"Dolphin" – the first Russian submarine

Submarine "Dolphin" to modernize

“Dolphin” – the first combat submarine of the Russian Navy, was the inspiration for the subsequent development of Russian ships in this class up to 1917 g. The project was developed by a special commission composed of IG. Bubnov, MN. Beklemisheva and I.S. Goryunova. The main ballast tanks housed in the lungs and end-ventilated inside PCs.

Submarine "Dolphin" – video

The construction of the submarine was clearly experimental nature, and he is a great combat value was not. Design and construction of the first combat submarine in Russia was the beginning of the development of domestic-type submarines.
On the proposal of the Naval Technical Committee 19 December 1900 g. for the development of the project was assigned to the Commission as part of the ship's engineer and. D. Bubnov (Assistant head of the towing tank), M. n. Beklemisheva (teacher of mine officer class in Kronstadt) and I. FROM. Goryunova (Assistant Fleet mechanical engineer). For the work of the commission has been allocated a room at the towing tank in St. Petersburg; at its disposal all available materials in diving were transferred.
Outstanding engineer and scientist Ivan Bubnov (1872-1919) It is known in history as the founder of Russian shipbuilding structural mechanics of the ship, creator of the first combat submarine hulls and the largest battleships. His classic work in these areas and are now the most valuable aids to shipbuilders.

Submarine "Dolphin" after the modernization of the wall of the Baltic plant, 1904 year

Fifteen And. Bubnov in 1887 g. He entered the shipbuilding department of the Navy Department of the St. Petersburg Technical College (so it called in those days in college-enno-Naval Engineering School). AT 1891 g. He graduated with honors course, and his name was entered on the marble slab of the best graduates of names. To gain practical experience and. D. Bubnov worked for three years in an official shipyard "New Admiralty" in St. Petersburg.
AT 1896 g. He graduated from the Naval Academy with the highest score in all disciplines. Talented engineer left the Academy, where he taught mechanics and construction of the ship led diploma projects. All his spare time studying Bubnov devoted scuba diving problems.
AT 1901 g. Ivan G. was appointed chief builder of submarines in the Baltic Shipyard.
AT 1909 g. he was appointed professor at the shipbuilding department of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute, and the following year he became a professor at the Naval Academy.
AT 1915 g. the competition, announced by the Russian government, his project of the underwater ship tonnage was adopted 971 t, although he conceded the project Holland (952 city): it was decided to develop a type of Russian submarine.
Premature death from typhus broke seething life of a talented person – creator of the first Russian combat submarine.

Submarine "Dolphin" on the surface. In the background – PL "orca"

Co-author of the Bubnov in creating projects of the first boat "Dolphin" and "Swallow" was H. n. Beklemishev; the third member of the Commission and. FROM. Goryunov worked only until October 1901 g. the design of the submarine, the Commission was well informed about the state of diving abroad and designs of submarines under construction there. First of all the Commission were known projects, presented at the International Competition 1898 g. in Paris, which showcased projects Drzewiecki ("Vodobronnыy destroyer") and Lobéfa (double-hulled submarine "Narval"). On the basis of this project created a new project Lobef polutorakorpusnoy submarine, according to which in France 1901- 1903 gg. They were built 4 submarines.
Bubnov and Beklemishev was well known features of the device and other foreign submarines. Beklemishev repeatedly traveled abroad to get acquainted with the designs of boats to build there. So from Beklemisheva trip report in the US 1901 g. it is seen, that he was able to go on the last boat to Holland and get acquainted with its device was found, that boating Holland main ballast tanks are located inside the pressure hull. Submarine "Protector", the project built in America Leka, of the ballast water has been available otherwise – in the superstructure above the rugged. Beklemishev was present during one of the dive boats Holland. Beklemishev visited in England, Germany and Italy.

Collected and compiled this information, Bubnov and Beklemishev developed their project, differs from foreign. They placed the main ballast tanks in the terminal lung, outside the pressure hull. This arrangement of the main ballast tanks, boats allowed Russian type dive to depth limit for the pressure hull, without fear, that in case of damage of these tanks outside water gets inside the hull of the boat.
For the design of the submarine following tasks have been developed.

