Emil Nikolayevich Spiridonov () (26 September 1925 – 7 February 1981) was an officer of the

Soviet Navy The Soviet Navy was the naval warfare Military, uniform service branch of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy made up a large part of the Soviet Union's strategic planning in the event of a conflict with t ...

. He rose to the rank of

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

and was commander of the Pacific Fleet, before his death in the

1981 Pushkin Tu-104 crash On 7 February 1981, a Tupolev Tu-104A passenger jet crashed during take off from Pushkin Airport near Leningrad, Soviet Union, resulting in the death of all 50 people on board, including 28 high-ranking Soviet military personnel. The official in ...

, which also killed many of the Fleet's senior officers. Born in 1925, Spiridonov's early studies were interrupted by the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, and he joined the navy. His early service was spent in

submarine A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability.) The term "submarine" is also sometimes used historically or infor ...

s in the Pacific Fleet, where he distinguished himself and advanced through the ranks. Transferred to the

Northern Fleet The Northern Fleet (, ''Severnyy flot'') is the Naval fleet, fleet of the Russian Navy in the Arctic. According to the Russian ministry of defence: "The Northern Fleet dates its history back to a squadron created in 1733 to protect the terri ...

, he took command of his own boat, a Project 629-type

ballistic missile submarine A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. These submarines became a major weapon system in the Cold War because of their nuclear deterrence capabi ...

, before being advanced to command divisions and squadrons of submarines. Praised for his approach to training, he took courses at the

Naval Academy A naval academy provides education for prospective naval officers. List of naval academies See also

* Military academy {{Authority control Naval academies, Naval lists ...

, and was promoted to

flag rank A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark the position from which that officer exercises command. Different countries use the term "flag officer" in different ways: * ...

. Returning to the Pacific Fleet, he moved up the chain of command, garnering awards and plaudits, and eventually becoming deputy commander of the fleet. After assisting in a difficult rescue operation of a stricken submarine, he was finally appointed commander of the Pacific Fleet. While returning to the fleet base at

Vladivostok Vladivostok ( ; , ) is the largest city and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai and the capital of the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. It is located around the Zolotoy Rog, Golden Horn Bay on the Sea of Japan, covering an area o ...

, the transport plane he and many other of the fleet's senior officers were travelling in crashed just after takeoff outside

Pushkin Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin () was a Russian poet, playwright, and novelist of the Romantic era.Basker, Michael. Pushkin and Romanticism. In Ferber, Michael, ed., ''A Companion to European Romanticism''. Oxford: Blackwell, 2005. He is conside ...

. There were no survivors. He was buried at the

Serafimovskoe Cemetery Serafimovskoe Cemetery () is a historic cemetery in northwestern Saint Petersburg, in Primorsky District, Saint Petersburg, Primorsky District. It was established to meet the need for the growing population in the early twentieth century. The fi ...

in then-

Leningrad Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

, where a memorial was erected to those killed in the crash. He was honoured after his death with memorial plaques, and a street in Vladivostok and an ''Udaloy''-class

destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, maneuverable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy, or carrier battle group and defend them against a wide range of general threats. They were conceived i ...

''Admiral Spiridonov'' were named for him.

Early life

Emil Spiridonov was born on 26 September 1925 in the town of

Makaryev Makaryev () is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town and the administrative center of Makaryevsky District in Kostroma Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Unzha River (Volga River, Volga's tributary), east of Kostroma, the ...

, ,

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

. He initially studied at secondary school No. 4 in Frunze,

Kyrgyz SSR The Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic (Kirghiz SSR), also known as the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic (Kyrgyz SSR), KySSR or Kirgiz Soviet Socialist Republic (Kirgiz SSR), was one of the Republics of the Soviet Union, constituent republics of ...

, graduating in 1940 and attending the Kyrgyz Land Management and Technical College. His studies were interrupted by the

German invasion of the Soviet Union Operation Barbarossa was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and several of its European Axis allies starting on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during World War II. More than 3.8 million Axis troops invaded the western Soviet Union along a ...

