In Russia, Navy Day is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of July. The need for a fleet appeared in Russia back in the 17th century. To avoid total cultural and political isolation, the empire needed the development of sea routes. The lack of a fleet hampered the country's development.

“There will be sea vessels” - these words of Peter I predetermined the appearance of the birthday of the Russian Navy. At the insistence of the emperor, the Boyar Duma on October 20, 1696 decided to create a regular fleet in the state.

Peter’s persistence could be understood - just a year earlier, the siege of the Russian army of the Turkish fortress of Azov ended in failure. And all because of the lack of a fleet in the Russians, because the Turkish fleet freely supplied the besieged from the sea with ammunition and food.

Military shipbuilding began in Voronezh, then in St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk and Ladoga. The Baltic and Azov fleets were quickly created, followed by the Pacific and Northern.

At the shipyards of the Voronezh Admiralty in 1696-1711, about 215 ships were built for the first Russian regular navy. As a result, the Azov fortress was conquered, and subsequently a peace treaty necessary for Russia was signed with Turkey.

A Brief History of the Russian Navy

Thanks to the presence of the fleet, Russian sailors also made a significant contribution to geographical discoveries. So, in 1740 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky was founded, to which V. Bering and A. Chirikov contributed. A year later, they discovered a strait through which they reached the western coast of the continent of North America.

From the navigators Bering and Chirikov, the baton of geographical discoveries, which are of great importance for the country, science and economy, was picked up by such Russian navigators as E.V. Putyatin, F.F. Bellingshausen, M.P. Lazarev, V.M. Golovnin.

Already in the second half of the 18th century, the Russian Navy became so strong and expanded that it occupied third place in the world in terms of the number of warships. The skill and tactics of combat behavior at sea were constantly improved, and thanks to this, Russian sailors won victories in naval battles. The exploits of admirals F.F. Ushakova, P.S. Nakhimova, G.A. Spiridova, D.N. Senyavina, V.I. Istomina, G.I. Butakova, S.O. Markov and V.A. Kornilov went down in the history of the navy as the bright, brilliant actions of talented naval commanders.

Russia's foreign policy has become more active. In 1770, the Russian Navy achieved dominance in the Aegean Sea, through the efforts of the squadron of Admiral Spiridov, who defeated the Turkish flotilla.

The following year, the coast of the Kerch Strait and the fortresses of Kerch and Yeni-Kale were conquered.

Soon the Danube military flotilla was formed. And in 1773, the Azov flotilla proudly entered the Black Sea.

In 1774, the Russian-Turkish war, which lasted for six years, ended. Victory remained with the Russian Empire, and according to its terms, part of the Black Sea coastline between the Dniester and Southern Bug rivers, and most importantly, the entire coast of the Azov Sea, went to Russia. Crimea was declared an independent state under Russian protectorate. And in 1783 it became part of Russia.

In 1783, the first ship of the Black Sea Fleet was launched from the port of Kherson, specially founded five years earlier.

By the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian Navy was the third largest in the world. It consisted of the Baltic, Black Sea fleets, White Sea, Caspian and Okhotsk flotillas. Great Britain and France were ahead in size.

In 1802, the Ministry of Naval Forces was created for management, which a little later was renamed the Naval Ministry.

The first military steamship was built in 1826. It was called Izhora, and was armed with eight guns, with a power of 100 horsepower.

The first frigate steamship was built in 1836. It was already armed with 28 guns. Its power was 240 horsepower, its displacement was 1320 tons, and this ship-frigate was called Bogatyr.

Between 1803 and 1855, more than forty long-distance voyages, including around the world, were made by Russian navigators. Thanks to their resilience, the development of the oceans, the Pacific region, and the development of the Far East took place.

The fleet also showed its heroic roots during the difficult years of the Great Patriotic War. Soviet warships beat the Nazis at sea, as well as on land and in the sky, reliably covering the front flanks.

Soldiers of the marine infantry units, naval pilots, and submariners also distinguished themselves.

