January 1904 was marked by events that forever entered the names of two Russian boats in the history of the world fleet. Cruiser Varyag. and gunboat "Korean" The episode was a stalemate off the coast of Korea, at the port of Chemulpo, when the Russo-Japanese War broke out, a symbol of resilience and sacrifice, although the historical assessments of the command's tactics are still controversial.
At the time of the conflict, both boats were not the latest examples of engineering, but represented a formidable force in skilled hands. "Varyag"The silk, built in the United States, was considered high-speed, but had weak armor protection. "Korean"The archer, who had served in the Far East for several years, was reliable and seaworthy, but inferior to the Japanese cruisers in speed and artillery power. The commander of the detachment, Captain 1st Rank Vsevolod Rudnev, made a decision that determined the fate of the crews.
The events unfolded rapidly: after receiving an ultimatum from the Japanese Admiral Uriu, the Russian sailors refused to surrender without a fight, and going to sea to break the blockade was the only possible option, despite the obvious numerical superiority of the enemy. The battle of January 27, 1904, lasted only about an hour, but was one of the most striking examples of courage in the history of the Navy. It was here, in the waters of the Yellow Sea, that not only the fate of the two boats was decided, but also the morale of the Russian fleet was formed for many years to come.
Technical specifications and condition of boats before combat
To understand the scale of the tragedy, you need to consider in detail the technical condition of the cruiser VaryagBuilt at Charles Crump's shipyard in Philadelphia, it had an outstanding 23 knot speed for its time, but the pursuit of speed led to savings on armor: the thickness of the side belt was only 102 mm, making the boat vulnerable to large-caliber shells. Artillery consisted of twelve 152 mm guns placed in casemates, which limited the sectors of fire.
In turn, gunboat "Korean" It was a different class boat, built in St. Petersburg, and had a displacement of almost three times less than that of the cruiser, and had eight 120 mm guns and good seaworthiness for the canal, but in combat with the modern armored cruisers of the Japanese Navy, its chances were minimal. Korean speed did not exceed 14 knots, which made it impossible to maneuver in pair with the high-speed "Varyag".
Note that at the time of the fight, the Varyag had boiler problems, which reduced its real speed to 18-19 knots, making the breakthrough even more difficult.
The comparative table of the main specifications of the warring parties demonstrates the overwhelming superiority of the Japanese fleet in this sector:
| Characterization | Cruiser Varyag. | Canlodka "Korean" | Japanese Squadron (total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of construction | 1901 | 1896 | 1896-1903 |
| Displacement (t) | 6604 | 2460 | ~30000 |
| Artillery (mm) | 12x152, 8x75 | 8x120, 4x47 | More than 50 guns. |
| Max. speed (knot) | 23 (fact. ~19) | 14 | 22. |
It is important to note that the Japanese detachment of Admiral Uriu included not only light forces, but also heavy armored cruisers of the type. "Asama" and "Chicuma."Their shells penetrated the Varyag through, causing critical damage. Status of artillery Russian boats also left much to be desired: the lack of rangefinders and modern sights reduced the effectiveness of shooting at long distances.
Chronology of events: from ultimatum to sea
On the morning of January 27, 1904, the Japanese Admiral Sotokichi Uriu sent an ultimatum to the commander of the detachment demanding that he leave the port of Chemulpo before 12:00, threatening to attack the Russian boats in the raid. Captain Rudnev. He called a military council, and the only decision that a Russian officer could make was to fight, and to refuse would be a shameful surrender without resistance.
11:20 at night "Varyag" and "Korean" They had withdrawn from anchor and slowly moved towards the port, and a mass of foreign observers and sailors from other boats had gathered on the shore, waiting for the outcome of the battle, and the Japanese squadron, which had taken up position off Folsham Island, was waiting for the Russians to leave. Combat order The Japanese were built to intercept the Russians at any maneuver.
☑️ Pre-fight action plan
At 11:45 the Japanese opened the first volley, the Varyag responded with fire, but due to poor visibility and pitching, the first shots fell into the water. Canon boat The boat was kept close to the shore, trying to keep up with the cruiser, but the difference in speed became more obvious, maneuvering the Russian boats was hampered by the narrowness of the fairway, which made them an excellent target for concentrated enemy fire.
The course of the naval battle at Chemulpo
The battle developed in a dramatic scenario, where Japanese cruisers took advantage of the speed, bending Russian boats and firing from different directions. "Varyag" A 203 mm round of shells pierced the plywood bulkhead and exploded in the cabin of an artillery officer, causing a fire and jamming the steering, and the boat began to tilt.
"Korean"Although small, he was active in firing, distracting some of the Japanese attention, but soon the canalod also began to suffer serious damage, several guns were disabled, and fires broke out in the superstructures. Rate of fire Russian artillery was much lower than Japanese, which did not allow effective return fire to suppression.
