The Kommuna - Russia’s Bizarre 110 Year Old Warship

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The Kommuna is a submarine salvage ship in service with the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet. A strange double-hulled catamaran design, she has the unique distinction of serving with the Russian Imperial Soviet, and now Russian Federation navy, becoming the oldest active navy ship in the world over a century after her launch.
What is the history of this incredible ship however? Why is it still in service and what is the explanation behind its distinct lack of rust?
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00:00 Introduction
03:38 The Precursor - SMS Vulkan
04:26 Initial Plans Take Shape
07:54 A Troubled Build Process
10:01 The Volkhov is Commisioned
11:01 The Revolution Begins
12:06 The Volkhov's First Rescue
13:38 Surviving the Chaos of Revolution
15:52 The Volkhov is Renamed
16:20 Salvaging the HMS L55
18:36 The Second World War Begins
19:19 Escape From Tallin (again)
19:52 Lenningrad Surrounded
20:52 The Trapped Baltic Fleet
21:49 Kommuna Comes Under Attack
22:56 Salvage and Diving Amid The Seige
23:43 The Road of Life
25:13 The Seige Lifted
26:15 A Long Overdue Overhaul
27:42 Cold War Submarine Rescue
28:54 A New Role for the Kommuna
31:06 Deep Sea Testing
32:31 The Soviet Union Comes to an End
33:19 Saved from the Scrapheap
34:20 Recomissioning the Kommuna
35:35 New ROV Equiptment
36:16 The Russian Navy Renaissance
36:57 Kommuna Recieves a Priz-Class Submersible
37:21 On Board the Kommuna Today
37:56 How Has the Kommuna Survived So Long?
42:03 Ukraine Invaded
42:39 The Sinking of the Moskva
43:31 Kommunas Involvement in the Moskva
44:07 Outro

[@CalumRaasay]

UPDATE 21/04/34 - news coming from Sevastopol report that a Ukrainian strike has hit the Kommuna. Could this be the end of the old ship?

[@saltyboo]

I came to this video as soon as I heard the news. I don't think I can bear losing Kommuna and Mriya.

[@ryanhall1165]

Let's hope so! :)

[@99999bomb]

The ship had a good run, suffered the same fate as the mriya, rip

[@Am_Yeff]

She seems still afloat at least, whether the ruskis have the drydock capacity to fix whatever is wrong with her is another issue. Also, *24!

[@TheTweedler]

If so the thumbnail showing 1915-2024 may have proven to be eerily prophetic.

[@__-fm5qv]

I love that despite her "weirdness" she still very much looks like an Edwardian era ship. The counter stern, the rudders poking out of the water line, the horizontal riveted layers of steel that make up the hulls, it all screams Edwardian. And to see it around today, still very much in active duty is lovely.

[@Kiyoone]

I don't know what is more impressive, the fact that they have this in use for over 100 years, or the fact that they already had the tech to build this kind of machines over 100 years ago.

[@DavidJohnson-hg1mz]

Or the fact that all the money to keep it operating all this time didn’t disappear because of corrupt politicians.

[@jaybee9269]

It does seem a remarkable design.

[@infernaldaedra]

@@DavidJohnson-hg1mz we need to stop placing blame squarely on politicians. It's politicians and oligarchs.

[@Nphen]

@@infernaldaedra You're right, of course. But we have to remember, in Russia, the oligarchs are also the politicians. My hypothesis is that American oligarchs brought the system back here after looting Russia and the former Soviet republics in the 1990's. A true popular democracy with human ownership is the remedy.

[@infernaldaedra]

@@Nphen In Russia yes they are often both, but in America Oligarchs just write the politicians and the celebrities checks and all the fools fall for the same tricks over and over.

[@user-fm1tx6hp8w]

Until 2013, the Russian Baltic Fleet included a 1864 monitor "Strelets" class ship. True, since 1900 it has been used as a floating repair base. Now a museum is being built from it.

[@justasimplegamer129]

You can imagine the original crew of this ship seeing her still floating after 100 years since her birth.

[@AremStefaniaK]

i wish they would invent a zombie virus to keep the original crew alive too:) What wonderful drill instructors they would be. Like those undead pirates from that johnny depp movie

[@jaggerangel5564]

No. I cannot imagine.

[@timothy468]

Nah bruh they'd be like 120- 150 years old. I can't imagine it.

[@justasimplegamer129]

@@timothy468 if afterlife was a thing and the deceased are watching over the skies.

[@vulpes7079]

​@@AremStefaniaKwhat in the fuck

[@mandarin1257]

Truly a remarkable ship! When she is eventually decommissioned, I really hope she will be preserved as a museum ship.

[@lundsweden]

Already a floating museum!

