The crew of Ivan Vladimirovich Messer repeatedly tested fate, but each time emerged victorious from the most challenging situations. Over four years of World War I, his team became the most effective in Russia, and Messer himself, the best submariner of the vast empire. The legendary sailor was born on September 7, 1884, into the family of a retired naval officer and decided to follow in his father's footsteps. He graduated from the Naval Cadet Corps and served in the Black Sea Fleet, participating in long voyages.

In 1914, he was offered the command of a submarine. Soon, Ivan Vladimirovich demonstrated his talent as a commander. Once, surfacing, his submarine targeted the German vessel 'Shtalek.' The enemy, fearing sinking, surrendered, and Messer brought the captured ship to a Russian port. After that, he was transferred to a new submarine, 'Wolf,' on which he troubled the German fleet in the Baltic until the end of the war. In its very first mission, 'Wolf' sank four enemy vessels with a total tonnage of 17 thousand tons, making Messer the most successful Russian submariner of World War I.

However, the submarine itself was also on the brink of destruction more than once. Once, a German ship spotted the surfaced Russian submarine and charged at it. Fortunately, Messer managed to dive, and the enemy only damaged the periscopes. On another occasion, while evading pursuit, 'Wolf' hit a mine, and the boat was severely shaken, but the crew survived. Later, upon surfacing, the sailors discovered damaged plating. There were instances when mines were dropped on the submarine, but 'Wolf' remained intact.

Despite significant military successes, Messer remained relatively unknown. In the history of the Russian Navy, 'submariner No. 1' was considered Mikhail Kititsyn. After the revolution, Messer joined the White movement, emigrated from Russia, and died in 1952 in the USA.