Completed in February 1932 as Soyuz Metallistov for STF-ChGK. 1934 transferred to Sovtanker and renamed Nikolaj Janson. 1939 renamed Vaijan Kutur’e and transferred to ChABU on 1 Jul 1941. In September 1941, the tanker evacuated grain in her tanks from Feodosia to Poti and Novorossisk and in December she was sent to North Russia, but was recalled to the Black Sea in February 1942.

At 16.23 hours on 16 Jan 1944, U-20 fired three torpedoes at Vaijan Kutur’e off Cape Anakria and hit her in the stern with one torpedo that caused the ship to sink at 06.08 hours the next morning. When the U-boat passed the sinking position two days later several oil patches were observed. The survivors were rescued by the escort of four minesweepers and ten patrol boats.

On 6 Oct 1945 the wreck of Vaijan Kutur’e was raised from 50 meters and returned to service in 1954, transferred to DGMP in 1959 and was taken out of service in 1975.