On January 10, 1951, an important event happened in Leningrad that determined the fate of the Soviet Navy. On that day, the first lead diesel-electric submarine of a new model, called Project 611, was laid down at the shipyard, now proudly called Admir alty Shipyards.
Project Features
Project 611 submarines (abbreviated as submarines) at the time of creation were the largest and most advanced in the world. They replaced the "cruising" ships of the Second World War and became the first submarines built after the Great Patriotic War. In the NATO classification, Project 611 submarines were assigned to the Zulu class, from which they received their name and numbering. In appearance and performance, they were close to the advanced German submarines and to the American guppy-class submarines. Project 611 submarines in the photo are very similar to German XXI class boats.
Where the submarines were built
The first boats of the project611 were built at the Leningrad Shipyard No. 196 (now the Admir alty Shipyards). A total of 8 submarines were built there. Then the right to build project 611 boats passed to the Molotov shipyard No. 402 (future Sevmash), which was engaged in the construction of submarines from 1956 to 1958. He created 18 more units of a new type.
Experiments on already built samples were carried out mainly in northern waters.
Submarine development
Project 611 submarines were developed even before the Great Patriotic War (approximately from the beginning of the 40s), but with its start, all projects were forced to be curtailed, all funding was thrown to the successful conduct of the war. By the way, before the start of World War II, submarines were not considered the key to success in the war, since they were still a novelty for most military and sailors.
Only in 1947 the project was resumed by decree of the People's Commissariat of Industry, it was then that the lagging behind of Soviet boats from German and American ones became noticeable. It was headed by the designer S. A. Yegorov, who received the Stalin Prize of the third degree in 1946 for the invention of a new type of naval weapons and later led several more submarine projects that followed the success in the development of 611.
Construction
To work on the project, a special construction technology was created, which consists in the possibility of installation in sections of all types of equipment without preliminary hydraulic testing. This allowed to reduce the construction time, but it was a revolutionary and therefore outlandish solution. In the future, this technology was recognized as not very reliable, and therefore the installation took place only after hydraulic testing of all parts of the ship, as previously planned. The first Project 611 submarine was laid down in 1951 and launched a year later. It took no more than two years to build all the units of the project.
Two months after the launch of the first submarine of a new type, Minister of Industry VA Malyshev visited the shipyard. He got acquainted with the description of the tests of the ship and was not satisfied with the organization of work - he was not satisfied with the deadlines, and was also frightened by the approach of winter and freezing. To assist in the rapid construction of new submarines, it was decided to overtake the boat to Tallinn in order to avoid problems caused by ice formation and at the same time test the vessel's flotation in ice conditions.
Testing problems
During the first attempts to make shots from the vessel, vibrations of its bow were noticed. To deal with the problem, Academician Krylov was invited to the plant. After studying the drawings of the ship and the features of blank firing, he came to the conclusion that fluctuations occur due to the release of an air bubble and are within normal limits. Soon another defect was found - the magnetic field of the boat during operation critically exceeded the permissible norm. It was found that this is due to an incorrectly assembled propulsion motor. Under the guidance of Professor Kondorsky, the error was corrected, which gave positive results. Thus,most of the problems on the submarines were not caused by errors in calculations and drawings, but by the human factor.
In late May - early June 1952, the boat returned to Leningrad again to refine and eliminate the detected flaws and defects. High-speed tests were carried out for a long time, as a result of which it was decided to replace some parts of the structure with more durable ones. It was decided to cut the propellers in order to achieve the greatest flow around and, as a result, the highest speed in the water. Despite the fact that as a result of all actions with the boat, she gained the ability to develop a speed that was quite high by the standards of that time, the goal was never achieved.
In the early summer of 1953, another problem was discovered - vibration during diving. During a test dive to 60 meters to study the vibration of the bow, a fire broke out. The entire crew was urgently evacuated, and the compartment was sealed. The fire was so strong that it could not be extinguished for quite a long time, and he managed to cause significant material damage. Fortunately, human casu alties were avoided. It took more than two months and considerable funding to restore the burned-out compartment. A special commission was created, the purpose of which was to identify the causes of the fire. As it turned out, the reason was not the technical shortcomings of the vessel, but the negligence of the crew involved in its assembly - the compartment caught fire as a result of a short circuit, which would not have been dangerous if one of the electricians had not leftswitchboard his oiled padded jacket.
After the fire, it was decided to stop testing, and the boat was put into operation. The construction of a whole series of similar models has begun.
The purpose of the new boats
The new submarine project was designed to perform several tasks. Firstly, a new type of boats was supposed to operate on ocean communications against enemy ships. Secondly, Project 611 submarines were supposed to serve to defend other ships. And thirdly, the new boats were suitable for long-range reconnaissance.
In the future, Project 611 submarines served for experiments and tests of new military developments. The latest weapons were tested on their sides, and it was their modifications that became the world's first submarines capable of launching a ballistic missile from under water.
Innovations on new type of submarines
In the designs of new models, the influence of German samples was noticeably felt. The similarity was especially evident in the design of the 611 submarines with the German ships of the 21 series.
