Any state at all times could be characterized by analyzing three main aspects, namely: the level of freedom of citizens, the prevailing method of regulating social relations, the development of law enforcement agencies and armed forces. The last element is of great importance even in the modern world. It would seem, why do we need a strong army today if most large-scale military conflicts were ended in the 20th century? After all, there are simply no truly significant international problems today. Nevertheless, the 21st century, as recent events have shown, is not an “oasis” of stability. Most states do not trust other representatives of the international arena. Such a mode of interaction is a time bomb, which could escalate into a full-fledged war in the future. To prevent this from happening, states are obliged to build up military power to suppress any kind of provocation. It should be noted that in some states today there are already highly mobile and combat-ready units. The Russian Federation is one of these countries. Its armed forces include the Pacific Navy, which has an extremely interesting history and a number of characteristic features.
Navy of the Russian Federation
The fleet is the main combat group on the water. Throughout history, this type of military has been modernized and become more and more deadly. As for Russia, our state has not always been famous for its developed naval forces, when compared with similar units in England, Spain and Portugal. Nevertheless, the “exit to Europe” cut by Peter I made it possible to develop a new sector of military art. Today, the Russian Federation is one of the components of the armed forces of the state. It has its own structure and a number of functional tasks that differ in specificity.
Composition of the Navy
The structure of the Navy can be viewed from two perspectives. In the first case, it is necessary to take into account the individual units included in the represented branch of the military. Today we have:
- surface and submarine forces;
- naval aviation;
- coastal naval forces.
But in addition to being divided into specific power structures, the entire Navy of the Russian Federation is divided into certain parts formed by strategic necessity and territorial location. In accordance with this, they distinguish:
- Baltic.
- Northern.
- Caspian.
- Black Sea.
- Pacific Fleet.
The latter group is one of the largest, considering the number of equipment and personnel.
Russian Navy - Pacific Fleet
Today, the Russian Federation is one of the largest countries in terms of territoriality. The fleet in this case is a way to protect the main exits of a power to the World Ocean. Russia is a military group of the same type of troops, part of the Armed Forces of the state. It contains a large number of special technical means. With their help, the group ensures security in the Asia-Pacific region.
The truly legendary history of the presented military group determined its popularity and authority. This fact is manifested in the existence of a memorial date dedicated to this structural unit of the armed forces. Thus, May 21 is the day of the Pacific Russia.
The imperial period in the history of the Pacific group of the Navy
The territory of the Russian Federation extends for many kilometers. Therefore, the state has many outlets to the sea. But the Pacific Fleet did not always exist. The starting point in its history is 1716, when the Okhotsk military port was created. For a long time, this location was the main naval base in the Far Eastern territories. The next stage in the development of the structural element of the Navy began in 1731. This date marked the appearance of the Okhotsk military flotilla, the decree on the creation of which was given by Empress Anna Ioannovna.
The Pacific Fleet received its first baptism in 1854. From August 18 to 24, two ships, the Aurora and the Dvina, resisted the superior Anglo-French squadron. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Russian Empire began to increase the power of the Pacific group due to the escalation of conflicts with Japan. During this period, the Pacific was based at the point , known as Port Arthur.
In 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War, most of the imperial fleet was destroyed, as the enemy forces at sea were superior.
The Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy played a significant role in the process of establishing Soviet power in the Far East in 1917. Most of the sailors of the group fought for the establishment of the “red” regime. However, the Pacific Fleet was disbanded in 1926. The restoration of the unit occurred only after 6 years. And already in 1937, the Pacific Naval School began to function. During World War II, the unit fought the Germans and Japanese.
After the Russian Federation gained independence, the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy, the composition of which is presented in the article, began to develop rapidly. The evolution of this branch of the armed forces is explained quite simply. The Far East is of great strategic importance. Therefore, its protection is of paramount importance. In accordance with this, in 2000, a total technical renewal of the Pacific Fleet began.
Today, the presented unit is one of the most combat-ready, if you analyze the entire structure of the Navy. The Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy, whose contacts can be found on the Internet, has a whole range of functional areas that will be presented below.
Main tasks of the group
Today, many questions arise about what the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy, the composition of which is presented in the article, does? Even despite the relatively peaceful climate prevailing throughout the international community, the military group mentioned in the article performs a huge number of functional tasks.
- The Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy ensures that strategic forces are maintained in combat readiness to deter possible nuclear aggression.
- The group protects the main economic areas in the region under its control.
- Ensures the implementation of any kind of foreign policy actions: business visits, exercises, peacekeeping operations, etc.
- The Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy, photos of which are presented in this article, is also involved in ensuring the safety of navigation.
Thus, the unit implements important tasks in the Far Eastern region. In order to ensure the efficiency of performing basic functions, several group bases operate in the Sea of Okhotsk. Today there are five main places where the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy is located. Vladivostok is the main base. In addition to it, the technical and personnel personnel of the group are located in Fokino, Bolshoy Kamen, Vilyuchinsk and Sovetskaya Gavan. Thus, the Far Eastern border is covered in several directions at once, which allows the formation to more effectively implement its tasks.
