Vasili Alexandrovich Arkhipov (1926 - 1998)

Born 30 Jan 1926 in Staraya Kupavna, Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union

Died 19 Aug 1998 at age 72 in Zheleznodorozhny, Moscow Oblast, Russia

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Biography

Vasily Alexandrovich Arkhipov is Notable.

Vasili Alexandrovich Arkhipov (Russian: Василий Александрович Архипов) was a Soviet Navy officer who is credited with averting nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 by preventing the launch of a nuclear-armed torpedo from the Soviet submarine on which he served. ^[1] For his actions in 1962, he has been called "The unknown hero who prevented World War III."

In English

He was born in 1926 in the town of Staraya Kupavna, near Moscow, to peasant parents Aleksandr Arkhipov and Mariya Kozyryeva. He was educated in the Pacific Higher Naval School and participated in the Soviet–Japanese War in August 1945, serving aboard a minesweeper. He transferred to the Caspian Higher Naval School and graduated in 1947.^[1]

After graduating in 1947, Arkhipov served in the submarine service aboard boats in the Black Sea, Northern and Baltic Fleets.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he prevented World War III by arguing against and eventually dis-suading the Captain of his submarine, B-59, from launching a nuclear torpedo while they were being depth charged by the Americans to force them to the surface. The Captain needed the agreement of two other officers. One officer agreed but Vasili did not.^[2]

"One man, Vasili Arkhipov, who had quelled a near mutiny aboard the infamous K-19, stepped forward. (The Soviets’ first ballistic missile submarine experienced a Chernobyl-like reactor accident at sea in 1961.) Arkhipov was the brigade chief of staff, second in command, and he challenged Savitsky’s orders. He convinced Savitsky to release a single sonar ping to test the American resolve to kill their submarine."^[3]

In London on October 27, 2017, the fifty-fifth anniversary of Black Saturday, the Future of Life Institute honored Vasili Arkhipov with their inaugural Future of Life award, the first public appreciation of his contribution to society. The posthumous recognition was accepted by his daughter, Yelena Andriukova, and his grandson, Sergei Andriukova, on behalf of Arkhipov who “never said a word to his family because it was closed, secret information—he wasn’t allowed to talk about it.”

The B-59 incident was a source of inspiration for the 1995 film Crimson Tide.

Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., an advisor for the John F. Kennedy administration and a renowned historian, continued this thought by stating "This was not only the most dangerous moment of the Cold War. It was the most dangerous moment in human history."^[4]

Family

Vasili and his wife Olga were parents to daughter Yelena Andriukova, whose son has been called Sergei Andriukova.

In Russian

Родился в крестьянской семье в деревне Зворково Куровского района Московской области.

Отец — Александр Николаевич Архипов (1889—1960); мать — Мария Николаевна, урождённая Козырева (1901—1970). Жена — Ольга Григорьевна, преподаватель; в браке с 1952 года, в этом же году у них родилась дочь Елена.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Roberts, Priscilla Mary. "Arkhipov, Vasili Alexandrovich (1926-1999)." In: Cuban Missile Crisis: The Essential Reference Guide. ABC-CLIO, 2012. pages 13-14.
2. ↑ "10 Unknown Heroes Who Saved the World." Alltime10s. Youtube. 17 Feb 2017.
3. ↑ The Last Saturday of October – The Declassified Secrets of Black Saturday, War History Online website
4. ↑ Lloyd, Marion (October 13, 2002). "SOVIETS CLOSE TO USING A-BOMB IN 1962 CRISIS, FORUM IS TOLD". The Boston Globe.

• FindAGrave
• Wikipedia:Vasily Arkhipov (vice admiral)