Red Star,0215960,Hydrographic Technician,Northern Fleet

[Bill Garvy]

Award Card

Order Booklet 568667

1. Last name: Pryanichnikov
2. Name and patrionymic: Nikolai Vasilevich
3. Rank: Senior II Class
4. Gender: Male
5. Birthyear: 1919
6. Birthplace: Leningrad
7. Party membership: candidate member 1944
8. Education: mid-level
9. Nationality: Russian
10. Time in Red Army: 1940
11. Place of service at awarding: “Uragan” Escort Vessel, Northern Fleet
12. Place of work at present: Northern Fleet (?)-20, (?) Command – Helmsman 2 Class
13. Home address: Leningrad, Primorsk. Region, (?) 29, Apt. 51

14. Awards:
Designation Serial Number Awarding Organization

Red Star 215.960 Northern Fleet (?) dated 8.03.44

Polar Regions Medal #033573

Victory over Germany Medal #00029876

Verified by Northern Fleet, Chief of 6th Section, Personnel, Lieutenant Lok(?)onov on 4 September 1946

[Bill Garvy]

Award Card

[trans: handwritten “Temporary”]Order Booklet 568667

1. Last name: Pryanichnikov
2. Name and patrionymic: Nikolai Vasilevich
3. Rank: Technical Services Captain
4. Gender: Male
5. Birthyear: 1919
6. Birthplace: Kirov Oblast, Urpsumskii Region, village of Lebedevo
7. Party membership: since 1951
8. Education: mid-level
9. Nationality: Russian
10. Time in Red Army: since 23.10.1940
11. Place of service at awarding: Hydographic Vessel “Bui” 602 Independent Battalion of Hydrographic Vessels, Hydrographic Service, Baltic Fleet – Commander B-ch 5
12. Place of work at present: same as above
13. Home address: Talin, Gogol St. Bldg 37, Apt 5

14. Awards:
Designation Serial Number Awarding Organization

Red Star 215.960

Combat Service Medal n/a Edict dated 21.8.53

Red Star 3.409.108 Edict dated 30.12.56

Verified by Baltic Fleet Chief of Hydrographic Service, Captain (?) Class Klochpov on 14 March 1957

[Bill Garvy]

Abbreviated Award Card

Abbreviated award card attests ethnic Russian Nikolai Vasilevich Pryanichnikov was born in 1919, entered the Red Army 23.10.1940 and joined the Communist Party in 1951. A general address is listed as Kirov Oblast, Urzhupskii Region, village of Lebedevo. According to an edict dated 21 August 1953, he received an unnumbered Combat Service Medal from the 8th Fleet for 10 years’ eight months’ service and at the time he was a Senior Technical Lieutenant serving as the Senior Vessel Mechanic on the “Litb.” For 15 years’ 1 month service he received the Order of the Red Star #3.409.108 according to an edict dated 30.12.56. He was decorated on 21.3.57 at which time he was a Captain on the “Bui” in the Baltic Fleet.

[Bill Garvy]

Award Sheet

Award Recommendation for Northern Fleet, Main Base Brigade of Patrol Craft, Section Commander of “Uragan” Vessel Petty Officer II Class Nikolai Vasilevich Pryanichnikov for the Order of the Red Star

1. Birth year: 1919
2. Nationality: Russian
3. Social position and progress: office worker from peasant family
4. Party membership: Comsomol member since 1942
5. In Red Army: since 1941
6. Participation in the Civil War: n/a
7. Wounds or shell-shock: n/a
8. Previous awards: n/a
9. Letters of Commendation or other encouragements: n/a
10. Service in the White Army, other bourgeois armies, or prisoner: n/a
11. Home of record: [trans: entry intentionally obscured]

Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment

Serving on the “Groza”[trans: “Threat”] vessel and later “Uragan”[trans: “Hurricane”] since the beginning of the Patriotic War, Comrade Pryanichnikov directly participated in combat actions serving as an example to his subordinates. From 22 June 1941 through March 1942 he participated in many combat operations shelling enemy fortifications and equipment, engaging in convoy operations with our and allied transports including the rescue of the “Mariya Ulyanova.” While in the 2nd Battalion assault/fire-correction party he repeatedly landed on the Western Face to adjust fire upon enemy firing positions and personnel, as from the “Groza” and “Smerch” escort vessels. Through his hard, selfless work upon the “Uragan,” he greatly enabled the quickest introduction of a vessel into the naval fleet. First occupying the duty of helmsman and then helm section commander, Comrade Pryanichnikov’s intiative and decisiveness repeatedly extricated the ship from difficult situations.

On 5 March 1943 while passing through Ekaterinenskaya Harbor, the steering wheel went out of order and repeatedly reporting about the situation, Comrade Pryanichnikov ran from the steering section and transferred the steering wheel to manual control, thus preventing a major accident. On 12 May 1943 while passing the narrow strait between Salnii island and the eastern coast of Kolskii bay, the steering mechanism went out of order and Comrade Pryanichnikov quickly reported the situation and instantly transferred the steering to manual control, thus permitting the commander to assume control and prevent a major ship accident. On the night of 11-12 October 1943 while accomplishing its combat mission at the entry of the White Sea in stormy weather the steering mechanism again went out of order due to damage. As a result of the damage, Comrade Pryanichnikov took manual control of the ship for three hours.

In September-October 1943 the ship was without a navigational electrician and Pryanichnikov learned this specialty in the course of a month and worked as the navigational electrician. In day-to-day conditions in any maneuvers Pryanichnikov proved himself a real master of his trade, greatly easing the commander’s control of the ship. During his service he participated in more than 22 convoys going over 11,000 miles, participated in the accomplishment of the Command’s mission in employing new equipment, conducted military patrols, and searched for enemy ships.

For exemplary accomplishment of the Command’s missions on the front against the German invaders and for displaying valor and bravery, I recommend Comrade Pryanichnikov for the Order of the Red Star.

Signed Commander, Escort Vessel “Uragan”, Northern Fleet Main Base Naval Patrol, Captain-Lieutenant Stepanin on 3 March 1944

[Bill Garvy]

Endorsed Commander, (?), Captain 1st Class Shmelev on 8 March 1944

[Bill Garvy]

Unit Award Order

SECRET

Commander of the Northern Fleet Main Base Naval Patrol Brigade Order dated 08 March 1944, Tyuva Bay

On behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet USSR, I award the following decorations for exemplary accomplishment of the Command’s missions in the struggle against the German invaders and for having displayed valor and bravery:

Order of the Red Star to:

11. Petty Officer 1st Class Pryanichinkov, Nikolai Vasilevich – Section Ship Commander, “Uragan” Patrol Craft, Patrol Craft Brigade, Naval District, Northern Fleet Main Base

Signed Commander, Patrol Craft Brigade, Naval District, Northern Fleet Main Base Captain 1st Class Shmelev and Chief of Staff Captain 2nd Class Shanikov