The History of the Deputy Commander: Hydrofoil Tank Troops

42
From the archive of 38 Scientific Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The “Top Secret” stamp was removed by the order of the Ministry of Defense No. 24 dated 04.06.1992. The photo shows the moment of loading the hydrofoil boat from the water onto a semitrailer. Source: 38niii.ru

Sevastopol is a city of sailors!


Every time, returning in my memories more than half a century ago, I am amazed at how eventful the first four years of my officer service were, connected with the 3rd separate tank battalion (3 rebels). There was absolutely no time to be bored.

The passions of the large-scale Ocean exercises did not have time to subside (they were discussed in previous section narration), in which I managed to take part, how I got into a new interesting history.



In the process of publishing the notes, reviews, comments, as well as additions and memories of those who served, each in their own time, at 3 o'clock, began to come to my address.

Among many others, there were several references to hydrofoil boats that were intended to replace pontoons.

I decided to write on this topic because I had something to do with this project.

At the very end of the same 1970, they summon me to the battalion headquarters and give the order to leave for the city of Sevastopol with the task of accepting a set consisting of several T-62 tanks (someone wrote that there were 4 tanks, and 3 ), two boats for each, two KrAZ-255 trucks - truck tractors for the transportation of these boats, and escort them by rail to Klooga as the chief of the guard.

For almost a year before me, Anatoly Kukolkin, platoon commander from the second company, was on a business trip in Sevastopol. It was decided to replace him. The choice fell on me. And, no matter how resisted my company commander Stepanov (they say, like a company without a maintenance engineer), I received the task to leave for Sevastopol, wait there for the end of the equipment tests, load it onto platforms and leave for Klooga.


The movement of a single boat with a load of 5 tons on hydrofoils. Speed ​​58 km / h in calm. Source: 38niii.ru


A watercraft with a T-55A tank. Speed ​​58 km / h, excitement 1 point. Source: 38niii.ru

Three (or four, I don’t remember exactly) were traveling with me, among them was the driver of the car, the driver-mechanic and the sergeant, apparently the tank commander.

The "changing of the guard" took place not in Sevastopol, but in Kloog, since Kukolkin and his soldiers had already returned to the battalion.

I don’t remember the details of our conversation with him, I remember only how he strongly recommended that I take civilian clothes with me. I was also told that the dispatch of the equipment will take place no later than mid-January 1971.

So, one fine January morning, my group went to the platform of the Sevastopol railway station, and almost immediately a patrol, consisting of an officer and two sailors, approached us. I still remember the expression on their faces - a mixture of bewilderment and indignation.

What have these landowners forgotten in the glorious hero city?

Maybe they got the trains mixed up?

The patrol chief demanded the documents, turned the travel order in his hands for a long time, and then took me and my soldiers to the commandant's office. There, the garrison duty officer also checked our documents for a long time, called somewhere, and then told us how to get to the Cossack Bay.

In this bay, a Marine regiment was stationed, on the basis of which hydrofoil boats were tested, and where we were ordered to be on all types of allowance for the duration of our stay.

The officer on duty, the captain of the third rank, admonished us with approximately the following words:

“Sit in the bay, and don't even think to appear in this uniform in Sevastopol! Sevastopol is a city of sailors "!

Cossack Bay


On a gentle stretch of the coast of the Cossack Bay, very close to the water's edge, the equipment was located, which we had to escort to our unit.

The military town, which was in the depths of the bay, was more than a kilometer away.

The Marine Regiment was at this time in the Mediterranean Sea on alert.

We lived in booths removed from some special vehicles, in one - the soldiers, in the other - me (see photo), a few tens of meters from the water's edge.

In the distance, on the opposite side of the bay, some structures were visible. As we were later explained, the secret dolphinarium of the Ministry of Defense was located there.

It was said that dolphins were taught different "tricks". For example, mining enemy ships.

My bungalow on the shores of the Cossack Bay. Photo by the author.

Three times a day the soldiers went to the regiment for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The boats were tested by a team from the manufacturer, from the city of Navashino, Gorky region. The plant workers lived somewhere in Sevastopol itself and every morning they came to work by bus, and in the evening they came back.

They were engaged in works that were incomprehensible to me, the uninitiated. But the impression was that the process was being delayed.

I did not participate in it.

Several times, at my request, I had the opportunity to "ride" across the bay on a boat. As the factory workers assured, the speed reached 70 km / h! The sensations were close to euphoria.

I quickly became friends with the guys, most of whom were a little older than me, by 3-4 years, with the exception of the boss. Tom was already over forty. I fell in love with their "okay" Volga dialect. It seemed that people who spoke like that could not be evil and insidious by definition.

