Submarine "Dolphin": project creation, construction, purpose, assignments, design and history of the submarine

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The first combat submarine "Dolphin" served as a prototype for the further development of domestic ships of this class until 1917. The construction was experimental in nature and had no great combat value, but was the beginning of the development of domestic submarine shipbuilding.

Submarines in the Russian Empire

The history of submarine shipbuilding in the Russian Empire begins with an attempt by carpenter Efim Nikonov to create a "hidden ship" in 1718. A few years later, the prototype was tested in the presence of Peter I in the galley yard. During the descent, the bottom of the submarine was damaged. The Admir alty Board ordered the work to stop, and the inventor to be sent to Astrakhan to work in his speci alty.

In the following century, the construction of submarines was not carried out, but interest in underwater navigation remained. This is confirmed by the fact that in 1825 in the magazine "Moscow Telegraph" in the heading "New inventions and discoveries" werearticles were published detailing the foreign inventors of submarines. In response to this, an article by V. Berch "On the invention of submarines in Russia in 1719" appeared. It was the first printed work on the history of Russian submarine shipbuilding.

K. Schilder's submarine was built in 1843. The further period (before the invention by I. Bubnov and M. Beklemishev of the project of the Russian submarine "Dolphin") was characterized by the exceptional interest of Russian society in the creation of the first submarines. Engineers, military officers, scientists, illiterate peasants, high school students, and foreign citizens turned to high-ranking officials every now and then to the engineering department and the Naval Ministry, to high-ranking officials. Some ideas subsequently came to life, but more were, of course, technically illiterate and untenable proposals.

The first Russian submarine

At the end of the nineteenth century, the military command and the top leadership of the Russian Empire came to the conclusion that it was necessary to introduce submarines into the fleet. The option of buying weapons abroad or creating a submarine fleet on their own was considered. By that time, the companies of Lack and Holland had achieved success in the USA, in France several submarines were built by the inventors Romatzotti, Gube, Zede, and Italian submarines were being built. In Russia, there were no outstanding specialists in this field.

The most successful work on the design of submarines in those years was carried out in the United States. In 1900, the Russian government lednegotiations on the possible construction of boats for Russia by the American firm of John Holland. The Americans set a condition - the purchase of at least ten boats. This turned out to be unacceptable, so the planned collaboration fell through.

Development of the Russian submarine

In 1900, the Maritime Department organized a commission that de alt with the development of the project. The chief inspector N. Kuteinikov included in the commission senior assistant in shipbuilding I. Bubnov, senior mechanical engineer I. Goryunov, lieutenant in electrical engineering M. Beklemishev. The commission needed to study foreign experience and develop a submersible vessel for coastal defense.

History of design and construction

Work on a prototype was carried out in the Experimental Shipbuilding Basin. The project was secret. To reduce costs, engineers reduced the size of the boat whenever possible. The expected immersion depth is 50 meters with an increased margin of safety. A fusiform design has been chosen for streamlining.

In May 1901, I. Bubnov reported on the completion of the development, and a few days later the committee reviewed the project and recognized that construction could begin immediately. The design commission was immediately transformed into the Construction Commission in the same composition. The order for the construction of the hull was issued to the B altic Shipyard in St. Petersburg.

The first submarine "Dolphin" was built on a specially equipped slipway of the B altic Shipyard. Profile and sheet steel was supplied from the Putilov plant, cylinders (air) were manufactured by Obukhovsteel plant. Batteries and electric motors ordered in France.

Experience of foreign colleagues

An electrical engineer went on a business trip to the USA to get acquainted with the submarines under construction at the Holland shipyard. He was given permission to participate in a trial dive. Upon returning from a business trip, Beklemishev reported that the Russian submarine Dolphin (photo above) is not inferior to foreign counterparts. Moreover, some Russian solutions have no analogues abroad.

Enrollment in fleet lists

The crew was formed in early 1902 by selecting volunteers. It was decided to make the staff similar to Holland's submarines: the ship's commander and his assistant, quartermasters (eight people), two helmsmen, two machinists and four mine experts.

The Dolphin submarine was added to the lists of the fleet in March 1902. According to the results of trial tests, it became necessary to find an alternative to the engine, for which the engineer visited a factory in France. The Daimler engine was finally adopted. On the first sea trials, the Dolphin submarine reached a speed of five knots.

Design and specifications

The spindle-shaped hull of the Dolphin submarine was made of high-strength steel (8 mm thick) and designed for a depth of up to 50 m. Three tanks were used for diving: in the bow, in the central part of the hull, at the stern. The drainage system consisted of a piston electricpump and small manual.

Propulsion was provided by a 300 hp gasoline engine. With. The total fuel supply reached 5, 3 tons. A rowing electric motor with a capacity of 120 liters. With. was placed coaxially with the petrol one. Electric batteries were placed in the bow on special racks. Fifty cells with a total capacity of 5,000 A/h were provided, but in fact, sixty-four cells (3.6 thousand A/h) were installed.

