The brig "Mercury" - a Russian warship launched in 1820, became famous thanks to its rich military history, as well as the paintings of painters, among which the works of Aivazovsky stand out. The laying of the ship and the subsequent launching took place in Sevastopol, which predetermined the future theater of military operations, where he took direct part and wrote his name in the chronicle of the Russian fleet. First of all, we are talking about an episode of the Russian-Turkish War of 1829, when the Mercury alone confronted two enemy battleships: Selimiye and Real Bey. Then the rest of the squadron, faced with superior forces, went to Sevastopol, and the Mercury, due to its low speed, was unable to break away and took the battle.
Despite the incomparable forces, the crew managed to inflict heavy damage on the Turkish ships, making further pursuit impossible. The feat of the small ship immediately became the center of attention of the world community, and in particular, many English newspapers wrote that the Russian ship managed to do the impossible. At home, the heroic actions were appreciated, awarding the Mercury with the stern St. George flag. In addition, in honor of this event, a medal was made, and the emperor ordered that the Black Sea Fleet always have a ship made according to the drawings of the Mercury. It was largely thanks to this decree that the drawings were preserved to this day and served as the basis for the model presented to the designers by Amati.
Description of the kit for building the brig "MERCURY"
The model I've been dreaming about for so long. And finally, Amati has developed a wonderful set.
Laser technologies were used in the production of the model, which made it possible to create parts from solid material, eliminating plywood and eliminating the “propeller” of the ship. In addition, the laser was used to draw the deck flooring, which made it possible to clearly identify the waterways, cut-ins and hatches. The drawers, gratings and spiers are equally well crafted. It is noteworthy that laser decoration also takes place on the lower deck, creating a harmonious appearance. The cabinet cladding includes two layers, the inner one is made of linden and the outer one is made of walnut, which creates a noble appearance. The bulwarks already include slotted ports for guns and oars, saving the authors unnecessary effort, especially since damage to the hull often occurs at this stage. The stern and side decorations include a number of photo-etched elements, including the national coat of arms. Among the original features of the set is the presence of copper plates, as well as a motor mechanism; using the attached instructions, you can create it so that when you turn the steering wheel, the steering wheel will also move.
The naval artillery consists of 18 carronades and two cannons, located on wooden machines, the design of which contains details created using photo-etching. The kit includes prefabricated boats, which also include double skinning and decking. If necessary, the author can place one of them at the back of the ship or on the side, for which the set includes keel blocks. The rigging system is represented by walnut spars, as well as threads of two colors, which fit well into the overall picture. Amati has prepared and applied perfect rounded one-, two- and three-pulley pear blocks for this model only. Finally, the kit includes a set of St. Andrew's flags and detailed drawings on 17 sheets. They significantly simplify the assembly of the model, especially since Amati has done everything so that even novice authors can cope with it. However, regardless of experience, all modelers can expect unforgettable minutes of assembly and the joy of successfully completed work in the form of a first-class model of one of the most glorious Russian ships.
THE SET HAS INSTRUCTIONS TRANSLATED INTO RUSSIAN.
Photo of the contents of this set.
The bowsprit and masts were composite in cross-section - the central single-length rod of square cross-section - the spindle - was supplemented to a round cross-section with side plates - fiches. The entire structure was fastened every approximately one and a half meters with vulings - strappings made of cables or steel yokes. The rest of the spar was made “in one tree”.
Dimensions of the main elements of the spar (length and maximum diameter in meters):
Bowsprit - 12.65, 0.51
Copper – 9.14, 0.20
Bom-fitter – 12.00, 0.13
Foremast – 18.49 (top -2.84 m), 0.50
Mainmast – 20.62, 0.55 (top -3.07 m)
Fore and main topmasts – 10.9, 0.30
Fore and main topmasts
(in one tree with boom topmasts) - 13.2, 0.20
Rhea
Blinda-ray - 12.19, 0.20
Fore- and main-yard - 15.70, 0.30
Fore- and Main-marsa-rey – 12.19, 0.22
Fore and main beam - 7.92, 0.13
Fore- and Grotto-bom-bram-ray – 5.49, 0.09
Gaff – 10.52, 0.23
Geek - 16.15, 0.33
The model's spar is made of birch wood. The mast columns are of natural color, the yards and topmasts are tinted walnut.
Rigging
The rigging of all sailing ships in Europe was made of hemp (hemp) cables of special multiple lay and of varying thickness. Hemp for ship ropes was one of the main Russian exports.
All standing rigging, which serves to fix the fixed elements of the spar - forestays, shrouds and forduns - in ships of the early 19th century was almost always titrated - impregnated with tyre - a special resin - to give it durability and protect it from getting wet and rotting, and therefore it was dark brown , up to black, color.
