Delivered food, evacuated people: USC spoke about the symbol of besieged Leningrad — tender-flatboat

The ships were built at the Northern and Admiralty shipyards, and the Baltic plant

A tender-flatboat is a shallow-draft vessel with a simplified hull design. Such vessels were built during the Great Patriotic War at the Admiralty Shipyards, the Baltic Plant, and the Northern Shipyard. This was announced by the press service of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) on the eve of Victory Day.

Tender-flatboat, archival photo
The tender-flatboat is one of the symbols of besieged Leningrad. The ships participated in major landing operations on Ladoga and in the Gulf of Finland. They became a salvation for thousands of evacuated residents of besieged Leningrad.
USC Press Service

Soviet designers developed the drawings for these ships in just 10 days. The main advantages of tender-flatboats were speed, maneuverability, and the ability to approach an undeveloped shore.

Tender-flatboat, archival photo

In the first navigation season alone on the "Road of Life" (across Lake Ladoga), self-propelled tender-flatboats made more than 10,000 voyages. The ships delivered 158,000 tons of food and ammunition to Leningrad.

They were also used for evacuation. It is noteworthy that the fascist invaders were unable to sink a single ship with provisions and people.

Tender-flatboat, archival photo

One of the 116 flatboats built at the Admiralty Shipyards during the war is located in the exposition of the memorial museum "Road of Life" in the village of Osinovets. It was opened on September 12, 1972, in the former bakery.

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