Soviet fins: Models 1-7

[David Wilson]

Over the last few months, I've been collecting Soviet diving books on eBay and exploring the Russian auction site Avito to trace the development of basic diving gear in the USSR and to improve my rudimentary knowledge of the Russian language. I thought I might share some of my findings here, which I hope a few of you will also find of interest. I will begin with a selection of fins made in the 1960s and early 1970s in Moscow and Leningrad (now St Petersburg) factories. To begin with, these fins were simply named Model 1, Model 2, Model 3, Model 4, Model 5, Model 6 and Model 7, although those numbered 5, 6 and 7 eventually acquired more distinctive names. These are only a fraction of the fins designed and manufactured in the USSR and I may be prepared to write about other Soviet fins if people are interested.

Model 1

Model 1 was a fixed-open-heel fin made in the Mosrezina plant. "Mosrezina" is a combination of the first three letters of the Russian word "Moskva" (Moscow) with the Russian word "rezina" (rubber). I am struck by the more than passing resemblance it bears to the Owen Churchill fin used by military swimmers during World War II and now a favourite of bodyboard surfers.

Here are two (translated) descriptions of these fins from the diving literature of the period:
1. These fins were the first model in domestic production. The fins are made of light, porous rubber, usually green in colour. The blade of the fin is straight and flexible, with two stiffening ribs. The fins came in a 40-ish size. In later years, fin production focused on models sized 42-43.
2. This open fin from the Number 4 (‘Mosrezina’) rubber goods plant is a soft, heavy type of fin. When the first fins of this type appeared, they were made of foam rubber, and so they did not sink in the water. Subsequent batches of this fin were made of rubber with a specific gravity of a little more than one, and so they sink. The elastic, smooth and flat fin blade working area has thickened ribs only at the edges, which gently taper towards the tip. The fin blades have obliquely cut tips. Overall, the fin looks like a fishtail in shape. The heel strap forms an integral part of the body of the fin and is non-adjustable. One drawback is the uncomfortable shape of the foot pocket, subjecting the foot to undue pressure. The fin serves the purpose of low-speed swimming over long distances.

Model 2

Model 2 was a "semi-open" fin with an extended heelplate and an adjustable strap made in the Mosrezina plant as well as a factory in Leningrad. Fins like these with soles extended to protect the heels were also popular in Europe and the USA in the 1960s.

Here are two (translated) descriptions of these fins from the diving literature of the period. Note the negative criticism of the fins by the second Soviet writer:
1. The fins are straight and trapezoid-shaped. On the top of the blade, there are five stiffening ribs. On the bottom, these ribs barely stand out from the blade, ending underneath the heel.
2. This semi-open-fin from the Moscow Number 4 (‘Mosrezina’) rubber goods plant and the Leningrad LOO industrial combine is a hard lightweight fin. The working area of the flat hard rubber fin blade features reinforcing ribs, which in extreme cases are very thick and hard. Making the fin easier to walk in on land is the sole reason for prolonging the body of the fin. Too little elasticity, a poor hydrodynamic shape and a durable enough foot attachment make this type of fin ineffective and of limited use when swimming.

Model 3

Model 3 was a closed-heel fin with an instep strap made in the Mosrezina plant. It had the same kind of blade as the Model 2 fin, namely two tall side rails and three central ribs. Western diving equipment manufacturers, notably Cressi of Italy, made full-foot fins with the added security of instep straps during the 1960s.

Here are two (translated) descriptions of these fins from the diving literature of the period:
1. The fins have a trapezoid shape. Open-toed foot pocket. The blade of the fin is much shorter in length than the foot pocket and it is set at a slight angle. The heel of the fin is very deep, causing abrasions during prolonged swimming. There are two buckles at the sides of each heel for fastening the strap at the top.
2. This hard, closed and heavy fin takes the form of a solid rubber base with two ribs along the edges and three ribs at the centre radiating out from the base. The fin attaches to the foot using a shoe with an open toe and a strap located at the instep. This fin serves the purpose of high-speed swimming over short distances.

