Underwater war of the pike division. underwater predators. Submarines of the type "Shch" ("Pike") Badge submarine pike 1941 1945 description

Since 1968, the Krasnoye Sormovo plant has begun assembling a coastal prototype of the power compartments of the PLA pr.971-stand KV-1 at NITI. Since 1972, work on the construction of the prototype has been continued by the LAO. The construction of the installation was completed on December 25, 1975, and the final commissioning due to the mass of faults found during hot tests took place on December 24, 1976. The installation of the automatic control system of the power plant was carried out by representatives of NPO Avrora ( ist. - Shumakov).

Design: the development of the technical design of the boat was carried out from September 1976 to May 1977. One of the main tasks that the developers faced was to keep the submarine within the displacement declared in the draft design. The technical design was considered by the 1st Central Research Institute of the USSR Ministry of Defense (shipbuilding) in June 1977 and approved on September 13, 1977 with reservations that in the process of developing drawings and construction, it is necessary to ensure even greater noise reduction, placement of SGPD launchers, placement of CRBD with the possibility of using coastal targets. After receiving information about the innovations on the American Los-Angeles-type submarine, which were expressed in the installation of a GAS with digital signal processing, which reduces the influence of the submarine's own noise, and also, taking into account the wishes of the Navy leadership, to equip the KRBD submarine "" (Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of May 26, 1978 d.) the project was additionally redesigned for the installation of the Skat-3 SJSC, which required a change in the hull design. The project was handed over in 1980.

http://www.militaryphotos.net).

Production: preparation for the production of a series of boats pr.971 at the Shipbuilding Plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur (factory No. 199) has been carried out since 1978. The lead PLA K-284:
- laid down at the end of 1980
- the first unit of equipment was installed in a rugged case in June 1983.
- the mortgage board was installed on November 6, 1983.
- the official date of the bookmark is November 11, 1983.
- Rugged body assembly completed in February 1984
- Submarine K-284 was withdrawn from the workshop to the transport and launching floating dock "Amur" on July 16, 1984.
- the beginning of the transportation of submarines in a floating dock to the delivery base in Bolshoy Kamen - October 16, 1984
- launching from a floating dock in Chikhachev Bay, launching a PPU - until October 25, 1984
- arrived under its own power at the delivery base of the plant in the settlement of Bolshoy Kamen and was run aground (circulation routes turned out to be clogged with mud) on October 25, 1984
- two unsuccessful stages of factory sea trials - due to the failure of the PPU to reach a capacity of more than 50% (due to circulation routes clogged with mud) - from December 7, 1984
- cleaning of circulation routes - December 7-20, 1984
- the third successful stage of factory sea trials - until the end of December 1984
- signing the acceptance act of the submarine K-284 - December 30, 1984 (indicating the list of works postponed to 1985)

Trials and adoption. Factory tests of K-284 began on December 7, 1984 and the K-284 submarine was officially handed over to the Navy by signing the Acceptance Certificate on December 30, 1984, after which, based in Bolshoy Kamen, it began to fine-tune equipment and test systems. Acoustic refinement of the K-284 submarine was carried out in the period from 1985 to 1987. Final finishing and painting - 1986. Since 1986, the head submarine also provided testing of serial submarines pr.971. Sea trials were carried out in 1986-1987. The first launches of the CRBD "Granat" - January 1987. The technology and laboriousness of navigational and dock repairs were tested in 1987 and in 1989. July 1, 1989 By this time, the K-284 submarine had covered more than 50,000 miles and had about 10,000 hours of operating time of the main mechanisms. Tests of all PLA systems were completed only in 1990.

Probably the first Western photo of the PLA K-284 "Shark" project 971 AKULA, May 1985 (photo - US NAVY,).

One of the first photos of the PLA pr.971 AKULA (K-284 "Shark") published in the Western media (Soviet Military Power 1987. USA. 1987).

PLA pr.971 AKULA (probably K-284 "Shark") published in the Western media (09/29/1989, photo by US NAVY,).

Lead PLA K-284 "Shark" pr.971 AKULA at sludge in Pavlovsky Bay, Pacific Fleet, November 1996 (photo by V. Lemonos, http://www.podlodka.su)

The second in the PLA series pr.971 AKULA - K-263 "Barnaul" / "Dolphin" in the 45th division of the Pacific Fleet submarine (Sazhaev M.I., Navigation roads "Barsov". Site http://shturman.vlms.ru)

Project 971 submarines were built at factories in Komsomolsk-on-Amur (factory No. 199, from 1983 to the present) and in Severodvinsk (Sevmash - factory No. 402, workshop No. 50, from 1985 to 2001). ) and according to the original plans it was planned to build 25 submarines (20 submarines were laid down). By default, PLA data pr.971.

Rolling out from the workshop of the Sevmash Production Association of the PLA pr.971 K-480 "Bars", April 16, 1988 (panorama from the frames of the documentary film "Impact Force. Underwater Hunter", ORT, 2007-2008)

PLA "Kashalot" K-322, October 1993, Pacific Ocean (photo by US NAVY,).

Submarine design- double-hull, aft plumage with a fairing of the towed GAS antenna on the upper vertical rudder. The robust body is made of new grade steel with a yield strength of 100 kgf/sq.mm (thickness up to 48 mm, processed on FUJICAR presses) and is divided into 7 compartments. At the design stage, the task of a significant (about 5 times compared to the 2nd generation PLA) noise reduction was solved using the development of the low-noise PLA pr.991. The assembly of the hull is made by the block method: the PLA equipment is installed inside the hull on shock absorbers and in multi-deck shock absorber blocks ("shelves"), which are part of the general structural system of two-stage shock absorption (each block is isolated from the hull by rubber-cord pneumatic shock absorbers). The body of the PLA is covered with a rubber anti-hydroacoustic coating. Vibration-absorbing and vibration-isolating coatings are used outside and inside the solid PLA body. According to some reports, active noise reduction means are used. PLA equipment meets the standards of vibroacoustic characteristics VAH-74. The crew habitability conditions have been improved on the submarine.

External devices and layout of PLA pr.971 AKULA. The numbers indicate: 1 - SGPD launchers, 2 - emergency pop-up buoy, 3 - SOKS antennas, 4 - GAS antennas, 5 - periscope, 6 - VSK unit - pop-up rescue camera, 7 - radar, direction finder and communication antennas, 8 - exhaust diesel generator, 9 - scuppers (holes in a light body), 10 - container of the towed GAS antenna, 11 - screw, 12 - water outlet, 13 - cover of the thruster auxiliary screw column, 14 - intake fittings of the "Fin" type, 15 - drain holes, 16 - horizontal steering wheel, 17 - torpedo tube covers (http://defenceforumindia.com).

Starting with the PLA K-322 (serial number 513), 25 noise reduction measures were introduced, including a shock-absorbed main bearing of the shafting.

Starting from the PLA K-391 (serial number 514), gunpowder generators for blowing out the tanks of the main ballast are installed. Starting with the PLA K-391, the outboard fittings of the circulation routes of the "Fin" type are installed on the PLA - the shape of the intake becomes flat in cross section instead of round.

Starting from the submarine K-461 (serial No. 831, Sevmash Production Association) and K-295 (serial No. 517, SZLK), 34 new mechanisms are installed on boats in accordance with the norms of vibroacoustic characteristics of the VAC-80.

According to some reports, the submarine pr.971 uses a system for influencing the boundary layer of the water surrounding the hull in order to reduce resistance, which is probably worked out on the experimental submarine pr.1710 "Mackerel" (there is no confirmation of this information).

PLA assembly shop pr.971 AKULA at the Amur Shipbuilding Plant (Ships and destinies. Amur Shipbuilding Plant is 70 years old. Khabarovsk, Priamurskiye Vedomosti, 2002)

Construction of the PLA hull pr.971 AKULA at the Amur Shipbuilding Plant (Ships and destinies. Amur Shipbuilding Plant is 70 years old. Khabarovsk, "Priamurskiye Vedomosti", 2002)

One of the PLA hulls pr.971 AKULA manufactured by Sevmash (probably K-328 "Leopard" or a later PLA, http://forums.airbase.ru/)

http://drugoi.livejournal.com/).

Engines:

Nuclear power plant with a pressurized water reactor on thermal neutrons VM-5 with a steam generating unit (PPU) OK-650M.01 (on K-284 and other submarines) with a capacity of 190 MW (created on the basis of the basic model OK-650.BZ). Two two-section steam generators. PPU designers - Simonov R.I., Farafontov Yu.I., Bogdanovich V.P., Rynsky M.V. PPU is installed on U-shaped cantilever beams embedded in transverse bulkheads (including water protection tank). PPU was later used on submarines of other projects. PPU is equipped with an emergency battery-free cooling system with outboard titanium heat exchangers, a light hermetic water biological protection tank with a compensation system.

OK-650 series reactors were developed by NIKIET in the late 1960s ( ist. - Shumakov).

1 x steam block single-shaft steam turbine plant (PTU) with GTZA OK-9M (on the first submarines produced by the plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur) and OK-9VM with improved damping with a capacity of 43,000-50,000 hp (according to various sources, most likely 50,000 hp). On the head PLA K-284 - PTU OK-9V. The PTU is mounted on a shock-absorbing intermediate frame resting on inter-compartment bulkheads with the removal of the main circulation pumps to adjacent compartments.

2 x thruster submersible 2-speed propulsion motors with a capacity of PG-160 (?) 410 hp each (370 hp according to other data). They are located in retractable columns OK-300 (chief designer - A.M. Kuzmin).

Retractable thruster propeller OK-300 with PLA electric motor pr.971 AKULA (frame from a documentary film, http://forums.airbase.ru)

movers- one shaft, one 7-bladed fixed-pitch propeller with improved hydroacoustic characteristics and reduced rotational speed. The stern tube bearing of the main shaft is equipped with a self-flowing cooling system, which significantly reduced noise performance. Two reclining thrusters OK-300. Propellers for pr.971 were manufactured using high-precision metalworking machines purchased from Toshiba, bypassing COCOM restrictions (they were also used for submarines of other 3rd generation projects). Bow horizontal rudders with flaps, retractable. Cooling system with water intakes to the central route (beginning with K-391 of the "Plavnik" type - more efficient).

The main propeller of the PLA pr.971 AKULA is a 7-blade propeller (from left to right - one of the "Komsomol" hulls in the floating dock, and the roll-out of the K-335 Gepard submarine with the Sevmash software, all photos from http://forums. airbase.ru and from the film "Underwater Squadron" Sevmash ", 2006)

Propeller PLA K-480 "Ak Bars" project 971, installed as a monument near the "asterisk" center in Severodvinsk. The edges of the screw are processed and differ from the original ones. September-October 2013 (photo - Oleg Kuleshov, http://kuleshovoleg.livejournal.com).

Intakes of the circulation routes of the first buildings (on the left, K-480 "Bars") and the "Fin" type (on the right, all photos from http://forums.airbase.ru)

Energy- two alternating current turbogenerators OK-2 with a capacity of 3200 kW each, two reversible DC converters.

Backup power supply - two groups of lead-acid batteries, 2 x DG-300 diesel generator with a capacity of 750 hp each. (according to other data 1 x ASDG-800-1 or ASDG-1000 - possibly different diesel generators on different sub-series) with a reversible converter, fuel reserve - 10 days.
Starting from the K-391 submarine, emergency electric power networks are installed, and starting from the K-461 submarine (serial number 831, PO Sevmash) and K-295 (serial number 517, SZLK), outboard emergency power networks are installed.

Rescue and life support system- pop-up rescue chamber (VSK) - VSK unit - development and analogue of VSK PLA pr.705. On the submarine K-152 "Nerpa" project 971I, a VSK of a new design was installed (see fig.). Fire extinguishing system LOH (boat volumetric anti-chemical) with a working substance-fire extinguisher freon 114V2 (freon). Rescue universal complex KSU-600N-4 for remote automatic release of life rafts PSNL-20 (4 pcs, only on the submarine K-335 "Gepard", the system was developed by the Central Design Bureau "Lazurit").

Air regeneration system "Astra-3". A new combined system of electro-chemical air regeneration (ECHR) - starting with the PLA K-461 (serial No. 831, PO Sevmash) and K-295 (serial No. 517, SZLK).

The VSK unit is a pop-up rescue camera PLA pr.971I "Irbis" Improved AKULA K-152 "Nerpa" (http://flickr.com).

Demonstration of the operation of the universal rescue complex KSU-600N-4 for the release of life rafts on the submarine K-335 "Gepard" (http://www.gazeta.voenmeh.ru/).

performance characteristics of the submarine:

Crew - 73 people (including 33 officers)

108.25 m (according to the technical project May 1977)

110.3 m (AKULA, Improved AKULA)

113.3 m (AKULA-II / project 971U and K-335 AKULA-III)

Width - 13.5-13.6 m

Width along aft horizontal rudders - 15.4 m

Average draft - 9.68 m
Pressure vessel diameter (using the reactor compartment as an example) - 10.9 m

Surface displacement:

7540 tons (according to the TTZ preliminary project)

7740 tons (according to the technical project May 1977)

8140 tons (project 971 AKULA, production of PA "Sevmash")

8470-8500 tons (according to various sources AKULA-II / K-335 AKULA-III)

Underwater displacement:

12770 tons (project 971 AKULA, produced by PA "Sevmash")

13400-13800 tons (according to various sources AKULA-II / K-335 AKULA-III)

Surface speed:

20 knots (according to Western data)

11.6 knots according to other data (including K-152 Nerpa?)

12 knots (Project 971U)

Underwater speed:

6-9 knots (quiet running)
- 33 knots

35 knots (according to Western data)

Underwater speed on thrusters - 5 knots

Maximum immersion depth - 600 m

Immersion depth working:

480 m (AKULA, Improved AKULA)

520 m (AKULA-II and including K-152 "Nerpa" ?, but, possibly, for all submarines of the project)

Autonomy - 100 days (according to reserves)

Noise and detection range PLA pr.971 according to various fragmentary data:
- The maximum detection range of the boat pr.971 GAK AN / BQQ-5 (PLA Los-Angeles) - 10 km (data from 1995, Jeremy Boord).

At a travel speed of 6-9 knots, the first submarine hulls of Project 971 were not detected by US ASW means (data from 1995, Jeremy Boord).
- The noise level of the PLA K-284 is 12-15 dB or 4-4.5 times lower than the noise level of the PLA pr.671RTM VICTOR-III (Jane "s)

The noise level of the PLA K-335 is 3.5 times lower than that of the K-284 (Alekseev A.P., Samarkin L.A.)

With a natural background of 40-45 dB in calm, the noise level of the PLpr.971 was 60-70 dB - the PL series and the measurement conditions are unknown, Kamchatka (http://forums.airbase.ru).
- At the same time, Project 971 submarines are considered noisier than SeaWolf or Improved Los-Angeles submarines (without clarification). According to Western data (1994), the noise level of the Project 971 Improved AKULA submarine at speeds of 5-7 knots is similar or lower than that of the Improved Los-Angeles (http://forums.airbase.ru).

Estimated cost of PLA pr.971 - 1.55 billion USD (in 1995 prices)

Armament:

Training system TA "Grinda"

Ammunition - total - 40 torpedoes, missiles, rocket-torpedoes or self-transporting mines.

According to the Soviet-American agreements of 1989, ammunition with nuclear warheads is not used in the armaments.

On one of the submarines, tests of the Splash PLUR were carried out (not confirmed, no data).

Starting from the submarine K-391 (serial No. 514) project 971 / 09710 AKULA, 6 x 533 mm disposable non-reloadable launchers REPS-324 "Barrier" are installed on boats to launch means of sonar countermeasures, located in the superstructure (starting from the submarine K- 391 - serial number 514) - i.e. part of AKULA, Improved AKULA, AKULA-II and AKULA-III, except for K-152 Nerpa). Ammunition - 6 SGAPD. Initially, in the West, these PUs were perceived as vertical launchers for the Granat / SS-N-21 SAMPSON CRBD.
SGAPD:


MG-114 "Beryl"

Replaceable insert-launcher SGAPD "Barrier" and SGAPD MG-104 "Throw" (Shipbuilding magazine, http://forums.airbase.ru)

MANPADS "Strela-3" or "Igla" - 3 launchers, 12 missiles.

Equipment:

Hydroacoustic equipment and CICS:
Project 971 AKULA

Project 971 Improved AKULA

Project 971 AKULA-II

project 971 / project 971M (?) (K-335) - AKULA-III

BIUS MVU-132 (?) "Omnibus" developed by the Central Research Institute "Agat". On the PLA pr.971M K-335 "Gepard" - "Omnibus-U".

The hydroacoustic complex (HAC) MGK-540 "Skat-3" SHARK GILL with digital information processing was developed by the Central Research Institute "Morfizpribor", St. Petersburg, chief designer Kakalov V.A. R&D has been carried out since 1980 on the basis of the MGK-500 Skat. In terms of its capabilities, the GAK MGK-540 is not inferior to its American counterparts - the modernized GAK AN / BQQ-5 and AN / BQQ-6. Tests of the final configuration of the HJC were carried out in 1986-1987. in the Sea of ​​Japan and completed only in 1988 (Submarine K-284 "Shark" project 971 AKULA):
- commissioning and factory tests of a prototype HAC on the head PLA K-284 - 1985-1986.
- state testing of a prototype SAC, incl. in oceanic conditions - 1986-1987
- finalization of the HAC and testing in marine conditions - 1988
- a comprehensive check of the combat properties of submarines - 1988

On the submarines of the second series - planned for construction after the K-335 Gepard, it was supposed to modernize the SAC.

The composition of the HAC:

1. General purpose equipment with information output to the control panel;

2. Equipment for noise direction finding in the sound frequency range and equipment for echo direction finding (sonar);

Device No. 1 - nasal passive-active search and attack sonar (SHARK GILL), operating at medium and low frequencies; radome of the main antenna GAK - non-setting fiberglass.

