Water rocket meteor. History of Soviet hydrofoils

The most beautiful and famous hydrofoil ship "Meteor", built in 1959 by the Gorky shipbuilding plant "Krasnoye Sormovo", is still used on the rivers of our country. "Meteor" - speedboat carrying passengers across freshwater lakes and reservoirs and navigable rivers during daylight hours.

The history of the development of hydrofoils

For the first time, a small hydrofoil vessel (SPK) was tested in France on the Seine River in 1897 by a Russian subject, Charles de Lambert. However, the power of the steam engine used was not enough to raise the ship's hull above the water. At the same time, the Italian inventor E. Forlanini accelerated an experimental vessel on multi-tiered wings to 68 km / h. At the beginning of the last century, SPK models were tested by inventors from the USA, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, and Italy. In 1919, Frederick Baldwin's HD-4, approved by the US Navy, set a world record on two engines, reaching a speed of 114 km / h in water. The single-winged models of the British shipbuilder D. I. Thornycroft had a length of about 7 meters and a speed of about 64 km / h.

In the 1940s, the German design bureau, under the direction of Hans von Schertel, built a winged vessel that could reach speeds of up to 74 km / h with a load of 20 tons on board. In the 1950s, Shertel, having founded the Supramar company in Switzerland, built a wooden ship with partially submerged wings, which was the first in the world to carry out commercial transportation of 32 passengers between the cities of Italy and Switzerland. In 1956, under the license of Supramara, the Rodriguez company began mass production of RT-20 hydrofoil ships for use at sea. RT-20, having a displacement of 32 tons, carried 72 passengers through the Strait of Messina, developing a speed of about 62 km/h. Over the course of 20 years, Supramar has developed a series of partially submerged hydrofoil models and over 200 vessels have been built under its license in Italy and Japan.

In the United States in the 60s, the Boeing company participated in the development of military patrol and missile-carrying boats. The Pegasus-class high-speed armed ships were part of the US Navy from 1977 to 1993. Since 1974, Boeing has produced about 20 sea civil courts"Jetfoil", carrying from 167 to 400 passengers on board. Today, Jetfoils are built under license by the Japanese company Kawasaki.

In the 60-70s of the last century, the Canadian and Italian navies were armed with high-speed armed hydrofoil boats.

The appearance of "Meteor"

In the USSR, most of the SPK was designed under the guidance of a talented engineer Rostislav Evgenievich Alekseev. In 1941, in his thesis work "Hydrofoil glider" Alekseev R.E. described the principle of operation of a lightly submerged hydrofoil. The examination committee of the Gorky Polytechnic Institute learned about a ship that has no analogues in the history of shipbuilding.

In the early 1950s, military torpedo boats on nasal hydrofoils. During 1963-1967, 16 patrol and 12 border hydrofoil boats were built according to the Antares project and 2 Sokol anti-submarine ships.

In the 60s, several single experimental SPK Strela-1,2 and 3, Chaika, Burevestnik, Sputnik, Whirlwind, and Typhoon were built. In the service of ship supervision and at rescue stations, hydrofoil boats "Volga" were used. The Soviet Union exported passenger SPKs to dozens of countries around the world.

The experimental ship "Meteor" during the tests in November 1959 passed its first journey - from Gorky to Feodosia. After wintering in May 1960, the Meteor returned to Gorky. A successful test voyage of the ship made it possible to put the Meteor passenger ship on display at the river fleet exhibition in Moscow for presentation to the leadership of the Soviet Union. Demonstration of the first ship "Meteor" to the head of the USSR N.S. Khrushchev was held under the joint control of R.E. Alekseev and the famous aircraft designer A.N. Tupolev.

Serial production of the ship "Meteor"

The river fleet of the Soviet Union had the largest fleet of cruise ships. More than 1000 high-speed boats and hydrofoils were used on the rivers and lakes of our Motherland. Raised on the wing river boats increased speed and became an attractive vehicle for local passenger traffic and fast travel between cities. River travel attracted Soviet residents with comfort, speed and economy.

Since September 1961, the serial production of the Meteor motor ships has been carried out in Tatarstan by the Zelenodolsk shipbuilding plant named after A. M. Gorky. For 30 years, more than 400 ships of the Meteor series have been launched. The increase in passenger traffic required new, more spacious and comfortable ships. And in May 1962, Meteor-2 left the water area of ​​the plant, bringing 115 people on board with a bar and a cafe.

Nizhny Novgorod Design Bureau for SPK them. R.E. Alekseeva developed a modification of the Metor-2000 motor ship, equipped with imported engines and a comfortable cabin with air conditioning. Since 2007, the line that produced the Meteors has been reconstructed for the production of new motor ships of the A45-1 series.

Description of SPK "Meteor"

Single-deck duralumin hydrofoil river boat "Meteor" is equipped with a diesel engine. In autonomous mode, without refueling, the ship delivers passengers to a distance of no more than 600 km along the navigable rivers and freshwater lakes of Russia. Tourist excursions or business intercity travel on the ship "Meteor" are carried out only during daylight hours. Remote control of the movement of the vessel from the wheelhouse is carried out by a team of 3 people.

Three passenger compartments for 124 people, located in the bow, stern and middle parts of the ship, are equipped with soft comfortable seats and a single audio system for transmitting information to passengers. There is a bar in the middle saloon and a bar in the bow saloon scenic surroundings float through the huge panoramic windows. Through the deck of the ship is a passage between passenger compartments, to the toilet, to the utility room and the engine room.

Technical characteristics of the ship "Meteor"

The ship "Meteor" is operated at a speed of 60-65 km / h, although it can accelerate in the open up to 77 km / h. With a vessel length of 34.6 m and a width with a wingspan of 9.5 m, an empty ship has a displacement of 36.4 tons, and when fully loaded - 53.4 tons. While moored, the height of the vessel is 5.63 m, and the draft is 2.35 m. During the movement on the wings, it “grows” to 6.78 m and settles by 1.2 m.

The high fuel consumption of the motor ship "Meteor" is a significant disadvantage of a winged vessel. The first models of the ship consumed approximately 225 liters of diesel fuel per hour. The use of new modern motors reduces this figure to 50 liters per hour.