Technical equipment of the Pacific Fleet
The Far Eastern Navy grouping today includes a large amount of equipment of various types. Today, the basis of the Pacific Fleet is the following technical means, namely:
If we analyze the technical component of the Pacific Fleet in more detail, then it is based on the cruisers of the Orlan project, destroyers Sarych, small anti-submarine ships Albatross, missile boats Molniya, anti-sabotage boats Grachonok, etc. Elite units of the submarine type are large and small nuclear submarines "Antey" and "Shchuka-B".
Features of the organizational composition of the Pacific Fleet
It should be noted that the structure of the unit includes not only submarine and surface forces, but also some special formations. For example, marine corps groups, anti-aircraft missile units and units are of great importance. These formations ensure the effective implementation of functional tasks, as well as a high level of security on the Far Eastern borders.
But a logical question arises, what is the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet famous for, besides the mentioned technical base? The answer is the legendary flagship Varyag.
Pacific Fleet flagship
The Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy, whose base is located in Vladivostok, includes the main, leading ship. The flagship of Project 1164 “Varyag” was launched in 1982. Despite its age, the ship is perfectly suited for modern combat missions. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 32 knots. Swimming autonomy can last about 30 days. The Varyag can carry 680 crew members and cover a distance of 7,000 miles. The ship's displacement is 11,300 tons.
As for military power, the Varyag missile cruiser can compete with many modern ships. The flagship's armament consists of several elements. This:
- helicopter "Ka-27";
- 2 anti-aircraft complexes of the “Osa” type;
- 2 torpedo tubes;
- 8 anti-aircraft missile systems "Fort";
- 16 installations of the “Vulcan” type;
- 6 AK-630 installations;
- one AK-130 installation.
Thus, the ship, taking into account its technical characteristics, can proudly bear the status of a flagship.
Flagship activities
Even taking into account the authoritative status of the Varyag ship, it is a combat missile cruiser that can be used to perform combat missions, as has already been stated earlier. The most striking examples of the flagship's activities in recent times are its participation in several operations. Firstly, the Varyag took part in the Russian-Indian naval exercises, which took place in 2015 from December 7 to 12. Secondly, on January 3, 2016, the cruiser replaced the Moskva ship and ensured the completion of the combat mission. Its main goal was to cover the air group of the Russian Air Force, which was operating at that moment in Syria. All goals set for the flagship were achieved. Therefore, by the summer of 2016, the ship returned to Vladivostok with the entire crew on board.
Conclusion
So, we tried to find out the technical condition and main tasks carried out by the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy. Vladivostok is the main base of formation today. It should be noted that the group is one of the most lethal and developed units in the Russian Armed Forces. Therefore, there is no need to worry about the security of the Far Eastern sea borders of our state.
On the eve of the celebration of Navy Day and the latest discussions in the sandbox, I decided to remember all the cruisers that served at the KTOF in the post-war years.
Why cruisers...Probably because a cruiser is the most functional and multi-purpose ship. And it was the cruising service that was the best source of personnel for the fleet.
It’s not for nothing that they said in the navy, “if you want to master the Ship’s Regulations, serve on a cruiser.”
I’ll immediately make a reservation that despite the fact that the submarine fleet also has its own cruisers (SSBN is a strategic missile submarine cruiser). And there were two divisions of these same SSBNs in the Pacific Fleet. We will only talk about surface cruisers. So.....
The most numerous class of cruisers at the Pacific Fleet was represented by light artillery cruisers of Project 68-bis.
1. Project 68-bis light cruiser "Alexander Suvorov" years of service 1951 -1992
1978, wall of "Dalzavod"
Shootings in the Pacific 
2. Project 68 bis light cruiser "Dmitry Pozharsky" years of service 1952-1990
(my favorite cruiser. I did cruising practice on it in the 1st and 2nd courses)
in the photo the cruiser stands in parade formation on Navy Day 
in the Amur Bay 
Cruisers Pozharsky and Suvorov in "Dalzavod" before being sent to Truda Bay 
3 Project 68-bis light cruiser "Admiral Lazarev" years of service 1952-1991
at the Dixon roadstead. Navy Day 1956
4 Project 68 bis light cruiser "Admiral Senyavin" years of service 1951-1992
in 1966 upgraded to project 68u-2 (control ship)
Instead of aft towers, a helipad and a hangar were installed. The Osa and AK-230 air defense systems were installed 
The cruiser "Senyavin" during artillery firing in Peter the Great Bay near Zheltukhin Island 
The next class of Navy cruisers is represented by Project 58 missile cruisers
These ships were born during the period of Khrushchev's reduction of armed forces and refusal to develop the ocean-going fleet. It was believed that the missiles would be able to fly where they needed to go.
