this to the fleet commander and received permission: to take the team with personal belongings to cover, and leave the anti-aircraft battalion and emergency parties on the ship. The artillery department of the rear from the Fleet Headquarters received an order to remove weapons from the ship and unload ammunition.
The commander of the BC-5, believing that not all possibilities were exhausted in the fight for the survivability of the ship, turned to the commander of the ship with a request to leave on the ship all the officers of the BC-5, the hold group, some of the electricians, machinists and boiler operators. The commander allowed to leave about 50% of the BCh-5. This decision violated any organization of the struggle for unsinkability. Many hatches and doors, which were closed by alarm when the team left, remained open and had to be battened down again. A reduced watch crew was left at the combat posts. The team was preparing to go ashore, the commander and the commissar went to inspect the place of the future cantonment.
At 16.30, the flagship mechanical engineer of the fleet and the head of EPRON arrived at the ship to check its condition and resolve the issue of further actions to assist the personnel in the fight for survivability. By this time, the upper deck up to 18 shp. was already in the water. The roll to the port side was 4.5 °. The ship received about 3500 tons of water.
It was decided to continue the struggle for the unsinkability of the cruiser to the last possible, for which the entire personnel of the BCh-5 should be returned to the ship and placed at combat posts according to the schedule; to strengthen the fight against the spread of water, using all available means of the ship. The rescue team should select from the available availability two portable motor pumps with a capacity of 60 and 300 t / h. By the morning of November 13, prepare the North Dock to receive the ship. To make the bow buoyant, start four 225-ton pontoons. Divers continue to survey the underwater part of the cruiser and its position on the ground. In extreme cases, if the ship loses its buoyancy, land it at the berth on the ground. In fact, the cruiser was not leaning on a flat platform, but on its cheekbone on the dock and a small ledge on the sloping slope of the ground.
On the state of the cruiser and the decision taken to fight for its unsinkability, the flagship mechanical engineer reported to the fleet commander and asked for orders to return the crew to the ship. The decision was approved, and the commander, military commissar and most of the personnel of the BCh-5 returned to the ship.
The emergency parties managed for some time to stop the flow of water into the spire cabin and Lenin's cabin. An attempt to block the access of water from the 2nd boiler room to the first was unsuccessful, since the door between them turned out to be deformed. The fight with water in the bow was complicated by the lack of energy and autonomous means of drainage, there were not enough hoses.
The main attention in the fight against the spreading water was now concentrated in the region of 65-69 sp. and rooms located to the side of the stern from it. A portable hydraulic turbine was launched to drain the compressor compartment. From time to time, the 4th engine room was drained by a bilge-fire pump, and the 6th boiler room was drained by a portable hydraulic turbine.
Due to new raids by enemy aircraft (16.09-17.50) and explosions of depth charges when clearing the fairway from bottom mines, the work of divers was carried out intermittently, and with the onset of darkness it was stopped.
By 17.00 in the operating boiler No. 11 the salinity reached 900 ° B. Despite the operation of two evaporators, the boiler water flow rate was high, and it was not possible to establish the place of the leak. Instead of boiler no. 11, boiler no. 13 was connected at 17.30, and boiler no. 14 was fired up. Subsequently, these boilers worked alternately, powered by salt water.
By 18.00 the roll increased to 5 °, the bow sank another meter. The left side armor belt went into the water. In the middle part, the water approached the windows. The water in the nasal headings was coming. Observation of the external state of the ship was complicated by the ensuing darkness. It was important to have mechanisms in action to combat the incoming water. Therefore, efforts were focused on keeping the boilers and pumps in operation.
At 19.30, workers arrived to dismantle the artillery, and soon a crane and a barge approached, and a part of the BCh-2 personnel returned to unload the ammunition. Electricity was supplied to the elevator of cellar No. 8.
At 21 o'clock, new ones arrived , reports: flooded the 1st boiler room, as well as the crew quarters - the spire and the drivers. Water arrives in the rooms of the mine compressor, the 3rd group of elevators, the 6th boiler room, in the cockpit of the electricians. the deck on 49 splines is approaching the water, the roll has reached 6 °, the water taken is about 4000 tons.
