Pacific Fleet celebrated anniversary of submarine force

11.01.2011 Pacific Fleet (PF) has celebrated 101st anniversary of submarine force. Traditionally, veteran submariners met at the Memorial to Submarine Fleet Pioneers in Vladivostok on January 5. They honored the memory of first submariners and all those who defended our country working in submarine compartments, and laid wreaths at the memorial, reported PrimaMedia referring to PF Information Support Group.

In 1906 Russian emperor Nicholas II issued a decree introducing new category in warships classification – submarines. However, the first submarine unit appeared one year earlier. Built in St. Petersburg, first submarines were dispatched to the Far East during the Russo-Japanese War. At first it was planned to deliver them by rail to Port Arthur, but then the subs were transferred to Vladivostok. Seven submarines arrived there by the end of 1904. On Jan 5, 1905 Vladivostok port admiral ordered to form them into "independent destroyer unit" and include in Vladivostok cruiser flotilla. By the end of the war the unit numbered 13 subs; at least two of them were permanently stationed in the Peter the Great Bay.

The Russia's first submarine squadron consisted of diesel subs Bychok, Delfin, Kasatka, Kefal, Nalim, Osetr, Paltus, Plotva, Skat, Forel, Schuka, Feldmarshal Graf Sheremetiev.

Many historians say the presence of subs in Vladivostok was the deterrent which withheld Japanese fleet from attacking the fort. It is also believed that those subs were the first-ever to conduct underwater attack.

As for now, submarine force of Pacific Fleet has in inventory state-of-the-art nuclear and diesel submarines armed with ballistic missiles, attack and antisubmarine missiles and torpedoes. Pacific submariners day-and-night perform their duties to protect eastern boundary of the Russian Federation.