The oldest post-war sub remaining afloat turned 50 in St. Petersburg

10.03.2010
Festivities related to 50th anniversary of the oldest post-war sub remaining afloat S-189 took place on March 9 at Lt. Schmidt Embankment in St. Petersburg.

Among attendants were veteran submariners, representatives of public organizations and trainees of Peter the Great Naval Corps.

S-189 represents the most numerous project of post-war period which constituted the basis of Soviet submarine force. Operating region of Project 613 subs was entire World Ocean except zones vastly covered with ice.

Special museum will be opened in S-189 on March 18, 2010 on the eve of Submariner's Day. Visitors will be allowed to view the sub, wind steering wheel and flywheels of submersion and surfacing system, fit on light diving suit and submariner's rescue equipment. Four torpedoes and submarine noise simulator lay on the shelves of first compartment. One could trace historical path of the sub at monitors as well as find names of submariners ever served in Project 613 subs.

Five years ago the sub sank and was considered irretrievable. She was saved by the initiative of veteran submariners with charitable assistance of St. Petersburg company IMSA, participation of Y.I. Morozov, head of technical branch of Leningrad Naval Base and salvage experts A.V. Kramarenko and O.S. Saliy. Permanent mooring place of the sub is at Lt.Schmidt Embankment opposite the oldest Russian naval academy near monument to Kruzenshtern; the place was approved by St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matvienko.

S-189 was laid down on March 31, 1954 at Ordzhonikidze Shipyard (Leningrad); commissioned on March 9, 1955.

In 1959 the crew was rewarded with honorable Leningrad Komsomol Red Banner.

In 1960 due to navigation fault the submarine dabbed a support ship by fin structure.

In 1971 the sub obtained title The Excellent Submarine.

In 1980 interim overhaul performed by Kronshtadt Shipyard was completed.

On Apr 19, 1990 the sub was decommissioned for further utilization.

In 1999 the sub sank at Kupecheskaya Bay, Kronshtadt.

In Nov 2005 she was salvaged and laid up for restoration at Kanonersky Shipyard.

On Aug 2, 2007 the sub was moored at Lt. Schmidt Embankment opposite Frunze Naval Academy in St. Petersburg.

Source: RusNavy.com, photo: S-189 (community.livejournal.com/ru_submarine/)