How Soviet patrol ships rammed American warships off the coast of Crimea (photo, video). Incident in the Black Sea: "Selfless" goes to ram! Russian boat rams American ship

Another case, which is discussed below. With video and detailed description.
In the second half of the 80s, an unusual incident occurred in the history of the Soviet Navy, associated with a physical confrontation between two warships of the USSR and the USA off the coast of Crimea. To everyone's satisfaction, the incident ended peacefully, although military conflict seemed unavoidable.

The photo was taken during the ramming of an American cruiser.

It is known that the Black Sea, in the northern part of which the Black Sea Fleet of the Soviet Union is based and operates, has nothing in common with the Gulf of Mexico, where American ships operate.

However, in 1986, the American guided missile cruiser Yorktown and the destroyer Caron, having passed through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, decisively headed for the shores of Crimea. Entering from Feodosia, American ships proceeded unhindered along the southern coast of Crimea and departed towards the Bosporus Strait. The test of the vigilance and readiness of the Black Sea Fleet to provide timely counteraction was completed without conflicts.

American guided missile cruiser Yorktown, USS Yorktown (CG 48)

In 1988, old acquaintances entered the Black Sea again, but this time on a counter course - this time from the direction of Sevastopol. The American duo of ships moved along the dial of the Black Sea in the opposite direction - as if clockwise, pressing into our territorial waters so demonstratively that any doubts about the good intentions of overseas visitors disappeared.

Project 1135.2 "Burevestnik" (a mug sticks out in the chassis window mu_rena )

It should be noted that the International Shipping Convention, signed by the USSR in the mid-eighties, stipulated the possible peaceful passage of warships with weapons on board through the “appendixes” of the territorial waters of coastal states. But only in exceptional cases, in order to shorten the path and mandatory compliance with a number of requirements. Do not carry out reconnaissance missions, do not fly aircraft, do not conduct exercises and do not cause headaches for the coastal state.

During training on an American ship

The Soviet Union did not ratify this convention, which the American sailors undoubtedly knew about. The American demarche off our coasts with two modern warships was of a clear reconnaissance nature. The Americans plotted a course through our territorial waters deliberately, without the goal of shortening their route.

The Soviet patrol ship of the Black Sea Fleet SKR pr. 1135 “Selfless” has just returned from a six-month voyage in the Mediterranean Sea. The crew was well prepared and had experience sailing in the coastal waters of a number of foreign countries. The months spent at sea were not in vain; they gave the sailors good seamanship practice.

The Black Sea Fleet command set the task for the "Selfless" to monitor the actions of two American ships and find out their intentions. While on parallel courses, several times our ships warned the Americans via an international communication channel: “You are violating the state border of the USSR.” These same warnings were duplicated by a flag semaphore. In response, the Americans answered something like “Okay,” continuing to follow their course.

Then the commander of the “Selfless”, Captain 2nd Rank Vladimir Bogdashin, received an order: to oust American ships from Soviet territorial waters. It's easy to say, displace! But how can this be done without using weapons and taking into account that the displacement of the TFR is more than two times less than that of an American cruiser?

There could be only one solution in this situation - to carry out an attack on the intruder by a Soviet patrol ship, or, rather, to inflict a series of blows on the hull of the American ship. In aviation, this maneuver is called “ramming” the enemy.

TFR "Selfless" rams an American

Having once again received from the Yorktown - “We are not violating anything!” and, guided by the Law on the State Border of the USSR, the crew of the “Selfless” began to take decisive action. The severity of the situation required the commander, Captain 2nd Rank V. Bogdashin, to make an exceptional decision. And it was accepted.

The history of the modern fleet has never known anything like this. Ships, devoid of armor and armed with rather delicate missile and torpedo weapons, made conscious hard contact.

At first the ships sailed on parallel courses. "Yorktown" produced a large wave that interfered with rapprochement. The "Selfless" increased its speed and began to quickly overtake the American missile carrier from its port side. The huge hull of the Yorktown seemed unnaturally large and impregnable, obscuring half of the horizon with its superstructures. Through an in-ship broadcast, it was announced to the personnel of the "Selfless" that the ship was making physical contact with the American. The compartments at SKR were sealed.

“Selfless” turned to the right and lowered the right anchor, whose paws, like the spines of a hedgehog, bristled outward.

Undoubtedly, the command of the American cruiser did not understand the actions of the Soviet patrol ship. Off-duty sailors crowded on the upper bridges of the superstructures, taking photographs and shouting something. The carefree appearance of the American sailors, their self-confidence and arrogant calmness emphasized their indifference to the Soviet patrol ship.

The confrontation has reached its climax. "Selfless" reached "Yorktown", SKR-6 approached the starboard side of "Caron". Nearby were border ships and auxiliary fleet vessels. To make it even more convincing, two TU-95s and BE-12 anti-submarine aircraft with suspended missiles were lifted into the air. The Yorktown's navigation radar and enemy air surveillance station were continuously operating, reporting the situation to the cruiser commander.

Project 1135 during exercises

The first blow of the Selfless hit the Yorktown in the middle part, in the area of ​​the ramp. The railings crumpled, deafening the dumbfounded Yorktownians with the grinding sound of steel. A lowered three-ton anchor, walking along the side of the cruiser, caused several blows and dents to it. The next second it broke off and fell into the sea.

It was as if the wind had blown the American sailors off the bridge. An emergency alarm was heard on the Yorktown, and everyone fled to their combat posts.

After the first strike, the bow of the "Selfless" went to the left, and its stern fell on the cruiser in the area where containers with Harpoon anti-ship missiles were installed, crushing four containers. There was a danger of damage to our torpedo tubes. Sharply shifting the rudder to the “starboard” position, “Selfless” again turned its attacking bow into a combat stance. The second blow to the American was very strong.

"Yorktown" shuddered, and "Selfless" for a moment received a list of 13 degrees, exposing its titanium bulb. The trim aft reached four degrees. So the stern ended up at the cutting edge of the water level. The next moment, the bow of the “Selfless” began to sweep away everything on the “Yorktown” that came across along the way: railings, bollards, necks, superstructure sheets and other protruding parts, turning it all into scrap metal. Under the fireworks of sparks, the chilling crack of destroyed structures was heard for several seconds. Pieces of flying paint and smoke from strong friction were visible - until the bow of the patrol ship slid down.

After this ramming attack, the commander of the American cruiser finally assessed the danger of the moment. Yorktown shifted the rudder to the right. In a matter of minutes, he left Soviet territorial waters and entered neutral ones. The entire “squeezing out” action took no more than fifteen minutes. "Yorktown" entered our waters at about 2.5 miles, "Caron" - almost 7 miles.

While the Selfless was fighting the Yorktown, the SKR-6 patrol ship was delivering similar frightening blows with its bow to the Caron, although due to its small displacement with less success.

The actions of the warships were supported by the ice-class vessel Yamal. The ice belt and reinforcement of the dry cargo ship's hull were much more powerful than the hulls of patrol ships, but it could not chase the newest American cruiser Yamal at a speed of twenty knots.

The power of the ramming blows of the “Selfless” was realized later. Cracks of 80 and 120 mm were formed where the SKR touched, a small hole appeared in the area where the ship routes passed, and the bow titanium bulb also received several impressive dents. Already at the factory, the displacement of four motors and couplings was detected.

On the Yorktown, in the area of ​​the middle superstructure, a fire apparently broke out; Americans in firefighting suits descended, unwinding fire hoses, with the intention of extinguishing something.

The "Selfless" did not lose sight of the American ships for some time. Then he increased the speed again and finally gave a “lap of honor” around the Yorktown and Caron. Yorktown seemed dead - not a single person was visible on the decks or bridges.

When there were about one and a half cable lengths left before the Caron, probably the entire crew of the ship poured out onto the decks and superstructures of the destroyer. Dozens, hundreds of photo flashes flashed on the “Caron”, seeing off the “Selfless” with such photo applause.

Glowing with gold letters in the stern, “Selfless” proudly swept past and, as if nothing had happened, headed for Sevastopol.

As foreign sources reported, after the incident, the Yorktown was repaired for several months at one of the shipyards. The commander of the cruiser was removed from his post for passive actions and the initiative given to the Soviet ship, which caused moral damage to the prestige of the American fleet. The US Congress froze the budget for the Navy Department for almost six months.

Oddly enough, in our country, attempts arose to accuse Soviet sailors of illegal actions, maritime robbery, and so on. This was done mainly for political purposes and to please the West. They had no serious basis, and the accusations crumbled like a house of cards. Because in this case, the fleet showed decisiveness and simply fulfilled the functions assigned to it.

USS Yorktown (CG 48)

Options:

• Length: 172 m
• Width: 16 m
• Displacement: 9600 tons
• Range: 6,000 miles
• Speed: 32 knots

Weapons:

• Guns: 2 MK.45
• Torpedo tubes: 2
• Missile launchers: 2 MK41
• Anti-ship systems: 8 Harpoon
• Anti-aircraft installations: 2 Vulcan MK.15; 2 Standard
• Anti-submarine systems: 2 ASROK-VLA
• Helicopters: 1
• Fire control systems: Aegis

Series: Ticonderoga - 27 ships

BOD "Selfless"

Options:

• Length: 123.1 m
• Width: 14.2 m
• Displacement: 3200 tons
• Range: 4600 miles
• Crew: 180
• Speed: 32 knots

Weapons:

• Guns: 2 AK-726
• Torpedo tubes: 8,533 mm
• Anti-aircraft installations: 2 Osa/Oca-M
• Anti-submarine systems: 2 RBU-6000; 2 Metel/Rasstrub-B
• Mines: 20
• Helicopters: 1

Project:"1135 Petrel" - 18 ships

A story about how many years ago the ships of one power butted heads with the ships of another power =)
But seriously, next year it will be 30 years since the day when the ships of the Red Black Sea Fleet of the USSR pushed the US Navy ships out of the territorial waters of the Union. You will say that this has been written and rewritten and you will be right. However, I would like to add a new note to the history of this significant event - February 12, 1988.

Drawing from http://artyushenkooleg.ru

2. On March 13, 1986, the American cruiser Yorktown and the destroyer Caron provocatively entered 6 miles into our territorial waters on the Black Sea in the area of ​​the southern coast of Crimea. At the same time, all radio equipment for reconnaissance were operating on the ships. Long delays in military circles did not allow them to fight back against the "intelligence agents"

USS Yorktown and USS Caron. Photo from www.navsource.org and www.gettyimages.com

3. They will return with the same intentions on February 12, 1988

Caricature in the newspaper "PRAVDA"

5. Day "H" has arrived. USS Yorktown and USS Caron passed through the Dardanelles and Bosporus straits and entered the Black Sea. The Navy command knew about this approach in advance, so Navy Commander-in-Chief V.N. Chernavin gave to the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral M.N. Khronopulo. an order to act in accordance with a previously received directive.

6. The patrol ships Bezzavetny (Project 1135) and SKR-6 (Project 35) were ordered to escort the ships of the American fleet.

Photo from the information resource www.kcrf.ru

7. Not all resources mention that another pair of ships also participated in the operation to oust American fleet ships from the territorial waters of the USSR: TFR "Izmail" (Project 1124P; in the photo is a ship of a similar project) and reconnaissance ship "Yamal" (Project 596P)

Photos from www.pogranichnik.ru and www.niskgd.ru

8. Starting at 9:45, Soviet ships regularly transmitted signals about violation of the territorial waters of the USSR. The Americans either did not react or responded that they were not violating anything and were acting in accordance with international rules. By order of Admiral Khronopulo, the American destroyers were given a warning to oust them from the waterways until they collapsed.

