A Russian ship rams an American cruiser. Incident in the Black Sea: "Selfless" goes to ram! "Heroes of Shipka" helped

Ram scheme

Naval SKR "Selfless" on the cruiser "Yorktown"

one of the episodes of the confrontation between two world powers during the Cold War, when provocative actions of one side led to active opposition from the other: two Soviet warships - the SKR patrol ship Bezavetny and SKR-6 - attacked two American warships - missile cruiser Yorktown (CG-48) and destroyer Caron (DD-970)

Description of USS Yorktown (CG 48)

Options:

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

Armament:

• 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

Description of "SKR Bezavetny"

TFR "Selfless"

Options:

• Length: 123 m
• Width: 14.2 m
• Displacement: 3200 tons
• Range: 5000 miles
• Crew: 197
• Speed: 32.2 knots

Weapons:

• 2 twin 76.2 mm gun mounts AK-726-MR-105
• 4 PU URPK-5 “Fast”
• 2 x 2 launchers of the Osa-MA-2 air defense system
• 2 x 12 rocket launchers RBU-6000 “Smerch-2”
• 2 x 4 533 mm torpedo tubes ChTA-53-1135
• up to 16 sea mines

Description of USS Caron (DD-970)

USS Caron (DD-970)

Options

• Length: 171 m
• Width: 17.6 m
• Displacement: 8040 tons
• Draft: 8.8 m
• Crew: 295
• Speed: 32 knots

Armament

• Guns: 2 MK.45
• Torpedo tubes: 6 324mm Mk 32
• Missile launchers: 2 MK41
• Anti-ship systems: Harpoon
• Cruise missiles: 2 MK-143 for Tomahawk
• Anti-aircraft guns: 2 MK-29 for Sea Sparrow; 2 Vulcan MK.15
• Anti-submarine systems: 1 ASROK-VLA
• Helicopters: 2

Radar equipment

• Sonar: SQS-53B Sonar SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array Sonar
• Locator/Radar: SPS-40E,SPS-55
• Fire control systems: SPG-60

Description of SKR-6

Options

• Length, 82.4 m
• Width, 9.1 m
• Total displacement, 1140 t
• Displacement is normal, 960 t
• Draft, 3 m
• Full speed with gas turbine, 32 knots
• Full speed with diesel engines, knots 20
• Economic speed, 14 knots
• Gas turbine power, 2 x 18000 hp.
• Diesel power, 2 x 6000 hp.
• Cruising range, miles 2000
• Crew, people 96

Armament

• 2x2 76mm AK-726 gun mounts
• 2x5 400 mm torpedo tubes
• 2x12 RBU-6000 rocket launchers (120 RGB-60)

Even an inexperienced observer can see how big the difference in size is.

Background

This case was unique in the Black Sea Fleet and the American Navy. This episode is still being examined in military naval schools. In the 80s of the 20th century, the Soviet Union was marked by an increase in economic and political crises, which could not but affect the international position of the country. The USSR was moving further and further away from the status of a powerful world power, a stronghold of world socialism, capable of successfully resisting the rest of the capitalist world.

In particular, this was reflected in the increase in the number of provocative actions on the part of the main “probable enemy” - the United States.

The breeding ground for such provocations, among other things, was the question of determining the border of territorial waters, namely: the line from which the 12-mile zone of territorial waters should be counted. In the USA they argued that the count should be taken from every point on the coastline. The Soviet Union adhered to the principle of the so-called “baseline”: for example, when determining the zone of territorial waters in bays, the distance to the border was measured not from the coastline, but from the line connecting the entrance capes of the bays.

Bulk "SKR-6" on the destroyer "Caron"

An additional factor that was used in provocations was that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), signed by the USSR in 1982, stipulated the possible innocent passage of warships with weapons on board through certain sections of the territorial waters of coastal states. This was allowed in exceptional cases, in order to shorten the route and to comply with a number of conditions: not to carry out reconnaissance missions, not to fly aircraft, not to conduct exercises.

In the waters adjacent to the territory of the USSR there were several areas with a disputed line of demarcation of the state border. One of these areas was located off the coast of Crimea with coordinates 44° N. and 33°E A number of important strategic objects were located on the shore fairly close to it: in Saki there was a ground-based test simulator for naval aviation (NITKA), on which pilots of the future air group of the aircraft carrier Leonid Brezhnev (Admiral of the Fleet Kuznetsov) were trained, and in Foros it was being completed a complex of dachas of the CPSU Central Committee, equipped with an appropriate government communications system.

