Chapter 3

The sun broke clear and bright on the morning of the 1st of October 1904. Libau had a gala atmosphere about it. Bunting flapped from every window, choirs sang to the crowds, everyone had come down to the waterfront to watch.

The departure of the Second Pacific Squadron was again delayed. This time, however, it wasn't for technical or organisational reasons, but to await a formal review and farewell from none other than the Tsar himself.

Presently, around mid-morning, a cheer went up which gradually echoed by the crowds. The Tsar's yacht had been spotted rounding the headland.

The ships were bedecked with signal flags. Battle ensigns had been run up the masts. Each ship appeared to be in competition with its neighbours in the splendour of its display. Crews lined the deck in dress whites, Officers stood on the bridges or signal platforms rigidly at attention.

For an hour, the Imperial Yacht sailed up and down the lines of ships, each crew cheering as it passed. Finally it drew up to the ladder of the Suvurov and Tsar Nicholas ascended to the formal salute.

Icons were presented to each ship of the squadron as personal gifts from the Romanov family. Every ship was officially 'adopted' by a member of the Imperial family and a portait presented to be displayed in the ward room of the vessel. The Grozny was adopted by a girl, a niece to the Tsarina. Gorshin couldn't remember who.

With the departure of the Tsar, the boilers were ordered fired. It would take at least three hours for sufficient steam to be raised on all the ships for sailing. Most of the waiting time was spent writing letters home.

No secrecy was apparent nor possible. The press had signalled the fleet's intentions for some weeks now. The news was circulated around the World. The Japanese had no need of spies, they only needed to read the daily newspapers.

On the contrary, Japanese security was very effective. The Russians had no idea where Tojo's fleet was based nor its exact composition. Rhozdventsky believed he was to face a fleet of six battleships. In fact, the Japanese had been whittled down to four following the loss of two vessels to Russian mines.

Russian carelessness over security is difficult to fully explain. It apparently never occurred to anybody in the Navy that there was a need to keep their preparations and movements secret.

"Arrogance, laziness, ignorance, who knows?" said the old Admiral. "The Japanese knew the instant we took a crap," he chuckled, "we didn't even know where their fleet was anchored. They were near Ulsan on the Southern coast of Korea. We had no idea."

"So you departed Libau?" commented the young Archivist.

"Eventually, yes. At least as far as about 12 kilometres Southwest of the port. The Orel broke down once more. One of the valves in the sabotaged engine broke. That broken connecting rod, you know, put a great strain on the other components. The Chief Engineer wanted the complete engine replaced but there was no time. Rhozdventsky didn't want his 1st division cut by a quarter so it was never fixed properly."

On the mantelpiece above the small gas fire were arrayed a number of old photographs. One was a sepia of a low, sleek Destroyer, its four funnels grouped in two pairs. In the bottom lefthand corner was written the word 'Grozny' scratched white onto the original negative. Noticing the Ensign's gaze, Gorshin told him, "two days we wallowed outside harbour in that tub. They wouldn't even let us go on board the tug. I didn't know it then, but it was the first of many days, weeks, cooped up in that little tin can. I don't think I ever wore dry clothes again until we arrived in Vladivostok."

The fleet didn't get away finally until noon, the 3rd of October. The clanking of the Orel's damaged engine was apparent to most of the warships.

The fleet, around 40 ships all told, cruised placidly in clear weather out into the Baltic. Soon the precise sailing order broke down into a strung-out, haphazard collection of ships belching clouds of sulfurous brown smoke.

The 1st and 2nd Divisions were supposed to be in two side by side columns. The Suvurovs, however, slowly began to overtake Felkersam's older ships, except for the Orel. Its engine banging like a rolling mill, it struggled to maintain even the leisurely cruising speed of the fleet. Eventually the ships reduced speed to 7 knots to allow the fleet to close up for the passage through the Kattegat straits.

Twice more the fleet had to stop while more running repairs were made to Orel. Therefore it wasn't until the night of the 7th before the Russian ships cleared the Skaggerak out into the North Sea.

Grozny, Bravy and Bezuprechny took station about 5 kilometres in advance of the fleet. Enkvist and the cruisers were ordered to starboard making a relatively compact mass of warships in three columns. The Admiral was worried about being attacked at night by Japanese torpedo boats.

This wasn't such a ludicrous suggestion as it sounds. Most of the Japanese torpedo boats were built by Yarrows of Britain, their Cruisers by the firm of Elswick. Britain was known to be advisors to the Japanese fleet and even had Royal Navy Officers aboard some of their Battleships. Rumours were going around that a flotilla of Torpedo boats was being prepared in Britain for a sneak attack. Rhozdventsky was taking no chances.

That night was clear and chilly. A new moon shone a dim blue hue over the sea. The distant land was a thin black streak. The fleet neared the area of the North Sea known as the Dogger Bank, a popular fishing ground.

"Lights, starboard 20," yelled the Lookout of the Grozny.

Yvgeny Gorshin was Watch Officer. He acknowledged the report then swung the binoculars onto the indicated bearing. Bravy, leading the half-flotilla, began flashing her signal lamp.

[LIGHTS NW 21]

Bravy repeated the message until she received an acknowledgement from the flagship. A few minutes later, the Destroyers were ordered to investigate the unidentified vessels.

"What do you see?" asked Commander Pikalevoi.

"Lights... many, maybe 30 or 40 vessels, sir. I see two lamps on each masthead," Yvgeny answered.

"Ah, fishing vessels," the Commander replied, "that's their signal that they have nets out. Will we clear them?"

"Yes sir. They are well out of the way."

"Good. Signal! Send to flagship, 'fishing vessels NW by 21 degrees... 4, 5 kilometres.' Repeat that until she acknowledges."

