B39 Soviet Submarine Photo Gallery by Walter Otto Koenig at pbase.com

B39 Soviet Submarine

A bow to stern tour of the B39 Soviet Submarine using a Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8 Fisheye Lens.

A Gallery of older images can be found at the end of this gallery.

One of a fleet of diesel electric submarines the Soviet Navy called “Project 641,” B-39 was commissioned in the early 1970s and served on active duty for more than 20 years.
300 feet in length and displacing more than 2000 tons, B-39 is among the largest conventionally powered submarines ever built.

Soviet Project 641 submarines, classified as “Foxtrot” by NATO, are essentially larger and more powerful versions of German World War II era U-boats.
Low-tech but lethal, she carried 24 torpedoes while she was on patrol-some capable of delivering low-yield nuclear warheads.
B-39 carried a crew of 78 and could dive to a depth of 985 feet before threatening the integrity of her nickel steel hull.
The submarine was acquired by western businessmen in the early 90's and was initially on display in Seattle. She has been part of the Maritime Museum of San Diego since 2005.

For photography a very difficult place to shoot because of the lack of light and space and many reflective surfaces. Tripods not allowed, so all images hand held.

Conning Tower from the Port Side	View of the Bow	Conning Tower	Outside View Starboard	Outside View Port
Entrance to Bow Torpedo Compartment	Bow Torpedo Tubes	Bow Torpedo Tubes	Bow Torpedo Tube	Bow Torpedo Sotwage
Bow Torpedo Stowage	Ceiling of Bow Torpedo Compartment	Bow Torpedo Compartment	Bow Torpedo Compartment	Bow Torpedo Compartment
Watertight Hatch to Cabin Compartment	Watertight Hatch to Cabin Compartment	Contorl Cabin Compartment	Officers Washroom	Captain's Cabin
Sonar Room	Gangway Cabin Compartment	Officers Cabin	Gangway Compartment Cabin	Officers Quarters
Officers Wardroom	Main Gangway	Watertight Hatch leading to Bridge	Compartment Pressure Controls	Toilet
Diving Controls	Diving Controls	Bridge	Diving Controls on Bridge	Rear of Bridge
Diving Controls		Control Pannel Bridge	Control Pannel Diesel Engine Compartment	Control Pannel Diesel Engine Compartment
Looking forward to Bridge Compartment	Diesel Engine Controls	Diesel Engine Compartment	View of Diesel Engine Compartment	Diesel Engines
Diesel Engines	View of Electrical Engine Compartment		Crew Berthing	Crew Berthing
Electric Engine Room	Electric Engine Room	Electric Engine Room	Electric Engine Room	Electric Engine Room
Rear of Engine Compartment	The Head	Watertight Hatch to Aft Torpedeo Compartment	Aft Torpedo Compartment	Watertight Hatch
Aft Torpedeo Compartment	Aft Torpedo Tubes	Aft Torpedo Tube	Controls Aft Torpedo Compartment	Aft Torpedo Tubes
Rear Torpedeo Compartment	Controls Aft Torpedo Comaprtment	Aft Hatch	:: B39 Soviet Submarine Older Images ::
Ward Room	Bridge	Watertight Compartment Hatch	Main Gangway	_ESC2826-091004.jpg
				High Pressure Air Manifolds

Guest		22-Jan-2013 22:01
Fantastic. Best. J

Victor		14-Dec-2011 18:28
Many thanks for gallery! It is my native submarine B-39! I served by this ship in 1974-76 on Kamchatka! It is impossible to believe, that my submarine still exists!!! THANKS Walter!

J. Scott Coile		25-Nov-2010 12:46
What a well documented collection. You always inpress me with you wide vision. Perfect example in these tight quarters. Bravo.

Hernan E. Enriquez		15-Oct-2010 14:28
This is excellent Walter!

joseantonio		16-Sep-2010 16:34
Excellent report

Linda Willets		19-Jul-2010 19:47
That lens was perfect for that.

Dan Greenberg		17-Jun-2010 04:14
Definitely a fun subject for fish eye shots! You did a great job of documenting it. Thanks... ~V~

Ray :)		08-Jun-2010 01:59
I always wonder why people would want to spend time at sea in one of these vessels! Well done on undertaking such challenging photography.

