Description
Order of the Red Star #7880
Awarded to torpedo operator Ivan Afanasyevich Kalinov (Иван Афанасьевич Калинов)
For successes as a torpedo operator on the Shch-311 (Щ-311) submarine during the Soviet-Finnish War
Made of silver and enamels. The order measures 49.70 mm in width, 48.21 mm in height and weighs 29.7 grams without its screwplate. The serial number is located at the 6 o’clock position and the mint mark on the 12 o’clock position of its reverse. This early variation has a round base ‘heel’ of the screw.
In nice overall condition but the enamels have been repaired. This has been done professionally and is only visible to the trained eye under the microscope. Otherwise the order shows light wear only with few dings and scratches. Its screwpost is full length and the order comes with its time period silver screwplate.
An early variation with great eye appeal and interesting research. Rare as such
Translation of the research:
Kalinov Ivan Afanasyevich took the military oath on February 23, 1938 with the 2nd Submarine Brigade of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, serving on submarine Shch-311 as a torpedo operator.
Shch-311 was a Soviet WWII diesel-electric torpedo submarine of the Shchuka project, series V-bis-2.
During the Soviet-Finnish War, it completed a combat patrol (12/24/1939–01/10/1940), firing 334 rounds of 45-mm ammunition, launching two torpedo attacks (two torpedoes fired), sinking two transports and damaging one more.
Commander Fyodor Grigorievich Vershinin received the title Hero of the Soviet Union on February 7, 1940, and Shch-311 was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
In the Great Patriotic War, the submarine completed three combat patrols:
06/23/1941–07/15/1941
09/27/1941–10/18/1941
11/09/1941–11/21/1941
It carried out four torpedo attacks (five torpedoes fired) and one artillery engagement (20 shells fired), damaging one vessel.
From March 1942, Kalinov was treated in an evacuation hospital in Molotov Oblast and was discharged due to illness on August 15, 1942. He received the Order of the Red Star and the medal For Victory over Germany.
The translation of the register card can be read here
More information on Kalinov can be found here
The gallery includes scanned newspaper articles about the submarine and Kalinov, along with several photos of Shch-311. We also found photos of him online, including one showing his Red Star before the enamel was restored.
Please contact us with questions
