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Konstantin Sergeyevich Badygin | |
|---|---|
 Badigin in the cabin of steamshipGeorgy Sedov | |
| Native name | Константин Сергеевич Бадигин |
| Born | (1910-11-30)30 November 1910 |
| Died | 15 March 1984(1984-03-15) (aged 73) |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union |
| Branch |  Soviet Navy |
| Years of service | 1928–1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | Icebreaker Sedov |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union Order of Lenin Order of the Red Banner of Labour Order of the Badge of Honour |
| Other work | writer of Novels and historical works |
CaptainKonstantin Sergeyevich Badygin (orBadigin,Russian:Константин Сергеевич Бадигин; 30 November 1910 – 15 March 1984) was aSoviet naval officer, explorer, author, and scientist.
Konstantin Sergeyevich Badygin began his naval career in 1928 as a sailor on Soviet ships in the Pacific Ocean. Later he studied in the Marine Technical School atVladivostok and became a navigator and an officer in theSoviet Navy.
Between 1935 and 1936 he became the third officer aboard IcebreakerKrasin and in 1937 he became the second in command aboard IcebreakerSedov.
Badygin became renowned in 1938 as captain of icebreakerSedov when it was transformed into aSoviet Drifting Polar Station. In 1940 Badigin was awarded the titleHero of the Soviet Union for his work aboard theSedov as both a naval officer and a scientist.
Between 1941 and 1943 he became the Chief of the Soviet ice-breaker fleet in theWhite Sea as well as the director of the Ice Survey Service.
In 1944 and 1945 he became the captain of merchant linerClara Zetkin which plied the Vladivostok-Seattle route.
After the end ofWorld War II Badigin asked to be relieved of active service owing to health reasons. Then he became an author and wrote three autobiographical works, as well as historical novels. He continued writing until his death in 1984.
In the summer of 1937 the icebreakerSadko sailed from Murmansk. Its original goal was to sail toHenrietta,Zhokhov, andJeannette Islands, in theDe Long group and carry out scientific research.[specify] The purpose of the expedition was also to find out how could theNorthern Sea Route be used for regular shipping. But the Soviet naval authorities changed the plans and the ice-breaker was sent instead to help ships in distress in theKara andLaptev Seas.
TheSadko, however, became itself trapped in fast ice at 75°17'N and 132°28'E in the region of theNew Siberian Islands. Two other Soviet icebreakers, theSedov and theMalygin, both in the same area researching the ice conditions, became trapped by sea ice as well and drifted helplessly.
Owing to persistent bad weather conditions, part of the stranded crew members and some of the scientists could only be rescued in April 1938. And only on 28 August 1938, couldYermak free two of the three ships at 83°4'N and 138°22'E. The third ship,Sedov, had to be left to drift in its icy prison and was transformed into a scientific polar station. It kept drifting northwards in the ice towards thePole, very much likeFridtjof Nansen'sFram had done in 1893–96. There were 15 crew aboard, led by Captain Konstantin Badygin and W. Kh. Buinitzki. The scientists aboard took 415 astronomical measurements, 78 electromagnetic observations, as well as 38 depth measurements by drilling the thick polar ice during their 812-day stay aboard theSedov. Finally they were freed betweenGreenland andSvalbard by icebreakerJoseph Stalin on 18 January 1940.
Captain Badygin, as well as the crew and scientists were welcomed back in theSoviet Union as heroes. Later Captain Konstantin Badygin was awarded theOrder of the Red Banner of Labour and became aHero of the Soviet Union.
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