During the Great Patriotic War, combat operations at sea were led by admirals A.G. Golovko, S.G. Gorshkov, I.S. Isakov, F.S. Oktyabrsky, I.S. Isakov, I.S. Yumashev, L.A. Vladimirsky and N.G. Kuznetsov.

Russian Navy today

The Russian Navy has a history of just over three hundred years, and at the moment it consists of the following operational-strategic formations:

• Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy with headquarters in Vladivostok;
• Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy with headquarters in Severomorsk;
• Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy with headquarters in Astrakhan;
• Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy with headquarters in Kaliningrad;
• Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy with headquarters in Sevastopol.

The structure of the Russian Navy consists of surface and submarine forces, naval aviation (tactical, strategic, deck and coastal), coast guard troops, marines and centrally subordinate units, as well as rear units and units.

The modern Russian Navy has reliable military equipment - nuclear submarines, powerful missile cruisers, anti-submarine ships, naval aircraft and landing craft.

Sailors are not an easy profession, but they are always respected.

| Types of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation | Navy

Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

Types of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

Navy

From the history of creation

In 1695, the young Tsar Peter I attempted to capture the Azov fortress occupied by the Turks. The siege ended in failure, since the fortress garrison received great assistance and support from the Turkish fleet that dominated the Sea of ​​Azov.

After analyzing the reasons for the unsuccessful siege in Russia, the Admiralty was established, and on the river. Shipbuilding shipyards were founded in Voronezh. As a result of energetic measures taken in 1696. managed to create the first connection of combat and transport ships in the history of Russia, the so-called naval military caravan. It consisted of 2 frigates, 23 galleys, 4 fire ships and about 1000 small rowing ships. In May 1696, a ground army (about 75 thousand people) and a naval military caravan reached Azov and blocked it from land and sea, and on May 20, a detachment of 40 Cossack boats attacked the Turkish squadron. The Turks lost 2 ships and 10 cargo ships. At the same time, the main part of the military caravan took up a position at the mouth of the river. The Don did not allow the Turkish fleet, which arrived to help the Azov garrison, to approach the shore and land reinforcements for the besieged.

As a result of these actions, on July 19, 1696, Azov surrendered. In connection with these events, 1696 is rightfully considered the year of the founding of the Russian Navy.

Organizational structure of the Navy

• Main Command of the Navy
• Surface forces
• Submarine forces
• Naval aviation
• Coastal troops:
  • Coastal Missile and Artillery Troops
  • Marines

Navy- a branch of the Armed Forces designed to strike industrial and economic regions (centers), important military installations of the enemy and defeat his naval forces. The Navy is capable of delivering nuclear strikes on enemy ground targets, destroying its ships at sea and in bases, disrupting its ocean and sea communications and protecting its own, assisting ground forces in conducting operations, landing amphibious assault forces and repelling enemy amphibious landings, transporting troops, material tools and perform other tasks.

Part Navy includes several types of forces: submarine, surface, naval aviation, coastal forces. It also includes ships and vessels of the auxiliary fleet, special-purpose units and various services. The main types of forces are submarine forces and naval aviation.

Navy is one of the most important foreign policy attributes of the state. It is designed to ensure security and protect the interests of the Russian Federation in peacetime and wartime on ocean and sea borders.

The Navy is capable of delivering nuclear strikes on enemy ground targets, destroying enemy fleet groups at sea and bases, disrupting the enemy’s ocean and sea communications and protecting its maritime transportation, assisting ground forces in operations in continental theaters of war, landing amphibious assault forces, and participating in in repelling enemy landings and performing other tasks.

Today the Navy consists of four fleets: the Northern, Pacific, Black Sea, Baltic and Caspian flotilla. The priority task of the fleet is to prevent the outbreak of wars and armed conflicts, and in the event of aggression, to repulse it, cover the country’s facilities, forces and troops from ocean and sea directions, defeat the enemy, create conditions for preventing military actions at the earliest possible stage and concluding peace in conditions that meet the interests of the Russian Federation. In addition, the task of the Navy is to conduct peacekeeping operations by decision of the UN Security Council or in accordance with the international allied obligations of the Russian Federation.

