The History of the Deputy Commander: Hydrofoil Tank Troops
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
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:
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.
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
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
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.
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 ...
Information