The Soviet First: The Dekabrist Class

August 20th, 2008

by: Raul Colon  

The Soviet Union was once renowned as one of the world’s most prolific submarine design and development power. Their massive boats, such as the “Akula” and the Delta Classes are well known to many. But the first Soviet-design submarine is much lesser known. Developed out of Russia’s Great War experience, the Dekabrist class of ocean going submarines was the USSR’s first domestically designed submarine. Spearheaded by a brilliant engineer named Boris Malinin and following a longstanding Soviet tradition, a small group of engineers and designers, some rumored to be Italians, began to craft the blue prints of the Dekabrist in the summer of 1925. The new class was the first Soviet-operated boat to be fitted with watertight bulkheads and riveted hulls of high strength steel, plus forty-five percent reserve buoyancy. The hull of the lead boat of the class, the Dekabrist or D-1, was laid down on March 5, 1927. All six boats of the class had the same hull measurements.

 

Length                                                           251’-2″

Beam                                                                20’-9″

Total Surface Displacement `                          940 tons

Submerge Displacement                                1240 tons

Maximum Dive Depth                                         295’-0″

 

The first two Dekabrist class boats were powered by a MAN 1100 horse power engines supplemented by a 525hp electrical engine for underwater operations. The rest of the class was powered by a 42B6 1100hp diesel engine. They all used the 525hp electrical engine. This combination gave the Dekabrist subs a top surface speed of 15.3 knots. Submerge speed was 8.7 knots. Operational surface range, at a 9 knot clip was 8950 nautical miles. Underwater range was 158nm at a speed of three knots. All of the six boats were armed with six 21″ bow torpedo tubes augmented by two 21″ stern tubes. Two fixed deck guns, one four inch B2 gun and a forty-five mm 21K anti-aircraft gun. The boats were managed by a crew of fifty-three officers and men.

 

The Dekabrist proved the designer’s wisdom. They were maneuverable and fast-diving boats. An although they were around ten years behind anything the West, Germany and even Japan, were able to deploy at the time; they proved to be a good stepping stone for the Soviet next submarine class, the Leninetz. The Dekabrist class boats suffered from poor maintenance and were slow to incorporate new technology such as the British-designed Asdic-129 sonar system. The “D” class, as these boats often are referred to, had a checker service life. The first boat, D-1 was commissioned on November 18 1930. She was lost during exercises in the Baltic Sea in November 1940. The cause was a negative buoyancy tank flood. Next was the Narodovoletz (D-2), commissioned on October 11 1931. The D-2 was severely damaged during a German air raid in August 1941. She survived the war and eventually was taken from the active duty force on August 1956. It took more than five decades after the boat was commissioned, March 3 1987, for the Soviet Navy to officially decommission the D-2. Now, the venerable boat sits on the Russian Central Navy Museum. The Krasnogvardeyetz (D-3), which was the last of boast of the Dekabrist class to be constructed at the famous Soviet Plan 189 in the Leningrad Shipyard, was commissioned on November 11 1931. In 1935 she sank on the Baltic during exercises. It was raised and re-commissioned into the active fleet. She was lost off the coast of Norway during operations in June 1942.

 

The next three boats were built in the Mati Yard on the Black Sea coast. Revoltusioner (D-4) was commissioned on January 1 1931. She was sunk by a German surface raider on December 4 1943. The Spartakovetz (D-5), commissioned on May 17 1931, did not saw major combat operations during World War II, she was decommissioned on 1955 and scrapped on the fall of 1957. The Yakobinetz (D-6) was commissioned on June 12 1931, was completely destroyed during a Luftwaffe raid over Sevastopol in November 12 1941. @

Raul Colon
e-mail:rcolonfrias@yahoo.com
Telephone / Fax 787-748-7312-Mobile 787-297-1593
PO Box 29754

One of the First Modern Subs: The U-19

August 12th, 2008

by: Raul Colon 

The incredible U-19 class of submarine was one of the first true modern sub platforms to take to the seas. It was the first design to incorporate diesel supplied engines for longer endurance on the surface. The U-19 was also the first boat to be completely designed by Germany to be employed as a surface raider. For this purpose, the U-19s were fitted with a massive 88mm fix deck gun. The high caliber of the gun was needed because despite the hull’s size, considerable large than any previous submarines, the U-19 were only able to carry a small torpedo complement. Beside the diesel engines, the 19 was the first submarine to be installed with “jumping wires” and net cutters for penetrating net defenses. It also possessed boom defenses for protection against naval anchors.
 