– strength and simplicity of the device at a considerable, most technically achievable engine power (based on least cost it has been proposed to build a boat smallest possible displacement, but the paucity of information about the submarine in relation to the specific weight values ​​of systems and devices and finding these data own calculations displacement boats have been proposed about 100-150t);

– Surface speed boats should be sufficient only for the attack on the court, passing by it, as in the first experiment, According to the authors, It was impossible to reach the speed, sufficient, to attack ships, chasing them. The boat should make independent transitions on the water surface, as well as the immersion of the above-water position in diving and surfacing. In view of the doubts of the sponsors in a satisfactory management capabilities boat under water at high speed, the latter for this boat and was not considered particularly important;

– the main object of attack boats were assumed Court, anchored or held at the entrance to the harbor at low speed;

– boat hull must be in its strength to ensure the safety of the crew under full water; in this case the boat must be equipped with provisions, water and air;

– weapons intended solely torpedo, and the boat was able to quickly after the shot

resurface (in view of the authors of the assumptions about the dangerous effects of the explosion on the hull of the boat, under water). Based on these tasks the following tactical and technical data of the boats have been identified:

– displacement on the surface 113 and underwater 123 g;

– Working Depth 50 m; body lined with wood to protect it when it strikes the ground; the destruction of the extremities of the boat will not affect its fighting capacity;

– cruising range on the water surface when the gasoline engine 700 11 miles-node and move 2500 miles- middle course;

– for underwater travel offer installation of the battery 50 capacitance elements 5000 a-d, providing boat when the motor speed 8 nodes for 3 hours (130 l. from.), 7 nodes for 5 hours (100 l. from.) and 6 nodes for 10 hours (65 l. from.);

– for firing torpedoes proposed to install two sets of lattice decked (adjusting the possible number of devices, After preliminary tests boats, up to four);

– boat must have: stock 1 n3 compressed to 100 atm air; high-pressure compressor; fans, capable of producing all the outboard ventilation volume during the 12 minutes; magnetic compass; electric galley and supply of provisions (exclusively in the form of canned).

Launching of "Dolphin" submarine water

The draft of the first battle of the Russian navy boats basic principles of Russian-type boats were laid, to develop in Russia 1915 g. In his project Bubnov and Beklemishev away from foreign types of boats, particularly with respect to immersion systems and torpedoes, and we used a lot of new designs.
later it turned out, that the applied method of venting ballast tank inside the pressure hull section with insufficient valves leads to a substantial increase of immersion time.
It proved unsuccessful and the method of filling and draining the tank by means of special "main ballast pumps". To spring 1901 g. The project was developed and submitted to the Marine Technical Committee ', a 5 July 1901 g. followed by the disposal of the Baltic factory of building boats on the draft. Design Bureau of the plant under the supervision of the Commission immediately initiated a compilation of working drawings.
During the winter, 1901-1902 gg. Baltic Shipyard fulfilled the main body of work. The construction of the boat was delayed, that her arrangements were not yet ready. In particular, tardy delivery vozduhohraniteley, which were produced at the factory Obu-Hove. But the longest had expected gasoline engine. motor test on the Daimler plant were unsuccessful. Seeing unenforceability delivery conditions, Daimler plant was ready to opt out of delivery of the motor. A commission was appointed (Beklemishev, Dolgolenko, Vernander); inspecting motor, Commission amounted to an act of, list all deficiencies, which the company has committed to eliminate in a short time. It imposes conditions, the motor will be adopted, if the stand required tests. A month after the engine has been successfully tested, by developing capacity 315 l. from. But according to the contract the motor was tested a second time at the Baltic Shipyard.

Submarine "Dolphin" to modernize, Baltic Sea 1904 year.

The Commission decided not to wait for the installation of the motor and the test of the boat without him, as other mechanisms and devices to spring 1903 g. They have already been mounted on the boat. A boat, build first called "destroyer number 113", and zatem "destroyer № 150", It was named "Dolphin". It has been assigned a team of specialists from the surface fleet (non-commissioned officer rank), volunteered to serve on a submarine. The commander of the "Dolphin" was appointed member of Captain 2 rank M. n. Beklemishev. Only in late June 1903 g. Finally engine arrived, the installation of which was immediately launched. Tests boat passed under the constant supervision of the commission members.
At the same time the US firm Holland has built on his project submarines for the US Navy, and for sale to other states. Boats of this type were purchased by the imperial government during the Russian-Japanese War.
Successful tests of "Dolphin" proved the possibility of self-built submarines at domestic plants. In this regard, the Ministry of Marine 13 August 1903 g. instructed to begin the development of the submarine project increased displacement (to 140 g). Conceptual design of the new boat has been prepared under the supervision of the Commission and Bubnov 20 December of the same year, Marine Technical Committee approved the draft.
According to the adopted in 1903 g. a ten-year shipbuilding program Naval Ministry is expected to build to 1914 g. 10 submarines. In accordance with this program, 2 January 1904 g. Baltic Shipyard was issued an order for the construction of the first submarine type "Swallow" displacement 140 t project Bubnov and Beklemisheva.
With particularly acute problem of training teams and officers for building submarines. In those years, there was no organization in Russia for training submariners. The sole authority in this matter was considered Beklemishev; on him, and put the matter of training for building submarines.

