Submarine D-2 "Narodovolets"

Put into service in 1931, the Narodovolets is one of the first submarines to be built by the Soviet Union and as you will see from the many photos in the adjoining museum, this little sub took part in the defence of Leningrad and saw many lives lost due to fire and various other dangers. Inside the submarine itself if there are more than ten of you it can feel a little claustrophobic (or is that atmospheric?) – although not half as much as it must have been when it was full with its 53 crew members. Everything has been faithfully preserved here, right down the beds and the tiny kitchen and although excursions are only in Russian and do take up most of the space, visitors are still left free to wander up and down the narrow space, crawling in and out of hatches and staring down the torpedo chutes to their heart’s delight. Sadly you can longer climb out onto the top of the sub.