By Aleksandr STEPANOV.

[From Tseikhgauz No. 14, 2/2002. Pages 38-46.]

                After the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 lower ranks of the Guards Équipage [naval crew] had the black silk ribbons, or tallies, on their peakless caps [bezkozyrki] replaced with black-orange St.-George colors. On 26 December 1887 an analogous distinction in memory of the defense of Sevastopol in 1854-55 was granted to all équipages of the Black-Sea Fleet and Caspian Flotilla. This tradition was revived in the years of the Great Patriotic War when ships, units, and formations of the Soviet navy [Voenno-Morskoi Flot, henceforth VMF] began to be given the title of “guards.”

                The first guards formations were the 1st Torpedo Aviation Regiment and 5th and 13th Fighter Aviation Regiments of the Red-Banner Baltic Fleet, and the 72nd Composite Aviation Regiment of the Northern Fleet, which received the title on 18 January 1942 by USSR VMF People’s Commissar Order No. 10.[1]

                VMF People’s Commissar Order No. 142 of 19 June 1942 established a guards navy flag for ships whose crews achieved guards status. By the same order, all personnel of guards ships received a special chest badge [2] and all lower ranks of the ships were given guards tallies [gvardeiskie lenty] for their peakless caps. It must be mentioned that in accordance with VMF People’s Commissar Directive No. 2167 of 3 December 1940 only Red-Fleet sailors [krasnoflottsy] and senior sailors [starshie krasnoflottsy] wore peakless caps.

                Guards tallies were a silk moiré ribbon of golden-orange color overlaid with three black stripes running along it. The width of the ribbon was 32.5mm and the length 1420mm. The width of the black stripes was 6mm, the width of the orange between them—6.25mm, and the width of the piping on the edges—1mm. The appropriate inscription was imprinted in gold on the part of the ribbon that is in front of the peakless cap, and on the free ends—anchors. Inscriptions on tallies were defined in VMF People’s Commissar Order No. 254 of 13 July 1939.

                Since VMF People’s Commissar Order No. 0071 of 15 April 1941 established army uniforms for personnel of the navy’s coastal defense forces and air arm, privates of guards units in these organizations only began to wear guards tallies in the second half of 1943 after VMF People’s Commissar No. 0096 was issued on 27 March and navy uniforms began to be worn. On 23 March 1944 VMF People’s Commissar Order No. 138 established the tally inscription “MORSKAYA PEKHOTA” [“Naval Infantry”].

                In the postwar period most guards units and formations were disbanded. Some guard units of the army and air force were incorporated into the navy.

                On 15 February 1946 The Red-Banner Baltic Fleet was divided into two independent organizations—the 4th and 8th Fleets, provisionally titled “South Baltic” and “North Baltic” (such a structure was kept until 24 December 1953), and on 25 February 1946 the Voenno-Morskoi Flot was renamed Voenno-morskie Sily [“naval forces”—henceforth VMS].

                On 21 May 1946 VMF People’s Commissar Order No. 161 established new inscriptions for tallies:

                —for submarines [podvodnye lodki]: “Submarines” and then the abbreviation of the fleet, for example PODVODNYE LODKI SBF, PODVODNYE LODKI TOF, and so on. [SBF=Severo-Baltiiskii Flot=North Baltic Fleet; TOF=Tikhookeanskii Flot=Pacific Ocean Fleet.]

                —for minesweepers [tral’shchiki]: “Minesweepers” and the abbreviation of the fleet, for example TRAL’SHCHIKI YuBF, TRAL’SHCHIKI ChF, and so on. [YuBF=Yuzhno-Baltiiskii Flot=South Baltic Fleet; ChF=Chernomorskii Flot=Black-Sea Fleet.]

                —for formations and units of VMS aviation: “Naval aviation” [“Morskaya aviatsiya”], for example MORSKAYA AVIATSIYA SF, MORSKAYA AVIATSIYA TOF and so on. [SF=Severnyi Flot=Northern Fleet.] For aviation units that were not part of a fleet of flotilla the inscription was to be AVIATSIYA VMS.

                —for flotillas: the name of the flotilla, for example AMURSKAYA FLOTILIYA, DUNAISKAYA FLOTILIYA, DNEPROVSKAYA FLOTILIYA. [Amurskaya=Amur, Dunaiskaya=Danube, Dneprovskaya=Dnieper.]

                —for units under central control and not part of any fleet or flotilla: VOENNO-MORSKIE SILY.