9. The search and rescue (reconnaissance) Yamal, which had a thick plating and an ice stem, was ideal for carrying out the pile-up. But its full speed was no more than 15 knots - it simply could not have caught up with the US destroyers, not to mention the bulk. At about 11 o'clock in the morning, the SKR "Bezzavetny" and SKR-6 received orders to oust the destroyers, which were twice the size of the Soviet ships, in bulk. The Americans were not going to change course
SKR-6, having caught up with the USS Caron, which had evaded the first attempt to pile up by accelerating, fell on the destroyer’s left side on the second approach.

9.1

9.2 American sailors perceived this as a realistic show or a joke of the sailors of the USSR Navy, carefreely taking photographs. Well, until it happened "bang, bang, bang.." =) (

Photo from http://www.svvmiu.ru

9.2 The small Soviet "outpost ship" demolished the large destroyer's lifeboat and sloop-beam, leaving with a slightly dented side and bent rails. Video attached)

10. At the same time, the TFR "Selfless" catches up with the USS Yorktown and at 11:02 falls on the left side of the cruiser.

10.1 The bulk of the "Selfless" damages the railings and the Harpoon launcher.

Photo from http://www.kchf.ru

11. Cheerful cameramen and photographers quickly panic “What’s going on??!?!”

1988 soviet ramming USS Yorktown CG 48 in black sea

12. At 11:40, the patrol ships "Bezzavetny" and SKR-6 were ordered to move away from the US ships and convey the demand to leave the waters of the USSR. If necessary, be prepared to pile up again, but this was not required. The cruisers took the opposite course. Thus ended the story of the pile-up in the Black Sea, but the story of the ships directly involved in the pile-up did not end.

Diagram of the pile-up from the KP article “The Empire Strikes the Final Strike”

13. TFR "Bezzavetny" was disbanded in the summer of 1997 and transferred to the Navy and was subsequently renamed "Dnipropetrovsk" (U134). At the end of the same year, it was put into repair at the Sevastopol Marine Plant.

14. Having never joined the operational ships of the Ukrainian naval forces, in 2003 the patrol ship was transferred to Ukrspetsmash as “technical property” and after the order for demilitarization (2004), the ship was dismantled in 2005. On March 26, 2005, the devastated ship was towed towards Turkey.

15. Before reaching Turkey, it sank (or was flooded), as evidenced by scans from a Turkish fax.
There is also a romantic version that "He was in tow, with the boilers turned off, without power.... Dead.......
And suddenly the dead ship's seams opened... And it began to leave. Silently. With the trim on the bow... And only when the bridge had almost disappeared under the water, a whistle was heard over the Black Sea. With the boilers turned off.... He said goodbye...... He did not want to be sawn apart. The warship chose its own death, as befits an officer.
Some say that it was sunk on purpose for insurance purposes..... I don't believe it.
Eternal memory to you, TFR "Selfless"! And I want some ship in the revived Black Sea Fleet to bear the name: “Memory of the Selfless”........." Author: user Miklouho-Makhlai, www.sevpolitforum.info

17. As for the USS Yorktown...it has not yet been sold, sawn, or dismantled. Even visited Severomorsk in 1992 along with USS O"BANNON


Photo from German Wikipedia

18. On December 3, 2004, USS Yorktown was delivered to the US Navy Reserve Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF) in Philadelphia. What the NISMF database looked like in 2011 can be found from a colleague samsebeskazal


Photo samsebeskazal , 2011

19. According to a 2016 inventory of naval assets in Philadelphia, the USS Yorktown is still laid up at that base. If desired, any ship from this base can be purchased and created... whatever you want. For example, a museum.

19. The patrol ship "SKR-6" was expelled from the Navy on April 19, 1990 due to its delivery to the OFI for disarmament, dismantling and sale. 08/01/1990 disbanded and later cut into metal in Sevastopol.
The destroyer USS Caron was in October 2001. Sank on December 4, 2002 near the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station (Puerto Rico) during demolition tests of the ship's hull.

19.1 The ship was supposed to withstand hull explosions, but the second “salvo” led to the sinking of the destroyer


Photos from

To the 30th anniversary of the Cold War event

Nowadays, few people remember the incident between warships of the USSR and the USA off the coast of Crimea in 1988. And even then our media did not spread much about him, in the light of détente, perestroika and improved relations with the United States. But the event was extraordinary...

The leaders and main protagonists of the operation to oust the Americans from our territorial waters were: Admiral SELIVANOV Valentin Egorovich (formerly commander of the 5th Mediterranean squadron of the Navy, at that time vice admiral, chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet, later chief of the General Staff of the Navy), vice-admiral Admiral MIKHEEV Nikolai Petrovich (at that time captain 2nd rank, chief of staff of the 70th brigade of the 30th division of anti-submarine ships of the Black Sea Fleet), rear admiral BOGDASHIN Vladimir Ivanovich (at that time captain 2nd rank, commander of the TFR "Selfless"), captain 2 rank PETROV Anatoly Ivanovich (at that time captain 3rd rank, commander of SKR-6).

V.I.Bogdashin

Admiral Selivanov: The Black Sea Fleet command learned in advance about the new voyage of the American ships of the guided missile cruiser Yorktown (Ticonderoga type) and the guided missile destroyer Caron (Spruance type) to the Black Sea in February 1988 (fleet intelligence monitored all actions 6 US Navy Fleet). Before the arrival of American ships in the Black Sea, the fleet headquarters planned an operation to track and counter them: the patrol ships Bezzavetny (project 1135) and SKR-6 (project 35) were allocated, the commander of this ship group was appointed - the chief of staff of the 70th brigade of the 30th division of anti-submarine ships of the Black Sea Fleet, captain 2nd rank Mikheev Nikolai Petrovich. The commanders of the ships and ship group were given a thorough briefing on the operation plan, with all actions played out on maps and maneuver tablets. The ships in the operation were distributed as follows: the SKR "Selfless", as a larger ship in terms of displacement, was supposed to accompany and counter the cruiser "Yorktown", and "SKR-6" (small in displacement and size) - the destroyer "Caron". All commanders were given specific instructions: as soon as it is discovered that the Americans intend to proceed into our terrorist waters, take a position relative to the side of the American ships from our coast, warn them that the course of their ships leads into the terrorist waters, then, if the Americans do not heed this warning, with their entry into the terrorist waters, each of our ships will make an attack on American ships. The commanders understood their tasks, and I was sure that they would fulfill their tasks. The operation plan was approved by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Fleet Admiral V.N. Chernavin.

It was envisaged that when American ships entered the Black Sea, our ships would meet them in the Bosporus area and begin tracking them. After meeting with the Americans, I instructed the group commander to welcome their arrival in our Black Sea (namely, do not forget our word in the greeting) and convey that we will sail with them together. It was expected that American ships would first proceed along the western coast of the Black Sea, “run” into the border waters of Bulgaria and Romania (they did this before), and then move to the eastern part to our shores. Well, they will apparently try to invade our tervods, as last time, in the area of ​​the southern tip of the Crimean Peninsula (Cape Sarych), where the borders of the tervods are shaped like a triangle with the apex extended to the south. The Americans, most likely, will not go around this triangle again, but will go through the terrorist waters. There are no other places for such a demonstrative violation of terrorist restrictions at the Black Sea Theater. And this is where the main phase of the entire operation was supposed to take place, namely, preventing or displacing American ships from our terrorist zones with a “pile up” on them if warnings about violating the terrorist zones did not have an effect on them. What is "bulk"? This is not a ram in the full sense of the concept, but an approach at speed at a slight angle, as if tangential to the side of the displaced object, and a “polite” “repulsion” of it, with a turn away from the course it is maintaining. Well, as for “politeness”—it depends.

OPPONENTS

US Navy guided missile cruiser Yorktown (Ticonderoga class)

It was laid down on January 17, 1983. Commissioned on July 4, 1984. It was developed to use the American Aegis technology. Among its various weapon systems were ship-to-air and ship-to-surface missiles (SAM), anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles, torpedo launchers and a mounted artillery system. The first use of the Yorktown took place from August 1985 to April 1986. The ship entered the Black Sea twice and both times had conflict situations with the USSR Navy (in 1986 and 1988). Participated in three operations off the coast of Libya.

Received the Atlantic Fleet's "Top Gun" award for marksmanship in 1987. During his second tour of duty from September 1987 to March 1988, he participated in numerous US and NATO exercises, as well as multinational exercises with Morocco, France, West Germany, Tunisia and Turkey. It was during this period that Yorktown gained worldwide fame in an operation carried out in the Black Sea as part of the Freedom of Navigation program. On February 12, 1988, it was driven out of Soviet waters by the frigate Bezzavetny. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs at the time, Richard L. Armitage, acknowledged that entry into contiguous waters was not necessary, but argued that it was not aggressive in nature.

Yorktown conducted her third and fourth Mediterranean tours at the end of the Cold War. Participated in Operation Desert Storm. In the summer of 1992, he participated in BALTOPS’92. During this cruise, Yorktown paid a friendly visit to Severomorsk, becoming the first American ship to visit this port since the end of World War II.

In 1993, Yorktown was awarded the Commander of the Navy, Atlantic Ship Safety Award.

Served as flagship command ship during anti-drug operations in the Caribbean in May-July 1993. In August 1993, she participated in joint military exercises in the North Atlantic. In August 1994, Yorktown sailed to the Adriatic Sea as the flagship of the Commander, Naval Forces Atlantic, in support of the operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In May 1997, he completed a five-month anti-missile duty in the Caribbean, and then verification operations with the aircraft carrier George Washington.

On September 21, 1997, due to crew error, the ship experienced a serious power plant failure. Yorktown was decommissioned on December 10, 2004 and is currently docked in Philadelphia.

US Navy destroyer USS Caron

Caron was laid down at the Ingalls Shipyard of Litton Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on July 1, 1974. She entered service on October 1, 1977.

In August 1979, Soviet aircraft simulated a missile attack against the Caron in the Black Sea. In October 1983, Caron participated in Operation Urgent Fury in the vicinity of Grenada. From November 1983 to March 1984 he was part of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Beirut (Lebanon).

On March 10, 1986, Caron left Norfolk as part of a group of guided missile ships for deployment in the Mediterranean region. During this deployment, after a US fighter demonstratively fired at two Libyan Air Force fighters in the Gulf of Sidr, the conflict began to escalate. On March 23, 1986, together with the guided missile cruisers Ticonderoga and Scott, Caron moved south of the Libyan border line. The conflict lasted two days, but proceeded at a low intensity, in which Caron did not use weapons.

On February 12, 1988, it was rammed by a Soviet (NATO classification) light frigate of the Mirka II class (FFL 824) in the Black Sea, after which it went for major repairs, from which it emerged only on February 15, 1990. By the way, the Americans everywhere claim only minor damage to the destroyer, although the frankly protracted overhaul of a completely new ship by the standards of the navy gives rise to speculation on this matter.

Caron saw action in the Middle East following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. From 14 January 1991, it participated in Operation Desert Storm.

On October 14, 1993, the UN took part in the operation against Haiti. She was one of six US Navy ships ordered to Haiti as a result of President Clinton's orders. In April 1995, he took part in anti-mine warfare exercises in Angola.

From January to July 1996 - in the Persian Gulf participates in the operation against Iraq. From February to July 1998 - in the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf and off the coast of Spain.

From January to 4 June 1999, she completed her regular overhaul at Newport. In June-December 2000 - again in the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf as part of the George Washington aircraft carrier group.

On October 15, 2001, it was taken out of service. On December 4, 2002, the Caron was sunk off the coast of Puerto Rico before its service life expired as a result of testing a new type of explosive.