[@OmmerSyssel]

Russia already has a floating museum. They proudly present it as their glorious NAVY.. 🤷‍♂️🤣 The single aircraft carrier, they desperately fight keeping afloat, and never navigate without an assisting Tug(!), is a perfect example of their incapability. Kursk disaster and western(!) salvage another one..

[@M16_Akula-III]

@@OmmerSyssel The hell does that have to do with this?

[@johoreanperson8396]

@@M16_Akula-III War propaganda. Get used to it in this war time.

[@indyrock8148]

@@johoreanperson8396 not entirely war propaganda as it really is quite an accurate assessment of the Russian NAVY as exposed by the current conflict. At least it is if your from a country whom has maintained a modern navy...

[@conservativemike3768]

Flexible utility = longevity. Brilliant design all around and historic benchmark of naval architecture.

[@Melody_Raventress]

Indeed, this is the "secret" to the ship's longevity. No other ship designed in the 1910s could be repurposed to the extent this one has been

[@commanderjameson2708]

A ship that only puts to sea in emergencies and in calm weather will have a long life because it will sustain little stress to its keel and hull.

[@tingleblade4274]

@@Melody_Raventress There's some kind of steel secret there... there are a lot of "paranormal" speculations on this topic in Russia, I don't want to talk about them, but still we must admit that steel is not just excellent, it is of the highest quality. There is definitely a secret to this There is an ancient column in India that does not rust, there is also no scientific theory, as if people don't care. It would seem that scientists should struggle with the mystery day and night

[@matthplays-2312]

​@commanderjameson2708 I know it hasn't been confirmed as "destroyed" but it was likely heavily damaged... soooo I guess we'll find out

[@RichyArg]

That hull design seems incredibly innovative for a 100 years ago!

[@alexturnbackthearmy1907]

And germans again build something similar first. Its a tradition at this point.

[@igorlitvinov2607]

design is based on German rescue vessel called "Volcano"

[@igorlitvinov2607]

@@user28sdfg8 so this is no russian, that is what. Чуешь, ботяра, раха все украла

[@SeanBZA]

That blue on the steel likely is an accident of the steel plant, as the steel likely was hot rolled, which does tend to leave an oxide film on the steel. Combine that with rollers that are somewhat worn, and thus leaking the lubricating oil used for the bearings, onto the roller surface, and probably contamination by coal dust from the blast furnace, and the annealing furnaces running fuel rich, you have the ideal conditions to surface treat the steel with a resistant coat of blue oxide, nicely impressed into the surface, and also bonding well, due to the oil, with the first coats of oil based paints applied. Russian steel historically had very variable quality, and hot rolled was all too common, with none of the pickling and descaling the Western manufacturers used to control the oxide film, they just rolled it into the steel, and the thickness for this probably was close to a sweet spot for oxide formation, but not so thick that the oxide layer got rolled deep into the steel, which has been a problem for the thinner steel grades. Then it will provide long protection, and with likely poor removal during retrofits you got the original oxide layer still being present a century later, along with the original lead based paint. Also a crew who spent an inordinate amount of time on the ship, and with little to do otherwise, other than keep surfaces clean, and keep on applying layer upon layer of lead and copper based paints both above and below the water, along with no major flex of the hull in rough sea to create small cracks in the paint layer.

[@CalumRaasay]

Very well said! What a great comment and such a great insight, thanks for sharing. But yeah I think the value of a crew tied up for long periods of time at dock + lead paint + the real lack of long, strenous trips to sea is the real combo for survival.

[@aserta]

@@CalumRaasay Battleship New Jersey, the channel, has a recent video on the sinking of a fellow museum ship and what happens to ships, and where they start to rot. It's in the last videos, worth following the channel and watching the videos, the curator is well read on the subject matter.

[@CalumRaasay]

Love their videos! I actually reached out for a quote from them relating to the Kommuna but they never replied 😭

[@widescreennavel]

That figures! Accidentally, they made a good ship!! ROFL

[@widescreennavel]

@@PaulRudd1941 Hey, if the enemy has been falsely made to appear so massive in our military propaganda, maybe we CAN afford both defense and health care lol

[@WouterWeggelaar]

More than three quarters of an hour worth of well researched video...what a treat!

[@CalumRaasay]

Haha every video I make I swear it'll be shorter... it never is! 😭

[@kiiiisu]

@@CalumRaasay we like long videos!

[@WouterWeggelaar]

@@kiiiisu agreed. Long = good as long as the info is good. Which it totally is!

[@paulhaynes8045]

@@CalumRaasay It's the content that matters, no the length. Have a look at this guy (assuming you aren't already a fan): kzbin.info/door/C3ehuUksTyQ7bbjGntmx3Qfeatured - mostly long videos (sometimes over an hour!), and he only uses static Power Point screens and talks over them (breaks every possible YT video rule!), but the content and analysis is second to none.