Therefore, cruisers appeared with a displacement of 5000 tons and with corresponding navigation autonomy, but armed with a powerful P-35 anti-ship missile complex for those times
1. Project 58 missile cruiser 1961 -1991
At berth 33, surrounded by BODs and SKRs 
2. Project 58 missile cruiser "Admiral Fokin" years of service 1960 -1995
until 1964 bore the name "Vladivostok"
In the sea 
At New Pier in Texas. 
A non-standard type of cruiser was also the Project 1134 cruiser, initially it was a BOD, but then it was transferred to the category of missile cruisers.
At the Pacific Fleet there was only one representative of this project out of 4 built
1. Project 1134 missile cruiser "Vladivostok" service year 1964 -1991 
in Abrek 
in the late 70s, the USSR began building aircraft-carrying ships. The first to be built were anti-submarine cruisers (helicopter carriers) of Project 1123
“Moscow” and “Leningrad” Fortunately, we didn’t have them at the Pacific Fleet.
Then heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers of Project 1143 were built. Two ships of this project served in our fleet. By and large, the ships were also not successful, because they could not fully perform either the functions of an aircraft carrier or the functions of a cruiser.
1. heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser project 1143 "Minsk" years of service 1972-1994
1981, Vladivostok raid 
2 Project 1143 heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Novorossiysk" years of service 1975-1994
1985, TCR "Novorossiysk" performing tasks 
In 1985 he came to the Pacific Fleet shopping mall "Frunze". This was the second hull of Project 1134 type cruisers "Kirov"
A total of 4 ships of this project were built: "Kirov" "Frunze" "Kalinin" "Peter the Great"
Only "Peter the Great" is currently in service. The remaining buildings are awaiting modernization
Cruiser "Frunze" was renamed to
The cruisers of this project are rightfully considered one of the best in the world, in almost all respects.
1. Project 1144 heavy nuclear missile cruiser "Frunze" years of service 1978 to present 
Now the Pacific Fleet is represented by only one cruiser. This is the Project 1164 cruiser "Varyag" (formerly "Chervona Ukraine")
The ships of this project largely repeat Project 1144, with the exception of the power plant and smaller size.
At one time, for the peculiar placement of missile launchers, the cruisers of this project were called “the ferocious grin of socialism”
1. Guards Missile Cruiser Project 1164 years of service 1979 -
All these magnificent ships, at different times, served in the world's oceans and performed a variety of tasks to ensure the security of the Motherland.
Their commanders and crews did a lot for our city and region. And it would be more correct if we paid more attention not to pseudohistory... but to the real history of our region
I am sure that among the commanders and officers of our cruisers one can find worthy people who need to be written into the pages of the city’s history...
Happy upcoming Russian Navy Day everyone!!!
By decree on the formation of a flotilla on the Okhotsk coast, Empress Anna Ioannovna de facto assigned to Russia the vast undeveloped spaces of Eastern Siberia. Cossacks and Russian travelers reached the Pacific Ocean in the middle of the 17th century and turned the mouth of the Okhota River into a stronghold.
Until the first half of the 19th century, Okhotsk (modern Khabarovsk Territory) was Russia's main port in the Far East.
However, the geographical location created many objective difficulties in the development of the flotilla. In 1799, Emperor Paul I ordered three frigates and three small ships to be sent to Okhotsk. These were the first full-fledged warships to appear on the Russian coast of the Pacific Ocean.
In 1849, Petropavlovsk-on-Kamchatka (now Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky) became the main base of the flotilla. In 1856, the Okhotsk Flotilla was renamed the Siberian Flotilla with a base in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur near Sakhalin. From 1871 until the present moment, the headquarters of the flotilla is located in Vladivostok.
At the end of the 19th century, pursuing economic interests, the Russian Empire sought to strengthen its position in China and Korea by strengthening the Siberian flotilla. St. Petersburg entered into competition with the British Empire and the rapidly rising Japan.
- "Varyag" after the battle, February 9, 1904
- Wikimedia Commons
In 1898, Nicholas II approved a program for the large-scale construction of dozens of warships and support vessels. However, the unsuccessful Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 buried the first fruits of the shipbuilders' labors and caused enormous damage to the Far Eastern naval forces.
Order No. 1
In 1922, the Naval Forces of the Far East (MSDV) were created in Soviet Russia on the basis of the Amur flotilla and ships based in Vladivostok. Weakened by the consequences of the civil war, the new Soviet state did not have the resources to develop a naval group.
In 1926, the MSDV was disbanded. But soon the growth of Japan's military power forced Moscow to change its mind. On September 18, 1931, the Kwantung Army entered China and created the puppet state of Manchukuo on the eastern borders of the USSR.
At the end of the 1920s, the Naval Forces of the Far East were in a deplorable situation. Almost the entire fleet consisted of ships built in tsarist times. In 1931, the Soviet government ordered dozens of small warships to be laid down at shipyards in Leningrad and Nikolaev.
