SWEDEN: The "Whiskey on the Rocks Incident"

Step into a window of history marked by turbulence—the later years of the Cold War. This period was characterized by worldwide tension and delicate political maneuvering. In this context, we present a captivating story that reflects the spirit of those times.

Our attention is drawn to a noteworthy event: the entrapment of a Soviet submarine along the shores of Sweden. This incident, with the potential to spark a clash between Sweden and Russia, holds our focus. Join us as we dissect this gripping narrative, delving into its significance and far-reaching consequences.

A STARTLING DISCOVERY

On October 27, 1981, Ingvar Svensson and Bertil Sturkman, both Swedish fishermen, embarked on a fishing expedition off the coast of the small island of Sturkö. During the process of retrieving their fishing nets, they observed an unusual oil slick in the water. Perturbed by this sight, Sturkman decided to investigate further and subsequently arrived at the origin of this enigmatic phenomenon at 10:00 AM on the same day.

To his astonishment, Sturkman stumbled upon a perplexing scene: a seventy-six-meter-long submarine was firmly lodged on its starboard side against the rugged rocks of Torumskär Island. Atop the submarine's conning tower stood an individual equipped with binoculars and wielding a machine gun.

Baffled by this encounter, the fisherman expeditiously returned to Karlskrona and promptly informed the local Swedish naval base about his startling discovery. This naval facility was substantially equipped, serving as the home to two out of the three Swedish coastal defense flotillas. Strategically positioned within a shallow bay and shielded by a configuration of rocky islands, the base boasted a robust defense against potential threats, necessitating skillful navigation for any vessels approaching its vicinity.

Curiously, the stranded submarine had navigated its way into this perilous rocky formation, becoming marooned approximately six miles away from the protective naval base.

At 11:00 AM on that very day, a patrol boat named Smyge reached the aground vessel, with Commander Karl Andersson initiating contact with the crew members. Communication occurred in the German language, and the Swedish naval officer was apprised that the submarine had veered off its planned route due to a malfunctioning navigation system.

IN ENEMY WATERS

The WHISKEY-Class submarine, originating from the Soviet Union, was under the command of Captain Third Rank Anatoly Gushchin. Navigating eastward within a military restricted zone situated between the Sturkö and Senoren Islands amidst the reefs off Karlskrona, the submarine found itself entangled within a bottom mine field. Accompanying Captain Gushchin was Flotilla Commander Captain First Rank Avchukievich from the Baltlysk (formerly Pillau) Submarine Base. Their explanation of a faulty navigational system conveniently served as their rationale.

This short-range diesel-electric submarine carried a crew of approximately 56 members and was designed in the 1940s. It was outfitted with technology derived from the Nazi Type XXI "electric boat," with the snorkel and battery systems. The Soviet Union produced over two hundred of these submarines. The name "Whiskey on the Rocks" derived from the specific type of submarine.

Given the heightened tensions of the Cold War era between the Soviet Union and Western powers, the presence of a Soviet submarine within Swedish waters wasn't entirely unexpected. However, the concerning aspect was its proximity to a military base, a situation deemed unacceptable. The Swedish Navy encountered considerable difficulty in obtaining substantial information from the crew, as they engaged in a prolonged standoff and were uncooperative for a span of ten days.

WHY WHERE THERE REALLY THERE? 

The Swedes harbored significant suspicions regarding the submarine's motives within their territorial waters. They were unequivocally unconvinced that the submarine's presence resulted from a mere "navigational error." In a display of audacity, the Russian commander even contended that they believed their location to be somewhere off the coast of Poland. Such a claim would have constituted a significant oversight, especially considering the captain's experience!

The initial inquiries posed by Swedish authorities centered on the potential presence of nuclear weapons aboard the submarine. The Russians vehemently refuted this assertion, yet their denial was met with skepticism from the Swedish side. Employing spectroscopy testing, a method used for radioactivity measurement, the Swedes identified the presence of uranium onboard. However, no consensus emerged between the two parties.