To solve the priority task of the Armed Forces and the Navy - preventing the outbreak of war, the Navy has naval strategic nuclear forces and general purpose forces. In the event of aggression, they must repel the enemy’s attacks, defeat the strike groups of his fleet and prevent him from conducting large-scale naval operations, as well as, in cooperation with other branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, ensure the creation of the necessary conditions for the effective conduct of defensive operations in continental theaters of military operations.

Navy consists of the following types of forces (Fig. 1):
• underwater
• surface
• naval aviation
• Marine Corps and Coastal Defense Forces.
• It includes:
  • ships and vessels,
  • special purpose units
  • rear units and units.

The main striking force of the Navy is nuclear submarines armed with ballistic and cruise missiles with nuclear warheads. These ships are constantly in various areas of the World Ocean, ready for the immediate use of their strategic weapons.

Nuclear-powered submarines, armed with ship-to-ship cruise missiles, are aimed primarily at combating large enemy surface ships.

Torpedo nuclear submarines are used to disrupt enemy underwater and surface communications and in the defense system against underwater threats, as well as to escort missile submarines and surface ships.

The use of diesel submarines (missile and torpedo submarines) is mainly associated with solving typical tasks for them in limited areas of the sea.

Equipping submarines with nuclear power and nuclear missile weapons, powerful hydroacoustic systems and high-precision navigation weapons, along with comprehensive automation of control processes and the creation of optimal living conditions for the crew, has significantly expanded their tactical properties and forms of combat use. In modern conditions, surface forces remain the most important part of the Navy. The creation of ships that carry aircraft and helicopters, as well as the transition of a number of classes of ships, as well as submarines, to nuclear power have greatly increased their combat capabilities. Equipping ships with helicopters and airplanes significantly expands their capabilities to detect and destroy enemy submarines. Helicopters create the opportunity to successfully solve the problems of relay and communications, target designation, transfer of cargo at sea, landing troops on the coast and rescuing personnel.

Surface ships are the main forces for ensuring the exit and deployment of submarines to combat areas and returning to bases, transporting and covering landing forces. They are assigned the main role in laying minefields, combating mine danger and protecting their communications.

The traditional task of surface ships is to strike enemy targets on its territory and cover their coast from the sea from enemy naval forces.

Thus, surface ships are entrusted with a complex of responsible combat missions. They solve these problems in groups, formations, associations, both independently and in cooperation with other branches of the naval forces (submarines, aviation, marines).

Naval aviation- branch of the Navy. It consists of strategic, tactical, deck and coastal.

Strategic and tactical aviation designed to combat groups of surface ships in the ocean, submarines and transports, as well as to carry out bombing and missile attacks on enemy coastal targets.

Carrier-based aircraft is the main striking force of the Navy's aircraft carrier formations. Its main combat missions in armed warfare at sea are the destruction of enemy aircraft in the air, launch positions of anti-aircraft guided missiles and other enemy air defense systems, conducting tactical reconnaissance, etc. When performing combat missions, carrier-based aircraft actively interact with tactical ones.

Naval aviation helicopters are an effective means of targeting a ship's missile weapons when destroying submarines and repelling attacks from low-flying enemy aircraft and anti-ship missiles. Carrying air-to-surface missiles and other weapons, they are a powerful means of fire support for Marine landings and destruction of enemy missile and artillery boats.

Marines- a branch of the Navy forces designed to conduct combat operations as part of amphibious assault forces (independently or jointly with the Ground Forces), as well as for the defense of the coast (naval bases, ports).

Marine combat operations are carried out, as a rule, with the support of aviation and artillery fire from ships. In turn, the Marine Corps uses in combat all types of weapons characteristic of motorized rifle troops, while using landing tactics specific to it.