Our ships took American ships as escort immediately after leaving the Bosphorus. They greeted them and warned them that they would swim with them and keep them “company” in the Black Sea. The Americans replied that they did not need help. When I received these first reports, I told Mikheev: “Tell the Americans: we will still have to swim together. They are our guests, and according to the laws of Russian hospitality, it is not customary for us to leave guests unattended - but what if something happens to them.” Mikheev conveyed all this. The Americans went through the terrorist attacks of Bulgaria, then the terrorist attacks of Romania. But there were no Romanian ships there (the command of the Romanian fleet even then ignored all our proposals). Then the American ships turned east, moved to an area 40-45 miles south-southeast of Sevastopol and began some strange maneuvers there. Most likely, they replaced or installed special information collection equipment on our communication cable routes. American ships hovered in this area for more than two days. Then they crossed over and maneuvered directly in the sea zone adjacent to Sevastopol outside the terrorist zones.

On February 12, I was at the fleet command post (fleet commander Admiral M.N. Khronopulo flew somewhere on business). At about 10 o’clock I received a report from Mikheev: “The American ships are on a course of 90°, which leads to our terrorist waters, speed is 14 knots. The route is 14 miles away" (about 26 km). Okay, I think it’s still an hour before the attack, let them go. I order Mikheev: “Continue tracking.” Half an hour later, the following report: “The ships are following the same course and speed. The waterway is 7 miles away.” Again, I think what they will do next: will they enter the terrorist waters or turn away at the last moment, “scaring” us? I remember that in the Mediterranean Sea I myself “sheltered” the ships of the squadron from the wind and storm waves half a cable away from the border of the waterways (6 miles wide) of the Greek island of Crete (its mountains weakened the force of the wind). And I didn’t think that we were violating anything. And the Americans could also approach the terrorist barriers and then turn away without breaking anything. The next report comes in: “There are 2 miles to the border.” I convey to Mikheev: “Warn the Americans: your course leads to the terrorist waters of the Soviet Union, the violation of which is unacceptable.” Mikheev reports: “I passed it on. They answer that they are not violating anything. They follow the same course and speed.” Again I give the order to Mikheev: “Once again, warn the Americans: violating the Soviet Union’s terrorist regulations is unacceptable. I have orders to force you out, even to the point of attack and ramming. Broadcast all this in clear text twice in Russian and in English.” Mikheev reports again: “I passed it on. They repeat that they are not violating anything. The course and speed are the same." Then I order Mikheev: “Take positions for displacement.” During the briefing, we stipulated that in order for the pileup to be more severe and cause more significant damage to the ships, we should etch out the starboard anchors and keep them suspended on anchor chains under the starboard fairleads. So the high forecastle of the TFR "Selfless", and even the anchor dangling on the right, could thoroughly tear the side and everything that would fall under the pile on board the ship being forced out of its course. Mikheev continues to report: “There are 5,..3,..1 cables to the water lines. The ships have taken positions for the bulk." Further report: “American ships entered the terrorist waters.” To clarify the situation, I request the Combat Information Post (CIP) of the fleet: “Report the exact location of all ships.” I receive a BIP report: “11 miles, 9 cables from the coastline.” This means that the Americans really did get into our terrorist channels. I order Mikheev: “Act according to the operation plan.” He replies: “Got it.” Both of our ships began maneuvering to “pounce” on American ships. Our ships took American ships as escort immediately after leaving the Bosphorus.

“Selfless” begins to attack “Yorktown”...

They greeted them and warned them that they would swim with them and keep them “company” in the Black Sea. The Americans replied that they did not need help. When I received these first reports, I told Mikheev: “Tell the Americans: we will still have to swim together. They are our guests, and according to the laws of Russian hospitality, it is not customary for us to leave guests unattended - but what if something happens to them.” Mikheev conveyed all this. The Americans went through the terrorist attacks of Bulgaria, then the terrorist attacks of Romania. But there were no Romanian ships there (the command of the Romanian fleet even then ignored all our proposals). Then the American ships turned east, moved to an area 40-45 miles south-southeast of Sevastopol and began some strange maneuvers there. Most likely, they replaced or installed special information collection equipment on our communication cable routes. American ships hovered in this area for more than two days. Then they crossed over and maneuvered directly in the sea zone adjacent to Sevastopol outside the terrorist zones.

On February 12, I was at the fleet command post (fleet commander Admiral M.N. Khronopulo flew somewhere on business). At about 10 o’clock I received a report from Mikheev: “The American ships are on a course of 90°, which leads to our terrorist waters, speed is 14 knots. The route is 14 miles away" (about 26 km). Okay, I think it’s still an hour before the attack, let them go. I order Mikheev: “Continue tracking.” Half an hour later, the following report: “The ships are following the same course and speed. The waterway is 7 miles away.” Again, I think what they will do next: will they enter the terrorist waters or turn away at the last moment, “scaring” us? I remember that in the Mediterranean Sea I myself “sheltered” the ships of the squadron from the wind and storm waves half a cable away from the border of the waterways (6 miles wide) of the Greek island of Crete (its mountains weakened the force of the wind). And I didn’t think that we were violating anything. And the Americans could also approach the terrorist barriers and then turn away without breaking anything. The next report comes in: “There are 2 miles to the border.” I convey to Mikheev: “Warn the Americans: your course leads to the terrorist waters of the Soviet Union, the violation of which is unacceptable.” Mikheev reports: “I passed it on. They answer that they are not violating anything. They follow the same course and speed.” Again I give the order to Mikheev: “Once again, warn the Americans: violating the Soviet Union’s terrorist regulations is unacceptable. I have orders to force you out, even to the point of attack and ramming. Broadcast all this in clear text twice in Russian and in English.” Mikheev reports again: “I passed it on. They repeat that they are not violating anything. The course and speed are the same." Then I order Mikheev: “Take positions for displacement.” During the briefing, we stipulated that in order for the pileup to be more severe and cause more significant damage to the ships, we should etch out the starboard anchors and keep them suspended on anchor chains under the starboard fairleads. So the high forecastle of the TFR "Selfless", and even the anchor dangling on the right, could thoroughly tear the side and everything that would fall under the pile on board the ship being forced out of its course. Mikheev continues to report: “There are 5,..3,..1 cables to the water lines. The ships have taken positions for the bulk." Further report: “American ships entered the terrorist waters.” To clarify the situation, I request the Combat Information Post (CIP) of the fleet: “Report the exact location of all ships.” I receive a BIP report: “11 miles, 9 cables from the coastline.” This means that the Americans really did get into our terrorist channels. I order Mikheev: “Act according to the operation plan.” He replies: “Got it.” Both of our ships began maneuvering to “pounce” on American ships.

Almost exactly at 11.00 o’clock, Mikheev reports: “I have approached the cruiser to within 40 meters”... and then report every 10 meters. Sailors can imagine how difficult and dangerous it is to carry out such maneuvers: a huge cruiser with a displacement of 9,200 tons and a patrol boat with a displacement of 3,000 tons, as it were, “moored” to it while moving, and on the other “flank” against a destroyer with a displacement of 7,800 tons, a very small patrol boat with a displacement of only 1,300 tons operates tons Imagine: at the moment of approaching closely with this small patrol ship, put the destroyer sharply with the rudder “on the left side” - and what will happen to our ship? If it didn’t turn over, this could happen! Moreover, formally the American will still be right in such a collision. So the commanders of our ships had to carry out a difficult and dangerous task.

Mikheev reports: “10 meters.” And immediately: “I ask for the go-ahead to act!” Although he had already received all the orders, he apparently decided to play it safe - suddenly the situation changed, and besides, all the negotiations on the air were recorded by both us and the Americans. I tell him again: “Proceed according to the operation plan!” And then there was silence.

Naval "Selfless"…

I kept an eye on the stopwatch and timed it with my last order: the hand ran for a minute, two, three... Silence. I’m not asking, I understand what’s going on on the ships now: briefing and losing on maneuvering tablets is one thing, but how everything will turn out in reality is another thing. I can clearly imagine how the high forecastle of the Selfless, together with the hanging anchor, tears the side and massive bow superstructure of the American cruiser Yorktown (its superstructure is designed integrally with the side of the ship). But what will happen to our ship from such mutual “kisses”? And what happens in the second pair of this sea “bullfight” between the SKR-6 and the destroyer Caron? Doubts, uncertainty... It was thought that with this kind of “mooring” while moving, mutual suction (“sticking”) of ships to each other is possible. Well, how will the Americans rush to “board”? We have provided for this possibility - special landing platoons have been formed on the ships and are constantly being trained. But there are many more Americans... All this flashes through my mind, while there are no reports. And suddenly I hear Mikheev’s completely calm voice, as if playing out such episodes on maps: “We walked along the left side of the cruiser. The Harpoon missile launcher was broken. Two broken missiles hang from their launch containers. All the railings on the left side of the cruiser were demolished. The command boat was smashed to pieces. In some places the side and side trim of the bow superstructure were torn. Our anchor came loose and sank.” I ask: “What are the Americans doing?” He answers: “They played an emergency alarm. Emergency workers in protective suits water the Harpoon launcher with hoses and drag the hoses inside the ship.” “Are the rockets burning?” - I ask. “It seems no, there is no fire or smoke visible.” After this, Mikheev reports from SKR-6: “I walked along the left side of the destroyer, the rails were cut down, the boat was broken. Breaks in side plating. The ship's anchor survived. But the American ships continue the passage at the same course and speed.” I give the command to Mikheev: “Carry out a second pile-up.” Our ships have begun maneuvering to carry it out."

Nikolai Mikheev and Vladimir Bogdashin tell how everything actually happened in the area of ​​the “bulk”: By the time they approached the terrorist waters, the American ships were following as if in a bearing formation with a distance between them of approximately 15-20 cables (2700-3600 m), - at this cruiser is ahead and more seaward, the destroyer is closer to the coastline at the cruiser's heading angle of 140-150 degrees. left side. SKR "Selfless" and "SKR-6" in tracking positions, respectively, of the cruiser and destroyer at their left side heading angles of 100-110 degrees. at a distance of 90-100 m. Behind this group, two of our border ships maneuvered.

Upon receipt of the order “Take positions to dislodge,” a combat alert was declared on the ships, the bow compartments were sealed, personnel were removed from them, torpedoes in the tubes were in combat-ready condition, cartridges were supplied to the gun mounts up to the loading line in the breech, emergency parties were deployed, landing platoons were in readiness at their scheduled locations, the rest of the personnel at combat posts. The starboard anchors are hung on anchor chains made from fairleads. On the navigation bridge of the TFR "Selfless" Mikheev maintains contact with the fleet command post and controls the ships of the group, Bogdashin controls the maneuvers of the ship, and here the officer-translator maintains constant radio communication with American ships. We approached the cruiser at a distance of 40 meters, then 10 meters (SKR-6, same with the destroyer). On the deck of the cruiser, on the platforms of the superstructure, sailors and officers poured out with cameras, video cameras, laughing, waving their hands, making, as is customary among American sailors, obscene gestures, etc. The commander of the cruiser came out onto the left open wing of the navigation bridge.

With confirmation of the order “Act according to the operation plan,” we went to “pile up” the cruiser (“SKR-6” - destroyer). Bogdashin maneuvered in such a way that the first blow landed tangentially at an angle of 30 degrees. to the left side of the cruiser. The impact and friction of the sides caused sparks to fly and the side paint caught fire. As the border guards later said, for a moment the ships seemed to be in a fiery cloud, after which a thick plume of smoke trailed behind them for some time. Upon impact, our anchor tore the plating of the cruiser’s side with one claw, and with the other made a hole in the bow of the side of its ship. The impact threw the TFR away from the cruiser, the stem of our ship went to the left, and the stern began to dangerously approach the side of the cruiser.