                On 27 June 1947, by VMS Commander-in-Chief’s Order No. 124 all formations, units, and ships (except those displacing 500 tons or more, which kept their named inscriptions) that were part of a fleet or flotilla were to have tallies with the name of the fleet (flotilla). For example: SEVERNYI FLOT, BALTIISKII FLOT, CHERNOMORSKII FLOT, TIKHOOKEANSKII FLOT, AMURSKAYA FLOTILIYA, DUNAISKAYA FLOTILIYA, DNEPROVSKAYA FLOTILIYA.

                On 1 February 1949, by VMS Commander-in-Chief’s Order No. 054 all guards ships, formations, and units that were part of a fleet were to have the inscription “Guards” [“Gvardiya”] and the name of the fleet, for example GVARDIYA SEVERNOGO FLOTA, GVARDIYA BALT. FLOTA, GVARDIYA CHERNOMORSKOGO FLOTA, GVARDIYA TIKHOOKEANSKOGO FLOTA. For all guards ships, formations, and units that were part of the Danube or Dnieper flotillas the inscription was to be GVARDIYA VOENNOI FLOTILII [“Military Flotilla Guards”], and for those that were part of the Amur Flotilla—GVARDIYA AMURSK. FLOTILII.

                On 12 September 1952 Order No. 170 of the USSR Minister of the Navy put into effect regulations for the wearing of navy uniforms, and in accordance with these the wearing of peakless caps was prescribed for all warrant officers [starshiny], sergeants [serzhanty], and draftee sailors [matrosy srochnoi sluzhby].

                On 10 March 1955 the Voenno-Morskie Sily once again became the Voenno-Morskoi Flot.

                On 1 August 1955, by VMF Commander-in-Chief’s Order No. 0203 all ships, formations, and units that were part of fleets were to have tallies with the name of the fleet: SEVERNYI FLOT, BALTIISKII FLOT, CHERNOMORSKII FLOT, TIKHOOKEANSKII FLOT. All ships, formations, and units that were part of flotillas, except the White-Sea Flotilla and flotillas that were part of fleets, were to have the flotilla name: AMURSKAYA FLOTILIYA,[3] DUNAISKAYA FLOTILIYA.[4] For units not part of any fleet or flotilla, the tally inscription was to be VOENNO-MORSKOI FLOT.

                On 21 September 1957, by VMF Commander-in-Chief’s Order No. 238 the inscription KRASNOZNAMEN.BALT.FLOT was established for ships, formations, and units in the Red-Banner Baltic Fleet.

                In the postwar period the title of guards was given on 14 April 1966 to the atomic submarines K-116[5] and K-133[6] for their joint transoceanic inter-fleet cruise from the Western Litsa Bay (Northern Fleet) to Krasheninnikov Bay (Pacific Fleet) during the period 2 January to 26 March 1996.

                The stories of the guards ships that carried the name Varyag [“Varangian”] are not without interest. A missile cruiser that was entered into the list of ships in August 1961 under the name Soobrazitel’nyi [“of consideration” or “sharp”, “possessing insight”] also inherited the guards title from its predecessor. After it was renamed Varyag it kept its guards status. Thus it happened that there were two ships that were rightful successors to the destroyer [eskadronnyi minonosets] Soobrazitel’nyi. On 20 August 1965 the missile cruiser Varyag entered service, on 23 September 1965 it joined the Pacific Ocean Fleet, and on 14 September 1990 it was decommissioned from the navy.

                On 21 August 1985 the heavy aviation-carrying cruiser Riga was entered into the list of ships, and on 19 June 1990 it inherited the guards title and name Varyag. In 1992 the construction of the heavy cruiser was stopped and it was placed in mothballs. On 21 December 1995 Varyag was dropped from the list of navy ships. On 1 December 1995 the guards title and name Varyag were transferred to the missile cruiser Chervona Ukraina.[7]

                On 28 May 1976, by VMF Commander-in-Chief’s Order No. 0113 ships, units, and establishments that were part of the Twice Red-Banner Baltic Fleet were given the tally inscription BALTIISKII FLOT.