Meteor engine

The main engines on the ship are 2 twelve-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines of the M-400 type, which have a turbocharger, a reversible clutch and water cooling. The rated power of each engine at 1700 rpm is 1000 horsepower. Auxiliary propulsion is a pair of five-blade propellers 710 mm in diameter. Ship needs are handled by a unit consisting of:

• Diesel engine with a capacity of 12 horsepower at 1500 rpm.
• Generator (5.6 kW).
• compressor.
• Self-priming vortex pump.

The design of the wings includes load-bearing (bow and aft) steel wings and two flaps made of magnesium-aluminum alloy mounted on the nose wing struts.

Electricity in running mode is supplied by two DC generators installed on the main engines with a power of 1 kW each. During parking, an auxiliary generator is used, and the ship is also equipped with an automatic generator parallel operation with batteries.

Safety on board

All devices and mechanisms of the ship are controlled by the ship's control system. Smooth movement and reliable operation of the motors are guaranteed by regular thorough maintenance. passenger ships. The deck and salons for passengers are protected from bad weather by a strong roof. Comfortable chairs and safety on the ship "Meteor" have to exciting travel And river walks with family or among friends.

Weekdays "Meteor" today

Despite the fact that Meteor hydrofoil ships are no longer produced, these ships are still used for passenger transportation in Russia, the CIS countries and far abroad. In the difficult 90s, many river shipping companies, left without work, were forced to sell the Meteors to travel companies Greece, China and Vietnam. In Italy, Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, the Meteor motor ships and other hydrofoils produced in the USSR are still used today.

In Russia regular flights operate during the navigation period along the routes Irkutsk - Bratsk along the Angara, from Petrozavodsk to Shala, Kizhi and Velikaya Guba along Onega lake, along Ladoga to Valaam from Sortavala. Between the cities of the navigable rivers of the Volga, Don, Lena, Amur and Kama, passengers are happy to use motor ships, rather than electric trains and trains.

Russia resumed production of hydrofoils June 17th, 2017

Recently I was in Kazan and several times passed by the river technical school, in the yard of which there was a full-fledged "Rocket". I thought back then, there were times...

And here I read that the shipbuilding plant "Vympel" (Rybinsk, Yaroslavl region) plans to launch a marine passenger hydrofoil vessel "Kometa 120M" of project 23160 in 2017.

That is, we can say that Russia has resumed the production of high-speed passenger hydrofoil ships of the Kometa type. Greece is already showing interest in the project, and they are ready to accept such vessels on the Black Sea coast of Russia.

The talk about the new "Comets" was at a meeting of the co-chairs of the Russian-Greek mixed commission for economic, industrial and scientific-technical cooperation in Crete. The head of the Russian Ministry of Transport was asked whether the sales of Komets to Greece, which bought them thirty years ago, resumed. To this, Sokolov replied: "There is no sale yet, but the production of Komets has resumed."

However, now the ship has received a different name, said Minister of Transport Maxim Sokolov.

Photo 2.

"We even called her the beautiful name "Chaika", because she was laid in Rybinsk in the Yaroslavl region, where Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova works as a deputy. You remember that her call sign during the flight into space was "Chaika". Therefore, this "Comet" received the name "Seagull". Now it is almost ready. Therefore, if Greek companies want to acquire it, then the contract, in my opinion, is still open," Sokolov said. As for the purchases of "Comets" by Greece, then, according to the minister, he is ready to assist them.

"We will be happy. And although shipbuilding is the competence of the Ministry of Industry, I, as the Minister of Transport and as the co-chair of the joint commission, are ready to support any proposals from Greece," the head of the Ministry of Transport said.

Photo 3.

As it became known to RIA Novosti, JSC " Shipyard"Vympel" in Rybinsk is cooperating with the Greek company "Argonavtiki ploes" on the construction and transfer of "Comet 120M". Negotiations are currently underway with a potential Greek customer to sign an agreement of understanding, which reflects the main terms of the contract for the construction of four such vessels. The cost of each vessel exceeds six million euros.

Photo 4.

Interest in the new "Comets" is shown not only in Greece, but also in Russia itself. At the end of April, President Vladimir Putin visited the Vympel plant in Rybinsk. During the meeting, the general director of the enterprise, in particular, told the head of state about the project to launch a hydrofoil ship between Yalta and Sochi.

Putin noted that this proposal is not the only one, several other shipbuilding companies in different regions offer similar projects.

"The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Industry have the opportunity to conduct quasi-competitive or competitive procedures and choose the best proposal. But I really like the proposal itself," the president said, noting that the plan can be implemented with some support from the state in the form of benefits for leasing.

Photo 5.

At the same time, Putin added that the Sochi-Yalta route is difficult in terms of weather conditions, since hydrofoils are dangerous to use when strong wind. But such ships can be launched on other routes on Caucasian coast or in the Crimea, this type of transport needs to be developed, it will be in demand, the president concluded.

Anapa is ready to receive "Comets"
Recently Andrey Tarasenko, Director General of Rosmorport, said that preparations are already underway for the resumption of Komet flights on Black Sea coast. According to him, an enterprise has already been created in Anapa, which will be fully responsible for passenger transportation.

“It used to be unprofitable, but now applications have been received, in particular from the Black Sea High-Speed ​​Lines company, which is interesting for many to come from Anapa to Sochi, many want to come to Yalta. Therefore, we are resolving the issue. I won’t say exactly when it will be. Now the company receive licenses, there is a large set of documents for obtaining equipment," Tarasenko said.

Will it this direction popular and regular, will show passenger traffic, he added.

Photo 6.

The production of Komets at the Rybinsk plant was interrupted for almost two decades, but in 2013 the company again began building hydrofoils.

Then Maxim Sokolov, speaking at the laying ceremony of the first of the updated Komets, noted that the ships would be built using completely new technologies. According to him, the implementation of such developments will provide new opportunities for the transportation of passengers not only along the largest rivers of Russia, but also in the Black Sea basin and in the Baltic Sea basin.

