The World War II Soviet submarine L-21 belonged to the L-class or Leninets class of minelayer submarines. She was part of the last series (Group 4) of her class, having some improvements including more torpedo tubes. The commander during the war was Sergey S. Mogilevskiy.
Service history Before completion, L-21 was sunk by German aircraft in Leningrad on 24 May 1942. L-21 was later raised, completed and commissioned, making both torpedo attacks and mine-laying. Among her victims was the Hansa, a neutral Swedish passenger ship travering from Nynäshamn to Visby. 84 innocent people were killed in the attack, which is commemorated by a memorial plaque in Visby Cathedral on Gotland, where the ship's bell is also preserved. L-21 also managed to sink a number of German warships, including two torpedo boats and a submarine.
+ Ships sunk by L-21 Date Ship Flag Tonnage Notes 23 November 1944 Eichberg 1,923 GRT freighter (mine) 24 November 1944 Elie 1,837 GRT freighter (mine) 24 November 1944 563 GRT passenger ship (torpedo) 22 December 1944 Eberhard 749 GRT freighter (mine) (possibly) 14 March 1945 T3 839 t displacement torpedo boat (mine) 14 March 1945 T5 839 t displacement torpedo boat (mine) 16 March 1945 769 t displacement (surfaced) submarine (mine) 23 March 1945 V 2022/E Colzmann 581 GRT patrol boat (torpedo) 24 March 1945 Erni 105 GRT tug (torpedo)Total:8,205 GRT
One of her mines heavily damaged the German destroyer Z43.
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