Bernard Davis		23-Apr-2010 19:23
Super gallery, fascinating images from a recently past era. V

Mike		22-Apr-2010 20:42
Excellent series - thanks!

sue anne		05-Mar-2010 00:37
Excellent series and view of the B39. Thanks for the tour ! V.

Victor		05-Dec-2009 19:09
Áîëüøîå ñïàñèáî çà great ôîòî!!!Ôîòîãðàôèè ñóïåð!!!Ýòî ìîÿ ðîäíàÿ ëîäêà, íà êîòîðîé ÿ ñëóæèë â 1974-1975ã.!!!

Fay Stout		08-Oct-2009 01:06
Fascinating gallery! Have no idea why anyone would want to go beneath the water in one of these things. I find it rather frightening... Well documented! V.

Monique Trempe		17-Sep-2009 23:15
Interesting gallerie, beautiful photos. TFS.

Dante Fratto Photography		06-Sep-2009 23:38
Outstanding Gallery! Voted!

Guest		26-Aug-2009 16:03
Unbelievable coverage, a real eye opener, you can imagine being there, and the imagination can run wild! VOTE!

Guest		26-Aug-2009 15:59
Unbelievable coverage, a real eye opener, you can imagine being there, and the imagination can run wild! VOTE!

Guest		26-Aug-2009 15:58
Unbelievable coverage, a real eye opener, you can imagine being there, and the imagination can run wild! VOTE!

Meggi Raeder		22-Aug-2009 23:47
Great documentary!! Meggi

anuschka		18-Aug-2009 21:56
Great documenting, interesting subject! V.

Guest		16-Aug-2009 20:44
Incredible.I'd like to visit it in real.Beautiful gallery.I like.V

Inga Morozoff		07-Aug-2009 15:39
Terrific gallery Walter! Don't know why I missed this until know. Anyway, the fisheye really brings the space alive. It's easy to imagine her crew going about their business.

Jean-Luc Rollier		09-Jul-2009 11:02
Great document! You are the better spy of the world!!! JL Vote

Rick Kobylinski		09-Jul-2009 01:58
Outstanding images and great use of the fisheye, perfect for this gallery. Beautifully composed and shot. Big, big vote.

Kevin Chester		01-Jul-2009 21:46
What a great use for that fisheye lens, probably the best use I have ever seen one put too. A cracking set of images dispite the lack of tripod. It gives a real sense of the small space they ha to operate in. Big V

Rob Oele		27-Jun-2009 17:52
Great details, great colours! V

Jean-Claude Liehn		23-Jun-2009 03:56
What a document !

Razumihin		20-Jun-2009 21:42
fascinating subject shot perfectly - vote

Guest		18-Jun-2009 04:42
Very Cool Gallery.

marie-jose wolff		10-Jun-2009 20:54
fantastic images of a yellow submarine! V

Dave Perez		09-Jun-2009 00:47
Spectacular display of terrific photos Walter. This is one of the best galleries I've seen! Big gallery "V"

Guest		08-Jun-2009 23:25
This is way too cool. Very interesting to be able to be inside a sub. Thanks for taking us on a small tour. Great images!

Hubert Steed		07-Jun-2009 17:29
Extraordinary gallery. Well suited for fisheye photography. Well done. V

coaster		07-Jun-2009 15:24
Interesting gallery; good shots!

Claude Martin		04-Jun-2009 20:22
Great reportage, with all the light and technical constrains. Very interesting to visit. V

Kim		16-May-2009 10:29
Great series, very interesting! V

Guest		13-May-2009 05:03
You did a great repport with this lens. Congrats, Walter. V

geonni banner		11-May-2009 19:24
I think I would have called this gallery "Claustrophobia." Yikes! Great shots... V

LynnH		08-May-2009 20:32
I'm really enjoying this Sub gallery, especially through the fish-eye. Big vote!!

Jarek M		08-May-2009 03:40
Just looking at the pictures of this piece of of Soviet death-tool makes me claustrophobic...

