RAEM 1966 European Russia

RAEM was the call of S/S Cheluskin smashed by ice in the Polar sea in 1934. RAEM became the personal call of Ernst Krenkel.

Between July 1933 and June 1934 a second attempt was undertaken to reach Vladivostok from Archangelsk with merchant ships as long as their hull was  reinforced by steel plates. For this demonstration the merchant ship Cheluskin was chosen. Otto Schmidt was again leading this  expedition and Krenkel was chosen as First Radio Officer. The ship was not suitable for this expedition. November 4, 1933 it was locked in ice one mile before reaching the Pacific Ocean and drifted back northwards. Catastrophe on Feb. 13, 1934. The ship was crushed by huge icepacks and sunk 144 miles from Cape Wellen.

In the last moment the crew, 104 persons, among them ten women and two children could save themselves on an ice floe. They succeded to take provisions for two months, tents and sleeping bags to the ice floe before the ship sank – and Krenkel took the radio set. Without communication everyone would have been lost. But Krenkel could start the rescue operation from `Cape Schmidt´ as he named the ice floe by calling help with his radio. See Krenkel taking his radio (red circle on reverse side of card).

Courtesy of SV1QFF