The sub was also fitted with four watertight bulkheads on the hull for damage control. The 19’s main rudder was also new. It was placed abaft the propellers. The U-19 hull measured 210’-5” with a beam of 20’-5”. The new German sub displaced 650 tons on the surface and 837 underwater. Her two massive 850 horse power diesel engines gave her a top surface speed of 16.5 knots. For underwater operations, the U-19 was fitted with two 600 hp electrical motors powering a two shaft alignment. For dive maneuvers speed was a very impressive 9.5 knots. Surface operational range, at an eight knot clip, was 7600 nautical miles. Undersea range was 80 nm at a five knot speed.
 

The class was four strong with the lead boat, U-19 launched on the 10 of October 1912. She was commissioned on July 6 of the next year. She and U-22, which was commissioned on November 25, 1913, were the only boats to survive the Great War. Both surrender to the Royal Navy after the Armistice was signed on November 1918. The other two subs, U-20 and 21 meet the faith of war head on. U-20 had the distinction of being the U-boat that sunk the famous British sea liner RMS Lusitania, south of the Ireland coast, on the afternoon of May 7, 1915. Above 1,200 men, women and children, including 128 Americans, died on one of history’s most famous sinking. She made several more patrols until she was stranded on the west coast of Jutland. There, her crew scuttled it on the morning of November 5, 1916.
 

The other boat of the class was more successful, by naval warfare standards. U-21, which was the first German submarine to fire a torpedo in anger when she engaged the British Royal Navy’s light cruiser HMS Pathfinder on the afternoon of September 5, 1914. After the action she was ordered to assist Turkish forced holding up the Allied invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula on the Dardanelles. There, on May 25 1915, she attacked and sunk the battleship Triumph. Two days later, U-21 sunk the Majestic. In all, U-21 made twenty one successful combat patrols during the war. She was credited with the sinking of 36 ships, an impressive total by any standard. She was sunk en route to surrender after the Armistice on February 22, 1919.
 

In all, the four strong class of U-19 was the first true ocean going submarine developed by Germany. And although today, few items, let along history of these boats remains, their contribution to the development of the submarine as a first class weapon platform is undeniable.@

Raul Colon
e-mail:rcolonfrias@yahoo.com
Telephone / Fax 787-748-7312-Mobile 787-297-1593
PO Box 29754

The German World War I’s UC-II Coastal Mine-laying Submarine

August 5th, 2008

by: Raul Colon 

The UC II submarine remains one of the lesser known submarines of all time. The II boats, much like its predecessor the UB II, the UC was designed to become Imperial Germany’s front line coastal mine-laying platform in World War One. On July 15 1915, the German Navy approved the construction of the II boat. The first order, as was the custom of the times, did not specify the number of hulls require. This type of order usually meant that the Navy would like to have as many boats as their shipyards could produce in the shortness time possible. Work commenced on the boats in the month of September of that year. As work progressed on the hulls’ construction, German engineers began to perform modifications to the original design. Those “modifications” made possible the deigning of the much improve UC III class of submarine which was arguable one of the best coastal patrol platforms on the early Twenty Century. But those subs came too late to affect German’s fate in the Great War. Nevertheless, the original UC II proved its worth when it became Imperial Germany’s top coastal mine-layer submarine of the War.

The UC II’s program delivered two top tier boat-types, the UC 16 class and the UC 25. There was also a second tier which compromised ten boat classes. They were the UC 34, 40, 46, 49, 55, 61, 65 and 74 classes. The first boat of the class, UC 16 was launched on 1 February 1916. The last boat, UC 79 was launched on the 19 of December 1916. Each sub-class of the UC II had some minor differences from the previous one.