An emergency alarm was sounded on the cruiser, personnel rushed from the decks and platforms, and the cruiser commander rushed inside the navigation bridge. At this time, he apparently lost control of the cruiser for some time, and it turned slightly to the right due to the impact, which further increased the danger of it collapsing onto the stern of the TFR "Selfless". After this, Bogdashin, having commanded “starboard,” increased the speed to 16 knots, which made it possible to slightly move the stern away from the side of the cruiser, but at the same time the cruiser turned left to its previous course - after this, the next most powerful and effective pileup occurred, or rather a cruiser ram. The blow fell in the area of ​​the helipad - the tall, sharp stem with the forecastle of the SKR, figuratively speaking, climbed onto the cruising helicopter deck and, with a list of 15-20 degrees to the left side, began to destroy with its mass, as well as with the anchor hanging from the hawse, everything that came across it, gradually sliding towards the cruising stern: it tore the skin of the side of the superstructure, cut down all the railings of the helipad, broke the command boat, then slid onto the poop deck (to the stern) and also demolished all the railings with the racks. Then he hooked the Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher - it seemed that a little more and the launcher would be torn from its fastening to the deck. But at that moment, having caught on something, the anchor broke away from the anchor chain and, like a ball (weighing 3.5 tons!), flew over the aft deck of the cruiser from the left side, crashed into the water already behind its starboard side, miraculously not having caught none of the sailors of the cruiser's emergency party who were on deck. Of the four containers of the Harpun anti-ship missile launcher, two were broken in half along with the missiles, their severed warheads hanging on internal cables. Another container was bent.

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

SKR-6 rams Yorktown...

Valentin Selivanov: After some time, I receive a report from Mikheev: “The destroyer Caron has turned away from its course and is heading straight towards me, the bearing is not changing.” Sailors understand what “the bearing does not change” means—that is, it is heading for a collision. I convey to Mikheev: “Move to the starboard side of the cruiser and hide behind it. Let the Caron ram it.”

Nikolai Mikheev: But the Caron approached us at a distance of 50-60 meters from the left side and set on a parallel course. On the right, at the same distance and also on a parallel course, a cruiser followed. Next, the Americans began, on converging courses, to squeeze the TFR “Selfless” in pincers. He ordered the RBU-6000 rocket launchers to be loaded with depth charges (the Americans saw this) and to deploy them abeam on the starboard and port sides, respectively, against the cruiser and destroyer (however, both RBU launchers operate in combat mode only synchronously, but the Americans did not know this). It seemed to work - the American ships turned away. At this time, the cruiser began preparing a couple of helicopters for takeoff. I reported to the fleet command post that the Americans were preparing some kind of dirty trick for us with helicopters.

Valentin Selivanov: In response to Mikheev’s report, I convey to him: “Inform the Americans - if the helicopters take off in the air, they will be shot down as if they violated the airspace of the Soviet Union.” At the same time, he transmitted the order to the command post of the fleet aviation: “Raise the duty pair of attack aircraft into the air! Mission: patrolling over American ships that have invaded the terrorist waters in order to prevent their deck helicopters from rising into the air.” But the aviation OD reports: “In the area close to Cape Sarych, a group of landing helicopters is practicing tasks. I propose sending a couple of helicopters instead of attack aircraft - it’s much faster, and they will perform the task of “anti-takeoff” more effectively and clearly.” I approve this proposal and inform Mikheev about sending our helicopters to the area. Soon I receive a report from the aviation department: “A pair of Mi-24 helicopters are in the air, heading to the area.”
Nikolai Mikheev: He told the Americans what would happen to the helicopters if they were lifted into the air. This did not work - I see the propeller blades have already started spinning. But at that time, a pair of our Mi-26 helicopters with a full combat suspension of on-board weapons passed over us and the Americans, making several circles above the American ships and defiantly hovering somewhat to the side from them, an impressive sight. This apparently had an effect - the Americans turned off their helicopters and rolled them into a hangar.

Valentin Selivanov: Then an order came from the Navy Central Command: “The Minister of Defense demanded to look into and report on this incident” (our naval wits then became more sophisticated: report with a list of persons subject to removal from positions and demotion). We submitted a report to the authorities on how everything happened. Literally a couple of hours later, another order comes from the Navy Central Command: “The Minister of Defense demands that those who have distinguished themselves be nominated for promotion” (our wits were found here too: the list of persons for demotion should be replaced with a register of those nominated for awards). Well, everyone’s hearts seemed to have eased, the tension had subsided, all of us and the fleet command crew seemed to have calmed down.

The “Americans” left Soviet territorial waters, drifted, entered into active radio conversations with their superiors, and the next day moved to exit the Black Sea.

The participants in the unique operation grew in positions and ranks over time. Admiral Selivanov became the head of the Main Staff of the Navy, Vice Admiral Mikheev became the head of the Combat Training Directorate, the commander of the "Selfless" Vladimir Bogdashin became a rear admiral, and the watchman's senior mate Valery Kulikov became the deputy commander of the Black Sea Fleet, vice admiral.

Americans who are again frequenting the Black Sea should not forget this lesson from 30 years ago.

Fate of the ship:

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

Patrol ship "Selfless"

TTD:
Displacement: 3200 tons.
Dimensions: length - 123 m, width - 14.2 m, draft - 4.28 m.
Full speed: 32.2 knots.
Cruising range: 5000 miles at 14 knots.
Power plant: 2 gas turbine units of 18,000 hp each. (afterburner mode, sustaining mode - 6000 hp each), 2 fixed pitch propellers
Armament: URPK-5 "Rastrub" (4 launchers), 2x2 76.2 mm AK-726 gun mounts, 2x2 launchers for the Osa-MA-2 air defense missile system (40 9M-33 missiles), 2x4 533 mm torpedo tubes, 2x12 rocket launcher RBU-6000.
Crew: 197 people.

Ship history:
Patrol ship pr.1135

The first patrol ship in the series, Project 1135, entered the Russian Navy in December 1970. The new ship had higher seaworthiness compared to its predecessors. It had three times the displacement, the weapons were also more powerful, which gave it higher combat stability when operating in the sea zone.

Project 1135 “Burevestnik” arose, as it were, at the crossroads of two directions in the evolution of anti-submarine ships of our fleet - small (projects 159 and 35) and large (project 61). At that time, the Soviet Navy entered the world's oceans, and its main task was considered to be the fight against nuclear submarines of a potential enemy. It was then that the first anti-submarine ships of the ocean zone were created - helicopter carrier cruisers, BOD 1st rank and BOD 2nd rank. But their high cost forced the fleet leadership to supplement the arsenal of anti-submarine forces with smaller displacement and less expensive ships in the near zone, which are also capable of operating in remote areas of the ocean.

Initially, the development of the future ship was entrusted to the Zelenodolsk Design Bureau (at that time - TsKB-340). Meanwhile, the industry began to develop new anti-submarine warfare systems - the Metel missile torpedo system and the Vega and Titan hydroacoustic stations, which were very advanced for their time. The combination of underwater and towed sonar promised to increase the detection range of submarines three times and maintain stable contact with an underwater target at distances of up to 100 kbt. All this brought the future patrol ship to a qualitatively different level, but at the same time entailed a significant increase in displacement. And since TsKB-340 traditionally specialized in the creation of small warships, the development of the project was transferred to Leningrad, to TsKB-53 (later Northern PKB). N.P. was appointed chief designer. Sobolev, the main observer from the Navy - I.M. Stetsyura. General management was carried out by the head of TsKB-53 V.E. Yukhnin.

The tactical and technical assignment (TTZ) for the development of Project 1135 was issued by the fleet in 1964. The main purpose of a patrol ship is “long-term patrolling with the aim of searching for and destroying enemy submarines and guarding ships and vessels during sea passage.” Initially, the TTZ provided for the following armament: one anti-submarine missile system, one five-tube 533-mm TA for anti-submarine torpedoes, two RBU-6000, one Osa air defense system and two twin 76-mm artillery mounts. The Titan GAS was assumed to be the main means of detecting submarines. The displacement was limited to 2100 tons, but after the final approval of the Metel complex as a anti-aircraft missile system, it had to be increased to 3200 tons. This, in turn, made it possible to place two TA and two Osa air defense systems, as well as supplement the hydroacoustic means of the towed sonar " Vega". In addition, already at the design stage the possibility of replacing 76 mm artillery with 100 mm was discussed.

For the first time, ships of this class were supposed to have an automated combat information post (CIP), a prototype of future combat information and control systems (CIUS); the lead ship even had a staff of computer officers. In general, the ship, both in size and capabilities, has so outgrown its “classmates” that it was already reclassified as a BOD at the design stage. Project 1135 ships were returned to the SKR class only in June 1977.

In terms of architecture, the hull of the Project 1135 ship was distinguished by an elongated forecastle, rounded contours, a clipper stem, a large camber of the frames at the bow, a flat low stern and construction trim on the bow. The body set is mixed, the length to width ratio is 8.6. A characteristic feature of the contours is the small angles of sharpening of the waterlines. The body is made of MK-35 steel; 13 steel bulkheads divide it into 14 watertight compartments. According to calculations, the ship was supposed to remain afloat when three adjacent or five non-adjacent compartments were flooded. Deck superstructures and internal bulkheads of premises are made of aluminum-magnesium alloy AMG-61.

Service and living quarters are located on the main deck under the forecastle. Here are the officers' and midshipmen's cabins, the galley and the sailors' mess. A through corridor runs along the main deck from the poop to the bow, bifurcating around the air defense missile shafts. In the aft part there is the BUGAS “Vega” room with the original lifting and lowering device POUKB-1. This development of the Zelenodolsk Design Bureau ensures the opening and closing of the transom cover, immersion in water, towing, lifting and installation of the body of the towed sonar while the ship is moving at a speed of at least 9 knots.

The ship's circulation diameter is 4.3 kbt in 130 s at a speed of 32 knots. Yaw - no more than 2°. Inertia from full speed to stop - 1940 m in 524 s. The initial transverse metacentric height is 1.4 m. The highest heeling moment is 85°, buoyancy reserve is 6450 tons. The angle of decline of the static stability diagram is 80°.

The seaworthiness of the “Eleven-Thirty-Fifth” deserves high praise. The ship rides the wave well; There is practically no flooding or splashing at all speeds. Slight splashing of the aft deck is observed only at speeds above 24 knots and in circulation at a heading angle of 90° to the wave. Seaworthiness ensures the use of all types of weapons at all speeds in sea conditions up to four points without pitch stabilizers and more than five points with their inclusion.

The SKR Project 1135 gas turbine power plant includes two M7K units, each of which consists of one DO63 main gas turbine and one DK59 afterburner. Main engines with a power of 6000 hp. mounted on suspended platforms. Afterburners with a capacity of 18,000 hp. are connected to shaft lines through tire-pneumatic couplings. All turbines have gas reverse. An innovation was the main gear attachment, which allows both main engines, and each engine separately, to operate on both shafts. This improved the efficiency of the power plant by 25%.

The startup time for turbines from a cold state is no more than three minutes. Full fuel reserve - 450-550 tons, fuel consumption per mile at technical and economic speed (14 knots) - 100 kg, at operational and economic speed (17 knots) - 143 kg, at full speed (32.2 knots) - 390 kg. On average, daily fuel consumption on a voyage is about 25 tons. The cruising range at full speed is 1290 miles, operational and economic - 3,550 miles, technical and economic - 5,000 miles.

The propellers are four-bladed, low-noise, variable pitch, with a fairing. Each weight is 7650 kg, diameter is 3.5 m. The propeller shaft speed is 320 rpm.

During the design, special attention was paid to reducing the physical fields of the ship and the level of interference with the operation of the sonar system. Two-stage shock absorption of the main mechanisms, vibration-damping coatings were used, and the “Pelena” bubble cloud system was installed. As a result, Project 1135 TFRs had a very low acoustic field level for their time and were the quietest surface ships of the Soviet Navy.