In Beklemisheva was the only way – cook team of specialists, shot from surface ships, practical way, in the process of building and testing boats. In the meantime, those have not yet been, It was decided to use for this purpose submarine "Dolphin", which, despite the requirement of the Vicar of the Far East Alekseev rushed her to Port Arthur, It was left in St. Petersburg.
Excessive haste in training teams to "Dolphin" has led to a significant number of people trained on her accident and death. 16 June 1904 g. at 9.30 am "Dolphin" sank near the western wall of the Baltic plant, having on board, in addition to its core team (10 sailors and 3 officer), 24 Sailor with other boats "in order to accustom them to being on the boat submerged".
Prior to that, "Dolphin" has already made 17 training dives, and the number of redundant people (beyond his regular team) sometimes reaches 45. Despite such a large overload (about 4 g), all previous dive boats were safely thanks to experience its commander – captain 2 rank Beklemisheva. He had three assistants: Lieutenant Cherkasov Elagin and Lieutenant of the Admiralty Gorazeev. Lieutenant Cherkasov stood out for his composure, diligence and skill, I participated in all previous dives and dive boats repeatedly ruled under the guidance Beklemisheva. 16 June Beklemishev was sent to Kronstadt on business and, as usual, It was to replace Cherkasov. On this day he first immersed yourself. The boat had about congestion 2 t. The weather was calm, on the Neva River, there was no excitement; ships on the river did not pass.

It should be noted, that the submarine "Dolphin" had a significant design flaw: during the dive have to keep slightly open conning-tower hatch to vent air pressure. Said drawback is all the boats, that the main ballast tanks, located in the extremities of the boat, gravity filled very slowly; It sank near the boat 10 minutes. To speed the filling end tanks were fitted special "sucking" in the form connect the inner tank with these ventilation pipes receiving ship ventilators, suction of air tanks; thanks to the negative pressure tank fills up quickly. The air fed from the fan into the boat, there was increased pressure, and that bleed when immersed through conning-tower hatch. At the end of the filling end of the main ballast tanks were required to close the conning-tower hatch. This point is missed Cherkasov, Water gushing through the hatch, and the boat sank.
When the wheelhouse gushing water, one of the men tried to close the lid conning-tower hatch, but it jammed between the cover and the coaming. Other sailors pulled out of the hatch dead comrade. Three sailors managed to get out of the boat first. After they surfaced more 7 sailors and 2 officer (Yelagin and Gorazeev). Lieutenant Cherkasov died and 24 sailor.
characteristically, that drafted 21 June 1904 g. the act of commission of the structural deficiencies of the boat did not say anything, and the blame for the accident had taken place was assigned to temporarily commanded the boat Lieutenant Cherkasov; Corpse Cherkasova was found not in the wheelhouse, and in the stern of the boat. Care Cherkasova from his post at the sinking of the boat was condemned by the Commission in the said act.

In other highlights Cherkasova M behavior. n. Beklemishev. In a survey of the investigation, he showed: "According to some of the survivors of the lower ranks of the crew, himself (t. it is. Cherkasov,-D. T.) in the destruction of the latter did not want to flee, and retired to the stern ". From reading Beklemisheva seen, that Cherkasov, while under the conning-tower hatch, and having a full opportunity to emerge from one of the first boats, I did not take advantage of this opportunity. He showed exceptional courage, following the tradition of sailors: in the case of death of the ship commander leaves his last. When submerged boat at end-tanks were Elagin officers (nose) and Gorazeev (aft). They have been further from the conning-tower hatch, than many sailors. However, the sailors helped the officers to get to the conning-tower hatch and emerge to the surface (which is evident from the testimony of Elagina the investigation of the causes of the boat accident).
The boat was raised and restored, and then subjected to verification tests, and in the fall 1904 g. It was sent to Vladivostok.
15.11 by 23.12.1904 Mr. carried by Railways. from St. Petersburg. Vladivostok and credited in the Siberian flotilla. During the Russian-Japanese war was carrying positional and patrol service on the approaches to the hall. Peter the Great. 5.05.1905 Mr. sank in Vladivostok port from the explosions of gasoline vapors, but was raised, recovered and reintroduced into operation. Renovated in 1909 g in Vladivostok port. 9.06.1916 g 6yla delivered by zh.d. from Vladivostok to Arkhangelsk and 8.10.1916 g credited in the SLO flotilla. 26.04.1917 Mr. washed ashore Kola Hall. during a heavy storm. 2.08.1917 g to put the Murmansk military port on the storage and 23.08.1917 g is excluded from the SLO flotilla. After the Civil War passed Gossudopodemu, then – White Sea Party EPRON in SNK, excluded from the list of boats Narkomvoda and put "Rudmetalltorgu" for disassembly.

Submarine "Dolphin" (1901 – 1904 of the year.)

Tactical and technical characteristics of the "Dolphin" submarine

Submarine "Dolphin" – Photo made after the accident 05.05.1905 of the year.

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