Vladimir Chernavin

Vladimir Chernavin
Chernavin in 2013
Born(1928-04-22)22 April 1928
Nikolayev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Died18 March 2023(2023-03-18) (aged 94)
Moscow, Russia
Buried
AllegianceSoviet Union
Russia
BranchSoviet Navy
Russian Navy
Service years1947–1993
RankAdmiral of the fleet
CommandsCommander-in-Chief of the Soviet Navy
Northern Fleet
3rd Submarine Flotilla
19th Submarine Division
K-21
S-347
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union
Order of Lenin (2)
Order of the October Revolution
Order of the Red Banner
Order of Alexander Nevsky
Alma materBaku Higher Naval School
Frunze Higher Naval School
Naval Academy
General Staff Academy

Admiral of the Fleet Vladimir Nikolayevich Chernavin (22 April 1928 – 18 March 2023) was a Russian officer of the Soviet Navy. He was the last commander-in-chief of the Soviet Navy from 1985 to 1991 and the only commander-in-chief of the Commonwealth of Independent States Navy from 1991 to 1992.

Chernavin served a submarine officer in the Northern Fleet for over three decades and participated in the development of nuclear submarines. He commanded the November-class submarine K-21 and led it on the first patrol of the Arctic Sea by a Soviet nuclear submarine. Chernavin later commanded the 19th Submarine Division of Delta-class submarines and the 3rd Submarine Flotilla. From 1977 to 1981, he was commander of the Northern Fleet, and from 1981 to 1985 he was Chief of the Main Staff and First Deputy-Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. During his tenure as Commander-in-Chief the Soviet Navy was at the peak of its power, and had more than 200 ships deployed around the world at any time. After his retirement in 1993, was the president of the Union of Submariners until 2014.