                In 1991 the navy counted 25 guards units and formations, of which 6 were in the Northern Fleet (1 ship formation, 4 ships, 1 aviation unit), 7 in the Baltic Fleet (1 ship, 3 ship units, 3 aviation units), 4 in the Black-Sea Fleet (2 ships, 1 ship unit, 1 aviation unit), 7 in the Pacific Ocean Fleet (1 ship, 2 ship units, 4 aviation units), and 1 under central control (an aviation unit).[8]

List of sources used:

1.  Ammon, G.A. et al. Boevaya letopis’ Voenno-Morskogo Flota, 1941-1942 gg. Moscow, 1992.

2.  Aristov, A.P. et al. Boevaya letopis’ Voenno Morskogo Flota, 1943 g. Moscow, 1993.

3.  Berezhnoi, S.S. Korabli i suda VMF SSSR. Moscow, 1988.

4.  Berezhnoi, S.S. Gvardeiskie korabli VMF. Manuscript.

5. Kalachev, B.T. Komandnyi, nachal’stvuyushchii i politicheskii sostav Voenno-Morskogo Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza v Velikoi Otechestvennoi voine 1941-1945 gg. (Spravochnik). Moscow, 1971

[INSET, Page 46] The author would like to express his gratitude to the following for the help shown him in the preparation of this article: Officer of the Historical Group of the Naval Main Staff Captain 3rd Rank A. Mironov, Colonel of Internal Security V. Popov, Yu. Danilov, and K. Poletika.

[ILLUSTRATIONS]

Page 38: GREMYASHCHII [“thunderer”], SOOBRAZITEL’NYI, PODVODNYE SILY Ch.F. [“submarine force of the Black-Sea Fleet”], BRIGADA TORP. KATEROV KBF [“Torpedo boat brigade of the Red-Banner Baltic Fleet”] (a deviation from regulations, as it should read TORPEDNYE KATERA KBF), OKHRANA VODNOGO RAIONA S.F. [“Defense of the Maritime Region of the Northern Fleet”], VOENNO-MORSKIE SILY. Scale 62%.

Page 39: In memory of Mikhail Vasil’ev.

GVARDIYA BALT. FLOTA, GVARDIYA TIKHOOKEAN. FLOTA (a deviation from regulations, as the word TIKHOOKEANSKII should be written in full), KRASNOZNAMEN. BALT. FLOT, VOENNO-MORSKOI FLOT, BALTIISKII FLOT, SEVERNYI FLOT, CHERNOMORSKII FLOT, TIKHOOKEANSKII FLOT, KASPIISKAYA FLOTILIYA.

Page 45: 1. Guards Senior Red-Fleet Sailor N.S. Polozkov of the 2nd Guards Patrol Boat Division of the Northern Fleet, February 1943. (Collection of K. Poletika.)

2. Crew of the guards patrol boat Metel’ [“Snowstorm”] of the Pacific Ocean Fleet. In the center is ship commander and Hero of the Soviet Union Guards Captain-Lieutenant L.N. Balyakin, May 1946. (Collection of Yu. Danilov.)

3. Red-Fleet sailor with a guards tally that reads “CHERNOMORSKII FLOT,” 1942. Such tallies were not addressed by any order, but we may suppose that this man served on a guards ships and was then transferred to one of the units directly under the headquarters of the Black-Sea Fleet. This is tangentially confirmed by the absence of a guards badge on the right side of the chest. (From a private collection.)

4. Guards Red-Fleet sailor of the guards cruiser Krasnyi Kavkaz [“Red Caucasus”] of the Black-Sea Fleet, 1942. (From a private collection.)

5. Guards Red-Fleet sailor of the guards cruiser Krasnyi Krym [“Red Crimea”] of the Black-Sea Fleet, 1943. (From a private collection.)

[TABLES, Pages 40-44]

VMF SHIPS, FORMATIONS, AND UNITS WHOSE LOWER RANK PERSONNEL HAD THE RIGHT TO WEAR GUARDS TALLIES DURING THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR

(Tally inscription; ship, formation, or unit; order of the VMF People’s Commissar conferring guards status.)

NORTHERN FLEET

GREMYASHCHII. Guards destroyer Gremyashchii [“Thunderer”], 1.03.43, No. 80. Notes: On 27 December 1956 the guards destroyer Gremyashchii became a test vessel [opytnoe sudno] and renamed OS-5; decommissioned from the navy on 1 March 1958. On 17 December 1957 a missile cruiser was entered into the list of ships and inherited the guards status and name Gremyashchii; on 30 June 1960 it entered service, on 19 December 1960 it joined the Northern Fleet, on 19 May 1966 it was transferred to the class of large missile ships, on 20 January 1969 it became a large anti-ship vessel, on 17 July 1987 it was removed from the fleet’s combat force and transferred to the status of test vessel, on 25 August 1988 it was named OS-315, and on 2 October 1991 it was decommissioned. On 30 October 1984 the destroyer Vedushchii [“Leader”] was entered into the list of ships, and on 18 August 1988 it was given guards status and the name Gremyashchii; it entered service on 30 December 1988 and on 1 May 1989 joined the Northern Fleet.

