Russia's First Submarine

I have always been interested in submarines, and this is what lead me to read submarine classics like 20000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Hunt for Red October. The latter book is what sparked my interest in the Soviet and then Russian Navies. So it got me thinking about the first submarine in the Russian Navy.

There were reports of some submarine development during the time of Peter the Great, and some other developments during the 19th century. The first real combat submarine however was called the Дельфин, Russian: "Dolphin".  

The submarine was designed by Russian engineers and naval officers for the Construction Commission for Submarines which later became the Rubin Design Bureau. 

During operations and testing the Delfin sank in the Neva river killing 24 men. This was the first Russian Navy's accident with a submarine. 

The submarine was salvaged and transferred to the Pacific, where it participated in combat operations during the Russo-Japanese War. 

During the First World War the submarine was transferred to the Northern Flotilla.

She served until 1917, and was later scrapped. 

This submarine gave the Russian's experience in submarine operations and warfare. 

The Oldest Ship in the Russian Navy



Aurora in St.Petersburg



Just like the British and American Navies, the Russian Navy maintains a historic ship in commission. The oldest commissioned ship in the Russian Navy is the Aurora.

She is manned with an active duty crew and commanded by a captain 1^st rank.

Commissioned in the early years of the 20^th century, the Aurora took part in the Russo-Japanese war.

Aurora during Russo-Japanese War

The ship was moved to Petrograd (St.Petersburg) for repairs. The city was consumed with revolutionary fever at the time and the crew joined in with the Bolsheviks. On 25 October 1917 the ship’s crew refused an order to get underway. This action was the spark that started the October Revolution.

After the revolution the ship served as a training ship, and served in that capacity until after World War II.

After World War II the ship was permanently moored in the Neva River (St. Petersburg) as a monument to the October Revolution. In 1957 the Aurora was converted into a museum ship.

Pin, with the name of the ship

Since that time it is estimated that about 28 million people have toured the ship.