On Claims of Commander of Submarine Grounded off Sweden in 1981

This document is a compilation of JPRS reports from January 1992, focusing on the 1981 grounding of the Soviet submarine U-137 in Swedish waters. The text examines the controversy surrounding the incident, specifically addressing claims made by the former commander of the submarine, Anatoliy Gushchin. Gushchin asserted that the submarine was carrying nuclear-tipped torpedoes and that he had received orders to destroy the vessel if necessary to prevent capture. These claims are contrasted with statements from other officials, including A. Bulakhtin of the KGB and Captain 1st Rank Vladimir Vazhov, who argue that such orders were either non-existent or impossible to execute given the technical constraints of the submarine. The document also touches upon the broader political context, including the Swedish government's investigation into territorial violations and the role of Swedish national hero Karl Andersson. Additionally, the report provides technical details regarding Soviet 'minisubmarines' developed in the 1980s, noting their limited capabilities and the failure of the project due to poor coordination. The report concludes with a statement regarding the formation of an expert group from the Russian Navy to cooperate with Swedish authorities to resolve lingering questions about the incident.