[@CalumRaasay]

@@paulhaynes8045 Love his work!

[@agnyr]

ARA General Belgrano was (after all the upgrades) 13 645 t full displacement, Moskva just 11,490 tons full load (after completition?). That makes her not a biggest ship lost in action since WWII, just a biggest ship lost since Falkland War.

[@CalumRaasay]

Huh, I must have read the wrong stats! Thought see weighed more. Well spotted.

[@Aviator_za]

@@CalumRaasay Just for interest sake. The Belgrano was 9,575 tons (empty) and a total length of 608.3 ft (185.4 m). The Moskva, she was 9,380 tons and her length was 186.4 m (611 ft 7 in). So while the Belgrano was heavier the Moskva was longer. It will depend on what you classify as biggest. I believe a lot of news outlets have been using her length not weight. I'm not expert at all but its just interesting how similar in size the really were. If someone can advise on what is the correct justification for what we consider larger or small in this context ( WW2 light cruiser vs guided missile cruiser )

[@kristianxoto]

@@Aviator_za you should use displacement as size. because fx Gorshkov frigates are almost as long asd the slava class they are only half the weight

[@glennchartrand5411]

I was going to point out the Russian ship was longer , but someone already did. But yeah, displacement is what a ships size is

[@johnbeauvais3159]

@@glennchartrand5411 If memory serves something to this effect was why they made the Titanic like 6” shorter than the Olympic but it had more displacement so one was the “Longest ship in the world” and the other was the largest, albeit briefly.

[@ArheIy]

Just imagine: this ship has seen the 2 world wars, the cold war and countless independent R&S operations. It outlived its own crew at least a few times. It has gone from the era of battleships and diesel submarines to the era of digital warfare and nuclear-powered vessels. And it's still in service. Remarkable ship and damn impressive engineering, considering the timing...

[@AllHailTheBobSemple]

It’s just one of the examples of a nation unable to build new stuff and innovate

[@M16_Akula-III]

@@AllHailTheBobSemple What..? If it ain't broken why replace it?

[@ArheIy]

​@@AllHailTheBobSemplethis is a R&S ship, which means that it doesn't need to be on the cutting edge of technology to do its job, so I don't see why it shouldn't be used now. Moreover, I don't see why more countries don't use old ships that can perfectly do their job, considering that building the new ones takes a sh*t ton of money *from the taxpayers' wallets.* It works, so it stays.

[@matthplays-2312]

​@Gregor_Arhely becuase historic ships like this should've been turned into museum ships, rather than being used for military purposes....

[@TheRandompaint]

​@@matthplays-2312it's currently on fire my guy

[@Alex-cw3rz]

I find it funny that delays 100 years ago would be 3 years later than thought, including a war starting and new technologies have to be manufactured for the first time. Whereas delays now, with no new tech or war, would mean an extra decade on build time, tripling of the budget and then canceling the project just after some bonuses are handed out to the companies top brass for getting so much money from the government and some promised back handers to the government officials as well.

[@CalumRaasay]

Haha I know right, three years to build what was essentially a ship of a class and type that had never really existed before is pretty incredible. That said the builders did get help from the Germans with their experience on the Vulkan (and the couple of other Submarine tenders they built).

[@Iamthelolrus]

Big difference between then and now is they ended up building and being able to use the ship, I'm looking at you American LCS...

[@kw9849]

Just look at the moneypit that is the Canadian shipbuilding program. Our unit costs are always mysteriously 6-10x that of our allies...

[@jacksmith7726]

Look at long it takes them to construction buildings these day compared with the time of empire state building

[@tomtexas4897]

@@jacksmith7726 its all the red tape. To simply cut rebar you need a risk assessment that takes longer to do then the actual work

[@vipondiu]

The amount of work and research this guy puts into his channel deserve a medal or something. Never change Calum, keep doing what you are doing

[@CalumRaasay]

Thanks dude that really means a lot! This was an exceptionally long project even for me!

[@vipondiu]

@@CalumRaasay And it shows....

[@bigdaddygaming6222]

this just goes to show that with love and care, anything can last more then 100 years. although the bluing of the steel was helpful in keeping corrosion down, it was her crews dedication to keeping her afloat that kept her going and still going for so long. The very first crew would be very proud to ser her still going strong long after their time together. great story Calum, i really enjoy your docu's.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you!

[@marhawkman303]

probably doesn't hurt that she's equipped for doing maintenance on other vessels, and her crew can use those tools to repair her. Prompt minor maintenance can prevent major maintenance later.

[@nobullshit9721]

@@marhawkman303this makes the most sense

[@lundsweden]

This ship is IMO cool af! What a creative and innovative design from 1915!

[@CalumRaasay]

Very much so!

