But certainly Nikolai Mokhov was not going to be a military sailor.
But I had to.
In 1932, a student of Martinique, member of the CPSU(b) by declaring the mobilization of the party sent from Vladivostok to Leningrad naval school named after Frunze. By nature responsible, he faithfully studied there. Not faked, as many students of the “partnerof”, failure did not violate the discipline in the hope of expulsion.
But “military bone” did not.
the characteristics consistently stated: “Disciplined.”
But “not sufficiently demanding of subordinates,”1.
While Mokhov was a petty officer cadets division, yet commanded a submarine type “M” with a crew of 15 people, demands enough (“excellent organizational skills”, “with staff able to work”2).
When under his command was a division of eight “little ones” – enough stopped.
the captain-Lieutenant moss, stated in February 1942 the command of the brigade of submarines of the Baltic fleet (KBF), “often high demands combined with a lack of rigor and even familiarity with subordinate commanders”3.
off-duty time, the battalion commander allowed himself to relax in a society of subordinates so that “danced “Abrek Zaur”*, wearing on his head a turban of sheets and taking into the teeth of the knife”4.
16 Jan 1942 “Abrek” expected was removed from office and appointed down – the commander of the submarine “Sch-317”. Under the new offense, considered the brigade command, he should be demoted to ordinary sailors.
But Lieutenant Mokhov happy. He’s back in his place. And now only responsible for their “pike”! In the besieged Leningrad, where in March of ‘ 42 the mortality reached a peak, where malnourished and sailors – Mokhov successfully organized the repair of boats. And carefully prepared her for the decision of fighting tasks of incredible complexity.
In the campaign of 1942, submarine forces KBF was to disrupt the Maritime communications of the enemy in the Baltic. To impede the transport of iron ore from Sweden to Germany, wood and pulp from Finland, hinder the supply of the army group “North”.
the First of Leningrad during the white nights, on June 6, 1942, came “Sch-317”.
Before entering the expanses of the Baltic sea, she had to overcome the Gulf of Finland.
Go through the three tests!
First – do not get on the transition from Leningrad to Kronstadt under shelling from the southern shore of the Bay. (Managed.)
the Second is not to hit a mine and not be drowned German or Finnish boats on the transition from Kronstadt to forward base KBF, in the Bay Islands of lavensari**. (Found.).
And third, the most difficult to overcome in Lavensari peregorazhivanie Gulf of Finland minefields “Seeigel” (Sea urchin) and “Nashorn” (“Rhino”).
“Seeigel” is nesko��Ko one thousand only moored mines, which stood where the 8-9 and 11-12 of the lines.
“Nashorn” (which needs to die those who pass through the “Seeigel”) – it’s 6 lines, hundreds of anchor min.
Minrep (steel cables to mines from lying on the bottom anchors) different lengths. So mines everywhere near the surface and at depths of 10 meters or more. Therefore, it is necessary to go to maximum depth. No, at the maximum, to “Seeigel” did not work bottom, proximity mines, set where one, and where two lines5.
Where throw, everywhere a wedge!
Three days Mokhov overcame “Seeigel and Nashorn”. Overcame – and 16 June 1942 was in the Baltic sea.
the same day the Finnish island of Bowser he found a Finnish steamer “Argo” – with a cargo of fertilizer for Finland.
the Torpedo attack! Getting!
immediately thought of the Swedish steamer “Ulla”.
Attack! Slip…
on June 18, going to designated “Sch-317” position at the Swedish island of öland, met Danish steamer “Orion” – which went to Sweden for iron ore to Hitler.
Attack! Getting!
on 22 June, the Eland was discovered by the Swedish ore carrier “Ada gorthon” – with a cargo of iron ore to Hitler.
Attack! Getting!
July 1, met the Swedish ship “Galleon” with a cargo of iron ore to Hitler.
Attack! Slip… the Boat Mokhov counterattacked with depth charges, the escort “Galleon” – Swedish destroyer “of Erensheld”…
July 6, “pike” bombing the same with him “nordenskiöld”. Povyletali glass fence cutting, sprung a leak in the fuel tank.
But the position is not left – July 8 in the periscope “pike” German steamer “Otto Kords”.
Attack! Getting!
Thrown by team Orion remained still afloat and was later towed by the Swedes in the port. But “Argo”, “Ada gorthon” and “Otto Cords” on the bottom left.
Mokhov spent, probably, four more attacks failed. July 10 “Sch-317” reported on the radio that all ten torpedoes expended.
the Successful from moss was 4 of 10 torpedo attacks.
Two and a half torpedoes one significantly affected purpose!
the Best result was shown only two of the 135 to shoot torpedoes commanders of Soviet submarines. Baltiets captain-Lieutenant Nikolai Petrov (“Sch-307”) and Chernomorets captain 3rd rank Vladimir Vlasov (“U-214”) – by 2 torpedoes one significantly affected the target. But they sank only a single target[6] and Mokhov three (and one damaged).