. With the college's closure in November 1941, Spiridonov enrolled at Kiev Naval Special School No. 5 that December, and joined the navy after graduating in September 1942. He took the preparatory course at the in

Baku Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...

, and studied at the M.V. Frunze Naval School in

between 1943 and 1947.

Early postings

From 1948 until 1949 Spiridonov served as a navigator aboard the submarine ''M-2'', of the 6th division of the 2nd submarine squadron of the Pacific Fleet, then based at

Nakhodka Bay Nakhodka Bay or Nakhodka Gulf (), historically called the Gulf of America (, ), is a bay of the Peter the Great Gulf of the Sea of Japan where the port Nakhodka is located. It is part of the Primorsky Krai of Russia. The Lisy Island protects t ...

. On 19 December 1949 he was transferred to the ''Shch-125'' of the 1st submarine squadron, being promoted to senior lieutenant on 19 December 1950. On 8 January 1952 he took the Higher Special Officer Classes for submariners at

, graduating in October 1952. He was then assigned to the ''Shch-22'', part of the 123rd squadron of the 40th Submarine Division of the Pacific Fleet. On 9 May 1953 he was appointed to the ''S-165'', a Project 613-type submarine then under construction. Advanced to

captain lieutenant Captain lieutenant or captain-lieutenant is a military rank, used in a number of navies worldwide and formerly in the British Army. Northern Europe Denmark, Norway and Finland The same rank is used in the navies of Denmark (), Norway () and Fin ...

on 14 September 1953 with the completion of the ''S-165'', Spiridonov was assigned to the

from 25 June 1954, joining the 297th squadron of the 33rd submarine division.

Command

Impressing his commander, Spiridonov was appointed assistant commander of the ''S-165'' on 9 July, and on 13 November 1954 he became senior assistant commander on the ''S-44'', of the 96th submarine squadron. On 5 November 1956 he was promoted to

captain 3rd rank Captain 3rd rank () is a rank used by the Russian Navy and a number of former communist states. The rank is the lowest rank in the staff officer's career group. The rank is equivalent to major in armies and air forces. Within NATO forces, the rank ...

and on 25 November given his first command, the ''S-185''. Impressing his superiors over the next two years he spent in command, he was earmarked for further promotions. On 6 September 1958 he was appointed commander of the Project 629-type

''B-41'', then under construction at

Severodvinsk Severodvinsk (; ) is a city in the north of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located in the delta of the Northern Dvina, west of Arkhangelsk, the administrative center of the oblast. As of the 2021 Census, the population was 157,213. Due to the p ...

. While ''B-41'' was nearing completion, Spiridonov sailed on a long distance voyage aboard the Project AB611-type submarine ''B-78'', serving as second in command under

Captain 2nd rank Captain 2nd rank () is a rank used by the Russian Navy and a number of List of communist states#Former communist states, former communist states. The rank is the middle rank in the staff officer's career group. The rank is equivalent to lieutenant c ...

V. V. Gorontsov. During the voyage Spiridonov familiarised himself with the new type of submarines, and carried out tests of the R-11FM ballistic missile system. Image Submarine Golf II class

With the completion of ''B-41'', Spiridonov brought her to

Olenya Bay Olenya Bay or Olenya Guba () is a bay of the Barents Sea on the Kola Peninsula in the Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It is an extension of the Kola Inlet, which opens out to the north into the Barents Sea. The Pechenga River discharges into the bay. GU ...

