Lev Zhiltcov

Lev Zhiltcov

Rear Admiral, Hero of the Soviet Union
Date of Birth: 02.02.1928
Country: Russia

Content:
  1. Lev Mikhailovich Zhiltsov: A Life Dedicated to Submarine Service
  2. Submarine Service
  3. Commanding the Leninets
  4. Career Advancement
  5. Honors and Legacy

Lev Mikhailovich Zhiltsov: A Life Dedicated to Submarine Service

Early Life and Education

Lev Mikhailovich Zhiltsov was born on February 2, 1928, in Nakhabino, Moscow Oblast. In 1935, his family relocated to Ivanteyevka, Moscow Oblast. In 1942, Zhiltsov enrolled in the Moscow Naval Special School.

Submarine Service

In 1949, Zhiltsov graduated from the Caspian Higher Naval School and served as a navigator and assistant commander on the small submarine M-113 in the Black Sea Fleet. In 1952, he was appointed assistant commander of the medium submarine S-61. In 1954, Zhiltsov became the senior assistant commander of the first experimental nuclear-powered submarine under construction.

Commanding the Leninets

In 1959, Zhiltsov was recognized for his contributions to the creation of the first nuclear submarine and was appointed its commander. In the summer of 1962, the submarine "Leninsky Komsomol" under Zhiltsov's command completed a passage beneath the pack ice of the Arctic Ocean and surfaced near the North Pole on July 17. This unprecedented feat earned Zhiltsov the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on July 20, 1962.

Career Advancement

After completing the Naval Academy in 1963, Zhiltsov became deputy commander of the Submarine Brigade of the Baltic Fleet in 1966. In 1975, he was promoted to counter-admiral and served in the Permanent Commission for State Acceptance of Navy Ships from 1976 until his retirement in 1987.

Honors and Legacy

In 1988, Zhiltsov was named an Honorary Citizen of Ivanteyevka. In 1997, a memorial plaque was unveiled on his childhood home, and a street in Ivanteyevka was named in his honor. Zhiltsov passed away on February 27, 1996, and is buried in the Troekurovskoye Cemetery in Moscow. He is co-author of the comprehensive work "Atomic Submarine Epic," published in multiple countries.

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