The diameter of the main gear of standing and running rigging in inches -
Foresight stay – 10,
Fore and main stays - 6.5,
Main and mainstays – 11.5,
Anchor rope 100 fathoms long - 13.5
Cabalaring rope – 9.5
Fore and main shrouds – 6.5
Hailards and lower yard brace pendants – 6.5,
Fore- and main-sheets and tacks – 3.5
The running rigging served to control the movement of all the moving elements of the spar - yards, boom and gaff, and all manipulations with the sails, so it had to be as elastic and soft as possible for ease of working with the gear. Sometimes it might be soaked in hemp oil, or it might not undergo any additional processing. All the running rigging gear, as well as the anchor rope, had a light beige color of natural hemp.
The rigging of the model is made of cotton threads. Standing - made of black, running - painted with alcohol stain of the appropriate color, and selected according to thickness. The rigging elements of the largest diameter (foresail and mainstays, as well as anchor rope) have a double lay. The remaining cables are made of single threads and have four thickness gradations for standing rigging and three for running rigging.
A booklet is included with the model.
The article uses materials from the Black Sea Fleet Museum. Photo: dag.com.ua/nikolaev/
The brig "Mercury", attacked by two Turkish ships. Ivan Aivazovsky, 1892
It has been 180 years since the unprecedented battle, in which the unbending courage of the Russian sailors of the brig "Mercury", its commander, Lieutenant Commander A.I., was demonstrated. Kazarsky, who did not bow their heads and lower the St. Andrew’s flag in front of the enemy.
Alexander Ivanovich Kazarsky was born on June 16, 1798 on Belarusian soil in the town of Dubrovno, Vitebsk province, in the family of a retired provincial secretary who managed the estate of Prince Lyubomirsky. Sasha's father is Ivan Kuzmich Kazarsky, mother is Tatyana Gavrilovna. The Kazarsky family had five children: Praskovya, Ekaterina, Matryona, Alexander and Ivan.
In 1811, Alexander became a cadet at the Nikolaev Navigation School.
On August 30, 1813, volunteer Alexander Kazarsky was enrolled in the Black Sea Fleet as a midshipman, and a year later he was promoted to the first officer rank and became a midshipman. He sailed on the brigantines Desna and Cleopatra, then was transferred to the Danube flotilla and appointed commander of a detachment of small rowing vessels in Izmail.
His service in the Danube Flotilla lasted five years. In 1819, he received the rank of lieutenant and in the same year was assigned to the frigate "Eustathius", which arrived in Sevastopol.
After "Eustathius" Kazarsky sailed on the schooner "Sevastopol", the transports "Ingul" and "Rival", commanded the boat "Falcon", served on the brig "Mercury", on a battleship and again on the brig "Mercury".
On July 9, 1828, for the distinction shown during the capture of Anapa, Kazarsky was promoted to lieutenant commander. In the same year, he was awarded a golden saber for his bravery during the storming of Varna.
In 1829 Kazarsky became the commander of the 18-gun brig Mercury.
The brig "Mercury" was laid down in January 1819 at the Sevastopol Admiralty (Southern Bay, between the Minna and Telefonnaya walls). Launched on May 7(19), 1820.
This ship was built by Ivan Yakovlevich Osminin, colonel of the corps of naval engineers.
The brig was intended for patrol and reconnaissance, cruising and messenger service. To enable movement in complete calm, the brig had 14 large oars. Row with these oars while standing. The ship's crew is 115 people.
The brig's artillery armament consisted of eighteen 24-pound carronades and two long-barreled 8-pound cannons, which had a greater firing range than carronades.
There was a Russian-Turkish war.
In May 1829, three Russian ships: the 44-gun frigate "Standart" (commander-lieutenant-commander P.Ya. Sakhnovsky), the 20-gun brig "Orpheus" (commander-lieutenant-commander E.I. Koltovsky), and the 20-gun The brig "Mercury" (commanded by captain-lieutenant A.I. Kazarsky) was cruising at the exit from the Bosphorus Strait. The detachment of ships was commanded by Captain-Lieutenant Sakhnovsky.
At dawn on May 14, 1829, the Turkish fleet consisting of 6 battleships, 2 frigates, 2 corvettes, 1 brig, 3 tenders departed from the Bosphorus. The enemy squadron, noticing the Russian ships, set off in pursuit of them.
A signal was raised on the “Standard”: “Everyone should choose the course that the ship has a preferential course,” after which the faster “Standart” and “Orpheus” quickly took the lead, and the slow-moving “Mercury” began to lag behind.
By 2 p.m., the enemy ships—the 110-gun battleship Selimiye and the 74-gun battleship Real Bay—had already begun to overtake the Mercury.
