The submarine fleet became part of the Navy of different countries already during the First World War. Survey work in the field of submarine shipbuilding began long before it began, but only after 1914 were the requirements of the leadership of the fleets for the tactical and technical characteristics of submarines finally formulated. The main condition under which they could operate was ste alth. Submarines of the Second World War in their design and principles of operation differed little from their predecessors of previous decades. The constructive difference, as a rule, consisted in technological innovations and some units and assemblies invented in the 20s and 30s that improve seaworthiness and survivability.
German submarines before the war
The terms of the Treaty of Versailles did not allow Germany to build many types of ships and create a full-fledged navy. In the pre-war period, ignoring the Entente countries imposed in 1918restrictions, German shipyards nevertheless launched a dozen ocean-class submarines (U-25, U-26, U-37, U-64, etc.). Their displacement on the surface was about 700 tons. Smaller submarines (500 tons) in the amount of 24 pcs. (numbered from U-44) plus 32 units of coastal-coastal range had the same displacement and constituted the auxiliary forces of the Kriegsmarine. All of them were armed with bow guns and torpedo tubes (usually 4 bow and 2 stern).
So, despite many prohibitive measures, by 1939 the German Navy was armed with fairly modern submarines. The Second World War, immediately after it began, showed the high efficiency of this class of weapons.
Strikes on Britain
Britain took the first blow of the Nazi war machine. Oddly enough, the admirals of the empire most appreciated the danger posed by German battleships and cruisers. Based on the experience of the previous large-scale conflict, they assumed that the range of submarines would be limited to a relatively narrow coastal strip, and their detection would not be a big problem.
It turned out, however, that Germany's submarines of World War II could become a much more dangerous weapon than the surface fleet. Attempts to establish a naval blockade of the northern coast were unsuccessful. On the very first day of the war, the Athenia liner was torpedoed, and sank on September 17the aircraft carrier Koreydzhes, whose aircraft the British hoped to use as an effective anti-submarine weapon. It was not possible to block the actions of the "wolf packs" of Admiral Dennitsa, they acted more and more boldly. On October 14, 1939, the submarine U-47 entered the waters of the Royal Naval Base Scapa Flow and torpedoed the anchored battleship Royal Oak from the surface. Ships sank every day.
Sword Dennitsa and Shield of Britain
By 1940, the Germans had sunk British ships with a total tonnage of over two million tons. It seemed that the catastrophe of Britain was inevitable. Of interest to historians are chronicles that tell about the role played by submarines of the Second World War. The film "Battle for the Atlantic" tells the story of the struggle of the fleets for control of the ocean highways, which were used to supply the warring countries. It was difficult to fight the "wolves" of Dennitsa, but each problematic task is fraught with a solution, and this time it was found. Advances in the field of radar made it possible to detect German submarines not only visually, but also in conditions of zero visibility, and at a distance.
The Second World War had not yet reached its peak phase, it was April 1941, but the submarine U-110 had already been sunk. She was the last survivor of those with whom Hitler began hostilities.
What is a snorkel?
From the very beginning of the appearance of submarines, designers have considered various options for power supply of the power plant. Submarines of World War IIwere driven by an electric motor, and in the surface position - by a diesel engine. The main problem preventing the preservation of secrecy was the need to periodically surface to recharge the batteries. It was during the forced unmasking that the submarines were vulnerable, they could be detected by aircraft and radars. In order to reduce this risk, the so-called snorkel was invented. It is a retractable pipe system through which atmospheric air necessary for fuel combustion enters the diesel compartment and exhaust gases are removed.
The use of the snorkel helped to reduce the losses of submarines, although in addition to radar there were other means of detecting them, such as sonar.