, where she was commissioned as part of the 140th independent squadron, and assigned the designation ''K-79''. On 7 November 1959 he was promoted to captain, 2nd rank. In January 1960 ''K-79'' was assigned to the Northern Fleet and between June and July Spiridonov took her down to the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; ) or Canaries are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, Autonomous Community of Spain. They are located in the northwest of Africa, with the closest point to the cont ...

and then returned to Olenya Bay, carrying out drills and missile exercises. He was commended for his services by the commander of the Northern Fleet, Admiral Andrei Chabanenko, and received a personal weapon from the navy's commander-in-chief.On 21 January 1961 he was appointed Chief of Staff of the 212th squadron of the 8th submarine division of the Northern Fleet. Shortly after his appointment, on 27 January, the ''S-80'' was lost at sea. A State Commission, headed by Marshal

Konstantin Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky ( 1896 – 3 August 1968) was a Soviet and Polish general who served as a top commander in the Red Army during World War II and achieved the ranks of Marshal of the Soviet Union and Marshal of Poland. He a ...

, did not return any final conclusions, but still led to a shakeup of personnel. On 28 June 1961 Spiridonov was appointed Deputy Commander of the 18th Division of the 12th submarine squadron of the Northern Fleet. The division included the latest Project 629 ballistic missile submarines. Spiridonov took control of the training of submarine crews. Between August and December 1961 five new ships were assigned to his unit. Spiridonov personally took each one to sea. On 17 December 1962 he was appointed commander of the 211th brigade of the 4th submarine squadron. The squadron commander assessed Spiridonov as being "A tactically literate, energetic, strong-willed, disciplined, courageous, and decisive commander of the formation. Knows his assigned business well and copes with it successfully. He has extensive practical experience in the submarine service. Repeatedly undertook independent voyages on submarines. Has commanded boats of projects 613, 641, 629. A good sailor, in a difficult situation acts decisively and correctly. Hardworking." Spiridonov was promoted to

captain 1st rank Captain 1st rank () is a rank used by the Russian Navy and a number of List of communist states#Former communist states, former communist states. The rank is the most senior rank in the staff officers' career group. The rank is equivalent to Colone ...

on 21 February 1964, and commended by the Northern Fleet's commander, Admiral

Semyon Lobov Semyon Mikhailovich Lobov (; 15 February 1913 – 12 July 1977) was a Fleet Admiral (Soviet rank) , Fleet Admiral in the Soviet Navy. Lobov was born in Volokolamsky District, Smolnikovo, Volokolamsky District, Moscow Oblast and joined the Soviet ...

, as "An intelligent and promising officer."

Flag rank

Spiridonov took at series of courses at the

Naval Academy A naval academy provides education for prospective naval officers. List of naval academies See also

* Military academy {{Authority control Naval academies, Naval lists ...

from 29 September 1966 to 3 August 1967, being appointed commander of the 35th division of submarines on 31 January 1967. This division included the new Project 651-type submarines, armed with nuclear ballistic missiles. On 21 February he was awarded the

Order of the Red Star The Order of the Red Star () was a military decoration of the Soviet Union. It was established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 6 April 1930 but its statute was only defined in decree of the Presidium of the ...

and on 19 February 1968 was advanced to rear admiral. On 12 October 1970 he was appointed commander and member of the Military Council of the 15th submarine squadron of the

Kamchatka The Kamchatka Peninsula (, ) is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of about . The Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk make up the peninsula's eastern and western coastlines, respectively. Immediately offshore along the Pacific ...

division of the Pacific Fleet. Promoted to vice-admiral on 2 November 1972, Spiridonov achieved good results with training his crews, and the division was recognised as the best unit of the Pacific Fleet. In his assessment of Spiridonov the commander of the Kamchatka division, Vice Admiral V. Sidorov, wrote "In 1973, 100% success in missile firing was achieved, and 97.6% of torpedo firing. A lot of painstaking work to improve the deployment of ships and the life of personnel. Energetic and resolute admiral. Personally sails on submarines and ships of the squadron, teaching the commanders of the formations and ships practically." On 20 October 1973 Spiridonov was appointed commander and member of the Military Council of the 2nd Submarine Flotilla of the Pacific Fleet. On 21 February 1974 he was awarded the

Order of the Red Banner The Order of the Red Banner () was the first Soviet military decoration. The Order was established on 16 September 1918, during the Russian Civil War by decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. It was the highest award of S ...

