Shabalin, Aleksandr Osipovich

Born Oct. 22 (Nov. 4), 1914, in the village of Iudmozero, in what is now Onega Raion, Arkhangel’sk Oblast. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (Feb. 22,1944, and Nov. 5,1944). Rear admiral (1969). Member of the CPSU since 1943.

Shabalin, the son of a peasant, joined the navy in 1936. In 1939 he passed an examination to qualify for the rank of officer. He graduated from the Caspian Higher Naval School in 1951 and the academic courses of the Naval Academy in 1955. He fought in the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939–40 as commander of a motor torpedo boat.

During the Great Patriotic War (1941–45), Shabalin commanded a motor torpedo boat and a unit and detachment of motor torpedo boats in the Northern and Baltic fleets. He personally sank seven enemy ships, four supply ships, and one motor boat. After he assumed command of the detachment in February 1944, 25 enemy ships were sunk. Since 1957, Shabalin has held leadership posts in higher naval educational institutions.

Shabalin, the recipient of two Orders of Lenin, has been awarded three Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War Second Class, the Order of the Red Star, and the Order for Serving the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR Third Class. He has also received numerous medals. A bust of Shabalin was placed in the city of Onega, Arkhangel’sk Oblast.