Photo 7.

The high-speed hydrofoil vessel "Kometa 120M" is intended for the transportation of passengers in the sea coastal zone. The vessel with a length of about 35 meters and a displacement of 73 tons will be able to reach speeds of up to 35 knots and carry up to 120 passengers: 22 in the business class cabin, 98 in the economy class cabin.

Photo 8.

Sea passenger hydrofoil vessel "Kometa 120M" project 23160 - reference

Operation area - seas with sea tropical climate. Distance from the port - shelter in the open seas up to 50 miles.

RS class: KM Hydrofoil craft Passenger – A

Overall length, m - 35.2
Overall width, m - 10.3
Displacement, t - 73.0
Draft overall afloat, m - 3.5
Speed, knots - 35
Crew, people - 5
Passenger capacity, people: 120
business class lounge 22
economy class cabin 98
Engine power, kW - 2 x 820
Hourly fuel consumption, kg / hour - 320
Range in full displacement, miles - 200
Autonomy of navigation, hours - 8

Photo 9.

Marine passenger hydrofoil vessel "Kometa 120M" is a single-deck vessel equipped with a twin-shaft diesel-reduced power plant. The vessel is designed for high-speed transportation of passengers during daylight hours in new aircraft-type seats. It is reported that this project of a sea vessel was designed on the basis of the SEC, which were created in the USSR under the projects "Comet", "Colchis" and "Katran". The main purpose of this ship is the transportation of passengers in the coastal sea zone. It is reported that the ship will be able to reach a speed of 35 knots. Its main difference from the SECs previously built in our country will be to provide a high level of comfort for passengers. To this end, the ship will have to appear automatic system moderate pitching and overload. The design of the ship will use modern vibration-absorbing materials, which should also have a positive impact on passenger comfort.

Photo 10.

Spacious business and economy class cabins on the new Comet will receive comfortable aviation-type passenger seats, the maximum number of passengers is 120, and air conditioning systems are planned to be installed in the cabins. The features of the ship include the accommodation of passengers in the bow and middle salons. There will be a bar in the aft saloon. Double glazing is also provided in the wheelhouse and bar rooms. The ship will receive modern means of communication and navigation. It is planned to reduce fuel consumption by installing modern 16V2000 M72 engines with electronic fuel injection, manufactured by the German company MTU, and propellers with increased efficiency.

Photo 11.

Also, Sergey Italiantsev, who holds the post of head of the directorate of the River-Sea Vessels program in the department of civil shipbuilding of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, told reporters that the USC is considering the option of completing the construction of two hulls of marine passenger hydrofoil vessels of the Olympia project located at the Khabarovsk Shipbuilding Plant . In the future, these completed ships could be used to transport passengers to Kerch ferry in Crimea. Also, in the case of completion, these vessels could be used on Far East. It is in the Black Sea and the Far East that today there are big problems with servicing passenger traffic.

The ships of the Olympia project are able to take on board up to 232 passengers. They are designed for high-speed transportation of passengers on the seas with a tropical and temperate climate with a distance of up to 50 miles from "ports of refuge". In total, two such vessels were built, both were sold for export. The degree of completion of the two unfinished ships is approximately 80%. If a decision is made and an agreement is concluded for their completion, the ships can be completed within 6-8 months, according to the website of the R.E. Alekseev Central Design Bureau for Hydrofoils.

Photo 12.

Photo 13.

Photo 14.

sources

River and sea expresses are hydrofoil ships. Impressions from traveling on them are one of the most vivid memories of river or sea travel.

The chief designer of these vessels is Rostislav Alekseev.

Over 3,000 were built in total. passenger ships on hydrofoils at the shipyards of Russia, Ukraine and Georgia.

This is how these ships were transported. Monument to R. Alekseev in Nizhny Novgorod.

An engineer of the Soviet Union, Rostislav Alekseev, defended his thesis "Hydrofoil glider" in 1941, at the age of 25. During the war, the management of the plant where he worked allocated time and money to work on the SEC. However, Alekseev's combat boats appeared already at the end of the war, and did not have time to fight. After the war, Alekseev continued to work for the army, but he also developed a passenger ship, which he gave the catchy and relevant name in those years, "Rocket", as today's "Forsage".

"Rocket"- This is the first Soviet passenger hydrofoil. Designed and launched in 1957 at the shipyard of the Krasnoye Sormovo plant (Nizhny Novgorod). Production continued until the mid-1970s. This vessel was awarded the Gold Medal at the Brussels Exhibition.

During the period from 1957 to 1979, about 300 ships of this class were built. Production was established in Feodosia (FSK "More"), Volgograd, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Nizhny Novgorod, Khabarovsk and Poti (Georgia).

Missiles, in addition to the USSR, were bought by Finland, China, Lithuania, Romania and Germany.

Some rockets are still used in flights to this day. And many rockets, after the collapse of the USSR, were converted into cafes and dachas.

Soon the name "Rocket" became synonymous with all vessels of this type, regardless of the name of their models.

The hydrofoil "rocket", although it was created by order of the Ministry of Shipbuilding, however, had dubious prospects, due to its unusualness and non-standard for that time.

Most likely, it was precisely because of the fear of being misunderstood that Rostislav Alekseev conceived a daring plan - to show the "Rocket" to the Secretary of the Central Committee himself - Nikita Khrushchev, bypassing the authorities. And it was done like this: in the hot summer of 1957, on the day of student youth, Alekseev ordered the Rocket to be launched, and at full speed he headed from the Krasnoye Sormovo plant, straight to Moscow. Knowing where Khrushchev was staying, Alekseev moored the rocket and offered the General Secretary a ride.

Here the general secretary swims at super-speed along the Moscow River, easily overtaking other ships, and amazed students who came from all over the world to the festival look at this swim. "Rocket" struck Nikita Sergeevich, and under an explosion of pleasant feelings, He immediately uttered the memorable words "Enough for us to ride oxen along the rivers! Let's build!" The rocket became a large-scale motor ship, Alekseev received the right to contact Khrushchev directly once a year, as well as a feud with the Minister of Shipbuilding, Boris Butoma: “A bastard is crawling over your head!” Here we mention that Boris Butoma is also a talented engineer and a competent leader, but a jump over the head of the authorities will quarrel these two talented people. Further mistakes by both Butoma and Alekseev will lead to a tragic end.

