On August 5 2005, a dramatic submarine rescue mission was launched deep in the Pacific.

For Commander Ian Riches, the unfolding events would be a defining moment in his career.

Now as he retires, the Advertiser this week looks back at Commander Riches' distinguished years as a submariner.

The date was August 5, 2005. Only 24 hours earlier, seven Russian submariners had been trapped in fishing nets deep in the Western Pacific Ocean, 20 miles off the Russian eastern seaboard.

The Royal Navy had been the first to offer assistance and Riches was on his way - not knowing what to expect, dreading what he might find.

An eternal flight in an RAF C5 transport plane got the rescuers from Prestwick to the Russian naval port of Petropavlovsk, landing on what the pilot later described as what was left of their aviation fumes.

Six more hours by sea saw them over the rescue scene. The rest is legend - a robot cut the fishing nets, the Russians blew their tanks and Ian wept as the tiny boat bobbed to the surface. The Russians had four hours of oxygen left.

The whole mission had taken just 72 hours.

READ THE FULL STORY ABOUT COMMANDER RICHES' REMARKABLE CAREER IN THIS WEEK'S ADVERTISER.