On May 11, 1932, the MSDV received 12 Sh-4 type torpedo boats, and in September 1934 - 12 Shch (Pike) V series submarines.
- Submarine "Shch-311"
- Wikimedia Commons
On April 28, 1934, the MSDV included two M-type submarines (Malyutka). In August 1935, the Far East Naval Forces, which by that time had been renamed the Pacific Fleet, had 28 Malyutkas.
In the second half of the 1930s, the Pacific Fleet was supplied with six Uragan-class patrol ships and 13 diesel-electric submarines of the C type (Medium). By 1939, the Pacific Fleet consisted of more than 100 ships and submarines. In difficult financial conditions, the emphasis was placed on strengthening the striking power of the submarine fleet.
In the post-war period, the leadership of the USSR changed the concept of development of the Pacific Fleet. During the years of confrontation with the West, the backbone of the Pacific Fleet consisted of large surface ships and nuclear submarines armed with ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.
Changing landmarks
In the 1990s, the Pacific Fleet experienced a period of decline due to lack of funding. As part of the reduction of the Armed Forces, the aircraft-carrying cruisers Minsk and Novorossiysk, the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Lazarev, and large landing ships (BDK) of Project 1174 Rhinoceros were decommissioned; anti-submarine ships (BOD) of Project 1134B "Berkut", destroyers of Project 956 "Sarych", nuclear reconnaissance ship "Ural".
- Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Minsk"
- RIA News
According to the generally accepted classification, these ships belonged to the first rank (with a displacement of more than 5,000 tons). They ensured a strong presence of the USSR in the Pacific Ocean, as well as in South Asia and the Middle East. The Pacific Fleet suffered colossal losses, although they were largely forced.
With the collapse of the USSR, the tasks facing the Armed Forces changed. Moscow no longer sought parity with the United States and did not perceive American allies (Japan and South Korea) as a threat. In addition, maintaining huge warships in combat-ready condition required significant expenses.
In the 2000s, the large-scale modernization programs of the Armed Forces launched in the Russian Federation practically did not affect the Pacific Fleet. Primary attention was paid to the state of the Western Military District and the Northern Fleet, the main link of Russia's nuclear forces at sea.
Defensive strategy
In recent years, attention to the Pacific direction has begun to return. The new edition of the Maritime Doctrine, adopted in July 2015, consolidated the range of tasks of the Pacific Fleet in the Asia-Pacific region (APR).
The naval forces stationed in the Far East must first of all protect the economic interests of the Russian Federation and protect the natural resources of the region. To this end, Moscow is strengthening the region's coastal defenses.
By 2020, it is planned to build hundreds of facilities for various purposes in the Kuril Islands, which are Russia’s gateway to the Pacific Ocean. In particular, military camps will appear on the islands of Iturup and Kunashir.
In November 2016, Russia deployed the Bal and Bastion anti-ship systems on the Kuril Islands and intends to deploy several more divisions in 2017.
- Coastal anti-ship missile system "Bal"
- Wikimedia Commons
During 2017, the 18th Machine Gun and Artillery Division, which guards the archipelago, will be replaced by a new formation. In addition to “Bal” and “Bastion”, the division in the Kuril Islands will receive Eleron-3 remote surveillance systems (drones) and modern armored vehicles.
According to experts, a fifth base for the Pacific Fleet may appear on the island of Matua in the coming years. This island, where the Russian Ministry of Defense will send another expedition in June, is located in the middle of the Kuril ridge.
Either a land unit or a base for ships in the near sea zone will be built on Matua. Now the Pacific Fleet uses the infrastructure of four ports: in Vladivostok, Fokino and Bolshoi Kamen (Primorsky Territory), as well as in Vilyuchinsk (Kamchatka).
Modernization plan
The main problem of the Pacific Fleet is the wear and tear of large ships and equipment degradation. Since 2014, surface ships and submarines have been undergoing repair and modernization procedures.
In January 2017, the Project 877 Halibut diesel submarine Komsomolsk-on-Amur returned from the Amur Shipyard to the port of Vladivostok. By 2022, the Pacific Fleet should receive six improved diesel-electric submarines of Project 636 Varshavyanka, which is being implemented at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg.
The large anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs (Project 1155 Fregat) is awaiting modernization. According to media reports, the ship will be equipped with A-192 Armat cannons, Caliber missiles and the latest Redut air defense system.
- Large anti-submarine ship "Admiral Tributs"
- RIA News
The anti-submarine ship Marshal Shaposhnikov of Project 1155 is currently undergoing repairs. In the first half of 2017, the Pacific Fleet will receive a multi-purpose patrol ship for the near sea zone, the corvette Sovershenny of Project 20380.
From open data as of the end of April 2017, it follows that the Pacific Fleet includes 23 submarines: ten nuclear submarines with ballistic and cruise missiles, eight diesel submarines and five multi-purpose nuclear submarines.
