The sailing Navy epoch - The second part of the XVIII century

The emperor Peter I left the Navy of 48 ships and 800 boats with the crew of 28000 people in different seas. The Navy of Peter I was strong not only due to military ships but also to many brave sailors who covered a severe school of wars and long companies.

After Peter's death the Russian Navy gradually fell into decay. The brilliant military activity of the Navy didn't get any continuation during the reign of his female successors. Czar's associates the prince vice-admiral A.Menshikov, general admiral F.Apraksin and A.Osterman busy with other state and sometimes personal affairs caring of their own welfare at the court didn't pay proper attention to the Navy.

The period of flourishing of the sailing Navy began at the end of 18th century and continued till the middle of the 19th century. It is characterized by appearance of more powerful and properly armed ships.

Scientific investigations, gained experience permitted to achieve a series of improvements at constructing new ships during that period. For example, introduction of the diagonal fastening allowed building larger ships. Their underwater part was covered with copper. Outward appearance became more perfect. Artillery of the same caliber was installed at all decks. Russian ship-builders desiring to improve the construction of ships - of their tactical technical data, military opportunities, worked out new projects.

Periods of flourishing and decay of the Navy changed each other for a long time. It is difficult to foresee the Navy development if in the second half of the 18th century hadn't decided that the exit to the Black sea was necessary to keep the southern borders safe from Turkish and Tartar attacks and to solve other acute problems in the South. To have the exit Russia had to possess the powerful Navy.

Since the middle of the 18th century the Navy was leading military activity in the Mediterranean and the Black seas. On October, 14, 1768 Turkey declared war to Russia. To create the new theatre of military actions in the Turkish ownership in the Mediterranean sea and to support the land forces at the Danube the Russian Government decided to send two squadrons under command of admiral G.Spiridonov and D.Elgfingston from the Baltic sea to the Archipelago.

Destruction of the Turkish vessels by the squadron of rear-admiral Greig B. Bronevskoy

The history of navigation had no precedent when two squadrons including 10 battleships, 3 frigates and 11 other ships reached the point of destination safe and sound. In the history of the Russian Navy it was the first ocean squadron seafaring of military ships.

Soon the first battle between the Russian and the Turkish squadrons occurred. They met at the fortress of Chesma in the Hios straight. The proportion of powers was to Turkey's credit. 16 battleships, 6 frigates and several dozens of smaller Turkish ships opposed 9 battleships, 3 frigates, 1 bomber and several Russian ships. In the afternoon on June, 24, 1770 the Russian ships approached the enemy. Turkish cannons answered. So began the fight known as Hios battle. The Turkish Navy retreated to Chesma bay. At the troops council the plan of destroying the Turkish Navy suggested by admiral Spiridonov. It was planned to lock the Turkish ships in the bay and without giving the enemy an opportunity to collect themselves to destroy them by brander-ships. The plan was fulfilled. The battle ended with complete loss of the Turkish. On that day June, 26, 1770 Turkey lost 15 battleships, 6 frigates, more than 40 smaller ships and 10000 sailors. The Russians lost only 11 people. The Chesma victory is one of the brightest pages in the history of the Russian Navy. Estimating its significance admiral Spiridonov wrote to Admiralty college: "Honor to the Russian Navy! On the 26th at night the enemy's Navy was attacked, broken down, burnt, destroyed, sent to the sky, drowned, turned to ashes: and now we are prevailing in the Achipelago. Chesma battle was imprinted in works of art of nearly all marine painters.

Outstanding victories were won by the Russian Navy under the command of admiral F.Ushakov, the author of the new tactics of naval fights, the commander who didn't lose a single battle. With the name of Ushakov the victories of the Russian Navy at the island of Fidonisi on July, 3, 1788, in the straight of Kerch on July, 8, 1790, at the island of Tendra on August, 28-29, 1790, at the cape of Kaliakra on the July, 31, 1791 and also the capture of the fortress Korfu on February, 20, 1799 are connected.

At the same period of time a series of battles of Russian squadrons happened also at the Baltic sea theatre. On July, 6, 1788 the Russian Navy under the command of admiral S.Greig won the victory over the Swedish Navy at the island of Gogland. On July, 15, 1789 the victory was again at the Russian side. The Navy under the command of admiral Chichagov inflicted a defeat on the Swedes. On May, 2, 1790 the battle of Revel battle took place. The military fortune accompanied the Russians also in two battles at Krasnogorsk and at Vyborg battle.

A battle near Tendr island A. Blinkov

The beginning and the first half of the 19th century were also marked by several wonderful victories of Russian sailors. First of all it was the battle at Dardanella on May, 10, 1807, at Afon on June, 19, 1807, at Navarin on October, 8, 1827. The series of bright victories finished with the last battle of the sailing Navy at Sinop on November, 18, 1853 under the command of admiral P.Nakhimov.

The period of the sailing Navy is famous for the series of outstanding cruises of Russian vessels. Dozens of round-the-world and far-away expeditions of Russian sailors permitted to discover unknown countries, continents, islands and streams for Russia and the whole world. Hundreds of Russian names were written on the geographical map of the world.

Gogland battle July 6 1788 (fragment) V. Pen

Undoubtedly the epoch of the sailing fleet takes a prominent place in the creativity of marine painters. They dedicated lots of their works of art to courage of Russian sailors.

Besides battle scenes which depict fragments of sea battles artists glorify the greatness and beauty of sailing vessels on which Russian sailors went to far-away cruises to subjugate new lands. A wonderful series of works of artists of different generations appear which can be united by a concept "the portrait of a sailing vessel". The architecture of the vessel, its wonderful proportions, white sails at the sea background - all this can't leave artists without being stirred.