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Transport VT No. 546 “Ausma”

Historical Background

A Latvian steamship of British construction, built in 1889.

Ausma was one of the few vessels of the Tallinn Breakthrough that was unable to take on evacuated personnel.

The ship took aboard only 60 tons of military equipment on August 23 in the port of Paldiski, and after moving to the Tallinn roadstead on August 27, was unable to load any other cargo. The vessel traveled as part of Convoy No. 3 and safely passed through the Juminda minefield. On the morning of August 29, Ausma witnessed the sinking of the transport Balkhash on the eastern edge of Juminda; Ausma stopped and took aboard some of the survivors from that ship.

After passing Juminda, Ausma came under German air attack. She managed to evade the first strike, but during the second raid at 1:15 PM — already within direct sight of Gogland Island — three bombs hit the ship. Ausma began sinking rapidly, but the small number of people aboard, who had already been battle-tested, helped: nearly all personnel successfully evacuated and were partly picked up by patrol boats and minesweepers, while some reached Gogland independently by lifeboat.

Condition on the Seabed

Ausma rests at a depth of 61 meters. Divers discovered extensive damage to the superstructure from bomb explosions. The bow broke off, likely from the impact with the seabed during the rapid sinking. No human remains or small arms were found aboard. The holds are tightly sealed. On the bow, a ship’s bell was found with partially legible inscriptions — the date 1889 is visible, the inscription “Belfast,” and the ship’s name is illegible.

Photos — Historical and from the Seabed

Patrol Ship “Cyclone”

Technical Data

Uragan-class patrol ship, Series I (Project 2) — the first Soviet surface warship design
Displacement: 600 t
Length: 71.5 m
Speed: 29 knots
Armament: 2 x 102mm guns, 3 x 37mm AA guns, depth charges, mine rails
Crew: 104 men
Lost on August 28, 1941
Discovered by our team in 2021
Depth: 96 m

Historical Background

Cyclone was an Uragan-class patrol ship — the first Soviet surface warship design. Laid down at Shipyard No. 190 in Leningrad in 1927, she was commissioned in 1932. The six ships of this class built for the Baltic Fleet were jokingly nicknamed the “Bad Weather Division” by sailors — all bore names of weather phenomena (Uragan/Hurricane, Taifun/Typhoon, Smerch/Tornado, Cyclone, Groza/Thunderstorm, Vikhr/Whirlwind).

During the Tallinn Breakthrough, Cyclone served in the rearguard under Rear Admiral Yu.F. Rall, alongside the destroyers Kalinin, Artyom, and Volodarsky, and patrol ships Sneg and Burya. The rearguard was tasked with laying mines on the Tallinn roadstead and covering Convoys III and IV from the rear.

After the transport Balkhash struck a mine and sank, Cyclone was the first ship to rush to the aid of the sinking transport Everita. She entered the field of debris and began pulling survivors from the water. However, in the darkness, Cyclone herself struck a mine from the same mineline. The explosion tore the ship in half; the wreckage sank almost instantly.

Condition on the Seabed

The wreckage of Cyclone lies at a depth of 96 meters. During the search for submarine M-96, expedition members initially mistook the detached bow section for a submarine, but it was later identified by its structural features as the patrol ship Cyclone.

Photos from the Seabed

Icebreaker “Krishjanis Valdemars”

Technical Data

Latvian icebreaker, built in 1925 in Glasgow (England) by Beardmore
Gross tonnage: 1,932 GRT
Length: 60 m, Beam: 17 m
Speed: 14.4 knots
Two steam engines, bow and stern propellers
Lost on August 28, 1941
First discovered by Estonian researcher Vello Mass in 2011
Surveyed by our team in 2021
Depth: approximately 90 m

Historical Background

The icebreaker Krishjanis Valdemars was named after a prominent 19th-century Latvian public figure. Built in 1925 by Beardmore in Glasgow, England, she was the pride of the Latvian fleet — the only new steamship built for Latvia at the time. She was used to clear shipping lanes in the freezing Riga port and also served as escort for the president and government officials during foreign visits.

After the occupation of Latvia in 1940, the ship was nationalized. On June 27, 1941 she was evacuated to Tallinn as part of a convoy. The icebreaker was carrying staff of the front-line newspapers and representatives of the Baltic Fleet political directorate.

Krishjanis Valdemars sailed as part of Convoy No. 1. Around 6:00 PM on August 28, the ships began approaching the western edge of the Juminda mine barrage. The first to hit a mine was the hospital transport Ella. Krishjanis Valdemars rushed to help and herself struck a mine. The massive icebreaker rapidly assumed a near-vertical position and went under within minutes. According to historian Radiy Zubkov, 87 passengers and 50 crew members perished. Among those lost was the maritime poet and war correspondent Yuri Inge.