[@foo-foocuddlypoops5694]

Only found out she existed a few weeks back and my mind is still kinda blown. Can’t wait to get stuck into this video :D

[@CalumRaasay]

Yeah amazing how relevant this topic suddenly became!

[@an_f-14_tomcat]

Yo hi Foof

[@darkmatterhafnium1522]

this is honestly just really cool. Only about 13 minutes in, but listening to its first rescue, still during the Russian revolution, only to know that this ship is ‘alive’ and may be out there in this very moment in operation is honestly fascinating. I hope when it is eventually retired, it won’t be scrapped or anything.

[@therealiroquoisball]

Me too, I hope it isn't sunk either.

[@Jonathan.D]

I'm impressed with whoever had to captain this vessel. Operating a large ship was hard enough back then. They didn't have electronic navigation and only used rudimentary charts. This vessel is much more difficult to operate due to its basic propulsion system. It only has two props to maneuver with. The only positive aspect of this vessel is the increased stability due to it being a catamaran. My dad worked in heavy marine recovery and salvage. The tugs and other recovery vessels he captained had bow thrusters to help keep position. Newer models have azimuth pods, thrusters, and GPS navigation to hold the vessel on target. Holding in place long enough to recover a sub must have been a nerve racking experience to say the least. They had to deal with heavy seas and the constantly changing directions of both the wind and the tide. Even with modern equipment, there's more to it than just setting position.

[@Island_Line_Rail_Productions]

Beautiful ship. Hope she lives on for another 100 years or it destined to be a museum ship when her time is up. If the Lake freighters can become museum ships, no reason this one can’t

[@TheRandompaint]

This didn't age well😂

[@format2000channel]

I live in the city of Severodvinsk in Russia, we have the steamer "N.V. Gogol" which has been in operation since 1911. Now he is still on the move, taking walks along the Northern Dvina River

[@kreslokkd]

21:54 I lived in this city my whole life and i love seeing photos and maps like this, because you can see the city almost untouched and all the quaters full without any gaps. For now if you visit the city center you can easyly find gaps between the houses or modern houses, parks, schools in between old buildings just because many buildings were destroyed during the great patriotic war. And those "ornaments" of city buildings are not so clear and sometimes nonexitent, because some districts were damaged so heavily that it was just easier to destroy them completely and build something different than rebuild it.

[@vincentas1]

​@kurtmabyc crying pole, sad really

[@toomaskotkas4467]

@kurtmabyc Typical polak doesn't know that 1939 follows by 1941, not the other way around. Also, do they teach in your schools how Poland, Nazi Germany and Hungary attacked and divided Czechoslovakia in 1938?

[@mrobocop1666]

@kurtmabyc Poland was called "hyena of Europe" back then, it was scolding with all it's neighbours, intriguing and aggressive troublemaker, had bad relationships with all, attacked Czechoslovakia in 1938 together with Hitler. So even when Hitler attacked Poland in 1939, it's allies France and Britain didn't really interfere and gladly watched it being destroyed and conquered. Soviet Red army came when Polish government already fled and took back Western Ukraine and Belarus captured by Poland in 1920 to move the border further from Moscow as preparation for the inevitable war with Germany

[@HunterShows]

Our grandparents were fools.

[@toomaskotkas4467]

@@HunterShows Correction: your grandparents

[@billbaker3565]

A fascinating story. I never realized catamaran hulls were utilized in the era of her launch. Thanks.

[@marhawkman303]

yeah, it's never been common, but the idea has been around for centuries.

[@kolby4078]

Look up ancient polynesian boats from a few thousand years ago.

[@user-bv7zo6vd4m]

Exactly as you said, HMS victory and USS constitution may technically be the oldest operational warships, but they are essentially only ceremonial and museum ships, no one is going to be throwing them in combat. Thus, it's pretty fair to give the title to the kommuna

[@orjansand6431]

Amasing

[@user-ub8dc3rb4e]

Я работал на Коммуне некоторое время. Старушка ещё сильна и способна на многое!

[@vladvulcan]

ого, неожиданный коммент)

[@Chris-ut6eq]

Started watching and suspected that I would not finish this long video on a single ship, but before I knew it the full 48minutes were gone and it ended. Very engaging and professional quality documentary video. Your videos are all so good!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you Chris, much appreciated!

[@mx5_enigma308]

One of the most under rated youtube channels out here. Thanks so much for the research and amazing content!

[@CalumRaasay]

Wow, thank you! Really appreciate that.

[@wolf2403]

Seconded, love the content and really interesting!

[@Renee_R343]

Only found this channel, through the rescue buoys video, a few days ago. I was convinced It was some huge channel with a professional production crew and 5 or 6 million subscribers. I was shocked to find He has less than 160K subscribers. That can't be true, surely the count should be in the millions. This is what Discovery and History channels used to be 20 years ago (and what they should be now), only with a better story telling. Absolutely captivating.

