Person attributes
As a young man he sailed on the ships of the Murmansk trawl fleet. He was a sailor, then studied at the Murmansk Marine College, became a trawler navigator.
In 1936 he was drafted into the Navy, two years later he became the commander of a torpedo boat. Participated in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940.
During the Great Patriotic War (Second World War), A. O. Shabalin commanded a torpedo boat, and then a detachment of torpedo boats in the Northern and Baltic fleets.
On February 22, 1944, for the exemplary performance of a combat mission, the courage and heroism shown at the same time, Lieutenant Commander A. O. Shabalin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. On the conning tower of his torpedo boat, the number 7 shone - seven sunk fascist transports and combat escort ships.
In 1944, the famous Petsamo-Kirkenes operation began to defeat the Nazi troops in the Arctic. Torpedo boats not only acted boldly on the enemy's sea lanes, but also took an active part in the landing of reconnaissance and amphibious assault forces on the territory occupied by the enemy. Particularly heavy fighting was to capture the port of Liinakhamari. In this battle, the crew of A.O. Shabalin. The mean lines of the award list testify to the feat of the Onezhan:
For a double daring breakthrough with a group of torpedo boats to the port ... in full view and in close proximity to the enemy, despite the hurricane fire of coastal batteries, machine guns and machine guns of the enemy, for the courage, courage and heroism shown during the breakthrough and landing "captain— Lieutenant A. O. Shabalin was awarded the Order of Lenin and the second Gold Star medal.
Then, in 1944, answering the greetings of his combat comrades-in-arms, twice Hero of the Soviet Union Shabalin made a very short speech:
"Fighting on torpedo boats in our northern waters is not easy. But if you love your Motherland, if you love the sea and your weapons, if the fire of hatred for the enemy burns in you, you will always win" ...
In 1951 he graduated from the Caspian Higher Naval School, and in 1955 - academic courses for officers at the Naval Academy.
He served in the Northern Fleet as commander of a brigade of surface ships, deputy chief of staff of the Northern Fleet.
From 1969 to 1975, Rear Admiral - Deputy Head of the Naval School named after M.V. Frunze. Since 1975 - in stock.
Before leaving for a combat mission. From right to left: A. O. Shabalin, V. M. Lozovsky, D. F. Kolotiy. 1942
He was buried at the Serafimovsky cemetery in Leningrad.
A. O. Shabalin in a military campaign. 1941 Photo. from the book: "The Light of Golden Stars" (Arkhangelsk, 1989)
In the name of A.O. Shabalin named streets in Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, Sevastopol, and a square in Onega. A bronze bust of Admiral Shabalin (1951) was also installed there in Onega.
The admiral appreciated humor. Phot. from the book: Badin Yu. I. "My Admiral" (Arkhangelsk, 2014)
The torpedo boat "TKA-12", commanded by Shabalin, was installed in Severomorsk (1983), the main base of the Northern Fleet, at the memorial in memory of the heroes of the North Sea.
On May 8, 2015, school No. 50 was named after twice Hero of the Soviet Union Alexander Osipovich Shabalin.
A.O. Shabalin never broke ties with his native land. He often visited Arkhangelsk, met with schoolchildren, students, workers, twice headed the jury at television festivals.
A. O. Shabalin won his first victory during the Great Patriotic War on September 11, 1941, sinking a large enemy transport on his boat "TK-12". Shabalin used not only a tactical, but also a psychological technique. He launched a covert attack not from the side of the sea, where the guard ships could easily be detected, but from the side of the enemy coast.
On February 22, 1944, for the exemplary performance of a combat mission, the courage and heroism shown at the same time to Lieutenant Commander A.O. Shabalin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. On the conning tower of his torpedo boat, the number 7 shone - seven sunk fascist transports and combat escort ships.
Twice Hero of the Soviet Union A.O. Shabalin. Phot. from the book: "Viktor Fridman: a universal man" (Arkhangelsk, 2010)
Several books have been written about Admiral Alexander Osipovich Shabalin. For example, M. Velichko "Twice Hero of the Soviet Union A. O. Shabalin" (Moscow, 1948), and Yu. Badin's book "My General" (Arkhangelsk, 2014).
Along boardwalks... Phot. from the book: Badin Yu. I. "My Admiral" (Arkhangelsk, 2014)