Condition on the Seabed

The icebreaker rests at a depth of about 90 meters, her bow deeply buried in the silt. Only the distinctive stern is accessible for inspection, featuring structural details unique to Krishjanis Valdemars. The wreck was first discovered by Estonian underwater archaeologist Vello Mass in 2011.

Photos from the Seabed

Transport “Naissaar” No. 547

Historical Background

An Estonian steamship of British construction, built in 1894.

The transport Naissaar was to take aboard 1,500 soldiers from the rifle units defending Tallinn. Exactly how many people and what cargo were loaded is unknown. The further fate of the transport remained a mystery for 80 years, spawning numerous theories and legends.

Condition on the Seabed

The survey of Naissaar, resting at a depth of over 80 meters, clarified the fate and mystery of the transport’s sinking. Naissaar struck a mine on the same mineline as Balkhash, on the eastern edge of Juminda, on the morning of August 29. The mine explosion tore off the bow, and the ship sank almost instantly. According to Rear Admiral Zubkov’s research, Naissaar is the third-largest casualty site of the Tallinn Breakthrough.

Photos from the Seabed

Transport “Everita”

Historical Background

A Latvian steamship, designated VT-545. The transport Everita was evacuating the garrison of Naissaar Island during the Tallinn evacuation. Loading of the ship in the island’s small harbor was delayed, and Everita did not depart until the afternoon of August 28, when the convoys were already heading east.

The transport struck a mine near Cape Juminda and sank almost instantly. About 1,500 people perished. According to researchers, Everita was the fourth-largest single loss of life during the Tallinn Breakthrough. Seeing Everita sinking, the patrol ship Cyclone rushed to her aid but also struck a mine.

Discovered by our team in 2021.

Condition on the Seabed

Survey is ongoing.

Photos from the Seabed

Transport “Balkhash”

Historical Background

An Estonian steamship of British construction, built in 1894.

According to the most extensive researcher of the Tallinn Breakthrough, Rear Admiral Radiy Anatolyevich Zubkov, the transport Balkhash took aboard up to 3,900 people — the entire garrison of Paldiski, along with the garrison hospital and military families. The transport safely passed through nearly the entire Juminda mine barrage and perished on the morning of August 29 on the eastern edge of Juminda. According to the few survivors, the explosion occurred in the area of the second hold; the ship began to sink rapidly bow-first while capsizing onto her side. There was virtually no chance of survival. About 3,800 people perished; according to archival records, only 86 were rescued.

Condition on the Seabed

Balkhash rests at a depth of 96 meters. The bow is deeply buried in the seabed, while the stern rises more than 10 meters above the bottom. A vast number of human remains were found on the deck and in the holds.

According to Rear Admiral Zubkov’s research, the transport Balkhash is the site of the greatest loss of life among all participants in the Tallinn Breakthrough, and the greatest mass casualty site in the entire Gulf of Finland.

Transport “Atis Kronvalds” No. 563

Historical Background

An Estonian steamship of British construction, built in 1909.

On the evening of August 29, she was sunk by German air strikes. About 800 people ended up in the water. Several hours later, a small sailing-motor vessel approached the site and managed to pick up only about forty people, including the wounded captain Emsin.

Condition on the Seabed

On the bow, a ship’s bell was found bearing the inscription “Stor Kiel 1909.” In addition to remains of perished passengers, numerous bales and crates were found in holds and on deck, along with ship-repair equipment on the aft deck. The ship was identified by comparing structural features with historical photographs and analyzing cargo found aboard.

Photos — Historical and from the Seabed

Transport “Jarvamaa” No. 547

Historical Background

An Estonian steamship of British construction, built in 1894.

In Tallinn she took aboard about 800 people, mostly naval personnel from the Baltic Fleet headquarters and the Torpedo Boat Brigade, as well as naval property and armaments.

On the evening of August 29 she was severely damaged by German air strikes; the superstructure caught fire. Late that evening, minesweepers saved more than 500 people from the burning Jarvamaa. By then, survivors from the Kalpaks were also aboard. The burned-out Jarvamaa sank on the morning of August 30, breaking in half.

Condition on the Seabed

The stern rises above the seabed; the broken bow has sunk to deck level. A corroded bell was unreadable. Identified by structural comparison with historical photographs, cargo analysis, and fire traces.