Model 4

Model 4 was a fixed open-heel fin made in the Mosrezina plant as well as the "Red Triangle" factory in Leningrad.

Here are two (translated) descriptions of these fins from the diving literature of the period. Note the adverse criticisms:
1. Fins made of light, flexible rubber, pale green in colour. There are three ribs on the top of the fin and none on the bottom. Blade has a smooth curvature. Ineffective fins for both swimming and diving.
2. This open fin with double-oblique tips is a soft semi-heavy fin. The Leningrad RTI and Moscow Number 4 (‘Mosrezina’) rubber goods plants manufacture this type of fin. The fin blade has three thickened ribs (two along the edges and one at the centre), giving this fin slightly greater hardness than the single-oblique soft fin. The end of the fin blade has a double-oblique cut and presents a slight smooth curvature. The fin is the same for either foot. The heel strap, which forms an integral part of the fin, is non-adjustable for length and may cause discomfort in individual cases. The fin serves the purpose of low-speed swimming over long distances.

In my second posting to this thread I shall give some details about the remaining fins in the Soviet "Numbered model" series. Models 5, 6 and 7 were more enduring fins in the Soviet repertoire and went on to be given proper names other than model numbers.

 

[David Wilson]

Thank you for the encouragement, Trapezus, JamesBon92007 and Captain Swoon. I'll now proceed to showcase Models 5, 6 and 7.

Model 5

Model 5 was a closed-heel fin made in the Mosrezina plant in the Russian capital. The image above of the embossed print on the reverse of the blade shows not only the year of production (1975) but also the price, which is 7 roubles 20 kopecks. I wonder whether any western diving equipment manufacturer ever considered moulding the price on one of their products, thus forcing the retailer to abide by the retail price and the manufacturer to ignore the fluctuation of monetary inflation/deflation?

Here are two (translated) descriptions of these fins from the diving literature of the period:
1. Four ribs on both sides. Bottom ribs run along the entire sole giving good rigidity to the fin. Open-toed foot pocket. Fins are popular among sportsmen.
2. The hard, closed fin shown falls within the semi-heavy category of fins. In design, it resembles the (East German) ‘Naiad’ fin, featuring good hydrodynamic contours and shape. The two side ribs and two centre ribs on the top reinforce the working area of the fin blade, which inclines at a large enough angle. The shoe used to attach the fin comes with an open toe. The fin can successfully serve a variety of purposes when swimming on the surface and under the water, including with breathing apparatus. The fin is available from the Moscow ‘Sangigiena’ and Number 4 (Mosrezina) rubber goods plants.

This fin eventually came by the name "Barrakuda" and its production passed to Sangigiena's successor Vulkan. A closed-toe version of the Barrakuda appeared:

Production passed on again to a plant in Yaroslavl, where a version called the "Ichthiander" (Fish-Man) with a smaller toe opening was made until recently:

There was also an open-heel version:

So the fin that began in the late 1960s or early 1970s as Model 5 managed to survive into the post-Soviet era. My next posting will focus on Model 6, which comes with an interesting history.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the continuing thumbs-up and on to Model 6.

Model 6

Like Model 5, Model 6 was a closed-heel made in the Mosrezina plant in the Russian capital. Unlike Model 5, it came with a soft removable toecap. The image above of the embossed print on the reverse of the blade shows the price, which is again 7 roubles 20 kopecks.

Here are two (translated) descriptions of these fins from the diving literature of the period:
1. Heavy rigid fins with four ribs. The ribs running along the soles of the feet lead to thicker heels, which gives the fins greater rigidity. Closed toes. The fins are widely used in underwater sports.
2. This hard, closed and heavy Number 6 model fin from the Moscow Number 4 rubber goods plant falls within the most advanced fin categories. The fin is an implementation of the German Democratic Republic’s ‘Naiade’ prototype fin. The working area of the fin blade is large and quite hard. Two outer and two inner ribs with significant height provide the fin with good longitudinal stability, preventing the sides of the working area of the blade from screwing inwards under the action of water pressure. Good hydrodynamic contours and smooth transitions from the ribs to the blade and the body of the fin provide freedom from turbulence when displacing a large volume of water. The working area of the fin blade inclines at a roughly 25° angle, providing it with greater efficiency when a sportsman applies the fullest possible effort to swimming. The body of the fin takes the form of a rather elastic shoe with a closed toe and a deep heel cup; the fin sits comfortably on the foot, retaining it well. The ‘Naiad’ type fin has found successful use in high-speed swimming on the surface and underwater, including with breathing apparatus. A fin with the name ‘Del’fin’ [Dolphin] is available in the same design.