PODVODNYE SILY SF. Guards Red-Banner submarines: D-3, Schch-402, M-172, S-56; Guards submarines: M-171, M-174, K-22, Shch-422; 3.04.42 No. 072, 25.07.43 No. 263, 25.07.43 No. 263, 23.02.45 No. 86, 3.04.42 No. 072, 3.04.42 No. 072, 3.04.42 No. 072, and 25.07.43 No. 263, respectively. Notes: Guards Red-Banner submarine D-3 (named Krasnogvardeets [“Red Guardsman”]) was destroyed in June 1942. Guards Red-Banner submarine Shch-402 was lost on 21 September 1944 (mistakenly torpedoed by planes from the 36th Torpedo Aviation Regiment of the Northern Fleet’s air arm). Guards Red-Banner submarine M-172 was lost on 2 October 1943. Guards Red-Banner submarine S-56 returned to the Pacific Ocean Fleet after the war; 13 June 1955 refitted as mobile munitions station [podvizhnaya zaryadnaya stantsiya] PZS-55; 15 September 1964 refitted as training station [uchebno-trenirovannaya stantsiya] UTS-14; 9 May 1975 mounted on a pedestal in Vladivostok as a museum ship; 11 September 1975 decommissioned from the navy. On 25 January 1963 the atomic submarine K-56 was entered into the list of ships and inherited the guards title of the former S-56; entered service 26 August 1966; jointed the Pacific Ocean Fleet 9 September 1966; renamed B-56 24 April 1992; decommissioned from the navy 3 July 1992. On 31 January 1991 the atomic submarine K-152 was entered into the list of ships; 13 April 1993 named Nepra; 4 December 1997 inherited the guards status and name of K-56; currently under construction. Guards submarine M-171 became a training submarine on 28 November 1950, and on 30 June 1960 it was decommissioned from the navy. Guards submarine M-174 was lost on 24 October 1943. Guards submarine K-22 was lost in February 1943. On 25 January 1963 atomic submarine K-22 was entered into the list of ships and inherited the guards status of the former submarine K-22; 7 August 1965 entered service; 6 September 1965 joined the Northern Fleet; 23 October 1967 given the name Krasnogvardeets; 7 July 1994 renamed B-22; 15 July 1994 decommissioned from the navy. On 22 February 1993 the atomic submarine K-335 was entered into the list of ships, receiving the guards status of the Gepard, but on 4 December 1997 inheriting the guards name of the former atomic submarine K-22. Guards submarine Shch-422 was lost on 14 July 1943.

                OKHRANA VODNOGO RAIONA SF. 2nd Guards Pechenga Red-Banner Division of Young Volunteers for Submarines [2-i gv. Pechengskii Krasnoznam. divizion malykh okhotnikov za podvodnymi lodkami] (formerly 1st Patrol Boat Division); 1.04.44 No. 154. Note: after the war the 2nd Division of Young Volunteers was reformed as the 77th Guards Brigade of Anti-Submarine Ships, and later as the 270th Guards Division of Anti-Submarine Ships; currently an active unit of the navy.

                VOZDUSHNYE SILY SF [“Northern Fleet Air Forces”]. 2nd Guards Pechenga Red-Banner B.F. Safonov Fighter Aviation Regiment (formerly the 72nd Composite Aviation Regiment), and 9th Guards Torpedo Aviation Kirkenes Red-Banner Regiment (formerly the 24th Torpedo Aviation Regiment); 18.01.42 No. 10 and 31.05.43 No. 190, respectively.

RED-BANNER BALTIC FLEET

                STOIKII, VITSE-ADMIRAL DROZD. Guards destroyer Stoikii [“Steadfast”], renamed 13.02.1943 as Vitse-admiral Drozd; 3.04.42 No. 72. Note: On 6 January 1961 Vitse-admiral Drozd was removed from the combat forces of the navy. The guards status and name of Vitse-admiral Drozd was transferred to a Northern Fleet BPK-class anti-ship vessel (details of this vessel have not yet been found).

                MARTI. Guards minelayer Marti (Shtandart until 28 August 1934), called 18 marta in some documents of the early 1930s; 3.04.42 No. 72. Note: The guards minelayer Marti was renamed Oka on 29 December 1952; 18 June 1960 reclassified as a floating barracks; 12 February 1963 decommissioned from the navy.