The main weapon of Project 1135 TFR is the URPK-4 Metel anti-submarine guided missile system with the Monsoon autonomous control system. The complex consists of a solid-fuel remote-controlled missile 85R with a warhead - a homing anti-submarine torpedo, launchers, a ship's guidance system and pre-launch automation.

KT-106 launchers have four containers and are aimed in a horizontal plane, which allows an attack to be carried out without additional maneuvering. The URPK-4 fires in two-missile salvoes or single rocket torpedoes supplied by its own sonar and external target designation sources - ships, helicopters or sonobuoys at ranges from 6 to 50 km. The control system allows you to adjust the missile's flight path depending on changes in the current acoustic bearing to the target.

The AT-2UM homing torpedo is used as the warhead of the 85R missile. At the command of the ship's control system, the torpedo at the estimated location of the submarine is separated from the missile and splashed down by parachute, then buried, conducts a circulation search with a homing system and hits the target. The immersion depth of the AT-2UM torpedo is 400 m. The speed in search mode is 23 knots, in guidance mode - 40 knots. Travel range - 8 km. The response radius of the torpedo's active-passive homing system is 1000 m, the mass of the explosive charge is 100 kg.

A further development of the URPK-4 was the URPK-5 “Rastrub” complex with the 85RU rocket torpedo, capable of hitting not only underwater, but also surface targets (this is how they tried to compensate for the lack of anti-ship missiles). In this case, target designation can come from all radar stations of the ship. The warhead of the missile torpedo, the UMGT torpedo, has a higher speed and response radius of the homing system compared to the AT-2UM.

In addition to the URPK complex, Project 1135 ships received two RBU-6000 Smerch-2 rocket launchers.

The ship is equipped with two Osa-M air defense systems. The short-range anti-aircraft missile systems "Osa" for the ground army and "Osa-M" for the Navy were created according to a single specification and without significant differences. Both modifications of the air defense system use the same 9M33 missile. The complex, in addition to the launcher, includes means for tracking targets, sighting missiles and issuing commands, as well as a detection radar. The detection range of a target flying at an altitude of 3.5 - 4 km is about 25 km, at high altitudes - up to 50 km. It is also possible to receive target designation from a ship's air surveillance radar. The coordinates of the identified target are sent to the tracking system to guide the antenna post by bearing and additional search by elevation. Combining detection and capture modes reduces the reaction time of the complex by 6 - 8 s.

After the launch of the first missile, the drum rotates, providing access to the loading line of the next missile, and after the launch of the second, the launch beams automatically become vertical, turn to the nearest pair of drums, and the lifting part of the launcher is lowered behind the next pair of missiles. The reloading time of the installation is 16 - 21 s, the rate of fire is 2 rounds per minute against air targets, 2.8 against surface targets.

In 1973, an improved version of the Osa-M2 air defense system entered service, and in 1979, the Osa-MA. For the latter, the minimum engagement height decreased from 60 to 25 m. In the first half of the 80s, the complexes were modernized in order to increase the effectiveness of the fight against low-flying anti-ship missiles. The modernized Osa-MA-2 air defense system could hit targets at altitudes of 5 m.

The artillery armament of the Project 1135 SKR is the AK-726-MR-105 artillery complex, consisting of two 76.2 mm twin automated AK-726 artillery mounts. Starting from the 22nd ship of the series, instead of the AK-726-MR-105 complex, the AK-100-MR-145 was installed from two 100-mm single-gun AK-100 artillery mounts.

All TFRs are equipped with two 533-mm four-tube torpedo tubes ChTA-53-1135. The types of torpedoes used are SET-65 or 53-65K. In the aft part of the deck there are mine rails that can carry 16 IGDM-500 mines, 12 KSM or 14 KRAB.

Speaking about the Project 1135 patrol ships, their commanders show rare unanimity in their positive assessment of these ships. Everyone notes high reliability, controllability, seaworthiness, and good living conditions. Minimal differences between production ships indicate optimal design. “Eleven-Thirty-Five” was certainly an example of the most advanced technology of its time. The list of innovations used on it is truly impressive: an original gas turbine power plant, a cruising gear attachment, a keel-mounted and towed sonar, a promising air defense system, a “long arm” for hunting enemy nuclear submarines - the Metel anti-aircraft missile system and much more.

The patrol ship "Bezzavetny" was included in the list of ships on 06/04/1973 and on 05/28/1976 was laid down on the slipway of the Zaliv shipyard in Kerch (serial number No. 14). Launched on 05/07/1977, entered service on 12/30/1977 and included in the KChF on 02/17/1978.

10.08 - 13.08.1979 paid a visit to Varna (Bulgaria);
26.03 - 31.03.1987 - to Istanbul (Türkiye).

This ship is interesting because it directly participated in the sensational operation to expel American warships from Soviet territorial waters in the Foros area.

Then the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Khronopulo, intervened in the matter. By his order, the "Selfless" transmits a warning to the American cruiser: Before entering the territorial waters of the USSR - 20 cables. If you violate the territorial waters, I have an order to force you out until the collapse.” At 10.45 “Yorktown” again responds to “Selfless” with the standard phrase: “I will not change course. I exercise the right of innocent passage. I’m not breaking anything.” And then it crosses the border of the territorial waters of the USSR. Following him, the destroyer Caron, which was following in the wake of the missile cruiser, does this. The border TFR "Izmail" raises a signal: "You have violated the border of the territorial waters of the USSR."

Meanwhile, SKR-6 began to catch up with the American destroyer, which avoided the pile-up by increasing its speed. However, SKR-6 continued to follow the destroyer. Immediately all Soviet ships raised a signal: “You have violated the state border of the USSR. I demand to immediately leave the waters of the USSR.” "Selfless" at that time was abeam of the port side of "Yorktown", and SKR-6 was following in the wake of the destroyer "Caron". American ships continued to move towards the Crimean coast. Probably, the change in course was not included in the plans of the American side, or it was already beyond the competence of the ship commanders.

At 10.56, the destroyer Caron, noticing the decisive maneuver of the SKR-6 that was catching up with it, which was 150 meters away, hastily raised the signal: “Do not approach the board!” At the same time, the Selfless was following only fifty meters from the Yorktown. A final exchange of signals followed. And again, the Selfless’ message about the border violation from the Yorktown was answered negatively. And then both Black Sea patrol ships, sharply increasing their speed, began to pounce on American ships twice as large. “Selfless” constantly reported the distance to the fleet command post in Sevastopol: “20 meters to the cruiser, 10 meters...”. At 11.02, the “Selfless” fell on the left side of the cruiser, with a grinding sound it walked along the rails and the Harpoon missile launcher, crushing them.

Meanwhile, SKR-6 collapsed on the port side at the stern of the destroyer Caron, damaging its lifeboat and davit. On the SKR-6, the bulwark was crushed and the railings were bent. Only precise calculation and skill of the commanders of both ships made it possible to carry out a difficult order, demonstrating the decisiveness of their own intentions, without crossing the dangerous line.

At the same time, in this difficult situation, more serious damage and loss of life were avoided. At 11.40, Admiral Khronopulo transmitted an order from Moscow to the “Selfless” and SKR-6: “Move away from the US ships, convey to them the demand to leave the territorial waters of the USSR. Be prepared for another surge." Having moved away from the American ships to a safe distance, both patrol ships continued to escort the intruders in full readiness to repeat the maneuver. However, this was no longer necessary. Both American ships set course to leave territorial waters, not risking returning the same way, as they had practiced before. Having entered neutral waters, they began to drift, conducting active radio negotiations with their superiors. Then both ships headed towards the Bosphorus, without further entering Soviet territorial waters.

In 1988, the ship won the Navy Civil Code prize for anti-submarine training (as part of the KPUG).

On July 14, 1997, “Bezzavetny” was disbanded, and on August 1, 1997, it was transferred to the Ukrainian Navy and renamed “Dnepropetrovsk” (U134). 09/08/1997 expelled from the Russian Navy.

On the last journey...

In October 2002, the ship was withdrawn from the combat ships of the Ukrainian Navy. During its stay in the Navy, it was not used for its intended purpose, never going to sea. In December 2003, the ship was transferred to the category of “technical property”; in April 2004, an order was signed for the demilitarization and disposal of the ship.

The death of “Selfless”...

On March 26, 2005, the ship was towed away from Sevastopol and on May 12, 2005, it was scuttled in the Black Sea while being towed, probably for the purpose of obtaining insurance.

Patrol ship "SKR-6"

TTD:
Displacement: 1140 tons.
Dimensions: length - 82.4 m, width - 9.1 m, draft - 3 m.
Full speed: 32 knots.
Cruising range: 2000 miles at 14 knots.
Power plant: gas turbine 2×18000 hp, diesel 2×6000 hp.
Armament: 2x2 76-mm AK-726 gun mounts, 2x5 400-mm torpedo tubes, 2x12 RBU-6000 rocket launchers (120 RSL-60).
Crew: 96 people

Ship history:
Patrol ship pr.35

Patrol ship SKR-6

In the late 50s, research was constantly carried out on the development of a powerful sea hunter, which received project number 159. A new version of this ship, which received project number 35, was first classified as a large hunter, then as an MPK, and later as an SKR. These patrol boats differed from their prototype in a more powerful power plant and original hydraulic turbine propulsion: propellers rotated by diesel engines were placed in pipes into which air was pumped, creating additional thrust. In this mode, the speed increased to 32 knots; without the use of afterburner it was 20 knots.

While maintaining the main dimensions of Project 159, the armament of this ship was distinguished by the replacement of four RBU-2500 with a second five-tube 400-mm torpedo tube and 2 RBU-6000. Instead of the Fut-N radar, the Rubka radar was installed, and the Turel control radar was installed on some ships.

The lead ship of Project 35 entered service on December 25, 1964. The entire series of 18 ships was built before 1967. Then, according to the modernized project 35M, it was envisaged to remove the stern 400-mm torpedo tube, additionally place 2 RBU-6000 and instead of the Titan and Vychegda GAS, install new ones - the underbody Platina-MS and the towed Ros-K. During the period from 1973 to 1978, 8 ships were modernized.

The patrol ship SKR-6 was laid down on April 10, 1963 on the slipway of Shipyard No. 820 in Kaliningrad (serial number 182). Launched on 02/06/1964 and on 03/12/1966 included in the list of Navy ships. Entered service on November 30, 1966 and was included in the DKBF on December 12, 1966.

Until May 19, 1966 it belonged to the PLC subclass. On July 28, 1967, he was transferred to the KChF and in the summer of 1967 he made an inter-naval transition around Scandinavia from Baltiysk to Sevastopol.

01.06 - 31.06.1967 and 01.01 - 31.12.1968, while on combat duty in the war zone in the Mediterranean Sea, carried out the task of providing assistance to the armed forces of Egypt.

From 07/19/1976 to 03/02/1978 and from 01/23/1984 to 04/08/1986 at Sevmorzavod named after. S. Ordzhonikidze in Sevastopol underwent major repairs.

The patrol ship "SKR-6" directly participated in the sensational operation to expel American warships from Soviet territorial waters in the Foros area.

At the beginning of February 1988, it became known about the upcoming entry into the Black Sea by the missile cruiser Yorktown and the destroyer Caron from the US 6th Fleet. American ships, having passed through the Turkish straits, entered the Black Sea on February 12. They were immediately taken under surveillance by reconnaissance ships of the Black Sea Fleet. On the same day, the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Mikhail Khronopulo, was given an order to act in accordance with a previously received directive - if they violate the state border, act decisively, even to the point of attacking these ships.