On March 13, 1986, the cruiser Yorktown (USS CG 48 Yorktown) and the destroyer Caron (USS DD-970 Caron) entered territorial waters off the southern coast of Crimea 6 miles (approximately 10 km). Moreover, the American ships were traveling with working radar stations and other radio-electronic equipment, which meant they were carrying out reconnaissance missions. After this incident, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Fleet Admiral Vladimir Chernavin, turned to the Minister of Defense, Marshal Sokolov, with a plan to actively counter such provocations.

Based on this plan, Marshal Sokolov made a special report to the Central Committee of the CPSU in the summer of 1986, detailing “measures in the event of another violation of territorial waters in the Black Sea by American ships.” The report proposed actively constraining the actions of intruder ships, even to the point of boarding them and expelling them from the country’s territorial waters. After this, Admiral Chernavin was invited to the National Defense Council, chaired by Mikhail Gorbachev. In the presence of Gorbachev, KGB Chairman Chebrikov, Foreign Minister Shevardnadze, Prime Minister Ryzhkov, Defense Minister, Chief of the General Staff and commanders-in-chief of all military branches, the admiral spoke in detail about the essence of the problem and his idea of ​​​​a surge, citing the example of tanks, which was more understandable to ground military commanders. Gorbachev approved the idea, at the same time recommending to “choose stronger ships.” He also asked Chernavin to provide in advance all measures to exclude casualties among ship personnel.

A direct consequence of this meeting was a special directive from the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy to the commanders of the fleets in the North, the Pacific Ocean and the Black Sea to oust foreign intruder ships.

Events of February 12

At the beginning of February 1988, it became known about the upcoming entry into the Black Sea by the cruiser Yorktown and the destroyer Caron from the US 6th Fleet. Chernavin gave the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Khronopulo, the order to act in accordance with the previously received directive.

Since Khronopulo was in Moscow at that time, the immediate leader of the ousting operation was the Chief of Staff of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral Selivanov. The task was entrusted to the commander of the TFR “Selfless”, captain 2nd rank Bogdashin, and the commander of the “SKR-6” captain 3rd rank Petrov. In addition, the border patrol ship Izmail and the search and rescue ship Yamal were sent to escort the American ships. The entire group of ships was commanded by 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.

Soviet ships took American ships as escort immediately after leaving the Bosphorus. The Americans passed the territorial waters of Bulgaria, then the territorial waters of Romania, then turned east, moved to an area 40-45 miles south-southeast of Sevastopol and remained there for two days.

On February 12, the Black Sea Fleet command post received a report from Mikheev at approximately 9.45: “The American ships are on a course of 90°, which leads to our terrorist waters, speed is 14 knots. The waterway is 14 miles away.” Selivanov ordered Mikheev to convey to the American ships: “Your course leads to Soviet waters, which is unacceptable. I have orders to force you out, even to the point of attack and ramming.” The Americans replied: “We are not violating anything, we are following the same course, the speed is the same.” Then Mikheev received instructions to take positions for displacement.

At 10.45 "Yorktown" and "Caron" entered the territorial waters of the USSR. The border TFR “Izmail” raised a signal: “You have violated the border of the territorial waters of the USSR,” and “Selfless”, “SKR-6” and “Yamal” began maneuvering to get closer to the Americans. The "Selfless" caught up with the "Yorktown", and for some time the ships followed parallel courses almost close to each other.

At 11.02, the “Selfless” shifted the rudder to the right and made a pileup on the stern of the “Yorktown” with its starboard side at an angle of 30 degrees. The impact and friction of the sides caused sparks to fly and the side paint caught fire. The anchor of the "Selfless" with one paw tore the plating of the cruiser's side, and with the other made a hole in the bow of the side of its ship. At the same time, "SKR-6" passed tangentially along the left side of the destroyer "Caron", cut down its rails, tore the side plating and smashed the boat. The Yamal commander also made a dangerous approach to the Caron, but without a collision.