⚠️ Attention: The critical aspect of the battle was the impact of a projectile on the Varyag, where the fragments destroyed all fire control devices and wounded officers, effectively depriving the boat of the ability to coordinate the firing.
At about 12:30, having received about 11 hits by large shells and having a strong roll, the Varyag returned to the raid. "Korean" The hull and machinery were severely damaged, and there was no physical capability to continue the battle: boats were burning, people were injured, and ammunition was partially destroyed or inaccessible due to debris.
Decision on the destruction of boats
Back on the raid, Captain Rudnev called a second military council, and the situation was hopeless: there was nothing to break through, and surrendering to the enemy was against naval honor. destroyThe crews had to leave the boats and move to neutral boats in port.
Nana "Varyage" The kingstones were opened to sink the boat, and the bow was loaded and detonated, destroying the wounded boat. "Korean" The crew blew up the bow and opened the kingstons, slowly sinking into the water, taking with them the pride of the Russian fleet.
The evacuation was organized, and the sailors were received by boats from the United Kingdom, Italy, France and the United States. Japanese NavyThe boat, in keeping with the rules of war, did not finish off sinking boats or attack neutral boats, and this saved almost all of its personnel, although many sailors were injured in varying degrees of severity.
The fate of sunken boats
The Japanese raised the Korean in 1905 and incorporated it into their fleet under the name Tsushima, which served until 1916, when it was sold to Russia in reparations, but did not reach Vladivostok and sank in a storm. The Varyag was also raised, renamed the Soy, used as a training boat, and in 1916 returned to Russia. In 1920, the cruiser, stationed in Scotland, was sold for scrap and dismantled.
Historical significance and memory of the feat
The events at Chemulpo instantly became the property of the world public. "Varyagha." and "Korean" The boat was used to raise the patriotic spirit that was sorely needed in the face of the failed war, and the sailors were awarded, and Captain Rudnev received a gold saber with the inscription "For the fight against the Japanese on January 27, 1904".
But historical analysis shows that the loss of two boats was a heavy loss from a military standpoint, with the Navy losing its combat-ready units at the outset of the campaign. Technical shortcomings The "Varyagas" of weak defenses and poor gun positioning became apparent, but the moral aspect of the act outweighed the tactical losses in the public consciousness.
The memory of heroes is immortalized in numerous monuments, songs and works of art, and the legendary song “The Sea is Widely Scattered...” became an unofficial anthem of the courage of Russian sailors. Cruiser Varyag. and canlodka "Korean" They are a symbol that even in a lost battle, you can win a moral victory.
⚠️ Attention: During Soviet times, the emphasis was on the heroism of sailors, and the figure of the Tsarist officer Rudnev was often silenced or criticized, and the full restoration of historical justice did not occur until the end of the twentieth century.
The main result of the battle was not a military victory, but a demonstration of the incredible resilience of the Russian character, which became an important moral lesson for future generations of the fleet.
Analysis of the causes of defeat and lessons for the Navy
In examining the reasons for the failure, the strategic mistakes of the Pacific Fleet command are not to be overlooked: the scattered forces, the lack of a clear plan of action in the event of war, and the underestimation of the enemy have led to the fact that the best boats are trapped. "Varyag" and "Korean" They were doomed before leaving port due to lack of support from the main forces of the fleet in Vladivostok or Port Arthur.
The technical aspect also played a role: Russian naval artillery was inferior to Japanese in the rate of fire and quality of shells (often with black gunpowder instead of pyroxyline). Reservations The Varyagha proved ineffective against the new Japanese guns, lessons learned in the construction of the next series of boats, such as the Bayan-class cruisers or the Borodino-class battleships.
However, Chemulpo’s experience has shown the importance of intelligence and interoperability, and if Russian commanders had accurate data on the movements of the Japanese squadron, the trap might have been avoided. Canon boatThe island, which had less autonomy, also needed more reliable cover or basing in a more secure harbor.
Why did the squirrel fail to reach full speed?
The boilers of the cruiser were worn out and overgrown with scale, which reduced their effectiveness, and when trying to get full speed, there was a strong vibration that could lead to the destruction of the mechanisms, the real speed in the battle did not exceed 18 knots.
Who wrote the famous song about the Varyag?
The lyrics were written by poet Yakov Khodorov, and the music was written by composer Alexei Turishchev, and the song was created just days after the fight and instantly became popular throughout Russia.
Where are the remains of the boats now?
The site of the boat’s destruction at Chemulpo (now Incheon, South Korea) is a historic site, and in the 2000s, work was underway to recover artifacts from the Varyag, some of which are stored in Russian museums.