The number of surface ships is estimated at 51 units. The flagship of the Pacific Fleet is the nuclear-powered missile cruiser "Varyag" of project 1164 "Atlant".
The Pacific Fleet's combat power is bolstered by another missile cruiser, four large anti-submarine ships, four large landing ships, three destroyers, ten minesweepers, eight small anti-submarine ships, four small missile ships and 16 boats.
Successes and expectations
Experts believe that the current structure and composition of the Pacific Fleet make it possible to fulfill all the requirements prescribed in the Maritime Doctrine.
“Today the Pacific Fleet is developing in three directions: maritime border protection, coastal defense and nuclear deterrence. However, due to the Syrian conflict, our ships began to spend more time in the ocean than during the Cold War. The crew’s training is at a very high level,” Vasily Kashin, senior researcher at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, noted in an interview with RT.
At the same time, the expert stated that intensive long-distance voyages lead to wear and tear of cruisers and anti-submarine ships. In this regard, a planned replacement of all first-rank ships that were built during the Soviet period is required.
“But in the coming years there will be no serious renewal of the Pacific Fleet, and there are objective reasons for this. Due to the breakdown in relations with Ukraine, problems arose with gas turbine engines for the Navy. But the issue of localizing their production in the Russian Federation will soon be resolved,” Kashin explained.
Primorye military expert and writer Alexey Sukonkin is more optimistic. According to him, the modernization of ships and submarines in service is currently underway. At the same time, the Pacific Fleet is preparing for the arrival of new ships and submarines.
“At least four Project 20380 corvettes will be transferred to the Pacific Fleet. Today, three large anti-submarine ships are on the move, the Bystry destroyer and the Varyag missile cruiser, capable of destroying an aircraft carrier. In Kamchatka, two new strategic nuclear-powered missile submarines entered service,” Sukonkin told RT.
- Guards missile cruiser "Varyag"
- RIA News
The expert is confident that the training of Pacific Fleet military personnel “is now such that it was not even in Soviet times.” A high level of combat training was achieved thanks to intensive exercises and the constant presence of the fleet in strategically important regions of the World Ocean.
“In addition, naval aviation is being replenished. The plans include the creation of three marine formations - one large and two small. The 72nd and 520th coastal missile brigades will be fully equipped with new anti-ship systems, which will eliminate the possibility of an enemy landing operation in the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin or Primorye,” Sukonkin added.
Sleeve emblem of the Pacific Fleet
Flag of the Russian Navy
Main goals
The main tasks of the Russian Pacific Fleet currently are:
- maintaining naval strategic nuclear forces in constant readiness in the interests of nuclear deterrence;
- protection of the economic zone and areas of production activity, suppression of illegal production activities;
- ensuring navigation safety;
- carrying out foreign policy actions of the government in economically important areas of the World Ocean (visits, business visits, joint exercises, actions as part of peacekeeping forces, etc.)
Story
Pacific Fleet in the XVIII-XIX centuries.
To protect the eastern borders of the Russian Empire, maritime trade routes and trades, on May 10, 1731, a Russian military flotilla was created in the Far East with the main base in Okhotsk, which later received the name Siberian. It consisted mainly of small-tonnage vessels.
Until the beginning of the 19th century. transformations in the Siberian military flotilla proceeded slowly. The study of the Far Eastern borders of the Russian Empire began during the first Russian round-the-world expedition of 1803-1806. under the command of Admiral I.F. Krusenstern and captain 1st rank Yu.F. Lisyansky. On the ship "Nadezhda" sailors I.F. Kruzenshtern was examined and the shores of the island were described in detail. Sakhalin, conducted hydrographic and meteorological studies.
The sailors of the Baltic Fleet flotilla, sent to assist the Russian-American Company in 1806-1814, also made a great contribution to the study and protection of the Far Eastern borders of Russia.
In 1849-1855 The study of the Sea of Okhotsk was continued by the team of the Baikal vessel under the leadership of Admiral G.I. Nevelsky. The expedition explored the southwestern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk and the mouth of the river. Amur, was able to confirm the presence of a strait between the island. Sakhalin and the continent.
In 1849, for more reliable protection of the coast and the Kuril Islands, the main base of the Siberian flotilla was moved to the port of Petropavlovsk (now Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky). This was due to the fact that the Sea of Okhotsk freezes in winter.
With the beginning of the Crimean War (1853-1856) in the area of operation of the Siberian military flotilla, there was a real threat of attack from the sea by the British and French. To protect the main bases of the fleet - Vladivostok, Okhotsk and the port of Petropavlovsk - the flotilla had a small number of military vessels.
On August 18, 1854, an Anglo-French squadron appeared in front of the Port of Petropavlovsk under the command of Rear Admirals Preuss and F. de Pointe, consisting of three frigates, a corvette and a steamship, armed with 218 guns and about 2,000 personnel.