"Rockets" on the North river station in Moscow.

The scheme of routes "Rockets" along the Moscow Canal

The rocket served as a firefighter during the Soviet era, in the 2000s the fire rocket retired. She was moved to the training base of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. During its operation, this rocket evacuated more than one hundred passengers from sinking ships, and extinguished about a dozen ships.

Length: 27 m
Width: 5 m
Height (wing): 4.5 m
Draft (full): 1.8 m

Power plant: 1000 hp. diesel M50
Propeller: screw
Crew / attendants: 3
Passengers: 64

Gas turbine "Petrel".

The gas-turbine Burevestnik is the fastest type of river transport. Has two engines from IL-18.
In 1964-1979 he worked on the Kuibyshev-Ulyanovsk-Kazan-Gorky route.

This is the most beautiful hydrofoil of all created earlier and later.

In 1964, the flagship of the river passenger fleet of the USSR "Burevestnik" began to operate, accommodating 150 passengers and having an operating speed of 97 km / h. However, this ship did not go into series either, although it was in operation for about 15 years.

Burevestnik had problems - two aircraft engines made a lot of noise and required a lot of fuel. In addition, the ship's stern was constantly smeared with fumes from used engines that had exhausted their resources.

In 1974, the Burevetsnik collided with a tugboat and was badly damaged. They refused to repair it then, but thanks to the pressure of the captain and the enthusiasm of the workers, they repaired it.

After the repair, the Petrel went on for only a couple more years, and then the rising cost of fuel made it unprofitable. The gas turbine was put on a cut, and later towed to the landfill, where it stood for most of its life. Sawed up for scrap in 2000.

Length: 43.2 m
Hull width: 6 m
Height (wing): 7 m
Displacement: 40 t
Draft: 2 m
Operating speed: 45 knots, 97 km/h
Range: 500 km
Power plant: 2x GTD AI24
Propulsion: 2x water cannon
Type and consumption of fuels and lubricants: Kerosene, 330 g/hp.
Passengers: 150

"Gull"- an experimental rocket built in a single copy in 1962. The seagull was created as a scaled-down model of the upcoming Burevestnik. honed on her new form hydrofoil, aerodynamic contours and a water cannon - as a new propulsion. There are allegations that the Chaika also worked out the geometry of the hull of the KM ekranoplan.

Chaika worked as a delivery ship for Rechflot employees, picking up speed of 85-90 km / h and accommodating up to 30 passengers. And then it was cut into metal. The seagull lived only a couple of years, but turned into a symbol of a high-speed ship for the USSR.

Length: 26.3 m
Width: 3.8m
Height: 3.5 m
Displacement: 9.9 t
Draft: 0.6 m
Working speed: 40 w.s. 85 km/h
Power plant: 1200 hp diesel
Propulsion: water cannon
Crew / attendants: 3
Passengers: 30

Motor ships "Meteor" and "Kometa".

In 1961, the series went new type civilian SPK "Meteor". More capacious ships were required than the Rocket.

So the Meteor already took 115 people on board, had a comfortable lounge (with a bar and a cafe), and a long range.

However, he used two engines, instead of one, which, in terms of operation and profitability, made the Meteor equal to the Rocket.

On the basis of the meteors, a marine version of the Comet was designed, on which the hull was modified and other wings were installed. This increased the capacity to 120 people and improved the ship's seaworthiness.

Comets were produced from 1961 to 1981, in Feodosia and Poti. More than 100 ships were built, of which 39 were for export to Greece.

The case of 1992, during the conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia, is connected with Comet 44. An unknown helicopter fired from a machine gun "Comet 44", with 70 passengers on board, the Comet stopped for inspection. But instead of being searched, the helicopter made a combat turn and opened fire with NURS (unguided rockets). The 3rd salvo hit the hull, and made a hole below the waterline, 1m2 in size. If the "comet" had remained in place, it would have drowned. But the crew, turned on the engines to the maximum, and the SPK rose to the wings, which did not allow the ship to sink. "Comet" reached Sochi safely.

"Comet-44" in Turkey

As for Meteors, they were produced from 1961 to 1993, more than 400 ships were built. Today they are upgraded with fuel-efficient engines and resold abroad (to China, Greece and South Korea).

Some cars, like the Verny meteor, are bought by individuals and turned into elite super-yachts, with modern cabins, showers, and lounges.

SPK "Meteor-Verny" on the Yenisei.

"Meteors" on vacation in St. Petersburg

One of the "Meteors" was converted into a bar in the city of Kanev, Ukraine:

And this "Meteor" ended up in China. Works on the Yangtze River

"Sputnik" and "Whirlwind".

In 1961, simultaneously with the launch of the Meteors and
Comet, the type 329 Sputnik motor ship is lowered from the stocks - the largest (at that time) SPK. It carries 300 Passengers at a speed of 65 km/h.

But during 4 years of operation, a lot of shortcomings were revealed: both the great voracity of 4 engines, and the discomfort of passengers due to strong vibration, from the work of so many diesel engines. As a result, "Sputnik" in one of the swims ran into a drifter, breaking one engine. The ship could continue to go, but it no longer “took off” on the wing, and therefore it was erected as a monument to the Soviet SPK in the city of Togliatti. In 2005, a fire burned inside, due to which the interior of the ship was badly damaged.

Also, as with the Meteor, they built a marine version of the Sputnik, called the Whirlwind. There is information that 3 Whirlwinds were built, one had 4 diesel engines, like Sputnik, and the other two were equipped with AI-20A aircraft turbines. The fate of these ships is unknown.

For comparison, "Sputnik" and "Rocket" on the Volga.

Length: 48 m
Width: 12 m
Height: 7.5 m
Draft: 2.5 m
Operating speed: 37 knots, 65 km/h
Fuel consumption: 650-750 kg/h
Power plant: 4x1000 hp diesel
Propeller: screw
Passengers: 240

"Belarus" and "Polesie".