Class               Hull Length    Beam             DisplacementSurface/Underwater 
16                    161’-9”            17’                                           417      493tons
25                    162’-2”            17’                                           400      480
34                    165’-2”            17’                                           427      529
40                    162’-2”            17’                                           400      480
46                    170’-1”            17’                                           420      520
49                    172’-8”            17’                                           434      532
55                    165’-7”            17’                                           415      498
61                    170’-1”            17’                                           422      525
65                    165’-2”            17’                                           427      529
74                    165’-5”            17’                                           410      490

UC classes 16 trough 33, as well as classes 40 trough 45 were fitted with two 250 horse power diesel engines for surface operations. UC 16 trough class 48 utilized two 320 hp electric motors for underwater running. Meanwhile, UC classes 34 trough 39 and 46 trough 79 were fitted with two 300 hp diesel engines. UC classes 49 trough 79 were also fitted with two 310 hp electrical motors for undersea operations. Each of the classes was capable of averaging a speed of 11.7 knots on the surface and 7.1 on dive operations. Surface operational range was 6430 nautical miles at a seven knot speed. Meanwhile, undersea range at a four knot clip was fifty nautical miles. Each boat was manned by a crew of twenty six officers and men. The UC II class of subs was armed with three, twenty inch torpedo tubes. Two in the bow and one in the boat’s stern. Eighteen UC-200 mines, housed on six vertical tubes were the sub’s main weapon system. The II was also armed with one 8.8 centimeter deck gun for surface engagement.

The UC II class when on to have a long, by WW I standards, service life. In fact, many boats survived the encounter. Of those who survived the conflict, many were sunk by the crews before the Armistice. One of those instances was that of Pola. Pola was a main German submarine base on the Adriatic Sea and in November 1918, after the Armistice was signed four UC II boats were blown up by their crews before they could be boarded by the French and British commandoes.@

Raul Colon
e-mail:rcolonfrias@yahoo.com
Telephone / Fax 787-748-7312-Mobile 787-297-1593
PO Box 29754

 

The American S-submarine

July 31st, 2008

by: Raul Colon    

When November of 1941 arrived, it found the United Sates’ Navy submarine force still operating more O, R and S classes than newly developed boats. These obsolete classes belonged to a World War One era design and mission profile. In fact, the old S-class accounted for four separated groups of thirty eight boats. This remarkable long service life was due to the sounding of the design as well as an inter war years stagnation in submarine design and development. One of these old boats was the S-28. Officially launched on the 20th

of September 1922. With a hull length of 211’-0” a beam of 20’-6” and a conning tower height of 15’-3”, she was an impressive sub. The S class displaced 850 tons while above water. Undersea displacement was 1090 tons. Two massive shaft powered by a couple of diesels engines gave the s boats a top surface speed of 14.5 knots. Underwater speed was a very respectable eleven knots. Maximum operational radius was 3420 nautical miles at a 6.5 knot clip. Armed with four twenty one inch torpedo tubes she carried an awesome punch for her time. One four inch fix deck gun was use for surface encounters. A crew of forty two was needed to operate the S-class boats.
 

The S-28 saw action in World War Two. She even sunk a Japanese freighter on October 1943. She was lost on July of the next year when she failed to surface during a regular training excessive outside the main US Naval base in the Pacific, Pearl Harbor. Other boats faced similar endings. In early 1942, the US Navy transferred a group of S-classed subs to the British Royal Navy. For example, the S-1 became the P-552, S-21 the P-553, S-22 the P-554, S-24 the P-555, S-25 the P-551 and the S-29, the P-556. Among the war losses ranks the S-26 which was sunk during a collision on the afternoon of January 20th 1942. The S-39 which ran aground on August 14th 1941 and the S-44 which was sunk by a Japanese patrolling destroyer on the morning hours of October 7th 1943. @
 