Seeing the impossibility of avoiding an unequal battle, Kazarsky assembled a council of officers.
The Mercury's chances of salvation were negligible (184 guns versus 20), leaving almost no hope for a successful outcome of the battle, the inevitability of which no one doubted.
As Kazarsky writes in his report to the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral A.S. Greig dated May 14, 1829 No. 130 (KChF Museum Fund, GU-678), the first to speak was the lieutenant of the navigator corps Prokofiev, who suggested: “Blow up the brig when it is brought to the extreme.” Further, Kazansky continues: “As a result of this opinion, adopted unanimously by everyone, it was decided to defend to the last opportunity, and if the spar was knocked down, or a large leak opened, then grapple with the nearest enemy ship, and the officer who remained alive should light the hook - camera, for which purpose the pistol was placed on the spire."
Kazarsky also addressed the lower ranks and explained to them “what the Sovereign expects from them and what the honor of the imperial flag requires; he found the same feelings in the team as in the officers: everyone unanimously declared that they would be faithful to their duty and oath to the end.”
Calmed by such general unanimity, he orders: “Stop the action with the oars, put people at the guns, throw the yawl hanging astern into the sea, and open fire from the retreat ports.”
Kazarsky knew perfectly well the strengths and weaknesses of his ship; the brig was very heavy on the move; only skillful maneuvering and accuracy of the gunners could save it.
For half an hour, "Mercury", maneuvering, skillfully dodged the volleys of enemy ships, but then was placed between both ships, and from the battleship Kapudan Pasha "Selimiye" shouted in Russian: "Surrender! And remove the sails."
The response to this from the Mercury was a salvo of all artillery and friendly rifle fire.
Both Turkish ships, surrendering to the stern of the brig, opened a continuous cannonade on it with cannonballs, cannonballs and cannonballs. A fire broke out on the Mercury, which, fortunately, was extinguished.
The well-aimed fire of the brig's gunners damaged the main spar of the stop-cannon Turkish ship "Selimiye" under the flag of Kapudan Pasha, which forced it to drift.
Another ship, the 74-gun Real Bay, flying the flag of the junior flagship, continued the battle, changing tacks under the stern of the brig, and hit it with longitudinal shots, which could not be avoided by any movements.
"Mercury" fired back, and with a lucky shot they managed to kill the enemy's knock-for-mars-yard, the fall of which carried away the foxes.
These damages deprived Real Bay of the opportunity to continue the battle and at half past six he stopped the fight.
As Kazarsky wrote in his report: “The damage to the brig’s crew consisted of four killed and six wounded lower ranks. There were 22 holes in the hull, 16 damage to the spars, 133 to the sails and 148 to the rigging; in addition, the rowing vessels were broken and the carronade was damaged.” .
Kazarsky himself received a head concussion during the battle, but despite this, he remained on the bridge and led the battle.
In conclusion, he writes that “there are no words to describe the courage, dedication and accuracy in the performance of their duties, which were shown by all officers and lower ranks during this three-hour battle, which presented absolutely no hope of salvation, and that only such a worthy Amazement to the spirit of the crew and the mercy of God must be attributed to the salvation of the ship and the flag of His Imperial Majesty."
May 14, 1829 A.I. Kazarsky and the crew of the brig forever inscribed their names in the history of the Russian fleet.
They were going to obvious death, but did not bow their heads to the enemy, as the former commander of the brig "Mercury" (1826-1828), captain 2nd rank Semyon Mikhailovich Stroynikov, did shortly before this battle.
Commanding the 36-gun frigate "Raphael", literally two days before the heroic battle of the "Mercury", finding himself in the fog in the thick of the Turkish squadron, he lowered the ship's flag and surrendered to the Turks.
For the first time since the approval of the Naval Charter by Peter I, a Russian ship lowered its flag to the enemy. The Turks renamed the frigate "Fazli-Allah" (given by God).
At the time of the battle, Stroynikov was on board the battleship Real Bay. Thus the fates of the two commanders of the brig Mercury converged. One is inglorious, and the other is immortal.
The angry Emperor Nicholas I issues a decree that says: “Trusting in the help of the Almighty, I remain in the hope that the intrepid Black Sea Fleet, eager to wash away the ignominy of the frigate Raphael, will not leave it in the hands of the enemy. But when it is returned to our power , then, considering this frigate henceforth unworthy to bear the Flag of Russia and serve along with other ships of our fleet, I command you to put it on fire.”
The emperor's will was carried out.
After the defeat of the Turkish squadron in the Battle of Sinop, when Admiral P.S. Nakhimov burned the Ottoman squadron in Sinop Bay; he began his report to the emperor with the words: “The will of Your Imperial Majesty has been fulfilled - the frigate Raphael does not exist.”
