Biography. Biography Gorshkov Fleet Admiral short biography

Gorshkov Sergey Georgievich

(1910–1988)

He was born on February 26, 1910 in Kamenets-Podolsk, Khmelnitsky region. Father, Georgy Mikhailovich Gorshkov, later an honored teacher of the republic, taught mathematics and physics for more than 50 years. Mother, Elena Fedoseevna Gorshkova, was a Russian language teacher.

The fate of the future Commander-in-Chief reflected many important events for the country and the fleet. In 1927, as a seventeen-year-old youth, on a Komsomol ticket, he entered the Higher Naval School named after M.V. Frunze and graduated from this educational institution in 1931. After graduating from college, he served for several years as a watch commander and navigator on surface ships of the Black Sea Fleet. Then S.G. Gorshkov went through all the command levels: commander of a patrol ship, a destroyer, a brigade of destroyers of the Pacific Fleet, and since 1939 - commander of a brigade of destroyers of the Black Sea Fleet. At the age of thirty, Sergei Georgievich headed a brigade of cruisers of the Black Sea Fleet, and in May 1941 he graduated from the Advanced Courses for Senior Fleet Commanders at the Naval Academy.

During the Great Patriotic War, S.G. Gorshkov took an active part in the hostilities. The ships of his brigade heroically defended besieged Odessa and successfully carried out the first landing on the Black Sea in the Grigoryevka area. In October 1941

S.G. Gorshkov, who had recently been awarded the rank of rear admiral, was appointed commander of the Azov military flotilla. During the Kerch-Feodosia operation in December 1941, ships and vessels of the flotilla transported about 6 thousand people, a large amount of military equipment and ammunition to the northern coast of the Kerch Peninsula. The Kerch-Feodosia operation made it possible to thwart the enemy invasion through the Kerch Strait and forced the 11th Nazi Army to go on the defensive near Sevastopol.

The Azov flotilla became one of the first naval formations to take part in the battle for the Caucasus. On August 9, 1942, the military councils of the North Caucasus Front and the Black Sea Fleet decided to entrust the 32-year-old rear admiral with command of the combined forces of the Azov flotilla and the Kerch, Novorossiysk, and Temryuk naval bases. In the midst of heavy battles with the fascists on August 27, 1942, Sergei Georgievich was accepted into the ranks of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks). After the disbandment of the Azov flotilla in September 1942, S.G. Gorshkov was appointed deputy commander of the Novorossiysk defensive region. In February 1943, in connection with the successful offensive of Soviet troops and the liberation of a number of cities in the south of our country, the Azov flotilla was recreated. S.G. was appointed its commander. Gorshkov.

In the spring of 1943, the flotilla under the command of S.G. Gorshkova took part in a number of landing and raiding operations to assist the troops of the Southern and North Caucasian fronts. The flotilla's largest operations were: landings in Mariupol, Osipenko and Temryuk; naval support for units of the North Caucasus Front and, finally, a major landing operation in November 1943.

Upon the landing of units of a separate Primorsky Army on the Kerch Peninsula.

For the skillful and courageous leadership of military operations for landing troops in the area of ​​​​Taganrog and Osipenko and for the successes achieved as a result of these operations in battles with the Nazi invaders, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, by Decree of September 18, 1943, awarded Rear Admiral S.G. . Gorshkov with the Order of Kutuzov, 1st degree.

In 1944, the offensive of the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front required support from the fleet. The Azov flotilla is reorganized into the Danube flotilla and relocated to Odessa. S.G. was appointed its commander. Gorshkov. In September 1944, he was awarded the rank of vice admiral; his name is repeatedly mentioned in the Orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief for his skillful command of the flotilla.

During military operations, fate collided Sergei Georgievich with Marshal G.K. Zhukov. The meeting was not pleasant. The Germans then stopped our advance on the bank of a river. Zhukov arrived to change the situation. He met with army commanders, who explained to the marshal that they could not cross due to the lack of watercraft. They urgently found the commander of the flotilla. As Sergei Georgievich recalled many years later, Zhukov gave until seven in the morning the next day (the meeting took place around five in the evening): “If by this time two shock battalions are not transported to the other side,” Zhukov said, “I will shoot you.”

Since Gorshkov simply did not have the necessary watercraft, he had to urgently dismantle wooden houses in nearby villages and build rafts, and dig dugouts for the residents. People and equipment were placed on rafts, and the ships of the flotilla towed them to the other shore. At five o'clock in the morning the troops were transported, and under their attacks the Nazis were forced to retreat.

In January 1945, Sergei Georgievich was appointed commander of a squadron of ships of the Black Sea Fleet. The submission states that the appointment of Comrade. S.G. Gorshkov for the post of squadron commander has the goal of placing the combat core of the fleet in the hands of an experienced, decisive and combative admiral.

In November 1948, Vice Admiral S.G. Gorshkov became chief of staff, and in August 1951 - commander of the Black Sea Fleet. On August 3, 1953, he was awarded the rank of admiral. Since July 1955, he has been First Deputy Commander-in-Chief, and since January 1956, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy and Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR.

With the name S.G. Gorshkov is associated with the formation and development of the Soviet nuclear missile Navy. This is how the role of the Commander-in-Chief in the creation of our ocean fleet is assessed by those who designed and built new ships, who sailed on them and served under the direct leadership of S.G. Gorshkova:

E.V. Yukhnin(general designer, head of SPKB):

“Sergei Georgievich, like no one else in the history of Russia, paid attention to the construction of the fleet... He had the highest technical erudition. The Commander-in-Chief never tried to show that he was a specialist in all areas, but the wishes that he expressed during the consideration of projects truly reflected the essence question.

I was with him, and when he visited the fleet, I saw a real commander there. He was a tough man, as a military leader of such rank should be. At the same time, there was no tyranny.

... Of course, the Commander-in-Chief could not work without removing, dismissing, or punishing someone. There were probably a few who experienced his displeasure. But in science and industry, everyone loved and respected him very much as a great statesman who devoted a lot of effort... to the creation of the fleet" (Vesti, 1995, May 7).

Fleet Admiral N.D. Sergeev(in 1964–1977, Chief of the General Staff of the Navy):

"S.G. Gorshkov was the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for almost 30 years. With his active service and public activities, he won universal recognition and authority. Sergei Georgievich made a great contribution to the development of the theory and practice of naval art, his works were published not only in our country, but also abroad" (Red Star, 1988, May 17).

S.G. Gorshkov was the editor of the 3rd volume of the "Marine Atlas" and "Atlas of the Oceans", the author of military-theoretical and historical works "Sea Power of the State" (1979), "On Guard of the Fatherland" (1980), the posthumously published memoirs "On the Southern Coastal Flank" " (1989), "In the naval formation" (1996), etc.

Fleet Admiral G.M. Egorov(Chief of the General Staff of the Navy in 1977–1981):

“Long-term joint service directly subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy from 1967 to 1981 (as deputy of the Navy Civil Code - head of the Navy BP, commander of the Northern Fleet, head of the Navy General Staff) allows me, as well as all Navy veterans, to judge that in the person of S.G. Gorshkov, the Navy of the Soviet Union had unquestioned authority and respect at all levels from privates to admirals, due to its extraordinary maritime, strong-willed and organizational qualities, a high sense of personal responsibility for the combat readiness of the fleet, hard work and a unique ability to foresee and act in a timely manner. in extremely difficult, sometimes critical situations" (Egorov G.M. Afterword to the memoirs of S.G. Gorshkov. In the naval formation. St. Petersburg, 1996, pp. 405–406).