4. Equipment for detecting hydroacoustic signals from operating sonar (hydroacoustic reconnaissance) with GAS for detecting GAS of the enemy MG-70 (the designation MT-70 is found - it is doubtful);

5. Equipment for underwater communication and state identification MGK-80;

6. Subsystem No. 6 - noise direction finding equipment at low frequencies using a towed extended antenna MGBS-541 "Skat-3" (located in the UPV-1-3 fairing-nacelle on the upper vertical rudder).

7. Target classification equipment using a digital noise library; Research work "Osnova", "Melody", "Method", "Cape", "Signal" was carried out by the Central Research Institute "Morfizpribor" in 1979-1987. At the same time, the task of classifying targets according to information from all subsystems of the SAC was solved at the SJSC MGK-540;

8. Equipment for monitoring the operation of the complex.

In addition, the following GAS work together with the complex:

GAS mine detection MG-519 "Arfa-M"

GAS measuring the speed of sound in water MG-543 "Reflector" or "Zhgut-M" (?)

GAS for determining the beginning of cavitation of propellers MG-512 "Vint-M"

Echoledometer MG-518 "Sever-M"

NOR-1 navigational ice break detector

Circular navigation detector NOK-1

The detection range of the SAC is 3 times higher than the detection range of the SAC of the 2nd generation submarine.

Target detection range - 220-230 km (according to various sources)

The number of simultaneously tracked sonar targets - 30

Main passive antenna GAK MGK-540 "Skat-3" SHARK GILL PLA pr.971 (http://paralay.iboards.ru)

Project 971I "Irbis" Improved AKULA (K-152 "Nerpa") - BIUS "Omnibus-E", SJSC "Skat-3" export version (there was also data on the installation of MGK-400ME-3 with the antenna SJSC "Skat-3", but these data are considered doubtful).

During the repair and modernization of the Kashalot submarine (factory No. 513) pr. 971 at the Amur Shipyard, it is planned to replace the SJC with the SJSC Kizhuch. As of the end of 2012, the timing of the completion of the repair of the boat is not clear ().

Non-acoustic means:
Wake detection equipment for submarines and enemy ships - SOKS (wake detection station) MNK-200-1 "Tukan". The SOKS equipment records the parameters of the movement of ships and submarines approximately within 30 minutes to several hours after the passage. It is installed on boats starting from K-322 (serial number 513) as standard MNK-200-1 "Tukan". A sample of the SOKS MNK-200 "Tukan" device with protective petals was installed on the K-480 "Bars" submarine. There are no SOKS devices on the K-461 and K-328 submarines (most likely, there was no configuration during the construction of the submarine, it was planned to be delivered during the middle repair). SOKS was not installed on the K-152 "Nerpa" submarine due to the export purpose of the ship.

Sensors SOKS MNK-200 "Tukan" on the superstructure and in the fence of the cabin PLA K-157 "Vepr" pr.971 AKULA-II

SOKS sensors on the vertical panel of the pr.671RTM VICTOR-III submarine (possibly MNK-100 "Kolos", chronicle frame not earlier than 1982, from the documentary film "Impact Force. Underwater Hunter", ORT, 2007-2008. )

Radar equipment:
Radar "Radian" / SNOOP PAIR MRCP-58 or "Radian-U" ("simplified") MRCP-59 with one antenna (starting with PLA K-461 / serial number 831, software Sevmash and K-295 / serial number 517, SZLK).

Other systems:
Automated integrated control system for technical means of submarines.

Navigation inertial complex "Symphonia-071" (K-284, K-253, K-322 at least) with a gyro-corrector "Scandium" and an on-board computer or a complex "Symphony-U" (possibly a submarine K-335 "Gepard"?). Perhaps the prototype of the system or the research topic on which the complex was developed was called "Medveditsa-971" (found in the media). The maximum storage time of navigation data to ensure the specified navigation accuracy is more than 7 days (in a submerged position without determining the location). One of the best results in terms of the accuracy of the NK operation was obtained in 2002 during the combat service of the K-295 submarine - for 6.5 days in a submerged position without determining the location, the position error of the submarine did not exceed 10 cables (1852 m). The main operating mode of the navigation complex is "Special".

Satellite navigation system "Synthesis".

Automated radio communication complex "Molniya-MTs" / KREMMNY-3 consisting of:

Satellite communication system "Tsunami-BM" with a towed antenna - device K-659 "Zalom" (located in the superstructure behind the wheelhouse fence)

And long-distance communication antenna system "Kora" / PERT SPRING

VHF radio "Anis" / PARK LAMP

Radio stations R-790 (various modifications), R-143, R-855UM (3 sets), R-159 (6 sets), item P-405, Call, Prichal (3 sets), R-105M ( the data is not accurate, the equipment of the submarine pr.971 AKULA of the first releases).

Emergency signal buoy B-600-1.

Optical survey TV system MTK-110 (allows to conduct optical observation at depths up to 50-60 m). Commander's periscopes PZKE-11 or PZKE-21 (according to various sources) "Swan" and navigational astronavigation periscope "Signal-3".

Fence cutting and retractable devices on the submarine project 971 K-157 "Vepr" AKULA-II (bottom model, author - Kuznetsov A.F., Severodvinsk).

Towed device K-659 "Zalom" (http://forums.airbase.ru)

Modifications:

project 971 / 09710 "Bars" / "Pike-B" - AKULA(1984) - basic project of submarines (K-284, K-263, K-322, K-391, K-331, K-480, K-317, K-461). Boats can be divided into several subclasses:

project 971 - Improved AKULA(1992) - a transitional submarine project with improved hydroacoustic characteristics and updated avionics, according to some sources, the official name of the project has not changed (K-328, K-154, K-419, K-295). In the Western media, the name of the project "project 971U" is found.

PLA K-461 "Wolf" project 971 Improved AKULA in the Kola Bay. Northern Fleet, March 2001 (photo by Ilya Kurganov, http://www.submarines.narod.ru).

Presumably PLA K-154 "Tiger" (serial number 833) project 971 - Improved AKULA (http://forums.airbase.ru).

K-154 "Tiger" (plant No. 833) project 971 - Improved AKULA near the PLA-carrier of ultra-small submarines "Orenburg" in Deer Bay, photo dated June 1 and 5, 2005 (photo by Den, http: // fotki.yandex.ru).

K-154 "Tiger" (serial No. 833) project 971 - Improved AKULA in the same place in 2010. SOKS sensors or part of the sensors were probably dismantled on the submarine (photo from alex1976 archive, http://forums.airbase.ru).

project 971 / project 971U (?) - AKULA-II(1995) - a transitional submarine project with a modified (longer by 3 m) for the installation of new equipment, a strong hull, according to some sources, the official name of the project has not changed. According to the project, the only submarine, the K-157 Vepr, was built at the Sevmash Production Association. Structurally and in terms of the composition of the equipment, the submarine corresponds to the AKULA-III class, but without changing the shape of the fencing of retractable devices and the radome of the towed GAS antenna. Active equipment for reducing the acoustic visibility of submarines was installed (probably SAG - a system for active noise damping in the range of 50-500 Hz). In the Western media, the name of the project "project 971A" is found.

Submarine K-157 "Vepr" project 971 AKULA-II in Motovsky Bay. Northern Fleet, June 1998 (photo by Ilya Kurganov, http://www.submarines.narod.ru)

project 971 / project 971M (?) - AKULA-III(2001) - it was assumed that this project would be a large-scale "second base" project of a submarine with a more modern avionics, a modified fairing of the container of the towed antenna of the SAC and a different design of the cabin fence in terms of interface with the submarine hull. The only submarine K-335 "Gepard" was built at the Sevmash Production Association according to the project. According to some sources, the official name of the project also did not change (project 971).

Submarine K-335 "Gepard" pr.971M AKULA-III opposite workshop No. 50 of the Sevmash Production Association, October 1999, Severodvinsk (photo - S. Kundyvus, Sevmash Production Association, http://forums.airbase.ru).

Submarine K-335 "Gepard" project 971 AKULA-III in the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea during sea trials. Northern Fleet, July 2001 (photo by Ilya Kurganov, http://www.submarines.narod.ru)

Submarine K-335 "Gepard" project 971 AKULA-III in the Dvina Bay. Northern Fleet, July 2001 (photo by Ilya Kurganov, http://www.submarines.narod.ru/)

project 971I / 09719 "Irbis" - Improved AKULA(2009) - modification of the PLA pr.971 for the Indian Navy (K-152 "Nerpa"). According to media reports - "with an unclassified composition of avionics", an export version of the SJSC "Skat-3" - there are no SGPD launchers and a SOKS system on the boat. Transferred to the Russian Navy on December 28, 2009. The transfer of the submarine to the Indian Navy took place in 2012.

Submarine K-152 "Nerpa" pr.971I - Improved AKULA during testing, 10/31/2008 (photo from tsonyo archive, http://forums.airbase.ru).

PLA Chakra / K-152 "Nerpa" pr.971I - Improved AKULA on the way to India, end of March 2012 (http://www.militaryphotos.net).

PLA Chakra / K-152 "Nerpa" pr.971I - Improved AKULA on the way to India, end of March 2012 (http://www.militaryphotos.net).

PLA pr.971 projections from the booklet of the SPMBM "Malachite" from the IMDS-2011 salon (from the Gogs archive, http://forums.airbase.ru/).

Projections of PLA options pr.971 (drawing Diletant2010, adjustments, version 04/29/2010)

One of the first Western photos of the PLA pr.971 AKULA (K-284 "Shark"), March 25, 1986 (photo - US NAVY,).

1988 - on the head submarine K-284, after improvements, the GAK MGK-540 "Skat-3" was adopted.

1990 - tests of the head PLA K-284 and all systems of project 971 were completed.

April 6, 1990 - PLA K-480 (future "Bars") dives to a maximum depth of more than 400 m (Norwegian Sea).

1990 summer - the first combat service of the submarine pr.971 - Pacific Fleet, 45th division of the submarine, submarine K-322 - senior campaign deputy division commander captain 1st rank Sidenko Konstantin Semenovich. The duration of tracking foreign submarines in the campaign was more than 14 days (354 hours). This was the best result - the tracking time for a foreign submarine exceeded the best achievements of the USSR Navy submarines. Incl. through the SOCS system.

1990 - the second combat service of the submarine pr.971 - Pacific Fleet, 45th division of the submarine, submarine K-263 under the command of Captain 1st Rank Mishin Alexei Yegorovich. This was the first and last combat service of the K-263 submarine - in the future, combat training tasks were practiced by the crews of the formation on the submarine. Since 1998, the submarine has been standing next to the submarine in "sucks".

1991 summer - the third combat service of the submarine pr. PLA service pr.971.

1992 - combat service of the PLA pr.971 K-331 (Pacific Fleet, 45th division of the submarine, senior campaign - deputy commander of the division captain 1st rank Sergey Yegorovich Vasin). A new Russian Navy record for tracking foreign submarines has been set.

1993 - on the submarine K-391 (manufacturer No. 514) the last missile firing in the Navy was carried out with the Granat complex, Rear Admiral Yu.V. Kirillov, senior on board.

Spring 1995 - K-419 "Walrus" (factory No. 516) during combat service solved tasks in remote areas of the Pacific Ocean off the western coast of the United States. Senior campaign - division commander Rear Admiral Sidenko K.S. The submarine operated in a tough system of anti-submarine warfare by the US PLS. The campaign was partly demonstrative. This was the first US NAVY contact with the Improved AKULA submarine (K-419 "Walrus"), which showed that at a speed of less than 6-9 knots, it was impossible to track the submarine with sonar means of the ASW (Jeremy Boord, Admiral, Chief of Operations US NAVY).

1996 - the last year during which the PLA K-317 "Patner" launched the power plant for the last time in the mode of operation of the main turbogenerators.

October 6, 1997 - the unfinished Rys submarine (factory No. 837) was removed from construction at the Sevmash Production Association and excluded from the Navy.

1997 - at the Pacific Fleet, from the 45th submarine division, boats pr. 971 were transferred to the 10th anti-aircraft division of the Pacific Fleet submarine.

1997 - heading of the submarine K-335 "Gepard" more than 80%, there is information about the disposal of submarines Nos. 520 and 521.

January 22, 1998 - the unfinished Cougar submarine (serial number 836) was removed from construction at the Sevmash Production Association and excluded from the Navy.

September 11, 1998 - on the submarine K-157 Vepr, sailor Kuzminykh killed 8 colleagues and wounded an officer. The sailor was shot dead by the FSB special group during the assault on the compartment in which he tried to barricade himself, threatening to blow up the rocket.

1998 - PLA K-328 "Leopard" of the Northern Fleet made a long voyage, as a result of which the commander of the submarine, captain of the first rank S.V. Spravtsev, was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

1999 September - on the submarine K-317 "Panther" of the Northern Fleet was delivered to Severodvinsk in tow of the rescue ship "Admiral Chiker" for scheduled maintenance and restoration repairs.

January 29, 2000 - two officers were washed overboard on the K-461 "Volk" submarine during a storm, trying to fix the malfunction. Failed to save.

2000 beginning of the year - as part of the 24 division of submarines of the Northern Fleet of Russia PLA K-317 "Panther", K-461 "Wolf", K-328 "Leopard", K-154 "Tiger", K-157 "Vepr", K-335 "Gepard". Submarine K-480 "Ak Bars" is located in Gadzhiyevo in the sludge division.

2000-2005 - hull structures of the Cougar and Lynx submarines (factory Nos. 836 and 837, as well as No. 838 of the Sevmash Production Association), at the suggestion of the Sevmash management, were used in the completion of the SSBN pr.955 "Yuri Dolgoruky" (according to an interview with Kovalev in the film "Submarine Squadron" Sevmash ", 2006).

The use of hull structures of submarines No. 836 and 837 of the Sevmash Production Association for the construction of the Yury Dolgoruky SSBN, project 955. In the lower picture - a block of a turbine and a reactor (Stills from the film "Submarine Squadron" Sevmash ". Studio" Sevmashfilm ", 2006)

2001 - The submarine "Gepard" was handed over to the Fleet through the use of the Sevmash production company's own funds in the amount of 542 million rubles. At the same time, in the state budgets of 2001-2002. funds were not provided for debt repayment. As of May 2002, the debt to the enterprise was not repaid despite the order of the Government of Russia dated December 26, 2001 ().

2002 - after a long break, the submarine K-295 "Samara" (manufacturer No. 517) under the command of Captain 1st Rank Chuvashev Viktor Nikolaevich enters combat service in the Pacific Ocean. Senior campaign - deputy commander of the division, captain 1st rank Zaika Alexander Konstantinovich. The submarine returned from the campaign, having lost part of the fairing of the sonar complex as a result of a collision with an unidentified submerged object.

October 1, 2002 - Submarine K-480 "Ak Bars" was expelled from the combat strength of the Navy and laid up in the Sayda Bay (Northern Fleet).

January 2004 - a contract was signed with India for the completion and modernization of the submarine project 971I (K-152 "Nerpa") for subsequent sale on a lease for 10 years. In the Indian Navy, the submarine should receive the name INS "Chakra".

2005-2009 - PLA pr.971 and modifications are based in Yagelnaya Bay (Northern Fleet) and Krasheninnikov Bay (Rybachy settlement, Pacific Fleet).

November 2, 2006 - in Severodvinsk at the Sevmash Production Association during repairs on the K-317 Panther submarine, due to the carelessness of the welders, the cable wiring caught fire and a fire broke out in the third compartment. The submarine was restored and, after the completion of the medium repair and modernization (avionics and the SAC were modernized), it entered service on January 28, 2008.

2007 - the readiness of the K-152 Nerpa submarine (serial number 518) is 86.5%, the nuclear reactor was loaded onto the submarine in 1998. The Samara and Kuzbass submarines are actually combat-ready - at the Pacific Fleet (the rest are either under repair, either in reserve or in sludge), in the Northern Fleet - "Gepard", "Vepr", "Leopard", "Tiger" (the rest - similarly to the Pacific Fleet).

Submarine K-152 "Nerpa" pr.971I Improved AKULA goes to trials in the water area of ​​the Shipyard of Bolshoy Kamen (fitting base "Amur Shipyard") from the transport dock "Zeya", July 2008 (photo by A. Silkin http://media.photobucket.com)

SSGN K-222 pr. 661 - PAPA between the submarine K-480 "Ak Bars" pr. 971 and the missile cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" near the wall of the Sevmash Production Association in Severodvinsk, photo no later than 2008 (http://www. air defense.net/forum).

2008-2009 - in the Russian Navy 12 submarines pr.971, 6 each for the Northern Fleet and Pacific Fleet.

2009 May 11 - during the visit of the Prime Minister of Russia V.V. Putin to the Amur Shipyard, the unfinished building of factory No. 519 ("Irbis") was inspected. It is stated that there is a hull, there are “whatnots”, there is equipment, there is no order from the Navy for submarines.

The hull and screw of the submarine pr.

SSBN "Borisoglebsk" PR.667BDR and submarine K-480 "Ak Bars" pr.971 near the wall of the shipyard "Zvezdochka" in anticipation of cutting. Severodvinsk, summer 2009 (http://maillist.ru/archives).

December 28, 2009 - Nerpa K-152 submarine was accepted into the Russian Pacific Fleet. The ship's reception ceremony took place in Bolshoy Kamen on the territory of the Vostok Shipyard. The transfer of the submarine to India is scheduled for 2010.

Submarine K-480 "Ak Bars" project 971 at the shipyard "Zvezdochka" for disposal. Probably a snapshot from 2009 (photo montage of snapshots from the alex1976 archive, http://forums.airbase.ru).

- 2010 August 20-26 - PLA pr.971 AKULA tried to take an acoustic portrait of Vanguard class SSBNs at the exit from the British Navy base Faslane. The Trafalgar-class submarine was sent to protect the SSBN.

Submarine K-335 "Gepard" project 971, Gadzhiyevo, December 2010 (photo - Rustem Adagamov, http://drugoi.livejournal.com/).

Submarine K-461 "Wolf" project 971, Gadzhiyevo, December 2010 (photo - Rustem Adagamov, http://drugoi.livejournal.com/).

