Submarine "Akula"

The Tsarist Russian submarine Akula was the first to be fully conceived and built for lengthy patrol missions. It was launched in 1909 after being built at the Baltic Shipyard in St Petersburg. It was utilized for 19 patrols in the Baltic Sea during World War I throughout its lifespan.

It was assigned to place four mines on a fairway between Klaipeda and Liepaja in 1915. Instead, it hit a mine and drowned en route to the mission area on November 15th. All 35 members of the crew died. The boat was supposed to use petrol engines at first, however they were changed with safer diesel engines.

The boat had a single hull/ seat tank configuration and could dive to a depth of 25 fathoms (45 meters (148 feet)). Significant early issues were encountered, necessitating the replacement of the electric motor and propellers. The Russian submarine Akula was the first to be capable of long-distance travel.

It is only appropriate for experienced divers. When the regulations for diving to monuments are fulfilled, diving to the wreck is not perilous. An anchor buoy is stationed adjacent to the wreck throughout the navigation season.