For shallow rivers, a little more than a meter deep, in 1963 they developed the ship "Belarus", named after the Republic in which this ship was assembled (a plant in Gomel). Belarus took 40 passengers. Built about 30 ships. In 2005, these ships successfully navigated the Karakum Canal.

In 1983, there was a replacement, or rather the modernization of "Belarus": a motor ship of the "Polesie" type. The hull became angular, which reduced the cost of production, and multiple parts of the hull and engine were standardized in Polesie with the details of the Voskhod-type motor ship, which made production even cheaper. In addition to cheaper prices, "Polesie" accepts 50 instead of 40 passengers. A little less than a hundred of these ships were built. These SPKs are still in operation, for example, in Romania and Belarus.

Length: 21.5 m
Width: 5 m
Height: 2.6 m
Displacement: 12 tons + 6 tons of cargo
Draft: 0.9 m
Working speed: 35 oz., 60 km/h
Range: 400 km

Propeller: screw
Type and consumption of fuel and lubricants: 150-170 kg/hour
Crew / attendants: 2
Passengers: 50

"Sunrise" and "Swallow".

"Rockets" and "Meteors" were getting old. To replace them, in 1973 they launched the second-generation Voskhod SPK.

Voskhod is a direct receiver of the Rocket. This ship is more economical, more spacious, more reliable - in fact, every characteristic of the Voskhod is better than that of the Rocket. In addition, although Voskhod was designed as a river SPK, its characteristics make it possible to work without changes in sea coastal zones, for example, in the Crimea.

Since 1973, about 300 ships have been built, and further construction was stopped by the collapse of the USSR and economic crisis lasting for 25 years. New ships continue to be built in small batches.

So, the Dutch company Connexicon ordered three upgraded versions of Voskhod in 2003. These ships were delivered to Canada, Turkey, Austria, Thailand and China.

The last 3 SPCs of this series were assembled in 2003 for the Connexicon company in the Netherlands.

Length: 27.6 m
Width: 6.4-7m
Height (wing): 4 m
Displacement: 20.4 tons + 8 tons of cargo
Draft (full): 2 m
Working speed: 35 oz., 60 km/h
Range: 500 km
Power plant: 1000 hp diesel
Propeller: screw
Rates of fuel and lubricants: 150-170 kg/hour
Crew / attendants: 3 / 5
Passengers: 70

In view of the fact that the "Voskhod" could also work at sea, the "sea" version of this ship, called the "Swallow", appeared much later, in the 80s.

And it had significant changes - a modified shape of the wings, and a twin-engine power plant, which, in addition to seaworthiness, increased the speed to 85 km / h. We assembled 3-4 motor ships, which were bought by European companies.

A little-known fact - in 1986, "Rockets" and "Sunrise" of the Ukrainian SSR participated in the removal of the inhabitants of Pripyat. One of the Chernobyl "Sunrise" is called "Shkval" - a suitable name for a fighter with that tragedy.

"Olympia".

Sea passenger hydrofoil vessel "Olympia" (hereinafter referred to as SPK "Olympia") is a universally recognized flagship of the Russian high-speed passenger fleet. Its appearance fascinates and creates a feeling of hidden swiftness and power, which can be fully felt when sailing on this ship. This ship fully corresponds to the proud and beautiful name "Olympia" given to it by its creator - the famous "Central Design Bureau for Hydrofoils named after R.E. Alekseev", Nizhny Novgorod, whose achievements in the design of hydrofoils and ekranoplanes unsurpassed to date by anyone in the world.

It is also necessary to pay attention to the fact that the SEC "Olympia", which will be discussed below, were built at a shipbuilding enterprise with unique technical and technological capabilities, having highly qualified specialists - the Feodosia Shipbuilding Company "More", Feodosia, where During its existence, more than 630 ships were built and launched, the products of which were delivered to 40 countries of the world.

Motor ship "Olympia - Hermes" in Sochi.

"Colchis" and "Katran"

SPK "Katran" and "Colchis" are twin brothers.

In 1980, at the Shipyard named after Ordzhonikidze (Georgia, Poti) opens the production of SPK "Colchis". Vessel speed 65 km/h, passenger capacity 120 people. In total, about forty ships were built. Currently, only two are operated in Russia: one vessel on the St. Petersburg - Valaam line, called "Triada", the other in Novorossiysk - "Vladimir Komarov".

"Colchis" is a type of marine passenger hydrofoil twin-rotor vessels designed for high-speed passenger transportation. Navigation area - open seas with a distance of up to 50 miles from the port of refuge and up to 100 miles in closed seas and lakes. The ships were produced according to projects 10390 and 10391, developed by the Central Design Bureau for the SPK im. R.E. Alekseev and approved in 1980. They were built at the Poti Shipyard and the Volga Shipyard in Nizhny Novgorod. The first ship of the series went on trial in 1981. The ships of this series had a number of improvements compared to the Comet series. The ship's hull, seized by argon-arc and contact welding, was divided along the length below the main deck by watertight bulkheads into 9 compartments, the ship's unsinkability is ensured when any two adjacent compartments are filled. The bow saloon had no windshields. There was a special room for luggage. In total, about 40 ships of this series were built.

Currently in Russian Federation they are almost never used on passenger lines - a number of ships are mothballed, sold abroad, cut into metal, converted into cafes. Some of the Colchis ships continue to work on the sea passenger traffic in foreign countries.

The modernization of "Colchis" are developed by the Central Design Bureau for the SPK them. R.E. Alekseeva series of vessels "Kolkhida-M" (project), "Katran" (4 vessels were built, 2 of which: "Sealight-1" and "Sealight-2", operate on high-speed lines in the Black Sea), and "Katran-M" (project).

Similar to "Colchis" and "Katran" in appearance there was an experimental hydrofoil vessel "Albatross", built in a single copy at the Poti shipyard in 1988. Unlike the "Colchis", the "Albatross" had high-speed diesel engines M421 of Soviet production (Zvezda plant).