This fin eventually came by the name 'Rusalka', meaning 'Mermaid' in Russian. The name is perhaps an acknowledgement of the fact that it replicates a fin design originating in another country, the German Democratic Republic or East Germany. Below is the fin's 'blueprint' from an article published in the East German national diving magazine Poseidon:

The East German original was known as the 'Naiade' (a Greek-derived term meaning 'water nymph') and manufactured by the Guwelin rubber company in Berlin:

In the GDR, the 'Naiade' was the fin of choice of East German military swimmers. Its manufacture later moved to the landlocked country of Hungary, which like East Germany was part of the communist bloc of eastern Europe until the fall of the Soviet Union.

Extraordinarily, the fin is still being manufactured in Hungary. It has now received a new lease of life as an aid to swimmers and you can purchase a pair if you order one at STANDARD fins. Apart from the markings, the Najade Standard fin is a replica of the Naiade fin developed in East Germany the early 1960s, copied as the Mosrezina Rusalka fin in the USSR in the mid-1960s and now sold over the Internet in 2017:

I own a pair of Hungarian-made Najade Standards and can confirm that they are very comfortable and efficient fins, which have been 'homologated', or approved, for use in competitive finswimming races. They come with soft 'toecaps' that can be cut away to allow toes to protrude beyond the foot pocket if necessary. The original East German made fins are still popular in Germany, often seen on eBay, thanks to what is called 'Ostalgie', or 'East-algia' there, meaning something along the lines of 'nostalgia for the East German way of life'.

 

[flyboy08]

Neat hostory...thanks.

 

[David Wilson]

I am grateful to you all for your positive responses to my contributions. Now for Mosrezina Model 7, the last in its numbered model fin series.

Model 7

Like Models 5 and 6, Model 7 was a closed-heel fin made in the Mosrezina plant in the Russian capital. Unlike them, it first came with a non-removable closed toe. The image above of the embossed print on the sole of the fin shows the price, which is again 7 roubles 20 kopecks, and the date of production (1971).

Here are two (translated) descriptions of these fins from the diving literature of the period:
1. Trapezoid shaped fins with two lateral ribs. A third, centre rib is located on the bottom of the fin blades. The fins, which are made of flexible green or blue rubber, are widely used in underwater sports.
2. This hard, closed and heavy Number 7 model fin from the Moscow Number 4 rubber goods plant has a flat top surface with two ribs on the edges. The fin blade inclines at a roughly 20° angle, while a centre rib on the bottom provides reinforcement. The fin has large dimensions and good hydrodynamic contours, enabling its use in high-speed swimming both on the surface and in particular underwater, including with breathing apparatus.

This fin eventually came by the name 'Nerpa', meaning 'Baikal seal' in Russian. It was a popular native animal of the USSR, as witness the Baikal seal mascot below:

The original Nerpa fin came in for some redesigns. The toe area was reinforced with a seam, leaving the wearer with the option of creating an opening for the toes to protrude:

Another variant was an open-toe version:

Although the 'Nerpa' is no longer in production, a similar fin, the 'Strela' (Russian for 'arrow'), is still being manufactured. The black-coloured version below is (or was) made by a rubber plant in Yaroslavl, north-east of Moscow:

The 'marbled' version below is made in Moscow by a company whose main speciality is medical equipment:

I will move on to other Soviet fins now, perhaps in a separate thread, starting with those made by the Mosrezina plant (below), but outside the Moscow factory's numbered model series.