After Gotland Victory, Red Banner Baltic Fleet rebased to friendly Norway, to harass western coast of Germany (
that is the only explanation to me, how short-ranged Russian ships may take part in battles in the Northern Sea)
Kainov asked to move him to BC squadron as flag-Commissar, there he twice again showed his abilities - firstly during sinking BC
Hindenburg in battlecruiser clash near Emden, then in German Blight, where he advised Flagman to put German column in two fires, which broke their spirit after 10 minutes (Unfortunately, heavy rain reduced visibility to less than 20 kabeltov and help 5 heavily damaged BB to survie). But then his career suddenly changed. 10.06.17 Main Flagman of the Baltic Sea ordered Kainov to come to his office:
- Your rank of Commissar-Commander allows you to take command of ships and squadrons. Now we need you to do this. In Finnish and Riga Gulfs we have very limited forces and Germany knows it. Now they prepared some operation there, so you should immediately take command of 2nd Destroyer Division (4 newest DD) and lead it to Petrograd. There you'll meet with OGPU (All-Union State Political Administration) commander, who should give you more information. Due to highest importance of your mission, you are allowed to mobilise any ships you find there.
***
3 days later Kainov's division arrived at Kronshtadt, where he met with
commandant of the operative point Volkodavov.
- Our agent reported about well-known counter-revolutionary terrorists appeared in Danzig. Now German squadron there prepare for "minelaying operation" in Irben Straight after 20.06, though clearly it is not their main goal. My chiefs suspect monarchist agents in Lithuania will contact enemy ships once they arrived in the Gulf. We need to recognise them, so you better take some captives. Me ant two agents will be with you to help with them... especially if they wouldn't want to speak!
- I understood. And didn't your agent report about the composition of enemy forces?
- Two big armed steamers, cruiser and no less than 6 destroyers...
- Cruiser. What class is she?
- Hmmm... Our agent don't know much about ship types, she... Khm... It was mentioned that it is "four-funnelled" ship.
- ...Ggrreat! At least not armoured cruiser, but her class is still unclear. And this may change all!
- Really?
- YES! Half of German cruisers have four funnels, but some of them are heavily-armed but quite slow
Arconas, while others are 26-knot
Bussards and
Gazelles with lighter artillery. Anyway, four destroyers are not enough for such action, even under command of True Communist. So let's inspect Military Harbor for some reinforcements.
Unfortunately, all able ships were in Norwegian fjords. Disarmed antique monitors, armoured frigates and other
cockroach barrels were certainly not that Kainov needed. But in dry dock he saw three funnels, which looked quite familiar...
Protected cruiser
Flora was prepared to painting after three years of "keeping at storage". In fact, she needed major refit, but in war time there was neither time nor resources to it. Her sides were scratched by ice, tugs and barges, and covered with rust, some plates were dented, but after short inspection Kainov remarked with surprise, that ship is in much better condition, than she looks. Her crew was trained as well as it was possible to conscripts (Mostly - young Komsomol members from merchants and fishing vessels). Her enthusiastic commander and inspiring commissar didn't stop gunnery training even during dock works, while machinery crew use this time to look over obsolete engines and repair what possible. Nobody from them ever see real battle, but all dream about taking part in any kind of action, despite of ship's venerable age... though understood, that boring patrol duty is their most suspected fate. Commander inspected works in boiler room when unknown man came to him and shook his hand:
- Commissar Kainov. Glad to see your ship in such good readiness, I want to assign her at special mission. Here is order. Painting is cancelled, tomorrow dock will be flooded. How many time do you need to end repairs, load back coal and shells?
Commander firstly became numb, but finally managed to say:
- ... With all hurry... and with help of the Port... well, four days, maybe even three. And what will be our mission?
- I may tell this only when we'll leave harbour. It is highly confidential information, and it is about Soviet State's security!
After some hours all sailors heard, that their cruiser is chosen as flagship of "Famous Commissar Kainov himself!". In conversations most of them agreed, that "interesting times are close ahead!" and doubled their efforts, preparing ship to combat. Three days later Flora's commander reported that his ship "is ready to execute any order of the Party and High Command!" And in the white night 18.06 she lead DD squadron to the open sea.
Kainov called all commanders, commissars and staff to council at Red Corner of
Flora (former admiral salon):
- Imperialists prepare another cunning plan to undermine our young Republic! Losing fair battles, they are now preparing diversion groups to sabotage our industry and assassinate our Leaders! That is why our squadron is here. They have more ships, more resources, more money, their agents are hiding in amicable ranks of workers and peasants, but... they underestimate strength and power of truly free people, armed with advanced ideology of Great Party of Marx, Engels and Lenin! I hope you understand the size and complexity of our task, though I'm sure you will do your best to achieve new victory of Socialism!!!
*Enthusiastic cries "Yes!", "Sure!" "Sink'em all!"*
- Now to the plan. We must not to go at Riga Gulf before enemy appeared there, our position would be here, west of Dago island, out of sight from the shore...