[@LemmyCaution66]

An amazing video about a ship I never heard of. The video was so well researched and produced that I watched it twice. Thank you for this awesome history lesson. Greetings from Belgium 🇧🇪

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! I was in Belgium last year, absolutely can’t wait to get back!

[@ich1978]

A grand and graceful old lady, she outlast the empire that built her, she outlast the Union that adopted her. Thank you had a much better understanding of “commune” and her distinctive service. The crew that runs her must have took pains to truly care and treasure her. She belong to an era where things were built to last, very much different from the one we live. We jus prefer to throw away and get a new better one. I truly hope when it’s time for her to retire, she will be turn to a museum.

[@TheRandompaint]

Ukraine decided she was fit for an early and hot retirement 😂

[@DimestoreLiam]

Nice! Well done, sir! Although I am much more oriented towards land warfare and air war, I've been reading military history for more than 40 years and own several books on the history of naval warfare (at least one specifically about the Imperial Russian & Soviet navies)- but I had never even heard of this ship until I watched your fascinating video. What an amazing story; once again, well done!!!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! I like finding the more obscure stuff!

[@glennselwitz1377]

Your hard work is very much appreciated..so well edited with fantastic facts and visuals and as always a highly interesting subject ...this channel is growing for good reason Calum...

[@dudleyhewett7211]

The choice of subject matter, extent of research and quality of content on this channel are absolutely 1st class! I watch lots of videos about historical machinery but none are as good as these. I also find Callum’s voice soothing and relaxing in the extreme. If he made an audio book about paint drying I would absolutely listen to it.

[@MrAnton275]

I have been thinking about this ship for a few days now, finding it amazing how long she has served, and I am really glad I found your video! Amazing work!

[@CalumRaasay]

Fortunate timing!

[@MrAnton275]

@@CalumRaasay Indeed, couldnt be better!

[@barefootalien]

Incredible! You find the most fascinating and obscure things to cover, but as with each of your videos I've seen so far, I'm really glad to know about the Волков/Комуна!

[@DjPolo1897]

Just found this channel by chance and I have to say this is one of the best videos on a warship I have ever seen, well done and keep up the amazing work.

[@TheBillzilla]

This is one of the most interesting and best videos I've seen here on YT. Many thanks for putting in the huge effort to make it.

[@CalumRaasay]

Wow, thank you Bill. Appreciate that

[@raymondfranklin100]

This is the 2nd video of yours that I’ve watched, both today. I’m so impressed by the quality of your research and video. Thank you!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you for watching!

[@rickyquinteros7100]

You know it’s old when the main hull looks like the titanic from the side

[@mikeperth8027]

Mate, this is an absolutely awesome documentary about a vessel I had never heard of before. I love your work Calum, you really know how to dig up some interesting subject, research and present them in an awesome package!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you Mike, these kind of comments are much appreciated!

[@Emperorvalse]

Thank you for such an in depth and interesting documentary. I really appreciate the love and effort that you put into this.

[@elzabethtatcher9570]

Thank you very much for your good work. Its very nice to see people explore Communa!

[@ChipChapinSJ]

Another very fine documentary, sir, quite fascinating. Fully up to the high standards you've set with earlier works. Thank you for doing this.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thanks for watchin Chip, appreciate that!

[@daminox]

I've been on youtube since the 2000s and you're one of the few channels i get genuinely excited for when I see a new vid!

[@spacecase13]

I'm enjoying your continuous dedication to the esoteric and obscure! Your depth of coverage is appreciated!

[@toddr1124]

Very informative and well researched video! You always put an amazing amount of effort into your videos, but this one was particularly impressive. Really cool to see how the history ties right into modern events and will carry on beyond. Thank you for bringing us this content! Subbed!

[@jchrystsheigh]

This video was amazing! It blew my mind, I had never heard anything about this ship until this video. You earned a sub!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! Much appreciated

[@MarkBarnett]

Really enjoyed watching that Calum - another slick, engaging production. Good on ya!

[@RandomRetr0]

Extremely well done. Your dedication to research really shows!

[@ijulesy]

Another really intersting video! I love these long-form documantary style videos you make, keep up the great work!

[@CalumRaasay]

Glad you like them!

[@pilotman012]

Nice job. I learned a lot and appreciate the effort you put into all your videos. I half assumed you might've mentioned the Glomar Explorer considering the type of ships.

[@CalumRaasay]

Great point! Completely slipped my mind actually. Maybe a video for another day!

[@pilotman012]

@@CalumRaasay That would be epic. With your attention to detail I wonder what you'd uncover. I'll patreon this week.