Until 1996, he worked on the lines of the Black Sea shipping company(port of registry Odessa), after it was sold and worked in the Mediterranean Sea on the line between Cyprus and Lebanon under the name "Flying Star".

"Katran" - Passenger twin-screw hydrofoil ship of project 10391, designed for high-speed transportation of passengers on sea and lake coastal lines, with a distance of up to 50 miles from the port of refuge and up to 100 miles in closed seas and lakes and a cruising range of up to 380 miles. The lead ship was built in 1994.

"Cyclone"

"Cyclone" is a new flagship, but already a marine passenger SPK. Equipped with two gas-turbine engines (GTE), has a speed of 70 km / h, and a capacity of up to 250 passengers. "Cyclone" is a second-generation marine SPK built in 1986. Cyclone's competitor was Olympia, which was built at the same shipyard in Feodosia.

There is 1 ready-made "Cyclone", which in 2004 returned from Greece to Feodosia for repairs, but it still stands there, in a semi-disassembled state. In addition, there is at least 1 more Cyclone backlog, with a readiness of 30%. There is unconfirmed information that there was also a second reserve of the "Cyclone" with a readiness of 15%, but it could have been destroyed.

Length x Width x Height: 44.2m x 12.6m x 14.2m
Displacement: 101 tons + 36 tons of cargo
Draft (afloat/wing): 4.3 m / 2.4 m
Operating speed: 42 knots, (70 km/h)
Range: 300 miles
Power plant: 2x3000 hp GTD
Propulsion: 2 screws
Type and consumption of fuels and lubricants: kerosene
Passengers: 250

Another interesting fact is that all SECs are registered with the military, in case of war they should be used as river hospitals.

New developments of the Central Design Bureau for hydrofoil ships named after R.E. Alekseeva

During the exhibition "International Naval Salon-2013", held in St. Petersburg, Russian shipbuilders announced the upcoming revival of one almost forgotten direction. During July, the Rybinsk shipyard "Vympel" will begin construction of a new hydrofoil. Last time similar equipment in our country was built about twenty years ago.

Nizhny Novgorod Central Design Bureau for Hydrofoils. R.E. Alekseeva (Central Design Bureau for SPK) several decades ago created several models of such equipment, which became widely known. However, recently the development and construction of hydrofoils has ceased. The new vessel, which is scheduled to be laid down in the coming days, will be built in accordance with the new project 23160 Kometa-120M. This project, as stated, combines the best practices of past years, as well as modern technologies and electronic equipment. By figurative expression CEO and the chief designer of the Central Design Bureau for the SPK S. Platonov, "Kometa-120M" differs from the previous "Kometa" in the same way that the Sapsan train differs from a simple electric train.

From previous hydrofoils, the new Kometa-120M is primarily distinguished by the wide use of composite materials in the design. In addition, the control systems have undergone major improvements. As a result of all these measures, it was possible to save several tons and significantly lighten the ship. Reducing the weight of the entire ship, in turn, made it possible to change the draft and hydrofoil design, which ultimately had a beneficial effect on driving performance. The declared maximum speed of the Kometa-120M is about 60 knots, which exceeds the capabilities of all previous ships of this class.

Project 23160 vessels are proposed to be equipped with modern electronic navigation and communication equipment. At the IMDS-2013 salon, the Central Design Bureau for the SEC demonstrated not only models of its hydrofoils, but also a full-scale mock-up of the Kometa-120M control systems. All the usual devices on the panel have been replaced by several large monitors, and most of the controls have given way to push-button remotes. At the same time, the functionality and information content of the new systems fully corresponds, and in some respects even exceeds the corresponding indicators of the systems used earlier.

The declared economic qualities of the new vessel "Kometa-120M" will probably be of interest to potential customers. The payback period is set at five years, and the total service life with timely maintenance should exceed 25 years. During this period, during each voyage, the ship will be able to carry up to 120 passengers. It is especially noted that two versions of the Kometa-120M are available for order, designed for operation on rivers and at sea. Most of the design of both options does not have any differences, but the ship for the sea will have a different anti-corrosion coating of structural elements and a hydrofoil of a different shape, adapted to work in sea conditions.

The construction of the first hydrofoil of the Kometa-120M project will begin literally any day. In the future, the Central Design Bureau for hydrofoils named after. R.E. Alekseeva plans to bring several more similar projects to production. So, at the last exhibition, a model of a hydrofoil vessel of project 23170 Cyclone-250M, designed to carry 250 passengers, was demonstrated. In addition, in the coming years, the serial construction of vessels of project 23180 Valdai-45R, capable of carrying about four dozen passengers, may begin. However, these projects are still only in the plans. First of all, the Central Design Bureau for the SEC intends to launch the production of the new Komet-120M. Only after these vessels go to work on passenger transportation, preparations for the construction of other types of SECs will begin.

The impetus for the current work of the Central Design Bureau on hydrofoils and the Vympel shipbuilding plant can be considered the Federal Target Program "Development of Civil Maritime Transport", within which promising research and design programs are financed. In the course of this program, only the Central Clinical Hospital for the SPK them. R.E. Alekseeva, commissioned by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, is conducting several projects, the total cost of which exceeds 590 million rubles. According to available information, the Central Design Bureau is required to prepare four designs of hydrofoils and two designs of air cavity ships by 2014, as well as conduct several research programs necessary for the implementation of other projects.

The high performance of new hydrofoils, as well as extensive experience in operating such equipment, suggests that the Kometa-120M will be of interest to potential customers and, in a certain amount, will enter the service of carrier companies. It is too early to talk about the specific prospects for new projects of the Central Design Bureau for the SPK, since the construction of the first vessel of the new project has not even begun yet.

The hydrofoil vessel (SPK) "Rocket-246" was built in 1974 at the Feodosia shipbuilding plant "More". The length of the vessel is 27 meters, the width is 5 meters, the height is 4.5 meters, the draft is 1.8 meters (when moored) and 1.1 meters (when flying on wings).