After the impact, “Selfless” and “Yorktown” turned in opposite directions from each other, but both commanders ordered the ships to be returned to their previous course, and “Selfless” also increased its speed, which led to another pile-up.

During the second strike, the high stem of the "Selfless" climbed onto the helicopter deck of the "Yorktown" (while the stern of the Soviet ship was at the cut of the water level) and, with a list to the left side, began to slide towards the cruising poop. At the same time, the patrol boat demolished the cruiser's railing, broke its command boat and the Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher. As a result of the collision, a fire started on the Yorktown. The Selfless moved away from the Yorktown, but warned that it would repeat the attack if the American ships did not leave territorial waters. However, instead, the destroyer Caron began to approach the Selfless, and both American ships, on converging courses, began to squeeze the patrol ship caught between them in pincers. In response, Mikheev ordered to demonstratively load RBU-6000 rocket launchers with depth charges and deploy them abeam on the starboard and port sides, respectively, against the cruiser and destroyer.

The American ships stopped approaching, but the Yorktown began preparing deck helicopters for takeoff. Selivanov ordered Mikheev to tell the Americans: “If the helicopters take off, they will be shot down as if they violated the airspace of the Soviet Union,” and gave instructions to send fleet aviation to the incident area. After two Mi-24s appeared above the American ships, the Yorktown helicopters rolled back into the hangar. The American ships changed course and went into neutral waters, where they began to drift. The ram was unexpected for the enemy, and caused great damage to the American Navy. We turned around and urgently left the Black Sea.

After the incident, Yorktown was under repair for several months. 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. [source not specified 21 days]

Bogdashin was awarded the Order of the Red Star, and in 1991 he accepted the position of commander of the cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the USSR Black Sea Fleet. After the incident, the Bezzavetny TFR was under repair for about a month, after which it continued service. On July 14, 1997, the ship's crew was disbanded. On August 1, 1997, under the terms of the division of the Black Sea Fleet, “Selfless” was transferred to the Ukrainian Navy.

"SKR-6" was decommissioned in 1990.

The American side's opinion on the events of February 12, 1988

In 1992, the official publication of the US military department “Military Legal Review” (English Dept. Army pamphlet MILITARY LAW REVIEW, winter 1992) published an article mentioning the incident in the Black Sea on 02/12/1988.

According to this source, in 1982, the USSR adopted the Law on the State Border of the USSR and a number of by-laws, by which the Soviet side introduced restrictions on the free passage of foreign warships in five zones of the territorial waters of the USSR (in the Baltic, Okhotsk, Japanese and Black Seas). The United States believed that the introduction of these restrictions was a violation of international laws and, in particular, the Free Navigation Convention.

On February 12, 1988, the cruiser Yorktown and the destroyer Caron received instructions from the Pentagon to proceed through an area closed by the Soviet side for free passage in the territorial waters of the USSR near the Crimean Peninsula. The purpose of this action was “to demonstrate a non provocative exercise of the right of innocent passage.”

According to the source, “Caron” was first on the warrant, followed by “Yorktown.” After exchanging radiograms, at the direction of the Soviet command, SKR-6 made an attack on the Caron, and three minutes later, the Selfless made an attack on the Yorktown. However, the American ships still continued to follow their course and completed the passage through Soviet territorial waters.

The United States believes that the passage of American warships through Soviet territorial waters on February 12, 1988 was a valid exercise of the right of innocent passage. At the same time, Richard Armitage, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, believed that such passages “from an operational standpoint, the transits were not necessary)

The case, which will be discussed below, is a rather rare, although essentially the last example of a bygone era of Soviet-American confrontation on the seas and oceans, which lasted for more than one year and more than one decade. As a matter of fact, this was a rather unique example of its kind in using modern warships without the use of weapons, i.e. by attacking the ship of the opposing party.

According to the definition of the maritime explanatory dictionary, a pileup is a contact of ships, resulting from errors in movement calculations. Unlike a collision, damage from a rollover is usually minimal. Naval was widely used in ancient times. Then, following the attack on the enemy ship, a boarding party landed on its deck and the outcome of the battle was decided in close combat.