November 2011 - the submarine K-328 "Leopard" pr.

February 28, 2011 - contract No. R / 1/2/0216 / GK-11-DGOZ was signed between the Ministry of Defense of Russia and the Zvyozdochka TsS for the repair of orders pr. 971 ( ist. - Annual report for 2011).

January 19, 2012 - information appeared in the media about the ignition of vapors of alcohol-containing liquids that took place on January 14, 2012 on the submarine K-335 "Gepard" pr.971M AKULA-III, which was undergoing technical inspection at shipyard No. . The fire allegedly occurred in the 4th compartment of the submarine, there were no casualties. On the same day - 01/19/2012 - this information was corrected by the head of the press service of the Western Military District Andrey Bobrun - on January 14, a broken standard portable lighting lamp ignited on the "Cheetah" during work in the interior. According to the instructions, the fire extinguishing system LOH (boat volumetric chemical) was immediately turned on, the fire was extinguished without casualties and material damage. The ignition of the light bulb did not cause any damage, so the incident, according to Bobrun, is not classified as a fire or a fire. The crew of the "Gepard" continues to work according to plan.

The incident occurred on January 14 in the village of Gadzhiyevo, and not in the water area of ​​the 10th shipyard, as previously reported by the media. After returning from a trip, during which the boat had problems with two reversible converters located in the 4th (reactor) compartment in the auxiliary equipment enclosure (a reversible converter is an electrical machine that converts one type of current to another), a decrease in insulation resistance was detected. The crew of the boat, in order to eliminate the remark, by written notification called the factory warranty team, whose specialists, together with the submariners, according to the existing guidelines, planned the work and began to carry it out. When carrying out technical work on one of the converters during its drying, one of the members of the factory team dropped a portable non-explosion and fireproof lamp, the lamp broke, as a result of the resulting spark, the vapors of the alcohol-acetone mixture, the working fluid, were instantly ignited, with which the electric machine was dried. The cotton vapor did not lead to a fire in the compartment, but caused the automatic activation of the LOH volumetric fire extinguishing system. The flash of fumes also caused minor injuries to the plant specialist, who turned to a medical institution only at the insistence of the shipyard management - the left hand and left cheek were sooty. After providing medical assistance on an outpatient basis, the worker was released ( http://flotprom.ru).

Submarine K-328 "Leopard" project 971 enters the Zvyozdochka CA, Severodvinsk, April 17, 2012 (photo - Oleg Kuleshov, http://kuleshovoleg.livejournal.com).

Submarine K-328 "Leopard" pr. 971 under repair in the docking chamber of the Zvyozdochka TsS, Severodvinsk, summer 2012 ().

Submarine K-328 "Leopard" pr.971 under repair in the docking chamber of the Zvyozdochka TsS, Severodvinsk, July 2012 (http://zvezdochka-ru.livejournal.com).

Submarine K-335 "Gepard" project 971 AKULA-III, presumably autumn 2012 (photo from tsonyo archive, http://forums.airbase.ru).

December 27, 2012 - the media reported that the Zvyozdochka CA in 2012 signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense for the repair of two submarines pr. "in November 2011. In the future, repairs and modernization at the Zvyozdochka CA are planned to be carried out on all combatant boats of the project - incl. and from the Pacific. Also in December 2012, CA signed a contract for the repair of all titanium submarines of the "Barracuda" type - work with them is planned to be carried out in shop No. 10 after its re-equipment. Note - the implementation of the program for the repair of Pacific submarines pr.971 at the Zvyozdochka CA means that the Far Eastern shipbuilding and ship repair plants (Amur Shipyard, Zvezda Shipyard) will not be loaded with this work.

Submarine K-335 "Gepard" pr.971 AKULA-III in the floating dock PD-50 at SRZ-82, January 2013 (photo from avsky archive, http://forums.airbase.ru).

- 2013 October 08 - in July-August 2014, it is planned to transfer the submarine K-391 "Bratsk" and K-295 "Samara" pr.971 from the Pacific Fleet to Severodvinsk to the Zvyozdochka CA. The transfer of boats will be carried out by the Northern Sea Route. The boats will undergo a medium repair with a deep modernization (). Also in 2014, the Volk submarine will be repaired at the Zvyozdochka CS. Transportation of Pacific boats will be carried out using a dock vessel. Corresponding negotiations with the company "Dockwise" were held. Dock delivery schedules have been agreed. By August next year, it is necessary to complete work on sealing the hull of the Bratsk - this ship has been in the floating dock for a very long time. The nuclear submarine "Samara" is afloat, it is necessary to carry out work on the transfer of the main power plant to a nuclear-safe state. In early August, in the Avacha Bay of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, both ships will be placed on the deck of a docking vessel, which will deliver them to the Zvyozdochka water area along the Northern Sea Route. This transition will take about three weeks ().

Submarine K-263 "Barnaul" project 971 in the Far East Air Force "Zvezda", 2012-2013 (http://eagle-rost.livejournal.com/).

K-461 "Volk" at the wall of the Zvezdochka shipyard, summer 2014 (http://zvezdochka-ru.livejournal.com/).

Submarines K-391 "Bratsk" and K-461 "Volk" near the wall of the shipyard "Zvezdochka", December 2014 (http://zvezdochka-ru.livejournal.com/).

Submarines K-391 "Bratsk" and K-461 "Volk" near the wall of the shipyard "Zvezdochka", April 2015 (http://zvezdochka-ru.livejournal.com/).

Boats of the project as part of the Fleets:

The number of submarines pr.971 in the Navy of the USSR and Russia by years:

August 24, 2010 - a representative of the headquarters of the Pacific Fleet announced that the transfer of the Nerpa submarine to India will take place at the end of 2010.

October 01, 2010 - the transfer of the Nerpa submarine to India was postponed to the 1st quarter of 2011. At present, the Indian crew is being trained on the submarine. According to media reports, the submarine is leased to India for 10 years for 650 million USD ( unless it's a media error).

October 7, 2010 - Director General of Rosoboronexport Anatoly Isaikin said that the transfer of the Nerpa submarine to India will take place according to plan - i.e. until the end of 2010

October 4-5, 2011 - in Moscow, during the work of the intergovernmental commission, the terms for acceptance tests and acceptance of the Indian Navy submarines were agreed. The launch of acceptance tests for which it is planned to test weapons systems is scheduled for October 30, 2011. Acceptance of the boat by the Indian Navy is expected on November 22-23, 2011.

October 30, 2011 - The submarine "Nerpa" did not go to sea for testing - the release date is not called. but there is information about its transfer. Information was also made public that the reliability of the weapon systems of the boat during the tests is no more than 35%. The date for the transfer of the submarine to India will also apparently be postponed.

December 30, 2011 - at the Main Headquarters of the Russian Navy, an Act was signed on the transfer of the K-152 "Nerpa" submarine pr.971I to India for leasing. On the 20th of January 2012 the boat will leave for India.

January 19, 2012 - the date of the planned transfer of the K-152 Nerpa submarine to the Indian Navy. On January 16, 2012, the deadline was announced to be postponed to January 23, 2011.

January 23, 2012 - PLA K-152 "Nerpa" pr.971I was transferred to the Indian Navy on the territory of the Zvezda plant in Bolshoy Kamen. The name of the boat in the Indian Navy is Chakra.

February 10, 2012 - before the specified date, the submarine Chakra (K-152 "Nerpa") will depart from Vladivostok to the place of permanent deployment - to the base of Vizakhapatnam on the east coast of India.

- 2012 March 30-31 - the expected time of arrival of the Chakra submarine (K-152 Nerpa) at the Visakhapatnam base on the east coast of India (02/21/2012).

- 2013 March 12 - with reference to a representative of the military-industrial complex of Russia, the media report that India is ready to finance the completion of the second submarine pr. subsequent transfer to the Indian Navy. The strong hull of the boat is ready and is in storage at the Amur Shipyard.

December 17, 2014 - The Times of India newspaper reports that the Indian Navy has decided to acquire a second Project 971 submarine on lease from Russia.

Registry PLA pr.971 and modifications (data are constantly updated, sorted by date of launching, version as of February 13, 2014):

In July 1976, in order to expand the front for the production of third-generation multi-purpose submarines, the military leadership decided to develop a new, cheaper nuclear submarine on the basis of the Gorky 945 project, the main difference of which from the prototype was to be the use of steel instead of titanium alloys in hull structures. Therefore, the development of the submarine, which received the number 971 (code "Pike-B"), was carried out according to the previous TTZ, bypassing the preliminary design.

A feature of the new nuclear submarine, the development of which was commissioned by the Malachite Squadron (Leningrad), was a significant reduction in noise, which is approximately 5 times less compared to the most advanced second-generation Soviet torpedo boats. This level was supposed to be reached through the implementation of the early developments of the SLE designers in the field of increasing the stealth of boats (an ultra-low-noise nuclear submarine was developed in the SLE in the 1970s), as well as research by specialists from the Central Research Institute. Krylov.

The efforts of the developers of the submarine were crowned with success: for the first time in the USSR submarine shipbuilding, the new nuclear-powered submarine surpassed the best analogue of American production - the third-generation multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the Los Angeles type in terms of stealth.

The submarine of the 971st project was equipped with powerful strike weapons, which significantly exceeded (in terms of missile and torpedo ammunition, caliber and number of torpedo tubes) the potentials of Soviet and foreign submarines of a similar purpose. The new submarine, like the ship of the 945th project, was designed to deal with enemy ship groups and submarines. The boat can take part in special operations, mine laying and reconnaissance.

09/13/1977 approved the technical project "Pike-B". However, later it was subjected to refinement, caused by the need to increase the technological level of the GAK to the level of American submarines (the United States again took the lead in this area). On submarines of the Los Angeles type (third generation), an AN / BQQ-5 hydroacoustic complex was installed, which has digital information processing, which provides more accurate selection of a useful signal against the background of interference. Another new "introductory", which necessitated changes, was the requirement of the military to install strategic missile launchers "Granat" on the submarine.

During the revision (completed in 1980), the submarine received a new digital sonar system with improved performance, as well as a weapons control system that allows the use of Granat cruise missiles.

In the design of the nuclear submarine of the 971st project, innovative solutions were implemented, such as the integrated automation of the technical and combat assets of the submarine, the concentration of control of the ship, weapons and in a single center - GKP (main command post), the use of a pop-up rescue camera (it was successfully tested on submarines of the project 705).

The submarine of the 971st project belongs to the double-hulled submarines. The robust housing is made of high-strength steel (yield strength is 100 kgf/mm2). The main equipment, cabins and combat posts, the main command post are located in zonal shock-absorbing blocks, which are framed spatial structures with decks. The acoustic field of the ship is significantly reduced by damping, which makes it possible to protect the equipment and crew from dynamic overloads that occur during underwater explosions. Also, the block layout made it possible to rationalize the process of building a submarine: the installation of equipment was transferred from the conditions of the compartment (rather cramped) to the workshop, to the zonal block accessible from various sides. After the installation is completed, the zonal unit is “rolled” into the nuclear submarine hull and connected to pipelines and main cables of ship systems.

On nuclear submarines, an advanced two-stage damping system was used, which significantly reduced structural noise. The mechanisms are installed on cushioned foundations. All zonal units are isolated from the nuclear submarine hull by rubber-cord pneumatic shock absorbers, which form the second stage of vibration isolation.

Thanks to the introduction of integrated automation, the crew of the submarine was reduced to 73 people (31 of which were officers). This is almost half the size of the crew of the nuclear submarine of the Los Angeles type (141 people). On the new ship, in comparison with the nuclear submarines of the 671RTM project, habitability conditions have been improved.

The power plant of the submarine includes a 190-megawatt thermal water reactor OK-650B with four steam generators (a pair of circulation pumps for the 1st and 4th circuits, three pumps for the 3rd circuit) and a single-shaft block steam turbine plant with wide redundancy of mechanization. On the shaft, the power was 50 thousand hp.

PLA "Bars" pr.971 at sea

A pair of alternating current turbogenerators was installed. DC consumers are powered by two groups of batteries and two reversible converters.

The submarine is equipped with a seven-bladed propeller, which has a reduced rotational speed and improved hydroacoustic characteristics.

In the event of a failure of the main power plant, for its subsequent commissioning, there are auxiliary means of propulsion and emergency sources of energy - two thrusters and DC propulsion motors, each with a capacity of 410 hp. Auxiliary means provide a speed of 5 knots and are used for maneuvering in a limited water area.

On board the submarine there are two DG-300 diesel generators with a capacity of 750 horsepower each with reversible converters, a fuel supply for ten days of operation. The generators were designed to generate alternating current - they feed general ship consumers and direct current - to power the propulsion motors.

SJSC MGK-540 Skat-3, which has a digital data processing system with a powerful sonar and noise direction finding system. The hydroacoustic complex consists of a developed bow antenna, two long-range onboard antennas and a towed extended antenna placed in a container mounted on a vertical tail.

The maximum target detection range by means of the new complex has increased by 3 times compared to sonar systems installed on second-generation submarines. The time for determining the target movement parameter has also been significantly reduced.

In addition to the hydroacoustic complex, nuclear submarines of the 971st project are equipped with a highly effective system for detecting submarines and surface vessels along the wake (equipment is installed on the boat that allows recording such a trace a few hours after the passage of an enemy submarine).

The boat is equipped with the Symphony-U (navigation) and Molniya-MTs (radio communication complex) complexes, which have a towed antenna and the Tsunami space communication system.

The torpedo-missile complex consists of 4 533 mm caliber torpedo tubes and 4 650 mm caliber devices (total ammunition load - 40 units of weapons, including 28 533 mm ones). It is adapted for firing CR "Granat", underwater rocket-torpedoes ("Wind", "Shkval" and "Waterfall") and missiles, self-transporting mines and torpedoes. In addition, the submarine is capable of laying conventional mines. Fire control when using cruise missiles "Granat" is carried out by hardware special. complex.

In the 1990s, the UGST (universal deep-sea homing torpedo), developed at the Research Institute of Marine Thermal Engineering and the Region State Research and Production Enterprise, entered service with the nuclear submarine. She replaced the electric anti-submarine torpedoes TEST-71M and high-speed anti-ship torpedoes 53-65K. The purpose of the new torpedo was to defeat enemy surface ships and submarines. A significant fuel supply and a powerful thermal power plant provide the torpedo with a wide range of travel depths and the ability to hit high-speed targets at long distances. A low-noise jet propulsion and an axial piston engine (unitary fuel is used) make it possible for a universal deep-sea homing torpedo to reach speeds of over 50 knots. The propeller, which does not have a gearbox, is directly connected to the engine, which, together with other measures, should significantly increase the secrecy of using a torpedo.

The UGST uses two-plane rudders, which extend beyond the contours after the torpedo leaves the torpedo tube. The combined acoustic homing equipment has modes for locating underwater targets and searching for surface ships along the ship's wake. There is a wired telecontrol system (a torpedo coil 25,000 meters long). The complex of onboard processors provides reliable control of torpedo systems during the search for and destruction of targets. The original solution is the presence of the "Tablet" algorithm in the guidance system. The “tablet” simulates a tactical picture at the time of firing aboard torpedoes, which is superimposed on a digital picture of the water area (depths, fairways, bottom topography). After the shot, the data is updated from the carrier board. Modern algorithms give torpedoes the properties of an artificial intelligence system that allows you to simultaneously use several torpedoes on several or one target during active opposition from the enemy or in a complex target environment.

Submarines "Volk" (K-461) and "Bars" (K-480) of the 24th division of the Northern Fleet in Gadzhiyevo

The length of the universal deep-sea homing torpedo is 7200 mm, weight is 2200 kg, explosive weight is 200 kg, travel speed is 50 knots, travel depth is 500 meters, firing range is 50 thousand m.

Also, the improvement of missile torpedoes, which are part of the armament of nuclear submarines of project 971, continues. To date, missile torpedoes are equipped with a second stage, which is an APR-3M underwater missile (weight 450 kg, caliber 355 mm, warhead weight 76 kg), which has a hydroacoustic homing system, with a capture radius of 2 thousand meters. The use of the guidance law with an adaptive lead angle made it possible to shift the center of the missile grouping to the middle of underwater targets. The torpedo uses an adjustable turbo-jet engine running on high-calorie mixed fuel, which provides the APR-3M with a significant speed of approach to the target, which makes it difficult for the enemy to use hydroacoustic countermeasures. The underwater speed is from 18 to 30 meters per second, the maximum depth of hitting targets is 800 meters, the probability of hitting a target is 0.9 (with an RMS target designation error of 300 to 500 meters).

At the same time, on the basis of agreements between the USSR and the United States, signed in 1989, weapons systems with nuclear weapons - Shkval and Vodopad rocket-torpedoes, as well as Granat-type cruise missiles - were excluded from the armament of multi-purpose nuclear submarines.

The Schuka-B submarine is the first type of multi-purpose nuclear submarine, the serial construction of which was originally organized not in Leningrad or Severodvinsk, but in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, which indicated an increased level of development of this industry in the Far East. The lead nuclear-powered ship of the 971st project - K-284 - was laid down in 1980 on the banks of the Amur River and entered service on December 30, 1984. Already in the process of testing this vessel, the achievement of a higher level of acoustic secrecy was demonstrated. In K-284, the noise level was 4-4.5 times (12-15 dB) lower than the noise level of the “quietest” Soviet submarine of the previous generation - 671RTM. This made the USSR a leader in this most important indicator of submarines.

Characteristics of the nuclear submarine project 971:
The greatest length is 110.3 m;
The greatest width is 13.6 m;
Average draft - 9.7 m;
Normal displacement - 8140 m3;
Full displacement - 12770 m3;
Working depth of immersion - 520 m;
Maximum immersion depth - 600 m;
Full underwater speed - 33.0 knots;
Surface speed - 11.6 knots;
Autonomy - 100 days;
Crew - 73 people.

During serial construction, continuous improvement of the design of the submarine was carried out, acoustic testing was carried out. This made it possible to strengthen the achieved position in the field of secrecy, eliminating the superiority of the United States.

