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12-04-2022 09:16 AM
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Hero of Soviet Union and commander of Kerch Red Banner brigade of river ships of Danube Military Flotilla Caption 2nd rank Derjavin Pavel Ivanovich who approved and signed the recommendation:
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The interesting thing about this medal is not that there's a ton of information on the awardee, Red Fleet soldier Vilkovskiy. But the Armored Boat # 215 on which Vilkovski manned the radio station is a completely different story. Here there's quite some more info to be found.
Armored Boat # 215 of the model BKA1125 initially served in the Baltic Fleet and was captured by the Finns as a wartrophy. On August 23, 1941, during the battle in the Vyborg Bay, the B-215 got hit, threw itself onto the stones of Bolshoy Pogranichny Island (Fin. Paatio) and was blown up by the crew. A little later, the Finns discovered it and sent it to a shipyard, where the boat was restored and even modernized. The 76-mm L-10 cannon remained in its original place in the turret of the T-28 tank, but Finnish machine guns were installed in the small turrets, and most importantly - added two torpedo tubes (or one double-tube) for firing 450-mm torpedoes.
After that, the boat was reclassified as a patrol boat and received the designation VTV-1. In June 1942, after a short service in the Gulf of Finland, the guard was sent to Lake Onega to reinforce the flotilla created there. In June 1944, while retreating, the Finns blew up their ships, but VTV-1 was saved and sent to Finland. However, when the armistice was signed, the Soviet side demanded its return, and at the end of 1944, under the designation BK-215, the boat again became part of the Baltic Fleet and finally Danube Fleet where Vilkovskiy manned the radio station.
Interestingly enough the Finns have some pics when they found the boat on the shore, abandoned by the Soviets.
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Very nice with fascinating history
First time I have seen the Danube Flotilla mentioned
Nick
"In all my years as a soldier, I have never seen men fight so hard." - SS Obergruppenfuhrer Wilhelm Bittrich - Arnhem
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Can a moderator please change in title the word boar to boat please. Sunday morning still sleepy error
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"In all my years as a soldier, I have never seen men fight so hard." - SS Obergruppenfuhrer Wilhelm Bittrich - Arnhem
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by
Woolgar
Very nice with fascinating history
First time I have seen the Danube Flotilla mentioned
Nick
I also never paid much interest in the Danube Military Flotilla but they even got up all the way into Vienna where the Fleet was awarded the Order of Kutuzov 2nd class: Danube Flotilla (Soviet Union) - Wikipedia
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Marcel,
Thanks for the write up. Always nice to read the background and other pertinent information concerning the awardee. Adds to the historical aspect.
Gerry C.
From the Still Dry High Plains of the Midwest U.S.A.
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