The position of the ship worsened, the ship's capabilities for fighting water decreased, and a request for help was sent to the EPRON rescue team. By 24.00 came the rescuer "Mercury", and from him to drain the premises for 65-69 sh. armed with two hoses. It was a clearing zone in the struggle to localize the spread of water. The aft compartments were drained by ship means.
The rooms of the bow compartment continued to be flooded. Water appeared in the communal deck on the port side, the room of the bow turbine generators was flooded. The roll to the left Borg reached 6.5 °. Small changes in the position of the cruiser, which occurred during the 12 hours of the struggle for unsinkability, indicated that it was firmly lying with a part of the hull on the ground, resting its cheekbone against the dock. This made it possible to hope that, despite the influx of water, the ship would be able to keep from sinking with the available means, and during this time to prepare the dock. Boilers in the 6th and 7th boiler rooms and a turbogenerator operated alternately on the ship, which ensured the operation of auxiliary mechanisms.
However, the state of the ship began to change dramatically. By one in the morning on November 13, the roll reached 8 °, the draft of the ship increased. The water spread throughout the premises. The rescuer did not have time to pump it out. In the 4th engine room, due to the roll at the bilge-fire pump, the receiver was exposed. The 6th boiler room began to flood, which by 2.00 flooded along the current waterline. The port side of the communal deck was in the water. By 3.00 the roll had reached 11 °. The water on the upper deck approached the hole in the area of the fourth torpedo tube, and then poured into the ship's workshop and into the 2nd engine room. By 3.30 the roll increased to 15 °.
The commander of the BCh-5 reported to the commander of the ship about a possible rapid increase in the roll and a complete loss of buoyancy. Captain 2nd Rank IA Zaruba gave the order: "All personnel should leave the ship." The changes in the situation on the ship took place at an even more accelerating pace. The roll to the port side increased to 25 ° -30 °. At 4:00 am, the officer on duty at the BCH-5 reported that most of the mechanisms had been stopped. The team went to the floating crane, barge and longboat in an organized way. The roll has reached 40 °. On the rescuer "Mercury", due to the impossibility of removing the hoses, they had to be cut off.
The ship, having lost stability and buoyancy, between 4.10 and 4.20 slipped along the slope of the ground and plunged into the water with a roll of 50-55 ° to the left side at a depth of 13-16 m. Only the masts above the floodlight bridge, the right edge of the waist and part of the middle chimney. In the 4th engine room, not having time to leave the combat post, the squad leader and four machinists were killed.
A number of circumstances influenced the death of Chervona Ukrainy. The ship occupied the same firing position for several days. The cruiser "Red Crimea" arrived in Sevastopol on November 9. After being attacked by aircraft, he changed his position on the same day. On November 10, after completing two firing at enemy batteries, the ship moved from Severnaya to Yuzhny Bay to the refrigerator. Being in the depths of the Yuzhnaya Bay "Krasny Krym" was protected from enemy aircraft not only by anti-aircraft artillery, but also by the high steep banks of the bay. "Chervona Ukraina" during its stay in the main base remained in one place - completely open from the side of the Northern Bay.
The change of commanders took place in the midst of the fighting extremely hastily. N. E. Basisty received the ship during the period of its repair and could thoroughly study its structure. The new commander did not have time to fully familiarize himself with the structure of the cruiser and was not ready to lead the fight for the survivability of the ship, moreover, he neglected the opinion of the commander of the BCh-5.
Already four hours after receiving damage, when the ship retained about half of its buoyancy and had a roll of only 4 °, violating the requirements of the Ship Charter and the traditions of the Russian fleet, N. A. Zaruba, in the midst of the crew's struggle for survivability, left the ship and set off with the commissar inspect the barracks in which the crew was supposed to be accommodated. The departure of most of the crew from their combat posts, and then their return, created a pause in the fight for the ship's survivability and undoubtedly had a moral impact on the sailors.
Neither the commander nor the navigator knew the true bottom profile at the cruiser's anchorage, hoping that in this place there is even ground and a depth of 7-8 m, and in the worst case, the ship would land on the ground.
Nevertheless, the battle for the ship continued for another 11 hours.
