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Our 15 Photos Show What’s Inside This Abandoned Soviet Submarine That We Found In European Waters
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Our 15 Photos Show What’s Inside This Abandoned Soviet Submarine That We Found In European Waters

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Having explored abandoned places for quite some time, sometimes it seems that we have seen everything. But this time, it was not the case. We knew it would be special, but we couldn’t imagine that it would be THAT special. During this exploration, under the heavy rain, wind, and cold… there was only one thing that made us feel warmer—the inner voice with “we all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine…”

This particular submarine began its career in 1965. It served in the Northern Fleets, Baltic waters, and the Mediterranean, based in Egypt for some years.

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A passage between compartments

Submarines of project 641, or Foxtrot, according to the classification of NATO in Soviet times, were recognized as very successful. They were designed for long-distance travel and patrolling the ocean, equipped with new torpedo tubes. The first submarine of the Foxtrot class became part of the Soviet fleet in 1958.

There were 75 submarines built in total, with 17 of them serving in the navy of Poland, Cuba, India, and Libya. The project had already become morally and technically outdated by the time the last submarine was completed in 1983. With the advent of nuclear submarines with no range limitations, Project 641 moved into the category of simply short-range boats.

78 people could squeeze in, work, and live there for several months. Don’t ask me how! Living conditions on board would be rather difficult, there was not enough space for every person, and the captain was the only one who had a cabin.

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The torpedo compartment

Entering the submarine aft, we got down into an empty compartment with four torpedo tubes. Passing through a narrow way along with the multiple sets of arrows and buttons, we got to the compartment with a diesel engine, a radio receiver where encrypted messages could once be sent and received, a central information point, RADAR and SONAR sets, as well as an attack periscope that was used to search and triangulate probable targets.

The torpedo tubes

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Tight door between compartments

Central information point

Command periscope

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Command seat

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Electric generator/motor controls

Motor control

Chief mechanic’s workplace

The bow compartment

Climbing and crawling, in the end, we could finally reach the bow compartment. Here, six more torpedo tubes greeted us along with a huge dummy torpedo. This submarine was capable of carrying a total of 22 torpedoes, ten of which were in the tubes, and another twelve were waiting for their placement into the tubes. The crew could sleep here next to the torpedoes, but when the submarine was fully armed, this room became as cramped as everywhere else in the submarine. Now the torpedo-free bow room easily became the largest submarine compartment.

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A huge dummy torpedo

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Spare torpedo with torpedo tubes

Unfortunately, at the time that we visited the submarine, part of the hull was already cut off, there were huge holes in it, and the equipment was partly removed or damaged.

After her 30 years of service, she was subsequently cut into scrap metal. Pity… but nothing to do. Anyway, it was one of the most spectacular explorations ever. We really enjoyed it.

Latrine

Ballast tank management compartment

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Chiffa_time_traveller

Chiffa_time_traveller

Author, Community member

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I search the most spectacular abandoned, decayed, derelict, lost and forgotten places around the world. I like to capture what is hidden behind the seals and rusty locks, touch the past, open the curtain of dust trying to turn back time and to create the memories. Please click the "Contact" link to follow my social media links, and/or contact me by email.

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Chiffa_time_traveller

Chiffa_time_traveller

Author, Community member

I search the most spectacular abandoned, decayed, derelict, lost and forgotten places around the world. I like to capture what is hidden behind the seals and rusty locks, touch the past, open the curtain of dust trying to turn back time and to create the memories. Please click the "Contact" link to follow my social media links, and/or contact me by email.

Jonas Grinevičius

Jonas Grinevičius

Author, BoredPanda staff

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Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

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Jonas Grinevičius

Jonas Grinevičius

Author, BoredPanda staff

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

Diana Lopetaitė

Diana Lopetaitė

Moderator, BoredPanda staff

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Hey there, Pandas! My name is Diana (though some prefer to refer to me as Diane, Deanna, and even Liana sometimes), and I am a Community Post Moderator Lead for Bored Panda. As my position title states, I am one of the people (employed Pandas for bamboo) over here who work with the community side of things on this website to ensure all is well, and while at that, I also help various creators and artists get recognition for the incredible work they do by connecting them to a large worldwide audience. Other than that, outside of work, you can find me brewing a nice cup of coffee, making a pizza from scratch, or baking brownies. I also love traveling, concerts, and cats (heavy on that, because I am a cat mom).

