The first use of Neptune complex was back in February when it saved Mykolaiv from Russian landing group
The first combat use of Neptune, the Ukrainian coastal mobile complex with anti-ship missiles that sank the Russian missile cruiser Moskva on 14 April, was in the first days of the war. Then the Ukrainian missiles did not hit the targets but saved Mykolaiv from the Russian landing.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda article "Sinking Moskva: unknown details. How the Ukrainian Neptune destroyed the flagship of the Russian fleet"
Quote from the article: "Almost no one knows about it, but the first combat use of the Neptunes took place not in April but in the first days of the full-scale invasion by Russia.
It was then that three Russian landing ships left the ports in Crimea and headed towards the Ukrainian coast in Mykolaiv Oblast. The landing of Russian troops in this area gave them a springboard to attack both Mykolaiv and Odessa. The first three Neptune missiles were launched to destroy these ships."
Details: According to the source of the Ukrainska Pravda from military circles involved in the Neptune project, the first launches were from the south of Odesa Oblast.
Then the defenders fired on the Mykolaiv front, and in order for the missiles to pass safely over Odessa, they were launched at an altitude of about 120 metres above the water, rather than five-six metres, as it should be.
The source suggests that the Russians detected the Ukrainian missiles and most likely destroyed them.
It was not possible to establish exactly when the baptism of fire of the Neptune took place. But the author of the article notes that this happened no later than 26 February. On that day, the General Staff issued an official report that a Russian warship had shot down its own aircraft over the Black Sea.
Despite the fact that none of the three Neptunes launched in February hit their target, they completed their mission to protect Ukrainian territory.
Sources of the Ukrainska Pravda stated that when the Russian landing ships realised the possibility of such missile strikes from the side of Ukraine, they turned around and quickly sailed to Crimea.
The author of the article notes that the "surprise" of the Russians is understandable because the Neptunes were not supposed to be in service with the Armed Forces at the end of February.
For reference: The first full-fledged Neptune complex on the new chassis from Tatra was assembled in August 2021, before the parade for the 30th anniversary of Independence Day.
According to Ukrainska Pravda, the first missiles contracted by the state for the army left for Odesa only on the 20th of February 2022.
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