Pacific Fleet will celebrate the Submariners' Day

17.03.2011 On March 19 there will be a 105th anniversary of Russian submarine force. Festive events will take place in all Pacific Fleet's (PF) submarine bases.

They will start at 8 am (local time) with solemn hoisting ceremony of ensigns and dressing flags, parades in PF submarine units, and honoring of heroic submariners.

At 11 am a wreath-laying ceremony will take place in Vladivostok at the Pacific Fleet Battle Glory Memorial.

Then it will be a festive meeting held in PF Officers' Club. It is planned to award distinguished personnel and conduct a concert.

Over 100 years ago when nobody heard the word of "submarine", Baltiysky Zavod shipyard almost completed "mine carrier 150". That project developed by eminent Russian engineers Bubnov and Beklemishev was destined to become the first Russian submarine bearing the name of Delfin.

New class of warships – submarines – was used for the first time during the Russo-Japanese War. Although subs were not officially recognized, they made the enemy waver.

In 1906 the imperial decree included submarines into Russian Navy's hull classification as a new class of warships.

During the First World War submarines were widely used for sea lanes warfare, and finally shaped into a separate branch of the Navy capable to accomplish tactical and some strategic missions.

Over 20 large-size, 80 medium-size, 60 small-size submarines and 20 mine-laying submarines had been constructed for Soviet Navy in the period of 1930-1939. By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War four Soviet fleets had in inventory 212 submarines.

A watershed in the history of Soviet Navy was introduction of nuclear reactors as submarines' propulsion. That happened in 50's, and since that time subs have the capability of almost unlimited endurance.

Battle chronicles of Pacific Fleet submariners contain unprecedented in courage and fortitude long-term cruises, passages along the Northern Sea Route under Arctic pack ice, multi-month patrols in the Pacific and the Indian oceans.

PF submariners were first who assimilated many new classes of submarines equipped with most advanced arms and technical facilities.

Eighteen PF submariners were titled Heroes of the Soviet Union, two – Heroes of Russia.

Ten crews and one submarine division were awarded with Defense Minister's Pennants for courage and service merits.

One of PF submarine squadrons was awarded with the Red Banner's Order in peacetime.