[researcher111]

According Tehran agreement in late 1943, "Sunfish" was intended to be transferred to the Soviet Union as a result of the division of the Italian fleet. On April 10 (according to other data, March 9, 44) the submarine was registered with Soviet Navy VMF under the designation "B-1". On May 30, 1944 the sub arrived in the UK as part of the RA-59 convoy, manned by the crew the L-20 submarine. The submarine became part of the 7th independent division of the Northern Fleet submarine group .

Commander of B-1 became Hero of the Soviet Union captain 2 rank (Commander ) Israel Fisanovitch . On June 10, the B-1 it arrived to Dundee, where, under the supervision of British specialists, performed combat training, by June 15 a new naval gun was installed on the submarine. On July 25, the submarine arrived in Lervik, from where on the evening of the same day departed to Polyarnoe though it never arrived there .

According to the original version as into the B-1 disapperance , it's believed that the submarine deviated from the recommended course (while still in the UK waters ) and became a victim of of an erroneous attack of a Liberator aircraft of the 18th British Air Force Coastal Command Group in the morning of July 27, 1944, 300 miles north of the Shetland Islands (64 ° 34 'N / 01 ° 16' W, according to other data 64 ° F N / 01 ° 16'W). The plane attacked the submarine 80 miles from the border of the corridor assigned to it for the crossing. Instead of responding to the IFF , the submarine began an emergency dive. There is also a version of the submarine sunk as result hitting a floating mine or as a result of an accident. Along with the loss of the B-1 sub 51 submariners perished. Is anyone aware of any updates at the British Royal Navy archives on this specific event ?

There are no records showing if ever the British Navy or Russian intended to start a search after this sub, Finsanovitch himself was awarded the US Navy Cross
for his role in protecting Allied convoys and for sinking a few German ships which attacked Allied expeditionary ships on Northern approaches .