When we were "tired" of idleness, my soldiers and I ourselves offered our services: how can we help. They walked towards us, instructing to hold something, bring something, etc.


Movement of a single boat with a load of 5 tons, speed 35 km / h, excitement 4 points. Source: 38niii.ru


The moment of loading a hydrofoil boat from the water onto a semitrailer. Source: 38niii.ru


Loading of the ZIL-157 tractor on the ferry, 122-mm howitzer cannon and ammunition are loaded on the stern. Source: 38niii.ru

Day after day went by, and, I repeat, my stay on the shores of the Cossack Bay could not be described as idleness.

I have already several times traveled to Sevastopol, which was more than 10 km away, visited and examined historical places (panorama, Sapun Mountain, etc.). Civilian clothes came in handy for this occasion.

However, every barrel of honey should contain a fly in the ointment!

But about this very spoon a little later.

Idleness is idleness, but, communicating with the factory workers, watching the swims, I gradually learned all the information - for what and how these boats were supposed to be used.

First of all, it should be noted that the boat itself was a completely independent vessel, having a wheelhouse and all controls, and could perform autonomous navigation.

The tank had to be previously prepared for underwater driving (let me remind you that in those years, any medium tank had the opportunity, after preparation, to overcome a water barrier up to 5 meters deep along the bottom).

Then the tank drove in between the boats, which clung to it with special gripping brackets with hydraulic drives. The boats were interconnected by wires, thanks to which it was possible to control them from any one wheelhouse.

Then the engines of both boats were started, and the hydraulic drives lifted the boats about half a meter from the ground on both sides of the tank.

Further, the tank engine was already started, and the whole structure drove into the water. As soon as the depth of the "float" was reached, the hydraulics of the boats lifted the tank in turn.

I saw with my own eyes that the tank tracks were hanging above the water almost at a height of 30 cm.


The moment of firing from a cannon of a T-55A tank during the course of the boat in the displacement position. Source: 38niii.ru


The entrance of the T-64 tank equipped with watercraft into the water, the hydrofoils are raised. Source: 38niii.ru


T-55A with high-speed craft. Side view, hydrofoils raised. Source: 38niii.ru


Watercraft with the T-62 tank raised to the upper position, the wings are lowered. Source: 38niii.ru

From that moment on, the crew of the tank was in the role of passengers until it was time for the landing.

As soon as the tank was delivered to shallow water (the same 5 m or less), the boats dropped it and went into the sea. And the tank went ashore and entered the battle.

Fantasy! I would never have believed that this is possible if I myself were not present!

When boats with a suspended tank went out onto the wings and picked up cruising speed, a tall water column (such as dense fog) was visible from afar behind a moving (I can not find a suitable name) linkage or structure.

I believe that this project did not receive approval from the big bosses and did not go into production for one banal reason: the very high cost.

Judge for yourself: two high-speed hydrofoil boats with aluminum hulls, two powerful truck tractors based on the KrAZ-255 - isn't it too "fat" for one tank?

It's time to build another tank with the same money.


Tank T-62 with high-speed floating craft. Back view. Source: 38niii.ru


Tank T-62 with high-speed floating craft. Front view. Source: 38niii.ru


Photo: promturist.ru


A high-speed tank landing craft on hydrofoils in the storage room of the tank museum in Kubinka. Side view.
Photo: lana-sator.livejournal.com

In hindsight, now I understand how high the degree of synchronization of the speed of the boat engines should be when moving with the tank through the water in order to ensure straight-line movement, how reliable and trouble-free the communication between the boats should be when steering from the same wheelhouse. Most likely, and for this reason, the tests were delayed.

On the Black Sea, winter, as everyone knows, brings frequent storms and precipitation, sometimes in the form of snow. Sometimes the temperature, even if for a short time, drops below zero.

The very “fly in the ointment”, which I mentioned above, “flew” from the storm.

More details, if dear readers allow - in the next article.

Продолжение следует ...
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42 comments
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  1. +62
    12 January 2022 18: 06
    Today my father and the author of this essay, Fedorov Fyodor Uvarovich, have a 75th birthday!
    1. +19
      12 January 2022 18: 52
      Congratulations on the Anniversary !!! Long, creatively fruitful years of life (we look forward to further descriptions of the service)! Peaceful sky, family happiness, Good luck !!!
      1. +14
        12 January 2022 19: 30
        What remains is to put a plus and wish the hero of the day long life and health!
        Regards, Kote!
        1. +2
          13 January 2022 08: 17
          Happy anniversary! And thanks for the great articles! hi
    2. +16
      12 January 2022 20: 34
      Fyodor Uvarovich from the bottom of the heart happy birthday and best wishes! drinks
      Health and long, happy years! smile soldier

