Soviet submarine K-21

K-21 as a museum ship displayed at Severomorsk Central Square, Murmansk, Russia.
History
Name: K-21
Laid down: 10 December 1937
Launched: 16 August 1939
Commissioned: 30 November 1940
Status: Became a monument at Murmansk in 1982.
General characteristics
Displacement:
  • 1490 tons surfaced
  • 2600 tons submerged
Length: 97.65 m
Beam: 7.4m
Draft: 4.51m
Propulsion: 2-shaft diesel electric, 8400-hp diesel, 2400-hp electric
Speed:
  • surface - up to 22,5 knots
  • submerged - 10 knots
Range: 14,000 nm at 11 knots
Test depth: 230 ft (70 m)
Complement: 67 (10 officers)
Armament:
  • 6 × bow torpedo tubes
  • 2 × stern torpedo tubes
  • 2 × external stern torpedo tubes(24 torpedoes)
  • 2 × 100 mm guns, 2 - 45mm guns, 20 mines
Service record
Part of: Northern Fleet

Soviet submarine K-21 was a K-class submarine of the Soviet Navy during World War II.[1][2]

History

The K-class of submarines were launched in 1938 and came in two variants, differentiated by the shape of the bow; the first group had flat bows, whilst the second group had humped bows. Of the submarines of the first group, K-21 was the only survivor after the war.[1][3]

K-21 was laid down in Leningrad Yard 196 on 10 December 1937 by Sudomekh, and was launched on 16 August 1939. The submarine served within the Northern Fleet under command of Nikolai Lunin.[4]

The Norwegian merchant ship Bessheim was sunk by a mine laid by K-21 on 11 November 1941.[5] Between 9 November 1941 and 31 March 1942, K-21 unsuccessfully engaged three merchant ships and one German auxiliary patrol vessel. On 21 January 1942, Norwegian fishing boat F-223N Ingøy was sunk by gunfire from K-21.[4]

On 5 July 1942, K-21 made a solo unsuccessful attack on German battleship Tirpitz which was en route to intercept Convoy PQ 17. Tirpitz turned away; however, the convoy scattered upon hearing words of Tirpitz's imminent arrival, and most of the convoy's merchant ships were picked off by U-boats and the Luftwaffe.[1]

K-21 sank four small Norwegian motor boats via gunfire on 12 February 1943 at Lopphavet. On 22 April 1943, the German merchant ship Duna was sunk by a mine laid by K-21 on 18 February 1943.[4]

After the war in October 1948, K-21 made the first Soviet submarine voyage off the coast of the United States.

In 1982, K-21 was made into a monument at Murmansk.

 Ships sunk by K-21[4]
Date Ship Flag Tonnage Notes
21 November 1941 Bessheim Norway 1,774 GRT Freighter (mine)
21 January 1942 Ingøy Norway 15 GRT Fishing boat (gunfire)
9 July 1942 UJ-1110 Nazi Germany 527 GRT submarine chaser (mine)(also claimed by K-3)
12 February 1943 unknown name Norway (small) fishing boat (gunfire)
12 February 1943 unknown name Norway (small) fishing boat (gunfire)
12 February 1943 unknown name Norway (small) fishing boat (gunfire)
12 February 1943 unknown name Norway (small) fishing boat (gunfire)
12 April 1943 unknown name Norway (small) fishing boat (gunfire)
12 April 1943 unknown name Norway (small) fishing boat (gunfire)
12 April 1943 unknown name Norway (small) fishing boat (gunfire)
12 April 1943 unknown name Norway (small) fishing boat (gunfire)
22 April 1943 Duna Nazi Germany 1,926 GRT Freighter (mine)
14 September 1943 Frei Norway 40 GRT Fishing boat (gunfire)
Total:4,282 GRT

On 14 September 1943 other three small Norwegian fishing boats (Havatta, Baren and Eyshteyn) were attacked with gunfire but escaped despite damage.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 А. В. Платонов, (2004). Энциклопедия советских подводных лодок 1941-1945, Полигон. ISBN 5170249047.
  2. ↑ Lambert, (1986). Warship, Volume 10. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0851774490.
  3. ↑ K-21 K-class Soviet cruiser submarine, Steelnavy.com
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 K-21
  5. ↑ D/S Bessheim, Warsailors

Further reading

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