The vessel depict on this stamp, entering the Volga – Don Canal lock No 1 in 1952, is the river- passenger ship JOSEPH STALIN.
Built at the Red Sormovo plant at Gorki in 1937 for the ERM, Soviet Union. She was the lead vessel of her class, and her hull was welded
Launched as JOSEPH STALIN, four sisters
Tonnage and dimensions?
Powered by two 6-BK-43 four-stroke 6-cyl diesel engines of 350 hp. each, speed 20 km/h
The two propellers were housed particular in tunnels to protect the propeller blades.
Bunker capacity 35 ton.
Flat bottomed, did have eight bulkheads, a round stern.
She was fitted out with a steering wheel fore and aft to pass easily through the many locks in the 128 km long canal.
For heating she was fitted out with a steam boiler.
Fitted out with berths for 18 passengers and eight four person cabins used by passengers without a berth.
One cargo hold of 108 m³.
Behind the engine room there were cabins for crew, a dinning room, hairdressing saloon and an other small cargo hold of 11 m³.
Also had a cinema and concert hall and a restaurant with seats for 100 persons.
1937 The Moscow Canal was opened and for this canal this five vessels were special built to pass through this canal from Moscow to the great rivers of Russia.
In 1938 she was featured in the Russian film Volga-Volga. Some scenes of the film are showed on a envelop of Russia issued in 2003, which shows also the director of the movie Mr. G. Alexandrov.
She got the honour to open op 27 July 1952 the Volga Don canal, as seen on the stamps.
During World War II attacked by enemy bombers.
After the war in 1947 again in-service in the Moscow River.
After Stalin died, was she in 1958 renamed in MIKHAIL FRUNZE.
1971 Out of service?
A model of the ship today you can find in a hall of the Red Sormovo plant at Gorky, were you can see also the movie Volga-Volga.
Russia 1947 50k sg1273, scott. (she is one of the JOSHEP STALIN class)
Russia 1952 8k sg?, scott? (cargo vessel leaving the Volga-Don Canal)
Russia 1952 40k sg 1783, scott?
Russia1r sg1806, scott? (also a photo after which this stamp was designed)
Russia 1956 envelope for the Volga-Volga film.
Rumania 1955 1.55 lei sg?, scott? (looks a Joshep Stalin class vessel?)
Source: info and images supplied by Mr. Gennadiy Sitnikov.
15 April 1926 keel laid down.
04 April 1928 launched as CRISTOFORO COLOMBO, one sister the AMERIGO VESPUCCI.
Tonnage 4,146 grt, 1,202 net, 3,410 dwt., dim. 100.5 x 15.5 x 7m. (draught), length bpp. 82.4m.
Sail area 2,824 m².
Two auxiliary diesel engines, 1,600 hp, twin screws, speed 10 knots.
Armament 4 – 70/40 guns and 4 MG.
Crew circa 400 including trainees.
01 July 1928 completed.
The ship was designed by General Lieutenant Francesco Rotundi of the Italian Navy. She was designed as a late 18th-century 74 cannon ship-of-the-line.
Before World War II regular used for training voyages in the Mediterranean and to Northern Europe waters sometimes independently or together with her sister.
Altogether she undertook nine lengthy training cruises before the war.
During World War II most probably laid up.
After the war ceded to the Soviet Union and she was handed over at Odessa after sailing from Italy with a merchant crew in 1949.
Renamed in DUNAJ named after the Danube River, her black hull was painted gray and assigned to the 78th Training Brigade, based at Odessa, she made occasional training voyages in the Black Sea until 1959.
Then owned by Navy Department School in Leningrad who in 1960 transferred her to the Nautical Institute of Odessa.
1961 There were plans for a major maintenance but which never started. Only her masts were removed.
She was thereafter mostly used as a transport ship to carry timber until 1963.
1963 Got on fire in Soviet waters, after the fire was extinguished she was declared unseaworthy and she was stricken from the ships list.
The DUNAJ was abandoned and left unattended the next 8 year.
1971 Was she finally demolished.
North Korea 1983 80ch sgMSN2319, scott?
Source: Wikipedia.
