Captain Alexander Marinesko

[R58484957]

He was the Captain of the submarine (S13) that sank the German ship Wilhelm Gustloff with a loss of life between 6/9000 and only 1200 saved, after putting 3 torpedoes in her she heeled over and sank within an hour. He had a problem with drink and womanising and was dismissed from the navy, and was downgraded in rank. He drifted around the maritime world for a few years. In 1949 he was put in prison for 3 years for squandering socialist property. In 1960 he was reinstated into the navy with an improved rank and given a pension, He died of lung cancer on the 25 November 1963 and was buried in St Petersburg at the age of. 50.