Eugene Michael Bundy		07-May-2009 20:19
Excellent...that's something you don't get to see every day. Thanks for the tour. V

Michael Shpuntov		07-May-2009 20:17
Very interesting series of shots. I love how WA transforms the realities. Vote.

Sue Robertson		06-May-2009 22:00
What a terrific gallery!. The fisheye was a perfect choice of lens.. v

Nikon Mama - Birgitte Ott		05-May-2009 23:01
Excellent work, Walter!!! BRAVO! You 'shot' that submarine into pieces - lol! That is where to go with a 10.5mm - I am really impressed :o) ~v~

Benoit Durocher Photographie		05-May-2009 22:32
I find the gallery very interesting Walter. Your images speak for themself and you made a great use of the fisheye . Also ,the D300 seem very good at high ISO. Well done !

Mihai		04-May-2009 06:06
Great gallery Walter, very interesting presentation! Big Vote !

Guest		04-May-2009 00:15
Great tour! Great pictures! V

Marcia Rules		03-May-2009 14:19
great shooting & informative too ~V~

endre novak		01-May-2009 23:26
superb set!

rocky		01-May-2009 21:56
Great lens for a sub tour. =V=

alexeig		01-May-2009 21:47
Great gallery. Reminds me of the strategic missile site in Arizona, now museum

Serena Bowles		30-Apr-2009 22:03
Great choice of lens - the fish-eye accentuates the sense of confined space within the submarine V

Ali Majdfar		28-Apr-2009 17:19
Spectacular collection, stunning shots. ~V

Mike Stobbs		27-Apr-2009 21:47
Well done with that 10.5mm Walter....braVo...Mike

Bruno Gutiérrez		27-Apr-2009 20:55
Beautiful pictures. I guess it's the ideal scenario for the 10.5 f/2.8

Bill Warren		27-Apr-2009 16:00
Always amazing to see the guts of a sub and think about serving on one of these. Great WA captures. V

Gerhard Ritsema		25-Mar-2009 21:16
Very nice detailed gallery Walter and fun to read the story behind the 641. I joined the navy myself at the age of 19 and I supplied all dutch submarines (when they were in the harbour) dayly with food and beverages. Had a great time there!

Simon Chandler		26-Oct-2008 23:30
Informative gallery of captivating images. What a tour! v

Guest		25-Oct-2008 19:16
Great gallery, all that's missing is the stink of diesel fuel.

Inal		16-Sep-2008 21:39
the ugly regimes ugly face - fantastic history lesson and great images!!!

CM Kwan		27-May-2008 23:10
An impressive gallery that shows great views inside a submarine! V

Guest		26-May-2008 00:30
WOW What a great gallery

Lee G		24-May-2008 02:54
Excellent ! Interesting subject and wonderful images. I can't imagine life aboard one of these sardine cans.

Naret Visesvongsa		24-May-2008 00:54
Walter Thank you for sharing the picture of one of my favorite subject. Vote.

kenindfw		23-May-2008 23:27
Interesting Gallery. Enjoyed viewing it. As a former US Submarine officer it's interesting to view.

papadaka		23-May-2008 23:23
So Walter, how did we end up in posession of it ?

Paul L-R		23-May-2008 23:21
Fascinating gallery. V

Ulla Inkeri Huhta		23-May-2008 22:10
Is this the submarine that´s next to Queen Mary in Long Beach?

marie-jose wolff		23-May-2008 21:05
awesome images of this submarine! Great gallery, Walter! V

bill friedlander		14-May-2008 23:50
Wonderful gallery, excellent lighting. Not much labeling on the controls, I wonder if the Russians checked out their crew for dyslexia.

carabias		07-Apr-2008 17:29
Superb gallery. A jewel of the submarine. V

Chad Ramsey		19-Mar-2008 03:37
Man stuff! :-) I'm grunting like Tim the tool man!

Chad Ramsey		19-Mar-2008 03:36
Wow... some awesome images Walter~V

Dan Chusid		15-Mar-2008 14:46
Ahoy matey!

Guest		09-Mar-2008 23:31
great gallery-v-

click on thumbnails for full image