Submarines of the World, Robert Jackson, Friedman-Fairfax 2000
The Illustrated World Guide to Submarines, John Parker, Herms House 2007
 

Raul Colon
e-mail:rcolonfrias@yahoo.com
Telephone / Fax 787-748-7312-Mobile 787-297-1593
PO Box 29754

The Eurydice: France’s Mystery Submarine

July 29th, 2008

by: Raul Colon   

The French submarine Eurydice was part of a twenty six sub class built between the summer of 1925 and the autumn of 1934. In fact, she was part of a three boat batch developed and built at the famous Normand/Fenaux shipyard. She was one of France’s first double hulled boats to achieve combat operational status. Its hull system allows the Eurydice to dive to an impressive depth of 262 feet. Launched in May 1927, she will go on to see combat action during the first few weeks of World War II.

Specifications

Length: 216’-2″

Beam: 16’-0″

Conning Tower Height: 13’-1″

Displacement: 626 tons on surface / 787 tons submerge

Power plant: Twin screw diesel/electric engines

Maximum Speed: 14 knots on surface operations / 7.5 knots dive

Weapon Systems: Seven 21″ torpedoes tubes

Crew: Forty one

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Italy joined the German in attacking France in mid June 1940, Eurydice, which was based at the major French Naval base at Oran; immediately began to perform combat patrol near the Strait of Gibraltar. Her action, and that of other French subs, was in accordance with the British Royal Navy; which assigned the patrol of the vital strait to the French Navy. She ceased its patrol when France signed the Franco-German Armistice in late June 1940. She sailed to Toulon where on November 27,

1942, she, along with many other French naval vessels; was scuttled. @

Book Review: A TALE OF TWO SUBS By Jonathon J. McCullough

July 25th, 2008

Excellent, rousing, arresting, one runs out of superlatives and adjectives.
This true submarine tale is so well written and the narrative flows so well that I lost a big part of a day and night reading it.

If, like me, you are a World War II history buff, a lover of action adventure or just interested in life on a submarine, the history of submarines or any combination thereof this is a must read.

The descriptions of the early fleet boats and life on a WWII boat bring to life the bravery and sacrifice that “the greatest Generation” made to preserve the freedoms we all cherish.

To try to describe the book, other than that of a historical narrative about brave men and their travails, would be, a disservice to Mr. McCullough’s research and skills as a writer.  He takes some of the silence out of The Silent Service and allows us a glimpse of the brave people who then and now dare to go in harms way in the fragile craft that brave the deep.  

Raymond E. Ryle
Book Reviewer for TheSubReport.com
 

The Thomson-Sintra Sea Mines

July 23rd, 2008

by: Raul Colon   

The French company Thomson-Sintra had designed and produced two types of fully operational sea mines. The first, known as the TSM-5310 is an offensive, ground mine fitted with an advance multi sensor fusing mechanism based on two or all of the magnetic, acoustic and pressure actuating influences. The 5310 is shaped for launching from a regular submarine’s torpedo tube. The 5310, as well as the 3530 weight in at 1874 pounds with a diameter of 1.74 feet. The mine’s fusing sensitivity can be adjusted before the weapon is deployed. The mine is armed by withdrawing two pins before it’s loaded in the sub’s torpedo tube. It is activated by a pre-set timing delay to allow the deploying platform to leave the area. The other mine is known as the TSM-3530. This mine is a defensive platform instead of being an offensive system. It is deployed mainly from surface vessels fitted with a mine rail mechanism. 

 

 
 

 

 

Both mines are widely use by the French Navy’s Daphne class of submarines. Other countries such as Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Pakistan and Spain; also utilized both versions of the Thomson-Sintra mine. @

Raul Colon
e-mail:rcolonfrias@yahoo.com
Telephone / Fax 787-748-7312-Mobile 787-297-1593
PO Box 29754

Officer Promoted to Lead Submarine

July 19th, 2008

Naval Cmdr. Edward L. Anderson was promoted to commanding officer of the submarine USS Jefferson City at a ceremony on Naval Base Point Loma. Anderson is the son of Norman and Margaret Anderson of Grand Junction. This is his first tour as a commanding officer, but he was the ship’s executive officer on a previous mission.

