The Search Targets: Wahoo and L-19

In addition to the Wahoo, we are hoping to locate the Soviet Submarine the L-19.  The L-19 is believed to have gone down in the Soya Strait Area in the final days of the war.   While we have significant information Wahoo's final hours, NUMA's knowledge of the L-19 is limited.  We are naturally targeting to increase our knowledge as much as possible in the coming months.  A brief excerpt from a Soviet era report:
... in accordance with the agreed plan on August 9, 1945, 12 submarines started combat actions in Japan Sea.  These subs made 6 torpedoes attacks and 1 surface attack including sub L-19 XIII series (CO: Captain of the 3rd rank A.S.Kononenko) that sent to the depths one transport and damaged severely another one...

On August 25 a radio message arrived from the commander of the sub L-19 "starting to traverse the mine field.." Then the communication broke up. The L-19 was the last loss of the Russian fleet in the WWII.


USS Wahoo in her final configuration, July 1943

Leninet Class Soviet Submarine
USS Wahoo L-19
Nationality USA USSR
Class GATO Leninet
Date Launched Feb. 14, 1942 1933-1942
Normal Displacement 1825 Tons (surfaced); 2410-2424 Tons (submerged) 1200 (surfaced); 1550 Submerged
Dimensions 311 ft 9 in x 27ft 3 in x 15ft 3 in; 91.6m x 8.3m x 5.1m 265ft 9 in x 24ft 7 in x 15ft 9 in (81m x 7.5m x 4.8m)
Machinery Diesel: 4 Fairbanks Morse 1600 hp; Electric 4 Elliot or General Electric Diesel: 2; electric: 2
Maximum Power 5400 hp surfaced; 2740 hp submerged 2600 hp surfaced; 1250 hp submerged
Maximum Speed 20.25 knots surfaced; 8.75 knots submerged 14 knots surfaced; 9 knots submerged
Range 11,800 mile at 10 knots surfaced; 95 miles at 5 knots submerged 7400 miles at 8 knots surfaced; 154 miles at 3 knots submerged
Torpedo Tubes Ten 21 inch (533 mm); Six forward, Four aft; torpedoes: 24 Six 21 in (533 mm); Four forward; Two aft; torpedoes 12
Deck Guns one 5 inch (127 mm) forward; two 12.7 mm machine guns one 3.9 in (100 mm); one 45mm
Mines up to 40 up to 14
Patrols 7 ???
Ships Sunk 20 for 60,038 Tons (JANAC) ???
Sunk October 11, 1943 in Soya Strait, Japan August 25, 1945 in Soya Strait Japan