Coastal Defense Troops, as a branch of the naval forces, they are designed to protect naval force bases, ports, important sections of the coast, islands, straits and narrows from attacks by enemy ships and amphibious assault forces. The basis of their weapons are coastal missile systems and artillery, anti-aircraft missile systems, mine and torpedo weapons, as well as special coastal defense ships (protection of the water area). To ensure defense by troops on the coast, coastal fortifications are created.

Rear units and units designed for logistical support of forces and combat operations of the Navy. They ensure the satisfaction of material, transport, household and other needs of formations and associations of the Navy in order to maintain them in combat readiness to carry out assigned tasks.

The Russian Navy (USSR), as an independent branch of the Armed Forces, took shape in the period from the late 17th to the early 20th century.

The creation of a regular military fleet in Russia is a historical pattern. It was due to the country’s urgent need to overcome the territorial, political and cultural isolation that became at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. the main obstacle to the economic and social development of the Russian state.

The first permanent grouping of forces - the Azov Fleet - was formed from ships and vessels built in the winter of 1695-1696. and was intended to assist the army in the campaign to capture the Turkish fortress of Azov. On October 30, 1696, the Boyar Duma, on the proposal of Tsar Peter I, adopted the resolution “Sea vessels shall be...”, which became the first law on the fleet and recognition as the official date of its founding.

During the Northern War of 1700-1721. the main tasks of the fleet were determined, the list of which remains practically unchanged to this day, namely: the fight against the enemy’s naval forces, the fight on sea communications, the defense of one’s coast from the sea direction, assistance to the army in coastal areas, striking and ensuring invasion of territory enemy from the sea direction. The proportion of these tasks changed as material resources and the nature of armed struggle at sea changed. Accordingly, the role and place of individual branches of the fleet that were part of the fleet changed.

Thus, before the First World War, the main tasks were carried out by surface ships, and they were the main branch of the fleet. During the Second World War, this role for some time passed to naval aviation, and in the post-war period, with the advent of nuclear missile weapons and ships with nuclear power plants, submarines established themselves as the main type of force.

Before the First World War, the fleet was homogeneous. Coastal troops (marines and coastal artillery) existed since the beginning of the 18th century, however, organizationally they were not part of the fleet. On March 19, 1906, submarine forces were born and began to develop as a new branch of the Navy.

In 1914, the first units of Naval Aviation were formed, which in 1916 also acquired the characteristics of an independent type of force. Navy Aviation Day is celebrated on July 17 in honor of the first victory of Russian naval pilots in an air battle over the Baltic Sea in 1916. The Navy as a diverse strategic association was finally formed by the mid-1930s, when the Navy organizationally included naval aviation, coastal defense and units Air defense.

The modern system of command and control bodies of the Navy finally took shape on the eve of the Great Patriotic War. On January 15, 1938, by resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars, the People's Commissariat of the Navy was created, within which the Main Naval Headquarters was formed. During the formation of the regular Russian fleet, its organizational structure and functions were unclear. On December 22, 1717, by decree of Peter 1, an Admiralty Board was formed for the day-to-day management of the fleet. On September 20, 1802, the Ministry of Naval Forces was formed, which was later renamed the Naval Ministry and existed until 1917. The bodies of combat (operational) control of the Navy forces appeared after the Russian-Japanese War with the creation of the Naval General Staff on April 7, 1906. The Russian fleet was led by such famous naval commanders as Peter 1, P.V. Chichagov, I.K. Grigorovich, N.G. Kuznetsov, S.G. Gorshkov.

Permanent groupings of forces in maritime theaters took shape as the Russian state solved historical problems related to the acquisition of access to the World Ocean and the inclusion of the country in the world economy and politics. In the Baltic, the fleet existed continuously since May 18, 1703, the Caspian flotilla since November 15, 1722, and the fleet on the Black Sea since May 13, 1783. In the North and the Pacific Ocean, groupings of fleet forces were created, as a rule, on a temporary basis or, without receiving significant development, they were periodically abolished. The current Pacific and Northern fleets have existed as permanent groupings since April 21, 1932 and June 1, 1933, respectively.

