Soviet WW2 Submarine Found off Sweden

10.09.2012 A Soviet submarine lost during the World War II was recently found by Swedish divers on the seabed of the Baltic Sea. The submarine was identified thanks to Russian letters still readable on the sub's hull and the year of 1936 stamped on the main 100-mm gun. Experts of Central Navy Portal suggest it is S-6 submarine failed to return home in Aug 1941. According to military archives and historical researches, the submarine is considered lost in action.

Diving team "260 Bar" stumbled upon the wrecked submarine in Aug 2011 exploring seabed near the Gotland Island (Sweden). In May 2012, they dived there again to examine the submarine and take pictures. The expedition seems to be successful, as the hull, antiaircraft gun and Russian letters were clearly seen on the photos posted on the Swedish divers' website. Apart from the gun number (No. 30), one can clearly recognize Soviet symbols, i.e. sickle, hammer and a little star.

Editors of Central Navy Portal contacted Magnus Eriksson and Peter Karlsson, divers who participated in that expedition. As for them, the Soviet submarine remains in good condition, although the bow part is torn off and a large part is lying 10 feet to the left of the hull. But the keel, stern, and antiaircraft gun are quite good.

Being interviewed by Central Navy Portal, Mr. Eriksson specified location of the wrecks; as for him, the sub lies at the depth of 45 meters 55 nautical miles eastward Swedish island Sandhamn. The divers have not reported about the founding to Swedish naval authorities, but notified the Stockholm-headquartered company Deep Sea Productions specializing in researches of underwater wrecks. Magnus said directors of Deep Sea Productions were about to make a film about the wrecked Soviet sub. However, reporters of Central Navy Portal contacted the company, and its producers denied that information.

In its turn, Central Navy Portal informed Swedish defense attaché in Moscow Mr. Hakan Andersson about the found submarine. He promised to give a formal reply after reaction of his colleagues in Swedish defense ministry. The situation is also monitored by the St. Petersburg Submariners' Club. By the way, the club's chairman Capt 1 Rank Igor Kurdin was the first person the Swedish divers informed about the sensational founding.

With assistance of Swedish partners, Central Navy Portal hopes to identify the sub's hull number, determine the crew list, and pay honors to Soviet submariners lost in the Baltic.

Recall that it was by no means the first Soviet submarine found by Swedish researches in the Baltic Sea. For one, in 2009 Scandinavian divers discovered another S-class (medium size) submarine; it was S-2 considered lost in action since 1940. The sub lied between Swedish and Finnish waters in the Sea of Åland. In Aug 2010, the remembrance ceremony was held at the submarine's wreck site; the ceremony was attended by relatives of the lost submariners.

Background:

S-6 is a Soviet diesel-electric attack submarine (IX-bis series, S-class, sometimes mentioned as Stalinets) participated in the Soviet-Finnish and the Great Patriotic (WW2) wars. She was laid down on Dec 28, 1935 at Shipyard No. 189 in Leningrad under serial number 279 and letter number N-6. The submarine was put afloat on March 31, 1938 and commissioned on Nov 27, 1939. On Aug 2, 1941 the submarine started her last deployment to the Bornholm Island (Denmark); then the contact was lost, and the sub's further fate was unknown.