After the Battle of Sinop, the flagship of Nakhimov’s squadron, the Empress Maria, smashed the former frigate Raphael to pieces with salvos of one hundred cannons.
Even the enemy appreciated the courage of the commander and crew of the brig Mercury.
“If there are heroes in the world whose name is worthy of being inscribed in golden letters on the Temple of Glory, then it is he, and he is called Captain Kazarsky, and the brig is called Mercury. With 20 guns, no more, he fought against 220 in view of the enemy fleet , which was in his wind."
The Mercury crew was generously rewarded.
“In reward for the brilliant feat of the brig “Mercury”, which emerged victorious from the unprecedented battle on May 14 against two Turkish ships, the Sovereign Emperor most graciously deigned to welcome: commander lieutenant commander Kazarsky to captain of the 2nd rank, with the appointment of aide-de-camp to His Imperial Majesty, and in addition, a holder of the Order of St. George, 4th class; lieutenants Skoryatin and Novosilsky, midshipman Pritupov and lieutenant of the corps of naval navigators Prokofiev with the following ranks, and the first Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class, and Prokofiev, as having proposed courageous advice to blow up the brig, the Order of St. George 4 classes. All lower ranks received insignia of a military order. All in general, both officers and lower ranks, received a lifetime pension of double the salary they received up to the present time. At the same time, His Imperial Majesty deigned to recognize the brig himself, by granting the flag of St. George. And in order to perpetuate in the ranks of these officers the memory of their exemplary bravery and courageous determination to obvious death, the Sovereign Emperor deigned to command that the pistol, as the weapon chosen by them for exploding into the air if it was impossible to continue the defense, was included in their coats of arms ". (“Sea collection” No. 6-1850, pp. 493-494).
The brig "Mercury" was awarded the stern St. George flag and pennant (the second award after the battleship "Azov").
In addition to awards, the decree of Emperor Nicholas 1 commanded “... We wish that the memory of this unparalleled deed be preserved until later times, therefore we command you to order: when this brig becomes unable to continue serving at sea any longer, build according to the same drawing and perfect similar to it in everything, another similar ship, assigned to the same crew, name it “Mercury”, to which the awarded flag with a pennant will be transferred; when this ship also begins to fall into disrepair, replace it with another new one, according to the same drawing "built, continuing this way until later times. We wish that the memory of the famous merits of the crew of the brig "Mercury" and it never disappears in the fleet and, passing from generation to generation for eternity, serves as an example to posterity."
This is where the words on the pedestal of the monument to the brig "Mercury" and its commander, performed by Bryullov, come from: "TO DESCENDANTS AS AN EXAMPLE."
The brig "Mercury" served on the Black Sea until November 9, 1857, then was dismantled due to "complete disrepair."
But the name of the brig was retained in the Russian fleet with the transfer of the stern St. George flag to the newly named ship. Three ships of the Black Sea Fleet alternately bore the name "Memory of Mercury": in 1865 - a corvette, and in 1883 and 1907 - cruisers. The Baltic brig "Kazarsky" sailed under the St. Andrew's flag.
Unfortunately, there is currently no warship with this name in the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
In 1834, on Matrossky Boulevard, on the initiative of Admiral M.P. Lazarev, with funds raised by the sailors, a monument to the brig "Mercury" was laid. It was opened in 1839. The author of the project is academician of architecture A.P. Bryullov.
The high pedestal, on which is engraved the inscription: “To the Kazars. As an example to posterity,” is crowned by a bronze trireme.
Monument to A.I. Kazarsky and the feat of the brig "Mercury" became the first monument erected in Sevastopol.
Monument to A.N. Kazarsky and the brig "Mercury" on Matrossky Boulevard in Sevastopol. (After the reconstruction of Matrossky Boulevard and the monument dedicated to the 225th anniversary of the city and the Black Sea Fleet. The reconstruction was financed by the Moscow region)
Having recovered from the shell shock, Captain 2nd Rank Kazarsky was appointed commander of the 44-gun frigate Pospeshny, and at the beginning of 1830 - commander of the battleship Tenedos.
In 1831, for distinguished service, Captain 2nd Rank Kazarsky was promoted to Captain 1st Rank and came under the full command of Nicholas I, becoming an officer in the Emperor’s retinue.
At the end of 1832, the Black Sea squadron under the command of Vice Admiral M.P. Lazareva was preparing for a trip to the Bosphorus. Russia intended to take the side of Turkey in its conflict with the Egyptian Pasha. Kazarsky was entrusted with equipping and loading a large group of troops onto landing craft, which he successfully completed.
In 1833, Kazarsky inspected the rear offices of the fleet and quartermaster warehouses in Odessa. From Odessa he moved to Nikolaev to check the quartermasters.
