11.06.2024 (09:00)
Search expedition for L-19 submarine that sunk in Soviet–Japanese War continues in La Perouse Strait
The joint expedition of the Russian Geographical Society and the 'Lyudi Morya' Fund, supported by Fertoing naval engineering company, and the hydrographic service of the Pacific Fleet, went to search for a Soviet L-19 submarine.
Searching for the submarine will take place in the west part of the La Pérouse Strait, from where the last signal came from. The joint expedition operates on board of the large hydrographic boat Aleksei Anashkin equipped with searchable sonar capable of detecting and identifying underwater objects. The ship crew includes specialists from the Hydrographic Service of the Russian Pacific Fleet and the Fertoing naval engineering company. As part of the expedition, experts will inspect three areas where the submarine may well be located.
The Fertoing team has been working on detecting the L-19 submarine for several years. In 2023, search work in the La Pérouse Strait was carried out on board a multi-purpose ship Lamantin equipped with a remote-controlled uninhabited underwater vehicle. In December 2023, Fertoing Company inspected one USS Wahoo that sunk in 1943.
For Reference:
The L-19 is the last submarine sunk during the Second World War. On 19 August 1945, one and a half weeks after the outbreak of war with Japan, it sailed off with a reconnaissance mission. During the combat mission, the submarine sunk two Japanese vehicles. The last combat task for L-19 was order to cross the La Pérouse Strait into the Aniva Bay where it was necessary to conduct reconnaissance of the Japanese forces. On 23 August, the submarine commander reported by wireless message on the beginning of the forcing the La Pérouse Strait. After that, the communication with the submarine was lost.
The exact location of L-19 and reasons of its wreck remain unknown to this day. It is estimated that the submarine may have detonated at a mine barrier set up by the Japanese. Constant searching for L-19 began in the early 21st century with the naval search detachment of the Pacific Fleet on the yacht Iskra. In the search expedition for the L-19 in 2006, a USS Wahoo was found in the La Pérouse Strait.