Admiral A.P. Mikhailovsky(in 1979–1981 commander of the Leningrad naval base):

“Perhaps, in the fact that in just a quarter of a century the country was able to build a powerful fleet - a guarantor of strategic parity in the World Ocean, an important role was played by the fact that this construction was constantly managed by one person - Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Sergei Gorshkov" (Mikhailovsky A. P. Admiralty needle: Notes of the Admiral. St. Petersburg, 1999, p.

Rear Admiral V.S. Kozlov(chief of the 10th department of the General Staff of the Navy, head of the Department of Military-Technical Cooperation of the General Staff of the Navy in 1977–1988): “I knew Sergei Georgievich for almost thirty years, half of which I was directly subordinate to him, being part of his inner circle, I often accompanied on business trips and official visits abroad...

...I was lucky enough to accompany Sergei Georgievich during his last visit to India in 1981. The flight route passed over Afghanistan, where fighting was still going on, with a designated corridor through Pakistan, directly to Delhi airport. There is a magnificent meeting with a guard in colorful uniforms, carpet runners, a scattering of rose petals and some colored candy wrappers.

...During that visit, the Commander-in-Chief was received by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi... In a small office we were met by a woman with a pleasant face, but tired from great worries, a gray strand in her smoothly combed hair, dressed in a greenish sari... The conversation lasted about 45 minutes. The hostess expressed gratitude to our country and its leader L. Brezhnev for great assistance in the development of the Indian armed forces, and noted the common interests of both countries in international issues.

The Commander-in-Chief spoke about the situation in the Indian Ocean, about our squadron as a means of countering the aggressive aspirations of the United States. Reminded me of the first meeting in Sevastopol with J. Nehru, accompanied by his daughter, during a visit to the Soviet Union in the early 50s. He offered to pay Indian ships a visit to any of our ports. In turn, Indira Gandhi recommended getting to know the ships and sailors of the Navy better, finding time and seeing many interesting things in her “wonderland.” When we said goodbye to this wonderful woman, we did not believe that in three years she would be gone, that she would die at the hands of a terrorist.

Speaking about military cooperation with India, it must be said that with the light hand of S.G. Gorshkov, it acquired a mutually beneficial, large-scale form of business, friendly relations and continues successfully to this day" (Kozlov V.S. Life dedicated to the fleet. St. Petersburg, 2003, pp. 151, 159–161).

S.G. Gorshkov, as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, was directly involved in the development of the appearance and structure of the new fleet, the basis of whose striking power was nuclear submarines armed with long-range ballistic missiles. The creation of an ocean-going nuclear fleet is a real epic of heroic achievements. The unprecedented voyages of Soviet nuclear submarines under centuries-old ice to the North Pole and to hard-to-reach areas of the Arctic, the world's first group circumnavigation of nuclear submarines were constantly under the personal control of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.

The services of Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov to the Motherland have received high recognition. On April 22, 1962, he was awarded the rank of Admiral of the Fleet, and in 1967 - the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. He was twice awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (1965, 1982), awarded seven Orders of Lenin, other state awards, as well as orders and medals of foreign countries. Laureate of the State (1980) and Lenin (1985) Prizes of the USSR. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR 4th – 11th convocations, member of the CPSU Central Committee since 1961.

December 9, 1985 S.G. Gorshkov signed his last order No. 320, in which he notified the Navy personnel that he had transferred the duties of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy and Deputy Minister of Defense to Fleet Admiral Vladimir Nikolaevich Chernavin and transferred to the group of Inspectors General of the Ministry of Defense.

Thus, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union S.G. led the fleet towards the ocean for thirty years. Gorshkov. “Thirty years of the Commander-in-Chief of Sergei Georgievich,” wrote Admiral I.V. Kasatonov, in 1991–1998 – First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, “this is also the “Gorshkov school” - several generations of admirals and officers whom he noticed and brought out not only into the ocean, but also into the operational space of state thinking. In the selection of personnel, Gorshkov made practically no mistakes; he knew how to find the right and worthy people, not in the parquet corridors, but in the fleets, starting each academic year with personal visits to units and formations. Then new forms of training appeared - operational training at the academy, training in fleets with trips to sea, weapons exhibitions and demonstration exercises.

Sergei Georgievich was a real sailor and even in his old age, whenever possible, he certainly went to sea. And it was thanks to him, his school of combat training, that our Navy became recognizable and respected in all corners of the World Ocean.

...Not so long ago a list of the most outstanding naval commanders of all times was published in England. And at the top of this list, along with their national hero Admiral Nelson, the British placed Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov. It’s only a pity that the British were the first to publicly admit this, and in Russia the ships of the ocean fleet built by Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov are pressed ever closer to the quay walls” (Red Star, 1997, February 26).

Several years after joining the group of Inspectors General of the Ministry of Defense, on May 13, 1988, Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov died. He is buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow, where a monument was erected to him. In Kolomna, Moscow region, a bronze bust of S.G. Gorshkova. Memorial plaques to Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union S.G. Gorshkova were installed in Moscow and Novorossiysk. A heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser and the lead frigate for the Russian Navy are named after him.

Varganov Yu.V. and others. Naval Academy in the service of the Fatherland. Mozhaisk, 2001, p. 139–153.
Naval Academy. 2nd ed., rev. and additional L., 1991, p. 93, 116, 213, 258, 297, 313.
Naval encyclopedic dictionary. M.: Voenizdat, 2003, p. 211.
Heroes of the Battle for the Caucasus. Tskhinvali, 1975, p. 47–52.
Heroes of the fiery years. Book 8. M., 1985, p. 70–87.
Heroes of the Soviet Union. T. 1. M., 1987, p. 359.
Heroes of the Soviet Union Navy. 1937–1945. M., 1977, p. 132–135.
Pride and glory of Podolia. Lvov, 1985, p. 8–15.
Golden Book of St. Petersburg. T. 3. St. Petersburg, 2003, p. 476–477.
Kozlov V.S. A life dedicated to the Navy. St. Petersburg, 2003. 206 p.
International military cooperation of the Navy. M., 2003, p. 124–147.
Biographical marine dictionary. St. Petersburg, 2000, p. 109–110.

On February 26, 1910, the future Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR, twice Hero of the Soviet Union - Admiral Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov was born. A man who connected his entire life with the fleet and made an invaluable contribution to strengthening the defense capability of our Motherland.

Sergey Georgievich Gorshkov

Sergei Georgievich was born in the city of Kamenets-Podolsky in Ukraine, in 1912 he moved with his family to Kolomna, where he graduated from school and lived until he entered Leningrad University in 1927, which he left in the same year and entered the Leningrad Naval School named after Frunze.

After graduating from college, in 1931 Gorshkov served in the Black Sea Fleet on the destroyer Frunze, then the young navigator was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, where he continued to serve on the destroyer Tomsk. Commands the patrol ship "Burun". In 1937, Sergei Georgievich graduated from the Navy command courses and took command of the destroyer "Smashing", and a year later became commander of the seventh naval brigade. Slaughters the Japanese in the area of ​​Lake Khasan.