But on July 16, 1833, a few days after arriving in the city, the captain of the 1st rank, adjutant of the Emperor Kazarsky, suddenly died.
The investigation into the mysterious circumstances of the death was unsuccessful for several years. There is reason to believe that the Mercury commander became a victim of a criminal conspiracy by thieving officials and was poisoned.
The mystery of his death has not yet been revealed.
Alexander Ivanovich Kazarsky was buried in Nikolaev, in the city cemetery near the Church of All Saints.
Project of a monument at the grave of A.N. Kazarsky was designed by architect A.A. Avdeev. It was built by the forces and means of the Black Sea Fleet.
It is made of black polished granite in the form of a vertical slab about 3 meters high. On the front side facing the church, at the top of a round medallion surrounded by a laurel wreath, is engraved the inscription: “May 14, 1829.” Below on the pedestal under glass is a relief image of the brig "Mercury" sailing under full sail. In the middle there is a laconic inscription in bronze letters: “Kazarsky”. On the opposite side of the monument at the top there is a relief bronze medallion with a portrait of Kazarsky, surrounded by a laurel wreath. Below is the bronze Kazarsky coat of arms in the form of a brig and a pistol, which serves as the emblem of the famous council on board the Mercury, when it was decided to blow up the brig along with the Turkish ships.
These attributes were granted to the Kazar coat of arms by the Decree of Nicholas I.
Very close to A.N. Kazarsky buried former Mercury navigator I.P. Prokofiev, but the old modest tombstone for him disappeared, and in its place was erected a pompous marble monument with an angel, which was taken from someone else’s grave. (In the photo on the left is a monument at the grave of I.P. Prokofiev) 
Some other members of the brig's crew are also buried at the Nikolaevskoe cemetery, who willed to be buried next to their commander. However, now traces of these burials have been lost, only a monument remains, erected in our time on the grave of Fyodor Spiridonov, who was a first-class navigator student on board the Mercury during the battle. (See photo on the right).
In addition to these memorial burials for Russian sailors, the following are buried at the Nikolaev necropolis: Admiral N.A. Arkas (Chief Commander of the Black Sea Fleet and ports in 1871-1881, military governor of Nikolaev), Admiral M.P. Manganari and many others, including the first commander of the battleship "Novorossiysk", captain 1st rank Yu.K. Zinoviev. The heroes of the First Sevastopol Defense, who died of wounds in Nikolaev hospitals, are also buried here.
But in this historical necropolis there is discord and desolation and, as the great poet said, “love for the tombs of our fathers” is clearly not visible.
But Russian national heroes and famous ancestors are buried there. Respect for their ashes should be sacred to us.
But, alas, the memory of generations is being erased.
We, descendants, must remember and honor the memory and graves of our glorious ancestors.
We should be grateful descendants.
The year was 1829. The Russian-Turkish war was coming to an end. After the defeat of Turkey in the Battle of Navarino, the Ottoman fleet avoided open battle with Russian sailors, spending most of its time in the Bosphorus, under the cover of coastal batteries. On May 14, three Russian ships (the frigate "Standart", the brigs "Orpheus" and "Mercury"), while on patrol 13 miles from the entrance to the Bosphorus, unexpectedly collided with a Turkish squadron that had gone to sea. The forces were not equal. An order was received from the flagship ship “Standard” - to leave, choosing the optimal direction for the best speed. It was necessary to urgently inform the command (the main forces of the Russian fleet were based in Sizopol - Bulgaria) about the presence of the Turkish fleet on the high seas. The high-speed "Standart" and "Orpheus" broke away from the pursuit. Mercury, which had a lower speed, had almost no chance to escape. It seemed that the fate of the brig, left alone against the Turkish squadron, was predetermined...
| A little history
"Mercury" was built at the Sevastopol shipyard and launched in May 1820. The construction was supervised by the famous shipbuilder Osminin. Material – Crimean oak. It was named after the Mercury boat, which became famous in the 1788-1790 war with the Swedes. The brig was intended to guard the coast and conduct reconnaissance operations. The bow of the ship was decorated with a waist-length figure of the fleet-footed Roman god of trade and travelers. It was a two-masted sailing ship, armed with 18 carronades (short-barreled close-quarters guns), and two longer-range portable cannons. The peculiarity of the ship was its low draft and the presence of oars - seven on each side. Standing rowing. The design features of the ports for onboard artillery and the holes for the oars did not allow rowing and shooting at the same time. The brig had good stability, but did not have a high speed. The number of crew in May 1829 was 115 people, of which only 5 officers along with the commander. |
The collision of the Russian brig with two Turkish battleships, which were many times superior in firepower, ended with the Turks withdrawing from the battle, and the wounded brig continued sailing. This story seemed so incredible that it became overgrown with myths and legends. The most reliable source remains the report of the commander of the brig Kazarsky to Admiral Greig. This document served as the basis for subsequent descriptions of the feat of Russian sailors.