The special structure of the ships has become an innovation. New for the Soviet Union methods of using frames were used - they were installed from the outside, which made it possible to improve the strength of the hull and the internal layout, allowing more space for mechanisms.
Key Features
Project 611 submarines were 90.5 m long. Their width was 7.5 m. The speed varied depending on the position. Above the water, the boat developed a speed of 17 knots, and hiding under water, 15 knots. Travel rangealso depended on external factors: it was more than 2000 miles above the water, and 440 miles below it.
The Project 611 diesel submarine fuel system was created using external fuel systems. Fuel was supplied inside through special tubes.
The boat of project 611 could dive to a depth of 200 m, had the ability to exist autonomously for more than 70 days, accommodating a crew of 65 people.
Design
Project 611 submarines were double-hulled and three-shaft. The case was divided into 7 compartments:
- 1st compartment - bow. There were 6 torpedo tubes.
- 2nd compartment - battery. Batteries were located there, above which there was a wardroom for officers, a shower room and a wheelhouse.
- The 3rd compartment was the central one, it housed retractable devices.
- 4th compartment - like the second, battery. Above it was a cabin for the foremen, a radio room, pantries and a galley.
- 5th compartment - diesel, accommodating two diesel compressors and three engines.
- 6th compartment - electromotive, served to accommodate three electric motors.
- 7th compartment - aft. There were four torpedo tubes, and above them the cabins of personnel.
Modifications
We can say that the project 611 is an underwater breakthrough of the Soviet Union. There were many modifications of boats of this type. Known subprojects 611RU, PV611, 611RA, 611RE, AV611, AV611E, AV611S, P611, AV611Ts,AV611D, 611P, V611 and others. Project 611 submarines were later redesigned into their modifications - more combat-ready and faster. One of the most successful revisions was the Lira model. This submarine project was not created for military purposes, but for scientific research.
In 1953, the command of the Soviet Navy came up with the idea to equip ships with ballistic or cruise missiles. The government supported the idea, especially since it became known that America had already begun equipping submarines with this type of weapon. In early 1954, the Central Committee of the CPSU issued a decree on the start of experimental work on arming submarines with ballistic missiles and developing a new vessel with advanced jet armament. Work on the project was carried out under the heading "secret" and received the code name "Wave". N. N. Isanin, a shipbuilding engineer who worked on project 611, was appointed chief designer. S. P. Korolev, the founder of astronautics and the father of many rocket, space and weapons developments in the USSR, became responsible for the development. The modification project was ready in August 1954, the ballistic missile became its main weapon.
The project was approved in September. The work ahead was enormous, at that time no one knew how a submarine should be launched from a rocking platform, whether it was possible to launch under water, how the hot rocket gases affect the submarine, and how depth and rocking would affect missiles. Specialists were pioneers in these matters, literally from scratch layingpath for future inventions and developments.
From scratch I had to develop a launch shaft. It was necessary to create a new apparatus capable of withstanding unprecedented conditions and overloads. After all, it was necessary to launch a rocket weighing several tons from water or from under water!
It was necessary to create a fundamentally new unit capable of holding the rocket after it was loaded onto the boat, putting it into the mine, pushing it out before launch and freeing it from the mount at the right time. All these operations after the ship surfaced had to be completed in 5 minutes and with excitement up to 5 points, and even with a rocket that weighed over 5 tons! - this is how V. Zharkov, an employee of TsKB-16, wrote about it in his memoirs.
The project was carried out in absolute secrecy. Reconstructing the already completed B-67 boat, most of the crew did not suspect what was really happening, believing that simple repairs were underway. Under the guise of repairing the cabin, instead of a group of batteries, a missile silo and the equipment necessary to maintain its operation were placed. In particular, the advanced at that time azimuth of the Saturn horizon and Dolomite-type counting devices were installed, giving instructions to the missile guidance system.
In order to accommodate new and previously unplanned equipment, some of the artillery, spare batteries and spare missiles had to be sacrificed. This was done quite successfully, since replacements and modifications did not affect the safety and combat capability of underwater units.
To study the impact of pitching on missiles in February 1955, aexperimental launch of rockets from several platforms, oscillating and simulating the state of the boat under water. At the same time, new devices specially designed for a new type of submarine were tested.
The ship entered service on September 11, 1955. Five days later, a test launch of the rockets was scheduled. The shells were delivered aboard the B-67 in complete secrecy. Isanin and Korolev were personally present at their launch. With them arrived representatives of the government, industry and the navy. Preparations began an hour before the scheduled start. The boat was commanded by Captain F. I. Kozlov (now holding the title of Admiral and Hero of the Soviet Union). At 5:32 p.m., the launch command was given, and the rocket was launched from a submarine for the first time in the world. The accuracy of shooting confirmed the success of the work. Subsequently, seven more test launches were made, only one of which ended in failure due to problems with the rocket.
Shooting from modified Project 611 boats was carried out only when the vessel was above the water and when the sea was not more than 5 points. The speed of the boat in this case should not exceed 12 knots.
