 |
Georgiy ApostolovSoviet military leader, captain of the 3rd rank
Date of Birth: 19.09.1910
Country:  Operator |
Content:
- Soviet Warlord, Captain of the 3rd Rank, Submarine Commander
- Military Career
- Commander of the Shch-202 and the 8th Submarine Division
- World War II
- The Blockade of Sevastopol
- Death and Legacy
Soviet Warlord, Captain of the 3rd Rank, Submarine Commander
Early Life and EducationGeorgy Petrovich Apostolov was born on September 19, 1910, in Kerch, Tavricheskaya Guberniya, now the Republic of Crimea, Russia, to a marine agent. In 1919, the family moved to Anapa due to his father's transfer to the agency, where he handled the reception and dispatch of sea cargo and passengers. The Civil War disrupted Apostolov's education, which he resumed in 1924. He became a pioneer, a Komsomol member, and, upon graduating in 1928, worked as a sailor on the sail-motor vessel "Nadezhda."
Military Career
In 1930, Apostolov left for Leningrad to work on the construction of a power station. In February, he was accepted into the Frunze Naval school, fulfilling his childhood dream of serving on the sea. In 1931, he joined the VKP(b). In 1934, he completed his studies and was assigned to the Black Sea, where he initially served as a navigator on the submarine Shch-202. In November 1936, he enrolled as a student in the Commanding Department of the Kirov Underwater Training Unit. Upon completion, he resumed duty as the assistant commander of the submarine Shch-202.
Commander of the Shch-202 and the 8th Submarine Division
From July 1938 to November 1940, Apostolov commanded the submarine Shch-202. In 1940, he became the commander of the 22nd Submarine Division, later reorganized as the 8th Submarine Division, a position he held at the outbreak of World War II.
World War II
Apostolov initially commanded the submarine Shch-214 in July 1941, but was soon appointed commander of the Shch-215. On this vessel, he carried out four combat missions, sinking one transport, the "Yenice" (428 gross tonnage), and possibly damaging another. During one of these missions, Apostolov was wounded and awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the Order of the Red Star.
In January 1942, Apostolov was appointed commander of the submarine L-24, which officially entered service on April 29. In June, he made four transport trips to Sevastopol, delivering 217.3 tons of ammunition, 95 tons of food, 98 tons of fuel, and evacuating 54 people to the Caucasus.
The Blockade of Sevastopol
Breaking through the enemy blockade was arduous for L-24. During one return to Novorossiysk, it was pursued by enemy boats for 36 hours, enduring over 300 depth charges. The submarine returned to Novorossiysk on July 2, 1942, where it was attacked by bombs, causing minor damage. Apostolov was hit by shrapnel in the head, his second injury.
Death and Legacy
Apostolov led L-24 on three more combat missions, damaging the Italian tanker "Arca" (1883 gross tonnage) and laying 40 naval mines. However, on December 12, 1942, the submarine set out on a mission and never returned. In 1991, the wreck of L-24 was discovered, revealing that the submarine had struck a drifting mine, which detonated the hydrogen on board, causing a fire that killed the crew.