      I myself will be 75 in March, so, Evgeny, your dad and I are the same age.
      And I read the essay with pleasure, I know Sevastopol very well, but I went under the water in the Cossacks. smile
    3. +3
      13 January 2022 01: 34
      MANY YEARS !
  2. +8
    12 January 2022 18: 16
    Well, well, that's where the legs of the American planing armored personnel carrier for the Marines grow. Thanks to the author for the interesting material.
  3. +16
    12 January 2022 18: 18
    I want to thank the author for both the non-trivial material and the syllable - I read it with interest)
  4. +9
    12 January 2022 18: 33
    Congratulations! I wish you health and many years to come! Thank you for the article!
  5. +7
    12 January 2022 18: 43
    Very interesting, I look forward to continuing! Respect to the author!
  6. +8
    12 January 2022 18: 50
    Fyodor Uvarovich long happy years of life! Happy anniversary!!!
    The material is very interesting, I look forward to continuing. Thank you to Evgeny Fedorov and the site administration for your work!
  7. +6
    12 January 2022 19: 36
    In 1998, these boats were still in Kubinka, there was a fire tank nearby and something else interesting. I wondered why they were there.
  8. +10
    12 January 2022 19: 39
    These are the kind of articles I visit this site for. It is a pity that in recent years, this kind of materials has become less. Happy birthday father!
  9. BAI
    +13
    12 January 2022 19: 42
    in this form in Sevastopol do not even think of appearing! Sevastopol is a city of sailors!

    The Colonel of the 12th Headquarters told.
    As a captain, he arrived on a business trip to a naval base in the Far East. Came to introduce himself to the head of the base. In his presence, he called the deputy on the rear and, pointing at him (the captain) with his finger, ordered: "Change clothes at 2 o'clock. So that I don't have a single green one at the base!"
    It was the late 70s, early 80s.
    1. Cat
      +5
      12 January 2022 20: 25
      So that I don’t have a single green on the base!

      What passions! Straight Japan with their army and navy clans laughing
    2. +6
      12 January 2022 20: 53
      So that I don't have a single green on my base! "
      - and then show-off and now, only now others ...
    3. Aag
      0
      13 January 2022 15: 22
      Quote: BAI
      in this form in Sevastopol do not even think of appearing! Sevastopol is a city of sailors!

      The Colonel of the 12th Headquarters told.
      As a captain, he arrived on a business trip to a naval base in the Far East. Came to introduce himself to the head of the base. In his presence, he called the deputy on the rear and, pointing at him (the captain) with his finger, ordered: "Change clothes at 2 o'clock. So that I don't have a single green one at the base!"
      It was the late 70s, early 80s.

      So that's where the legs grow from! laughing
      I remember that in the 97th year, two capitals were transferred to the management of our division (Strategic Missile Forces) (in those days, it seems, everyone except us was laid off ...). I still don’t remember whether I managed to get him out of the black overcoat ...)))
      1. +1
        14 January 2022 11: 18
        Quote: AAG
        I don’t remember whether it was possible to pick it out of a black overcoat ...)))

        Senior and senior officers are not subject to recertification) Kapley can become a captain, but cap3 major will never)))
        1. Aag
          +1
          14 January 2022 12: 04
          Quote: Momotomba
          Quote: AAG
          I don’t remember whether it was possible to pick it out of a black overcoat ...)))

          Senior and senior officers are not subject to recertification) Kapley can become a captain, but cap3 major will never)))

          Thank you. I didn't know. There was no need to clarify - there were enough other problems.
          1. +1
            14 January 2022 21: 27
            Quote: AAG
            Thank you. I didn't know. There was no need to clarify - there were enough other problems.

            I wouldn't know either, if they didn't want to make cap2 father p/p-com at one time)
  10. +2
    12 January 2022 19: 59
    In Kubinka, it seems that the wings were "clipped" by boats.
  11. +1
    12 January 2022 20: 08
    Thank you, very interesting, one moment is not clear
    As soon as the tank was delivered to shallow water (the same 5 m or less), the boats dropped it and went into the sea. And the tank went ashore and entered the battle
    But for this, OPVT pipes should have been installed on the tank, and not in one photo, I don’t see them and how would they tolerate this wild ride at a speed of 70 km across the sea? These are the questions
    1. +7
      12 January 2022 21: 05
      This is the first time I see these pictures. But I personally participated in the preparation of tanks (already in the military unit), so I say: the pipe must be on the tank.
      1. 0
        12 January 2022 21: 40
        Quote: Fedorov Fedor
        therefore, I say: the pipe on the tank must stand.