In 1939, captain of the second rank Gorshkov was again transferred to the Black Sea Fleet to the position of commander of a cruiser brigade. In this position, Sergei Georgievich met the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. The formation under his leadership participates in the defense of Odessa. In August 1941, Gorshkov took command of the Azov flotilla, participated in the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation, after the withdrawal of ground forces to Novorossiysk, made a breakthrough from the Azov Sea to the Black Sea. Since August 1942 he has been in charge of the naval defense of the Novorossiysk region. In November of the same year, he took command of the 47th Army and participated in the defense of the Caucasus.

Monument to the sailors of the Azov military flotilla in the city of Taganrog

After the war, Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov held the position of chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet, and in 1951 took command of it. In 1956, Admiral Gorshkov became Commander-in-Chief of the Navy of the Soviet Union, a position he held for almost thirty years until 1985.

During the years of Gorshkov's service as commander in chief, the Soviet fleet underwent dramatic changes. Sergei Georgievich was a supporter of the long-range submarine and aircraft-carrying fleet, contributed to the emergence of submarine nuclear missile carriers - a reliable nuclear shield of our country, aircraft-carrying ships, specialized aircraft and helicopters of naval aviation. The Soviet fleet became a nuclear missile fleet, and squadrons went on combat duty in the world's oceans.

For services to the Motherland, Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov was twice awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1965 and 1982. Awarded the orders of Lenin (seven times), October Revolution, Red Banner (four times), Ushakov I and II degrees, Kutuzov I degrees, Patriotic War I degrees, Red Star, For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR III degrees, medals.

Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov died on May 13, 1988, and was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery.

IT IS CAN be said without exaggeration that the most significant influence on the development of the Soviet Navy in the post-war period was exerted by Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov. It probably couldn’t have been any other way, since this man was the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for thirty (!) years.

In the memoirs of colleagues and subordinates, Gorshkov’s personality does not always look clear. But in general, a commendable and even enthusiastic tone prevails in the memoirs. Only after Sergei Georgievich left office in 1985 did some admirals begin to throw out phrases about Gorshkov’s omissions in matters of fleet construction, about the lordly traits of his character, the craving for external splendor and awards. The admiral could be accused of intolerance of dissent and jealousy of his rivals in the service. But in not a single publication about Gorshkov will you find not only facts, but also references to the weak level of his training and lack of professionalism. Because it was precisely in these matters that Sergei Georgievich was strong.

I think this is no coincidence. To hold out for thirty years as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, when the top officials in the state changed five times (N.S. Khrushchev, L.I. Brezhnev, Yu.V. Andropov, K.U. Chernenko, M.S. Gorbachev), obviously, Only a person who possessed not only enormous professional knowledge and skills, but also remarkable political and diplomatic abilities and the gift of a psychologist could. In the entire history of the Russian fleet, not a single Russian admiral, or even a single military leader of other branches of the Armed Forces, had such a long experience in leading a fleet as Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov.

There are a number of explanations for this fact.

PARTY GRAB

By the mid-60s. Gorshkov, in addition to enormous professional knowledge and experience, acquired the acumen of a party and statesman. He had been leading the Navy for almost 10 years. At the same time, being a candidate since 1956, and a member of the CPSU Central Committee since 1961, he immaculately clearly mastered those party mechanisms that ensured priority in the development of one or another area of ​​military affairs, contributed to personal prestige and establishment in the upper structures of state power. In addition, it should be noted that there was an exceptionally successful combination of circumstances for Gorshkov’s career.

On October 14, 1964, Nikita Khrushchev was removed from the post of First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, and the eighteen-year period of Leonid Brezhnev’s rule began. It was with the advent of Leonid Ilyich to lead the country that Gorshkov, thanks to their common, unifying past during the Great Patriotic War, acquired a qualitatively new position. He received the opportunity to directly communicate with the top person of the state and some independence from the USSR Ministry of Defense.

Gorshkov's position as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy was further strengthened with the advent of Marshal of the Soviet Union Andrei Grechko to head the Ministry of Defense in 1967. Brezhnev, Grechko and Gorshkov knew each other well. They were united by the military events of 1942-1943. near Novorossiysk. Andrei Antonovich Grechko then commanded the 47th and then the 18th armies. At the same time, Brezhnev was the head of the political department of the 18th Army. In turn, Gorshkov, being deputy commander of the Novorossiysk defensive region and commander of the Azov flotilla, was in constant contact with Grechko and Brezhnev during the fighting. Moreover, Sergei Georgievich even had the opportunity to command the 47th Army for some time. Both armies, the 18th and 47th, fought next to each other for a long time.

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All these circumstances determined the mutual personal sympathies of the three leaders, which subsequently played an extremely important role in the fate of Sergei Georgievich already in the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.

By the way, Gorshkov’s very path “up” to the Commanders-in-Chief was determined by another influential military leader - Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, who knew Gorshkov since pre-war times. Kuznetsov served as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy after the war, but by 1955 he became seriously ill and, due to his illness, turned to Defense Minister Zhukov with a request to relieve him of his high position and transfer him to another. Due to the strained relationship between these military leaders, the request was interpreted as Kuznetsov’s unwillingness to work with Zhukov. The Commander-in-Chief did not receive an answer, but he was allowed to select a deputy who could fully perform all relevant duties. Nikolai Gerasimovich named Admiral Gorshkov, who at that time commanded the Black Sea Fleet.

So in July 1955, Sergei Georgievich took the post of first deputy of the Navy Civil Code, and on January 5, 1956 he became the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.

Following this, Gorshkov received the highest ranks: 1962 - Admiral of the Fleet, May 7, 1965 - Hero of the Soviet Union, 1967 - Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, 1982 - twice Hero of the Soviet Union. Sergei Georgievich was also awarded two of the most prestigious prizes, State and Lenin, for 1980 and 1985, respectively.

THROUGH THORNS

Gorshkov's career went smoothly, without obstacles. But still, two events occurred in the admiral’s life that almost played a fatal role in his fate.

The first occurred during the middle of service in the Pacific Ocean. On November 7, 1938, the newest destroyer "Resolute" was under tow from Vladivostok harbor, where the final tests of the newly built ship were to take place. The transition was led by the commander of the destroyer brigade, captain 3rd rank Gorshkov.

By evening the weather deteriorated, the wind force reached 11 points. The tug burst and the destroyer was carried away. "Resolute" hit a rock and was thrown onto a deserted shore. The ship broke into pieces. It would seem that Gorshkov’s team career was cut short forever. But...

Fleet commander Kuznetsov personally reported to Stalin about the death of the destroyer. He managed to defend Gorshkov. The case did not go to trial. A year later, Gorshkov was appointed commander of a destroyer brigade in the Black Sea Fleet.

Fate saved Gorshkov for the future, for the leadership of the entire Soviet Navy. But even at the beginning of his highest naval career, Gorshkov had to go through another test.

On the night of October 29, 1955, an incredible explosion was heard under the keel of the battleship Novorossiysk, which was standing in Sevastopol Bay on standard mooring barrels and anchors. The flagship of the Black Sea Fleet was lost, taking with it 607 lives. Less than four months earlier, Gorshkov resigned as commander of the Black Sea Fleet, handing it over to Vice Admiral Vladimir Parkhomenko. At the time of the tragedy, Sergei Georgievich actually led the entire Navy, because Kuznetsov has almost not performed the duties of the Navy Civil Command for six months due to illness.