Ahead, the Bravy's searchlight suddenly stabbed the darkness. The beam waved about with the motion of the choppy sea until it lit up one of the fishing boats. Yvgeny could see the crew working on deck, the nets swung out on booms from the side of the vessel.

The searchlight passed on to other trawlers. In the intense beam, Yvgeny saw crewman hold a fish up into the light. Perhaps it was some signal they were having a good night?

Suddenly from astern came a bright flash followed by a loud crack. A tongue of flame lept out from the direction of the 1st Division.

"By the monk's beard..." exclaimed Pikalevoi.

"A torpedo!" someone yelled.

"No! The Battleships are opening fire, look!" somebody else said.

"At who? What? Are we under attack?"

"Gorshin, have you missed something?" yelled the Commander.

"No," replied Yvgeny, "there was nothing, I swear!"

More flashes rolled from the Battleships, lighting the night like an undercranked Cine film.

The gun crews piled onto the deck of the Grozny, unbidden. Presently a long black shape slid silently alongside the Destroyer, it was the Bezuprechny.

"Get out! Get clear!" yelled the Bezuprechny's Commander through the loud hailer.

"What's happening?" called Pikalevoi.

"Don't know. Get out of the line of fire, quick!"

"Aye. Engines, full revolutions! 90 degrees starboard helm! Alarm, alarm!"

Signals began flashing from the battleships. [Bearing?] [Target?] [Under attack] [Where's Alexander, identify?] [Unidentified vessel to port] [Where? I see no target]

The Alexander the Third had pulled out of line believing the flagship had been torpedoed. The lumbering Battleship nearly ran down the Destroyer Bedovy stationed to port. Hastily it swung back on course but couldn't rejoin the Division without hitting the Borodino next in line. Instead it continued on to port of the flagship.

[Cease fire] signaled the Suvurov.

In the distance Yvgeny saw a dull yellow glow, illuminating two tall funnels.

"Ship on fire," he yelled, "the Aurora I think."

All of a sudden the Aurora released a full broadside from its port-side guns. The flash lit up the ship and its next in line, Oleg.

"Fuck!" someone exclaimed.

[Aurora, cease fire] flashed the flagship. [You're bearing on Suvurov]

[Suvurov, cease fire] grumbled the Cruiser, [You're hitting Aurora]

[All ships cease fire now! Extinguish lights] screamed the Suvurov's Morse lamp. As suddenly as it began, firing stopped and the ships were plunged into darkness.

"What the Hell was that all about?" asked Pikalevoi.

"Don't know, sir," replied Yvgeny.

So ended the 'Battle of the North Sea, ' all 11 minutes of it. Behind the Russian fleet a fishing boat from the English port of Hull was slowly sinking, two others had been damaged.

Russian casualties had been one hit amidships on Rear Admiral Enkvist's flagship, Aurora. A small fire had been started but quickly put out. The 6 inch shell had been fired from the Suvurov. It was as well that the Russian fleet's shooting had been so bad. Up to 40 guns of all sizes had been blazing away at each other and a fleet of fishing boats. The Hull fleet had actually been close to 200 vessels and for all that only three had been hit.

Rhozdventsky had been in his cabin when the firing had started. Rushing to the bridge, he was told that the fleet was under attack. Watching the scene, the haphazard, ill-aimed, ill-disciplined shooting, the Admiral was concerned his ships were exposing themselves with their searchlights. By ordering a cease-fire and the dousing of lights, he hoped to get a better view of the alleged Torpedo boats.

The nervous gun crews were made to remain by their guns all night.

"The Admiral called for reports of the action in the morning," Admiral Gorshin told the Ensign, "many of the Captains reported that they had seen Torpedo boats attacking. Oslyabya's Captain said he'd personally seen a Torpedo boat sinking as he went past. He even recommended one of his gun crews for a citation. There were none, of course," chuckled the old man, "a collective act of the imagination. And downright, bald-face lying on the part of Officers who should have known better."

"Sir?" Ensign Koscuisko said, "the Official Record says that the Japs were hiding among the fishing boats. It says the fleet caught them before they could launch an attack."

"Crap! Utter crap and I know the fool who wrote that and why. It was Lieutenant Commander Jago, and Rhozdventsky had wanted to get rid of him since Libau. He sent him off at Casablanca to explain to the English our side of the argument. As you can imagine, the English were very angry at us. Even to the point of threatening war against Russia if we didn't apologise and pay compensation."

"Russia paid?" asked the young Officer.

"Damn right we paid," laughed Gorshin, "every last rouble they asked for. Remember, in 1904 the English Navy would have sent us all to the fishes 10, 20 times over."

"But," he went on, "we had no idea what trouble we'd caused when we reached the English Channel."

When the Russian Squadron reached the coast of Britain, they were greeted by a Squadron of British Armoured Cruisers escorted by a flotilla of Destroyers. Several Royal Navy Destroyers ventured within hailing distance of their Russian opposite numbers.

Yvgeny Gorshin waved his cap in greeting. Some of the Grozny's crew on deck also waved and called out. They were greeted by a stony silence. A British sailor then waved his fist in the air and yelled something incomprehensible to the Russians.

"What's that all about, Gorshin?" asked the Commander.

"Don't know, sir. I think they're cursing us."

"Bloody arrogant English bastards," grumbled Pikalevoi, "go on, fuck off before I jam a torpedo up your arsehole!" he yelled across.

It was as well that neither crew spoke the other's language.

Soon the British Cruisers were joined by the Battle Squadron of the Channel Fleet. Menacingly, Yvgeny saw that they all had their guns manned.