Why the Soviet S-Class Was Stalin’s Favorite Submarine

Topic: HistoryBlog Brand: The BuzzRegion: EurasiaTags: Joseph Stalin, Soviet Navy, Submarines, War History, and World War IIWhy the Soviet S-Class Was Stalin’s Favorite Submarine April 30, 2025By: Brandon J. WeichertShareShare this link on FacebookShare this page on X (Twitter)Share this link on LinkedInEmail a link to this pageWith the remarkable level of bloodshed associated with its career, one can see how S-13 earned the admiration of Joseph Stalin.Officially designated Srednyaya (Russian for “medium”), the S-Class Soviet Red Navy submarines represent a pivotal chapter in the annals of Soviet naval history—embodying a perfect blend of international collaboration, technological adaptation, and wartime valor.

Among these iconic vessels is S-13, unofficially nicknamed Stalinets (“Follower of Stalin”). S-13 was the single most successful Soviet submarine in all the Second World War, achieving the highest tonnage sunk or damaged in the Soviet Navy’s undersea force.The Soviet Union Developed the S-Class Sub with GermanyThe S-Class submarines emerged from a Soviet naval rearmament program in the early 1930s, driven by the need for a modern, ocean-going submarine capable of operating beyond the shallow waters of the Baltic Sea.



Existing Soviet designs, such as the Shchuka-class, were suited for coastal operations, but lacked the range and versatility required for broader strategic roles. The Soviet government, recognizing these limitations, sought international expertise to bridge the gap.Thus, the S-Class was born—with collaboration with German engineers, facilitated through a Dutch subsidiary.

Interestingly, the Dutch firm was part of a larger effort by the Germans to evade the arms limitations and other restrictions imposed upon them following the Treaty of Versailles. The S-Class was based on the German E-1 prototype, initially developed for the Spanish Navy and later sold to Turkey as the Gür in 1935. Soviet engineers, after evaluating that submarine, requested modifications to suit domestic production and operational needs.

The resulting design, approved in 1934 as the Series IX, was adapted to use Soviet-manufactured components by 1936, becoming the Series IX-bis, which included the S-13.The Specs of the S-Class SubmarineS-13 was laid down on October 19, 1938, at the Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard in Gorky (today Nizhny Novgorod) and was launched April 25, 1939. It was commissioned into the Soviet Navy’s Baltic Fleet on July 31, 1941—on an accelerated schedule, due to Nazi Germany’s massive invasion of the Soviet Union the previous month.

S-Class submarines were fast and maneuverable, capable of traveling at 18.85 knots (21 miles per hour) on the surface and 8.8 knots (10 mph) when submerged.

Powered by two diesel engines (4,000 shaft-horsepower) and two electric motors (1,100 shaft horsepower), the S-13 had a range of 9,500 nautical miles (or, 10,932 miles), making it perfect for extended combat patrols.Its armament included six 533mm torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern), a 100mm deck gun, a 45mm anti-aircraft gun, and provisions for minelaying, rendering it a highly versatile platform both for engaging merchant as well rival naval targets. S-13’s Story of Heroism—and InfamyS-13 hit the high seas just weeks after Nazi Germany’s betrayal of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, invading the unsuspecting (and unprepared) Soviet Union and making massive territorial gains in the opening weeks of the war.

S-13 entered service under the command of Soviet Navy Captain Pyotr Malanchenko in the Baltic Fleet, a theater marked by intense naval warfare and massive minefields. The submarine saw combat both against Germany and Finland, which was allied with Germany in the Continuation War against the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1944.S-13’s early operations demonstrated both its capabilities and the perils of submarine warfare.

Under Malanchenko’s command, in September 1942, the S-13 sank three merchant vessels—two Finnish ships, Hera and Jussi H., and one German ship, Anna W.—totaling 4,042 gross register tons (GRT).

Notably, during the sinking of the Hera, the Soviet crew fired on the ship’s lifeboat but missed—an action that reflected the brutal realities of the war between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.On October 15,1942, the S-13 faced a near-catastrophic incident. Caught on the surface while charging its batteries, it was attacked by Finnish submarine chasers.

During an emergency crash dive, the submarine struck the seabed, severely damaging its rudder and steering gear. Subsequent depth charge attacks exacerbated the damage, but the S-13 managed to limp back to Kronstadt for repairs, showcasing the resilience of its design and crew.Two years later, a new commanding officer, Soviet Navy Captain Alexander Marinesko, led the Stalinet S-13 to its greatest—and most controversial—moment.

On January 30, 1945, at Stolpe Bank off the Polish coast, the S-13 targeted the German liner Wilhelm Gustloff. The German liner was a converted cruise ship evacuating civilians, wounded soldiers, and military personnel from East Prussia. It was overloaded with 10,000 people.

Marinesko’s three torpedoes struck the ship, sinking it in under an hour and resulting in around 9,400 deaths—the deadliest single-ship sinking in maritime history. Ten days later, the S-13 sank another German transport, the Steuben, killing around 4,500 people, most civilians and wounded personnel. These actions alone accounted for roughly 14,000 deaths, making the S-13 responsible for an unparalleled human toll.

With that level of bloodshed, one can see how S-13 earned the admiration of Joseph Stalin, and its Stalinet nickname became strangely appropriate. Its most notable commanding officer, Captain Marinesko, was no stranger to controversy; he was known for drunk and disorderly conduct, leading to tensions with Soviet naval authorities.Marinesko was ultimately denied the Hero of the Soviet Union title during his lifetime because of these failings.

Embittered, he left the Soviet Navy in 1946, but was posthumously honored for his service in 1990.The S-13 was decommissioned on September 7, 1954, and was stricken from the naval register on December 17, 1956. Remembering the S-Class Submarine Russia’s S-Class submarine reflects the broader evolution of Soviet naval doctrine.

Initially conceived as a defensive force, the Soviet Navy leveraged submarines like the S-13 to disrupt Axis supply lines and assert control over contested waters. The S-Class’s German-inspired design pitted Soviet submarines against their Kriegsmarine counterparts—including the Type VII and Type IX U-Boats, which were derived from the same E-1 prototype that the S-class was based on. About the Author: Brandon J.

WeichertBrandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others.

His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.The post Why the Soviet S-Class Was Stalin’s Favorite Submarine appeared first on The National Interest..