Ivan Aivazovsky. The brig Mercury, attacked by two Turkish ships. 1892
After the signal was received to evade pursuit on its own, the brig changed course, leaving two Turkish ships to the south of itself. In pursuit of the Russian ship, the 110-gun three-deck (three closed decks with ports for guns) “Selimiye” under the flag of Kapudan Pasha (commander of the Turkish fleet) and the two-deck ship of the junior flagship, equipped with 74 guns, went. 20 guns against 184! The best walkers of the Turkish fleet! The situation was hopeless. Kazarsky gathered the officers. The first to give the floor was to the youngest in rank - Lieutenant Ivan Prokofiev. He offered to take the fight, and if it was impossible to get close to one of the Turkish ships and blow up the brig. Whichever officer remains alive at this point must shoot into the kruyt chamber (powder magazine), for which a pistol was left on the spire. The rest of the officers supported the lieutenant. Kazarsky turned to the sailors, and they assured him that they would remain faithful to their duty and oath.
The ship's commander gives orders to put down the oars and prepare to fire the onboard guns. Fire was opened on the Turks who were overtaking the brig from the stern cannons. Soon the Selimiye made a maneuver, trying to come in from the right in order to fire a longitudinal salvo with its side guns. "Mercury" evaded, forcing the enemy to use only running (bow) guns. The moment came when the Turkish ships almost managed to take the brig in pincers, and they fired two salvos and, shouting in Russian, offered to lower the flag. The brig's sailors responded with artillery and rifle fire. Cannonballs, incendiary shells, and nipples fell on the Mercury. The latter are two cast iron cores or half-cores, fastened together, used to disable rigging (cables, ropes that control the sails). The brig continued to skillfully maneuver, Russian artillerymen fired at the Turkish ships. They managed to break the water stays (ropes holding the bowsprit - an inclined beam extended from the bow of the ship to improve maneuverability) and damage the main mast (horizontal yards of the tallest main mast on the ship) of one of them. "Selimiye" lost speed and left the battle. The second ship continued the pursuit until another accurate shot from the Russian sailors interrupted the knock-for-mars-yard (a horizontal log carrying a sail on the front mast), the fall of which led to the end of the chase...
Ivan Aivazovsky. The brig Mercury, after defeating two Turkish ships, meets with the Russian squadron (1848) The Russian ship, which they had lost all hope of seeing, left the Turkish battleships idle, managed to break away from pursuit and return to base. Its losses were four killed, six wounded, 22 holes in the hull and numerous damage to the rigging.
***
In 12 years, the bicentenary of this memorable event will be celebrated. And all this time, people of various professions are trying to find the answer to this question. The outcome of the confrontation looked too fantastic. Among the reasons, one can highlight the tactical skill of the brig commander Alexander Kazarsky, whose maneuvering of the Mercury deprived the Turks of the opportunity to take a position for delivering a decisive blow, and, of course, the high training, courage of the sailors and their determination to blow up the brig along with the Turks. The level of training and morale of the Turkish fleet at this moment was at a low level due to heavy defeats at sea. There were also suggestions that perhaps the Turks did not want to sink the ship, but to calmly capture it, like the Russian frigate Raphael three days earlier. This was natural in the current situation, and therefore they did not expect such courage from the Russian sailors.
Nikolai Krasovsky. Battle of the brig "Mercury" The crew's feat was duly appreciated. All officers were awarded orders, the sailors were awarded awards for lower ranks - insignia of a military order. All were given a lifetime pension. The officers were given the right to include in the family coat of arms the image of a pistol, the purpose of which had already been mentioned. The brig received the St. George's flag. Nicholas I, by his decree, ordered that from now on the fleet would always have a ship "Mercury", similar to the legendary brig.
The brig's sailors became national heroes. Poems were written about the feat (Denis Davydov), books were written (Trenev, Cherkashin), films were made. Famous artists embodied various moments of the battle on their canvases. The most famous of them was the marine painter Aivazovsky, to whose painting “The Brig Mercury Attacked by Two Turkish Ships” some researchers even made “claims”. The artist was reproached for the unreliability of the location of the brig, sandwiched by Turkish ships. As often happens (the storming of the Winter Palace, the uprising on the battleship Potemkin), the “great power of art” leads to the fact that the event begins to be interpreted based on works of art...