                PODVODNYE SILY KBF [“Submarine Forces of the Red-Banner Baltic Fleet”]. Guards submarines: L-3, Shch-303, and Shch-309; all 1.03.43 No. 80. Note: Guards submarine L-3 was transferred to training submarine status on 17 August 1953; decommissioned from the navy 15 February 1971. Guards submarine Shch-303 was renamed S-303 on 9 June 1949; decommissioned from the navy on 11 September 1954. On 3 March 1949 guards submarine Shch-309 was decommissioned from the navy.

                TORPEDNYE KATERA KBF. 1st Guards Torpedo Boat Division (part of the 1st Red-Banner Order of Nakhimov Torpedo Boat Brigade); 22.02.44 No. 75. Note: After the war the 1st Guards Torpedo Boat Division was reformed as the 1st Guards Missile Boat Division and then the 6610th Guards Weapons and Materiel Storage Base [6610-ya gv. baza khraneniya vooruzheniya i tekhniki].

                OTRYAD TRALENIYA KBF [“Red-Banner Baltic Fleet Minesweeping Force”]. 1st Guards Red-Banner Minesweeper Division (formerly the 2nd Minesweeping Division, part of the 1st Red-Banner Minesweeping Brigade), and guards minesweeper T-205 (Gafel’ until 27 May 1939; part of the 1st Red-Banner Base Minesweepers Division of the 1st Red-Banner Minesweeping Brigade); 20.07.44 No. 343 and 3.04.42 No. 72, respectively. Notes: After the war the 1st Guards Minesweeper Division was reformed as the 40th Guards Minesweeper Division, which was disbanded on 31 December 1992. Guards minesweeper T-205 was withdrawn from the combat forces of the navy on 1 September 1955 and became a self-propelled barge; on 9 February 1956 it was dropped from the navy lists. On 31 May 1962 base minesweeper T-205 was entered into the list of ships; on 27 March 1963 it inherited the guards title and name Gafel’; entered service 28 December 1964; joined the Red-Banner Baltic Fleet 22 January 1965; decommissioned from the navy 3 June 1992.

                OKHRANA VODNOGO RAIONA KBF. 1st Guards Patrol Boat Division (formerly the 1st Patrol Boat Division); 22.02.44 No. 75. Note: After the war the 1st Patrol Boat Division was reformed as the 14th Separate Guards Anti-Ship Division [14-i otd. gv. divizion protivolodochnykh korablei], which was disbanded in 1992.

                VOZDUSHNYE SILY KBF. 1st Guards Vyborg Red-Banner Fighter Aviation Division (formerly the 3rd Fighter Aviation Division) (12.07.43 No. 264), consisting of: 3rd Guards Red-Banner Fighter Aviation Regiment (formerly the 5th Fighter Aviation Regiment), 18.01.42 No. 10; 4th Guards Order of Ushakov Fighter Aviation Regiment (formerly the 13th Fighter Aviation Regiment), 18.01.42 No. 10; 10th Guards Red-Banner Fighter Aviation Regiment (formerly the 71st Fighter Aviation Regiment), 31.05.43 No. 190; 11th Guards Red-Banner Fighter Aviation Regiment (formerly the 11th Fighter Aviation Regiment), 31.05.43 No. 190. 1st Guards Klaipeda Red-Banner Torpedo Aviation Regiment (formerly the 1st Torpedo Aviation Regiment, part of the 8th Torpedo Aviation Division); 18.01.42 No. 10. 12th Guards Tallin Red-Banner Order of Ushakov Dive-Bomber Aviation (formerly the 73rd Bomber Aviation Regiment, part of the 8th Torpedo Aviation Division); 22.01.44 No. 28. 14th Guards Klaiped Twice Red-Banner Order of Ushakov Fighter Aviation Regiment (formerly the 13th Fighter Aviation Regiment, part of the 8th Torpedo Aviation Division); 29.04.44 No. 343. 7th Guards Tallin Red-Banner Order of Ushakov Dive-Bomber Assault Aviation Regiment (formerly 57th Assault Aviation Regiment, part of the 9th Assault Aviation Division); 1.03.43. No. 79.

                BEREGOVAYA OBORONA KBF [“Coastal Defense Region of the Red-Banner Baltic Fleet”]. 1st Guards Krasnoe-Selo Red-Banner Naval Railway Artillery Brigade (formerly the 101st Naval Railway Artillery Brigade); 22.01.44 No. 29. 2nd Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (formerly the 6th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment); 16.06.42 No. 138. 1st Separate Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (formerly the 2nd Separate Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion); 22.01.44 No. 28. 11th Separate Guards Railway Battery (formerly the 11th Separate Railway Battery); order and date unknown.

