Vladimir Konovalov

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

Born to a Jewish family in the village of Nadyezhnoe (in what is now Ukraine), he joined the Soviet Navy in 1932 and graduated from naval school in 1936. Beginning in October 1940, he was 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 sunk 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. For the sinking of the "Goya", Konovalov was later awarded the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union on July 8, 1945. 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.

From May 1946 to November 1947, he commanded the N-27 (formerly the German Type XXI U-Boat "U-3515"). He was made a rear admiral on May 7, 1966, but died 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".

References

* Mark Shteinberg, "Evrei v voinakh tysiachiletii." Moscow, Jerusalem: Gesharim, 2005, p. 302.
* [http://town.ural.ru/ship/means/mens_k.php3#konovalov Biography in Russian]