The root of Russian naval thought lies in the need of economy for the ocean.

The root of Russian naval thought lies in the need of economy for the ocean.

The root of Russian naval thought lies in the need of Russian economic development for the ocean. Long before Peter I, Russia had great maritime interests. The main trade route is from the Baltic Sea to the Bosphorus, passing through Lake Ladoga and the Devinast River to the Dnieper River leading to the Black Sea. The Varangians (Scandinavians in Russia) exchanged fur, oil, amber and slaves for gold, wine and fine textiles in Byzantium. However, with the invasion of Mongols in the13rd century, this maritime trade activity basically disappeared.

By the end of 17, with the expansion of Ivan IV 100 years, Russia had become a feudal power across Europe and Asia at that time, but at this time Russia was an inland country isolated from the sea. It has no sea port, near the Arctic Ocean in the north, and it freezes almost all year round. West and southwest, adjacent to the Baltic and Black Seas. At that time, Turkey and its subordinate country, the Crimean Khanate, occupied the northern shore of the Black Sea, while Sweden owned the Baltic Sea. They cut off Russia's throat to western Europe.

For Russia, it needs the Baltic Sea in order to seize Finland and control Western Europe from the north wing. It needs the Black Sea and the Turkish Strait to control the Balkans, enter the Mediterranean and control Western Europe from the south wing. It also needs the Caspian Sea to invade Central Asia eastward and the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean southward. At the same time, Heilongjiang needs to enter the Pacific Ocean.

Peter I

Peter I considered the Don River, neva river and Heilongjiang as the most important Russian ports. Because it controls the mouth of the Don River, it can enter the Black Sea, then the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean. If you control the Neva estuary, you can enter the Baltic Sea and then the Atlantic Ocean. If you control the estuary of Heilongjiang, you can enter the Sea of Okhotsk and then enter the Pacific Ocean. His views have a far-reaching impact on Russian naval policy and indicate the trend of Russian marine policy in the next two centuries.

In all the reforms of Peter I, the struggle between the ocean and the sea mouth occupies a very important position. 1689 the treaty of Nebuchadnezzar Chu signed in his first year in office stipulated that Russia could not have the sea port of Heilongjiang, which was a great blow to him. He thought it was a disaster. Because at this time, the other two sea ports, the Don River and the neva river Sea Port, are firmly in the hands of Turkey and Sweden respectively. Later, he left this famous saying: "Only the monarch of the army is a man with only one hand, and he who has a navy can become a man with two hands."

After the failure of eastward advance, Peter knew very well that the only way to get access to the sea and communicate with the west was through successful military action. He first turned his eyes to the south. 1695, in view of the failure of the previous two attacks on the Sea of Azov (in 1687 and 1689 respectively), Peter I set out to build a fleet. The following year, Lu Haijun, Russia, conquered the fortress of Azov Sea after 50 days of fighting. After that, the Russian navy was formally established. /kloc-in 0/700, Russia began to build a base for the Azov fleet in Taganrog. For the first time in history, Russia has its own naval fleet in the Black Sea. However, the good times did not last long. Because Russia was defeated in the battle of Prut River in 17 10, the plan to go south to sea failed. Russia has only one direction to the north.

Russian-built ships 170 1

But as early as the beginning of the south, Peter focused his main interest on Sweden, a strong neighbor in the north, and the Northern War broke out for 2 1 year. In this war, Russia's goal is very clear: to occupy the Baltic coast; Destroy Swedish control over Russian rivers and lakes; Build a powerful Baltic fleet; Engage Sweden and destroy it. At that time, Sweden controlled most of the coastline of the Baltic Sea, including both sides of the Gulf of Finland, all of the Gulf of Botnia, the east coast of the Baltic Sea, and even most of the coasts of Lake Ladoga and Lake Peps (that is, Lake Chud) were controlled by it.

1702101October1(1kloc-0/October 22) With the cooperation of the sail fleet, the Russian army captured Fort Notte after more than 40 days of fierce fighting. Later, the city was renamed Schluesselburg (meaning central city), which marked the beginning of Russian entry into the Baltic Sea. After Russia entered the east coast of the Gulf of Finland, it laid the foundation stone for Peter and Paul fortress on Rabbit Island on May 27th, 2003, which became the predecessor of Petersburg, and this day also became the foundation stone laying day of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). At the end of 1704, the Russian fleet expelled Swedes from Lake Ladoga and Lake Peps, and took control of the narrow corridors leading to the Baltic Sea on both sides of neva river. 17 12 Peter I moved to Petersburg. Since then, Petersburg has gradually become the political, economic and cultural center of Russia.

In the subsequent war, the young Russian navy played an active role: 17 10, with the cooperation of the fleet, the Russian army captured the Finnish coast and its opponent (Tallinn). 17 13, a fleet of 200 ships helped the army capture Helsinki. After 17 14, the Swedish fleet was greatly weakened, while Russia basically had the right to control the sea, and also seized the springboard between Finland and Sweden, the Alain Islands.

17 14 schematic diagram of the naval battle at Cape Hanke.

During the reign of Peter I, Russia's naval construction thought was:

The navy should cooperate with the army to fight: the main way is that the navy should ensure the safety of the army's sea side, and when the army besieged the enemy fortress from the land, it should cooperate with the army to stop the enemy from the sea; The offensive and defensive operations in the maritime direction should be coordinated with the battlefield situation on land.

Pay attention to the configuration system of naval base: it mainly plays the functions of fleet berthing, repair and shipbuilding, and becomes the stronghold of Russian seaport. These bases include Arkhangelsk, Vyborg, Kronstad, Tallinn, Taganrog and Baku.

In addition, Peter also founded the original naval school, the Navigation and Mathematics School in 170 1 year, and the Naval Academy in Petersburg in 17 15 year.