The fleet received its greatest development by the mid-80s. At this time, it included 4 fleets and the Caspian Flotilla, which included more than 100 divisions and brigades of surface ships, submarines, naval aviation and coastal defense.

Throughout their glorious history, Russian and Soviet warships could be seen at all latitudes of the seas and oceans, not only for military purposes, but also to discover new lands and penetrate the polar ice for scientific research. The study and description by military sailors of the northern shores of Siberia, Kamchatka, Alaska, the Aleutian and Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, circumnavigation of the world, and the discovery of Antarctica were of global significance. Russia was glorified by such famous navigators as M.P. Lazarev, F.F. Bellingshausen, G.I. Nevelskoy and others.

The role of the fleet in the history of Russia has always gone beyond the scope of its purely military tasks. The presence of the fleet contributed to our country's active foreign policy. He has more than once become a deterrent for the enemy of our state when the threat of war arose.

The role of the fleet in the formation of national identity was great. Victories at Gangut, Grengam, Ezel, Chesma Fidonisi, Kaliakria, Navarino, Sinop became a source of national pride. Our people sacredly honor the memory of outstanding naval commanders F.F. Ushakov, D.N. Senyavin, M.P. Lazarev, V.N. Kornilova, P.S. Nakhimova, N.G. Kuznetsova.

Russia, due to its geographical location and the combination of economic, political and military interests in the World Ocean, is a great maritime power. This is an objective reality that Russians and the world community will have to reckon with in the next century.

Navy structure

The Navy is a powerful factor in the country's defense capability. It is divided into strategic nuclear forces and general purpose forces. Strategic nuclear forces have great nuclear missile power, high mobility and the ability to operate for a long time in various areas of the World Ocean.

The Navy consists of the following branches of forces: submarine, surface, naval aviation, marine corps and coastal defense forces. It also includes ships and vessels, special purpose units, and logistics units.

Submarine forces are the strike force of the fleet, capable of controlling the expanses of the World Ocean, secretly and quickly deploying in the right directions, and delivering unexpected powerful strikes from the depths of the ocean against sea and continental targets. Depending on the main armament, submarines are divided into missile and torpedo submarines, and according to the type of power plant into nuclear and diesel-electric.

The main striking force of the Navy is nuclear submarines armed with ballistic and cruise missiles with nuclear warheads. These ships are constantly in various areas of the World Ocean, ready for the immediate use of their strategic weapons.

Nuclear-powered submarines armed with ship-to-ship cruise missiles are aimed primarily at combating large enemy surface ships.

Nuclear torpedo submarines are used to disrupt enemy underwater and surface communications and in the defense system against underwater threats, as well as to escort missile submarines and surface ships.

The use of diesel submarines (missile and torpedo submarines) is mainly associated with solving typical tasks for them in limited areas of the sea.

Equipping submarines with nuclear power and nuclear missile weapons, powerful hydroacoustic systems and high-precision navigation weapons, along with comprehensive automation of control processes and the creation of optimal living conditions for the crew, has significantly expanded their tactical properties and forms of combat use. Surface forces in modern conditions remain the most important part of the Navy. The creation of ships that carry aircraft and helicopters, as well as the transition of a number of classes of ships, as well as submarines, to nuclear power have greatly increased their combat capabilities. Equipping ships with helicopters and airplanes significantly expands their capabilities to detect and destroy enemy submarines. Helicopters create the opportunity to successfully solve the problems of relay and communications, target designation, transfer of cargo at sea, landing troops on the coast and rescuing personnel.

Surface ships are the main forces for ensuring the exit and deployment of submarines to combat areas and returning to bases, transporting and covering landing forces. They are assigned the main role in laying minefields, combating mine danger and protecting their communications.

The traditional task of surface ships is to strike enemy targets on its territory and cover their coast from the sea from enemy naval forces.

Thus, surface ships are entrusted with a complex of responsible combat missions. They solve these problems in groups, formations, associations, both independently and in cooperation with other branches of the naval forces (submarines, aviation, marines).

Naval aviation is a branch of the Navy. It consists of strategic, tactical, deck and coastal.

