RFS Roslavl

**The RFS Roslavl incident occured when the school was still under the jurisdiction of the Baltic Fleet. The school morals have since changed from the time of this incident.**

## RFS Roslavl

### Location of Incident

Off the coast of Bolshoy Tyuters (59.8674726, 27.2063719)

### Involved Assets

RFS Roslavl, RFS Baltiysky

A time of remembrance is done for 11 days following the incident, where Naval Studies students will wear a black ribbon pinned to their hats, underneath that of their normal fleet ribbons. Students of other study programs may join as well, wearing black and/or blue ribbons on the left side of their uniforms.

## Planned Route

On the 14th of February, 1999, a single Zhuk-class patrol vessel crewed by 9 students and accompanied by 2 officers left the Baltiysky on an overnight expedition to survey the Island of Bolshov Tyuters, located in the Gulf of Finland, at 23h00 MST.

The ship set off with a group of 9 student sailors, 3 being seniors and 6 being juniors. The expedition only meant to be an overnight experience, as to familiarize the junior students on how to operate the Zhuk-Class patrol boat, as it’s use in the Russian Navy and other nations is prominent in both the navy branches and coast guard branches of Ex-Eastern Bloc nations.

The weather was generally clear as the vessel made its way from the school ship Baltiysky, anchored at (60.0222157, 27.4264274) towards their destination (59.8664215, 27.1971693), waves not rowdy as expected to be.

At 23h14MST, Roslavl successfully passed through point Alpha (59.9621292, 27.3587392), speeding at 24 knots and evading ferry traffic from M/S Helle, heading from St. Petersburg to Tallinn.

## Storm Issues

### Continued Crossing

The vessel continued as the weather worsened. The vessel reached point Bravo (59.8941514, 27.2606786), at 23h39, before winds and waves started to get worse. Ship speed at 26 knots.

The staff on board contemplated returning to the Baltiysky, but opted to continue with the expedition, as to let the students camp out on the island instead of making the return trip.

At approximately 23h57, the Roslavl was at the 3/4 point between Destination and Point Bravo (59.8752609, 27.2183681). According to communications to the Baltiysky from Roslavl, the ship had lost power around this point, and asked to attempt to anchor in its place until help could arrive.

### Attempt to Anchor

The crew of the vessel was promptly denied by the first officer on the bridge of the carrier, saying that it would not be safe to follow up with the procedures.

The Roslavl continued to drift in the stormy sea towards (59.8656619, 27.2213510). The vessel crew continued communications with the Baltiysky and the Russian Coast Guard as they attempted to wait out the storm.

At approximately 00:17, the ship encountered harsh waves and weather, with black box communications among the students on the bridge showing concern for the weather outside.

Communication continued as the weather got worse and worse.

00:35, a helicopter was dispatched from the Baltiysky, and was scheduled to reach the location of the vessel at approximately 01h00. Take off is delayed due to bad weather, and estimated time of arrival is bumped to 01h10.

### First and Second Casualty

00:45, waves reach a whopping 4 meters high. First account of a student overboard is heard as one senior student is swept away by the waves off the side of the vessel while coming down from the roof. The student in question, Igor Kozlov, was promptly followed by an officer, Junior Lieutenant Sasha Volkov, in an attempt to save him. Volkov’s rope snapped in the solo rescue attempt and both perished beneath the waves.

Captain Lieutenant Dmitry Sokolov attempted to lower the anchor at 00:51, but failed due to the nature of the storm.

At 00:55, a communication came in to all ships in the area, calling mayday 3 times from a junior student. The student is later identified as Mihkail Prostakov.

### Attempted Communication

Below is a log from Kursant Prostakov and the Russian Coast Guard. There has been attempted recovery of the blackbox, but it has not been opened to this day.

```
*Roslavl: “Mayday, ma[break] mayd[break], this is Roslavl, we are at[break] 59.8678[break] …439, 27.2058026… mayday mayday mayday-”*

```

```
*RCG [In English]: “This is… Russian Coast Guard… Roslavl, we are asking… do you need assistance?”*

```

```
*Roslavl: “Mayday! Coast Guard- Our ship[break] going to cap[break] …size!”*

```

```
*RCG: “Coast Guard, Roslavl, Understood. How many souls are on board? Over.”*

```

```
*Roslavl: “Ten-[break] correction, niner souls!”*

```

```
*RCG: “You stuttered there! Did something happen? Over.”*

```

```
*Roslavl: “The captain just got knocked out! Over!”*

```

```
*RCG: “Ah shit… We see that the Russian Navy has sent out a helicopter to help you guys out, can you hold on for a bit longer? Over.”*

```

```
*Roslavl: [intelligible screaming and alarm noises] “Negative. We’ve lost both officers and a student al-“*

```

```
*RCG: “Russian Coast Guard, Roslavl? Can you hear us?”*

```

### Sinking

At 01h00 MST, the ship succumbed to the waves and listed from side to side. Any students on the outside were thrown over, and any on the inside would soon find themselves trapped as the boat capsized under the waves.

10 students perished that day. Each one leaving a hole in the Moscow Guards Carrier School.

Below are the students and staff that perished that night. May they Rest In Peace.

* Captain Lieutenant Dmitry Sokolov (1968-1999)
* Junior Lieutenant Sasha Volkov (1977-1999)

* Senior Kursant Igor Kozlov
* Senior Kursant Kliment Kalashnik
* Senior Kursant Misha Chernov

* Junior Kursant Mikhail Prostakov
* Junior Kursant Johann Popov
* Junior Kursant Ilya Kovalenko
* Junior Kursant Pavel Sobolev