According to the NATO classification, the new nuclear submarines received the designation Akula (which was confusing, since the name of another USSR submarine, the Alfa 705 project, began with the letter “A”). After the first "Sharks", ships appeared, which in the West were called Improved Akula (they probably included submarines built in Severodvinsk, as well as the last ships of the "Komsomol" construction). The new submarines, compared to their predecessors, had better stealth than the improved SSN-688-I (Los Angeles type) submarines of the US Navy.

SSGN pr.949-A and PLA pr.971 in the database

Initially, the boats of the 971 project carried only tactical numbers. But on 10/10/1990, an order was issued by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Chernavin to assign the name "Panther" to the K-317 submarine. In the future, other nuclear-powered ships of the project received names. K-480 - the first "Severodvinsk" boat - received the name "Bars", which soon became a household name for all submarines of the 971st project. The first commander of "Bars" is the captain of the second rank Efremenko. At the request of Tatarstan in December 1997, the Bars submarine was renamed Ak-Bars.

The Vepr nuclear-powered cruiser submarine (KAPL) built in Severodvinsk was commissioned in 1996. Keeping the same contours, the submarine had a new internal "stuffing" and the design of a durable hull. In the field of noise reduction, another major leap forward has also been made. In the West, this submarine ship (as well as subsequent ships of Project 971) was called Akula-2.

According to the chief designer of the project, Chernyshev (who died in July 1997), Bars retains significant modernization capabilities. For example, the backlog that Malachite has makes it possible to increase the search potential of the submarine by about 3 times.

According to US naval intelligence, the upgraded Bars has a 4-meter-long insert in its rugged hull. The additional tonnage made it possible to equip the submarine with "active" systems for reducing the vibration of the power plant, almost completely eliminating the effect of vibration on the ship's hull. According to experts, the upgraded Project 971 boat is approaching the level of the fourth-generation SSN-21 Sivulf multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the US Navy in terms of stealth characteristics. In terms of diving depth, speed characteristics and armament, these submarines are approximately equivalent. Thus, the improved nuclear submarine of project 971 can be considered as a submarine close to the level of the fourth generation.

Project 971 submarines manufactured in Komsomolsk-on-Amur:
K-284 "Shark" - bookmark - 1980; launching - 06.10.82; commissioning - 12/30/84.
K-263 "Dolphin" - bookmark - 1981; launching - 07/15/84; commissioning - December 1985
K-322 "Kashalot" - bookmark - 1982; launching - 1985; commissioning - 1986
K-391 "Kit" - bookmark - 1982; launching - 1985; commissioning - 1987 (in 1997 the boat was renamed KPL K-391 "Bratsk").
K-331 "Narwhal" - bookmark - 1983; launching - 1986; commissioning - 1989
K-419 "Walrus" - bookmark - 1984; launching - 1989; commissioning - 1992 (In January 1998, by order of the Civil Code of the Navy, K-419 was renamed K-419 Kuzbass).
K-295 "Dragon" - bookmark - 1985; launching - 07/15/94; commissioning - 1996 (May 1, 1998, the Dragon submarine was given the Guards Andreevsky flag of the K-133 nuclear submarine, and the K-152 Nerpa nuclear submarine under construction - the Guards Andreevsky flag K-56. K-295 in August 1999 renamed the nuclear submarine K-295 "Samara").
K-152 "Nerpa" - bookmark - 1986; launching - 1998; commissioning - 2002
Project 971 submarines manufactured in Severodvinsk:
K-480 "Bars" - bookmark - 1986; launching - 1988; commissioning - December 1989
K-317 "Panther" - bookmark - November 1986; launching - May 1990; commissioning - 12/30/90.
K-461 "Wolf" - bookmark - 1986; launching - 06/11/91; commissioning - 12/27/92.
K-328 "Leopard" - bookmark - November 1988; launching - 06.10.92; commissioning - 01/15/93. (In 1997, the Leopard cruising nuclear submarine was given the Order of the Red Banner of Battle. Some publications say that on April 29, 1991, it inherited the Red Banner Naval Flag from the K-181 nuclear submarine of project 627A).
K-154 "Tiger" - bookmark - 1989; launching - 07/10/93; commissioning - 05.12.94.
K-157 "Vepr" - bookmark - 1991; launching - 12/10/94; commissioning - 08.01.96.
K-335 "Gepard" - bookmark - 1992; launching - 1999; commissioning - 2000 (since 1997 - guards KAPL).
K-337 "Cougar" - bookmark - 1993; launching - 2000; commissioning - 2001
K-333 "Lynx" - bookmark - 1993; withdrawn from construction due to lack of funding in 1997

Bars in the Northern Fleet were reduced to a division based in Yagelnaya Bay. In particular, the nuclear submarine "Volk" in December 1995 - February 1996 (the crew of the nuclear submarine "Panther" was on board under the command of the captain of the first rank Spravtsev, the senior on board was the deputy commander of the division, the captain of the first rank Korolev), while in the Mediterranean sea ​​in combat service, carried out long-range anti-submarine support for the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. At the same time, they carried out long-term tracking of several NATO submarines, including the American nuclear submarine of the Los Angeles type.

Combat stability and high stealth give the Bars the opportunity to overcome anti-submarine lines, which are equipped with stationary systems for long-range sonar surveillance and have anti-submarine countermeasures. "Barsy" can work in the zone of domination of the enemy, inflicting sensitive torpedo and missile strikes on him. The armament of submarines makes it possible to fight against surface ships and submarines, as well as to hit ground targets with high accuracy when using cruise missiles.

PLA "Gepard"

Each project 971 boat in the event of an armed conflict can create a threat, as well as tie down a significant enemy grouping, preventing attacks on Russian territory.

According to scientists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, cited in the brochure "The Future of Russia's Strategic Nuclear Forces: Discussion and Arguments" (1995, Dolgoprudny), even in the case of the most favorable hydrological conditions that are typical for the Barents Sea in winter, nuclear submarines of the project 971 can be detected by American submarines of the Los Angeles type with the AN / BQQ-5 sonar system at a distance of up to 10 thousand meters. In the case of less favorable conditions in this area, it is almost impossible to detect the Bars GAS.

The appearance of submarines with such high combat qualities changed the situation and forced the US Navy to reckon with the possibility of significant opposition from the Russian fleet, even if the US offensive forces were completely superior. The "leopards" can attack not only strike groups of the American naval forces, but also their rear, including supply and base points, coastal command centers, no matter how far away they are located. Secretive, and therefore inaccessible to the enemy, Project 971 nuclear submarines turn a potential war in the open spaces of the ocean into a kind of offensive through a minefield, where any attempt to move forward threatens with an invisible, but real danger.

It is appropriate to give a description of the project 971 submarines given by N. Polmar, a prominent US naval analyst, during hearings in the committee on national. Security Council of the House of Representatives of the United States of America: "The appearance of submarines of the Akula type and other third-generation Russian nuclear submarines demonstrated that the shipbuilders of the USSR eliminated the noise gap faster than expected." In 1994, it became known that this gap was completely eliminated.

According to representatives of the US Navy, at operational speeds of about 5-7 knots, the noise of the Improved Akula-class boats, which was recorded by sonar reconnaissance, was lower than the noise of the most advanced US Navy Improved Los Angeles-class nuclear submarines. According to Admiral Jeremy Boorda, chief of operations for the US Navy, US ships were unable to escort Akula submarines at speeds of less than 9 knots (contact with a new Russian submarine took place in the spring of 1995 off the east coast of the United States). The advanced nuclear submarine Akula-2, according to the admiral, meets the requirements for fourth-generation boats in terms of low noise characteristics.

The appearance of new ultra-stealthy submarines in the Russian fleet after the end of the Cold War caused serious concern in the United States. This issue was raised in Congress in 1991. Several proposals were submitted to the discussion of US legislators, which were aimed at correcting the current situation in favor of the United States of America. In particular, they were supposed to:
- to demand from Russia to give publicity to long-term programs in the field of construction of submarines;
- establish for the United States and the Russian Federation agreed limits on the number of multi-purpose nuclear submarines;
- to assist Russia in the re-equipment of shipyards that build nuclear submarines for the production of non-military products.

The non-governmental international environmental organization Greenpeace, which actively advocated the ban on nuclear-powered submarines (of course, this primarily concerned Russian submarines, which, according to the "greens", represent the greatest environmental hazard). Greenpeace, with the aim of "excluding a nuclear catastrophe," recommended that the governments of Western states put the provision of fin. Russian assistance, depending on the solution of this issue.

However, the rate of replenishment of the navy with new multi-purpose submarines by the mid-1990s dropped sharply, which removed the acuteness of the problem for the United States, although the efforts of the "green" (as you know, many of which are closely associated with NATO intelligence services) directed against the Russian Navy have not stopped even today.

Currently, project 971 multi-purpose nuclear submarines are part of the Pacific (Rybachy) and Northern (Yagelnaya Bay) fleets. They are quite actively used for military service.

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For a long time they have been the main striking force of our fleet and a means of countering a potential enemy. The reason for this is simple: historically, our country has not worked out with aircraft carriers, but missiles launched from under the water are guaranteed to hit any point on the globe. That is why even in the Soviet Union great importance was attached to the development and creation of new types of submarines. At one time, project 971 became a real breakthrough, within the framework of which multi-purpose low-noise ships were created.

New "Pikes"

In 1976, a decision was made to design and build new submarines. The task was entrusted to the notorious Malachite enterprise, on which the country's nuclear fleet has always counted. The peculiarity of the new project is that during its development the developments on the Barracudas were fully used, and therefore the preliminary design stage and many calculations were skipped, which significantly reduced the cost of the project itself and accelerated the work carried out within its framework.

Unlike the "ancestors" of the 945 family, project 971, at the suggestion of engineers from Komsomolsk-on-Amur, did not involve the use of titanium in the production of hulls. This was due not only to the enormous cost and shortage of this metal, but also to the monstrous laboriousness of working with it. In fact, only Sevmash, whose capacities were already fully loaded, could pull off such a project. The first components have already been sent to the stocks ... as intelligence provided information about the new American Los Angeles-class submarine. Because of this, project 971 was urgently sent for revision.

Already in 1980 it was completely completed. Another feature of the new "Pike" was that most of the work on their design and creation was carried out in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Prior to that, the Pacific shipyards were in the position of a "poor relative" and performed only the functions of slaves.

Other features of the project

Few people know about this historical fact, but at the very beginning of the 80s, our country purchased Toshiba products from Japan - especially precise metalworking machines that made it possible to make new screws that produce a minimum of noise during operation. The deal itself was especially secret, but the United States, which by that time had practically "colonized" Japan, found out about it almost immediately. As a result, Toshiba even came under economic sanctions.

Thanks to the screws and some other design features, the project 971 was distinguished by amazing silence of navigation. This is largely the merit of Academician A. N. Krylov, who worked for several years to reduce the noise of submarines, being involved in the creation of the Barracuda. The efforts of the honored academician and the whole team of the research institute headed by him did not go unrewarded: the boats of project 971 "Pike-B" were noisier several times less than the newest American "Los Angeles".

Appointment of new submarines

The new submarines were able to adequately meet any enemy, as their strike weapons and their diversity amazed even the worldly-wise Mormans. The thing is that "Pike-B" had to destroy surface and underwater vessels, lay mines, conduct reconnaissance and sabotage raids, participate in special operations ... In a word, do everything to justify the characteristic "multi-purpose submarine of project 971" Shchuka- B"".

Innovative solutions and ideas

As we said, the original design of submarines of this type had to be significantly corrected. The only weak link of our submarines in comparison with their American counterparts was the lack of a digital interference filtering system. But in terms of general combat characteristics, the new "Pikes" still greatly surpassed them. For example, they were armed with the latest Granat anti-ship missiles, which, if necessary, made it possible to greatly thin out any enemy surface ship grouping.

But already after the “finishing with a file” in 1980, the “Pikes” nevertheless received the Skat-3 digital interference processing complex, as well as the latest guidance systems that allowed the use of the most advanced cruise missiles. For the first time, combat controls and the weapons themselves were achieved, a special pop-up capsule was massively introduced into the design to save the entire crew, which was successfully tested back on the Barracudas.

Design features

Like all the main USSR submarines of this class, Project 971 submarines used the now classic double-hull scheme. For the first time in the history of "underwater" shipbuilding, the experience of block articulation of submarine fragments was widely used, which made it possible to perform most of the work in comfortable workshop conditions. Zoned equipment blocks were also widely used, which, after installation, were simply connected to centralized data transmission buses.

How did you manage to reduce the noise level?

In addition to special screws, which we have already mentioned several times, special damping systems are used. Firstly, all mechanisms are installed on special "foundations". Secondly, each zone block has another cushioning system. Such a scheme made it possible not only to significantly reduce the volume of noise generated by the submarine, but also to additionally protect the crew and equipment of the submarine from the effects of shock waves generated during explosions of depth charges. So our fleet, for which submarines were almost always the main striking force, received a weighty "argument" for deterring a potential enemy.

Like all modern submarines, "Pikes" have a developed fin with an outstanding boule, which houses the towed antenna of the radar complex. The peculiarity of the plumage of these boats is that it is made as if one whole with the power elements of the main hull. All this is done in order to minimize the number of turbulences as much as possible. The latter can lead enemy hydroacoustics onto the trail of the ship. These measures have given their legitimate fruits: "Pikes" are considered the most inconspicuous underwater vessels to date.

Submarine dimensions and crew

The surface displacement of the ship is 8140 tons, underwater - 10 500 tons. The maximum length of the hull is 110.3 m, the width does not exceed 13.6 m. The average draft in the surface position is close to ten meters.

Due to the fact that various solutions for integrated automation of its control were massively applied in the design of the boat, the crew was reduced to 73 people in comparison with the American 143 crew members (at Los Angeles). If we compare the new "Pike" with the previous varieties of this family, then the living and working conditions of the crew have been significantly improved. By reducing the number of the latter, it also became possible to place people in the two most protected compartments (residential).

Power point

The heart of the ship is a 190 MW reactor. It has four steam generators and one turbine, the controls and mechanization of which are repeatedly duplicated. The power delivered to the shaft is 50,000 hp. With. The screw is seven-blade, with a special section of the blades and a reduced rotation speed. The maximum speed of the ship under water, if translated into understandable "land" values, exceeds 60 km / h! Simply put, the boat can move through dense environments faster than many sports yachts, not to mention heavy warships. The thing is that the hulls of the boats were developed by a whole "battalion" of academicians with numerous works in the field of hydrodynamics.

Means of detecting enemy ships

The real highlight of the new "Pike" was the complex MGK-540 "Skat-3". He can not only filter out interference, but also independently detect the bearing of noise from the propellers of any ship. In addition, Skat can be used as a conventional sonar when passing unfamiliar fairways. The detection range of enemy submarines has tripled compared to submarines of previous generations. In addition, "Skat" determines the characteristics of the pursued targets much faster and gives a forecast for the time of combat contact.

A unique feature of any Project 971 submarine is an installation that allows you to detect any surface ship by the wake it leaves. The equipment calculates the waves diverging from it even several hours after the passage of the ship in this square, which makes it possible to covertly track enemy ship groups at a safe distance from them.

Weapon characteristics

The main striking force is four 533 mm torpedo launchers. But four more 650 mm TA mounts look much more impressive. In total, up to 40 missiles and / or torpedoes can be on board the submarine. "Pike" can fire rockets "Granat", as well as "Shkval", equally effective in underwater and surface positions. Of course, it is possible to fire conventional torpedoes and launch automatic mines from torpedo tubes, which are independently placed in a combat position.

In addition, with the help of this submarine, you can also set up conventional minefields. So the range of weapons is very wide. When cruise missiles are launched, they are guided and tracked in a fully automatic mode, without diverting the attention of the crew from performing other combat missions. Alas, in 1989, after the conclusion of agreements with the Americans that were extremely unfavorable for our country, Project 971 submarines went on combat duty without Grenades and Whirlwinds, since these weapons could carry a nuclear charge.

The significance of "Pike" for domestic shipbuilding

As we said, these submarines became the first independent project of the shipyards of the Far East, which for the first time received a state order of such complexity and importance. The boat K-284, which became the flagship of the series, was laid down in 1980 and entered service with the fleet four years later. During the construction, minor corrections were quickly made to the design, which were routinely used in the creation of all subsequent submarines.

Already during the first tests, sailors and members of the Ministry of Defense were delighted with how quiet the submarine turned out to be. These indicators were so good that they made it possible to speak with full confidence about the Soviet shipbuilding reaching a fundamentally new level. Western military advisers were in full agreement with this, who recognized the Pike as a new class of weapon and assigned them the Akula code.

Due to their features, Project 971 submarines can overcome anti-submarine defenses in depth equipped with standard acoustic detection tools. Given the powerful armament, the submarine may well stand up for itself even if it is discovered.

Even in the zone of enemy domination, quiet and inconspicuous nuclear submarines of Project 971 can inflict significant losses on the enemy, up to shelling coastal targets with nuclear weapons. "Pikes" are quite capable of surface and submarine ships, as well as the destruction of strategically important command centers, even if they are located at a considerable distance from the coastal zone.

The value of the project "Pike-B" for our country

The appearance of the nuclear submarine of project 971 confused the Americans with all the cards. Prior to this, they quite rightly considered their offensive surface forces to be the strongest in the world, and the Soviet fleet, which had significantly fewer surface ships, was rated rather low by their experts. "Pikes" have reached a whole new level of play. They can safely work even deep behind enemy lines, going beyond anti-submarine defense lines. In the event of a full-scale war, not a single command center is immune from a nuclear strike from under the water, and it’s not even worth talking about a full-scale cutting of sea lanes of communication.

Any offensive operation of a potential enemy in such conditions turns into an analogue of a dance on, let alone the suddenness of the attack, you can forget. The US leadership "Pikes" (especially modernized ones) are very worried. Already in the 2000s, they repeatedly made attempts to legislate an agreement on a strong restriction of their use, but the interests of the Russian Federation do not have such “mutually beneficial” agreements.