The blame for the death of the cruiser lies with the command of the fleet. It did not provide reliable air defense of the main base of the fleet, German bombers operated with impunity over the bay, except for the cruiser that day the destroyers "Merciless" and "Perfect" received heavy damage. The order was not given to change the firing position. The fleet commander, without personally arriving on the damaged ship and without listening to the report of the flagship, gave the command to leave the cruiser.
On November 19, 1941, by order No. 00436, the cruiser Chervona Ukraine was excluded from the Navy.
The fleet commander ordered by November 20, 1941 to remove the armament from the ship for manning coastal artillery. This task was entrusted to EP-RON. To remove the guns and unload ammunition, teams were organized from the personnel of the BC-5 ship and divers. The deck artillery was removed in 10 days. The unloading of ammunition was complicated by the roll of the ship. The diver had to carry the projectile on his hands to the upper deck, then he handed it over to another diver, who put the projectile in a special bag, and it was lifted to the surface.
By November 25, nine 130-mm guns, a coaxial 100-mm mount, small-caliber guns, a torpedo tube and 4,000 shells, food and uniforms were removed from the ship. After December 10, work on the cruiser was discontinued.
By December 27, 1941, four two-gun coastal defense batteries No. 113, 114, 115 and 116 (later they received numbers 702, 703, 704 and 705), which took part in the defense of Sevastopol, were equipped with guns and personnel of the cruiser.
130-mm gun of the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine", installed near the village of Dergachi
In February 1942, the cruiser team of 50 people was re-formed under the command of Captain 2nd Rank I. A. Zaruba. A project was developed to lift the cruiser. It was decided to lift the ship by blowing air into the undamaged compartments. For this, the compartments had to be sealed, and shafts had to be installed above their entrance hatches. The work began at the end of March. However, it was not possible to lift the cruiser. The reason was the lack of the necessary funds for the rise in Sevastopol. And it would hardly have been possible to restore the cruiser under continuous bombardment and shelling. The rescue group and the teams of the cruisers "Chervona Ukraine" and "Krasny Kavkaz" until May 15, 1942 managed to remove three more guns, shells and a propeller. Two 100-mm installations were transported to Poti and mounted on the Krasny Kavkaz cruiser.
They returned to the task of lifting the cruiser again after the liberation of Sevastopol. Based on the diving survey, a plan was drawn up, which provided for the ascent in three stages: turning the ship on the ground to a straight position, lifting, pumping water and entering the dock. In the lift project, the ship was considered to be in two parts with a cut of 49-50 shp., But lifted as a whole. Lifting work began only on January 16, 1946, they were protracted and carried out intermittently. By April 29, the ship was straightened (the residual roll to the port side was 4 °), and on November 3, 1947, it was raised and placed in the Northern Bay on a plate between the Northern pier and the Nakhimov Bay.
Sunken Chervona Ukraine
[center] [center] The first stage of lifting the cruiser - placing on an even keel
The second stage of lifting the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine"
The third stage of lifting "Chervona Ukrainy" - putting the ship into the dock
On February 8, 1948, the ship was raised a second time and brought into the dock to repair holes. There was no need to restore it as a combat one. On April 11, 1949, the former cruiser under the new name STZh-4 was transferred to the Black Sea Fleet training detachment for use as a training station for damage control. On October 30, 1950, it was reorganized into a target ship TsL-53, and on May 10, 1952, after landing on the ground in the Bakai Spit area to be used as a target for combat exercises by fleet aviation, it was excluded from the lists of the Navy.
In Sevastopol, on the coastal support of the Grafskaya pier, a memorial plaque of red granite was installed, on which it is written: “Here, fighting the enemy, on November 12, 1941, the cruiser“Chervona Ukraine”was killed. And the silhouette of the ship is carved.
Commanders: k 1 p Lebedinsky (7.12.1915 -?), N. N. Nesvitsky (4.19268.1930), P. A. Evdokimov (8.1930 -?), A. F. Leer (? - 11.1933), N. G. Kuznetsov (11.1933 - 5.9.1936), to 2 p A. I. Zayats (5.9.1936 -?), To 1 p N. E. Basisty (29.10.1939 - 5.11.1941), to 2 p I. A. Zaru-ba (5-13.11.1941)
"Chervona Ukraine" at the dock. View of the damage to the case