We will talk about the displacement of American ships by Soviet warships from an area considered to be territorial waters of the USSR. This happened on the Black Sea in the area between Yalta and Foros. The background to this case is as follows. The fact is that Soviet and American specialists had completely different approaches to where exactly the 12-mile zone of territorial waters should be measured from. The Americans adhered (and still adhere) to the point of view that the counting should be carried out from each point of the coastline. Soviet experts proceeded from the fact that the countdown should be carried out from the so-called. baseline. Difficulties arose with bays, etc. So, when a bay juts deep into the coast, inside of which there was a kind of “tongue” of neutral waters, foreign ships had the opportunity to conduct electronic reconnaissance without hindrance. The Soviet approach to calculating the boundaries of territorial waters excluded such a possibility. In such cases, Soviet specialists counted territorial waters from a line connecting the entrance capes of such bays. Thus, according to the Soviet version, a “tongue” of neutral waters did not form in the bays. The Americans were not happy with this and they clearly demonstrated this more than once, both in the Black Sea and in the Far East, almost every year sending their warships to such zones to conduct electronic reconnaissance. At the same time, the American ships did not react in any way to the signals of the Soviet maritime border guards and passed into areas that were considered by the Soviet side to be their own territorial waters. They always did this demonstratively, entering Soviet territorial waters without any navigational need, motivating their actions by the existence of the right of “free passage.”

Naturally, such a striking difference in understanding the situation each time put the ships of both countries in a state of heightened combat readiness. Every time the overseas “guests” passing along the coast were accompanied by ships of the Soviet Navy, aviation and radar stations of the border guards and coastal defense. The fact is that, in fact, such passage was allowed along routes usually used for international shipping. This was done in accordance with the existing Code of Rules and Laws of the USSR, as well as international treaties of the USSR.

Similar areas included the area off the coast of Crimea with coordinates 440 North and 330 East. The Yankees especially frequented this area in the 80s, completely ignoring the fact that in the Black Sea waters of the then USSR there was simply not a single route along which the specified right of free passage existed.

The most defiant, according to the recollections of the last commander-in-chief of the USSR Navy, Fleet Admiral Vladimir Chernavin, was the Pentagon action on March 13, 1986. Then the missile cruiser Yorktown and the destroyer Caron entered territorial waters off the southern coast of Crimea for as much as 6 miles. Moreover, unlike all previous similar cases, this time the American ships sailed with all radars and radio-electronic equipment operating at full power. This meant that the territory of the country for several hundred kilometers was viewed and listened to by other people's electronic “ears.” And this completely contradicted even the right of free passage declared by the Americans, contrary to the requirements of international rules, according to which such areas must be passed with radio-electronic equipment turned off. Needless to say, any such action by foreign ships off the domestic coast introduced certain restrictions on the use of open means of communication, especially in Crimea. In addition, in Saki, at a ground-based test simulator for naval aviation (NITKA), specially built at the Navy air base, tests of new carrier-based aircraft intended for basing on the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Leonid Brezhnev" (later "Tbilisi", which was being built in Nikolaev) had just begun. "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov"). Testing of flight equipment was accompanied by the widespread use of various electronic systems, which were also tested at the ground complex. And in the Foros area, construction was underway on a dacha for the President of the USSR (it was there that the conspirators blocked M. Gorbachev in August 1991). Probably, at that time there were other circumstances that prompted the Americans to send their ships to the Crimean shores.

The Soviet Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Fleet Admiral Vdamimir Chernavin, closely monitored developments at sea and accepted the next challenge from the Americans in advance. He decided to fight back, and he intended to act by unconventional means, without resorting to forceful pressure and at the same time, quite effectively. True, for this he, as a military man, had to seek the consent of his immediate superior, the then Minister of Defense of the USSR, Marshal of the Soviet Union S. Sokolov. The admiral proposed to counteract them with active measures during the next “free passage” of ships under the Stars and Stripes flag. But in the Soviet Union nothing was done just like that. This was especially true for matters related to defense. The consent of party authorities was required. Therefore, Marshal Sokolov made a special report to the CPSU Central Committee, telling in detail “about measures in the event of another violation of territorial waters on the Black Sea by American ships.” The report proposed to restrain the actions of intruder ships in every possible way, even to the point of boarding them and forcing them out of the country’s territorial waters. This was in mid-1986. Soon after this, Admiral Chernavin was invited to the National Defense Council, chaired by M. Gorbachev. In the presence of Gorbachev, KGB Chairman Chebrikov, Foreign Minister Shevardnadze, Prime Minister Ryzhkov, Defense Minister, Chief of the General Staff and commanders-in-chief of all branches of the military, the admiral spoke in detail about the essence of the problem and suggested that this kind of “small Politburo” teach the “presumptuous” a lesson Yankees." For greater clarity and clarity, Chernavin spoke about his idea of ​​​​a bulk attack, giving an example with tanks, which was more understandable to ground military commanders. Everyone liked the idea, but there was still no unity regarding the form of implementation. According to the admiral’s recollections, Gorbachev personally put an end to this discussion, who himself approved the idea, at the same time recommending “to choose stronger ships.” He also asked Chernavin to provide in advance all measures to exclude casualties or injuries among ship personnel.

