Description
Soviet Medal of Ushakov #6779
Awarded to Senior Sailor on the ТЩ-126 Minesweeper Ivan Maksimovich Maksimov (Иван Максимович Максимов)
On the route in the sea from the port Virtsu to the port Rohuküla on 06 December 1945, the main steam pipe blew up. Despite being showered by hot water and the burns, comrade MAKSIMOV quickly repaired the boiler which allowed to continue the mission
Made of solid silver. Measures 35.94 mm in width, 48.93 mm in height and weighs 29.1 grams without its suspension. Featuring admiral Ushakov surrounded by 84 ‘pearls’. The serial number, “6779”, is located on the reverse of the medal. The minimum known serial number is 9 and the maximum 15704.
This Medal of Ushakov is in an excellent, well above average condition with light overall wear. The medal shows relatively few dings and scratches and the details of higher laying parts are perfectly visible. All parts of the suspension are original and time period including the silver chain, the ribbon and the double layer steel suspension itself. Its connection ring has not been cut.
Scarce piece in excellent condition!
Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms:
“Senior Sailor MAKSIMOV is a veteran of the Patriotic war 1941-1945. All that period, he was in active duty and participated in the combat tours of the ships of 6 minesweeper squadron. He exhibited exceptional courage, bravery, and endurance.
During the navigable season of 1945, comrade MAKSIMOV participated in all the combat operations assigned to the ship, which sailed over 1000 miles with a minesweeping gear and over 4000 miles executing other missions. This was achieved with highly worn engine equipment. There was not a single case of the mechanisms degrading in their functions nor cases of the steam pressure falling below the nominal level. He always willingly replaced his mates on their posts and assisted them in difficult mechanical services. On the route in the sea from the port Virtsu to the port Rohuküla on 06 December 1945, the main steam pipe blew up. The water level in the boiler began falling, as water feeding boxes could not hold the water. This threatened with the risk of getting boilers empty. Despite being showered by hot water and the burns, comrade MAKSIMOV quickly installed a fixture, which prevented the failure and allowed to continue the mission.
For exhibited courage, bravery, and initiative during the mission, comrade AMKSIMOV deserves order “RED STAR”.”
The full translation of the research can be read here
Information on the ТЩ-126 (former tugboat «Ижорец-66», i.e. Izhorets-66):
The Izhorets type steamship was originally built at the Petrozavodsk plant №375 in 1937 as a tugboat but was mobilised to the Baltic Fleet on 12 July 1941 and was set up as minesweeper no. ТЩ-126. It was assigned to detect and minesweeper the floating mines on the Volkhov river. It was sunk by a German anti-tank mine installed on river ice during a mine clearing mission, but was raised on 16 May 1943 and fully restored.
More information on sailor Maksimov can be found here
Also included in the picture gallery are images of a memorial plack for the perished ТЩ-126 and images of the minesweeper Izhorets type 1, 2 and 3
Please contact us with questions
