| Stepan Osipovich Makarov | |
|---|---|
Admiral Stepan Makarov |
|
| Born | January 8, 1849 Mykolaiv, Ukraine (then part of Russian Empire) |
| Died | April 13, 1904 (aged 55) near Port Arthur, China |
| Allegiance | Russian Empire |
| Service/branch | Imperial Russian Navy |
| Years of service | 1863–1904 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | Russian Pacific Fleet |
| Battles/wars | Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) Russo-Japanese War |
| Awards | Order of St. George |
Stepan Osipovich Makarov (Russian: Степа́н О́сипович Мака́ров; January 8 1849 [O.S. 27 December] – April 13 [O.S. March 31] 1904) was a Ukrainian - born Russian vice-admiral, a highly accomplished and decorated commander of the Imperial Russian Navy, an oceanographer, awarded by the Russian Academy of Sciences, and author of several books. Makarov also designed a small number of ships. The town of Shiritoru on Sakhalin island, was renamed Makarov in 1946 in his honor.
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Stepan Makarov was born in Nikolaev, now Mykolayiv, Ukraine in a family of a fleet praporshchik (прапорщик по Адмиралтейству, an auxiliary officer). His family moved to Nikolayevsk na Amure in 1858 and Makarov attended school there. In 1863, he joined the Imperial Russian Navy where he served as a cadet aboard a clipper of the Pacific Fleet. In 1866 he took part in the voyage of the corvette Askold from Vladivostok to Kronstadt via the Cape of Good Hope. Makarov served with the Baltic Fleet between 1867 and 1876 serving as flag captain to Admiral Andrei Popov. He transferred to the Black Sea Fleet in 1876.
Makarov was highly decorated for his service as a captain of the Russian torpedo boat tender Velikiy Knyaz Konstantin in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78. He was one of the first to adopt the idea of torpedo boats and he himself went to action in torpedo boats. On January 16, 1877 he was first in the World to launch torpedoes from a boat (which itself was launched from a tender) against a Ottoman Navy ship Intibah.
Makarov directed two round-the-world oceanographic expeditions on the corvette Vityaz (1886–89 and 1894–96).
He proposed the World's first icebreaker, the Yermak, oversaw her construction, and commanded her on two Arctic expeditions in 1899 and 1901.
Makarov also designed two icebreaking steam ships to connect the Trans-Siberian Railway across Lake Baikal: the train ferry SS Baikal built in 1897 and passenger and package freight steamer SS Angara built in about 1900,[1][2] based upon his study of similar vessels on the American Great Lakes.
Armstrong Whitworth in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, built the ships in kit form and sent them to Listvyanka on Lake Baikal for reassembly. Their boilers, engines and some other components were built in Saint Petersburg.[2] Baikal had 15 boilers, four funnels, was 64 metres (210 ft) long and could carry 24 railway coaches and one locomotive on her middle deck.[1][2] Angara is smaller, with two funnels.[1][2]
Baikal was burnt out and destroyed in the Russian Civil War.[1][2] Angara survives, has been restored and is permanently moored at Irkutsk where she serves as offices and a museum.[1]
After the Imperial Japanese Navy's surprise attack at Port Arthur on 9 February 1904, Admiral Makarov was sent to command the Imperial Russian Navy's battle fleet stationed there on 24 February (some sources state March) of that year. His leadership differed greatly from any other Russian naval officer during this war, offering diversity, aggression, and an ability to "inspire confidence in his subordinates".[3]
Upon his assumption of command in early 1904, Makarov greatly increased the activity in the Russian squadrons, as well as the general defense of Port Arthur.[4] Until then the Russian fleet had generally done nothing[5] but exist, as a fleet in being.[6] Under Makarov's leadership, "Russian squadrons put to sea nearly every day, constantly on the move, and ensuring that it was never taken by surprise outside the protection of Port Arthur's" shore batteries.[7]
Unlike his predecessors, Makorov sought engagements with the Japanese,[8] and kept his vessels in an order of battle in the roadstead of Port Arthur.[9] When Japanese cruisers bombarded Port Arthur from the Yellow Sea in March, his cruisers returned fire with such intensity that the Japanese ships were forced to withdraw.[10] That same month the Japanese Navy tried to seal the port's entrance by sinking old steam ships as blockships in the harbor's channel. Russian cruisers assigned to protect the entrance pursued the escorting Japanese warships and quickly put them to flight.[11]
On 13 April 1904 the Russian destroyer Strasny returning from patrol, tried to re-enter the mouth of the Port Arthur but was intercepted by Japanese destroyers.[12] A sea fight arose between the opposing destroyers, and when observed by Makarov he immediately sent the cruiser Bayan to assist the Strasny, while he led three battleships, four cruisers, and a group of destroyers into the Yellow Sea to seek battle with the surrounding enemy warships.[13]
The Japanese warships withdrew to nearly 15 miles out to sea, with Makarov in pursuit. With the arrival of enemy heavy units upon the scene, Makarov, now exceeding his gunfire support range from shore, turned about and headed back to Port Arthur; and the Japanese fleet did not pursue. As his flagship, the battleship Petropavlovsk, moved closer to the harbour's entrance, she detonated a Japanese mine.[14] Secondary explosions followed quickly in succession and Petropavlovsk sank, taking Admiral Makarov with her.[15][16][17]
There are monuments to Makarov in his native Mykolayiv, Ukraine, and in Vladivostok, Russia. A number of ships have been named Admiral Makarov. An island in the Tsivolk group of the Nordenskiöld Archipelago was named after him. National University of Shipbuilding in Mykolaiv (Nikolayev) and State Maritime Academy in Saint Petersburg are named after him.