[@markzieg3593]

Excellent documentary of this fascinating piece of naval history. Because of the Kursk tragedy, I’d always assumed that the Russian navy was lax about safety and crew recovery, yet your research indicates they were ahead of peer navies of the times. Astonishing.

[@vadikgg4537]

Прочитай еще про спасательные субмарины проекта 940, которые в момент гибели "Курска" уже готовились к утилизации. Впрочем, даже их применение вряд ли бы помогло, поскольку спасательные аппараты флота много раз спускались к подводной лодке, но не смогли присосаться к люку из-за повреждения стыковочной площадки.

[@SteamCrane]

I need to add that the research you put into this video is awesome. Even if some new information turns up, this presentation still stands.

[@ReiMonCoH]

I met the then captain of the Constitution a few years back. The funny part is, it’s not just a “commissioned” ship… it comes complete with its own “base” as well as its sailors and, interesting enough, a company of Marines. As well as cannon balls and all that. Oh yes, her cannons work just fine. And the captain made it Perfectly Clear… if needs be, he will load up those sailors and Marines and cannon balls and go to war.

[@Adamu98]

Gotta love the us navy.

[@razor1uk610]

@@Adamu98 Indeed ! ...butt I feel once loaded up with cannonballs, akin to sphincters, & Benoit-balls, time for pending up towards a depressurisation..., things could go messily PooBAR _-FUBAR-_ *!!* 😜😋😉🤔🙄🤪

[@Jafi9]

Ukrainian sources claimed, on 21 April 2024, that they had damaged the ship with a Neptune missile, while it was docked in Sevastopol. Russia had removed most of the ships from the Black Sea, out of range, and it was one of the few still remaining. 🔥

[@atrothe]

Fantastic video. great graphics and research. Well done.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! Much appreciated 🙏

[@edcox6784]

Wonderful program. Job well done, tremendous thanks.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thanks Ed!

[@andreasheld2362]

Hi Calum, again you managed to present a topic I knew nothing about in an interesting and visually perfect way. So, thank you. Again. 🙂

[@CalumRaasay]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching Andreas.

[@jaybee9269]

I really enjoy your deep dives, Calum! (As for the ship, sometimes designers just get it right!)

[@TheTruthKiwi]

Exceptionally interesting and timely piece Calum. Bravo.

[@normanboyes4983]

Congratulations - excellent piece of work and very well presented.

[@mattwilliams3456]

Amazing content and production values as always.

[@CalumRaasay]

Much appreciated!

[@davidbarrass]

HMS Warrior also has largely intact hull, and that's 161 years old (first sailed in 1861). Obviously it's not in service and it's been heavily restored but the iron hull shows that iron can survive in the sea, even with minimal maintenance.

[@cpt.mirones5109]

its not allways sea water that destroys iron hulled ships but rather condensation internally. while today fibreglass or composit yachts have to deal with mold from lack of ventilation, iron hulled ships and boats almost allways get eaten up by rust from inside to outside.

[@OmmerSyssel]

@@cpt.mirones5109 Important knowledge! Sufficient ventilation is mandatory! Seen well polished and perfect maintained Yachts severely suffering from mold, and every single screw, rib, equipment and whatever were eaten by rust and corrosion.. Saddening to realise lifelong care and love (for polishing..) were ready for the junkyard, because of ignoring that simple and cheap precaution. One was even in lifelong possession of engineers (!)

[@johnsnow1355]

@@cpt.mirones5109 maybe that's it's secret it's never been abandoned it's been in continuous service with a crew for its entirety service never left to decay without a crew.

[@user-by2rv6nx8j]

А он тоже в строю? Нет А Коммуна - в полном рабочем состоянии.

[@gherkinisgreat]

@@user-by2rv6nx8j Yeah, because the Royal Navy hasn't been bankrupt for most of it's existence unlike the russian navy.

[@oscargoldman85]

Outstandingly good research, well produced - GREAT WORK!

[@CalumRaasay]

Much appreciated!

[@Jeemdeecreations]

Fantastic video, once again. Beautiful imagery and storytelling. My new favorite KZbinr!

[@moobaz8675]

I really enjoyed that. It shows how good the design was and that someone had the vision to commission this ship. I wonder what they’d think now if they could see her?

[@dingdong2103]

Russian warships have a reputation of being verm infested, stinky and filthy inside just after 10-20 years of use. Imagine the aroma of 100 years of use...

[@hunterbear2421]

@@dingdong2103 well, it's most likey the best smelling ship it did sit for most of the time and it must have gotton cleaned alot. surpised that piano is still their tho from 1914, knock on wood it last another hundred.

[@TheRandompaint]

Currently on fire

[@200degrees]

I really enjoy watching your videos right after they launch cause it's fun to guess how many millions they'll get in a couple months aha Great video again! Fascinating that it's still floating and it's superbly in depth! I also just picked up a mini-trac mug from your store that showed up a couple weeks ago, great for a mornign cup of coffee!

