Russia – Soviet: A Baltic Fleet Order of the Red Star awarded to Signalman Mikhail Nikolaevich Bezborodov, Small Base Minesweeper 351, 10th Division of the Small Base Minesweepers, 1st Red Banner Minesweeper Brigade, Northern Baltic Fleet for provided his ship with uninterrupted communications manning the watch 18-20 hours a day. He took part in 43 operations to clear minefields, 16 times while leading and convoying ships, carried out 2 minelayings in enemy waters, towed 15 ships and took part in 7 land operations. He also reported the wake of a torpedo which resulted in his ship’s successful evasion.
Order of the Red Star, reverse numbered 1650578
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Mikhail Nikolaevich Bezborodov was born in the village of Shterovka, Voroshilovgrad Oblast in 1926. A Russian national he completed 7 grades of education before joining the Red Army in 1943.
This Order of the Red Star appears to be his sole numbered award issued to him by decree of the Commander of the 1st Red Banner Minesweeper Brigade, Northern Baltic Fleet.
At the time of this award the recipient was serving as a Signalman, Small Base Minesweeper 351, 10th Division of the Small Base Minesweepers, 1st Red Banner Minesweeper Brigade, Tallinn Naval Defence Region, Red Banner Baltic Fleet, the citation reads:
‘During the campaign of 1944-45, due to a lack of a second signalman, he singlehandedly provided the ship with uninterrupted communications, manning the watch 18-20 hours a day. He took part in 43 operations to clear minefields, 16 times while leading and convoying ships, 2 mine layings in enemy waters, 15 times towing ships with military equipment for support, and 7 land operations. While carrying out these operations, manning the signals watch 18-20 hours a day, he excellently provided visual communications for the lead ship with the ships of the division and vigilantly maintained the watch on the horizon and the air.
Thus, while the ship carried out missions near the Sorve Peninsula, he was first to spot enemy attack aircraft and warned the ship’s commander about the danger in time, and immediately opened fire with the DShK machine gun. While leading convoys from ? to Tallinn on 26th November 1944, he was first to notice the wake of launched torpedo and quickly reported this to the commander. As a result of this the ship evaded the torpedo.
During sailing in 1945, he took part in 49 minesweeping operations of fairways for military ships, on the lead ship, where he also kept the signals watch 16-18 hours per day, not leaving the bridge.’
After the war he would service as a Helmsman 2nd Class (Cutter), KT-1181, 22nd Division of Small Cutters and Minesweepers, 4th Minesweepers, 4th Minesweepers Brigade, Kronstadt Naval Defence Region, Northern Baltic Fleet with his home address being stated as apartment 5, building 24, Samarsky Pereulok, Moscow