Due to the cheapening of the design, the Dolphin submarine turned out to be very cramped. Comfortable living conditions for the crew were not the original goal. Shields made of wood, covering the batteries, could serve as a rest. In the bow there were three sockets for connecting an electric kettle, a coffee pot and a portable electric stove. Drinking water supply - 20 buckets.

The main armament of the Dolphin submarine was external torpedo tubes of the 1898 model. The armament was placed in pairs, was directed along the course of movement and was closer to the stern. The control was carried out using special drives from the inside.

Serving in the B altic, Pacific and North

In 1904 the submarine "Dolphin" officially received this name. Prior to this, the development was listed under the code name "Destroyer No. 150". During the first lessons with the crew, the submarine sank near the factory wall. The reason for this was the untimely closing of the wheelhouse hatch and the inadequate reaction of the crew to the ingress of water. Of the thirty-six people, twenty-four could not be saved. The accident happened due todesign features.

The first going to sea after repairs took place in 1905. "Dolphin" patrolled the waters of the Pacific Ocean, but there were no meetings with Japanese ships. In May, ventilation was carried out on the Dolphin to carry out repairs, but an explosion occurred and the submarine sank. One soldier was killed. Repair of the submarine "Dolphin" ended after the end of the Russo-Japanese War.

In 1916, the submarine arrived in Arkhangelsk. Later, the Dolphin submarine was transferred to Aleksandrovsk. In September, he arrived at the disposal of the fleet based on the Arctic Ocean, and was included in its composition. In 1917, the Dolphin submarine was enrolled in a detachment of ships to patrol the Kola Bay.

In 1917, due to careless watch keeping during a storm, the submarine sank. In the same year, the submarine was disarmed due to the wear and tear of most of the mechanisms. The hull was handed over to the port for cutting into metal. Parts of the submarine were finally disposed of only in 1920.

Submarines of project 667-BDRM "Dolphin"

Project 667-BDRM began to be developed in September 1975. The general designer was S. Kovalev. The project used developments in the field of detection and control systems, weapons, noise reduction equipment. Sound-absorbing and vibration-isolating devices have been actively used.

Design of Project 667 submarines

Submarines of project 667-BDRM "Delfin" in comparison with their predecessors (submarines of the Kalmar project) have an increasedthe height of the weapons shafts fencing, the increased aft end and the length of the bow. In general, the project has a classic layout for submarines of this class. The development used new propellers with improved performance. The water flow was leveled with a special device.

As part of the project, several submarines were developed in different years, so the technical features also differ. The surface speed of the Dolphin submarines is 14 knots, the underwater speed is 24 knots. The maximum immersion depth is limited to 550-650 meters, the working depth is 320-400 m. Submarines are capable of autonomous navigation for 80-90 days. The crew is 135-140 people.

Armament: peaceful and military use

The R-29RS intercontinental missiles, which had an increased firing range, became new weapons. All missiles could be launched in one salvo. Submarines of the Dolphin project regularly took part in firing practice and made trips. As a rule, the exercises were carried out in the waters of the Barents Sea. The target was the Kura test site in Kamchatka (several hundred kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky).

Project 667BDRM Dolphin submarines carried out two launches of artificial satellites into near-Earth orbits. In 1998, for the first time in the world, the Tubsat-N satellite was launched from a submerged position.

Dolphin project submarines: representatives

Submarines "Dolphin" (667) are the backbone of Russia's strategic nuclear triad. Gradually, the courts are transferring this rolesubmarines of the Borey project. Among the submarines of the project, one can list: K-51 "Verkhoturye", K-64 "Podmoskovye" (converted into a carrier of ultra-small submarines), K-84 "Yekaterinburg", K-114 "Tula", K-407 "Novomoskovsk", K -117 "Bryansk", K-18 "Tula".

The submarine of the Verkhoturye project made a trip to the Arctic with combat missiles on board, and made an ascent at the North Pole. The K-84 submarine got its name after the establishment of the patronage of the administration of the city of Yekaterinburg over it. The cruiser "Bryansk" became the thousandth among the submarines built at Russian shipyards. So, each submarine in this series has its own story.

Starting from 2012, the Dolphins have been actively rearming. As of the current year, Bryansk is being re-equipped, while Karelia and Novomoskovsk are waiting in line. In the near future, it is planned to re-equip all submarines of project 667BDRM Dolphin. Rearmament will significantly extend the service life of submarines (until 2025-2030). All active cruisers of this class are now part of the thirty-first division of submarines, based in Yagelnaya Bay.

RC submarine

The Dolphin M10 submarine is produced by children's toy companies. This is not a toy analogue of Russian development. At the same time, the Mioshi Dolphin M10 submarine will be an excellent gift for a child (from six years old) who is interested in the submarine fleet. On the example of such a toy, you can tell the young designer the principle of the movement of submarines andgeneral design features. Perhaps the child will someday think about the career of an engineer and make a discovery that is important for ensuring the power of the domestic fleet.