Strategic and tactical aviation is designed to combat groups of surface ships in the ocean, submarines and transports, as well as to carry out bombing and missile attacks on enemy coastal targets.

Carrier-based aviation is the main striking force of the Navy's aircraft carrier formations. Its main combat missions in armed warfare at sea are the destruction of enemy aircraft in the air, launch positions of anti-aircraft guided missiles and other enemy air defense systems, conducting tactical reconnaissance, etc. When performing combat missions, carrier-based aircraft actively interact with tactical ones.

Naval aviation helicopters are an effective means of targeting a ship's missile weapons when destroying submarines and repelling attacks from low-flying enemy aircraft and anti-ship missiles. Carrying air-to-surface missiles and other weapons, they are a powerful means of fire support for Marine landings and destruction of enemy missile and artillery boats.

The Marine Corps is a branch of the Navy, designed to conduct combat operations as part of amphibious assault forces (independently or jointly with the Ground Forces), as well as for the defense of the coast (naval bases, ports).

Marine combat operations are carried out, as a rule, with the support of aviation and artillery fire from ships. In turn, the Marine Corps uses in combat all types of weapons characteristic of motorized rifle troops, while using landing tactics specific to it.

Coastal defense troops, as a branch of the Navy, are designed to protect naval force bases, ports, important sections of the coast, islands, straits and narrows from attacks by enemy ships and amphibious assault forces. The basis of their weapons are coastal missile systems and artillery, anti-aircraft missile systems, mine and torpedo weapons, as well as special coastal defense ships (protection of the water area). To ensure defense by troops on the coast, coastal fortifications are created.

Logistics units and units are intended to provide logistical support to the forces and combat operations of the Navy. They ensure the satisfaction of material, transport, household and other needs of formations and associations of the Navy in order to maintain them in combat readiness to carry out assigned tasks.

The Russian Navy, which our country now has, is one of the most powerful and combat-ready in the world. The Russian fleet has earned this position not only by the current state of its crew, but also by the legacy it inherited from the Soviet Union. This primarily concerns the level of training of command personnel and the technical equipment of the fleet infrastructure. The huge naval economy inherited from the Soviet navy allows Russia to maintain its leading position at sea. Russia today is trying to continue the glorious maritime traditions that began during the time of Tsar Peter I.

The fleet continues to remain one of the most powerful and combat-ready branches of the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Service in the Navy today is honorable. Despite difficulties and trials, young people willingly go to serve in the navy.

Paying tribute to naval traditions, an official holiday was already established in modern Russia - the Day of the Navy of the Russian Federation. In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 31, 2006, every last Sunday of July is celebrated in the country as Russian Navy Day. The holiday is celebrated throughout the country, starting from the westernmost point on the country’s map to the eastern borders. From the Baltic Naval Base in the Baltic to the eastern borders, in Vladivostok and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. From the village of Polyarny and Murmansk in the Far North, to Sevastopol and Novorossiysk on the Black Sea. During the celebrations, naval parades are held in cities and at fleet bases with the participation of ships and units of the Navy, Marine Corps units and naval aviation.

However, the parade and festivities are one side of the coin, and the daily work of maintaining ships and other units of the Russian Navy at high level combat readiness is completely different. The fleet is a complex living mechanism, with its own skeleton - structure and thousands of technological and departmental connections that play the role of blood vessels of a huge mechanism. Without large capital investments, without updating the crew and putting the coastal infrastructure in order, the fleet will not be able to remain in combat-ready condition for long.

Navy ships that entered service during the Soviet era are gradually falling into disrepair. The rear infrastructure of the fleet is morally outdated; urgent military-technical modernization of the combat ships in service is required. The fleet needs radical technical re-equipment and re-equipment. Evidence that the country's leadership understands the importance of naval problems is the fleet development program adopted in July 2017, which provides for the gradual modernization of the Russian fleet until 2030. The basis of the adopted program clearly spells out the necessary measures that will make the Russian Navy a modern combat mechanism by the specified time.