Two patrol ships were assigned to this operation: “Selfless” and SKR-6. The two TFRs of the Black Sea Fleet were to become the main force intended to suppress possible actions to violate the border of the country’s territorial waters.

According to the central command post (CCP) of the USSR Navy, the events in the area between Yalta and Foros, where the Americans arrived, looked as follows. At 09.45 on February 12, 1988, i.e. half an hour before the Americans were supposed to enter the Gulf of Foros, the Bezavetny was transmitted in clear text to the Yorktown: “Your course leads to crossing the territorial waters of the USSR.” I suggest going on course 110.” The signal was left unanswered.

Then the chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet orders the commander of the “Selfless” to transmit the following warning to the American cruiser by radio: “According to existing Soviet laws, the right of peaceful passage of foreign warships in this area is prohibited. In order to avoid an incident, I strongly recommend changing your course in order to prevent violation of the territorial waters of the USSR.” At 10.15 a response came from the Yorktown: “I understand. I'm not breaking anything. I act in accordance with international rules."

Then the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Khronopulo, intervened in the matter. By his order, “Selfless” transmits a warning to the American cruiser: “Before entering the territorial waters of the USSR - 20 cables. If you violate the territorial waters, I have an order to force you out until the collapse.” At 10.45 “Yorktown” again responds to “Selfless” with the standard phrase: “I will not change course. I exercise the right of innocent passage. I’m not breaking anything.” And then it crosses the border of the territorial waters of the USSR. Following him, the destroyer Caron, which was following in the wake of the missile cruiser, does this. The border TFR "Izmail" raises a signal: "You have violated the border of the territorial waters of the USSR."

Meanwhile, the SKR-6 began to catch up with the American destroyer, which avoided the pile-up by increasing its speed. However, SKR-6 continued to follow the destroyer. Immediately all Soviet ships raised a signal: “You have violated the state border of the USSR. I demand to immediately leave the waters of the USSR.” "Selfless" at that time was abeam of the port side of "Yorktown", and SKR-6 was following in the wake of the destroyer "Caron". American ships continued to move towards the Crimean coast. Probably, the change in course was not included in the plans of the American side, or it was already beyond the competence of the ship commanders.

At 10.56, the destroyer Caron, noticing the decisive maneuver of the SKR-6 that was catching up with it, which was 150 meters away, hastily raised the signal: “Do not approach the board!” At the same time, the Selfless was following only fifty meters from the Yorktown. A final exchange of signals followed. And again, the Selfless’ message about the border violation from the Yorktown was answered negatively. And then both Black Sea patrol ships, sharply increasing their speed, began to pounce on American ships twice as large. “Selfless” constantly reported the distance to the fleet command post in Sevastopol: “20 meters to the cruiser, 10 meters...”. On the aft deck of the Yorktown, sailors crowded along the side. Some take photographs of the approaching "Selfless", others simply watch. But soon they all had no time for jokes - the nose of a Soviet patrol boat was approaching the railing. At 11.02, the “Selfless” fell on the left side of the cruiser, with a grinding sound it walked along the rails and the Harpoon missile launcher, crushing them.

Meanwhile, the SKR-6 collapsed on the port side at the stern of the destroyer Caron, damaging its lifeboat and davit. On the SKR-6, the bulwark was crushed and the railings were bent. Only precise calculation and skill of the commanders of both ships made it possible to carry out a difficult order, demonstrating the decisiveness of their own intentions, without crossing the dangerous line.

At the same time, in this difficult situation, more serious damage and loss of life were avoided. At 11.40, Admiral Khronopulo transmitted an order from Moscow to the “Selfless” and “SKR-6”: “Move away from the US ships, convey to them the demand to leave the territorial waters of the USSR. Be prepared for another surge. Having moved away from the American ships to a safe distance, both patrol ships continued to escort the intruders in full readiness to repeat the maneuver. However, this was no longer necessary. Both American ships set course to leave territorial waters, not risking returning the same way, as they had practiced before. Having entered neutral waters, they began to drift, conducting active radio negotiations with their superiors. Then both ships headed towards the Bosphorus, without further entering Soviet territorial waters.

On April 19, 1990, he was expelled from the Navy due to his surrender to the OFI for disarmament, dismantling and sale. 08/01/1990 disbanded and later cut into metal in Sevastopol.

Website: http://www.kchf.ru/ship/skr/skr6.htm; http://www.kchf.ru/ship/skr/bezzavetniy.htm

On February 12, 1988, events occurred in the Black Sea Fleet that received a “resonant” resonance in the political, military and naval circles of various countries. On this day, a serious incident occurred involving warships of the 6th US Fleet, the cruiser URO Yorktown and the destroyer URO Caron, which entered the Black Sea and violated the state border of the USSR. The leaders and main “actors” of the operation to oust the Americans from our territorial waters were: Admiral SELIVANOV Valentin Egorovich (formerly commander of the 5th Mediterranean squadron of the Navy, at that time vice admiral, chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet, later chief of the General Staff of the Navy), Vice Admiral Nikolai Petrovich MIKHEEV (at that time captain 2nd rank, chief of staff of the 70th brigade of the 30th division of anti-submarine ships of the Black Sea Fleet), rear admiral BOGDASHIN Vladimir Ivanovich (at that time captain 2nd rank, commander of the TFR "Selfless"), captain 2nd rank PETROV Anatoly Ivanovich (at that time captain 3rd rank, commander of SKR-6).
Valentin Selivanov. The operation of the Black Sea Fleet ships, which will be discussed below, was preceded by events in the country and their consequences associated with the violation of the state border and the flight from the Baltic Sea through the entire western space of the Union (05/28/1987) of the German air adventurer Rust, who landed his sports airplane of the "type" Sesna" right on Red Square in Moscow. After the destruction of a Korean reconnaissance Boeing disguised as a civilian aircraft in the Far East, the order of the Minister of Defense was in effect: do not shoot down civilian aircraft! But in vain, there was no need to regret it - after all, the consequences of this trick by Rust had an extremely negative impact on the entire military department.
The Black Sea Fleet command learned in advance about the new voyage of the American ships of the guided missile cruiser "Yorktown" (Ticonderoga type) and the guided missile destroyer "Caron" (Spruance type) to the Black Sea that was being prepared in February 1988 (fleet intelligence monitored all the actions of the 6th Fleet of the US Navy ). Considering, as I already explained above, the situation in the Armed Forces after Rust’s “trick,” we naturally could not allow a new provocation by the Americans to violate our maritime borders, if they again decided to repeat their previous demarche, would go unpunished for them. Therefore, before the arrival of American ships in the Black Sea, the fleet headquarters planned an operation to track and counter them: the patrol ships "Bezzavetny" (project 1135) and "SKR-6" (project 35) were allocated, the commander of this ship group was appointed - the chief of staff 70th brigade of the 30th division of anti-submarine ships of the Black Sea Fleet, captain 2nd rank Mikheev Nikolai Petrovich. The commanders of the ships and ship group were given a thorough briefing on the operation plan, with all actions played out on maps and maneuver tablets. The ships in the operation were distributed as follows: the SKR "Selfless", as a larger ship in terms of displacement, was supposed to accompany and counter the cruiser "Yorktown", and "SKR-6" (small in displacement and dimensions) - the destroyer "Caron". All commanders were given specific instructions: as soon as it is discovered that the Americans intend to proceed into our terrorist waters, take a position relative to the side of the American ships from our coast, warn them that the course of their ships leads into the terrorist waters, then, if the Americans do not heed this warning, with their entry into the terrorist waters, each of our ships will make an attack on American ships. The commanders understood their tasks, and I was sure that they would fulfill their tasks. The operation plan was approved by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Fleet Admiral V.N. Chernavin.
It was envisaged that when American ships entered the Black Sea, our ships would meet them in the Bosporus area and begin tracking them. After meeting with the Americans, I instructed the group commander to welcome their arrival in our Black Sea (namely, do not forget our word in the greeting) and convey that we will sail with them together. It was expected that American ships would first proceed along the western coast of the Black Sea, “run” into the border waters of Bulgaria and Romania (they did this before), and then move to the eastern part to our shores. Well, they will apparently try to invade our tervods, as last time, in the area of ​​the southern tip of the Crimean Peninsula (Cape Sarych), where the borders of the tervods are shaped like a triangle with the apex extended to the south. The Americans, most likely, will not go around this triangle again, but will go through the terrorist waters. There are no other places for such a “demonstration” violation of the control lines at the Black Sea Theater. And this is where the main phase of the entire operation was supposed to take place, namely, preventing or displacing American ships from our terrorist zones with a “pile up” on them if warnings about violating the terrorist zones did not have an effect on them. What is "bulk"? This is not a ram in the full sense of the concept, but an approach at speed at a slight angle, as if tangential to the side of the displaced object, and a “polite” “repulsion” of it, turning away from the course it is maintaining. Well, as for “politeness” - whatever happens.
Our ships took American ships as escort immediately after leaving the Bosphorus. They greeted them and warned them that they would swim with them and keep them “company” in the Black Sea. The Americans replied that they did not need help. When I received these first reports, I conveyed to Mikheev: “Tell the Americans: we will still have to swim together. They are our guests, and according to the laws of Russian hospitality, it is not customary for us to leave guests unattended - but what if something happens to them?” ". Mikheev conveyed all this.
The Americans went through the terrorist attacks of Bulgaria, then the terrorist attacks of Romania. But there were no Romanian ships there (the command of the Romanian fleet even then ignored all our instructions and proposals). Then the American ships turned east, moved to an area 40-45 miles south-southeast of Sevastopol and began some strange maneuvers there. Most likely, they replaced or installed special information collection equipment on our communication cable routes. American ships hovered in this area for more than two days. Then they crossed over and maneuvered directly in the sea zone adjacent to Sevastopol outside the terrorist zones.
On February 12, I was at the fleet command post (fleet commander Admiral M.N. Khronopulo flew somewhere on business). At about 10 o’clock I received a report from Mikheev: “The American ships are on a course of 90°, which leads to our terrorist waters, speed is 14 knots. The terrorist waters are 14 miles away” (about 26 km). Okay, I think, there’s still an hour to go before the attack, let them go. I order Mikheev: “Continue tracking.” Half an hour later, the following report: “The ships are following the same course and speed. The attack is 7 miles away.” Again, I think what they will do next: will they enter the terrorist waters or turn away at the last moment, “scaring” us? I remember that in the Mediterranean Sea I myself “sheltered” the ships of the squadron from the wind and storm waves half a cable away from the border of the waterways (6 miles wide) of the Greek island of Crete (its mountains weakened the force of the wind). And I didn’t think that we were violating anything. And the Americans could also approach the terrorist barriers and then turn away without breaking anything. The next report comes in: “The border is 2 miles away.” I convey to Mikheev: “Warn the Americans: your course leads to the terrorist waters of the Soviet Union, the violation of which is unacceptable.” Mikheev reports: “I passed it on. They answer that they are not violating anything. They are following the same course and speed.” Again I give the order to Mikheev: “Warn the Americans once again: violating the Soviet Union’s terrorist regulations is unacceptable. I have an order to force you out, even to the point of attacking and ramming. Broadcast all this in clear text twice in Russian and in English.” Mikheev reports again: “He passed it on. They repeat that they are not violating anything. The course and speed are the same.” Then I order Mikheev: “Take positions for displacement.” During the briefing, we stipulated that in order for the pileup to be more severe and cause more significant damage to the ships, we should etch out the starboard anchors and keep them suspended on anchor chains under the starboard fairleads. So the high forecastle of the TFR "Selfless", and even the anchor dangling on the right, could thoroughly tear the side and everything that would fall under the pile on board the ship being forced out of its course. Mikheev continues to report: “There are 5,..3,..1 cables to the attack. The ships have taken positions for the bulk.” Further report: “American ships have entered the terrorist waters.” To clarify the situation, I request the Combat Information Post (CIP) of the fleet: “Report the exact location of all ships.” I receive a BIP report: “11 miles, 9 cables from the coastline.” This means that the Americans really did get into our terrorist channels. I order Mikheev: “Act according to the operation plan.” He replies: “Got it.” Both of our ships began maneuvering to “pounce” on American ships.