Read less »

Diana Lopetaitė

Diana Lopetaitė

Moderator, BoredPanda staff

Hey there, Pandas! My name is Diana (though some prefer to refer to me as Diane, Deanna, and even Liana sometimes), and I am a Community Post Moderator Lead for Bored Panda. As my position title states, I am one of the people (employed Pandas for bamboo) over here who work with the community side of things on this website to ensure all is well, and while at that, I also help various creators and artists get recognition for the incredible work they do by connecting them to a large worldwide audience. Other than that, outside of work, you can find me brewing a nice cup of coffee, making a pizza from scratch, or baking brownies. I also love traveling, concerts, and cats (heavy on that, because I am a cat mom).

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David Retsler
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@This is Fine- this is how you say "thank you" to someone who posted something you enjoyed. Learn it.

Load More Replies...
Johnny
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope that guy in the picture didn't open that torpedo tube and that it was already open. In an abandoned submarine that seems like a good way to kill yourself and sink the sub.

Éamon Poplin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really enjoyed the pics! But please, it's the Army that uses a latrine. The toilet in the navel services, whether on land or at sea, is called the head. 😃

El Dee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen a WW2 German sub, the one at Laboe. It too was cramped with internal walls lined with bunks. Living and working must've been absolute hell on these boats..

jokerscrowbar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seen plenty of urbex but this is the first subex. Thanks, excellent pics.

Ron Atola
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WOW - so complex. It's amazing catastrophic breaks didn't happen in those things all the time. How can any one person know how everything worked? I guess each had their specialties. Even in the toilet there are a thousand things going on.

Dan Pieniak
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spent time on an old US Navy World War 2 submarine in the later 1960s. It is called "qualifying".... You learn all the systems on the boat, for the time when something might happen and you have to take action to save everyone.

Load More Replies...
Stannous Flouride
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A far cry from the way modern submarines are usually portrayed in movies. Not a single bit of extra space anywhere.

John L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And just think, at one time, way back, we were all worried about the threat of Soviets. Obviously humans were last on the order of conveniences.

Marcus Harmon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Americans would love to get their hands on this Russian submarine. It would be an intelligence bonanza, something that would revolutionize their submarine development.

David Retsler
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@This is Fine- this is how you say "thank you" to someone who posted something you enjoyed. Learn it.

Load More Replies...
Johnny
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope that guy in the picture didn't open that torpedo tube and that it was already open. In an abandoned submarine that seems like a good way to kill yourself and sink the sub.

Éamon Poplin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really enjoyed the pics! But please, it's the Army that uses a latrine. The toilet in the navel services, whether on land or at sea, is called the head. 😃

El Dee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen a WW2 German sub, the one at Laboe. It too was cramped with internal walls lined with bunks. Living and working must've been absolute hell on these boats..

jokerscrowbar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seen plenty of urbex but this is the first subex. Thanks, excellent pics.

Ron Atola
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WOW - so complex. It's amazing catastrophic breaks didn't happen in those things all the time. How can any one person know how everything worked? I guess each had their specialties. Even in the toilet there are a thousand things going on.

Dan Pieniak
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spent time on an old US Navy World War 2 submarine in the later 1960s. It is called "qualifying".... You learn all the systems on the boat, for the time when something might happen and you have to take action to save everyone.

Load More Replies...
Stannous Flouride
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A far cry from the way modern submarines are usually portrayed in movies. Not a single bit of extra space anywhere.

John L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And just think, at one time, way back, we were all worried about the threat of Soviets. Obviously humans were last on the order of conveniences.

Marcus Harmon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Americans would love to get their hands on this Russian submarine. It would be an intelligence bonanza, something that would revolutionize their submarine development.

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