It took about 2 hours to prepare the rockets for launch. The launch of the first rocket usually took about 5 minutes. During this time, the launcher with the rocket was raised. If the launch after raising the mechanism was canceled for any reason, the rocket could not be lowered back into the mine, and it was supposed to be dropped into the water. After that, it took about 5 minutes to prepare for the launch of the next rocket again.
Modification of project 611 showed itselfsuccessfully, an order was given for the mass construction of such ships. The new project was named AB-611 (in NATO code - Zulu V). Part of the Project 611 ships was also adapted for surface launch of missiles. They were used as experimental ones: thanks to the launches carried out from them, experience was gained in operating submarines of this type and missile weapons. The boats were rebuilt and modified many times, and the last one was taken out of service only in 1991.
Before developing submarines that could launch missiles underwater, it was necessary to check a few more nuances. For example, to study the influence of external factors (for example, pressure) on the integrity of launch silos. One of the experiments was the flooding of a boat (of course, without a crew) and the subsequent attack with depth charges. The experiment showed that the mines are able to withstand such damage and remain active.
The completion of the modification project was the launch of missiles from under the water. Korolev handed over work on this project to designers under the leadership of V. P. Makeev. A lot of theoretical calculations and tests on mock-ups confirmed the possibility of launching missiles from a mine filled with water. Work began on the construction of submarines. Of the 77 test launches, 59 were successful, which was a very good result. Of the remaining 18 unsuccessful launches, 7 ended in failure due to crew errors, and 3 due to missile failure.
Thus ended the work on the modifications of the project 611. The work of the pioneers in this matter was not easy - they laidbasis for shipbuilding in the future. The data obtained during the experiments conducted in the 50-70s are still relevant and are used to build new types of deep-sea weapons and submarines.
"Famous" representatives of the project 611
Modification of the B-61 submarine (at the plant was numbered 580) was laid down on January 6, 1951, after a few months it entered the water and served for 27 years.
The B-62 boat was built in less than a year and served from 1952 to 1970. She has many scientific tests, including sonar equipment.
Boat B-64 (serial number 633) was converted several times. Having entered the water in 1952, in 1957 she was converted into a missile submarine and made four launches to test new types of missiles. In 1958, it was returned to its original form again, after which it served for another 20 years.
B-67 (serial number 636) was launched in early September 1953. For the first time in the world, in 1955, a ballistic missile was successfully launched from it. Two years after the rocket was tested, the boat underwent another experiment. So, in December 1957, the submarine was deliberately flooded in order to study the effect of depth on shells and bombs. The flooding was carried out without a crew and was successful. Two years later, a test attempt was made to launch an underwater rocket. The launch failed for a long time, and attempts were crowned with success only in 1960, when they managed to launch a ballistic missile at a depth of 30 meters. Later, obsolete types of missiles were removed from the boat, butshe continued to serve for military experiments.
Boat B-78 entered service in 1957. She received the name "Murmansk Komsomolets" and after a little less than ten years of successful military service, she was converted for experiments and research on navigation systems. She served longer than her "sisters" and was put out of action only with the collapse of the USSR.
The fate of the boat B-80, which received the number 111, is interesting. Laid down in Severodvinsk, she participated in a campaign in Egypt, and after being disabled again went abroad, being sold to Dutch entrepreneurs. In 1992, completely freed from military paraphernalia, the boat was presented to the public as a floating bar. The last known location of the B-80 parking lot is Den Helder (near Amsterdam) in Holland.
Boat B-82 was launched in 1957. Almost immediately, experiments on towing and transferring fuel under water began to be carried out on it. Thanks to the success of the experiments on this boat, new techniques and systems related to refueling and towing under water have been introduced.
B-89, numbered 515 at the plant, served science - it tested hydroacoustic equipment. She stayed in service until 1990
Value for fleet
Submarines of the 611 project were of great importance for the Soviet, and then the Russian fleet. Being the first boats built after the Second World War, they became an experimental basis for studying and testing new developments in the naval industry.
Thanks to Type 611 submarines,many types of other submarines, for example, the submarine of the Shark project - the largest submarine to date. This project is considered one of the most successful.
Submarines 611 have not yet been decommissioned, experiments are still ongoing on their sides, and several new generations of submarines have already appeared and launched. This means that they stand the test of time very well. For example, the submarines of the Antey project, which became the pinnacle of work on "aircraft carrier killers" - ships capable of repelling aircraft.
Special submarines were created for export to other countries. Submarines of the Varshavyanka project, which received their name from the Warsaw Pact, also owe their appearance to the work on boats 611.
Even such modern ships as boats like "Ash" or "Borey" owe their appearance to Soviet developments. For example, Project Yasen submarines can dive deep under water thanks to experiments with the flooding of the first ships created after World War II.
Interesting and the most advanced representative of the naval submarine fleet of Russia. These are submarines of the Borey project, which have brought together all the best technological innovations tested and developed on previous ship projects.