Russian fleet today. Organizational structure

Traditionally, the navy is a separate branch of the Armed Forces of our country, with its own commander-in-chief and General Staff. The tasks of the fleet include armed protection of Russia's maritime borders and ensuring the interests of the Russian state in all naval military theaters. In its structure and composition, the Russian fleet is an ocean-going fleet, capable of delivering nuclear missile strikes against a potential enemy, ensuring the conduct of tactical operations in any corner of the globe, and operating on enemy communications on the high seas and near its shores. Together with the ground forces and air force, the navy participates in repelling aggression committed against the Russian state by its entire composition. The army and navy act in close cooperation with each other in repelling aggression.

Like other types of armed forces, the Russian fleet has all the necessary attributes and regalia that comply with the Charter and regulations of the navy. The main symbol is the St. Andrew's flag. Each structural formation that is part of the fleet has its own distinct Navy sign, which allows one to distinguish sailors from the Northern Fleet from servicemen of the Caspian Military Flotilla.

Today the composition of the Navy is as follows:

• submarine forces;
• surface forces;
• naval aviation units;
• Marines;
• units and units of coastal defense troops.

It should be noted that each branch of the military that is part of the fleet has its own specific goals and objectives, which together ensure the combat effectiveness of the fleet at any time and in any place. The Marine Corps cannot operate fully without fire support from naval aviation and naval surface forces. In turn, submarine forces, being one of the main strike elements of the fleet, need support from surface ships and naval aviation forces.

The organizational structure of the fleet is represented by associations, which in turn are geographically linked. The united fleet of the Russian Federation includes the Northern, Pacific, Baltic and Black Sea fleets. A separate naval formation is the Caspian Military Flotilla, which also has its own headquarters and permanent bases. Fleets and flotillas include detachments of surface ships and submarines, naval aviation forces and special forces of the Navy, a special unit within the Russian Navy.

The size of the fleets differs both in the number of personnel and in the number of sailors. In many ways, combat effectiveness is determined by the goals and objectives that a given naval formation solves. Traditionally, the Northern and Pacific fleets occupy a strategic position in the system of ensuring the country's defense capability. The Baltic, Black Sea fleets and the Caspian flotilla are more focused on solving tactical problems.

In the current conditions, the main striking force of the Russian Navy is nuclear-powered strategic missile submarines carrying intercontinental ballistic missiles on board. There are brigades of nuclear submarines in the Northern Fleet and in the Pacific Ocean. The next types of ships in terms of importance and strength of weapons are missile and aircraft-carrying cruisers with nuclear or conventional propulsion. The basis of the tactical formations of the Russian fleet today are ships of new types, missile frigates and corvettes. In the near sea zone, all fleets operate patrol and patrol ships. Navy special forces and marine units represent the main striking force of the coastal units of the navy.

Of the listed fleets, the largest and most powerful at the moment is the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy, which includes the largest and most powerful warships.

The main bases of the Northern Fleet are:

• Severomorsk with fleet headquarters;
• Vidyaevo (submarines);
• Severomorsk;
• Gadzhievo;
• Polar.

The only naval base in the fleet is the Belomorsk naval base in Severodvinsk.

The smallest today is the Black Sea Fleet, which, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, ceased to play a key role in maritime theaters. Only in recent years has the situation with the technical equipment of the Black Sea Fleet begun to change for the better. Old cruisers and frigates are being replaced by new missile ships and submarines. The fleet is based in Sevastopol and Novorossiysk. The Novorossiysk and Crimean naval bases are used as a stronghold.

A difficult situation has developed in the Pacific Ocean. The once powerful and combat-ready Pacific Fleet is now going through a difficult period. Old ships inherited from Soviet times are being scrapped or undergoing modernization. New combat vessels are arriving at the fleet extremely slowly. Nuclear submarines based in Kamchatka today remain moored most of the time. The formidable missile submarines are being routinely decommissioned, and new or upgraded nuclear submarines are entering the fleet extremely slowly.

