Out in to the cold (Picture heavy)
 

Dobrey Utra !

I have just returned from Moscow Tallin and Helsinki on a weekend trip, I have managed to get a couple of places done and ticked off my list.

First Stop Tallin and some people if your on facebook will know exactly why i am here, two reasons but the first is easy EML Lembit she is a world war II mine laying submarine her sister submarine Kalev was sunk during the war and she is the sole survivor.

She is no longer afloat and is housed like the U505 indoors (thank goodness) she has some ware and tare the deck plating bends under my 100kg feet but i wasn't about to let that stop me !

She is a very nice submarine in the sense she is pretty much intact, she has been restored and well worth a trip to the harbour to go and see, you do get a sense that she is being looked after and as the pictures show despite the fire in 2010 she remains largely intact and complete and no new entry points have been cut into her hull.

https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5600/3...9f814120_z.jpgEML Lembit by Blair shaw, on Flickr


https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5747/3...5917ce70_z.jpgEML Lembit by Blair shaw, on Flickr


https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5582/3...b195b9a5_z.jpgEML Lembit by Blair shaw, on Flickr


Outside the Sea Plane hanger lies another interesting ship the Sur Toll an ice breaker built in 1914 she has served under many flags including Russian Finnish Soviet and Estonian, she was used well into the 1980's under the Soviet flag decommissioned fully in 1988.

https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5716/3...70797700_z.jpgDSCN2520 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5705/3...171610db_z.jpgDSCN2508 by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Here are some shots of ships around the port of Tallin

https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5782/3...c6dcdb01_z.jpgTallin Estonia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5536/3...b9e97900_z.jpgTallin Estonia Misc by Blair shaw, on Flickr

After Tallin i had to jump on a ferry to Helsinki, i was hoping to visit the submarine however i was told it is closed for winter, and also Aeroflot had cancelled my flight and re booked me on the earlier one so i spent less than 24 hours in Finland.

Moscow was a delight though 3rd time to the city 13th to Russia (Although 1st time in red square properly)

I had planned many things including seeing the famous Moninio Museum and also the submarine B-396 on the Moscow canal both were accomplished ! and i had less than 24 hours to do it (if your familiar with Moscow Moninio is one side The Moscow Canal the other and there is no easy way to get from A to B )

The submarine is home to the famous Caspian sea monster the Ekranoplan

https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5677/3...4ccc06c6_z.jpgB396 Tango Class by Blair shaw, on Flickr

You cannot go onboard it just outside but the Project 641B Som or Tango class SSK is fully open ! which is a god send because it is -9*c and i had already fallen over twice.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5692/3...5816a791_z.jpgB396 Tango Class by Blair shaw, on Flickr

https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5776/3...d09d06ee_z.jpgB396 Tango Class by Blair shaw, on Flickr

https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5705/3...c55dc8a2_z.jpgB396 Tango Class by Blair shaw, on Flickr

My final stop was to Moninio this museum was until 2000 off limits too all westerners it is now finally and thankfully open to the public and i made good use of my camera.

There are aircraft here experimental ones that ive never seen or heard of !

https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5705/3...c55dc8a2_z.jpgB396 Tango Class by Blair shaw, on Flickr

The mighty M-50 bounder

https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5585/3...195b5446_z.jpgMoninio air museum Russia by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Some Hinds including the MI24A !

https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5773/3...a707be18_z.jpgMoninio air museum Russia by Blair shaw, on Flickr

TU22 Backfire TU16 Badger TU4 Bull and over my head the MI12 or V12 Homer !

https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5775/3...dc9402d8_z.jpgMoninio air museum Russia by Blair shaw, on Flickr

Sukhoi T4 was meant to match the XB70 Valkarie but like the XB70 this is as far as it got




all the pictures are available from the link in my signature and also just click the link on the picture happy viewing

Great pictures, thanks for sharing.:yeah:

Too bad you didn't get to see the Vesikko in Helsinki. It is indeed closed during winter time.

Nice shots and a great set of pictures Blair. I'd certainly would have enjoyed being there with you :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

As usual, great pictures and descriptions. Thanks for sharing them and taking the time out to upload the pictures and write the article. :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

All i can say at this point is thanks and stand by for something rather unique to come.

Your alright Kapitan :yep:

You love submarines more than submarine sailors do :up:

all i shall say is my next trip wont involve submarines or ships ;)

Great photos Kaptain. If you ever get the chance to come over to the States, you need to see the USS Nautilus in Groton CT, and the Naval museum too.

And the USS New Jersey is up the river from us.... on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River .

Its on the list im hoping to come to the states in april to see a friend in NC