Two ships, two destinies
Three days before the events described, the newest Russian frigate Rafail found itself in a similar situation. The Russian ship lowered its flag and surrendered to the enemy. It was commanded by Captain-Lieutenant Stroynikov. Strange zigzags of fate... Both commanders, Stroynikov and Kazarsky, knew each other, Kazarsky replaced Stroynikov on the Mercury, both were awarded for the courage shown in the current company. The officers competed with each other and even sought recognition of one woman. One covered himself with shame, the other became an example of courage for many generations.
Monument to the brig "Mercury" in Sevastopol | The feat of the Russian sailors was that in a hopeless situation they made their choice - they preferred death to shameful captivity and thanks to “the spirit of the crew and the grace of God” (A.I. Kazarsky) they emerged from the battle as winners. Not everyone can do this - “Raphael” is proof of this. "Mercury" will forever remain a symbol of the valor and glory of the Russian fleet.
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The 20-gun brig "Mercury" was laid down in Sevastopol on January 28 (February 9), 1819. It was built from Crimean oak and launched on May 7 (19), 1820. The ship's master, Colonel I. Ya. Osminin, conceived the Mercury as a special ship to guard the Caucasian coast and perform patrol duty. Unlike other brigs of the Russian fleet, it had a shallow draft and was equipped with oars. The Mercury's shallow draft resulted in a shallower interior depth than other brigs and worsened its performance.
At the end of the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829. three Russian ships: the 44-gun frigate "Standart" (commanded by captain-lieutenant P. Ya. Sakhnovsky), the 20-gun brig "Orpheus" (commanded by captain-lieutenant E. I. Koltovsky), and the 20-gun brig "Mercury" (Commander Lieutenant Commander A.I. Kazarsky received an order to cruise at the exit from the Bosphorus Strait. Overall command of the detachment was entrusted to Lieutenant Commander Sakhnovsky. On May 12 (24), 1829, the ships weighed anchor and headed for the Bosphorus.
At dawn on May 14 (26), 13 miles from the strait, the detachment noticed a Turkish squadron, among 14 ships, sailing from the shores of Anatolia. Sakhnovsky really wanted to take a closer look at the enemy in order to determine with what forces Kapudan Pasha came out this time. A signal fluttered on the halyards of the "Standart": "Mercury" - to go adrift." Sakhnovsky Coast is the slowest ship of its squadron. Having counted the Turkish pennants, "Standart" and "Orpheus" turned back. The enemy squadron rushed in pursuit of the Russian ships. Seeing the returning ones scouts, Kazarsky independently ordered to take off the drift and raise the sails. Very soon the high-speed "Standart" caught up with the "Mercury". A new signal went up on its mast: "Everyone should choose the course that the ship has a preferential course." Kazarsky chose NNW, "Standard" and "Orpheus", taking a course NW, sharply took the lead and quickly turned into two fluffy clouds on the horizon. And behind the stern of "Mercury", which carried all possible sails, a forest of masts of Turkish ships inexorably grew. The wind was WSW; the enemy was heading straight towards north. The best Turkish walkers - the 110-gun Selimiye under the flag of Kapudan-Sashi and the 74-gun Real Bey under the flag of the junior flagship - gradually overtook the Mercury. The rest of the Turkish squadron drifted, waiting for the admirals to capture , or they will drown the obstinate Russian brig. The Mercury's chances of salvation were negligible (184 guns versus 20, not even taking into account the calibers of the guns), leaving almost no hope for a successful outcome of the battle, the inevitability of which no one doubted.
Around two o'clock in the afternoon the wind died down and the speed of the pursuing ships decreased. Taking advantage of this circumstance, Kazarsky, using the oars of the brig, wanted to increase the distance separating him from the enemy, but less than half an hour had passed when the wind freshened again and the Turkish ships began to reduce the distance. At the end of the third hour of the day, the Turks opened fire from running guns.
After the first Turkish shots, a council of war took place on the brig. According to a long-standing military tradition, the youngest in rank had the privilege of expressing his opinion first. “We cannot escape from the enemy,” said Lieutenant of the Corps of Navigators I.P. Prokofiev. “We will fight. The Russian brig must not fall to the enemy. The last survivor will blow it up.” The commander of the brig "Mercury", 28-year-old captain-lieutenant Alexander Ivanovich Kazarsky, was awarded a golden saber for the battles near Varna in 1828 and was considered one of the bravest officers of the Black Sea Fleet, in his report to Admiral A.S. Greig wrote: "... We unanimously decided to fight to the last extreme, and if the spar is knocked down or the water in the hold becomes impossible to pump out, then, having fallen with some ship, the one who is still alive among the officers must light the hook chamber with a pistol shot.” Having completed the officers' council, the brig commander addressed the sailors and gunners with an appeal not to disgrace the honor of St. Andrew's flag. Everyone unanimously declared that they would be faithful to their duty and oath to the end. The Turks faced an enemy who preferred death to surrender and battle to lowering the flag.