Source: http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/news/stories/2008/07/18/071908_8a_Briefs.html

SUBMARINE ONONDAGA IS OFF THE TOWN OF PERCÉ

July 19th, 2008

The second leg of the voyage with submarine ONONDAGA under tow is proceeding faster than previously planned. At 8 AM this morning, the tug boat JERRY NEWBERRY and the submarine were about 30 miles off the town of Percé. If the weather conditions continue to be favourable, it is expected that the convoy will arrive at Rimouski on Thursday afternoon.

Departure from Halifax was initially scheduled for the 9th of July but the tug boat was delayed on two occasions. First it was unfavourable weather conditions in Halifax, and then it was a mechanical failure which delayed the departure. The tug boat and submarine finally departed Halifax at 16:00 on the 11th of July for a trip estimated to last 5 days. The first leg of the voyage from Halifax to the Strait of Canso went well, but high winds forced the convoy to remain tied up for nearly 48 hours at the Strait of Canso as a prevention until the wind died down.

Upon arrival at Rimouski, the ONONDAGA will be tied up at the Rimouski-Est wharf where she will undergo final preparations before being installed at Pointe-au-Père. Final towing manœuvres will begin at 3:23 AM, during the night of August 1 to August 2, when high tide is expected reach a height of 4.6 M.

Submarine ONONDAGA is a relic of the cold war and roamed the oceans during 33 years, from 1967 to 2000. Interpretation activities will target the sharing with visitors of life onboard a submarine and the daily challenges facing a submariner, as well as the many technological innovations being experienced onboard submarines.

Source: Serge Guay

Dolphin Scribbles

UPDATE: Video of ONONDAGA approaching Rimouski
TSR

Submarine Officers Climb Mt. Fuji for Charity. 4 In 24 Challenge

July 17th, 2008

Last year, two climbers (Jeff De Groot and Doug Szwarc) climbed Mt. Fuji 3 time in one day in order to raise money for the Shunkou Gakuen Orphanage.  The trip spanned 23 hours and 38 minutes while raising nearly $4500 for the orphanage.  The money was used to purchase the orphanage 8 bikes, an industrial washing machine, a DVD projector system, as well as over 20 DVDs for the kids.  It made us feel great to visit the orphanage recently and see the kids pedaling around on the bikes – the amount of enthusiasm from last year’s climb was phenomenal and we hope we can match it this year!

Being short of 24 hours by only 22 minutes makes this challenge seem if not impossible, improbable at the very least.  We have done all the calculations and it is clear to us that this goal is obtainable, but it will not be easy.  Our first climb last year (consisting of a slow jog) took us under 4 hours up and down the mountain, allowing us to take it “easy” on the rest of the climbs.  We also used this extra time to take sizeable breaks after each climb and also allowed for us to wait at the top for sunrise in the morning (2007 Climb Pictures).  The short timeline this year will not afford us the opportunity to take these breaks.

This year there will be three climbers — Rob Lovern, Doug Szwarc, and Mike Raney.  We will be starting from the 5th station (2305 meters) of Mt. Fuji, making 4 full round trips to the summit (3776 meters) and back.  This will equate to climbing 5884 meters (19,304 feet) up and subsequently 5884 meters down (i.e. effectively climbing up and then down a 5884 meter mountain in one day).  This is equivalent to climbing up and down Mt. Kilimanjaro in one day, or 10,000 feet short of climbing Mt. Everest in one day. (INFO
Last year, one of the true motivators during the climb was thinking about all the people who had wished us good luck, and to be honest, all the people who said it was not possible.  Bet for us, bet against us, or just donate!!!  All the proceeds go to the Shunkou Gakuen orphanage and Guardians Ad Litem Project.  They need your help and so do we!     Donate Now 

FujiClimb.com

TSR

 

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