The defense of the port was led by the Governor-General of Kamchatka, Major General V.S. Zavoiko, who had about 1,000 men of the Petropavlovsk garrison at his disposal. The frigate "Aurora" (commanded by captain-lieutenant I.N. Izylmetyev) and the military transport "Dvina" were stationed in the harbor. The ships and seven coastal batteries had a total of 67 guns.
On August 20, the Anglo-French squadron began military operations, concentrating the fire of all guns on the Russian coastal defense batteries. After two attacks, some of the ships of the Anglo-French squadron were damaged, its losses in manpower amounted to 450 people. The losses of the defenders of the Petropavlovsk port amounted to about 100 soldiers.
On August 27, the allied squadron left for the open sea, but military operations in the Sea of Okhotsk also did not bring it success.
In 1855, the main base of the Siberian military flotilla was moved to a more secure port - Nikolaevsk.
The Russian government began to pay more and more attention to the economic and military power of Primorye. An intensive study of the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, the Kuril Islands and the Kamchatka Peninsula was begun, and a whole range of incentives and benefits was developed to attract naval officers to the Siberian Military Flotilla. However, the combat power of the flotilla remained at a low level. Its position improved somewhat after the transfer in 1894 of the Mediterranean squadron to the Far East under the command of Rear Admiral S.O. Makarova.
XX century
The crews of the ships of the 2nd Pacific Squadron - the battleships "Borodino", "Prince Suvorov", the squadron battleship "Navarin", the coastal defense battleship "Admiral Ushakov" and others - who died in the Battle of Tsushima (May 14-15, 1905) covered themselves with eternal glory. .
The tragic outcome of the Russo-Japanese War revealed the need to strengthen naval forces in the Pacific Ocean. By 1914, the Siberian military flotilla already consisted of two cruisers, nine destroyers, ten destroyers, and eight submarines.
During the First World War (1914-1918), some of the ships of the Siberian Flotilla were transferred to other fleets, and the remaining ships escorted caravans of transports traveling from the USA to Vladivostok with military cargo. In those years, ships of the Siberian Military Flotilla took part in hostilities in the Northern and Mediterranean maritime theaters.
During the Civil War and military intervention (1918-1922), in July 1918, the flotilla was captured by the interventionists. The sailors left the ships and took part in battles with the invaders on land.
In those difficult years, almost the entire ship's crew was lost. Some of the ships were taken abroad, others fell into disrepair due to the collapse of the industrial and repair base.
During the years of restoration of the national economy, the naval forces of the Far East included only a few patrol ships, boats and maritime border guard vessels.
By 1932, all ships of military value were restored, completed and partially modernized in the fleet. The construction of new ships and combat equipment began. This was facilitated by the rapid growth of heavy industry and the entire national economy of the country. Through the efforts of the Russians, shipbuilding yards and ship repair enterprises in the Far East were expanded and refurbished.
The fleet in the Pacific Ocean was built by the entire Soviet Union. Torpedo boats, airplanes, “baby” submarines, and coastal guns were delivered by rail from the Baltic and Black Sea, and the foundations of a powerful fleet were laid. On January 11, 1935, the naval forces of the Far East were renamed the Pacific Fleet (PF).
A significant event in the history of the fleet was the appearance in 1933 of the first domestic submarine, built by Dalzavod workers, in the Far Eastern waters.
In 1936, the first destroyers, new high-speed minesweepers and medium-sized submarines with more powerful weapons and advanced mechanisms appeared in the fleet.
For the first time in world history, having completed the most difficult passage along the Northern Sea Route, the destroyers Voikov and Stalin joined the fleet, significantly strengthening the combat capabilities of the young fleet.
In 1937, the Pacific Higher Naval School named after S.O. Makarova is a source of personnel for the Pacific Fleet.
During the armed conflicts between the USSR and Japan at Lake Khasan (1938) and Khalkhin Gol (1939), the Pacific Fleet was tested for combat readiness. For their distinction in battle, 74 Pacific sailors were awarded orders and medals, and hundreds were awarded the “Participant in the Khasan Battles” badge.
The Great Patriotic War
During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), the Pacific Fleet not only vigilantly guarded the maritime borders in the Far East, but also provided all possible assistance to the fighting fronts and fleets. In 1942 alone, the Pacific Fleet sent more than 100 thousand people to the front. The total number of Pacific and Amur sailors who fought against the Nazi invaders near Moscow, on the Volga, defending Sevastopol and Leningrad, the North Caucasus and the Arctic, reached 153 thousand people. The naval forces ensured the protection of internal and external communications, laid defensive minefields, and guarded the coast.
At the final stage of World War II, from August 9 to September 2, 1945, the fleet, cooperating with the troops of the 1st Far Eastern Front, landed amphibious assault forces on enemy ports on the Manchurian and Korean bridgeheads. Fleet aircraft attacked Japanese military targets in North Korea.