Having stopped using the oars, the team quickly prepared the brig for battle: the gunners took their places at the guns; a sentry took up post at the flag halyard with Kazarsky’s categorical order to shoot at anyone who tried to lower the flag; the yawl hanging behind the stern was thrown into the sea and return fire was opened on the enemy from two 3-pound cannons, dragged to the retreat ports.
Kazarsky knew perfectly well the strengths and weaknesses of his brig. Despite its nine-year age (not old, but respectable), the Mercury was strong, although a little heavy on the move. He handled the high waves perfectly, but in the calm he became completely overweight. Only the art of maneuver and the accuracy of the gunners could save him.
The real battle began when the Selimiye tried to bypass the brig on the right and fired a salvo with its port side, which Kazarsky managed to successfully evade. Further, for half an hour, "Mercury", using oars and skillfully maneuvering, forced the enemy to act only with shoulder guns. But then it was placed between both ships.
A dense swarm of cannonballs, cannonballs and firebrands flew into the Mercury. Kazarsky responded to demands to “surrender and lower the sails” with volleys of carronades and friendly rifle fire. Rigging and spars are the Achilles heel of even such giants as these multi-gun giants. Finally, the well-aimed 24-pound cannonballs of the Mercury broke the water stay and damaged the main topmast of the Selimiye, which completely destroyed the main mast of the ship and forced it to drift. But before that, he sent a farewell salvo into the brig from all over the board. "Realbay" persistently continued the fight. For an hour, changing tacks, he hit the brig with brutal longitudinal salvos. "Mercury" stubbornly fought back until another successful shot broke the left leg of the fur-mars-yard of the Turkish ship, which, falling, carried the foxes with it. These damages deprived Real Bay of the opportunity to continue the pursuit and at half past five he stopped the fight.
Since the artillery cannonade coming from the south fell silent, the "Standart" and "Orpheus", considering the "Mercury" dead, lowered their flags as a sign of mourning for it.
While the wounded brig was approaching Sizopol (Sozopol, Bulgaria), where the main forces of the Black Sea Fleet were based, shell-shocked, with a bandaged head, A. I. Kazarsky counted the losses: four killed, six wounded, 22 holes in the hull, 133 in the sails, 16 damage in the spars, 148 - in the rigging, all rowing ships were broken.
The next day, May 15, "Mercury" joined the fleet, which, notified by "Standard" at 14:30, went to sea in full force.
The brig's feat was highly praised by the enemy. After the battle, one of the navigators of the Turkish ship Real Bay noted: “If in the great deeds of ancient and modern times there are feats of courage, then this act should eclipse all others, and the name of the hero is worthy of being inscribed in golden letters in the temple of glory: this captain was Kazarsky, and the name of the brig is "Mercury".
The Mercury crew, who wrote a new page in the book of Russian naval glory, were generously rewarded and treated kindly. A.I. Kazarsky and I.P. Prokofiev received IV degrees of George, the rest of the officers received the Order of Vladimir, IV degree with a bow, and all sailors received insignia of the military order. The officers were promoted to the following ranks, and Kazarsky also received the rank of aide-de-camp. All officers and sailors were assigned a lifelong pension in the amount of double salary. The Department of Heraldry of the Senate included an image of a Tula pistol in the officers' coats of arms, the same one that lay on the spire of the brig in front of the hatch of the cruise chamber, and sailor fines were excluded from the formal lists. The brig was the second of the Russian ships to receive the commemorative St. George flag and a pennant.
"Mercury" served on the Black Sea until November 9, 1857, when an order was received "to dismantle it due to complete disrepair." However, his name was ordered to be retained in the Russian fleet with the transfer of the St. George flag to the corresponding ship. Three ships of the Black Sea Fleet alternately bore the name “Memory of Mercury”: in 1865 - a corvette, and in 1883 and 1907 - cruisers. The Baltic brig "Kazarsky" and the Black Sea mine cruiser of the same name sailed under the St. Andrew's flag.
In 1834 in Sevastopol, on the initiative of the Commander of the Black Sea Squadron M.P. Lazarev, with funds raised by the sailors, erected a monument designed by the architect A.P. Bryullov. The high pedestal, on which is engraved the inscription: “To the Kazars. As an example to posterity,” is crowned by a bronze trireme.
Main characteristics
Deck length 30.9 m (101"4")
Waterline length 23.6 m (77"6")
Width with trim 9.7 m (31"10")
Recess at stem 2.74 m (9"0")
Sternpost recess 3.96 m (13"0")
Interior depth 2.94 m (9"8")
Displacement 390 t
Artillery weapons:
24 - pound carronades 18 pcs
3 - pound guns 2 pcs.
Crew 110 people.