        So, otherwise it does not work. Otherwise, at a depth of 5 meters, it will not pass otherwise. But as the pipes endured sea rolling, there was also shaking.
      2. +8
        12 January 2022 22: 02
        Happy birthday, comrade colonel.
        Health and peaceful sky !!!
        drinks
        Thank you for the great memories from us, the next generation of tankers.

        Sincerely,
        Alex.
  12. +4
    12 January 2022 20: 38
    Very interesting! My sincere congratulations to Fedor Uvarovich! Happiness! Health! Good luck!
  13. +5
    12 January 2022 22: 08
    Thanks to the author for the rare technical tricks of the SA and the Navy from the times of the USSR! How many interesting ideas were brought to the "iron" in many of our mailboxes. Strong and wide was the military-industrial complex of the USSR drinks
  14. +3
    12 January 2022 22: 33
    In general, an interesting solution. Probably not pulled by the cost-effectiveness criterion. The efficiency is high, but the cost is prohibitive.
  15. +2
    12 January 2022 23: 12
    To the author - health and long life!
    Thank you for your service for the benefit of all of us!
    Thanks to you and people like you, we slept peacefully.
  16. +2
    13 January 2022 01: 28
    You are fortunate enough to participate in interesting tests, not like most of your colleagues.
    And a long rest in the wonderful Cossack Bay for a state-owned cat, in general a gift from the Ministry of Defense, if only the soldiers were reliable and not flyers.
    1. +5
      13 January 2022 11: 57
      The "state kost" was carried out exclusively at the expense of my usual monthly salary. And the soldiers had nowhere to run: it was more than 10 km to Sevastopol, and if anyone had reached it, they would inevitably end up in the commandant's office in a land form. It is worth recalling that in those years Sevastopol was a closed, regime city, so any atypical subject attracted attention.
  17. +1
    13 January 2022 04: 46
    A bit boring. In the photo there is KRAZ 205 .. and not Laptezhnik. and a ballast tractor, not a truck. The article is interesting, thanks.
    1. +4
      13 January 2022 05: 45
      Yes exactly. This is a photo of tests carried out by Kubinka specialists. And the material tells about later events.
      1. +1
        13 January 2022 06: 45
        I did not think, I repent. If someone had fired military equipment during testing, it is unlikely that he would have lived at large for a long time. It could have been provided for 10 years.
    2. +3
      13 January 2022 12: 08
      I think the discrepancy between the photo and my story can only be explained by the fact that the photo is not the newest samples.
      1. Aag
        +1
        13 January 2022 15: 12
        Quote: Fedorov Fedor
        I think the discrepancy between the photo and my story can only be explained by the fact that the photo is not the newest samples.

        I wish you Zdravich, Comrade Colonel!
        Fedor Uvarovich, Happy Anniversary!
        I wish you health and vigor!
        Thank you for an interesting series of articles, comrade deputy chief engineer ... hi
  18. +2
    13 January 2022 14: 38
    Such a speed, yes, for a tank (even nowadays they don't always fly like that on the ground), but on water - it's gorgeous.
    I count up to 10 pieces (in those years) for special operations could be done. Well, there is to strengthen the sabotage group, or why else.
    Again, from an engineering point of view, it's beautiful.

    Well, for reconnaissance (then it is still relevant, now - I don’t know), well, let's say heels of tanks and "petty garbage on tractors", there are no crossings, the river is deep and wide (the bridge cannot be built, especially by those forces that are traveling, with a "pipe" you can't drive along the bottom), the enemy received a reconnaissance report, and he expects that the column will continue to move along the same side of the river.
    And they ferried the tanks, loaded the tractors and sailed away. Or there are no tractors at all, and the boats themselves sailed and sailed away.

    Although this is more and more for rivers.
    By sea or by the type of "rocket" - "meteor" cargo (but then it is not clear how to unload), or an ekranoplan (the same problem, but very quickly) or an air cushion.
  19. +1
    13 January 2022 20: 19
    Very interesting. Thanks for the material. The USSR was the USSR. Happy anniversary!
  20. 0
    19 January 2022 02: 19
    Favorite Cossack bay!
  21. 0
    7 February 2022 20: 05
    It’s just that they decided not to throw across the English Channel ... otherwise the Britons would have definitely gone nuts ... ;-)
  22. 0
    12 February 2022 14: 11
    Happy anniversary!!! What interesting essays! I had nothing to do with tanks and tankers, and therefore it is read with interest!
    p.s. The son served as a driver in Lipovtsy.
  23. 0
    20 March 2022 21: 55
    I can't find any continuation. I often visited Kazachka. I can even imagine where they tested.

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