On October 2, the members of the expedition of the Russian Geographical Society and the Underwater Exploration Team (UET) installed a memorial plaque with a list of the dead crew at the wreckage site of the MO-208 boat near Seskar Island.
According to tradition, the divers installed a memorial plaque on the 45-millimeter cannon, which was preserved at the stern of the boat. A ship from the Leningrad Naval Base was waiting for the expedition members on the surface, where there were journalists, relatives of the members of the deceased crew, and sailors. They paid their last respects to the MO-208 boat by lowering a wreath and dozens of red carnations into the water to the sounds of a gun salute.
«It was impossible to conduct a diving survey until 2025 — the boat is located at a depth of about 30 m along the fairway line. However, this year we managed to get permits to work at sea thanks to the Russian Geographical Society,» says Konstantin Bogdanov, head of the expedition and president of the UET. «We did not find the bow, which may indicate that either it was blown apart by a mine explosion, or it could have drifted for quite a long time and sunk at a greater distance.»
In 2023, an unknown sunken object was discovered at the bottom of the Gulf of Finland by specialists from the marine engineering company «Fertoing» and the People of the Sea Foundation, but the UET was able to visually inspect it only two years later. The first dives showed that there was a «Maly Okhotnik» (eng. «Small Hunter») type boat at the bottom. The bow of the vessel was torn off to the engine room. Crates of shells and minesweeping winches were visible on the deck.
The memorial wreath was lowered by the sailors onto the water. Photo: press service of the People of the Sea Foundation
According to archival documents, the boat was identified as MO-208, which went missing on September 29, 1942, while on patrol. To date, the fate of the crew has remained unknown. The crew consisted of 22 people, including the commander, Senior Lieutenant Mikhail Khvostov. On behalf of the descendants of the deceased, Artem Bolshakov, the great-grandson of the commander of the MO-208, expressed his gratitude to the expedition participants.
«The RGS strives to ensure that the results of each underwater expedition serve the cause here and now — each 'Memory Watch’ connects the deceased crew members and their living descendants, » added Natalya Belyakova, Director of the Expeditionary Activities and Tourism Development Department of the RGS. «Digital doubles of underwater objects are equally important: they make it possible to share the story of acts of bravery with many. To be remembered. Data about the MO-208 boat has already taken its place in the online environment, which is updated with information about Russia’s maritime heritage under the auspices of the RGS.»
In the future, a 3D model will be posted on the UET website. The expedition was attended by the partners of the RGS, the People of the Sea Foundation.