. He took several courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff, and on 27 September 1974 he was appointed Deputy Commander of the Pacific Fleet. In 1977, during his tenure as deputy commander, he took personal charge of the rescue efforts of the Project 667B -type submarine ''K-477'', which suffered a fire while loading nuclear ballistic missiles at the dockside in Kamchatka. Spiridonov flew from

to Kamchatka and took the submarine to sea. After a full day of fighting the fire, on 8 September an explosion caused the warhead of a damaged nuclear missile to be ejected from the submarine and sink in the sea. With the submarine now out of danger, Spiridonov brought her back to port and then supervised the recovery of the warhead and its disposal. For his actions he was awarded the Medal "For Courage in a Fire". On 21 February 1978, he was awarded the

Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" The Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" (), also known as the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR", was a Soviet Union, Soviet Order (honour), military order awarded in three classes ...

Third Class, and on 31 August 1979 he was appointed Commander of the Pacific Fleet. This was followed with a promotion to admiral on 25 October 1979.In 1980 he was elected a deputy of the

Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR The Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR, later the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation, was the supreme government institution of the Russian SFSR from 1938 to 1990; between 1990 and 1993, it was a permanent legislature (parliament), elected ...

and was a delegate to the

26th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Sixth is the ordinal form of the number six. * The Sixth Amendment, to the U.S. Constitution * A keg of beer, equal to 5 U.S. gallons or barrel * The fraction Music * Sixth interval (music)s: ** major sixth, a musical interval ** minor six ...

Death and legacy

In early 1981 Spiridonov and much of the Pacific Fleet's leadership attended meetings in Leningrad, before planning to return to Vladivostok on 7 February. At 18:00 local time the plane, a

Tupolev Tu-104 The Tupolev Tu-104 (NATO reporting name: Camel) is a medium-range, narrow-body, twin turbojet-powered Soviet airliner. It was the second to enter regular service, after the British de Havilland Comet and was the only jetliner operating in the wo ...

, took off from

Pushkin Airport Pushkin Airport () is an airport in Leningrad Oblast, Russia located 28 km south of Saint Petersburg. It handles small airliners. It was home to 147 OVZ RZB regiment flying Mil Mi-8 The Mil Mi-8 (, NATO reporting name: Hip) is a med ...

, and almost immediately crashed just clear of the runway, killing all aboard. Spiridonov was the highest ranking officer to die, along with 15 other admirals and generals, and 38 lower ranking officers. Also killed along with Spiridonov was his wife Valentina. They were both interred with most of the other victims of the crash in the

in Leningrad, where a memorial to the dead was erected on the orders of the Navy's Commander-in-Chief,

Sergey Gorshkov Sergey Georgyevich Gorshkov (; 26 February 1910 – 13 May 1988) was an admiral of the fleet of the Soviet Union. Twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, he oversaw the expansion of the Soviet Navy into a global force during the Cold ...

. A memorial service is held annually on 7 February at the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral in St Petersburg, and on the twentieth anniversary of the crash the line “Those who died in the line of duty on 7 February 1981” and an Orthodox cross were added to the memorial stele commemorating the Pacific Navy sailors. Over his career Spiridonov was awarded the

, two Orders of the Red Star and the

Third Class. He was honoured after his death with the naming of a street in Vladivostok and the ''Udaloy''-class

''Admiral Spiridonov''. Memorial plaques were placed in the Staff Building of the Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok, and in the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral in St Petersburg.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spiridonov, Emil 1925 births 1981 deaths People from Kostroma Oblast Soviet admirals Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner Recipients of the Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR", 3rd class Burials at Serafimovskoe Cemetery Higher Special Officer Classes of the Navy alumni N. G. Kuznetsov Naval Academy alumni Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union alumni Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1981 Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the Soviet Union Recipients of the Order of the Red Star Soviet submarine commanders