Photos at Time of Discovery

Hospital Transport “Alev” No. 511

Historical Background

An Estonian steamship of British construction, built in 1909.

In Tallinn she took aboard 670 wounded. During the Breakthrough she stopped to rescue people from sinking ships, including the headquarters vessel Vironia. How many were aboard by the evening of August 29 is unknown.

Sunk August 29 by German air strikes with all aboard: 18 sailors, 670 wounded, plus rescued from other vessels. Found near the Kalpaks.

Condition on the Seabed

Direct bomb hits to forward holds and bridge. The ship broke in half, sinking almost instantly. The stern rises high above the seabed. Identified by comparing structural features with historical photographs. A passenger car from the deck lies beneath the hull.

Photos — Historical and from the Seabed

Hospital Transport “Kalpaks” No. 524

Historical Background

A Latvian steamship of French construction, built in 1914.

In Tallinn she took aboard 1,000 people, of whom 850 were wounded; the rest mostly women and children. The ship repeatedly stopped in minefields to rescue survivors. By evening, up to 1,500 aboard.

Kalpaks sank August 29, 1941 at 4:46 PM after three bomb hits. Surviving reports describe how the enemy machine-gunned people in the water. Of 1,000+ people, only 60–70 survived. First found during the M-96 search but not surveyed then.

Condition on the Seabed

Identified by a bell reading “Marie Louise” — 1914, Nantes. In holds: human remains, field kitchens, hospital laundry boilers, small arms, and helmets.

Photos of Current Condition

M-96

Technical Data

Soviet Malyutka-class diesel-electric submarine, XII series
Length: 44.5 meters
Armament: one 45mm gun, 2 torpedo tubes, 2 torpedoes
Crew: 22 men
Lost without a trace September 9-10, 1944
Discovered jointly with Estonian team MaxStar Explorers in 2020, identified July 2021
Depth: 42 m

Ship History

M-96 was in many respects a legendary and unique submarine. Her first commander was the famous Alexander Ivanovich Marinesco. M-96 fought in the Baltic from 1941 and took part in all Baltic Fleet campaigns, even conducting a combat patrol on Lake Ladoga. No other Baltic Fleet submarine can boast such a rich biography. The Malyutka’s combat missions mainly consisted of reconnaissance near enemy bases and landing scouts behind enemy lines.

M-96 departed on her seventh and final patrol on September 7, 1944 under Captain-Lieutenant Nikolai Ivanovich Kartashov. She was tasked with crossing the German Seeigel mine barrage and conducting reconnaissance in Narva Bay. After heading out to sea, M-96 never made radio contact again and was considered missing in action for all these years.

Our team searched within Russian territorial waters for nearly three years in the area of the Seeigel mine barrage. In 2021, based on data from Mikhail Ivanov, colleagues from Maxstar Explorer detected with their sonar an object resembling a submarine, lying just a couple of kilometers from the Russian-Estonian border.

Submarine M-96 was the only submarine lost by the Baltic Fleet in 1944. All 22 crew members perished.

According to Russian historian Miroslav Morozov, based on analysis of German documents, M-96 most likely perished on September 10, 1944 at 3:38 AM. At that time, a German submarine in Narva Bay recorded a mine explosion on its hydroacoustic equipment.

Discovery and Cause of Sinking

The diving survey on July 10, 2021 confirmed through distinctive features and mine protection details that the submarine was M-96.

The submarine lies on heading 210 degrees. The hull rests with a list to starboard and a slight bow-down trim, barely settled into the dense seabed.

The German mine exploded under the hull on the starboard side, behind the starboard bow hydroplane. The blast created a meter-wide dent with a jagged breach of the pressure hull. On impact with the bottom, the bow fractured at the breach and tilted to starboard.

Otherwise the hull is undamaged apart from corroded light superstructure elements.

The 21-K gun is stowed; muzzle plug missing, sights removed.

The conning tower fairing was destroyed by fishing trawls and corrosion.

The upper conning tower hatch is open, torn off by trawls, lying on the seabed to starboard. The periscope is retracted.

All bridge instruments were torn off by trawls. Only the engine telegraph is accessible, its stand bent at 90 degrees. The telegraph reads “Full Ahead.”

The propeller-rudder group at the stern is fully accessible. Stern hydroplanes at neutral. Rudder turned to starboard. Bow hydroplanes inaccessible.

The aft emergency hatch is closed. No emergency buoy — an open cavity in its place.

Notably, 120 meters away, German minesweeper R73 was found, sunk June 14, 1944 in the same minefield.