The Medal of Nakhimov (russian: Медаль Нахимова) was a military decoration of the Soviet Union.

Award history

The Medal of Nakhimov was a Soviet military award created on March 3, 1944 by decision of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to reward distinction in the defence of the socialist homeland and to actively recognise successful combat missions on ships, in units of the Navy or of Border Guards. It was named in honour of Russian

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

Pavel Nakhimov, one of the most famous admirals in Russian naval history. Following the

dissolution of the Soviet Union The dissolution of the Soviet Union, also negatively connoted as rus, Разва́л Сове́тского Сою́за, r=Razvál Sovétskogo Soyúza, ''Ruining of the Soviet Union''. was the process of internal disintegration within the Sov ...

in 1991, the award was potentially and only temporarily retained by Decree No 2424-1 of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation of March 2, 1992. It was never awarded under the Russian Federation and finally removed from the list of state awards by decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March 2, 1994.

Award statute

The Medal of Nakhimov was awarded to sailors and soldiers, petty officers and sergeants,

ensigns An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

and warrant officers of the Soviet Navy,

Naval Infantry Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...

and naval units of the

Soviet Border Troops The Soviet Border Troops (russian: Пограничные войска СССР, Pogranichnyye voyska SSSR) were the border guard of the Soviet Union, subordinated to the Soviet state security agency: first to the ''Cheka''/State Political Di ...

for courage and bravery displayed during the defence of the Soviet Union in naval theatres, while protecting the maritime borders of the USSR, during military duties with a risk to life. 14,020 people were awarded the Medal of Nakhimov from its creation in 1944 to its abolishment in 1994. The Medal of Nakhimov was worn on the left side of the chest and when in the presence of other orders and medals of the Soviet Union, it was situated immediately after the

Medal "For Battle Merit" The Medal "For Battle Merit" (russian: Медаль «За боевые заслуги») was a Soviet military medal awarded for " combat action resulting in a military success", "courageous defense of the state borders", or "successful military ...

. If worn in the presence of orders or medals of the Russian Federation, the latter have precedence.

Award description

The Medal of Nakhimov was a 36mm in diameter circular bronze medal with a raised rim. The obverse had at its center the relief left profile bust of admiral Nakhimov, surrounded by small beading along the entire medal circumference, also along the circumference, in the upper half on either side of the bust, the relief inscription "ADMIRAL NAKHIMOV" (Russian: «АДМИРАЛ НАХИМОВ»), in the lower half, a relief five pointed star over laurel branches. The reverse bore the same small beading along the entire circumference. At the center a medallion bearing a sailing ship surrounded by a ring of rope over crossed naval anchors connected together by a circular chain surrounding the medallion and passing below the lower tips of the anchors. The Medal of Ushakov was suspended from a standard Soviet pentagonal mount by a ring through the suspension loop. The mount was covered by an overlapping 24mm wide silk moiré blue ribbon with three central 3mm wide white stripes situated 2mm apart.

References

External links

Legal Library of the Soviet Union

The Commission on State Awards to the President of the Russian Federation
{{Soviet awards Military awards and decorations of the Soviet Union Military awards and decorations of Russia Courage awards Awards established in 1944 Awards disestablished in 1994

Award history

Award statute

Award description

See also

References

External links