The Pacific Islanders showed unparalleled bravery, courage and high skill in battles with the fascists and Japanese militarists. For courage and heroism, more than 30 thousand sailors and officers were awarded orders and medals, 43 of them were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. 19 ships, units and formations of the fleet were awarded the title of guards, 13 were given honorary titles, and 16 were awarded orders.
The Second World War confirmed that Russia objectively needed to have a navy in the Pacific Ocean.
Post-war period
In the post-war period, the Pacific Fleet underwent fundamental qualitative changes. It was equipped with the most advanced types of weapons - submarines and surface ships, missile carriers with great autonomy, unlimited seaworthiness and striking power. All this allowed him to reach the vastness of the World Ocean from the coastal waters of closed seas.
Among the first to make a long voyage to carry out combat training missions were submarines commanded by Captain 2nd Rank Yu.V. Dvornikov, captains 3rd rank A.M. Smolin and G.S. Yakovlev.
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The army of any state is created primarily to protect the state borders of the country and is divided into three types of troops: ground forces, naval and air forces. The development and demonstration of the military power of the Russian Armed Forces in each of these units makes it possible to neutralize the external aggression of other countries. Also, the RF Armed Forces carry out peacekeeping and other military tasks outside the borders of the state in accordance with signed agreements with other countries. The navy is a force that ensures the security of the state's maritime borders and the safety of the passage of cargo ships in the territories under its control. Geographically, the Navy is divided into zones of responsibility along the entire maritime border of the country.
The Russian Pacific Fleet is rightfully considered one of the main elements of the defense of the Russian people. It provides military guarantees of non-aggression from Asia and North America. The fleet is armed with combat vessels of various classes and ranks, weapons necessary for defense from the shore, airplanes and helicopters. All troops are subordinate to the single command of the Pacific Fleet and are engaged in the implementation of general maneuvers.
The Birth of the Pacific Fleet
The fleet begins its history with the appearance of the first ship in the Sea of Okhotsk area. In 1716, a port was founded in Okhotsk, which for the next century and a half remained the only shipbuilding center of Russia on the Asian coast. In the same 1716, the ship “Vostok” was built - the first Russian warship in the Far East. Carrying out permanent trips on the boat, officers - surveyors for the first time compiled a map of the eastern coast of the country. For the next few decades, ships assigned to Okhotsk performed both reconnaissance missions and transported people and equipment along the coast. In 1740, 2 packet boats (mail ships) were launched in Okhotsk, which each had 14 guns on board. They made the first trip to the shores of America and Japan.
Since 1849, the port in Petropavlovsk-on-Kamchatka became the main base of the Asia-Pacific fleet. Due to the region’s remoteness from the Russian capital and, as a consequence, weak military support for border protection, the British and French conquerors decided to seize this territory by sailing to it on warships. They were counting on a quick victory, but the Pacific Marines provided decent coastal protection and, during the landing of British paratroopers, managed to defend the land, took a large number of enemies prisoner and even captured the enemy’s banner. The following year, the British went on the offensive again; Russian reconnaissance ships found out about this a few days before the enemy arrived. And imagine the surprise of the Europeans when during the day they saw, instead of a city, empty scorched land, unsuitable for life. They caught up with the ships with Russian sailors and residents of the destroyed city and drove them into the bay near Sakhalin, hoping that after some time they would be forced to sail out to the ocean again. But the Russian military had already studied the coastal area well and knew that Sakhalin was not a peninsula (as the British thought), but an island. Therefore, they easily managed to avoid combat on the high seas, in which they would certainly have lost (their defensive power was still at a low level). Instead, they sailed up the Amur and in more than two months built and fortified a new port city, Nikolaevsk-on-Amur.
In the second half of the 19th century, the central headquarters of the Pacific Fleet was moved to the city of Vladivostok, however, at that time it still did not have powerful combat equipment and could not serve as a full-fledged military fleet. The situation changed after the Russian Mediterranean squadron arrived in the east.
At the end of the 19th century, the Russian Empire took over the use of the port from the Chinese for a period of 25 years. After 7 years, Japan decided to return Port Arthur, which once belonged to it, and attacked the Russian flotilla. One of the first to meet them was the armored cruiser "Varyag", which lost in an unequal naval battle, received many holes and was scuttled by the captain's decision. During the Russo-Japanese War, Russian sailors showed devotion to their homeland and incredible heroism, but, unfortunately, most of them were destroyed. A year later, Japan raised the Varyag, repaired it, and then included the ship in the Japanese fleet under the name Soya. Subsequently, Russia bought the ship and it again resumed service on its native shores.