It seemed that the death of the battleship could not but affect the fate of the admiral. But... On December 15, 1955, only Gorshkov’s successor, Parkhomenko, was removed from office. And this despite the fact that Parkhomenko commanded the fleet for just over three months. Moreover, Kuznetsov is finally removed from the command of the Navy... And Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov

EXIT TO THE OCEAN

What memorable, special and unusual happened during this long period of time? The question can be briefly answered this way: the most powerful ocean-going nuclear missile Navy in the entire history of the country has been created, with all its advantages. With advantages - yes, but also with a number of unresolved problems. One of the main shortcomings under Gorshkov's leadership was that the fleet, although numerous, was unbalanced. This became clear in the early 90s, when the Navy was faced with a difficult question: what to do with the huge (250 units) number of obsolete nuclear submarines and other forces being withdrawn from the operational fleet? Another problem is how to keep the core of the fleet combat-ready - the most valuable and largest ships, if... there is no war! Gorshkov could not find a way to solve these problems.

Why? For two reasons. On the one hand, the process was hampered by objective conditions: lack of capacity for the construction of all elements of the fleet, insufficient scientific research in various fields, and extreme bureaucracy at all levels of government. That is why the problems of repairing a large fleet and dismantling old ships, especially nuclear submarines, seaworthy ocean supply vessels, floating workshops, and floating bases, were not resolved. There was a shortage of auxiliary vessels and other support equipment. On the other hand, it was possible to change objective factors only by showing extraordinary courage, taking risks in disputes, demanding real, deep attention to problems from the defense complex. But not everyone can do this.

Brought up in the spirit of obedience to the party and state apparatus, Gorshkov could not decide to take drastic steps. Moreover, in general, Sergei Georgievich made a significant positive contribution to the process of building the fleet, to the development of naval theory, to personnel work, using the favor of the country's highest officials towards himself personally. Gorshkov's exceptionally close relationship with the party and state apparatus allowed him to almost completely dictate his will in the field of the fleet. But only within the established administrative system. Sergei Georgievich never dared to marry them.

The problems of building a fleet and the theory of its use under Gorshkov were solved, although not flawlessly, but still on a large-scale and purposeful basis. But in another important area of ​​fleet construction, in personnel policy, it is difficult to single out or even note something bright and truly progressive. Thus, under Gorshkov, not a single young fleet commander was promoted, the admiral did not keep a single talented successor in his circle, and he did not always support capable commanders of formations or associations with unconventional thinking. But Kuznetsov noticed and supported Gorshkov when he was young. True, on the other hand, Gorshkov’s growth and promotion was largely determined by his personal behavior and ability to use the features of the state and party system.

This is confirmed by a number of factors. Thus, having received the rank of rear admiral in September 1941 during the landing in the Grigoryevka area, being a non-party brigade commander of cruisers, Gorshkov joined the party in August 1942 as commander of the Azov flotilla. Sergei Georgievich clearly defined that a communist should constantly glorify the party. This is exactly what he began to do: everywhere and always he emphasized his affiliation with the CPSU, and never forgot to mention its leadership role and concern for the construction of the fleet. In 1956, Gorshkov joined the CPSU Central Committee. Throughout his long service in the highest naval position, the Commander-in-Chief was outwardly obligatory to respect the political workers and their high leaders.

Member of the CPSU Central Committee, deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR - these titles for military leaders came with the position. But Gorshkov, being the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, tried to show the formal side of his official position as the wise concern of the party.

Sergei Georgievich's respectfulness was manifested in various forms: in speeches, reports, publications, in invitations of high officials to the fleets. Thus, in the summer of 1962, Khrushchev visited the Northern Fleet, and in 1967, Brezhnev and Kosygin. Similar visits were organized to other fleets. The accompanying person, as a rule, was the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy himself. Of course, all this raised the prestige of the Navy in the state and the authority of Sergei Georgievich himself.

Unfortunately, Gorshkov could treat capable and talented military leaders without any respect. At times, commanders aroused severe dissatisfaction with Sergei Georgievich, especially if they were regarded by him as rivals for promotion to positions. For example, this was noticeable in relation to Admiral Alexander Chabanenko and Vice Admiral Georgy Kholostyakov. To put it mildly, Gorshkov did not like them. Even towards his immediate patron, Kuznetsov, Sergei Georgievich showed unforgivable indifference. Being the absolute master of the Soviet Navy, Commander-in-Chief Gorshkov did not show the necessary persistence to return Nikolai Gerasimovich to his well-deserved position as a state military leader, and did not restore the title of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, which was illegally taken away after the explosion of the Novorossiysk ship. The rehabilitation of Kuznetsov took place only after the death of Gorshkov under the new Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Chernavin in 1988.

Gorshkov also often showed indifference towards ordinary sailors and junior officers. Lack of apartments for officers and midshipmen, unavailability of emergency and life-saving equipment, including their absence on board submarines, extremely depressing living conditions for crews operating in remote areas of the ocean (limited fresh water, lack of fruits and vegetables, rare visits to foreign ports, and even then with sharply limited disembarkation, etc.), of course, caused dissatisfaction among the sailors. The Commander-in-Chief sometimes simply became indignant at complaints and requests on these issues. Perhaps all this can be called trifles, because there were enough officers without quarters even under Kuznetsov, the auxiliary fleet was weak even under him. But there is still a fundamental difference: Kuznetsov was tolerated by the elite, but Gorshkov was loved. Therefore, Sergei Georgievich initially had more opportunities to solve everyday problems of sailors. After all, it is possible to unfinish one submarine, and instead put new houses, barracks, additional tugs, and create a major repair base for the fleet.

In this regard, it should be noted that over time, according to the testimony of Gorshkov’s entourage, he changed from a tough disposition (something “like Zhukov”) in the 50-60s. to the “grandfather’s” character in the last years of naval leadership. And at the same time, in his post as Commander-in-Chief, Gorshkov always, until his last days, invariably remained a demanding, efficient and purposeful military leader.

LEGAL RESULT

Did Gorshkov have serious competitors for the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy at the end of 1955? Analyzing the service, combat and life experience of a number of commanders, it can be argued that several people could be such candidates: Arseniy Golovko, Vitaly Fokin, Alexander Chabanenko and, to some extent, Fyodor Zozulya. These admirals left a noticeable mark on the history of the Russian Navy and, of course, would have coped with the leadership of the entire Soviet Navy. Based on the experience of the command, the most suitable candidates were Golovko and Chabanenko. However, Golovko was not in good health and lived only 55 years. Chabanenko did not have such rich combat experience as Gorshkov. On the other hand, those commanders who led the fleets during the war have already left their first roles: Vladimir Tributs, Philip Oktyabrsky, Ivan Yumashev, Lev Vladimirsky.

Gorshkov himself showed his best side during the war. Let's give examples.

In September 1941, the cruiser brigade commander, captain 1st rank Gorshkov, was appointed commander of the landing forces, and after Rear Admiral Vladimirsky was wounded, he took over the leadership of the entire landing operation in the Grigorievka area to assist the defenders of Odessa. The documents for the operation sank along with the destroyer Frunze, on which Vladimirsky was wounded. Gorshkov carried out the entire operation without documents - the landing was successful.

