Photo of Hero of the Soviet Union L.N. Balyakin with the team of the Snowstorm guard

The original photo is in good collector's condition. The size is 100*143 mm. Minor damage to the paper from moisture. Guarantee of authenticity.

Leonid Nikolaevich Balyakin (August 6 [19], 1915 — February 26, 1981) was a Soviet naval figure, a participant in the Soviet—Japanese war as commander of the patrol ship "Metel" of the 1st division of patrol ships of the Vladivostok Naval Defensive Area of the Pacific Fleet, lieutenant commander. Hero of the Soviet Union (09/14/1945), Rear Admiral (05/17/1960).

He was born on August 6 (19), 1915 in the village of Belkovo, now Orekhovo-Zuyevsky city district of the Moscow region, in the family of an employee. Russian. He graduated from the 3rd year of the Moscow Energy Institute. In the Navy since 1937. In 1939 he graduated from the M. V. Frunze Naval College. From September 1939 to July 1940 — commander of the warhead-2 minesweeper "Cheka", from July to November 1940 — commander of the warhead-1, from November 1940 to April 1942 — assistant commander, from April 1942 to December 1944 — commander of the ship "Paravan" protection of the water area (IAD) the main base of the Pacific Fleet. From December 1944 to December 1946, he was the commander of the TFR "Metel" of the Vladivostok Sea Fleet. He participated in the Soviet-Japanese war since August 1945.

The commander of the patrol ship "Metel" (1st division of patrol ships, Vladivostok Maritime Defense Area, Pacific Fleet), Lieutenant Commander Leonid Balyakin successfully acted during the landing at the port of Seisin (Chongjin, Democratic People's Republic of Korea), providing him with artillery support, as well as together with the crews of torpedo boats - during the landing the landing in the city of Odejin. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated September 14, 1945, for courage and heroism shown in the fight against Japanese militarists, Lieutenant Commander Leonid Balyakin was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (No. 7133).

After the war, L. N. Balyakin continued to serve in the Soviet Navy. From December 1946 to May 1948 — commander of the 1st division of the TFR, from May 1948 to December 1949 - the destroyer (EM) "Vlastny", from December 1949 to December 1950 — the leader of the destroyers "Tbilisi", from December 1950 to April 1951 — the 3rd division of the EM TOPH, From April 1951 to January 1955 — 175th EM Brigade of the 5th Navy (Pacific Ocean). In 1956, he graduated from the Voroshilov Higher Military Academy (Military Academy of the General Staff).

By the decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated May 7, 1960, Captain 1st rank Balyakin L. N. was awarded the military rank of rear Admiral.

From September 1956 to January 1959 — Naval attache at the USSR Embassy in India; in January -March 1959 — at the disposal of the GRU General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces; commander of special purpose expeditions: "EON-68" (March 1959 — January 1960), "EON-70" (January 1960 — January 1961), "EON-71" (January 1961 — March 1962), "EON" (March 1962 — February 1963); from February 1963 to August 1964 — Commander of the Naval base (Naval Base) in Svinoustye (Poland) of the Baltic Fleet; from August 1964 to December 1966 — Commander of the 24th separate brigade of missile boats of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet; from December 1966 to February 1970 - Head of the 1st Department — Deputy Head of the Auxiliary Fleet and Emergency Rescue Service of the Navy.

From February 1970 to October 1974, he was the head of the auxiliary fleet and the emergency rescue service of the USSR Navy. In July — October 1974, he led a combat campaign of a detachment of ships of the Soviet Navy to mine the port of Chittagong (Bangladesh). Since December 1974, Rear Admiral Balyakin L. N. has been in reserve and then retired.

He lived in Moscow, was a member of the DOSAAF Central Committee — Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Water and Motor Sports. He died on February 26, 1981.