The Pacific Fleet (PF) received its name in early 1935. The WWII period for the fleet in the Pacific Ocean was turbulent. Germany's supporters, the Japanese, were planning to launch an attack on the USSR any day now. Thus, in the period from 1941 to 1944, Japan detained 178 Soviet ships (including merchant ships) and sank 11 transport ships. At the same time, the command sent more than 150,000 Pacific troops to the front to fight Germany. They fought in other fleets of the USSR and in the central part of the country - near Moscow and Stalingrad, in Crimea and Leningrad - wherever the courage and courage of naval officers and soldiers was required. In the summer of 1945, the Pacific Fleet entered into open war with Japan. All Pacific Fleet weapons were in a state of full combat readiness. Pacific aviation was the first to attack. It took less than a month to complete all the assigned tasks, and in September the war officially ended.
After the Second World War in 1947, it was divided into 2 fleets with control in Vladivostok and Sovetskaya Gavan. After 6 years, the departments were united again. The first nuclear submarine came into service with the Pacific Fleet in 1961. A distinctive feature was the presence of P-5 cruise missiles with the ability to use them against ground and sea targets. In Soviet times, the fleet was assigned a huge number of famous destroyers and cruisers, anti-submarine ships and submarines. Thanks to the well-coordinated professional work of the Pacific Ocean, in 1972 the port in Bangladesh was cleared of explosive objects and sunken ships; in the following years, the Suez and Persian Gulfs were protected for the purpose of uninterrupted shipping. In February 1981, a tragic event occurred for the USSR Navy and the KTOF in particular - almost the entire fleet leadership died in a plane crash.
Modern Pacific Fleet
Today the fleet includes more than 300 ships of various types. The commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Avakyants S.I., has about 30,000 people under his command who are serving in military service. The management is based in the city of Vladivostok.
All ships of the Navy are divided into ranks depending on their purpose and technical component. Warships are represented in the amount of 77 vessels, namely:
- Missile and artillery ships - 23 units - are necessary for neutralizing enemy ships and submarines, landing marines on the shore and their military support from the sea. They can also accompany and protect transport ships. They are represented by ships of ranks I, II and IV with the ability to load a crew of 8 to 1200 people, depending on the configuration and rank of the vessel.
- Anti-submarine ships - 12 units - are used to destroy submarines and air targets. There are ships of rank I and III, with a crew of 293 and 90 people, respectively.
- Landing ships - 9 units - transport landing forces and weapons, and are capable of landing people on unsuitable shores. The composition includes large ships of rank II of projects 11 71 and 755.
- Mine sweeping ships - 10 units - are used when installing mine barriers; there is a vessel of the "Sea Minesweeper" series, Project 266ME, III rank.
- Strategic missile submarines - 5 units - enter battle when it is necessary to destroy strategically significant enemy military targets. The first rank submarines of projects 667BDR and 955 are in service - with a capacity of up to 130 people, the possibility of autonomous navigation reaches 80 days.
- Multi-purpose submarines - 18 units - provide safe escort for strategic submarines and engage in reconnaissance of enemy territory. They are equipped with ballistic missiles that can be used against enemy surface ships, submarines of various types and other enemy military facilities located on land.
The flagship of the Pacific Fleet is represented by the cruiser "Varyag" - a universal ship, built in 1980 in Nikolaev (Ukrainian SSR). It became part of the Pacific Fleet in 1986, its exact copy called “Moscow” is the flagship. It has a speed of 32 knots and a crew of 480 people. The cruiser is armed with artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, 82 types of missile weapons, anti-submarine and mine-torpedo guns, as well as a Ka-27 helicopter. From 1986 to the present, the commanders of the “Varyag” were 13 captains of the first and second ranks, today this is the guard captain of the second rank Ulyanenko A.Yu.
One of the latest developments in modern military shipbuilding of the Russian Federation can be called the strategic nuclear submarine “Alexander Nevsky”. This submarine belongs to the fourth (last) generation of nuclear powered ships; it is equipped with the latest technical developments in the field of weapons and is ready to repel an enemy attack at any time. Thanks to the special shape of the propeller and the special alloy of the outer hull, the nuclear-powered ship is absolutely silent and invisible even to radar. The nuclear submarine has been in service in the Pacific Fleet since 2014. The vessel's crew is over 100 people, it is expected to be capable of autonomous navigation for 30 years, and its length is 170 meters.
Pacific Fleet Day
Every year on May 21, our country celebrates the Day of the Russian Pacific Fleet. The date was not chosen by chance; on this day in 1731, the Okhotsk military port was formed - the first military port in the Pacific Ocean. On this significant day in Vladivostok, commanders raise the St. Andrew’s flag and the Russian Pacific Fleet’s own flag and lay flowers at the graves. At the beginning of 2017, a monument to the Soviet command that tragically died in a plane crash appeared in the city.
The Navy of the Russian Federation is an integral element of the armed forces of the state. The ships ensure border security, study and analyze the situation in the world and are ready to repel an attack at any time. The fleet command and all officers have good military training. A large number of exercises and activities enable Navy soldiers to be in perfect physical shape and have excellent morale. Shipyards are already in the process of developing even more advanced submarines and surface ships. One can only hope that Russia's military power will facilitate an equal dialogue with other countries and reduce Western aggression to a minimum.