There are several other plausible explanations for the Soviet submarine's presence that we could consider:

• The evening prior to the Soviet submarine's grounding, the Swedish submarine named Neptune, along with two helicopters, had been engaged in testing a novel torpedo technology. This activity might have piqued Soviet interest, leading them to observe the exercises.
• Another possibility was the assessment of the Swedish Defence Forces' preparedness and response time by the Soviets.
• The submarine's mission could have involved surveying the Swedish bottom mine fields, and potentially seeking out cables connecting to the firing stations of the moored bottom mine field in order to create a map of their layout.
• The deployment of bottom listening devices or electronic markers might have been intended to establish secure passageways in potential future conflicts. These markers could also serve as guides for remotely controlled torpedoes, utilizing electronic beacons.

THE SUBMARINE IS SAVED BY THE SOVIETS

Following the emergence of the incident, Sweden promptly enforced a blockade to deny access to the stranded submarine. The Swedish government engaged Soviet Ambassador Yaklovkev, summoning him to the Swedish Foreign Ministry to articulate a series of demands. Firstly, Cabinet Secretary Leif Leifland formally declared that the immobilized submarine was positioned within a designated military restricted zone, thus rendering the entry of foreign vessels impermissible. Subsequently, Moscow pressed for the retrieval of their vessel through the utilization of salvage and warships.

In response, a contingent of Soviet ships entered Swedish waters with the objective of rescuing their marooned S-363 submarine. This fleet, under the command of Admiral A. Kalinin, encompassed the missile destroyer Obraztsovy, an older destroyer equipped with artillery, two anti-ship missile boats, a frigate, and a tug. Subsequent to protracted negotiations spanning multiple days, Captain Gushchin consented to be interrogated by the Swedish authorities, a process that extended for approximately six hours. During this exchange, Captain Gushchin acknowledged that the S-363 had encountered a malfunction across its four distinct navigational systems, leading to a substantial deviation in its course spanning hundreds of kilometers.

Ultimately, concluding a tense ten-day standoff, Moscow granted permission for the Swedes to facilitate the extraction of the grounded submarine. Swedish tugboats were employed to carefully reposition the Soviet submarine into the water, subsequently transferring custody to Admiral Kalinin's task force. On November 7, the S-363 was successfully returned to port.

WHAT WAS THE TRUTH?

Swedish journalists successfully located Captain Anatoly Gushchin, who had retired at the age of 45 in Estonia. Extending an invitation, they enlisted him to appear on a prominent television program known as the Robert Ashberg show. During this segment, Captain Gushchin candidly recounted his perspective on the unfolding events.

It was revealed by Captain Gushchin that the stranded submarine, which had become immobilized in Karlskrona, was indeed carrying nuclear weapons. Furthermore, the command structure had been explicitly directed to detonate the submarine should such a course of action become necessary. Throughout the program, the show's host engaged in an exploration of the potential yield of the nuclear weapon. While Captain Gushchin exhibited some reluctance to provide precise figures, he conveyed that the yield would have been substantial enough to neutralize an entire enemy squadron, given the appropriate conditions. It was, however, underscored that the magnitude of the weapon was insufficient to obliterate an entire city.

Swedish authorities estimated that the potential yield of the nuclear weapon would have been within the range of 5 to 10 kilotons, should the torpedoes align with Captain Gushchin's description. By way of comparison, the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima possessed a yield of 13 kilotons.

CONCLUSION

In retrospect, this incident serves as a captivating narrative, underscoring the potent potential of seemingly incidental occurrences to ignite grave conflicts or consequential events. As the echoes of Cold War tension resonate in our contemporary era, such incidents have assumed renewed prominence, offering a stark reminder that the specter of these events looms larger than ever before.

Resources: 

• Atlas Obscura: Whiskey on the Rocks
• The National Interest: How a Whiskey on the Rocks Nearly Started a War Between Russia and Sweden
• Department of the Navy Naval Intelligence Support Centre: "Whiskey on the Rocks" -The Submarine Incident off Karlskrona
• War History Online: Whiskey On The Rocks – When Sweden Woke Up To Find a Russian Submarine Stuck On a Rock
Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading Room: On Claims of Commander of Submarine Grounded Off Sweden in 1981