Further, I received reports only on the maneuvering of the TFR "Selfless". The maneuvering of SKR-6 was controlled and received reports from its commander Mikheev. I remember it was almost exactly at 11.00 o’clock, Mikheev reports: “I got close to the cruiser to 40 meters”... and then a report every 10 meters. Sailors can imagine how difficult and dangerous it is to carry out such maneuvers: a huge cruiser with a displacement of 9,200 tons and a patrol boat with a displacement of 3,000 tons, as it were, “moored” to it while moving, and on the other “flank” a very small patrol boat with a displacement of only 1,300 operates against a destroyer with a displacement of 7,800 tons tons Imagine: at the moment of approaching closely with this small patrol ship, put the destroyer sharply with the rudder “to port on the side” - and what will happen to our ship? If it didn’t turn over, this could happen! Moreover, formally the American will still be right in such a collision. So the commanders of our ships had to carry out a difficult and dangerous task.
Mikheev reports: “10 meters.” And immediately: “I ask for the go-ahead to act!” Although he had already received all the orders, he apparently decided to play it safe - suddenly the situation changed, and besides, all the negotiations on the air were recorded by both us and the Americans. I tell him again: “Proceed according to the operation plan!” And then there was silence. The situation at the fleet command post is tense: I am directly in touch with Mikheev, the fleet OD with the handset of the ZAS apparatus in his hands, in parallel, all actions, orders, reports are transferred to the Navy Central Command Command, from there all this is transferred to the Armed Forces Central Command Command. The entire KP calculation is in progress.
I keep an eye on the stopwatch - I timed it with my last order: the hand ran a minute, two, three... Silence. I’m not asking, I understand what’s going on on the ships now: briefing and losing on maneuvering tablets is one thing, but how everything will turn out in reality is another thing. I can clearly imagine how the high forecastle of the Selfless, together with the hanging anchor, tears the side and massive bow superstructure of the American cruiser Yorktown (its superstructure is designed integrally with the side of the ship). But what will happen to our ship from such mutual “kisses”? And what happens in the second pair of this sea “bullfight” between the SKR-6 and the destroyer Caron? Doubts, uncertainty... It was thought that with this kind of “mooring” while moving, mutual suction (“sticking”) of ships to each other is possible. Well, how will the Americans rush to “board”? We have provided for this possibility - special landing platoons have been formed on the ships and are constantly being trained. But there are many more Americans... All this flashes through my mind, while there are no reports. And suddenly I hear Mikheev’s completely calm voice, as if playing out such episodes on maps: “We walked along the left side of the cruiser. They broke the Harpoon missile launcher. Two broken missiles are hanging from the launch containers. They demolished all the railings on the left side of the cruiser. They smashed the commander’s to pieces. boat. In some places the side and side trim of the bow superstructure were torn. Our anchor came off and sank." I ask: “What are the Americans doing?” He answers: “They played an emergency alarm. Emergency workers in protective suits are watering the Harpoon launcher with hoses and dragging the hoses inside the ship.” "Are the rockets burning?" - I ask. “It seems no, there is no fire or smoke visible.” After this, Mikheev reports for SKR-6: “I walked along the left side of the destroyer, the railings were cut down, the boat was broken. There were breaks in the side plating. The ship’s anchor survived. But the American ships continue the passage at the same course and speed.” I give the command to Mikheev: “Carry out a second pile-up.” Our ships began maneuvering to carry it out.
They tell how everything really happened in the “bulk” area Nikolay Mikheev And Vladimir Bogdashin.
By the time they approached the attack waters, the American ships were following as if in a bearing formation with a distance between them of approximately 15-20 cables (2700-3600 m), - with the cruiser ahead and more seaward, the destroyer closer to the coastline at the cruiser's heading angle of 140-150 hail left side. SKR "Selfless" and "SKR-6" in tracking positions, respectively, of the cruiser and destroyer at their left side heading angles of 100-110 degrees. at a distance of 90-100 m. Behind this group, two of our border ships maneuvered.
Upon receipt of the order “Take positions to dislodge,” a combat alert was declared on the ships, the bow compartments were sealed, personnel were removed from them, torpedoes in the tubes were in combat-ready condition, cartridges were supplied to the gun mounts up to the loading line in the breech, emergency parties were deployed, landing platoons were in readiness at their scheduled locations, the rest of the personnel at combat posts. The starboard anchors are hung on anchor chains made from fairleads. On the navigation bridge of the SKR "Selfless" Mikheev maintains contact with the fleet command post and controls the ships of the group, Bogdashin controls the maneuvers of the ship, and here the officer-translator maintains constant radio communication with American ships. We approached the cruiser at a distance of 40 meters, then 10 meters ("SKR-6" did the same with the destroyer). Sailors and officers with cameras and video cameras poured out on the deck of the cruiser, on the platforms of the superstructure, laughing, waving their hands, making obscene gestures, as is customary among American sailors, etc. The commander of the cruiser came out onto the left open wing of the navigation bridge.
With confirmation of the order “Act according to the operation plan,” we went to “load” the cruiser (“SKR-6” - destroyer). Bogdashin maneuvered in such a way that the first blow landed tangentially at an angle of 30 degrees. to the left side of the cruiser. The impact and friction of the sides caused sparks to fly and the side paint caught fire. As the border guards later said, for a moment the ships seemed to be in a fiery cloud, after which a thick plume of smoke trailed behind them for some time. Upon impact, our anchor tore the plating of the cruiser’s side with one claw, and with the other made a hole in the bow of the side of its ship. The impact threw the TFR away from the cruiser, the stem of our ship went to the left, and the stern began to dangerously approach the side of the cruiser.
An emergency alarm was sounded on the cruiser, personnel rushed from the decks and platforms, and the cruiser commander rushed inside the navigation bridge. At this time, he apparently lost control of the cruiser for some time, and it turned slightly to the right due to the impact, which further increased the danger of it collapsing onto the stern of the TFR "Selfless". After this, Bogdashin, having commanded “starboard,” increased the speed to 16 knots, which made it possible to slightly move the stern away from the side of the cruiser, but at the same time the cruiser turned left to the previous course - after this, the next most powerful and effective pileup occurred, or rather a cruiser ram. The blow fell in the area of ​​the helipad - the tall sharp stem with the forecastle of the SKR, figuratively speaking, climbed onto the cruising helicopter deck and, with a list of 15-20 degrees to the left side, began to destroy with its mass, as well as with the anchor hanging from the hawse, everything that came across it, gradually sliding towards the cruising stern: it tore the skin of the side of the superstructure, cut down all the railings of the helipad, broke the command boat, then slid onto the poop deck (to the stern) and also demolished all the railings with the racks. Then he hooked the Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher - it seemed that a little more and the launcher would be torn from its fastening to the deck. But at that moment, having caught on something, the anchor broke away from the anchor chain and, like a ball (weighing 3.5 tons!), flew over the aft deck of the cruiser from the left side, crashed into the water already behind its starboard side, miraculously not having caught none of the sailors of the cruiser's emergency party who were on deck. Of the four containers of the Harpun anti-ship missile launcher, two were broken in half along with the missiles, their severed warheads hanging on internal cables. Another container was bent.
Finally, the SKR forecastle slid from the stern of the cruiser onto the water, we moved away from the cruiser and took up a position on its beam at a distance of 50-60 meters, warning that we would repeat the attack if the Americans did not come out of the watershed. At this time, a strange bustle of emergency personnel (all blacks) was observed on the deck of the cruiser: having stretched out fire hoses and lightly sprayed water on the broken flares that did not burn, the sailors suddenly began to hastily drag these hoses and other fire-fighting equipment into the interior of the ship. As it later turned out, a fire started there in the area of ​​​​the cellars of the Harpoon anti-ship missiles and Asrok anti-submarine missiles.
Valentin Selivanov. After some time, I received a report from Mikheev: “The destroyer Caron has turned off course and is heading straight towards me, the bearing is not changing.” Sailors understand what “the bearing does not change” means, that is, it is heading for a collision. I tell Mikheev: “Move to the starboard side of the cruiser and hide behind it. Let the Caron ram it.”
Nikolay Mikheev. But "Caron" approached us at a distance of 50-60 meters from the left side and lay down on a parallel course. On the right, at the same distance and also on a parallel course, a cruiser followed. Next, the Americans began, on converging courses, to squeeze the TFR "Selfless" in pincers. He ordered the RBU-6000 rocket launchers to be loaded with depth charges (the Americans saw this) and to deploy them abeam on the starboard and port sides, respectively, against the cruiser and destroyer (however, both RBU launchers operate in combat mode only synchronously, but the Americans did not know this). It seemed to work - the American ships turned away.
At this time, the cruiser began preparing a couple of helicopters for takeoff. I reported to the fleet command post that the Americans were preparing some kind of dirty trick for us with helicopters.
Valentin Selivanov. In response to Mikheev’s report, I convey to him: “Inform the Americans - if the helicopters take off, they will be shot down as if they violated the airspace of the Soviet Union” (the ships were in our terrorist waters). At the same time, he transmitted the order to the command post of the fleet aviation: “Raise the duty pair of attack aircraft into the air! Mission: loitering over American ships that have invaded the terrorist waters in order to prevent their deck-based helicopters from rising into the air.” But the aviation OD reports: “In the area close to Cape Sarych, a group of landing helicopters is practicing tasks. I propose sending a couple of helicopters instead of attack aircraft - it’s much faster, and they will perform the “anti-takeoff” task more effectively and clearly.” I approve this proposal and inform Mikheev about sending our helicopters to the area. Soon I receive a report from the aviation department: “A pair of Mi-26 helicopters are in the air, heading to the area.”
Nikolay Mikheev. He told the Americans what would happen to the helicopters if they were lifted into the air. This did not work - I see the propeller blades have already started spinning. But at that time, a pair of our Mi-26 helicopters with a full combat suspension of on-board weapons passed over us and the Americans, making several circles above the American ships and defiantly hovering somewhat to the side from them, an impressive sight. This apparently had an effect - the Americans turned off their helicopters and rolled them into the hangar.
Valentin Selivanov. Then an order came from the Navy Central Command: “The Minister of Defense demanded that we investigate and report on this incident” (our naval wits later became more sophisticated: report with a list of persons subject to removal from positions and demotion). We submitted a detailed report to the authorities on how everything happened. Literally a couple of hours later, another order comes from the Navy Central Command: “The Minister of Defense demands that those who have distinguished themselves be nominated for promotion” (our wits were found here too: the list of people for demotion should be replaced with a register of those nominated for awards). Well, everyone’s hearts seemed to have eased, the tension had subsided, all of us and the fleet command crew seemed to have calmed down.
The next day, the Americans, without reaching our Caucasian maritime areas, moved to exit the Black Sea. Again, under the vigilant control of the new ship group of our ships. Another day later, the “beaten” ships of the valiant 6th Fleet of the US Navy left the Black Sea, which was inhospitable for them on this voyage.
The next day, Vladimir Bogdashin, on the orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, flew to Moscow with all the documents to report to the Navy command and the leadership of the General Staff all the details of the incident.
Vladimir Bogdashin. In Moscow, I was met by officers from the General Staff of the Navy and taken directly to the General Staff. We went up in the elevator together with Colonel General V.N. Lobov. He, having learned who I was, said: “Well done, son! The sailors did not let us down after this Rust. They did everything right!” Then I reported everything to the General Staff officers, explained the maneuvering schemes and photographic documents. Then I had to tell and explain everything again to a group of assembled journalists. Then I was “picked up” by the correspondent of the military department of the newspaper “Pravda”, captain 1st rank Alexander Gorokhov, and taken to the editorial office, where I had to repeat everything. In the issue of the newspaper for February 14, 1988, his article “What do they want off our shores? Unacceptable actions of the US Navy” was published with a brief description of our “exploits.”
Material prepared by Vladimir Zaborsky, captain 1st rank

The case discussed in the article, although rare, is very indicative of the Soviet-American confrontation during the Cold War. We are talking about the so-called “naval”, that is, a collision of warships without the use of weapons. According to the definition of the maritime explanatory dictionary, a pileup is the contact of ships due to errors in movement calculations. Unlike a collision, damage during a pile-up is almost minimal.