Modifications and further development of the project

Subsequently, the Pike (project 971) was repeatedly improved, especially in terms of sonar stealth. Particularly different from others are the Vepr and Dragon ships, built according to an individual project 971U. They are immediately noticeable by the modified contours of the hull. The latter was lengthened by four meters at once, which made it possible to regularly place additional equipment for direction finding and apply new design solutions aimed at reducing the noise level. Displacement in the surface and submerged positions has increased by more than one and a half tons.

The power plant fed by the OK-650B3 reactor has also changed significantly. The changes were so obvious that the new nuclear-powered multi-purpose submarine was immediately dubbed Improved Akula in the foreign media. According to the same project, four more submarines were to be built, but in the end, only two of them were laid down and created at the shipyards. The first of them, K-335 "Gepard", was generally built according to the special project 971M, which provided for the use of the latest achievements of the electronic industry in the design.

This boat generally became known to Western sailors as Akula II, since its differences from the basic design were striking. The second completed submarine, also known as the K-152 Nerpa, was also created according to a special project 971I, originally intended to be leased to the Indian Navy. Basically, "Nerpa" differs from its "brothers" in the most simplified electronic filling, in which there are no secret components.

The continuity of generations

Initially, all boats of this series had only an index, not designated by proper names. But in 1990, K-317 received the name "Panther". It was given in honor of the submarine of the Russian Empire, which was the first to open a battle account. Later, the "birthday girl" was the nuclear submarine "Tigr" of project 971. Soon, all submarines of this family also received proper names, echoing the designations of the ships that were part of the Imperial and Soviet Navy. The only exception that project 971 has is Kuzbass. Previously, this ship was called "Walrus". At first, it was named after one of the first submarines of the Empire, but later it was commemorated by Soviet sailors.

But the most significant were the nuclear submarines produced at Sevmash. Their entire series was codenamed "Bars". For this, all the submarines of the project received the nickname "cats" in the west.

"Semi-combat" work

During the NATO aggression against Serbia in 1996, the K-461 "Wolf" was on combat duty in the Mediterranean Sea. American hydroacoustics managed to detect its location during the passage of the Strait of Gibraltar, but our submariners managed to get away from them. It was possible to re-discover the "Wolf" only directly off the coast of Yugoslavia. In this military campaign, the nuclear submarine covered the domestic aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" from potential aggressive actions of "Western partners". At the same time, "Wolf" carried out covert tracking of six NATO nuclear submarines, including one boat of the "competing" Los Angeles type.

In the same year, another "Pike-B", under the command of A. V. Burilichev, was on combat duty in the waters of the Atlantic. There, the crew discovered a US Navy SSBN and then covertly escorted the ship throughout its combat duty. If it were in a war, the American missile carrier would go to the bottom. The command understood all this very well, and therefore Burilichev immediately after the "business trip" received the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. This is another evidence of the high combat qualities and stealth of any Project 971 boat.

About cases of appendicitis at sea ...

At the end of February of the same 1996, an anecdotal incident occurred at all. Then large-scale exercises of the NATO fleet were just being held. The order of anti-submarine ships had just managed to get in touch with the command and report on the absence of potential enemy submarines along the course of the convoy ... A few minutes later, the commander of the Russian submarine contacted the British ships. And soon, the “hero of the occasion” herself surfaced in front of the stunned British sailors.

The crew reported that one of the sailors was in serious condition due to bursting appendicitis. Under the conditions of the submarine, the success of the operation was not guaranteed, and therefore the captain made an unprecedented decision to communicate with foreign colleagues. The patient was quickly loaded onto an English helicopter and sent to the hospital. What the British sailors felt at that moment, who had just reported on the absence of enemy submarines, is hard to imagine. What is even more interesting, they could not then detect the boat of the project 971 of the old series! Since then, Project 971 Shark has been deeply respected by

The current state of affairs

Currently, all submarines of this series are in service, serve in the Pacific and the Nerpa mentioned above is in service and, under the terms of the contract, will stay there until 2018. It is possible that after that the Indians will prefer to extend the contract, since they highly appreciate the combat qualities of the Russian submarine.

By the way, in the Indian Navy, the Nerpa was called Chakra. It is interesting that earlier the boat 670 Skat had exactly the same name, which also served India under leasing conditions from 1988 to 1992. All the sailors who served there have become true professionals in their field, and some officers from the first Chakra have already managed to rise to the rank of admiral. Whatever it was, but the Russian "Pike" today are actively used in the difficult task of carrying out combat duty and serve as one of the guarantors of the state sovereignty of our country.

Today, when the fleet begins to gradually recover after the 90s, there is already talk that fifth-generation nuclear submarines should be based precisely on the developments of project 971, since the vessels of this series have repeatedly proved their promise. The "Pikes" themselves correspond in their parameters to fourth-generation submarines. An indirect confirmation of this is the fact that they repeatedly deceived the SOSUS hydroacoustic detection system, which at one time created many problems for Soviet sailors.

Armament

torpedo

• 4 533 mm bow torpedo tubes; 2 533 mm stern torpedo tubes; 10 533 mm torpedoes.

Artillery

• 2 - 45/46 artillery installations "21-K"; 1000 45mm rounds.

Ships of the same type

"Shch-121" ("Catfish"), "Shch-122" ("Saury"), "Shch-123" ("Eel"), "Shch-124" ("Halibut"), "Shch-125" ( "Muksun"), "Shch-204" ("Minoga"), "Shch-205" ("Nerpa"), "Shch-206" ("Nelma"), "Shch-207" ("Killer Whale"), " Shch-306" ("Haddock"), "Shch-307" (Codfish), "Shch-309" ("Dolphin"), "Shch-310" ("Belukha"), "Shch-311" ("Kumzha ")

Submarines of series III "Pike" - the first type of medium-sized submarines built in the USSR. 1935-1936. - V-bis-2 series (14 units),

General information

Submarines of series III "Pike" - the first type of medium-sized submarines built in the USSR. The design of four submarines of this series was carried out in parallel with the design of submarines of project I "Decembrist".

"Pike" - a medium one and a half hull submarine, the strong hull of which was divided into 6 compartments. Main distinguishing features: increased maneuverability, greater survivability.

History of creation

The project was developed in the design bureau, which was led by B. M. Malinin. The performance characteristics of submarines of this type changed slightly from series to series in the direction of increasing the power of diesel engines and slightly reducing the cruising range, as well as increasing the speed of underwater travel. Armament (four bow and two stern torpedo tubes, two 45-mm guns) remained unchanged.

predecessors

In 1933, submarines of the Shch (“Pike”) type began to enter service with the fleets, and by 1941 there were already 84 of them. -1934 - V series (12 units), 1934-1935 V-bis series (13 units), 1935-1936 - V-bis-2 series (14 units), 1936-1939 - X series (32 units) and 1941 - X-bis series (9 units + 2 units after the war).

Prerequisites for creation

Design

The new series of boats of the Shch type received the name V bis-2 series and had a number of significant differences. Once again, the theoretical drawing and the shape of the felling were reworked, which finally increased the surface speed by 0.5 knots. and improved seaworthiness. The aft bulkhead of the second compartment was made stepped - this made it possible to store the torpedoes assembled. The torpedo-loading device was redesigned, which, on the one hand, reduced the clutter of the compartments, and on the other hand, reduced the loading time to 12 hours, against 25-30 before. The bulkheads of the central post were reinforced (now they could withstand a pressure of 6 kg / cm.) The main ballast tanks No. 3 and No. 4 were adapted to receive additional fuel. The transmission of the electric motor of the economic course was changed from gear to belt, which made its operation silent. The electric motors of the bow and stern horizontal rudders were moved to the end compartments, leaving only manual control in the central post. The system for blowing the main ballast with diesel engines has become standard. Part of the submarines received Som net cutters. Thanks to the introduction of all these innovations, the V-bis-2 series boats have earned high praise from sailors. On boats of the V bis-2 series, the main ballast was blown by a diesel engine that worked as a compressor. On submarines of the "Sch" type of the V - bis 2 series, the bow contours were somewhat improved by lengthening the boules. To store spare torpedoes in the assembly, the aft bulkhead of the second compartment (on the 31st frame) was made unusual - not vertical, but stepped along the profile, its upper part (above the battery pit) was moved one spacing into the stern. The strength of the bulkheads of the central post, now located in the fourth compartment, was designed for 6 atm. 5 submarines of the V-bis 2 series - "Cod" (head, "Shch-307"), "Haddock" ("Shch-306"), "Dolphin" ("Shch-309"), "Belukha" ("Shch- 310") and "Kumzha" ("Sch-311") were laid down on the eve of the 16th anniversary of the October Revolution - November 6, 1933. The first two of them entered service with the Red Banner Baltic Fleet on August 17, 1935, the third - on November 20, 1935 The commander of one of the submarines of the V series - bis 2 described his submarine as follows: "equipped with the latest electrical navigation devices for that time, the Shch-309 submarine (Dolphin) could sail in any weather far from its bases, both at sea and and in the ocean. Possessing powerful torpedo armament, as well as systems, devices and devices that provide covert access to a torpedo attack, the submarine was able to act against large enemy warships, detect them in a timely manner - this allowed its surveillance equipment. command at a great distance from their bases. Finally, the expedient arrangement of instruments and mechanisms in the submarine ensured not only the successful use of weapons and the preservation of their survivability, but also the rest of personnel in their free time from duty. The strength and reliability of submarines were tested in the harsh battles of the war of 1941-1945. The commander of the same submarine Shch-309 wrote about it from the fierce pursuit of his submarine by enemy anti-submarine ships in 1942: having let a single drop of water inside, she continued to carry out combat service. And this is a considerable merit of the builders of the submarine "

Construction and testing

In total, 14 units were built in 1933-1936:

Design description

Frame

The robust hull of submarines of the Shch type, 43.0 m long, was located between 14 and 75 sp., The distances between which were not the same: from 14 to 16-500 mm, from 16 to 64-750 mm, from 64 to 75-500 mm . Over the course of 22 to 63 sp. it was a pipe with circular sections. In the area from 14 to 22 and from 63 to 75 sp. the sections of the strong hull had an elliptical shape, with the bow having a vertical main axis, and the stern having a horizontal one. The largest diameter of the pressure hull at the midship frame is 4.38 m. The sheathing of the pressure hull was made of steel sheets 13.5 mm thick, superimposed in the longitudinal direction and connected along the grooves, and at the joints connected by planks. A three-row staggered rivet seam ran along the grooves, and a two-row one along the joints.

The robust case was designed for an external pressure of 9 atm, corresponding to a depth of about 90 m. However, during the war years, "pikes" sank to great depths. So, Shch-405 in August 1941 accidentally "dived" to a depth of 125 m, Shch-402 in October of the same year - to 115 m. From the bow and stern, the strong hull was limited by waterproof flat riveted bulkheads 16 mm thick. The tubes of the torpedo tubes were connected to the bulkheads of the trim tanks and formed part of the pressure hull design.

Six welded bulkheads divided the strong hull into seven compartments. Lining squares were riveted both to its skin and to bulkheads; fastening of beams to a covering - on welding. Bulkhead 22 pcs. - from 44-mm sheets in the middle part and 11-mm along the edges - supported by vertical posts and a chain box. The remaining bulkheads had a thickness of 11 mm (designed for a pressure of 2 atm), and those forming the central post - 14 mm (designed for 6 atm on both sides).

The unsinkability of boats on the surface, for cases of navigation without fuel, in onboard ballast tanks was provided by 7 watertight compartments. If any compartment of the pressure hull with the side tank adjacent to it was damaged from one side (with the exception of the sixth compartment), as well as if one of the end tanks was damaged, the boat could remain on the surface with positive stability and keep moving. Unsinkability during an accident in a submerged position was not provided. A strong felling was located between 40-44 sp. and was made of low-magnetic steel in the form of a cylinder with an inner diameter of 1700 mm. The cabin body was made up of two 12-mm sheets interconnected by squares with spacers between them made of canvas on minium. The cabin roof is spherical, with a sphere radius of 1770 mm from sheets 16 mm thick; it had a hole with a diameter of 650 mm for the coaming of the entrance hatch. The superstructure ran along the entire length of the boat; its maximum width is 1750 mm, the height in the area of ​​the cylindrical part of the strong body is 750 mm. The thickness of the side sheets and the upper deck of the superstructure is 3 mm, the distance between the frames is 500 mm. For quick filling of the superstructure with water when its sides are immersed from 22 to 31 sp. in the bow and from 58 to 70 sp. in the stern they did not reach the strong hull by 5 mm, forming something like permanently open longitudinal scuppers. The ventilation of the superstructure when filling it with water was carried out through a large number of drilled holes in the deck.

Wave-cutting shields of bow torpedo tubes (upper 3040 mm long, lower 2790 mm) were made of 8 mm steel. Due to the design features of the bow, the breakwater shields on the "pikes" during the war years broke more often than on boats of other types. It happened that due to their jamming, it was necessary to leave the position ahead of schedule. On the Pacific and North Sea boats, the shields were removed, as a result, the surface speed fell by about 2 knots, and the underwater speed - by 0.5.

A box-section keel made of 10-mm sheets riveted to a strong hull with squares was located in the middle part of the hull (14-69 sp.) and served to enhance its longitudinal strength, as well as to put the boat on keel blocks during docking. To increase the stability of the submarine, a portable solid ballast (usually cast iron ingots) with a total weight of up to 37 tons was placed in the keel. The fencing deck, arranged at the level of the hatchway coaming, served as a navigation bridge for surface navigation - a magnetic compass and a vertical rudder control post were installed there.

In the stern of the cabin in the fence there was a surface latrine and a room for the boatswain's property. Free filling and drainage of the enclosure during immersion and ascent was provided by holes in its side walls and in the deck. In the area where the stern gun was located, the bulwark of the fence had parts that folded back with the help of a manual winch. In the lowered position, they served as a platform for gun crew. On separate boats, already during the war, they were removed and replaced with a round platform with handrails or with permanent tubular rails. Underwater and surface anchors were selected with an electric capstan. Hall's surface anchor weighed 600 kg, underwater mushroom -1000 kg.

Dive and ascent system

Tanks were located inside the strong hull: trim bow (between 14 and 15 sp.) and stern (73-75 sp.), torpedo-replacing (17-20 sp.), provisional (20-22 sp.), fuel No. 1- 4 (24-31, 31-37, 45-49, 49-55 sp. respectively), equalizing (41-44 sp.), quick immersion (43-45 sp.), fresh drinking water (39-42 and 69 -73 sp.), replacement shells (37-39 sp.), oil main (55-60 sp.), expendable (51-53 sp.), waste (49-51 sp.). Most of the main ballast tanks were located in boules. Deck tanks (at 33-39 and 47-57 sp.) were eliminated in the process of overhaul.

For ascent, a system consisting of high (emergency blowing) and low pressure air ducts with red copper fittings was used (It should be noted that in those places where the red-copper pipes ran near the steel sheathing sheets, a galvanic couple was formed, which contributed to intense corrosion. For To combat this phenomenon, zinc protective plates began to be inserted between copper and steel, but this was not always possible.In general, the service life of red-copper tubes did not exceed 1.5 years.). The normal ascent of the submarine was carried out as follows. At a sea state of up to 4 points, the middle tank was first completely purged with HP air; at the same time, the cabin with a hatch came out of the water almost entirely, and the entire upper deck - about 0.5 m from the surface of the water; the hatchway was quite high up from the water level. At a sea state of more than 4 points, simultaneously with the blowing of the middle tank, the end ballast tanks No. 1 and 6 were partially blown with HP air. The rest of the main ballast was blown with LP compressed air supplied by a diesel engine, which in this case served as a compressor and was driven by the main electric motor. The submarine commander judged the complete blowing of the tanks by the release of air bubbles in the area where the kingston partitions of the corresponding ballast tanks were located. The rapid ascent of the submarine was carried out only in case of accidents and in other extreme situations. In this case, all tanks of the main ballast and the middle tank were blown with HP air.

The high pressure air on the boat was intended for the following purposes; emergency blowing of ballast tanks, firing torpedoes from torpedo tubes, supplying air to the compartments for rescue purposes, starting diesel engines and turning off the Bamag clutches, blowing through the grilles of the receiving kingstones of the ballast line, obtaining medium pressure air. The total supply of VVD was 4758 liters at a pressure of 200 atm; it was stored in 61 cylinders with a capacity of 78 liters each. To replenish the air flow on the boat, there were two high-pressure compressors of the K-7 type with a capacity of 6 liters per minute at a pressure of 255 atm. But in operation they turned out to be very unreliable and often failed. The medium pressure air duct served mainly auxiliary devices. It was assembled from red copper pipes with bronze fittings and originated in the fourth compartment from the VVD highway.

The operational characteristics of the surfacing system can be judged from the test results of the Shch-204 U-bis-2 series submarine. Engine mode: rpm - 200, heel when blowing - up to 6 ° on both sides, blowing time - 11 minutes (onboard ballast tanks No. 3 and 4 with fuel were not subject to blowing). At 300 rpm (both engines): roll - up to 2 °, blowing time -4 min. At 320 rpm (both engines): no roll was observed, time was 3 minutes. Increasing to 415 rpm (both engines): no roll was observed, blowing - about 2 minutes. From this it follows that when blowing through the ballast at a low number of revolutions, the possibility of a large list was not excluded. In fresh weather, blowing through the ballast of a submarine, even at high engine speeds, was difficult without a move. In such cases, this procedure was carried out on the move: one electric motor worked on the propeller (the submarine moves against the wave), and the other rotated the diesel engine at high speeds and blew the ballast. The blowing mode is also possible, when the main propeller motors, with the Bamag clutches turned on, worked on the propeller and the submarine went against the wave. At a speed of about 200 rpm, the blowing occurred almost without a heel and took about 10 minutes.