Innovation left without attention
Despite the obvious advantages, only German submarines of the Second World War were equipped with snorkels. The USSR and other countries left this invention without attention, although there were conditions for borrowing experience. It is believed that the Dutch shipbuilders were the first to use snorkels, but it is also known that in 1925 such devices were designed by the Italian military engineer Ferretti, but then this idea was abandoned. In 1940, Holland was captured by Nazi Germany, but its submarine fleet (4 units) managed to escape to Great Britain. There, too, they did not appreciate this, of course, the necessary device. Snorkels were dismantled, considering them to be a very dangerous and dubiously useful device.
Other revolutionary technical solutionsbuilders of submarines did not use. Accumulators, devices for charging them were improved, air regeneration systems were improved, but the principle of submarine design remained unchanged.
World War II submarines, USSR
Photos of the North Sea heroes Lunin, Marinesko, Starikov were printed not only by Soviet newspapers, but also by foreign ones. The submariners were real heroes. In addition, the most successful commanders of Soviet submarines became personal enemies of Adolf Hitler himself, and they did not need better recognition.
Soviet submarines played a huge role in the naval battle that unfolded in the northern seas and in the Black Sea basin. World War II began in 1939, and in 1941 Nazi Germany attacked the USSR. At that time, our fleet was armed with several main types of submarines:
- PL "Decembrist". The series (in addition to the title unit, two more - "People's Volunteer" and "Red Guard") was founded in 1931. Full displacement - 980 t.
- Series "L" - "Leninist". Project of 1936, displacement - 1400 tons, the ship is armed with six torpedoes, 12 torpedoes and 20 sea mines in the ammunition, two guns (bow - 100 mm and stern - 45 mm).
- Series "L-XIII" with a displacement of 1200 tons.
- Series "Shch" ("Pike") with a displacement of 580 tons.
- Series "C", 780 tons, armed with six TA and two guns - 100 mm and 45 mm.
- Series "K". Displacement - 2200 tons. Developed in 1938, an underwater cruiser with a speed of 22knot (surface position) and 10 knots (submerged position). Ocean class boat. Armed with six torpedo tubes (6 bow and 4 torpedo tubes).
- Series "M" - "Baby". Displacement - from 200 to 250 tons (depending on modification). Projects of 1932 and 1936, 2 TA, autonomy - 2 weeks.
Baby
Submarines of the "M" series are the most compact submarines of the Second World War of the USSR. The film "Navy of the USSR. The Chronicle of Victory tells about the glorious battle path of many crews who skillfully used the unique running characteristics of these ships, combined with their small size. Sometimes commanders managed to ste althily sneak into well-defended enemy bases and evade pursuit. "Babies" could be transported by rail and launched in the Black Sea and the Far East.
Along with the advantages, the “M” series, of course, also had disadvantages, but no technique can do without them: short autonomy, only two torpedoes in the absence of a stock, tightness and tedious service conditions associated with a small crew. These difficulties did not prevent the heroic submariners from gaining impressive victories over the enemy.
Different countries
Interesting are the quantities in which the submarines of the Second World War were in service with the fleets of different countries before the war. As of 1939, the USSR had the largest fleet of submarines.(over 200 units), followed by a powerful Italian submarine fleet (more than a hundred units), third place was occupied by France (86 units), fourth by Great Britain (69), fifth by Japan (65) and sixth by Germany (57). During the war, the balance of power changed, and this list lined up almost in reverse order (with the exception of the number of Soviet boats). In addition to those launched at our shipyards, the Soviet Navy also had a British-built submarine, which became part of the B altic Fleet after the annexation of Estonia (“Lembit”, 1935).
After the war
The battles on land, in the air, on water and under it have died down. For many years, the Soviet "Pike" and "Baby" continued to defend their native country, then they were used to train cadets of naval military schools. Some of them have become monuments and museums, others have rusted in submarine cemeteries.
Submarines over the past decades after the war almost did not take part in the hostilities that are constantly taking place in the world. There were local conflicts, sometimes developing into serious wars, but there was no combat work for the submarines. They became more secretive, moved quieter and faster, received unlimited autonomy thanks to the achievements of nuclear physics.