BLACK-SEA FLEET

                KRASNYI KAVKAZ. Guards cruiser Krasnyi Kavkaz; 3.04.42 No. 72. Note: On 12 May 1947 the guards cruiser Krasnyi Kavkaz became a training cruiser and in 1949 a test vessel; in 1952 it became a target ship, and on 3 January 1953 it was dropped from the rolls of the navy. On 25 November 1964 there was entered into the list of ships a patrol boat which inherited the guards status and name of Krasnyi Kavkaz; reclassified as a large anti-ship vessel 19 May 1966; entered service 25 September 1967; joined the Black-Sea Fleet 13 October 1967; again became a patrol boat 1 June 1996; decommissioned from the navy 16 March 1998. On 20 May 1973 the missile cruiser Slava was entered into the list of ships; entered service 30 December 1982; joined the Black-Sea Fleet 7 February 1983; renamed Moskva 15 May 1995; inherited the guards status and name of the patrol boat Krasnyi Kavkaz 4 December 1997.

                KRASNYI KRYM. Guards cruiser Krasnyi Krym; 18.06.42 No. 137. Note: On 31 May 1949 the guards cruiser Krasnyi Krym was transferred to the status of a training cruiser; removed from the combat forces 8 August 1954 with weapons removed and reclassification as a floating barracks; decommissioned from the navy 7 July 1959.

                SOOBRAZITEL’NYI. Guards destroyer Soobrazitel’nyi (until 25 September 1940 Prozorlivyi); 1.03.43 No. 80. Note: On 30 March 1956 the guards destroyer Soobrazitel’nyi was removed from the fleet’s combat force and refitted as the rescue-degasification [spasatel’no-degazatsionnyi] ship SDK-11; became rescue vessel SS-16 on 12 January 1957; became target ship TsL-3 on 31 December 1963; removed from the lists of the VMF on 19 March 1966. On 8 May 1961 there was entered into the list of ships a missile cruiser to which was transferred the guards status and name of Soobrazitel’nyi; renamed Varyag on 31 January 1962. On 25 September 1961 the patrol boat SKR-44 was entered into the list of ships; on 21 March 1963 this ship was reclassified as a large anti-ship vessel and inherited the guards status and name of Soobrazitel’nyi; entered service 26 December 1963; joined the Black-Sea Fleet 23 November 1964; joined the Northern Fleet 19 August 1982; decommissioned from the navy 29 October 1992.

                PODVODNYE SILY ChF. Guards submarines S-33, Shch-205, Shch-215, M-35, and M-62; 27.07.44 No. 332, 1.03.44 No. 80, 22.07.44 No. 332, 31.05.43 No. 189, and 22.07.44 No. 332, respectively. Notes: On 6 April 1955 guards submarine S-33 was removed from the fleet’s combat force and refitted as mobile auxiliary station PZS-22; became repair and refit station RZS-422 on 11 November 1957; decommissioned from the navy on 12 March 1974; re-commissioned as a fleet repair and refit station 14 March 1975; decommissioned from the navy on 3 January 1978. On 16 June 1949 guards submarine Shch-205 was renamed S-205; decommissioned from the navy 11 September 1954. On 16 June 1949 guards submarine Shch-215 was renamed S-215; on 13 March 1953 removed from the combat force and transferred to the status of test submarine; decommissioned from the navy 29 December 1955. On 15 September 1953 guards submarine M-35 was removed from the fleet’s combat force and refitted as mobile munitions station PZS-16; decommissioned from the navy 20 June 1955. On 17 August 1953 guards submarine M-62 was decommissioned from the navy.

                OTRYAD TRALENIYA ChF. Guards minesweeper T-411 (until 27 May 1939 named Zashchitnik [“Defender”], part of 1st Order of Ushakov Minesweeping Brigade); 1.03.43 No. 80. Note Guards minesweeper T-411 was lost on 15 June 1943.

                OKHRANA VODNOGO RAIONA ChF. Guards patrol boat SKA-065, named MO-65 from 7 May 1944; 25.07.43 No. 263. Note: On 21 September 1945 guards patrol boat MO-65 was transferred to the marine force of the NKVD’s border guards and renamed border cutter [pogranichnyi kater] PK-65; on 19 September 1957 transferred to the status of border patrol boat [pogranichnyi storozhevoi korabl’] as PSK-31; decommissioned from the marine force of the KGB’s border guards on 11 November 1957.