Drainage facilities on boats of the Shch type of the U-bis-2 series with a total capacity of 280 t / h consisted of two three-piston pumps TP-15 of the Borets plant (total capacity - 15 t / h at a back pressure of 9 atm). Drainage means - one R-130 turbopump installed in the central post (capacity - 250 t / h, with parallel connection of impellers and a back pressure of 9 m of water column and 25 t / h, with a series connection of impellers at a back pressure of 9 atm). The time for filling the main ballast tanks was 32 s. The time of their blowing with ND air during the ascent from the positional position to the surface position is 4 minutes at 340 rpm of the diesel engine. According to wartime estimates, the submersion system of Shch-type submarines (except for the X-bis series) did not provide quick submersion due to the small volume of the quick submersion tank. The commanders had to take the ballast into the equalization tank.

Power plant and driving performance

Submarines of the Shch type were equipped with two compressorless eight-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines 38-V-8 built by the Kolomna Machine-Building Plant. The normal (it is also the maximum) power of each engine is 685 hp. at 600 rpm. Cylinder diameter - 280 mm, piston stroke - 380 mm, fuel consumption at full power per 1 hp / h - 175 ... 185 g. A characteristic feature of the engine was a low specific gravity - 16 kg / hp. Its disadvantages include excessive sensitivity to the quality of the lubrication of the head bearings (if this requirement was not met, the cylinder pistons were quickly scuffed) and severe corrosion of the working bushings. Depending on the task being solved, the boat could have a normal or enhanced fuel supply. The amount of fuel in the tanks of the pressure hull was considered normal - 29.6 cubic meters. m, which approximately corresponded to a weight of 26 tons. Reinforced - the amount of fuel taken into the side ballast tanks No. 3 and 4 plus the normal supply, that is, 70.9 cubic meters. m, or 62-64 tons. With a normal supply of fuel, the highest surface speed was 12.3 knots. Cruising range without charges 1280 miles. With an economic surface speed of 9 knots. cruising range without charges reached 2280 miles. Each full charge of the battery reduced the cruising range: in the first case by 55 miles, in the second - by 90. With an increased fuel supply, the maximum surface speed was reduced to 12 knots, economic - to 8. The cruising range (without charges) was equal to 2880 and 5250 miles respectively. The average underwater speed for one hour was 8 knots, cruising range - 8 miles. Economic underwater speed - 2.55 knots. provided a cruising range of 104 miles.

The main DC propulsion motors of the PGV brand of the Elektrosila plant are single-arm, reversible, with an hourly power of 400 hp. at 450 rpm. They worked on the propeller, served as generators for charging the battery and rotated the diesel engines while blowing the ballast. The storage battery consisted of 112 elements of the KSM-2 type, divided into two groups. The elements in each group were connected in series; the groups themselves, when the boat was parked in the base, were connected to each other in parallel, and to give full speed - in series. Ventilation of each battery is individual. During the war years, this system, as it did not justify itself, was remade into a general pit system. Charging time: from a fully discharged state - 12-14 hours, from a medium discharged state - 9 hours. The desire of boat commanders to swim with a fully charged battery led to numerous recharging, during which the battery constantly overheated, and its service life was reduced. Propeller - three-blade, bronze. Its diameter is 1260 mm, pitch - 970 mm, weight - 225 kg. During operation, it turned out that the edges of the blades are too thin, easily bent, cracked and broken. To control the boat along the course and depth, a semi-balanced vertical rudder (pen area 4.2 sq.m) and two pairs of balanced horizontal rudders (bow 4.14 sq.m, stern 4.52 sq.m) served. The control of the first is from a Davis screw drive rotated by an electric motor, or manually from the seventh compartment. The largest angle of shifting is 35°. The largest laying angles of the second are 20° (bow) and 25° (stern). Transfer from electric motors - roller, manual control - from the central post. It should be noted that the electric drive of the horizontal rudders turned out to be very noisy, and the manual drive required a lot of effort to shift. Often this forced the personnel to refuse to use a manual drive, even in cases where the boat was pursued by the enemy. The circulation diameter at full surface speed is about 295 m. The depth stability at any speed, starting from 2 knots, is 0.3 m. The Shch type boats could swim in finely broken ice. The time for shifting the rudders at full speed with electric control from the middle position to any extreme position: for a vertical rudder - 15 s, for horizontal rudders - 10 ... 13 s. Reverse was carried out only by the main electric motors.

Auxiliary equipment

Submarines of the Shch type were equipped with two periscopes: commander's (PA) and anti-aircraft (PZ), which initially had a length of 7.5 m. Starting with the X series, 9-meter periscopes were used. They were also received during major repairs and boats of earlier releases. The height of the periscope heads from the waterline was 7.3 m and 9.45 m, respectively. Observation was carried out only from the central post; lifting and lowering were carried out by a very noisy electric winch or manually. The following navigation devices were installed on submarines: a Sperry gyrocompass (or brand GU M-1 model 2), three magnetic compasses 127 mm (main, track and wheelhouse), an electric log GO M-3 model 2, an EMS-2 echo sounder and a hand lot . Illumination of the surface at night was provided by a searchlight MSPL-l4.0.

Crew and Habitability

Initially, the crew of the Shch-type submarine included 7 "middle" commanders (commander, commissar, assistant commander, commanders of BCH-1/4, BCH-2/3 and BCH-5, military assistant), 6 junior commanders and 25 sailors. In wartime, the crew increased to 40 people (7 middle and 15 junior commanders, 18 sailors). Autonomy with a normal supply of fuel, oil, fresh and distilled water was 20 days, in some cases it increased to 45-55. Fresh water supply - from 2.5 to 6.7 tons. Air purification was carried out by 10 electric fans or 9 regeneration machines with special RV-2 cartridges (total supply - from 900 to 1920 pieces) filled with caustic soda. For the same purposes, a special system of 12 steel cylinders with a capacity of 38-40 liters with oxygen compressed to 150 atm served. The time of the longest continuous stay under water with full use of the entire regeneration system is 72 hours, without use - 12 hours. For the personnel, a single cabin for the boat commander, a wardroom, easily removable beds (30 pieces) were arranged. On board there were permanent and portable electric heating pads, a steam heating pipeline fed from the shore base to maintain the temperature in the compartments with closed hatches not lower than +14 ° C at an outside temperature of up to -20 ° C, an electric galley for cooking, electric utensils, two pneumatic underwater latrines and one above water in the felling fence, shower pipeline in the felling fence. The boat was equipped with rescue and lifting equipment: lifting eyes for lifting the boat by means of the base, reinforced scuppers in the superstructure (for lifting the boat with soft EPRON pontoons), external and internal equipment for blowing compartments and tanks using diving hoses, two signal buoys, four keel belts. To exit the personnel from the sunken submarine, lock hatches, tubes and a rescue cabin served; there was also the possibility of exit through torpedo tubes.

Armament

Auxiliary/anti-aircraft artillery

The initial artillery armament "pike" - two 45-mm semi-automatic 21-K. The horizontal angle of fire of each gun is 280°, the descent is 10°, the elevation is -85°, the weight of the high-explosive projectile is 1.41 kg, the initial speed is 760 m/s. Firing range: horizontal - 50 kbt, in height - 4500 m. Rate of fire - about 25-30 rds / min. Ammunition - 500 rounds per barrel. For the first shots, a sealed fender for 15 rounds was installed near the semiautomatic device. In the middle part of the bridge there were two swivel for removable machine guns M-1 "Maxim" (stock of cartridges for them and five Mosin rifles - 24,000 pieces). In addition, there were 27 revolvers on the boat. Artillery weapons "pikes" initially caused complaints from sailors. Converted from the famous 45-mm anti-tank gun, the semi-automatic 21-K as an anti-aircraft gun was distinguished by extremely low combat characteristics. And his capabilities in the fight against surface targets were very modest. So, for example, during the Soviet-Finnish war, Shch-323 spent 152 shells to sink the 379-ton Estonian ship Kassari in almost polygon conditions, Shch-311 spent 127 shells to destroy the 484-ton Fenris. The fact is that The 45-mm high-explosive projectile had only 360 g of explosive and could not inflict fatal damage on the ship. It is curious that, after returning from a military campaign in early June 1942, the commander of Shch-214 V.Ya. Vlasov (sank three Bulgarian schooners) proposed replacing 45-mm guns ... with conventional knapsack flamethrowers! The firing of armor-piercing incendiary shells had slightly better results, but in general the 45-mm gun showed completely unsatisfactory combat qualities. Therefore, it is no coincidence that even before the start of World War II, some "pikes" of the X series of the Black Sea Fleet began to receive a 12.7-mm DShK machine gun instead of a stern 45-mm gun. The search for a new artillery system for "pikes" has been conducted since the late 1930s. In November 1939, headed by V.G. Grabin, OKB No. 92, on its own initiative, began to develop a boat 76-mm non-universal cannon F-35. Its swinging part was borrowed from the F-22 divisional cannon with a barrel length of 50 (actually 51.3) calibers. The maximum elevation angle of the barrel is 36 °, the weight of the projectile is 6.2 kg, the initial speed is about 700 m / s, the rate of fire is 12 rds / min; the total mass of the gun mount is 0.79 tons, the calculation is 4 people. The only copy of the F-35 was installed on the Black Sea Shch-204, was successfully tested in early 1941 and died with it. According to the version set forth in the memoirs of V. G. Grabin, the decision to abandon the new gun was made by Marshal G.I. Kulik, who tried not to load the artillery factories with the execution of "extra" naval orders.

Mine and torpedo armament

The main armament of the submarine is six steel torpedo tubes installed in planes parallel to the diametrical one. The total length of the apparatus is 7520 mm, the inner diameter of the pipe along the guides is 536 mm. The distance between the axes of the bow apparatus - 1350 mm, stern - 1240 mm. Shooting was carried out with compressed air. The time of acceptance of torpedoes is 4.5-5 hours, the preparation of a second salvo is from 3 hours 20 minutes to 4 hours. Since 1939, boats began to be equipped with a bubbleless torpedo firing system (BTS). The principle of its operation was to automatically bypass the high-pressure air pushing the torpedo into the pressure hull after the torpedo had passed 2/3 of the length of the torpedo tube. When the pressure in the pipe dropped to the value of the outboard, the water completely filled the pipe, and through it the torpedo replacement tank. In combat conditions, this overly complex system often failed. If the appearance of an air bubble on the surface, as a rule, could be avoided, then the filling of the torpedo replacement tank and the restoration of normal buoyancy usually occurred after the bow or cabin of the boat was shown on the surface. On German submarines, torpedoes were pushed out by a special piston, which was driven by compressed air, etched from a pipe into the boat. With such a system, there was no threat of air escaping to the surface. "Pikes" were armed with 10 torpedoes: 6 in vehicles and 4 spare ones on racks in the second compartment. Initially, these were 533-mm torpedoes of type 53-27 (the first digit is the caliber in cm, the second is the year of adoption), developed at the Ostekhbyuro. Depending on the type, they had a weight of 1675 or 1725 kg (explosive weight 200 or 250 kg), speed 43.5 knots. and a range of 3700 m. The main disadvantage of torpedoes 53-27 is poor tightness and failure to maintain the mode of movement in depth, therefore, with the outbreak of war in the Black Sea Fleet, they were completely banned from use, and in other fleets they were used very limitedly (when setting a depth of at least 3 m) . They were replaced back in 1938 by the 53-38 torpedo, which was a copy of the Fiume 53F torpedo purchased in Italy in 1930. The new torpedo, with almost the same length as 53-27 (7200 and 7150 mm, respectively), had a weight of 1615 kg (explosive weight 300 kg) and a speed of 44.5 knots. at a range of 4000 m (there was also a mode of 34.5 knots - 8000 m or 30.5 knots - 10,000 m, but it was practically not used on submarines). It was this torpedo on the "pikes" during the Great Patriotic War that was the main one. The torpedoes of types 53-38U, 53-39 and the electric torpedo ET80, which entered service already during the war, were not used on boats of the Shch type due to overall restrictions. Since the production of 53-27 torpedoes took place almost simultaneously with the construction of the first "pikes", the designers provided for the possibility of firing old torpedoes of the 45-10 / 15 type - for this, lattices installed inside the torpedo tubes served. Soon, torpedoes of this type were removed from service, but in 1936 they were replaced by others - type 45-36N, also designed on the basis of the Italian prototype: length 5700 (6000 mm) compartment), weight 935 (1028) kg, explosive weight 200 (285 kg) and speed 41 knots. at a range of 3000 m; there was also a 32-nodal mode - 6000 m. At the beginning of the war, torpedoes of the 45-36N type were used to a limited extent on "pikes", but then they began to be used more and more often. By the beginning of 1945, the normal ammunition load of the III-V series Baltic submarines consisted of eight 53-38 and four 45-36N torpedoes. Despite the increase in ammunition, the diversity of torpedoes made their use difficult, because due to the difference in speed characteristics, they could not be used in one salvo. In addition, due to a shortage of torpedoes since 1944, the "pikes" had to again take the unsuccessful 53-27.

Communications, detection, auxiliary equipment

The radio equipment for external communications consisted of a long-wave transmitter "Shkval-Shch" and a short-wave "Bay". Subsequently, they were replaced respectively by "Perch" (60-75 W, operating range 200-1200 m, transmission range with a boat antenna 80-100 miles) and "Pike" (500-650 W, range 30-120 m, transmission range up to 2000 miles). The long-wave "Dozor" and the short-wave KUB-4 were used for reception. During repairs, the latter was replaced by a "Metel" or 45-PK-1 with increased sensitivity. All devices worked both as a radiotelegraph and as a radiophone through a microphone. For intra-squadron communications and communications with landing parties, there was a Reid VHF transceiver station (power 4-6 W, transmission range up to 15 miles). On the part of the boats, radio direction finders "Burun" and "Passat" were installed. Since 1939, submarines began to be equipped with Mars-12 type sound direction finding stations with an elliptical base of 12 receivers (the receivers were located in the bow permeable tip). Depending on the hydrology of the sea, the station could take direction finding the noise of a large ship at distances of 12.5-30 kbt, with direction finding accuracy in the direction from 1° to 3°; she did not determine the distance to the target. It should be noted that even by the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, only 159 submarines out of 213 were equipped with this primitive, relatively foreign level, equipment. work both in passive and active (“echo”) modes, determining the distance and bearing to targets remote at 12-18 kbt with an accuracy of 2.5 ° -3 °. The first of the "pikes" in the middle of 1942 received it Shch-403. It was mainly used to detect anchor mines, which posed the main threat to submarines in all theaters. For communication with submarines on the pike, there was a two-armed installation of the Vega or Sirius sound-submarine communication. Her upper sword was located on the deck between 9 and 10 sp., and the lower one - in a special enclosure between 45-46 sp. The Som net cutter installed on part of the boats was a system of cutters (four on the stem, two on the tank linearly elevated and one on each side), as well as a system of guy wires that protected the protruding parts of the boat from getting ropes of net barriers. Practice did not confirm the usefulness of this device, and it was gradually dismantled by covering the saw on the stem with metal sheets.

Modernizations and conversions

In 1947, TsKB-18 carried out the development of a project for the modernization of the remaining submarines of the V and X series. During the overhaul, it was supposed to install an RDP (snorkel) device, redo the wheelhouse, following the model of new series boats, lower the gun platforms to the level of the upper deck, install more modern periscopes and equipment, and increase the fuel supply. Due to the lack of funds, the lack of production capacity and the clearly low combat value of the boats in the new conditions, these plans were abandoned. "Pikes" remained to live out their lives in their original form.

Service History

"PIKE" OF THE SOVIET-FINNISH WAR

• Submarine Shch-309 "Dolphin"(commander - lieutenant commander S.S. Veseloe) left the base on the night of November 29, 1939. Her route ran through the Gulf of Finland to the area of ​​the small island of Fore, located northeast of Gotland. The main tasks in such a relatively remote position from the coast of Finland were to be a long-range blockade and observation of the Swedish fleet. Only Finnish ships were allowed to attack, and the commander was required to strictly observe the laws of naval warfare and prize law. The very first days of patrolling showed a complete cessation of the movement of enemy ships on the high seas. In fact, only German ships sailed in the Shch-309 area of ​​operations, and there was no order to inspect them. On the evening of December 5, when the neutrality of Sweden was no longer in doubt, the submarine was ordered to return to Tallinn. She arrived there the next day, and on December 12, without having had time to undergo the required repairs, she was transferred to Libau along with the entire division. Obviously, this was dictated by the fear of leaving the boats in the port, where they could be blocked by ice in the unprecedentedly harsh winter of 1939/40. Despite the difficult weather conditions, on January 14 Shch-309 went to sea to ensure the blockade southeast of the Aland Islands. By the time it arrived at the position, the boat looked like a small iceberg. The Red Navy men sent to break the ice were twice washed overboard by the wave and could hardly be pulled onto the deck. The patrol threatened to end in disaster at any moment. Realizing this, on January 17 the command recalled the boat to Tallinn. She never went to sea again.
• Shch-310"Belukha"(commander - senior lieutenant N.M. Ovechkin) left Kronstadt simultaneously with Shch-309 to perform the same tasks, however, the western approaches to the island of Saarema were to become its area of ​​\u200b\u200boperations. Having not met the enemy, she returned to Tallinn on the morning of December 7, but on the same evening she again went to the position in the area of ​​​​the Swedish lighthouse Landsort (southern approaches to Stockholm). The second campaign also turned out to be fruitless - there was no need for Finnish ships to go to this area quite remote from the coast, since the Swedes, who sympathized with the Finns, provided them with their own territorial waters for the movement of transports. On December 16, the position at Landsort was abolished, and in the evening of the next day Shch-310 entered the Libau raid, and this ended her campaign.
• December 6 Shch-311 "Kumzha"(commander - lieutenant commander F.G. Vershinin) left Kronstadt for a new base - with the outbreak of hostilities, the 21st division was to be based in Tallinn. The passage was carried out in conditions of poor visibility, and after a couple of hours the boat ran aground in the Demanstein Banks area. The destroyer Karl Marx, called for help, removed the submarine and escorted it back to Kronstadt, where it was inspected underwater. Fortunately, there were no serious damages, and already on the 9th the submarine arrived in Tallinn. Here Shch-311 was waiting for the order to move to Libau, where she arrived on December 12th. Since the Shch-311 was the only one from the division that did not make combat campaigns, and the readiness of its mechanisms did not cause concern, the command sent the submarine to operate in the Gulf of Bothnia.

