The root of Russia’s naval thought lies in the economic need for the ocean

The root of Tsarist Russia’s naval thought lies in the need for the ocean for Russia’s economic development. Even before Peter I, Russia had major maritime interests. The main trade route was from the Baltic Sea to the Bosporus, passing through Lake Ladoga, and the Dvina River in the West to the Dnieper River leading to the Black Sea. The Varangians (the Scandinavians in Russia) traded furs, oils, amber, and slaves to Byzantium in exchange for gold, wine, and fine fabrics. However, with the invasion of the Mongols in the 13th century, this maritime trade activity basically disappeared.

By the end of the 17th century, with more than 100 years of expansion since Ivan IV, Russia had become a feudal power spanning Europe and Asia. However, at this time, Russia was an inland country isolated from the ocean. nation. It has no outlet to the sea and is bordered by the Arctic Ocean in the north, which is frozen almost all year round. To the west and southwest were the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. At that time, Turkey and its tributary Crimean Khanate occupied the northern shore of the Black Sea, while Sweden owned the Baltic Sea. They cut Russia's throat to Western Europe.

For Russia, it needs the Baltic Sea in order to seize Finland and control Western Europe from its northern flank. It needs the Black Sea and the Turkish Straits in order to control the Balkans, access to the Mediterranean, and control Western Europe from its southern flank. It also needs the Caspian Sea in order to invade Central Asia to the east and the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean to the south. At the same time, it also needs Heilongjiang in order to enter the Pacific Ocean.

Peter I

Peter I believed that the Don River, Neva River and Heilongjiang River as outlets to the sea were the most important for Russia. Because if you control the mouth of the Don River, you can enter the Black Sea, and then enter the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean; if you control the mouth of the Neva River, you can enter the Baltic Sea, and then enter the Atlantic Ocean; if you control the mouth of the Heilongjiang River, you can enter the Sea of ??Okhotsk, and then enter the Pacific Ocean. His insights had a profound impact on Russia's naval policy and foreshadowed the direction of Russia's maritime policy in the next two centuries.

In all the reforms of Peter I, the sea and the competition for access to the sea played a very important role. The Treaty of Nerchinsk signed in 1689, the first year he came to power, stipulated that Russia could not own the seaport of Heilongjiang. This incident hit him hard and he considered it a disaster. Because at this time, the other two estuaries of the Don River and the Neva River are firmly in the hands of Turkey and Sweden respectively. Afterwards, he left this famous saying: "Only a monarch with an army is a man with only one hand, and a man with a navy can become a man with both hands."

After the failure of development eastward, Peter It was clear that gaining access to the sea and communicating with the West could only be achieved through successful military operations. He first turned his attention to the south. In 1695, in view of the failure of the first two attacks on Azov (in 1687 and 1689 respectively), Peter I began to create a fleet. The next year, the Russian army and navy captured the Azov Fortress after 50 days of fighting. After that, the Russian Navy was officially established. In 1700, Russia began to build a base for the Azov Sea Fleet in Taganrog. For the first time in history, Russia had its own naval fleet in the Black Sea. However, the good times did not last long. Due to Russia's defeat at the Battle of the Prut River in 1710, the plan for the southern seaport failed. Russia was left with the only north direction.

Ships built by Russia in 1701

However, while heading south, Peter focused his main interest on Sweden, his powerful neighbor in the north, and this led to a 21-year war. Northern War. In this war, Russia's goals were very clear, namely: occupy the Baltic Sea coast; destroy Swedish control of Russian rivers and lakes; build a powerful Baltic Fleet; engage and destroy Sweden. At that time, Sweden controlled most of the Baltic Sea coastline, including both sides of the Gulf of Finland, the entire Gulf of Bothnia, the east coast of the Baltic Sea, and most of the coasts of Lake Ladoga and Lake Peps (i.e. Lake Chud).

On October 11, 1702 (October 22), with the cooperation of the galley fleet, the Russian army captured Nottburg (Oreshek) after more than 40 days of fierce fighting. Later, the city was renamed Schlusselburg (meaning Key City), which marked the beginning of Russia's entry into the Baltic Sea. After Russia entered the east coast of the Gulf of Finland, it laid the foundation stone for the Peter and Paul Fortress on Rabbit Island on May 16, 1703 (May 27). It became the predecessor of Petersburg, and on this day it also became Leningrad (now known as Leningrad). Petersburg). At the end of 1704, the Russian fleet expelled the Swedes on Lake Ladoga and Lake Peps, and controlled the narrow corridor leading to the Baltic Sea on both sides of the Neva River. In 1712, Peter I moved the capital to Petersburg. Since then, Petersburg has gradually become the political, economic and cultural center of Russia.

In the subsequent war process, the young Russian navy actively played its role: in 1710, with the cooperation of the fleet, the Russian army captured the Finnish coast and Reval (Tallinn). In 1713, a fleet of 200 small boats assisted the army in capturing Helsinki. After the Battle of Hanko in 1714 (author's note: Russia has always called it the Battle of Gangut), the Swedish fleet was greatly weakened, while Russia basically had control of the sea and took advantage of the victory to occupy the sea springboard between Finland and Sweden - Aran Islands.

Schematic diagram of the naval battle of Cape Hanko in 1714

During the reign of Peter I, the Russian navy’s construction ideas were:

The navy should cooperate with the army in operations: the main method is the navy The safety of the army's maritime side should be ensured. When the army besieges the enemy's fortress from land, it should cooperate with the army from the sea direction and block the enemy; offensive and defensive operations in the sea direction should be coordinated with the land battlefield situation.

Focus on the naval base allocation: it mainly serves the functions of berthing, repairing, and shipbuilding of the fleet, and has become the stronghold of Russia's seaports. These bases include Arkhangelsk, Vyborg, Kronshtadt, Tallinn, Taganrog, Baku, etc.

In addition, Peter founded the original naval school, the Navigation and Mathematics School in 1701, and the Naval Academy in Petersburg in 1715.