A direct consequence of the received directive was a specially developed directive from the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy to the commanders of the fleets in the North, the Pacific Ocean and the Black Sea to oust foreign intruder ships.

And then came February 1988. At the beginning of the month, it became known about the upcoming entry into the Black Sea of ​​both “old acquaintances”, 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, Chernavin gave the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Mikhail Khronopulo, the order to act in accordance with the previously received directive.

Two patrol ships were assigned to the operation: "Selfless" (Project 1135, 1977) and SKR-6 (Project 35, 1963). In addition to them, the American ships were accompanied in the Black Sea by the border patrol ship "Izmail" and the reconnaissance ship "Yamal" (Project 596P, 1967). Each of them solved its own range of tasks, while 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 eventually arrived, looked like this.
At 09.45, 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 you set 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 military ships in this area is prohibited. In order to avoid an incident, I strongly recommend changing your course in order to preventing violation of the territorial waters of the USSR."

At 10.15 a response came from the Yorktown: “I understand. I am not violating anything. I am acting 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. In case of violation of territorial waters, I have the order to displace you until the collapse." At the same time, Khronopulo transmits the order to "Yamal" to be ready to carry out a dangerous maneuver. Of course, the "Yamal", which had ice reinforcements and thick plating, built in the hull of a timber carrier, to carry out Navala would be an ideal ship. But its 15-knot full speed did not leave any hope of catching up with the Americans, even following the economic course, not to mention the fact that they could easily give 30 knots at full speed. The rest of the time, "Yamal" followed the rest of the ships and did not take any part in further events.Thus, the chances of carrying out a pile-up remained realistic only for the faster SKRs.

At 10.45 "Yorktown" again responds to "Selfless" with the standard phrase: "I will not change course. I am using the right of peaceful passage. I am not violating 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. A private border incident took on the character of an international conflict. The warships of the two superpowers maneuvered dangerously close to each other, stubbornly insisting that they were right, while simultaneously ignoring the point of view of the other side.

At 10.56, the destroyer Caron, noticing the decisive maneuver of the SKR-6, which was catching up with it and 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 message from the "Selfless" about the violation of the border 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...". This was not the case in the naval confrontation between the USSR and the USA, even in more difficult years, when the squadrons of the two fleets converged in the Mediterranean Sea, examining each other through their sights. On the aft deck of the Yorktown, sailors crowded along the side. Some take photographs of the approaching "Selfless", others just watch. But soon all of them had no time for jokes - the nose of the Soviet guard was approaching the railing. At 11:02, the "Selfless" fell on the left side of the cruiser, with a grinding sound of metal, it walked along the rails and the Harpoon missile launcher, crushing them.

This was one of the most dangerous moments of the Battle of Foros. After all, the launchers contained combat cruise missiles. Fortunately, there was minimal damage. The outer plating on the starboard side was only slightly dented on the "Selfless". The people on both ships were also not injured.

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 the 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 a second attack. Having moved away from the American ships to a safe distance, both patrol ships continue - or escorting the intruders in full readiness to repeat the maneuver. However, this was no longer necessary. Both American ships set out on a course to leave territorial waters, not risking returning the same way, as they had practiced before. Having entered neutral waters, they drifted , conducting active negotiations by radio with his superiors.Then both ships headed towards the Bosporus, without further entering Soviet territorial waters. Thus ended an unusual “naval operation” of more than 30 years of the Cold War in the World Ocean.

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 Minister of Defense issued an order: 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 cards: “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 the 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 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 to 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