This is exactly the kind of pileup that took place in the Black Sea between Yalta and Foros, when Soviet ships ousted American ships from the territorial waters of the USSR.

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

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

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

The ships of the USSR Black Sea Fleet took American ships as escort immediately after the latter left the Bosphorus. As expected, they greeted us and informed us that they would continue on the same course. Despite the fact that everything was said with humor, saying, “You are our guest, and according to the laws of Russian hospitality, it is not customary to leave guests unattended,” the situation was already aggravated almost from the first minutes of the meeting.

So, with escort, the American ships approached the area south-southeast of Sevastopol (about 40-45 miles) and began completely incomprehensible maneuvers there. Having stayed there for about 2 days, they moved to the area near Sevastopol and, not paying attention to numerous warnings, violated the state border.

After some time, the Black Sea Fleet ships were given the order to “Take positions to oust the intruder ships.” A combat alert was immediately declared, the hatches were sealed, the torpedoes were brought into combat-ready condition, etc.

Almost exactly at 11.00 o’clock, Mikheev reports: “I have approached the cruiser to within 40 meters”... and then report every 10 meters. Sailors can imagine how difficult and dangerous it is to carry out such maneuvers: a huge cruiser with a displacement of 9,200 tons and a patrol boat with a displacement of 3,000 tons, as it were, “moored” to it while moving, and on the other “flank” a very small patrol boat with a displacement of only 1,300 operates against a destroyer with a displacement of 7,800 tons tons Imagine: at the moment of approaching closely with this small patrol ship, put the destroyer sharply with the rudder “to port on the side” - and what will happen to our ship? If it didn’t turn over, this could happen! Moreover, formally the American will still be right in such a collision. So the commanders of our ships had to carry out a difficult and dangerous task.

Mikheev reports:"10 meters." And immediately: “I ask for the go-ahead to act!” Although he had already received all the orders, he apparently decided to play it safe - suddenly the situation changed, and besides, all the negotiations on the air were recorded by both us and the Americans. I tell him again: “Proceed according to the operation plan!” And then there was silence...

I’m keeping an eye on the stopwatch - I timed it with my last order: the hand ran for a minute, two, three... Silence. I’m not asking, I understand what’s going on on the ships now: briefing and losing on maneuvering tablets is one thing, but how everything will turn out in reality is another thing. I can clearly imagine how the high forecastle of the Selfless, together with the hanging anchor, tears the side and massive bow superstructure of the American cruiser Yorktown (its superstructure is designed integrally with the side of the ship). But what will happen to our ship from such mutual “kisses”? And what happens in the second pair of this sea “bullfight” between the SKR-6 and the destroyer Caron? Doubts, uncertainty... It was thought that with this kind of “mooring” while moving, mutual suction (“sticking”) of ships to each other is possible.

Well, how will the Americans rush to “board”? We have provided for this possibility - special landing platoons have been formed on the ships and are constantly being trained. But there are many more Americans... All this flashes through my mind, while there are no reports. And suddenly I hear Mikheev’s completely calm voice, as if playing out such episodes on maps: “We walked along the left side of the cruiser. They broke the Harpoon missile launcher. Two broken missiles are hanging from the launch containers. They demolished all the railings on the left side of the cruiser. They smashed the commander’s to pieces. boat. In some places the side and side trim of the bow superstructure were torn. Our anchor came off and sank." I ask: “What are the Americans doing?” He answers: “They played an emergency alarm. Emergency workers in protective suits are watering the Harpoon launcher with hoses and dragging the hoses inside the ship.” "Are the rockets burning?" - I ask. “It seems no, there is no fire or smoke visible.” After this, Mikheev reports for SKR-6: “I walked along the left side of the destroyer, the railings were cut down, the boat was broken. There were breaks in the side plating. The ship’s anchor survived. But the American ships continue the passage at the same course and speed.” I give the command to Mikheev: “Carry out a second pile-up.” Our ships have begun maneuvering to carry it out."

Nikolai Mikheev and Vladimir Bogdashin tell how everything actually happened in the area of ​​the “bulk”: By the time they approached the terrorist waters, the American ships were following as if in a bearing formation with a distance between them of approximately 15-20 cables (2700-3600 m), - with this cruiser is ahead and more seaward, the destroyer is closer to the coastline at the cruiser's heading angle of 140-150 degrees. left side. SKR "Selfless" and "SKR-6" in tracking positions, respectively, of the cruiser and destroyer at their left side heading angles of 100-110 degrees. at a distance of 90-100 m. Behind this group, two of our border ships maneuvered.

Upon receipt of the order “Take positions to dislodge,” a combat alert was declared on the ships, the bow compartments were sealed, personnel were removed from them, torpedoes in the tubes were in combat-ready condition, cartridges were supplied to the gun mounts up to the loading line in the breech, emergency parties were deployed, landing platoons were in readiness at their scheduled locations, the rest of the personnel at combat posts. The starboard anchors are hung on anchor chains made from fairleads. On the navigation bridge of the SKR "Selfless" Mikheev maintains contact with the fleet command post and controls the ships of the group, Bogdashin controls the maneuvers of the ship, and here the officer-translator maintains constant radio communication with American ships. We approached the cruiser at a distance of 40 meters, then 10 meters ("SKR-6" did the same with the destroyer). On the deck of the cruiser, on the platforms of the superstructure, sailors and officers poured out with cameras, video cameras, laughing, waving their hands, making, as is customary among American sailors, obscene gestures, etc. The commander of the cruiser came out onto the left open wing of the navigation bridge.

With confirmation of the order “Act according to the operation plan,” we went to “load” the cruiser (“SKR-6” - destroyer). Bogdashin maneuvered in such a way that the first blow landed tangentially at an angle of 30 degrees. to the left side of the cruiser. The impact and friction of the sides caused sparks to fly and the side paint caught fire. As the border guards later said, for a moment the ships seemed to be in a fiery cloud, after which a thick plume of smoke trailed behind them for some time. Upon impact, our anchor tore the plating of the cruiser’s side with one claw, and with the other made a hole in the bow of the side of its ship. The impact threw the TFR away from the cruiser, the stem of our ship went to the left, and the stern began to dangerously approach the side of the cruiser.

An emergency alarm was sounded on the cruiser, personnel rushed from the decks and platforms, and the cruiser commander rushed inside the navigation bridge. At this time, he apparently lost control of the cruiser for some time, and it turned slightly to the right due to the impact, which further increased the danger of it collapsing onto the stern of the TFR "Selfless". After this, Bogdashin, having commanded “starboard,” increased the speed to 16 knots, which made it possible to slightly move the stern away from the side of the cruiser, but at the same time the cruiser turned left to the previous course - after this, the next most powerful and effective pileup occurred, or rather a cruiser ram. The blow fell in the area of ​​the helipad - the tall sharp stem with the forecastle of the SKR, figuratively speaking, climbed onto the cruising helicopter deck and, with a list of 15-20 degrees to the left side, began to destroy with its mass, as well as with the anchor hanging from the hawse, everything that came across it, gradually sliding towards the cruising stern: it tore the skin of the side of the superstructure, cut down all the railings of the helipad, broke the command boat, then slid onto the poop deck (to the stern) and also demolished all the railings with the racks. Then he hooked the Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher - it seemed that a little more and the launcher would be torn from its fastening to the deck. But at that moment, having caught on something, the anchor broke away from the anchor chain and, like a ball (weighing 3.5 tons!), flew over the aft deck of the cruiser from the left side, crashed into the water already behind its starboard side, miraculously not having caught none of the sailors of the cruiser's emergency party who were on deck. Of the four containers of the Harpun anti-ship missile launcher, two were broken in half along with the missiles, their severed warheads hanging on internal cables. Another container was bent.

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

With confirmation of the order to “act according to the operation plan,” the Soviet ships went to the “bulk.” The impact and friction caused the paint that covered the side to catch fire. Upon impact, the anchor of one of our ships tore the skin of the American cruiser, but at the same time damaged its bow.

A few minutes later, the next, even more powerful attack occurred, which, rather, became a ram: the blow hit the area of ​​the helipad - our ship simply began to destroy the enemy’s ship - it tore the skin, cut down part of the helipad and hit the Harpoon anti-ship missile system.

After some time, the Americans began preparing helicopters to take off from the wrecked ship. Almost immediately, the Soviet side issued a warning that if the helicopters left the ship, this would be considered a violation of airspace, and every helicopter that took off would be shot down. In order for the Americans to understand that no one would joke anymore, Mi-26 helicopters were flown into the air, which, only by demonstrating the combat suspension, forced the Americans to abandon the idea of ​​​​lifting helicopters into the air.

Valentin Selivanov: After some time, I received a report from Mikheev: “The destroyer Caron has turned off course and is heading straight towards me, the bearing is not changing.” Sailors understand what “the bearing does not change” means, that is, it is heading for a collision. I tell Mikheev: “Move to the starboard side of the cruiser and hide behind it. Let the Caron ram it.”

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

Valentin Selivanov: In response to Mikheev’s report, I convey to him: “Inform the Americans - if the helicopters take off into the air, they will be shot down as if they violated the airspace of the Soviet Union.” At the same time, he transmitted the order to the command post of the fleet aviation: “Raise the duty pair of attack aircraft into the air! Mission: loitering over American ships that have invaded the terrorist waters in order to prevent their deck-based helicopters from rising into the air.” But the aviation OD reports: “In the area close to Cape Sarych, a group of landing helicopters is practicing tasks. I propose sending a couple of helicopters instead of attack aircraft - it’s much faster, and they will perform the “anti-takeoff” task more effectively and clearly.” I approve this proposal and inform Mikheev about sending our helicopters to the area. Soon I receive a report from the aviation department: “A pair of Mi-26 helicopters are in the air, heading to the area.”

Nikolay Mikheev: He told the Americans what would happen to the helicopters if they were lifted into the air. This did not work - I see the propeller blades have already started spinning. But at that time, a pair of our Mi-26 helicopters with a full combat suspension of on-board weapons passed over us and the Americans, making several circles above the American ships and defiantly hovering somewhat to the side from them, an impressive sight. This apparently had an effect - the Americans turned off their helicopters and rolled them into a hangar.

Valentin Selivanov: Then an order came from the Navy Central Command: “The Minister of Defense demanded that we investigate and report on this incident” (our naval wits later became more sophisticated: report with a list of persons subject to removal from positions and demotion). We submitted a report to the authorities on how everything happened. Literally a couple of hours later, another order comes from the Navy Central Command: “The Minister of Defense demands that those who have distinguished themselves be nominated for promotion” (our wits were found here too: the list of people for demotion should be replaced with a register of those nominated for awards). Well, everyone’s hearts seemed to have eased, the tension had subsided, all of us and the fleet command crew seemed to have calmed down.

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