A month later, Sergei Georgievich becomes commander of the Azov flotilla. As subsequent events showed, Rear Admiral Gorshkov quickly understood the situation and very correctly identified ways to solve the problems assigned to the flotilla. Subsequently, already commanding the Danube flotilla, the military leader continued to amaze everyone with his art. One day, Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov arrived at the flotilla. He summoned Gorshkov and ordered him to transport hundreds of tanks heading to the Danube across the water barrier. To Gorshkov's justified objections that the flotilla did not have the means for such a crossing, Zhukov replied: “If the tanks are not transported, you will be shot.” The tanks were transported. All these cases convincingly prove that Sergei Georgievich was a talented naval commander.

In the first post-war years, Vice Admiral Gorshkov, commander of the Black Sea squadron, surprised his subordinates with innovations: he created a system of gathering trips, introduced the practice of passing exams for independent control of the ship. There are no striking episodes during the period when Sergei Georgievich was the chief of staff of the fleet, the commander of the fleet, neither in memoirs nor in publications. But it seems that service in the Black Sea Fleet was established, since in 1953 the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Gorshkov, was awarded the Order of Lenin.

These and many other facts confirm: the appointment of Sergei Georgievich to the highest post in the Soviet Navy was natural and objective.

Having become the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Sergei Georgievich, as mentioned above, did the most important thing in his life: under his leadership a real ocean fleet was created and the theory of its use was developed. In the 70s Gorshkov, with the help of well-trained officers and admirals, writes many articles and a number of books. The most significant work is “The Sea Power of the State,” published in 1976. Undoubtedly, Gorshkov was not just the “author” of books that were not written by him. A competent admiral, an erudite man, he knew exceptionally well the history of the fleet, naval art, and was fluent in the intricacies of naval theory and practice.

FLEET PASSED - FLEET ACCEPTED

Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov ended his 30-year leadership of the Navy on December 9, 1985, a Monday, a regular working day. The high command of the Navy gathered in the hall of the Military Council, as well as the heads of departments and departments of the General Staff and departments of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, invited to the meeting.

At 4:53 p.m. The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov entered the hall. He opened the meeting of the Military Council: “Today we have one, and rather short, question; I will read out the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR.”

"Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of November 29, 1985 on the Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy. The Council of Ministers of the USSR decides:

1. Appoint Fleet Admiral Vladimir Nikolaevich Chernavin as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR.

2. To relieve Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov from his duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR and member of the board of the USSR Ministry of Defense in connection with his transfer to another job."

After the order was read out, Gorshkov made a short speech: “I am very grateful to the Central Committee that I was entrusted with such a responsible position as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for 30 years... Not everything was smooth with us, there were difficult incidents, but the Central Committee and the Ministry of Defense always They treated our problems with understanding, and this gave me strength and confidence. Today I handed over all matters to Vladimir Nikolaevich Chernavin. I express my gratitude and appreciation for your selfless work, which allowed us to solve the instructions of the Central Committee of the Party. Thank you for your service.”

Then the new Commander-in-Chief, Fleet Admiral Chernavin, rose to the podium. Addressing Gorshkov, he said: “Sergei Georgievich, we are grateful to you for your education, we are your students... Let me assure you that we are people devoted to the fleet, and we will persistently carry out the program for its development.”

On the same day, Commander-in-Chief Gorshkov signed his last order: “By the decision of the Central Committee of the CPSU and by order of the Minister of Defense, I transferred the duties of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy and Deputy Minister of Defense to Fleet Admiral Vladimir Nikolaevich Chernavin and transferred to the group of Inspectors General of the Ministry of Defense... I wish all the personnel fleet of invariably safe sailing, success in service and personal happiness."

MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COURIER No. 7/2009

ADMIRAL OF THE SOVIET UNION FLEET S.G. GORSHKOV

Fedor NOVOSELOV

Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for shipbuilding and armament (1986-1992), admiral

TO THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH

Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov went down in the history of Russia and the Soviet Union as an outstanding naval commander who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for 30 years (1956-1985). Under his leadership, a modern ocean-going nuclear missile fleet was built.

Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Sergei Gorshkov.

Photo by RIA Novosti

Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov was born on February 26, 1910 into a family of teachers. After graduating from school, he entered Leningrad University, and a year later he transferred to the Naval School. M.V. Frunze. In 1931, his naval service began in the Black Sea, and a year later in the Far East. 1934 - he is the commander of the TFR "Burun", which, based on the results of training in 1936, took first place in the Naval Forces of the Red Army. After completing the courses for ship commanders in Leningrad in 1937, S.G. Gorshkov is again in the Pacific Fleet - commander of a destroyer, commander of a destroyer division. In 1939, he was the commander of a brigade of destroyers on the Black Sea, and six months later, he was the commander of a formed brigade of cruisers, with which he met the war, going, as they say, “from bell to bell.”

He took part in all landing operations carried out on the Black Sea, starting with the landing in August 1941 in the area of ​​the village of Grigoryevka, near Odessa. As commander of the Azov and Danube flotillas, he acquired rich experience in the interaction of fleet forces with troops of the coastal fronts. Being one of the leaders of the defense of Novorossiysk, he commanded the 47th Army for some time, which did not go unnoticed. I.V. Stalin invited Gorshkov to secure a position as army commander, to which Sergei Georgievich asked to leave him in the fleet, to which the Supreme Commander agreed. After the liberation of Crimea, the Danube Flotilla was created on the basis of the Azov Flotilla, S.G. became the commander. Gorshkov. The flotilla took part in the battles for the liberation of Odessa and Transnistria, and fought for the freedom of the peoples of Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Yugoslavia.

Since January 1945 S.G. Gorshkov commands a squadron of the Black Sea Fleet - the largest, in his estimation, naval squadron in the naval forces of that time. He was instructed to meet the leaders of the United States and Great Britain arriving at the Yalta Conference at the airfield in Saki. It should be noted that his desire to learn new things and his experience of participating in the war in the Black Sea Fleet were noticed by the command of the Navy. He is invited to participate in the development of proposals for the first post-war Military Shipbuilding Program for 1946-1955. (PVK-46), he heads the section for cruisers and destroyers.

Since November 1948, he was appointed chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet. He directs his main efforts to developing plans for preparing naval forces to conduct combat operations in conditions of the possible use of atomic weapons in a war at sea.

In February 1950, the Navy Ministry was restored, in July 1951, the Main Military Council of the Navy discussed the state of affairs in the fleet, N.G. was appointed minister. Kuznetsov, his first deputy is Admiral N.E. Bass. Commander of the Black Sea Fleet - S.G. Gorshkov.

During these years, research work was underway to create new types of weapons, and preparations were being made for the Southern Test Site, created in 1949 for missile testing. The fleet commander paid close attention to the construction of the training ground, staffing testers, and allocating ships for new weapons.

On March 15, 1953, the Military and Naval Ministries were merged into the Ministry of Defense. Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N.G. Kuznetsov was appointed First Deputy Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.

At the end of 1953, the Main Naval Staff prepared a draft military policy for 1956-1965, which, after approval by the General Staff and the Minister of Defense, was submitted to the Council of Ministers of the USSR at the beginning of 1954. The program did not receive support because The country's leadership considered that the plans gave priority to the construction of surface ships, and that there were not enough ships with new types of weapons. The fleet's revised proposals were repeatedly discussed at meetings of the Ministry of Defense collegium and meetings with the Minister of Defense. After the approval of the PVK-56 project and the formulation of the Navy’s tasks, they were presented to the CPSU Central Committee in November 1954. At meetings of the special commission of the Presidium of the Central Committee, only N.G. spoke and defended the presented documents. Kuznetsov, and the leaders of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff practically did not take part in this.