The Rocket-246 has special wings under the hull. When parked and when moving at low speed, the Rocket-246 is kept on the water due to the force of Archimedes, like an ordinary displacement vessel. At high speed, due to the lifting force caused by these wings, the ship rises above the water. Thus, water resistance is significantly reduced, which allows you to develop high speeds.
The maximum speed that this ship can develop is 70 km / h. But usually, "Rocket-246" runs no more than 60 km / h, and on the Moscow Canal, due to frequent turns and high shipping traffic, even less, only 40-45 km / h. The higher the speed of the vessel, the greater the wave it creates, which erodes the banks of the channel. Therefore, on the Moscow Canal, the speed of ships is limited to 12 km / h. But for hydrofoils, such as the Rocket-246, an exception is made. The wave from them is quite small.

Sometimes, in order for the "Rocket-246" to "take to the wing", passengers are asked to move from the rear of the "Rocket" to the cabin. Salon "Rockets-246" is somewhat reminiscent of the salon "Tu-154".

When the "Rocket" "gets on the wing", then its nose rises a little and the captain of this vessel has a "dead zone of visibility" of about 80 meters. Passengers in the front seats in the cabin can still see everything :)

Compared to other ships on the Moscow Canal, the Raketa moves extremely fast. For example. Before the bridge of the Leningrad highway we caught up.

Here we have already gone under the bridge of Leningradka.

We are already at a considerable distance from the Leningradsky bridge, and the Felix Dzerzhinsky has just begun to go under it.

I liked flying on the Rocket. The SPK rushes along the canal, overtaking large and small motor ships. From the slightest wave, the Rocket throws up a little, shakes to the side. You immediately feel all the unevenness of the water.

And a few more photos.

Mooring bollard SPK "Rocket-246". A pair of bollards with a common base on the deck of the ship, used for fastening cables.

Prohibition sign.

During the movement it is impossible to be on the tent deck of the ship.

"Rocket-246" is alive! :)

The Rocket boat is a vessel equipped with wings below the waterline. It is classified as "P" and is designed to serve 64-66 passengers at the same time. The specific capacity is determined by the modification of the vehicle. The "Rocket" has dimensions of 27 * 5 * 4.5 m, during the course it settles by 1.1 m, while idle - by 1.8 m. The ship can move at a speed of no more than 70 km / h, but the normative speed is from 60 to 65 km / h. The design provides for one propeller, and the main engine is set at 900-1000 horsepower.

The boat "Rocket" is not a single product, but a whole series launched into production back in the period of the Soviet Union. The projects on which these ships were built were called:

• 340ME;
• 340E.

Shipbuilding began in 1957. Their production continued until about the mid-70s. During this period, about three hundred boats were launched for river transportation. The first of them received the symbolic name "Rocket-1". The Krasnoye Sormovo plant was rightfully proud of its construction.

The boat "Rocket-1" made its first voyage in 1957, it was launched on August 25. The route ran between Kazan and Nizhny Novgorod. In total, the ship covered 420 kilometers of the water surface in just seven hours! The technical characteristics shown by the Raketa boat struck the imagination of the townsfolk. 30 lucky ones became those people who for the first time in such a short time on the water were able to make this exciting journey.

Present and future

Since the boat "Rocket" (ship speed - up to 70 km / h) showed such excellent parameters, it quickly gained popularity. The name of this vessel among the people almost immediately became a household name. This tradition has been preserved to this day - today all ships resembling a classic Soviet motor ship are called “rockets”.

In the Soviet period, the river boat "Rocket" was not available to everyone. Wealthy families could afford a weekend trip on some beautiful edges: pilots delivered their passengers to charming bays and bays inaccessible to travelers by land. But the price of such a cruise bite. For example, electric trains, on which it was possible to travel the same distance from the city, were several times cheaper. Nevertheless better holiday on the water for the whole family than the boat "Rocket", it was simply impossible to imagine.

Today, this ship is used daily. For example, it can be seen on the river. Every day, faithful ships carry passengers between cities and ride tourists along sightseeing routes.

Capital "Rocket"

Boat projects were immediately considered as schemes according to which it would be necessary to build water vehicles for the great Soviet capital - Moscow. Therefore, they were designed by the best shipbuilders of that era. Accordingly, as soon as the first Rocket-1 was launched, this ship ended up in the capital in the shortest possible time. Its first flight was made in 1957 during the summer months, when a festival dedicated to students and youth was held in the city. It was an international event, in which the authorities were going to show all the best that is in the Soviet Union. And the ships of the river fleet, of course, too.

Mass hydrofoils began to be operated in the waters of Moscow only at the beginning of the next decade, where they enjoyed well-deserved success until 2006. And since 2007, the authorities launched a large-scale program designed to restore inland water transport, in particular, the Rocket Park. Since 2009, four such ships have regularly made flights:

• 102 (only for VIP flights);
• 191 (previously ran as 244th);

Unofficial sources claim that other hydrofoils based on the legendary Soviet designs will soon appear - as soon as the work on restoring the machines is completed.

general characteristics

A hydrofoil boat is a speed ship, which works on the principle of dynamic support. The ship has a hull, and under it are "wings". If the ship is moving slowly or standing still, the balance is provided by the Archimedean force. With an increase in speed, there is a rise above the water surface by the force provoked by the wings. Such constructive solution allowed to minimize water resistance, which affects the speed.

River types of water transport with wings did what previously seemed impossible - high-speed navigation along the country's waterways. Now the trips began to take a matter of hours, which led to a rapid increase in the popularity of transport. At the same time, the ships are relatively inexpensive to operate and are characterized by a long service life. All this became the basis for competitiveness, thanks to which, from the moment of their launch and to this day, "winged" types of water transport are serious rivals to other means of transportation.

Non-rocket "Rockets"

"Rocket" was not the only vehicle of such a type. The first launch of this landmark for the ship was carried out, and the very next year the Volga hydrofoil boat went on a voyage. By the way, it was demonstrated at the Brussels exhibition, and for good reason: the ship was able to get a gold medal.

Two years later, the first Meteor (another analogue of the Rocket) was launched into the water, and then the Comet, which became the first in the sea for this. Years later, numerous Seagulls, Whirlwinds and Satellites saw the light . Finally, the Burevestnik ship, a full-fledged gas turbine ship, can be called the pinnacle of shipbuilding in this area.