                VOZDUSHNYE SILY ChF. 2nd Guards Sevastopol N.A. Tokarev Torpedo Aviation Division (formerly the 1st Torpedo Aviation Division) (5.05.44 No. 203), consisting of: 5th Guards Constanta Torpedo Regiment (formerly the 2nd Torpedo Aviation Regiment), 3.04.42 No. 73; 11th Guards Nikolaev Twice Red-Banner Fighter Aviation Regiment (formerly the 32nd Fighter Aviation Regiment), 31.05.43 No. 190; 13th Guards Constanta Twice Red-Banner Long-Distance Bomber Aviation Regiment (formerly the 119th Marine Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment), 22.01.44 No. 28. 6th Guards Sevastopol Twice Red-Banner Fighter Aviation Regiment (formerly the 8th Fighter Aviation Regiment, part of the 11th Assault Aviation Division), 3.04.42 No. 73. 8th Guards Feodosiya Twice Red-Banner Assault Aviation Regiment (formerly the 18th Assault Aviation Regiment, part of the 11th Assault Aviation Division, transferred to the Red-Banner Baltic Fleet on 3 April 1944), 1.03.43 No. 79. Note: After the war the 5th Guards Constanta Torpedo Aviation Regiment was reorganized as the 5th Guards Naval Missile-Carrier Regiment and awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class. Joined the Black-Sea Fleet. Disbanded 1994.

                BEREGOVAYA OBORONA ChF. 1st Guards Sevastopol Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (formerly the 61st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment), 18.06.42 No. 138. 1st Guards Novorossiisk Separate Coastal Defense Artillery Battalion (formerly the 1st Separate Artillery Battalion), 18.06.42 No. 138.

PACIFIC OCEAN FLEET.

                METEL’. Guards patrol boat Metel’, 2.08.45 No. 0460. Note: Guards patrol boat Metel’ was transferred to the status of training patrol boat on 5 November 1954; renamed Tugur 30 December 1954; decommissioned from the navy 8 September 1956.

                EK-2 (?) Guards patrol boat EK-2, 22.08.45 No. 0459. Note: Guards patrol boat EK-2 was decommissioned from the navy on 17 February 1952 in connection with its return to the USA.

                OKHOTSK. Guards minelayer Okhotsk, 26.08.45 No. 0460. Note: On 27 September 1945 guards minelayer Okhotsk was de-armed and returned to the status of hydrographic vessel; decommissioned from the navy on 11 February 1968.

                OTRYAD TRALENIYA TOF. Guards minesweepers T-278 and T-281, both 26.08.45 No. 0460. Notes: On 23 October 1947 guards minesweeper T-278 was decommissioned from the navy. On 18 January 1960 guards minesweeper T-281 was decommissioned from the navy.

                TORPEDNYE KATERA TOF. 2nd Guards Torpedo Boat Division, 22. 08.45 No. 0459. 3rd Guards Torpedo Boat Division, 26.08.45 No. 0460. Both these were part of the 1st Red-Banner Torpedo Boat Brigade. Notes: After the war the 2nd Guards Torpedo Boat Division was reorganized as the 2nd Guards Missile Boat Division, now part of the Pacific Ocean Fleet. After the war the 3rd Guards Torpedo Boat Division was reorganized as the 25th Guards Missile Boat Division, now part of the Pacific Ocean Fleet.

                VOZDUSHNYE SILY TOF. 52nd Guards Torpedo Aviation Regiment (formerly the 52nd Torpedo Aviation Regiment, part of the 2nd Torpedo Aviation Division), 26.08.45 No. 0460); 17th Guards Red-Banner Short-Distance Bomber Aviation Regiment (formerly the 34th Bomber Aviation Regiment, part of the 10th Dive-Bomber Aviation Division), 26.08.45 No. 0459; 19th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (formerly the 19th Fighter Aviation Regiment, part of the 10th Dive-Bomber Aviation Division), 26.08.45 No. 0481; 26th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment (formerly the 26th Assault Aviation Regiment, part of the 12th Assault Aviation Division), 26.08.45 No. 0460; 37th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment (formerly the 37th Assault Aviation Division, part of the 12th Assault Aviation Division), 22.08.45 No. 0459; 22nd Guards Fighter Aviation Division (formerly the 6th Fighter Aviation Division, part of the 12th Assault Aviation Regiment), 26.09.45 No. 0524; 61st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (formerly the 61st Fighter Aviation Regiment, part of the 12th Assault Aviation Division), 28.08.45 No. 0481; 50th Guards Separate Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment (formerly 50th Separate Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment), 22.08.45 No. 0459.