On the morning of December 24, the boat left the base (the campaign was provided by the divisional commander, Lieutenant Commander A.E. Orel, a famous submariner and future commander of the Baltic Fleet) and immediately fell into a nine-point storm. Despite this, the pike reached the Aland Sea the next day without incident, where it lingered, passing through the South Kvarken C-1 strait. On the same evening, her first meeting with the enemy took place - the gunboat "Karjala", which, having discovered the surfaced "Kumzha" in the light of the moon, gave its identification from a distance of 15 kbt. Realizing that it would not be possible to get close to a salvo distance in such conditions, Vershinin decided to leave on the surface. The Finns began the pursuit, but soon the opponents lost each other in the dark. The next day, the boat crossed the South Kvarken in a submerged position (at the same time, it hit the ground and briefly jumped to the surface) and on December 28 took up a position near the Finnish port of Vasa. Previously, Soviet submarines did not appear here, and therefore the enemy felt quite calm - all regular beacons were on fire. Shortly before midnight, Vershinin discovered a transport crossing the pike's course, heading to the shores of Finland without lights. The boat increased its speed and after 8 minutes from a distance of 10-12 kbt opened fire from a bow gun. After the very first shots, the ship, which by that time had already crossed the course of the boat, “showed the stern” and headed for the Norrscher lighthouse. Numerous hits, some white flashes and even the launching of boats were observed from the bridge of the submarine. It was all the more surprising that, having passed the lighthouse, the ship again turned sharply to the east and entered the zone of floating ice. The submarine passed behind its stern, continuing to fire from two guns (in total, during the battle, which lasted almost an hour, the boat fired 67 45-mm shells). Despite the visible roll, the transport kept afloat and moved on the same course. Vershinin continued the pursuit, maneuvering between the ice floes, but soon interrupted the pursuit. He never saw the death of the ship, but considered its fate a foregone conclusion. Who was attacked by Shch-311? It is generally accepted that the German transport "Siegfried" was fired upon. However, the German historian J. Rover clarifies that in fact the ship was called "Sigrid" and had a tonnage of 1224 gross tons. Such a ship really existed, but not in the German, but in the Finnish merchant fleet (this is confirmed by the observations of Vershinin, who saw the Finnish flag over the ship) and was classified as a motor tanker. The fact that "Sigrid" did not die is beyond doubt, but the information of Yu. Rover's claim that he received no damage at all is highly doubtful. No sooner had the Kumzhi guns cooled down after the battle than a new vehicle was discovered in the west. Shch-311 quickly laid down on a parallel course and at 4.48 on December 29 opened fire. Hits soon followed (in this battle, the boat fired 140 shells). After about 45 minutes, the ship slowed down and, turning towards the Norrscher lighthouse, threw itself onto the coastal rocks. An accurately fired torpedo broke the target in half. Only the bridge and the forecastle of the Finnish steamship Vilpas (775 brt) remained above the water, carrying wheat to Vasa from the Swedish port of Malmö. In the following days there were no meetings with the enemy. Steamships breaking through to Finnish ports easily bypassed the small Kumzhi position. But on January 5, in the conditions of heavy snowfall, Vershinin discovered another ship heading towards the Finnish coast. It was outside the blockade zone, and the commander decided to wait until the steamer entered the zone where weapons were allowed to be used without warning. Since the white stripes across the hull were clearly visible from the submarine and meant belonging to the Swedish merchant fleet, as well as the name on the stern and even the barrels standing on the deck, it can be assumed that the distance between the "pike" and the ship was small. According to Vershinin, the ship suddenly turned north and increased speed. In fact, if the ship changed course, it was very insignificant - the Swedish steamer Fenris (484 brt) made a voyage from one Swedish port to another, but due to poor visibility, it was too far away from the western coast of the bay. Seeing that the target was moving away, Vershinin at 14.40 ordered to shoot at the ship's course. After that, it seemed to stall the move, but as soon as the Kumzha began to approach, it again gained momentum. Then our submariners opened fire to kill. According to the version of the Fenris crew that survived in full force, the steamer was suddenly attacked and immediately stopped. While the team boarded the boat, an unknown submarine without a flag quickly turned the ship into a blazing fire. Meanwhile, Shch-311 fired a torpedo at the target. After walking a few meters in a straight line, it turned sharply to the side and passed in front of the Fenris's nose. Soon, a heavily damaged coaster sat on a shallow in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe floating lighthouse Zuiderostbrotten, but at least an hour passed before the Kumzha ended the shelling (127 shells were fired). On January 7, the boat was recalled to the base, in the evening of the next day it crossed the South Kvarken and on the 10th arrived in Libau. The transition was carried out in the conditions of a storm, the strength of which is evidenced by the fact that the impact of a wave in the wheelhouse had broken thick glass. Shch-311 turned out to be the only KBF submarine that sank Finnish transport during the entire war and achieved two confirmed victories. February 7 F.G. Vershinin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and Kumzha was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

"PIKE" IN THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR

• "Sch-121" ("Catfish") Laid down on December 20, 1933 in Leningrad at plant number 194, factory number 214. In 1934, it was transported in sections by rail to Vladivostok to plant number 202 (Dalzavod), where on August 26, 1934 it was launched. On April 30, 1935, she became part of the Pacific Fleet. On August 9, 1945, she met the 4th submarine brigade in Nakhodka as part of the 11th division under the command of Lieutenant Commander Andrey Georgiyevich Yaylo. Did not participate in hostilities.
• "Sch-122" ("Saira") Laid down on December 22, 1933 in Leningrad at Plant No. 189 (Baltic Shipbuilding Plant), Plant No. 251. In 1934, it was transported in sections by rail to Vladivostok to Plant No. 202 (Dalzavod), where it was launched on August 29, 1934 . On April 30, 1935, she became part of the Pacific Fleet. On August 9, 1945, she met the 4th submarine brigade in Nakhodka under the command of Lieutenant Commander Kuznetsov Ivan Dmitrievich as part of the 12th division. With the outbreak of hostilities, she took a designated position in the Sea of ​​​​Japan, but did not have meetings with the enemy.
• "Sch-123" ("Eel") It was laid down on December 20, 1933 in Leningrad at Plant No. 194, Factory No. 215. In 1934, it was transported in sections by rail to Vladivostok to Plant No. 202 (Dalzavod), where it was launched on August 26, 1934. April 30, 1935 became part of the Pacific Fleet. On August 9, 1945, she met, as part of the 12th division, the 4th submarine brigade in Nakhodka under the command of Captain 3rd Rank Mikhailov Boris Mizaylovich. With the outbreak of hostilities, she took her assigned position in the Sea of ​​Japan. On August 19, being in a positional position, she was attacked by two enemy submarine torpedoes. The volley was detected by an air bubble at a distance of 4-5 cabs and "Shch-123", plunging into circulation, managed to evade torpedoes.
• "Sch-124" ("Halibut") Laid down on December 22, 1933 in Leningrad at plant No. 189 (Baltic Shipbuilding Plant), factory No. 252. In 1934, it was transported in sections by rail to Vladivostok to Plant No. 202 (Dalzavod), where on December 29, 1934 it was launched on water. On November 23, 1935, she became part of the Pacific Fleet. On August 9, 1945, she met the 4th submarine brigade in Nakhodka, as part of the 12th division, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Reznikov Adolf Evseevich. Did not participate in hostilities.
• Shch-125 (Muksun) It was laid down on December 20, 1933 in Leningrad at Plant No. 194, Factory No. 217. In 1934, it was transported in sections by rail to Vladivostok to Plant No. 202 (Dalzavod), where it was launched on August 26, 1934. On May 23, 1936, she became part of the Pacific Fleet. On August 9, 1945, she met the 1st submarine brigade in Ulis Bay under the command of Lieutenant Commander Nazarenko Pantelei Konstantinovich as part of the 1st division. Did not participate in hostilities.
• "Sch-204" ("Lamprey") Laid down on June 15, 1934 in Leningrad at plant No. 194, serial number 216. In 1934, it was transported in sections by rail to Nikolaev to plant No. 200 (named after 61 Communards), where on December 31, 1934 it was launched under serial number 1040. On January 9, 1936, she became part of the Black Sea Fleet. On June 22, 1941, she met under the command of Captain-Lieutenant Gritsenko Ivan Mikhailovich as part of the 3rd division of the 1st submarine brigade in Sevastopol. On November 25, she took a position near Varna, did not get in touch and did not return to the base at the appointed time. There is an assumption that on December 6, 20 miles from Varna, it was discovered by Bulgarian patrol boats "Belomorets" and "Chernomorets". Having received heavy damage from depth charges dropped by Bulgarian boats, Shch-204 surfaced and was sunk by artillery fire. The service life was 5.5 months (June 22, 1941 - December 6, 1941). 3 military campaigns (43 days).
• "Sch-205" ("Nerpa") Laid down on January 5, 1934 in Nikolaev at plant number 200 (named after 61 Communards), factory number 1029. November 6, 1934 launched. December 24, 1936 became part of the Black Sea Fleet.
• On June 22, 1941, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Pavel Sevastyanovich Dronin, she met as part of the 3rd division of the 1st submarine brigade in Sevastopol. June 23 took up a position off the coast of Romania. The entire campaign was located on the easternmost edge of the designated area, i.e. as far as possible from the coast and from coastal communications and, naturally, had no meetings with the enemy. Upon arrival at the base, the commander of the ship was removed from his post, put on trial and shot. On July 17, captain-lieutenant (later captain of the 3rd rank) Sukhomlinov Pavel Denisovich was appointed commander of the ship. On December 4, in the next campaign, floating up from the ground near Varna, she was blown up by two mines and received heavy damage to the strong hull and a number of mechanisms. Despite this, she managed to return to the base, where she was put in for repairs. May 18, 1942 north of Cape Karaburun, she sank the Turkish transport "Duatepe" (128 brt) with artillery fire. In June, she made one flight to the besieged Sevastopol, delivering 29 tons of ammunition, 1.5 tons of food, 17 tons of gasoline and taking 50 people to the mainland. Since the autumn of 1942, she did not participate in hostilities. March 1, 1943 awarded the title "Guards"
• Combat service term - 38.8 months (June 22, 1941 - September 16, 1944). 6 military campaigns (94 days). 3 torpedo attacks as a result of which 1 ship was sunk (683 brt) and another 1 ship was damaged. artillery fire sunk 1 ship (128 brt).
• "Sch-206" ("Nelma") Laid down on January 5, 1934 in Nikolaev at plant No. 200 (named after 61 Communards), serial number 1030. On February 1, 1935, she was launched. On October 1, 1936, she became part of the Black Sea Fleet. On June 22, 1941, she met under the command of Lieutenant Commander Karakay Sidor Alekseevich as part of the 3rd division of the 1st submarine brigade in Sevastopol. On the first days of the war, she went on a military campaign and on June 23 she was supposed to take a position at Mangalia. She did not get in touch and did not return to the base at the appointed time. There are several versions of the possible cause of the death of the Shch-206. So, according to Romanian data, on July 9, the Romanian destroyer Naluka, 8 miles east of the port of Mangalia, attacked a submarine with depth charges, observed a large oil slick and air bubbles. On the same day, 5 cabs from that place, two Romanian torpedo boats "Vitelia" and "Viskulul" again attacked the submarine with depth charges. Finally, there is some possibility of the Shch-206 sinking by the Soviet destroyer Soobrazitelny on June 26, when he accompanied the Kharkiv leader after the shelling of Constance, in any case, the destroyer bombed some unknown submarine, and only the Shch -206". Combat service term - 4 days (June 22, 1941 - June 26, 1941). 1 military campaign.
• "Sch-207" ("Kasatka") Laid down on January 5, 1934 in Nikolaev at plant number 200 (named after 61 Communards), factory number 1031. March 25, 1935 launched. On December 18, 1936, she became part of the Black Sea Fleet. On June 22, 1941, she met under the command of senior lieutenant (later lieutenant commander, captain of the 3rd rank) Nikolai Alekseevich Panov as part of the 3rd division of the 1st submarine brigade in Sevastopol, was under repair. Since the spring of 1943, she did not participate in hostilities. On April 12, 1944, captain-lieutenant Stetsenko Vasily Vasilyevich was appointed commander of the ship. The term of combat service was 38.8 months (June 22, 1941 - September 16, 1944). 11 military campaigns (194 days). 4 torpedo attacks.
• "Sch-306" ("Haddock") Laid down November 6, 1933 in Leningrad at the plant number 189 (Baltic Shipbuilding Plant), factory number 250. August 1, 1934 launched. On August 17, 1935, she became part of the Baltic Fleet. On June 22, 1941, she met under the command of senior lieutenant (later lieutenant commander) Smolyar Nikolai Ivanovich as part of the Separate training division of submarines in Orienbaum. From June 27, she was in position near the Kalbodagrund lighthouse, Gulf of Finland, where she was repeatedly attacked by anti-submarine boats, which dropped more than 200 depth charges on her. Without attacking a single target, on July 6 she left the area and returned safely to the base. October 20, 1942 left Kronstadt on a military campaign. During his stay at sea, the commander did not make a single report and only on November 12 reported that he was starting to cross the Gulf of Finland to return to the base. Since she did not arrive at the meeting point with the escort forces, it can be assumed that Shch-306 died as a result of a mine explosion in the area of ​​​​the Nargen mine position. According to post-war data, during the actions of Shch-306, the Elbing IX transport (467 brt) died in this area and two more ships were damaged. The term of combat service was 16.8 months (June 22, 1941 - November 16, 1942 .). 2 military campaigns (37 days).
• "Sch-307" (Cod") The lead boat in the V-bis-2 series. Laid down November 6, 1933 in Leningrad at the plant number 189 (Baltic Shipbuilding Plant), factory number 249. August 1, 1934 launched. On August 17, 1935, she became part of the Baltic Fleet. On June 22, 1941, she met under the command of Lieutenant Commander Nikolai Ivanovich Petrov as part of the Separate Training Submarine Division in Orienbaum. From July 24, she was in position in the Libava region, where on July 30 she tried to attack an enemy submarine and sank it. In August, she participated in the Tallinn crossing as part of a cover detachment. In December, captain-lieutenant (later captain of the 3rd rank) Momot Nikolai Onufrievich was appointed commander of the ship September 23, 1942. left Kronstadt on a military campaign and on September 27 took up a position in the area of ​​\u200b\u200babout. Huvudsher. She repeatedly found ships there, but due to the fact that they were sailing in Swedish territorial waters, she refused to attack. Therefore, on September 30, Shch-307 was shifted to the Aland Islands. In this military campaign, as it turned out after the war, the Finnish submarine Iku-Turso was engaged in a targeted search for Shch-307, starting it on October 11. Already on October 12, the Finnish submarine discovered the Soviet one by the noise of diesel engines, however, by a happy coincidence , "Sch-307" plunged, not even suspecting that they had already launched an attack on it. Iku-Turso, having lost contact, again discovered the Soviet submarine only at 20.44 on October 26 and tried to attack it with artillery fire, but the flashes of its own shots blinded those on the bridge, Shch-307 was again lost. On October 27, the Soviet submarine was again detected by the noise of diesel engines. This time, the Iku-Turso attacked the Shch-307 with torpedoes, and then opened artillery fire. BUT. Momot discovered the enemy in time, dodged the torpedoes with an energetic maneuver and made an urgent dive. The commander of the Finnish submarine, watching this dive, considered the Soviet submarine sunk. February 24, 1944 captain-lieutenant (later captain of the 3rd rank) Kalinin Mikhail Stepanovich was appointed commander of the ship. On November 5, the vertical rudder control failed and on November 7, the boat arrived ahead of schedule in Turku. On January 17, 1945, during the refilling of the batteries, an intensive release of chlorine began (it turns out that not distilled, but contaminated water was given out at the base), Shch-307 was forced to return to the base. On March 6, she was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Term of combat service - 46.5 months (June 22, 1941 - May 9, 1945 ). 4 military campaigns (126 days). 11 torpedo attacks, as a result of which 3 ships (6541 GRT) and 1 ship were sunk, in addition, 3 more ships may have been sunk and 3 ships damaged.
• "Sch-309" ("Dolphin") Laid down November 6, 1933 in Gorky at the plant number 112 (Krasnoe Sormovo), factory number 550/3. April 10, 1934 launched. November 20, 1935 became part of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet. Participated in the Soviet-Finnish War. On June 22, 1941, she met Isaak Samoilovich Kabo under the command of Lieutenant Commander (later Captain 3rd Rank) as part of the 6th Division of the 2nd Submarine Brigade in Tallinn. Since June 25, she has been unsuccessfully operating on the approaches to the Stockholm skerries. Due to the indecision of the commander and the low training of the personnel, all opportunities for attacking the enemy were missed. On September 27, she took up a position west of about. Maly Tyuters in case of an attempt to break through to Kronstadt by a squadron of German ships. On November 9, she went to sea in the Memel-Vindava area, where she could not make a single attack, and on November 26 she arrived in Surkula Bay to meet with an escort. The waiting stretched out for ten days and, taking into account the ice situation, arrived in Kronstadt only on December 11. March 1, 1943 awarded the title of "Guards". On March 26, captain-lieutenant (later captain of the 3rd rank) Filov Nikolai Alexandrovich was appointed commander of the ship. In the summer of 1944 for a month she worked out the tasks of combat training on Lake Ladoga. On October 4, she went on a military campaign, but the commander was diagnosed with an eye disease ("night blindness"). Therefore, the boat lay on the ground during the day, and at night it surfaced only to charge the batteries. ON THE. Filov reported the loss of vision and on October 21 Shch-309 was returned to the base. On October 27, Captain 3rd Rank Vetchinkin Pavel Petrovich was appointed commander of the ship, and on October 31 the boat went to sea for the second time. On November 21, she unsuccessfully attacked two enemy destroyers and refused to attack a detachment of warships consisting of a cruiser and destroyers due to shallow depths and uncertainty about the training of personnel. On February 22, 1945, she arrived at the position near Libava, having on board the commander of the brigade, Rear Admiral S.B. Verkhovsky, who was ordered by the People's Commissar of the Navy to personally teach submarine commanders to act more effectively. On February 23, she sank the Goetingen transport, but in the future the campaign did not develop successfully and, having used up all the remaining torpedoes in three unsuccessful attacks, Shch-309 returned to the base long before the autonomy expired. On March 30, she again goes to sea, where she was repeatedly attacked by anti-submarine forces, so Shch-309 operated only at night, and rested on the ground during the day. Due to the failure of one diesel engine, she left the position on May 6 and arrived in Turku on May 10. The term of combat service is 46.5 months (June 22, 1941 - May 9, 1945). 8 military campaigns (230 days). 14 torpedo attacks, as a result of which 4 ships were sunk (12357 GRT) and possibly 2 ships were damaged.
• "Sch-310" ("Belukha") Laid down on November 6, 1933 with Gorky at the plant number 112 (red Sormovo), factory number 550/4. April 10, 1935 launched. August 21, 1936 became part of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet. Participated in the Soviet-Finnish War. On June 22, 1941, she met under the command of lieutenant commander (later captain of the 3rd rank) Dmitry Klemetevich Yaroshevich as part of the 6th division of the 2nd submarine brigade in Tallinn. From June 24 to July 10, she was in position in the Baltic Sea, she had no meetings with the enemy. When returning to the base on July 11, on trips to Soela-Vyain, she discovered a submerging enemy submarine at night. Instead of attacking her, the senior on board the division commander, captain 2nd rank M.V. Fedotov ordered to dive and lie down on the ground. With his return to base, he was removed from his post and promoted to commander of the submarine. From September 21, she was at Fr. Gogland in order to prevent a sudden breakthrough to Kronstadt by a squadron of German ships. September 30, 1942 one of the fired torpedoes began to circulate, and the submarine had to evade it. On October 3, she discovered an enemy submarine practicing combat training tasks in supporting the destroyer. At the time of the attack, the horizontal rudders jammed and the submarine was thrown to the surface. The fired torpedo, and the Shch-310 itself, were seen, the enemy submarine evaded by diving. On October 9, when returning to the base, she was blown up by a mine. The explosion severely damaged the bow, a number of instruments and mechanisms, water began to flow into the first compartment - the submarine lay on the ground. Having eliminated the main damage, she independently reached the base, where she got up for a long repair. March 15, 1944 Captain-Lieutenant (later Captain 3rd Rank) Bogorad Semyon Naumovich was appointed commander of the ship. During the summer, she practiced combat training tasks on Lake Ladoga for a month. The hydroacoustic station "Dragon-129" was installed. March 6, 1945 awarded the title of "Guards". Combat service - 46.5 months (June 22, 1941 - May 9, 1945). 5 military campaigns (149 days). 22 torpedo attacks, as a result of which 6 ships were sunk (10334 GRT), possibly 4 more ships were sunk.
• "Sch-311" ("Kumzha") Laid down on November 6, 1933 in Gorky at the plant number 112 (Krasnoe Sormovo), factory number 550/5. April 10, 1935 launched. August 21, 1936 became part of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet. Participated in the Soviet-Finnish war and February 7, 1940. awarded the title of "Guards". On June 22, 1941, she met under the command of Lieutenant Commander Sidorenko Petr Antonovich as part of the 6th division of the 2nd submarine brigade in Tallinn. On June 25, she took up a position in the area of ​​​​Norkoping Bay, where she detected targets 13 times within 10 days, but only once tried to attack, and even then unsuccessfully - the commander forgot to give the order to prepare torpedo tubes and remembered this only at the moment of the command “Pli! ". On September 27, it was sent to a position west of about. Gogland in case of an attempt to break through to Kronstadt by a squadron of German ships. On November 9, she left Kronstadt for operations in the area of ​​​​the Elandsrev lighthouse. On November 15, she first discovered running lights, and then a single vehicle. Approaching at a distance of 2 - 2.5 cab, unsuccessfully completed four torpedo attacks. After that, fire was opened from both 45-mm guns from a distance of 3 - 5 cabins, only then the transport turned off its navigation lights and turned towards the coast. Soon she came under fire from a coastal battery and laid down on a retreat course, having used up 20 45-mm shells and having achieved several hits. In the future, she had no contacts with the enemy. Upon arrival at the base, Captain 3rd Rank Pudyakov Anisim Antonovich was appointed commander of the ship. October 10, 1942 left Kronstadt for operations in the Baltic Sea. however, on October 15, in the Porkkala area, it was sunk by depth charges from the Finnish patrol boats VMV-13 and VMV-15. The service life was 15.7 months (June 22, 1941 - October 15, 1942). 4 military campaigns (60 days). 4 torpedo attacks.

