Abandoned submarines today are of great interest to all history buffs, especially the military. Since the armies of different countries began to use submarines, they have become one of the main forces of the navy of any country. But over time, like any other military equipment, submarines fell into disrepair. Now all over the world there are many such abandoned bases.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Abandoned submarines are in large numbers in the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky region, where a whole division of submarines was previously based. Bechevinskaya Bay was strictly classified, so it was decided to rename it to Finval. There was a division of submarines that had a special purpose, most were sent here from the Northern Fleet. So, in 1971 a team of boats arrived here from Krasheninnikov Bay, located in the eastern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula.
In 1996, the brigade was finally disbanded, the military removed all valuable property, turning off the water and electricity. Since then, in Finval Bay, an abandoned submarine base of the Russian Navy. Those vessels that were still underway returned to Krasheninnikov Bay.
Kurile Islands
What abandoned submarines look like today can be seen, for example, on the Kuril Islands. The American media reported back in 1982 that the Soviet Union had built a secret submarine base in the northern part of Simushin Island, which was only 400 kilometers from Japan.
Indeed, the Soviet military in the late 70s staged an explosion in the shipping canal in the vicinity of Broughton Bay. Over the next decade, a city was built here for three thousand inhabitants. To the present day of their three docks, only one has survived, which was used to rest and repair submarines between flights. One of the important missions that these submarines were to carry out was the laying of explosives along the Japanese coast in case of resumption of hostilities.
It was a secret base, from which today only rusty and abandoned submarines remained.
Davenport, England
Not all cemeteries of the dead submarines are on the outskirts of civilization. For some, there was a place near busy ports and sea lanes. So, in 2002, Britain needed a place where they could store nuclear submarines, most of which were designed during the Cold War, and are now outdated. They were sent to the Davenport military base, where an abandoned submarine base formed.
In 2014, the restless submarine joined them. Together with the rest of the ships, she continues to rust at the docks, while her nuclear engine remains intact. Military officials say it’s absolutely safe to keep nuclear submarines here, but public activists are increasingly raising the issue of radioactive waste disposal that will have to be carried out when dismantling abandoned submarines.
Now in this "cemetery" is 12 submarines.
Balaclava, Crimea
The submarine base, known during the Soviet Union as the “825 GTS facility”, is located in the city of Balaklava in the Crimea. Once it was carefully classified. To maintain confidentiality, even an underground canal was made in the rock, which led to a dry dock. Arms were stored and repaired there. The construction of this facility has been ongoing since 1957.
In 1991, the first plans appeared to abandon the use of this base. It was finally closed in 1996. Now tourists can inspect the abandoned submarines of the USSR, appreciating all their terrifying power. Concrete walls and corridors capable of withstanding a nuclear strike were preserved at this military facility.
Interestingly, the base had another purpose. It was here that a secret training program for dolphins for use in military missions was carried out. Animals were trained to set beacons on enemy ships or lay explosives. Today there are only abandoned submarines in Russia.
Hara, Estonia
In the area of the village of Hara in the territory of modern Estonia, there is an old base of Soviet submarines. It is interesting that it was abandoned recently, but it looks as if a person’s foot has not stepped here for decades.
Its construction was completed by 1958. For many years, it remained a key object of the Soviet armed forces in the Baltic. By the way, they built it from stone, which was obtained by dismantling houses in nearby villages. The remains of the old lighthouse still rise above the water. The base was abandoned in 1992.
From the abandoned submarines, photos of which are in this article, few are left. Street artists use submarine skeletons for their graffiti.
May Island
One of the most classified events of the First World War was the battle of May Island. Although in reality no battle took place there.
The British conducted class K submarine exercises, which at that time were still "raw." It was even rumored that those who went to serve on these boats entered a suicide club. In total, 18 submarines of this type were built, which never participated in battles. Six of them died in accidents.
The tragedy occurred near Scapa Flow in Scotland. At first, two leading submarines collided, other boats crashed into them, and then the flagship. In total, about a hundred sailors died. Now the ill-fated cemetery of submarines is studied by historians.
Sazani Island
Near the Albanian island of Sazani during the Cold War, there was a base of Soviet submarines. When in 1961 Albania refused to participate in the Warsaw Pact, the base was captured along with all the submarines that were on it.
However, in fact, they were not used at all. In the 90s, boats were outdated, the base was almost completely abandoned. Now they are considering the option of opening it as a tourist attraction, but at the moment there is complete desolation.
The base, where the abandoned submarines are located, is an intricate labyrinth of underground tunnels in which chemical and biological weapons were once developed. Now it is a miniature outpost used by smugglers on the way between Italy and Albania.
More recently, life began to revive here when the British began to use it as a training camp. In 2013, the US Marines conducted exercises in which they worked to counter terrorists and pirates.
Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll is one of the most remote military bases in the world. It is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Since 1930, it has become extremely important for the US military. Over time, it became one of the key refueling, repair and maintenance stations for submarines and aircraft.
During its heyday, more than a thousand people lived and worked here, in the 40s they tested nuclear weapons on the atoll. Now in this place there are many problems, primarily related to the environment. For example, it is at Johnston that the plant is responsible for the release of Agent Orange into the environment. And the armament test, which was conducted here in the 50-60s, provoked massive emissions of oil products.
Now the object is controlled by the US military, but there are enough abandoned submarines.
Island of vis
The Croatian island of Vis today attracts tourists from all over the planet. This is a very beautiful and secluded place, which was inhabited in the fourth century BC.
At the same time, it acquired strategic importance much later, when in 1944 one of the first modern military tunnels was dug in its environs, which became important accurate in the struggle for independence from dictator Tito. In 1989, it was abandoned, the island was shrouded in a veil of mystery, throughout the whole time it was used as a military base.
Today, the underwater dock is abandoned. At the same time, he remained one of the most significant objects that remained after demilitarization, and was hidden deep inside the mountain. When the Second World War ended, it was one of the largest military bases in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.
An extensive network of underground tunnels was to provide full military support during the Cold War. But now there is still a presence on this beautiful and picturesque island, making its surroundings even more unrealistic.
Now about three and a half thousand local residents live next door to abandoned tunnels, empty barracks and dry docks, probably abandoned forever.
Sub marine explorer
Often, submarines died at the very beginning of their history - in the last decades of the 19th century. Since then, they have been exposed to the destructive effects of time. One recently discovered is called Sub Marine Explorer.
It was built by German inventors of submarines, and they were civilian, not military. The ship sank in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Panama. It was built in 1865, by a private company that used it to search for pearls.
The submarine was equipped with hatches for collecting oysters from the seabed, which greatly simplified the whole process. On the boat itself there was enough space for six people, the submarine was lit by candles. Compressed air was pumped into the vessel when it was required to float. However, its developers did not take into account the phenomenon of decompression, which led to the tragedy.
After several test dives, we came to the conclusion that the vessel was ready to work fully. But when the dives became deeper and longer, the inventor Julius Krol died. Moreover, the disease developed so long that at first the doctors did not associate it with immersion on the seabed. Therefore, the team continued to dive, finding pearls worth thousands of dollars. As a result, a mysterious affliction struck them all. Now the find of this submarine has opened another page in the history of underwater navigation.