Volkodavov looked at him with suspicion:
- If so, how do you want to intercept them?..
- Tovarisch, some patience, please. You know better, that they have agents somewhere on shore. If one of them spot our squadron, he may signalise about it and they would either postpone operation or strike us with full strength. And if we stay unspotted, they firstly send some destroyers to scout Irben Strait as if it would be common DD sweep, they'll see it is clear and only then call main force. Big slow transports may pass our coastal battery only in darkest hours, so I am sure: scout forces appear after midday and transports will be close enough at the moment we arrive. We should run between them, cut off reckon ships and do as much damage as we can. Then all undamaged ships should chase them at full speed and I'm sure we spot main force before sunset - transports surely should be slower than 15 knots. Note, that we specially need to capture as many enemies as we can. The most interesting persons should be on board of two armed transports, so at least one of them must not be shelled! At any cost! Use torpedoes instead, and their loses will be minimal. Don't get carried away with chasing destroyers, they are not main target now.
After that all crews began non-stop trainings, DDs manoeuvre around flagship, and
Flora's sailors, working voluntary even at night, painted some largest and ugliest rust spots (unfortunately, in a hurry ship got paint of different colour, so she still looked awful)
Only at 26.06 ship's radio got report from southern Ezel battery: "6 DD spotted", and Soviet squadron turned to Irben Strait. Some messages from Telefunken stations were intercepted as well, this made Kainov happy:
- They pecked! Now all depends from us!
Near 16.00 smokes were spotted. Old German destroyers moved back and forth under fire of 8" coastal guns, covering each other with smoke screen, seem that they try to find clear pass between minefields (there were some, though not very dense) Soviet ships rushed to them at full speed, even Flora managed to make her 23 knots. Kainov told her commander:
- Is it your first battle? Yes? Look and learn! Today you'll see what is called "dashing battle" at Soviet Navy!
Pallada-class cruisers were specially designed as anti-torpedo ships, so Germans had no chances - they were cornered in shallow waters near Sworbe, while
Flora hit them one after another, breaking engines. Then modern DDs finished them with their new 5" guns. All their tries to escape failed. Largest destroyer,
S-66, suddenly turn back, covering two last damaged ships with smoke, and then rushed straight to
Flora.
Kainov commented:
- Good commander. Look, he try to let his men survive, though it is suicidal for him. But that destroyer is still dangerous! All fire at her!!!
S-66 turn again, surrounded with near misses.
- And now... she launched torpedoes! Turn starboard!
White line appeared at sea, it missed DD
Trevozhni and approached Flora...
- Keep this course!
Torpedo may be seen in the water, it clearly run to the cruiser's port side just before A turret...
Commander has turned pale, commissar closed his eyes, whispering something non-communistic, crew of forward gun abandon their positions... Only Kainov looked at this, smiling slightly.
Torpedo hit the board, and... changed it's course to the sea! Kainov laughed:
- How I love these old ships with their rounded contours! Now you know, comrades, that German detonators are really bad at sharp angles! By the way, you may open your eyes, tovarisch commissar. And return that sailors back to their duties, anybody!
Soon A turret hit
S-66 in the boilers and ship was destroyed with Flora broadsides. Two last destroyers run south as fast as they could.
Kainov ordered:
- Cease fire, just chase them! they will lead us to our main target!
After an hour, two merchants, two small destroyers, and cruiser were spotted. It appeared to be old
Adler, that should be even enemy to
Flora. Kainov rejoiced:
- They can't ran away, we'll sink them all. Remember, don't fire at merchants too much! Aim their machinery room and rudders!
But second broadside to the larger ship (strangely, painted in Soviet colours) made terrible effect - her bow and middle disappeared in the powerful explosion, then her stern exploded too. 5000 ton ship disappeared in a minute!
5000 ton AMC
Henriette, painted as Soviet steamer, some days before blown up.
- DAMN! Don't shoot at second steamer, prepare to use torpedoes!
But German cruiser didn't want to allow this.
Adler's fire made
Flora and destroyers to engage her first. Old protected cruiser was under heavy fire of five ships, but her captain didn't want to give up, trying to keep them at distance from armed merchant, waiting duck. Kainov turned to his staff:
Great work! This bloody militarist knows his duty well! It is like our action in Okhotsk sea at last war! You should learn from him, how to save your convoy in hopeless situation. And now I'll learn you, how to deal with it! Keep closer, we should finish him before sunset!
From less then 4 km both ships hit each other every minute. One of Soviet destroyers run close but was seriously damaged, others launched torpedoes from larger distance and achieved nothing. In 20.38
Flora got shell in boilers and covered with steam cloud. Kainov became serious:
- Keep speed, Keep it at any cost! Or they may escape!!!
But old cruiser dramatically slowed down... And at this moment observer from the foremast cried:
- Enemy turning to starboard... they are spinning on spot! Their rudder jammed!!!