[@CalumRaasay]

Oh wow, I don’t know anyone that has any of my merch! That’s fantastic I’m using it right now for my coffee too!

[@oleran4569]

Your hard work and expertise is in good light throughout this video! Thank you !

[@KevinMartin314]

Thisnis the first video of yours ive seen and you definitely earned a sub. Incredible work.

[@MrMediator24]

Incredible long living ship. Saw it almost every day when I went to university

[@behindthespotlight7983]

There is a mostly submerged octagonal fishing pier at the Naval Air Station Alameda. It sits mere yards from the museum ship Hornet. A WW2-Vietnam Era carrier. To add just a touch more charm, the wreckage of piers and planks are slowly disintegrating in what was the Seaplane Lagoon (during the base’s active years) and it was called The Cove. It was a place where Navy dads, perhaps a little short on time, could “take their kids fishing” on short leave or even a lunch hour. Anyhow it was an early 1980’s trip to The Cove with my grandfather (a WW2 combat veteran) when I looked up at “this weird ship” with truss and scaffolding serving as the predominant superstructure and asked papa what it was. “Oh. That’s a salvage ship” he replied. For the next 10 years I carried an addled idea that on that vessel lived a bunch of the type of men I saw in pre-Home Depot hardware stores: men carrying old doors around, prying molding from farmhouse walls; you know, “salvaging.” And it always puzzled me why men in the Navy had their own ship for that when everything I’d ever seen on naval vessels was made of heavy gray steel. I caught a crab on that pier. And papa fell through a deteriorating plank up to his hip. It seems The Cove, itself, was already being salvaged…by the Seaplane Lagoon. Even then. How fast the decades sail. For men, machines and weapons of warfare. Great video👍🏼 Outstanding.

[@sebastianucero7535]

Excellent work Calum. Congratulations on your well investigated, and super interesting video.

[@CalumRaasay]

Many thanks Sebastian! Thank you for watching.

[@jeremygreenwood8501]

Fascinating. Many thanks for putting this together.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you for watching Jeremy!

[@unknown-ql1fk]

Dude keep it up, i just found your channel and love it....you have way more detail and not political and i love it than many "documentary" channels. Love it

[@widescreennavel]

This is amazing work! Great job. So much info. Thank you. You should do a "deep dive" like this on the Glomar Explorer.

[@CalumRaasay]

That would be a fun one!

[@widescreennavel]

@@CalumRaasay I was working on Catalina Island when the ship tested its huge submersible device...I was in my small outboard powered skiff. It looked like a Japanese monster movie, the giant bubbles coming from deep in the ocean. The deckhands brandished automatic rifles when I got too close. They told us they were "harvesting manganese nodules" and we believed them! Peace.

[@CalumRaasay]

What an amazing story! You witnessed a fascinating piece of history

[@revertfpv2928]

Amazing video as always, love watching your videos

[@TTXV]

Excellent work, what a compelling story really well told!

[@camillitech1]

Nice work Calum all new to me, very interesting. Ever considered doing one on the Russian cruiser Varyag. To my knowledge the only ship to ever serve in the Russian Imperial navy, Japanese Imperial navy and Royal navy. Finally coming to grief off Scotland in 1922 after being sold to a German scrap metal company. She fought so heroically during the Russo Japanese war that her commander was given a medal by the Japanese!!!!!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thanks Paul! Funnily enough I'd heard the story (maybe off your blog?) but I didn't realise it had such a storied history. Need to add that to the list - currently obsessed with the search for Soviet Gold on the HMS Edinburgh and Arctic Convoys in general, so that might be an upcoming video!

[@camillitech1]

@@CalumRaasay Aye Calum I'm sure you already have them but I've got Salvage of the Century by Ric Wharton, Goldfinder by Keith Jessop and Stalin's gold by Barrie Penrose. Three books all about it that give three very different perspectives on the operation. I worked for years with one of the divers on the job and he some great stories about it. My favourite being when they Superglued the strong room door lock so Ivan could not unlock it :-) Charlie Gillies' dad or grandad was one of the radio operators aboard Edinburgh. Don't suppose you ever saw it but perhaps your did. MV Stephaniturm once visited Kyle in the late nineties, wish I'd taken pictures :-(

[@philipfieldhouse9229]

Thank you for a fascinating look at such an incredible vessel. Absolutely brilliant!

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you Philip! Really appreciate that.

[@nicklacerte7134]

I've been waiting for a good video about this ship! Great video

[@ianmclaughlin8987]

This was a really interesting watch and outstanding level of detail of the ships history. Thanks

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! I wanted to really try and cover as much as possible and give a proper history of the ship!