The Soviet Union had the largest base of hydrofoil ships, and this was largely ensured by the fact that the production of "Rockets" was well established. But the country itself did not use everything that it produced: channels for selling motor ships abroad were established. In total, "Rockets" were sold to several dozen different states.

The development of ships with wings under water was mainly carried out by Rostislav Alekseev. "Rocket" is one of the important reasons for pride. The ship, created for routes up to half a thousand kilometers, fully justified the money invested in it and remains attractive to this day.

production in earnest

When the Raketa boats showed their excellent parameters, proved their reliability and it became clear that they had considerable prospects, the government decided to start mass production of these ships. The task was entrusted to the More plant located in Feodosia. Somewhat later, it was possible to establish the manufacture of ships in the following cities:

• Leningrad;
• Khabarovsk;
• Nizhny Novgorod;
• Volgograd.

Production was also arranged on the territory of Georgia, in the city of Poti.

Produced ships were exported to:

• Finland;
• Romania;
• Lithuania;
• China;
• Germany.

And today "Rockets" go to some of these countries. Over time, many ships were converted into dachas, restaurants, cafeterias.

And how was it intended?

Looking at how successful the ship has become, one can't help but think that this is what the government planned. But was it really so? The project was developed under the control of the Ministry of Shipbuilding, financed by the state - this fact is indisputable. But historical reports prove that officials did not associate real expectations and hopes with these models. This was largely due to the non-standard idea as such - they feared that it could completely burn out. Yes, and there was such a time when it was very easy to remain “incomprehensible”, which could not only become a nuisance, but lead to complete collapse.

In an effort to do everything possible, the ingenious Soviet shipbuilder Rostislav Alekseev set himself the task of maximum - to design and build a ship and demonstrate it not just to anyone, but immediately to Khrushchev himself, that is, bypassing all the lower authorities. This audacious plan had a chance of success and was implemented in the summer of 1957. The ship "on all wings" raced along the Moscow River and was moored not at a random pier, but at the place where the Secretary General usually liked to stop. Alekseev personally invited Nikita Khrushchev on board. And so began the swim that allowed the ship to become legendary. Even then, the main person of the country appreciated the admiration of the public for the ship that overtook everyone. And the secretary general himself was impressed by the speed. It was then that the phrase was born, preserved for posterity: “Enough for us to ride oxen along the rivers! Let's build!"

The story doesn't end

Yes, the "Rockets" were popular, they were the pride of the nation, they were loved, they were known, they were admired, they paid money for them. But time passed, the ships gradually became obsolete. Of course, at first they were repaired, but when the Secular Union went "downhill", it was not up to the ships. Technical and river transport only grew. At some point, it seemed that there was practically no future for this direction of vehicles, at least not in the coming decades.

And a few years ago, they launched a program designed to revive the best ships Soviet Union - "Rockets". And along with them, it was decided to invest in Comets and Meteors. Despite the rather difficult economic situation in the country, the government managed to allocate money for work to improve transport and modernize ships to meet the needs of modern times. A special program was developed to support ships with wings underwater. The year 2016 became important, when the ship "Kometa 120M" had to demonstrate that the efforts made did not go to waste.

But was the Rocket the first?

Now few people remember this, but the Rocket was not the first attempt to create this type of transport. Even before it, developments were underway, suggesting that the best speed could be achieved if wings were placed under the hull of the vessel. For the first time, the idea of ​​such a vessel was born back in the 19th century!

Why was it not possible to construct anything sensible before Alekseev did it? At first, steam engines were used, the power of which is rather limited. They simply were not enough to develop the speed at which the wings would be really useful. Therefore, at that stage, everything ended with fantasies and assumptions “how can this be.” However, these were interesting times: the public regularly saw all new types of hulls and set records, but months passed - and they were already beaten by new ships. This race seemed endless. The people called the first ship equipped with wings underwater, called the "frog". Although he moved quickly, he jumped on the surface of the water and was quite unstable.

High-speed fleet: how was it?

In 1941, in Nizhny Novgorod (which at that time was called Gorky) at the Industrial Institute, a thesis was defended on a glider with wings under water. The author of this project was Rostislav Alekseev - the one who in the future "with the breeze" will give Khrushchev a ride around Moscow.

The drawings showed the commission an excellent vessel with high speed performance. It was supposed to work on a principle that had not yet been put into practice by anyone. There was simply nothing like it in the world at that time. To say who the jury was stunned means not to express half their delight and surprise.

Opportunities and conservatism

The defense of the thesis was for Alekseev "excellent" and inspired him to draw up a report in which he proposed to bring the project to life. The document was sent to the Navy, and soon the answer was received: the schemes were unsuccessful, unacceptable and of no interest to serious designers.

Adult uncles in the Soviet Navy did not play with toys! Well, at the end they signed a rather flattering phrase for a young engineer: “You are too ahead of your time.”

When perseverance conquers unbelief

Others would have surrendered in Rostislav's place: there was a war going on, there was no money, the situation was catastrophically difficult, and it was completely impossible to imagine what the near future threatened. But the young specialist did not want to give up. Only a year had passed since the refusal letter, and now Alekseev had established contact with Krylov, the chief designer of a plant specializing in water transport. This smart man, able to look into the future, saw the possibilities of a breakthrough in the drawings of the newly minted engineer and wanted to take a closer look at them. What followed were several tense years in the conditions of the war and soon after it. Numerous skeptics scolded the project, the engineers worked on it tirelessly. And in 1957, finally, they came to real success.

The new ship was tested quickly, and immediately after that they headed for the capital, coincidentally - during the international festival which the head of state was supposed to visit. In just 14 hours, the ship arrived at the site, while the ones used at that time river boats covered this distance in about three days. Well, about how the story developed further, you already know.

Did Alekseev himself expect such a triumph? Probably yes. Although it was difficult to guess the scale in advance. Are we now waiting for the return of the updated "Rocket" to the waterways of our country? Undoubtedly yes. This ship has become an important historical and national treasure, and at the same time an excellent vehicle that can be used in everyday life.