Cruiser made full circle and ran less then 50 metres away
Flora, still
exchanging fire (Kainov even shot some rounds from his engraved Mauser K-96 at
Adler's bridge). Then she managed to fix rudder and slowly turned away. Kainov became happy again:
- This is what we need from them! Both torpedo tubes, prepare to launch!
Flora passed between cruiser and armed transport. Both torpedoes were launched. Both hit. And... battle suddenly ended, only smoke at the south showed position of escaping destroyers.
Adler is hit with torpedo.
- Now rescue survivors! Our real work only starts!
All German officers alive were collected at
Flora. Unfortunately,
Adler's captain sank with his ship, and squadron commander committed suicide. Kainov specially noted young midshipman from
Adler, who clearly understood Russian, though tried to hide this. Volkodavov choose captain of torpedoed AMC
Kohlbrand first to interrogate (he had the highest rank among survivors), but old sailor appeared to be willful and stubborn (or really uninformed), despite any threats. He repeated again and again, that he never knew about any secret goals of that raid. His ship (poor beautiful old ship) was mobilised as minelayer. It was his third operation here. He didn't know, why AMC
Henriette was repainted ("that was really strange, I agree"). He didn't know anything about her explosive cargo. Maybe her captain didn't throw mines away once battle began ("He was not brightest man I've ever seen"). Yes, for 60 mines explosion maybe was too powerful. No, he didn't know, why. After an hour, OGPU commander decided:
- We have no time to mess with him! Prepare torture room to get the real information, or enemy agents got time to survive.
Kainov thought a bit:
- We may spare half an hour to make one experiment. I'm sure, I'll get information you want without so... rough methods.
- What??? Are you also counter-intelligence specialist?!
- No, I'm just the Communist. Our main weapon against Old capitalistic World should be Truth! Truth, revealed to right man in right time may do wonders,
trust me!.. Let's prepare Red Corner! Surgeon and carpenter with their instruments - to me!
Soon after that young midshipman was thrown into the separate room, where he may hear heart-rending cries and groans of pain (from ship's hospital - Kainov allowed injured sailors "to cry loudly, as sinners in hell, before I command to stop. This is the order!") After half an hour all suddenly calmed, and somebody commanded: "Next!"
Soon two sailors brought him to dark room, lightened with some lanterns (electricity here was damaged during battle). He should hear, how one of them whispered to another: "Poor boy, what they will do with him..."
There he saw some commanders under big Lenin's portrait waiting for something; one of them, with Mauser on the right side and cavalry sabre on the left, introduced himself:
- I'm commissar Kainov. You should hear my name.
Midshipman looked around. Long table, with unknown but sharp instruments. Some are covered with.. dried blood?! Another table. Stretcher with something long on it, covered with rough canvas, painted with fresh red stains and dots. Another red stains on table, deck, walls...
- Your predecessor here was too shy. This cussed dirty swine didn't want to speak with us... Men, take this to freighter room! Say cook to serve his ears on dinner tomorrow, with beans and beer!
Four sailors moved stretcher away and brought new, clear. Kainov bared the sabre, with red drips on blade:
- ...The only thing I'm afraid, his ears would be not enough to us!
Suddenly, he saw drips, and then... He carefully licked them!
- ...Ahh, that is true food of true Communist! Have you ever taste anything better?!
That was more, than midshipman could withstand. He blubbered, he cried, he sobbed, and finally he began to speak: "I'll tell all, yes, please, no, not butch me!" He was from Courland, from Baltic Germans. His father was killed by revolutionaries. his mother fled to Germany. He served as translator
at Danzig's squadron. (Please, please, hide this sabre!) AMC
Henriette was loaded with explosives. Five thousands ton! Crew of Russian volunteers. They should move her at Riga's port as Soviet ship, and prepare her to blowing, then be evacuated at fast motorboat. They had friends among local fishers, one of them should help with navigation. Squadron should meet with their vessel next morning, near Ruhnu island. Code signal: WY at foremast (
In Russian codebooks those flags were used for old letters, cancelled after Revolution). Other ships should reckon shores of Ezel and Dago, destroy lighthouses and sink coastal merchants, distracting Soviet forces from main operation. Estimated enemy... sorry, your forces should be 2 to 4 old destroyers and some coastal gunboats. Cruiser was not expected!...
Kainov patted his shoulder:
- Good, clever kid! I promise that your ears will stay with you! Hey, move him back to his room and give some food!.. Now turn to rendezvous with those "fishers"! And I should invite you, comrades, at tomorrow dinner! You should taste that boar, which helped us so much today!...
Volkodavov was astonished:
- ...So it is true, what naval commanders tell about you! You told that fellow only truth... and achieved success!!! How do you do this?!
- Some observance, some experience, and of course, faith in Covenants of the Party!
Flora meets fishing vessel near Ruhnu.
...Everybody diverged, only Kainov stayed at Red Corner, wistfully looking at spattered walls and deck. He bared sabre again, quickly looked around and licked blade once more:
- Such a waste of cranberry jam... Big jar, nearly full!... But... The Victory of Communism requires our sacrifices... Even so hard!
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