                MORSKAYA PEKHOTA TOF. 13th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade (formerly the 13th Naval Infantry Brigade), 22.08.45 No. 0459; 355th Guards Separate Naval Infantry Battalion (formerly the 355th Separate Naval Infantry Battalion), 22.08.45 No. 0459; 365th Guards Separate Naval Infantry Battalion (formerly the 365th Separate Naval Infantry Battalion), No. 26.08.45 No. 0460; 140th Guards Separate Reconnaissance Force of Pacific Ocean Fleet Headquarters (formerly the 140th Separate Reconnaissance Force), 26.08.45 No. 0460.

VOLGA MILITARY FLOTILLA (formed 27 October 1941, disbanded 14 June 1944)

                VOENNO-MORSKOI FLOT. 1st Guards Armored Boat Division [1-i gv. divizion bronekaterov] (formerly the 4th Armored Boat Division, in April 1943 transferred to the Azov Military Flotilla), 1.03.43 No. 80. 2nd Guards Armored Boat Division (formerly the 2nd Armored Boat Division, in September 1943 transferred to the Dnieper Military Flotilla), 1.03.43 No. 80.

DNIEPER RED-BANNER ORDER OF USHAKOV MILITARY FLOTILLA (formed September 1943)

                DNEPROVSKAYA FLOTILIYA. 1st Guards Pinsk Armored Boat Division (formerly the 1st Separate Division, part of the 2nd River Boat Brigade), and the 2nd Guards Bobruisk Red-Banner Armored Boat Division (transferred from the Volga Military Flotilla, part of the 1st River Boat Brigade), both 30.06.45 No. 279.

AZOV MILITARY FLOTILLA (formed 30 March 1943, disbanded 30 April 1944)

                AZOVSKAYA FLOTILIYA. 1st Guards Armored Boat Division (transferred from the Volga Military Flotilla, joined the Danube Military Flotilla in April 1944), [no date or order given].

RED-BANNER ORDERS OF NAKHIMOV AND KUTUZOV DANUBE MILITARY FLOTILLA (second formation, 13 April 1944)

                DUNAISKAYA FLOTILIYA. 1st Guards Belgrad Armored Boat Division (part of the 1st River Boat Brigade, transferred from the Azov Military Flotilla), [no date or order given].

RED-BANNER AMUR MILITARY FLOTILLA

                SUN YAT-SEN. Guards monitor Sun Yat-sen (part of the 1st River Boat Brigade), 30.08.45 No. 0482. Note: On 19 July 1949 the guards vessel Sun Yat-sen was renamed Surchan; on 23 August 1955 it was withdrawn from combat status and placed in mothballs; decommissioned from the navy 13 March 1953.

                SVERDLOV. Guards monitor Sverdlov (part of the 2nd River Boat Brigade), 30.08.45 No. 0482. Note: On 11 June 1953 the guards monitor Sverdlov was withdrawn from combat status and placed in mothballs; decommissioned from the navy 13 March 1958.

                AMURSKAYA KRASNOZN. FLOTILIYA. Guards gunboat Krasnaya zvezda [“Red Star”], guards gunboat Proletarii, 1st Guards Armored Boat Force (part of the 1st River Boat Brigade), 1st Guards Separate Armored Boat Division (part of the 3rd Armored Boat Brigade), all 30.08.45 No. 0482. Notes: Guards gunboat Krasnaya Zvezda was withdrawn from combat status on 23 August 1955; reclassified as a training station on 12 January 1957; decommissioned from the navy 31 August 1961. On 25 May 1949 the guards gunboat Proletarii was decommissioned from the navy.

Units not part of any fleet of flotilla.

                VOENNO-MORSKOI FLOT. 22nd Guards Red-Banner Rocket Launcher Regiment [22-i gv. minometnyi Krasnoznamennyi polk] (formerly the 4th Guards Separate Rocket Launcher Battalion, formed in November 1941 on the basis of the 199th Separate Artillery Battalion), 305th Guards Radom Order of Alexander Nevsky Rocket Launcher Regiment of Sailors (formerly the 14th Guards Separate Rocket Launcher Battalion, formed in November 1941 on the basis of the 200th Separate Artillery Battalion), [no date or order given].