The Pacific Fleet has the widest area of ​​responsibility. The locations of deployment are thousands of kilometers apart. The main naval service points in the Pacific are:

• Vladivostok with fleet headquarters;
• Fokino;
• Sovetskaya Gavan;
• Vilyuchinsk (submarines).

The Baltic Fleet, operationally locked in the cramped waters of the Baltic Sea, is in a dormant state. With the change in naval doctrine, in which the main role at sea is played by multi-purpose universal ships, the Baltic Fleet needs to be re-equipped and re-equipped with new ships. The headquarters of the fleet is located in Kaliningrad, and the main locations of ships and fleet units are:

• Baltiysk;
• Kronstadt.

In the Baltic, the fleet has two naval bases at its disposal, Baltic and Leningrad. Since 2000, the Russian Navy has ceased to be based in Kronstadt, shifting its focus to the Western Baltic Sea.

The Caspian Flotilla operates in the Caspian Sea. The main bases for ships and flotilla units are Kaspiysk and Makhachkala. The flotilla headquarters is located in Astrakhan.

All fleet formations have marine brigades, naval special forces, auxiliary and rescue units, and coastal defense forces

Before the collapse of the USSR, the Soviet Navy was second in the world after the US Navy and consisted of more than one and a half thousand ships of all types. By 2010, all four fleets included only 136 ships capable of going to sea and carrying out combat missions.

Command and control

The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy of the Russian Federation today is Admiral Vladimir Ivanovich Korolev, who took office on April 6, 2016. The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy is responsible for the entire naval economy, spread across the vast territory of the country from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. All operational work is handled by the First Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Chief of the Navy Staff Andrei Olgertovich Volozhinsky with the rank of vice admiral. It should be noted that military ranks in the Russian modern fleet were inherited from Soviet times, which were adopted in their final form in 1943. The most senior rank in the fleet is Fleet Admiral. These are followed by titles and ranks corresponding to military ranks in other branches of the armed forces and branches of the military.

Today, the following classification of ranks of the Russian Navy is used, which was finally formed in the 70s of the 20th century.

• sailors and foremen;
• midshipmen (midshipman was introduced into use in the mid-70s), for coastal units - warrant officers;
• junior officers;
• senior officers - captain III rank, captain II rank and captain I;
• senior officers - rear admirals, vice admirals, admirals and fleet admirals.

Military ranks are awarded for length of service or for special military merits. Acceptance of a new higher position in the navy, as in the army, implies the assignment of an extraordinary rank.

The erroneous decision to transfer the fleet management and command bodies to St. Petersburg, made in 2012, was canceled by the current leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Since 2015, the general management of the Russian Navy, command and leadership has been located in Moscow. From here all the country's fleets are managed, control is exercised over the operational situation in maritime theaters, and work is underway to organize the naval economy.

Who goes to serve in the navy?

In organizational terms, the modern Russian fleet has preserved the structure and procedures that operated in the Soviet Navy. In Russia today, just like in the USA and Great Britain, in many other countries the fleet, despite the highest technology among the branches of the armed forces, is their most conservative part. Innovation and reorganization are extremely reluctant to be welcomed here. Traditions, combat experience and maritime practice become the main engines of progress. Serving in the Navy today is fashionable and prestigious, given the significantly reduced terms of military service, up to 12 months, and the opportunity to serve in the navy under a contract.

The main contingent recruited for service in the fleet are contract soldiers. The significantly increased technological load on the crew of any modern warship requires a high level of knowledge and professionalism from the ship's crew members. Basically, military personnel are recruited onto warships and enter into a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. This category of military personnel goes to command and management positions. Conscripts mainly staff the crews of ships that serve in the near sea zone or are undergoing scheduled repairs.

An applicant who wants to become a sailor, petty officer or midshipman must have the second group of neuropsychic stability, fitness category A3 and higher. Secondary education is required. For senior positions and midshipmen, having a civilian secondary specialized education is welcome. The bulk of conscripts go to serve in the Baltic Fleet. Other navies prefer contractors.