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Submarines of series III "Pike" became the first type of medium submarines that were built in the Soviet Union. The construction of submarines of six different series was carried out from 1930 to 1945, a total of 86 Shch-type submarines were built, which made them the most numerous type of Soviet submarines during the Great Patriotic War. Distinctive features of these submarines were the comparative cheapness in production, increased survivability and maneuverability.

The boats took an active part in the fighting during the Great Patriotic War. During the war years, these submarines sank 45 and damaged 8 enemy warships and commercial ships - more than a third of the total number of ships sunk by all Soviet submarines. At the same time, out of 44 submarines that fought, 31 submarines perished. For military merit, 6 Shch-type submarines became guards, and 11 more submarines were awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

The design of the first submarines of the III series of the "Pike" type was carried out in parallel with the design of the submarines of the series I "Decembrist". "Pike" was a one and a half hull submarine, its solid hull was divided into 6 compartments. The project was developed in the design bureau, which was headed by B. M. Malinin. Initially, the boats were designed as small ones, they were intended for operations in the navigationally constrained areas of the Baltic. They were planned to be used in the waters of the Gulf of Finland with its shallow depths, skerries and bottlenecks. Subsequently, according to the pre-war classification adopted in the USSR, the boats were classified as medium.

Soviet submarine Shch-301 "Pike" (type "Pike", series III) goes along the coast, photo: waralbum.ru

The first series of submarines of the Shch type - series III was created by Soviet engineers in an incredible hurry. The draft design of the boat was completed at the end of 1929. Without waiting for approval, the Baltic Shipyard began to create working drawings. At the same time, numerous changes were made to their design even at the design stage. For example, the military demanded that spare torpedoes be placed on board the boat. Placing four more torpedoes on board required miracles of ingenuity from the designers of the Pike.

It is curious that the project of the Shch-type boats was influenced by the raising and inspection of the British submarine L-55, which since October 1929 has been undergoing refurbishment in Kronstadt. From this boat, "Pikes" got contours with a linear transformation and a common architectural type: one and a half hull, with boolean tanks of the main ballast. The English boat L-55 sank in the southern part of the Gulf of Finland on June 4, 1919 while trying to attack the destroyers Azard and Gabriel. As a result of the demolition of the boat by an unaccounted for current, it was blown up on an English minefield. In the summer of 1928, the boat was successfully raised to the surface, and then restored and commissioned into the Soviet fleet. When the boat was raised and examined, the remains of 38 English submariners were found, which were transferred to the British side for burial at home.

The performance characteristics of submarines of the Shch type changed slightly from series to series. A total of 86 boats were built in six different series. Mainly, there was a change in the characteristics of the boats in the direction of the power of the installed diesel engines, an increase in the speed of surface and underwater travel, and a slight decrease in the cruising range. The armament of the boats (four bow and two stern torpedo tubes and two 45-mm artillery guns) remained unchanged (except for four boats of the III series, armed with one gun). Submarines of the "Pike" type had 6 compartments in a solid hull: the first and sixth compartments were torpedo; the second - residential (in it, under a collapsible flooring made of wooden shields, there were batteries, and fuel tanks under them); the third compartment is the central post of the boat; fourth - diesel compartment; in the fifth compartment there were two main electric motors and separately - two electric motors of the economic course.

Since from the very beginning of work on the project, new submarines were considered as massive, the main requirement for them was the maximum simplicity of design. This requirement was aimed at the maximum possible reduction in the cost of production. At the same time, this did not have the best effect on the tactical and technical characteristics of the Pike. The dive time of the boats was unacceptably long: from the cruising position - more than a minute, and the time for blowing out the main ballast was more than 10 minutes. The surface speed of the boats of the III series also turned out to be significantly lower than that contained in the specification - about 12 knots. The placement of four spare torpedoes in the living compartment significantly worsened the habitability of the submarine. The design of the torpedo-loading device was also unsuccessful, as a result of which the total time for loading ammunition onto the boat took more than a day. Submarine mechanisms made a lot of noise, which unmasked them and increased the chances of being detected by the enemy. Despite all the shortcomings, the project went into mass production. In total, four "Pike" III series were built, all four boats became part of the Baltic Fleet and carried numbers from Shch-301 to Shch-304. Three of them could not survive the Great Patriotic War, only the Shch-303 Yorsh boat survived until the end of hostilities.

In addition to the indicated shortcomings, the Shch-type boats also had obvious advantages, which were confirmed by acceptance tests. The advantages of submarines of the III series included the strength and simplicity of their design, good seaworthiness and the reliability of the installed mechanisms. In terms of their tactical and technical characteristics, the new Soviet submarines were not inferior to foreign boats of the same class, for example, the French Orion-class submarines, which were built simultaneously with the Soviet Pike-class submarines.

The first boats of the III series were laid in Leningrad at the Baltic Shipyard No. 189 in 1930 (boats Shch-301, 302 and 303), the boat Shch-304 was built at the Krasnoye Sormovo plant No. 112 in Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod). The first boats entered the fleet in 1933, and in total, by the end of 1941, 84 submarines were built, which were built and put into operation in the following series: III series - 4 boats (1933), V series - 12 boats (1933-1934) ), V-bis series - 13 boats (1935-1936), V-bis-2 series - 14 boats (1935-1936), X-series - 32 boats (1936-1939), X-bis series - 9 boats entered service already in 1941, including after the start of the war, two more were transferred to the fleet in July 1945.

Submarines Shch-201 (V-bis), Shch-209 (X series) and Shch-202 (V-bis) of the Black Sea Fleet, 1943.

Pikes of the second modification belonged to the V series and were built in larger numbers. 12 such submarines joined the Pacific Fleet. The boats were transported to the place by rail disassembled, their final assembly was already carried out in the Far East. They did not have significant changes compared to the boats of the III series, with the exception of some changes in the hull structures, in particular, the ship's stem was given an "oceanic" slope. A notable difference was the installation of a second 45-mm gun, which was then present on the "Pike" of all subsequent series. At the same time, artillery weapons were the weak point of all Pike. For example, the German type VII medium submarine (the largest type of submarine in the world) carried an 88-mm artillery gun and a 20-mm anti-aircraft gun on board. And Soviet submarines of the "C" type were armed with 100-mm and 45-mm guns. In many respects, numerous modernizations of the Shch-type boats were due to the fact that the commissioning of the medium-sized boats of the new "C" type was delayed. In total, 41 Type C submarines entered service, but by the beginning of the Great Patriotic War there were only 17 of them.

In addition to the fleet's urgent need for new submarines, Shch-type submarines, despite all the flaws of the first series, were considered to be quite successful ships in operational and tactical terms, primarily in terms of a combination of combat qualities and cost. For this reason, it was decided to develop this type of submarine, gradually eliminating the shortcomings identified during the operation of the boats of the first series. Moreover, smaller sizes allowed such boats to feel better in the waters of the Gulf of Finland and the Black Sea, compared to larger boats of the “C” type. It is no coincidence that the latter showed themselves best in the Northern Fleet, and not in the Baltic.

The result of further improvement of the "Pike" were submarines of the V-bis and V-bis-2 series. The power of the main diesel engines of the boats was increased by about 35 percent, while their weight and dimensions remained almost unchanged. In addition, the shape of the rudders was improved, which made it possible to increase the surface speed of the boats by 1.5 knots. Also, according to the experience of the previous operation of the boats of the V series, improvements were made to individual mechanisms and parts of the submarines. 13 boats of the V-bis series were built. Eight of them went to serve in the Pacific Fleet, three in the Black Sea and two in the Baltic. During the war years, "Pikes" of the V-bis series were actively involved in solving transport problems in the Black Sea. The boats could take on board instead of spare torpedoes up to 35 tons of fuel, or 30 tons of cargo, or up to 45 people with personal.

Submarine Shch-201 in Tuapse

On the ships of the V-bis-2 series, the designers once again reworked the theoretical drawing and the shape of the cabin of the submarine. This made it possible to increase the surface speed by another 0.5 knots, improving seaworthiness. The aft bulkhead of the second compartment received a stepped shape. This solution made it possible to store the torpedoes assembled. In addition, the torpedo-loading device was redesigned. This was a very important step, since at the same time the clutter of the compartments of the boat decreased and the time for loading torpedoes on board decreased - from 25-30 hours to 12 hours. Also, the designers changed the transmission of the electric motor of the economic course from gear to belt, which made its operation silent. The electric motors of the stern and bow horizontal rudders were placed in the end compartments, leaving only manual control in the central post. An important achievement of the boats of this series was a significant reduction in the noise of the mechanisms on board the boat, which increased the combat capabilities of the ships. Thanks to all the changes made to the design, the V-bis-2 series submarines earned high marks from Soviet submariners. A total of 14 boats of the V-bis-2 series were built. Five of them were received by the Baltic and Pacific Fleets and four by the Black Sea Fleet.

The most numerous Pike series was the X series boats, of which 32 jokes were built at once. 9 boats were received by the Pacific Fleet, 8 - by the Black Sea and Northern Fleets, 7 - by the Baltic Fleet. These submarines looked the most exotic due to the introduction of a streamlined cabin fence, the so-called "limousine" type, into the design. In general, these submarines were almost no different from the ships of the V-bis-2 series. As the main power plant, they used diesel engines 38-K-8 of the Kolomna plant with a capacity of 800 hp. at 600 rpm. Their surface speed increased to 14.1-14.3 knots.

The low profile of the new cabin of the X-series boats had a negative impact on the increase in its floodability even with relatively low sea waves, which was especially critical for the submarines that served in the Northern Fleet. As a result, another series of Shch-type submarines appeared - the X-bis series. The modernization potential of the Shchuk had already been almost completely exhausted by that time, so the upgrades were reduced mainly to a return to the traditional felling fence, as well as minor edits in the water pipeline and high-pressure air system. This did not significantly affect the performance characteristics of the submarines. A total of 13 X-bis series submarines were laid down. Of these, 11 boats were completed: two before the war, the rest during World War II. Four submarines participated in the battles in the Baltic, one in the Black Sea. The remaining submarines operated as part of the Pacific Fleet. Of the "European" "Pike" of this series, only one Baltic boat survived. In the Pacific, one "Pike" of the X-bis series was killed in an explosion in the base. Only one submarine of this type participated in the hostilities against Japan.

Loading a torpedo on a submarine of the Pacific Fleet of the "Pike" type (V-bis). Instead of a stern gun, a DShK machine gun was installed on the boat. A Pike-class submarine (X series) is visible in the background, photo: waralbum.ru

The appearance of the "Pike" during the war years changed in the course of various upgrades. For example, the folding parts of the gun platforms were eventually replaced by permanent ones and equipped with rails. Based on the accumulated experience of sailing in broken ice, the outer covers of the torpedo tubes were dismantled on parts of the submarines. Instead of the second 45-mm cannon, a large-caliber 12.7-mm DShK machine gun was installed on part of the submarines, while in the Pacific Fleet, along with the standard pedestal installation, there were also improvised ones. During the Great Patriotic War, some submarines managed to receive Asdik (Dragon-129) sonars, as well as a special demagnetizing device with windings outside the hull at the level of the superstructure deck.

In total, 86 medium-sized submarines of the Pike type of different series were built in the USSR. Of these, 31 submarines died during the Great Patriotic War, which is 36 percent of their total number or 69 percent of the number of submarines that fought in the European theater of operations. The losses were very significant. To some extent, this was due to the active use of these submarines in battles, as well as the most difficult conditions for submariners in the Gulf of Finland, where many Soviet boats fell victim to enemy minefields.

At the same time, despite not the highest performance characteristics, Shch-type submarines proved to be a formidable and effective weapon. In the North, they managed to sink 6 enemy warships and transports with torpedo weapons, as well as damage one transport (the torpedo did not explode). In the Baltic Sea, "Pike" torpedoes were able to sink one enemy submarine, as well as 17 transport and warships. Another five ships were seriously damaged. In the Black Sea, Shch-type boats recorded 12 enemy transports and warships on their torpedo account, and two more ships were seriously damaged. At the same time, they managed to sink 9 transports with their artillery weapons.

The performance characteristics of boats of the "Pike" X series (the most numerous):
Displacement: surface - 584 tons, underwater - 707.8 tons.
Overall dimensions: length - 58.8 m, width - 6.2 m, draft - 4 m.
The power plant is two 38-K-8 diesel engines with a capacity of 2x800 hp. and two main propulsion motors with a capacity of 2x400 hp.
Speed: surface - 14.3 knots, underwater - 8.1-8.3 knots.
Economic speed: surface - 7.9 knots, underwater - 2.6 knots.
Cruising range (normal fuel supply) - up to 2580 miles (surface), up to 105 miles (underwater).
Immersion depth: working - 75 m, limit - 90 m.
Artillery armament: 2x45-mm cannon 21-K and 2x7.62-mm machine guns.
Torpedo armament: 4x533-mm bow torpedo tubes and 2x533-mm stern torpedo tubes, total stock of torpedoes - 10 pieces.
Autonomy of navigation - 20 days.
Crew - 37-38 people.

Information sources:
https://vpk-news.ru/articles/45193
http://deepstorm.ru/DeepStorm.files/17-45/sh%20X/list.htm
http://techno-story.ru/articles/fleet/618-shatype
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