And more than he, the purposes of the torpedoes it is time-ZIL only Severomorsk, the captain of the 2nd rank Grigory Shchedrin (s-56): 4 sunk and 1 damaged. And only two repeated the result Mokhov: Chernomorets guard captain 3rd rank Mikhail Greshilov (“M-35” and “U-215”) and may Baltiets captain 3rd rank Sergei Lisin (“C-7”) – 3 goals and sunken (at Lisin – may) 1 corrupted7.
But Mokhov got the same (or close) results in a single combat POHod! The role of the submarine commander cannot be overstated.
Data for firing torpedoes prepared commander.
he was determined (to the eye using devices of the periscope and distance, azimuth grid and “fixed threads in the space of”8 – or just the eyes) speed and course angle of the target and the distance to it.
the Expected course of the attack – bringing the boat in position for firing. And then the combat course, which need to go. And that – at a certain speed! – go to at some point, taking the right pre-emption, producing torpedoes.
All of this commander were calculated using the tables and speed considerations. Computing device as the navies of the leading Maritime powers – the Soviet boat was not.
No wonder battle of the entire crew lost weight, only two – acoustic and commander9. Voltage is like no one…
Not quite well-versed the reader may ask the legitimate question: is it so hard to drown a single non-secure anti-submarine ships merchant ship? And even in good visibility.
By the standards of the Soviet fleet in those years difficult.
the commanders of the submarines were trained to attack warships and not “traders”. How to look latest silhouettes, the principal dimensions (without this does not determine their heading angle, speed, and distance), the commanders did not really know. They did not even have reference books on the trade fleets of the world.
But not correctly defining elements of the movement of the target, hit the target is impossible.
Maybe the secret of declaring that a student of Martinique a summer internship in the sea of Japan between Vladivostok and Hakodate, he saw merchant ships – and have developed the right eye.
the Recall mentioned above: Mokhov was by nature conscientious. And therefore shot as taught with small distances. To approach them is very difficult, but the goal is not to evade the torpedoes.
Honesty Mokhov became apparent in his reports. Hitting four goals, he reported on the sinking of five compared to other Soviet commanders of the submarines have overstated the true result only by a little. Because honestly, slowly took refuge at depth, was observed in the periscope with the results of the attack. And was critical of yourself.
However, one of integrity he would not be enough.
since the beginning of the campaign the use of torpedo weapons Mokhov worked almost worse than any other the commander of Soviet submarine10. Torpedoes he didn’t shoot the latest in the autumn of 1939 and summer 1942 were completely disqualified.
and Mokhov shot not a volley (which increased the probability of hitting), and as taught by single torpedoes.
And still got much more than others!
Conscientious, meticulous, Executive… Mokhov in battle was talented!
on 10 July 1942 “U-317” went ��wash.
in June 2017 in the bottom of the Gulf, between the Islands of Gogland and Bolshoy Tyuters, found the lost submarine. 30 April 2018, having examined it, found that it “Sch-317”.
“Pike” was lying at a depth of 78 meters at the rate of 80 leading to the home base to the island of lavensari.
So, going back, she again overcame the “Nashorn” – almost slipped and twisted “Seeigel”. But at the last moment, at the last, the thirteenth line of the boom hitting the antenna of one of the mines.
most Likely it occurred early in the morning on 18 July 1942.
the Best sniper of the Soviet submarine fleet and one of the most effective Soviet submarine captain-Lieutenant Mokhov began in his first and last battle.
* i.e., imitate the dance of the protagonist of the film of 1926 “Abrek Zaur”.
** Since 1951, island Powerful.
may 3, 2018 members of the international underwater search expedition “a bow to the great Victory ships” secured housing “Sch-317” metal Board. At the mass grave, which became the memorial lists the names of the captain 3 ranks Egorov, Lieutenant Mokhov and 39 commanders and sailors.
1. CIT. by: Morozov M. E. Heroes of the underwater front. They drowned the ships of the Kriegsmarine. M., 2016. P. 98.
2. CIT. in: ibid.
3. CIT. by: Morozov M. E., Suisun A. G., Ivashchenko V. N. N 1 Submariner Alexander Marinesco. A documentary portrait. M., 2015. P. 145.
4. CIT. in: ibid.
5. See: Morozov M. E. ASW naval forces of Germany and Finland in the Gulf of Finland in 1943. / / the recent history of Russia. 2018. Vol. 8. N 4. S. 858, 860.
6. See: Platonov A. V., Lurie, V. M., the Commanders of Soviet submarines 1941-1945. SPb., 1999. P. 46, 91-96.
7. See: Ibid.
8. Platonov A. V. Aprelev S. V., Sinyaev D. N. Soviet warships of 1941-1945 IV. Weapons. SPb., 1997. P. 119-120.
9. Kolyshkin, I. A., In the depths of the polar seas. Moscow, 1964. P. 168.
10. Morozov M. A., Kulagin, K. L., Soviet submarines 1922-1945. About submarines and submariners. M., 2006. P. 504-507.