Unfortunately, the fleet did not have supporters among the leaders of the defense industries. The country's leadership, headed by N.S. Khrushchev considered the implementation of the presented plans too expensive and demanded that they be reduced and the main efforts concentrated on the construction of submarines, considering them, together with naval aviation, as the main force capable of resisting the fleet of a potential enemy in the ocean, and surface ships should be built only for the defense of the country from the sea, with This will equip submarines, aviation and NK with missile weapons. It’s hard to imagine what kind of nervous tension N.G. experienced. Kuznetsov, repeatedly defending his vision of the future fleet in the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense, and then in the highest party and state authorities.

In July 1955, at the suggestion of N.G. Kuznetsov S.G. was appointed his first deputy. Gorshkov. Soon Kuznetsov suffered a heart attack, the duties of commander in chief were assigned to S.G. Gorshkov, and all responsibility for preparing plans for the construction of ships fell on his shoulders.

In order to study and take into account the opinions of officers on the appearance of the future fleet, in mid-October 1955 N.S. Khrushchev and G.K. Zhukov held a two-day meeting in Sevastopol with the command and commanders of the Black Sea Fleet formations. In his address, Khrushchev called on the participants to express their opinions and vision of the future of the fleet, without looking at the opinion of the command.

Most participants advocated that the main forces for fighting in the ocean are submarines and naval aviation with missile weapons. There were different opinions about large surface ships, but the majority supported the construction of cruisers and destroyers with missile weapons and air defense aircraft carriers. The leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress of the meeting, G.K. Zhukov outlined his vision of the nature of a possible war and the role and place of the fleet in the Armed Forces system. N.S. Khrushchev agreed to design a small aircraft carrier in order to master, as he put it, the culture of building and operating these ships, which might be needed in the future.

At the end of October 1955, the battleship Novorossiysk sank from an explosion in the bow in Sevastopol Bay, killing more than 600 people. N.G. Kuznetsov was relieved of his post as commander-in-chief of the Navy and dismissed from military service.

At the beginning of January 1956, Admiral S.G. was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. Gorshkov. The beginning of his activities as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy coincided with a difficult period in the life of the fleet. The death of the battleship "Novorossiysk" in Sevastopol Bay, the removal of N.G. Kuznetsov from the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, dissatisfaction of the country's top party and state leadership with plans for building a fleet:

The beginning of the scientific and technological revolution in military affairs required the development of ways for the development of the fleet, the determination of the appearance of new ships and weapons systems. There was no unanimity of opinion on this issue among the senior command staff of the fleets. Differing opinions about the role and place of the Navy in the context of the possible use of nuclear weapons also existed in the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff. In addition, there was a purely moral and psychological aspect - S.G. Gorshkov was significantly younger than many admirals who commanded fleets during the war and held various positions in the Navy and the Ministry of Defense. The core of the country's top military leadership were marshals and army generals. It is unlikely that Gorshkov could count and hope for their support and understanding. These circumstances required from the 46-year-old commander-in-chief a skillful policy of relationships and intense organizational work. Thanks to his deep knowledge of naval affairs, personal experience of participating in combat operations at sea and on land during the war, his strong character and ability to build relationships with people, S.G. Gorshkov successfully coped with the difficulties of the initial stage of his activity.

The life and practical results of S.G.’s many years of activity. Gorshkov as commander-in-chief shows that he was able to correctly choose the strategy for building the fleet and tactical methods for its implementation. At the end of January 1956, the Defense Council reviewed and approved the plan for the design and construction of ships for 1956-1960, prepared by the Navy and agreed with the ministries of defense industries, which was approved.

All subsequent plans for the fleet construction program were developed under the leadership of S.G. Gorshkova. He was the ideologist and organizer of the creation of an ocean-going nuclear missile fleet. In this work, he always sought to have allies and associates among the leaders of the country's defense complex, primarily shipbuilding.

Gorshkov organizes exhibitions and displays of new ships and weapons systems directly in the Northern or Black Sea fleets, inviting party and government leaders, ministers, general and chief designers, and directors of large factories. The demonstrations were accompanied by ships going to sea, where tactical exercises were carried out with missile launches, torpedo and artillery firing, and aviation flights. During the exhibitions, issues of not only the construction of ships and the creation of weapons systems, but also the development of fleet infrastructure, as well as social problems, were discussed.

When determining the prospects for the development of the fleet, he always relied on science, primarily on the work of the institutes and academies of the Navy. When reviewing scientific works, he always guided scientists to search for unconventional ideas in the creation of weapons systems and the construction of ships. He was opposed to copying foreign ships and weapons. Although he attached considerable importance to the study of foreign experience. He insistently recommended that naval institutes interact more closely with scientists from the USSR Academy of Sciences and the leading institutes of industrial sectors.

It was under Gorshkov that the Soviet Navy entered the vastness of the World Ocean.

Photo by ITAR-TASS

Throughout its 300-year history, the fleet has always been closely connected with the country's Academy of Sciences; many prominent scientists made an invaluable contribution to the construction of the fleet.

In the process of building the ocean fleet, especially nuclear submarines, a number of new problems arose, the resolution of which required the participation of institutes of the Academy of Sciences. The Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences supported the initiative of the Navy and created special Scientific Councils:

Hydrodynamics (1960), leaders - academicians M.A. Lavrentiev and L.I. Sedov;

Hydrophysics (1967), leaders - academicians A.P. Alexandrov and A.V. Gaponov-Grekhov;

Applied problems (1967), supervisor - academician V.M. Glushkov;

Communications with submarines (early 70s), headed by Academician V.A. Kotelnikov;

Oceanographic Commission (1939), heads - academicians V.P. Shirshov and L.M. Brekhovskikh.

The members of each council were representatives of the Navy Research Institute.

S.G. Gorshkov treated the outstanding scientists who made a significant contribution to the construction of the modern fleet with great respect and attention. First of all, we should name Academician A.P. Alexandrov, whose scientific and practical work was closely connected with the fleet even in the pre-war years. He was the initiator and scientific director of the creation of nuclear power plants and the design of nuclear submarines. For many years, incl. and after being elected President of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1975, Anatoly Petrovich headed the Council on Hydrophysics, organizing research into the World Ocean in the interests of creating underwater observation systems and underwater shipbuilding. S.G. Gorshkov often attended and spoke at plenary meetings of the Council on Hydrophysics and the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences on problems of fleet construction.

S.G. Gorshkov highly valued the creative work of the general and chief designers of ships and weapons systems elected to the USSR Academy of Sciences. These are academicians N.N. Isanin, S.N. Kovalev, V.N. Chelomey, V.P. Makeev, P.D. Grushin, B.P. Zhukov, Yu.B. Khariton, E.I. Zababakhin, A.I. Savin, V.S. Semenikhin, A.A. Tupolev, S.V. Ilyushin, R.A. Belyakov, G.M. Beriev. With all these extraordinary individuals, as with many others, S.G. Gorshkov was excellent at conducting conversations and resolving issues and enjoyed enormous authority and respect among them. I think I won’t be mistaken if I say that Sergei Georgievich was the most authoritative and respected military leader in the 70-80s among the country’s scientists. Communication with prominent scientists and defense industry workers, meetings and conversations with scientists from the Military Medical Academy and Navy institutes allowed S.G. Gorshkov to receive a large amount of scientific and technical information, process it and be fully armed when solving complex problems of fleet construction.

