Canon boat Korean: death with the cruiser Varyag

The history of the Russian fleet keeps many tragic pages, but the feat of the crews cruiser Varyag and gunboat "Korean" On January 27, 1904, off the coast of Korea, in the port of Chemulpo, a battle took place that became a symbol of courage and loyalty to the oath. The Korean gunboatThe squatters often remain in the shadows, although it was these two boats that shared a common fate on that fateful day.

Both boats were trapped by the superior forces of the Japanese squadron Admiral Uriu. The commanders of the boats, captain 1st rank Vsevolod Rudnev and captain 2nd rank Grigory Belyaev, made a difficult but only possible decision in that situation. Sinking boats It was an act of despair and at the same time a triumph of the spirit that prevented the enemy from taking the boats intact. The Korean cannon boat sank on the Chemulpo raid almost simultaneously with the cruiser Varyag, following the order of self-destruction.

In this article, we will examine in detail the technical features of the Korean, the course of battle that led to the loss of the boat, and analyze why the recovery of the boat after lifting was impossible, you will learn about the design of the artillery, the features of the hull and the role played by this small but proud boat in the history of the Russo-Japanese War.

Technical specifications of gunboat "Korean"

Canon boat "Korean" The boat was a typical representative of the boats of this class of the late nineteenth century, designed for operations in the coastal zone and on rivers, the project was designed with the need to patrol the fairways and support landing operations. The displacement of the boat was only 1,360 tons, making it much smaller and lighter than the cruiser Varyag. gunboat They had some pretty impressive weapons.

The boat's main caliber was two 203 mm guns, one in the bow and one in the stern, which allowed both guns to fire, which was critical in combat, and the additional firepower was provided by four 120 mm guns placed on the sides. heavy-artilleryIt can cause significant damage to even larger opponents in a successful coincidence of circumstances.

The power plant included two triple-expansion steam engines and four boilers, which allowed speeds of up to 14 knots. Although this was inferior to the speed of modern cruisers, for a gunboat whose task was to stand on a raid or patrol slowly, such indicators were considered acceptable. The boat's hull was made of steel, but the armor protection was minimal and could not withstand the hit of large-caliber projectiles, which predetermined its fate in battle with the squadron.

• 🚢 Displacement: 1,360 tons (normal)
• ⚓ Length: 72.3 meters, width: 12.2 meters.
• 💨 Speed: up to 14 knots (full speed).
• 💣 Armament: 2,203 mm, 4,120 mm, 8,47 mm, 2 machine guns.

⚠️ Warning: The Korean gunboat should not be confused with larger battleships or cruisers, and its design weakness was the lack of a full armoured belt, making it vulnerable to high-explosive shells from the Japanese.

Background to the Battle: Blockade of the Port of Chemulpo

By January 1904, the situation in the Far East was heating up with every passing hour, as Japan prepared for war, and the Russian fleet, dispersed in bases, found itself in a difficult position. The Korean Cannon Boat Under the command of Captain 2nd Rank Grigory Pavlovich Belyaev, she was in the port of Chemulpo together with the cruiser Varyag, both boats were to ensure the security of the Russian Embassy and protect the interests of the empire in Korea.

That changed on January 26, when Japanese troop transports began arriving at the port, and Admiral Uriu, the squadron commander, issued an ultimatum: leave the port before 16:00 the next day or be attacked, and Chemulpo was formally considered a neutral port, and the Japanese violated international law, but force was on their side. Russian boats They were trapped: the exit to the open sea blocked a squadron of six cruisers and eight destroyers.

Captain Rudnev called a military council, and the decision to break through was a risky plan, but there was no other way, and the surrender of boats without a fight was considered shameful, and the attempt to break through gave a ghostly but a chance. "Korean" Technically unable to keep up with the Varyag, its speed limited the maneuvers of the entire group, but the crew was ready for battle.

The night before the battle, the boats were in feverish preparation, machinery was tested, guns were loaded, crew training was conducted, and the sailors knew that many of them would not return. Canon boatDespite her modest size, she was ready to take the fight, and Commander Belyaev, like Rudnev, did not consider surrender.

Battle of 27 January 1904

The morning of January 27 (February 9) was clear and cold, and at about 11 o'clock the Russian boats had withdrawn from anchor and slowly moved to the port, and the Japanese squadron was waiting for them, and the first to fire were Japanese cruisers, which were at a distance from the return fire of the Korean, and only by getting closer, the Russian boats were able to engage in a firefight.

The fight was short-lived, only about 45-50 minutes, but it was extremely fierce. The Korean Cannon Boat They focused their fire on the cruiser Asama, trying to do maximum damage, but the Japanese used tactics of coverage and suppression by numerical superiority, shells fell exactly on the target, piercing the thin skin of the boat, fires began, some guns failed.

After getting some serious holes below the waterline, the Korean began to heel, and it became obvious that the boat could not not only break through, but also just stay afloat. Speed dropped, control was disrupted. In this situation, continuing the fight meant simply drowning under a hail of shells without causing the enemy more harm. Captain Belyaev decided to return to the raid to save the crew and then destroy the boat.

• 🔥 Fires: Fire engulfed the superstructures and interfered with the work of artillerymen.
• 🌊 Water intake: Several holes below the waterline led to a rapid roll.
• 🛑 Loss of course: The machinery was damaged by shrapnel, the speed dropped to a minimum.
• 🩸 Cabin losses: 3 people killed, 9 wounded (according to other sources, the losses were higher).

Decision on the sinking of the boat

Back in their original position, the commanders of both boats faced a final dilemma: they couldn't give up the boats to the Japanese, which would mean transferring military equipment and shame, blowing up the boats in the shallow waters of the port, risking the lives of civilians and foreign citizens whose boats were nearby, too, did not want. flooding.

Captain Belyaev left the boat one of the last, making sure that all the people were saved and the machinery destroyed. The Korean Cannon Boat The Varyag was slowly submerged, bent aboard, and at the same time, at about 18:30, the Varyag was sank, and the heroic epic of the two boats ended, but their legend was just beginning.

The Japanese, having assessed the strategic position of Chemulpo, began to lift the sunken boats. The Korean Cannon Boat They were brought up in 1905, and the hull was badly damaged, but Japanese engineers decided to try to rebuild the boat. "Mimo." The Mimo was towed to Japan for repairs.