[@Grumpy_old_Boot]

That was an excellent documentary, thank you. 🙂

[@CalumRaasay]

Thanks for watching!

[@Grumpy_old_Boot]

@@CalumRaasay Well, after all the work you put into it, it only seemed reasonable to say thank you. 😄

[@nicolek4076]

Drop everything and tune in! It's another meticulously-researched video from Calum!

[@CalumRaasay]

Hahaha appreciate it!

[@nicolek4076]

@@CalumRaasay I was only half joking.

[@iainwalker8701]

Thanks for all the effort you put into the video. Think I might go have a refresher on Le Tourneos land trains.

[@donuthole7236]

Thank you for taking the time in making this video

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you for watching!

[@randalhansen9039]

Great and fascinating story of a now ancient ship! Thank you for your work in bringing this to light.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you Randal!

[@tomriley5790]

Pretty impressive that she's still operational after all this time! Most ships are worn out long before!

[@OmmerSyssel]

Most vessels aren't taking out of service while they are outworn. Its simply not lucrative modernising such complicated constructions to follow modern improved standards. Only a deeply corrupt, inhumane and inefficient system as Russia is dominated of, will take such irrational decisions. As experienced sailor I can assure you that, You would hate every single hour being forced to work and live under such outdated circumstances. You don't enjoy bumping around in a Ford T or Willy's Jeep, never mind how well polished it may be ...

[@tomriley5790]

@@OmmerSyssel Yes I can't imagine a ship built 100 years ago has all mod cons. That said she does look like a fairly unique design and they've clearly modernised her repeatedly. Plus looking at western navies it doesnt seem that unusual for ships to be kept in service far beyond their original design lives whilst replacements are argued about/delayed etc.

[@OmmerSyssel]

@@tomriley5790? As told, a vessel has to comply with modern standards. Russia has a long tradition of painting their outworn rust buckets to blind naive land lubbers. Apparently that fake still serves its purpose ... 🤷🏼

[@dylanwight5764]

@@OmmerSyssel That, or you can't keep a good ship down. One sailor to another, you know damn well how much we adore our ships, especially those which have outlived many who crewed her. I have twelve years sea time over a two decade career and have never crewed a ship younger than me. Kommuna may be old but we all know she's still in her prime.

[@OmmerSyssel]

@@dylanwight5764 Ohøj mate. Sorry, but I don't like to work and live under mediocre circumstances.. I fancy traditional Yachts and owned two. That's something else than professional crossing the Atlantic or tumbling the Baltic sea in an old Tug... ⚓🇩🇰✌🏻

[@HereticalKitsune]

Such a cool ship concept, thanks for sharing it with us!

[@HeavyCarts]

Incredible video. This is the first of your videos I have seen and if it is anything to go off, I will be watching more.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thank you! I’ve quite the eclectic taste in topics!

[@kiiiisu]

ooooh what! 48mins of video from Calum, thanks!!

[@CalumRaasay]

Haha Hope you enjoy! I promise I'll make some shorter videos eventually

[@r2gelfand]

Can you imagine what the list of captains and crew would look like! Bet they had some interesting reunions over the years!

[@subtlewhatssubtle]

The Kommuna is such an allegory. A quiet, hardworking, vessel providing often thankless service to three different regimes. Propping up the incompetent and unprepared. Rescuing those who fall victim to the aforementioned lack of competence or preparation. Giving some measure of hope to the people who see her still performing her tasks.

[@TheRandompaint]

And is currently on fire

[@jamesrodrigues7391]

Very Informative thanks Calum.

[@CalumRaasay]

Thanks for watching James!

[@reticenti6365]

That was a very cool story. The queen of the Russian navy. What a glorious history for a ship.

[@JasonSmith-qb4wz]

Very interesting and well researched article on a far sighted operational ship.

[@patrickmuhwheeney6518]

Entertaining in the extreme. Thanks for the upload!

[@exidy-yt]

Top notch video, both in terms of information and presentation. Bravo, sir.

[@user-qp1tt7xt6u]

Интересное видео. Хоть судно прошло несколько раз модернизацию и сейчас оборудовано даже подводным роботом, такой срок службы судна поражает. Есть ли другие корабли, которые служат так долго в других странах?

[@user-yz9ko1yj2e]

На сколько я знаю - нет. Есть только разные "парадные" корабли, типо Миссури или какого то британского парусника.

[@franciscosansalone2319]

Both Argentina and Brazil use ships from the 1930s and 40s as river monitors (Argentina: ARA King commissioned in 1946, and Brazil U-17 Parnaíba commissioned in 1938)

[@Am_Yeff]

RIP, either straight up gone or heavily damaged by a Neptune

[@glennfryer1539]

Brilliant work Calum .. very interesting..

[@cellokid5104]

That was amazing. Thank you for your effort