People were surprised and even envied his ability to quickly grasp the meaning of a conversation and make a decision, and some saw elements of voluntarism in this. Of course, Sergei Georgievich had a strong and strong-willed character and, as you know, never changed his decisions. Fleet Admiral N.D. spoke figuratively about this. Sergeev: “Our commander in chief, like an airplane, has no reverse gear.” But to accuse him of voluntarism when making decisions on shipbuilding issues, I believe, is not only unlawful, but also a deliberately false slander. For 14 years of service in the central apparatus of the Navy, and this is almost half of the term of his command of the fleet, and the second half, when S.G. Gorshkov had enormous authority not only in the Navy and the Ministry of Defense, but also in the government and high party circles, I did not notice any elements of voluntarism. From my own experience, I testify that during personal reports he was formal and strict, but this did not exclude the opportunity for the speaker to express his thoughts and even debate the essence of the issue.

The situation was different at meetings of the Military Council or service meetings, especially on the results of combat and political training, issues of accident rates and military discipline. The speaker had to give an objective assessment, not try to “cover up” shortcomings, and be prepared to answer unpleasant questions.

S.G. Gorshkov, together with the heads of ministries and departments, made trips to research institutes and design bureaus of industry on shipbuilding matters, visiting almost all parent organizations, many more than once. So, on missile matters, he visited the Urals, Altai, Tajikistan, Kharkov, Tula, Reutov, Lyubertsy, Khimki and Dubna, not to mention Moscow, Leningrad and other shipbuilding centers. He treated the work of ship designers and weapons system designers with great respect and trust, always listened attentively and with interest to their presentations, and actively participated in the discussion. He was very receptive to new proposals from scientists and designers and actively supported their implementation in shipbuilding. Thus, the ideas of chief designer R.E. were implemented. Alekseev to create hydrofoil boats and ekranoplanes, the creation of hydrofoil landing boats, the introduction of anti-ship cruise missiles on boats that have reached the level of large surface ships in their strike capabilities. S.G. Gorshkov supported in the early 60s, when space exploration was just beginning, the proposal of the general designer of cruise missiles V.N. Chelomey on the creation of a maritime space reconnaissance system to detect enemy surface ships in the ocean and transmit data directly to surface and submarine ships. And such a system was created and adopted by the Navy.

The massive introduction of anti-ship missiles on submarines, surface ships and naval aircraft has ensured a certain balance of power in the ocean. The creation of an automated nuclear submarine destroyer (scientific director - Academician A.P. Aleksandrov) was the most important achievement in underwater shipbuilding.

At factories, when visiting workshops and laboratories, he showed great interest in innovations in technology, production organization and quality control system, and was also interested in issues of enterprise development and the mood in the team. He believed that only a successful enterprise could create high-quality equipment.

In his organizational work on the construction of the fleet, S.G. Gorshkov relied on the ordering departments, whose chiefs were the main organizers of the preparation and implementation of decisions made on the design of ships, the creation of weapons systems, and the organization of testing.

Taking into account the specifics of operating conditions and combat use, naval weapons systems were created according to the instructions of the Navy, and therefore there were 13 departments in its central apparatus. Gorshkov paid close attention to the work of these departments; they were the main link between the fleet and industry. The commander-in-chief, as a rule, invited the heads of the ordering departments to a conversation with general designers or directors of enterprises, hearing their opinions on the issue under discussion, which increased their authority in industry.

For many years, Sergei Georgievich had friendly and business relations with outstanding leaders of the defense industries: B.E. Butomoy (shipbuilding), E.P. Slavsky (nuclear), S.A. Afanasyev (rocket and space), S.A. Zverev and P.V. Finogenov (defense), V.V. Bakhirev (ammunition and solid fuels), V.D. Kalmykov and P.S. Pleshakov (radio engineering), E.K. Pervyshin (communications).

The complex problems of fleet construction, in particular in the creation of missile systems, were resolved by the commander-in-chief through repeated meetings and conferences with general and chief designers, and heads of ministries in order to find a solution in the interests of the fleet. Thus, during the creation of the D-19 missile system with the R-39 ballistic missile, created on solid fuel, at least 10 meetings were held with ministers S.A. Afanasyev and V.V. Bakhirev in Moscow. In order to familiarize themselves with the progress of work on the ground, they visited enterprises in the Urals, Altai and Tajikistan.

Particular attention during trips to the fleets of S.G. Gorshkov addressed issues of accident-free operation of ships and training of personnel to fight for survivability. Each case of equipment failures leading to an accident or disruption of the ship's entry into combat service evoked a harsh assessment from the commander in chief. His saying on assessing accident rates is well known: “No accident rate is inevitable, it is created by people through their lack of training, carelessness and lack of performance in the operation of complex equipment,” which served as a guide for all categories of personnel of ships and units. When investigating accidents and disasters, he trusted the commission, focusing on objectivity in determining the causes and developing measures to eliminate them in the future.

During the exercises at sea, conditions close to combat conditions were created. The ships were in battle formations (orders), providing all types of defense and the ships' weapons in readiness for combat use. The ballistic missile launches were carried out while the SSBN was on combat patrol. The launches of anti-ship missiles were carried out in the conditions of a reconnaissance-strike complex using target data from space or aviation reconnaissance systems in current time mode.

If there was a threat of attack from the air, the ships of the formation were transferred to full combat readiness; combat orders to repel air targets using anti-aircraft fire weapons were issued only to those ships that were checked. This provision was written down in the governing documents, which ensured the safety of all ships when repelling an air raid. During combat exercises, the level of training of personnel and the reliability of the equipment were assessed. In cases of unsuccessful missile launches and other shortcomings during the exercise, Gorshkov never showed nervousness and gave clear instructions. After the exercise, the reasons were investigated.

I remember an incident during a landing exercise on the Black Sea Fleet that characterized the commander-in-chief. One of the hovercrafts could not immediately reach the coast and did so only on the third call. The fleet command and everyone who was on the viewing platform were worried and worried about failure and possible troubles for the boat commander. The Commander-in-Chief calmly walked towards the boat, and everyone on the podium followed him. We saw the pale face of the commander when he reported to the commander in chief. Sergei Georgievich calmly listened to the report, shook hands with the commander and began a conversation about the combat and seaworthiness of the ship. The commander, a senior lieutenant, was worried at the beginning of the conversation, which is quite natural, but then he calmed down and confidently answered all the questions. S.G. Gorshkov thanked him and wished him success in his service. You should have seen the commander's face beaming. I think that he remembered the conversation with the commander-in-chief for the rest of his life, and for those present it was an instructive example of the admiral’s attitude towards the young officer.

