Born as Vulf Kalmanovich Konovalov in the village of Nadiyne (Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in what is now Ukraine), his family moved to Donetsk when he was a child.

The L-3 was a minelayer submarine, but it was also engaged in offensive operations against German shipping during World War II, ultimately making 11 torpedo attacks under Konovalov's command.

On April 16, 1945, Konovalov sank the German ship Goya, carrying civilians and military personnel fleeing from the Eastern Front.

He was awarded the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union for an exemplary wartime record on July 8, 1945.

In the book and subsequent film The Hunt for Red October, the fictional Soviet Alfa class nuclear-powered attack submarine is named the V.K.