Vladimir Konovalov

Rear Admiral Vladimir Konstantinovich Konovalov, Владимир Константинович Коновалов (December 5, 1911 – November 29, 1967) was a Soviet Navy distinguished submarine commander during World War II.

Born to a Jewish family in the village of Nadyezhnoe (Zaporizhia Oblast, in what is now Ukraine), His family moved to Donetsk when he was a child. He studied at the Donetsk National Technical University. He joined the Soviet Navy in 1932 and graduated from the Frunze Military Academy in 1936. After graduation he served on submarines in the Black Sea Fleet. Beginning in October 1940 he transferred to the Baltic Fleet and was appointed second in command of the Soviet submarine L-3, and he was named her commander in March 1943.

The L-3 was a minelayer submarine, but it was also engaged in offensive operations against German shipping during World War II, ultimately making 11 torpedo attacks under Konovalov's command.

On April 16, 1945, Konovalov sank the German ship Goya, carrying wounded Wehrmacht troops and German refugees fleeing from the Eastern Front. At least 6,000 people drowned, with only 165 people saved. It was one of the worst maritime disasters ever. According to some versions, the L-3 also might have sunk a small 1411 GRT ship on January 31, 1945, but it is not confirmed.

Konovalov's submarine also laid five mine barrages of 52 mines during the war, one of which sunk a ship Henry Lütgens measuring 1141 GRT on January 29, 1945. Probably a torpedo boat T 34 sunk on mines laid by the L-3 as well on November 20, 1944.

He was awarded the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union for an exemplary wartime record on July 8, 1945.

From May 1946 to November 1947, he commanded the N-27 (formerly the German Type XXI U-Boat U-3515). In 1950 he graduated from the Voroshilov staff college and from 1958 commanded the submarine brigade of the Baltic Fleet. He was made a rear admiral on May 7, 1966, but died of a stroke in Leningrad the following year.

Over the course of his career, Konovalov was awarded the Order of Lenin (three times), the Order of Ushakov 2nd class, the Order of the Patriotic War 1st class (twice), and the Order of the Red Star (twice).

In the book and subsequent film The Hunt for Red October, the fictional Soviet Alfa class nuclear-powered attack submarine is named the V.K. Konovalov.

[edit] Honours and awards

 * Hero of the Soviet Union
 * Three Orders of Lenin
 * Order of the Red Banner, twice
 * Order of Ushakov, 2nd class
 * Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class
 * Order of the Red Star
 * Medal "For the Defence of Leningrad"
 * Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"
 * Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
 * Jubilee Medal "30 Years of the Soviet Army and Navy"
 * Jubilee Medal "40 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"

[edit] References

 * Mark Shteinberg, "Evrei v voinakh tysiachiletii." Moscow, Jerusalem: Gesharim, 2005, p. 302.
 * Biography in Russian

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