In the mid-60s, on the initiative of the commander-in-chief, ships of the Soviet fleet began to carry out military service in the Mediterranean Sea. The main task was to monitor the actions of the 6th American Fleet. Over time, a similar squadron of ships was created in the Indian Ocean. In the Atlantic and western Pacific Ocean, operational squadrons of the Northern and Pacific fleets carried out combat service. The performance of combat service by squadrons of surface ships and multi-purpose submarines, as well as combat patrols of submarine missile carriers, was the highest form of combat and operational training of the Soviet fleet. The Soviet Union, unlike the United States, did not have permanent bases for ships in other countries. S.G. Gorshkov showed great energy, with the support of the country's leadership, in establishing friendly relations with a number of countries in the Mediterranean, Africa and Southeast Asia. He made a number of visits, intergovernmental agreements were prepared and signed on military-technical cooperation and the procedure for the entry of Soviet ships into the ports of these countries, which greatly facilitated military service. The entry of Soviet ships into the World Ocean required the solution of serious issues regarding the technical resource and reliability of equipment during long voyages, and to improve conditions for personnel in various climatic conditions.

At the end of the 80s, plans for the construction of the fleet, developed under the leadership of S.G., were implemented. Gorshkova. A powerful ocean-going nuclear missile fleet was created, which worthily represented the Land of the Soviets in the vastness of the World Ocean.

S.G. Gorshkov had well-deserved and unquestioned authority among officers and admirals. Being at the pinnacle of power for many years, he managed to maintain human relations with his subordinates, respectfully addressing him as “You”, and outside of meetings - by name and patronymic. For many years, even in difficult situations, I did not hear swear words or shouting from his lips; he always strictly and attentively listened to the participants and gave instructions. Outside of service, everything human, as they say, was not alien to him.

At the end of November 1985, during my next report, the Commander-in-Chief said: “You probably already know that I am leaving service in the near future. V.N. Chernavin is appointed Commander-in-Chief. Admiral P.G. Kotov should also retire soon. By joint decision with Chernavin, I offer you the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief for shipbuilding and weapons." This offer was unexpected and became the highest assessment of my work and the entire rocket and artillery service of the Navy. I cordially thanked Sergei Georgievich for the high trust and honor shown and assured that I would try to justify them. This was my last report to him. In subsequent years, only telephone conversations: The last one took place on the eve of Victory Day 1988, and soon he was gone:

This was a huge loss for the fleet and for the country. It is difficult to overestimate everything that he did. The main result of his life was the creation of a powerful ocean-going, nuclear-missile, nuclear fleet of the Country of the Soviets and its launch into the World Ocean. This gigantic work by S.G. Gorshkova deserves not only the highest praise, but also in-depth research by scientists and the publication of special works devoted to the life path of an outstanding son of the Fatherland. I am grateful to fate that I was lucky - I met a Person who played a decisive role in my life and service. Eternal glory and memory to him.

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GORSHKOV Sergei Georgievich, Soviet naval figure, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union (1967). Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (05/07/1965, 12/21/1982).

Born into a teacher's family. In 1926 he graduated from a nine-year school in Kolomna, Moscow region. In the Navy since 1927. After graduating from the Naval School. M.V. Frunze served in the Black Sea Fleet in 1931: watch commander, navigator of the destroyer "Frunze". From March 1932 in the Pacific Fleet: navigator of the minelayer "Tomsk", from January 1934 - flag navigator of the barrage and minesweeping brigade, from November of the same year - commander of the patrol ship "Burun". In 1937, he graduated from courses for destroyer commanders and was appointed commander of the destroyer "Razhyaschiy". From October 1937 - chief of staff, and from May 1938 - commander of a destroyer brigade. As commander of the 7th naval brigade of the Pacific Fleet, he took part in combat operations in the area of ​​Lake Khasan in 1938. In June 1940, he was transferred to the Black Sea Fleet and appointed commander of a cruiser brigade. In 1941 he graduated from KUVNAS at the Naval Academy.

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the ships of the brigade under his command actively participated in the combat operations of the fleet. In September 1941, during the defense of Odessa, he led the landing of the first amphibious assault in the Black Sea Fleet in the Grigoryevka district, which contributed to a successful counterattack by the troops of the Odessa defensive region. In September 1941 S.G. Gorshkov was awarded the rank of rear admiral. From October 1941 he commanded the Azov military flotilla. During the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation of 1941-1942. led the landing forces on the northern coast of the Kerch Peninsula. In the summer of 1942, the flotilla under his command supported the troops of the Southern and North Caucasus fronts. In August 1942, after the withdrawal of the troops of the Transcaucasian Front to Novorossiysk, 150 warships and vessels under the command of Gorshkov made a successful breakthrough from the Azov Sea to the Black Sea.

After the inclusion of the Azov military flotilla in the forces of the Novorossiysk defensive region in November 1942, he was appointed deputy commander of the defensive region for the naval unit and a member of the Military Council, and took part in the leadership of the defense of the city. In November of the same year, he temporarily commanded the 47th Army, participating in the defense of the Caucasus. In February 1943, he was appointed commander of the newly formed Azov military flotilla. During the Kerch-Eltigen landing operation of 1943, S.G. Gorshkov personally supervised the preparation and landing of amphibious assault forces in the main direction. From April 1944 he commanded the Danube military flotilla. During the Iasi-Kishinev offensive operation, the flotilla successfully assisted the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front in crossing the Dniester estuary and ensured a breakthrough of the enemy’s defenses. In September - November 1944, the flotilla provided assistance to the troops of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts during the Belgrade and Budapest operations. In November 1944 S.G. Gorshkov was appointed squadron commander of the Black Sea Fleet.

After the war he remained in his previous position. In September 1945 S.G. Gorshkov was awarded the rank of vice admiral. Since November 1948, Chief of Staff, since August 1951, Commander of the Black Sea Fleet. In August 1953, he was awarded the rank of admiral. In July 1955, he was appointed 1st Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. In January 1956, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Navy - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. In April 1962 S.G. Gorshkov was awarded the rank of fleet admiral. Under his leadership, the Navy became nuclear missile, replenished with ships and vessels of new types, incl. nuclear submarines and surface missile carriers, naval missile-carrying aircraft, and helicopters for various purposes. Gorshkov's great merit was the entry of the Soviet fleet into the ocean with the organization of long-term combat service of Navy ships in operationally important regions of the World Ocean and the formation of operational squadrons operating in the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Since December 1985 in the Group of Inspectors General of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Laureate of the Lenin (1985) and State (1980) prizes. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 4th-11th convocations. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.

Awarded: 7 Orders of Lenin, Order of the October Revolution, 4 Orders of the Red Banner, Order of Ushakov 1st and 2nd class, Order of Kutuzov 1st class, Order of the Patriotic War 1st class, Red Star, “For Service” To the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" 3rd Art.; foreign orders: Bulgaria - St. Alexander 3rd class. with swords and NRB "People's Republic of Bulgaria" 1st Art. three times and “For military merit” 2nd class; Hungary - "Hungarian People's Republic" 1st Art.; GDR - Scharnhorst and “For services to the Fatherland” 1st class; Indonesia - “Star of Indonesia” 1st class; MPR - Sukhbaatar; NDRY - Friendship of Peoples; Peru - “Naval Merit” 1st class; Poland - "Renaissance of Poland" 2nd and 3rd Art.; SRV - “For military valor”, 1st class; SRR - Tudora Vladimirescu 1st class, “August 23” 1st class, “Star of Romania” 3rd class. and “Defense of the Motherland” 3rd Art.; Tunisia - Tunisian Republic 1st Art.; SFRY - "Partisan Star" 1st Art. twice; many Soviet and foreign medals, as well as weapons of honor.