The world's first underwater mine layer "Crab". Part 6. "Crab" becomes in repair
To resolve the issue of the need to repair the underwater mine layer "Crab" on the orders of the chief of the Underwater Brigade of the Black Sea, Captain First Rank Klochkovsky V.Ye. and under his chairmanship 07.09.1916 convened a Technical Commission. It consisted of: LK Fenshaw, captain of the second rank; Parutsky M.V. and Afanasyev Yu.L., senior lieutenants; Monastyrsky N.A., lieutenant; Pzhisetsky MF, midshipman; Brod V.D., mechanical engineer senior lieutenant, flagship mechanical engineer of the Underwater Brigade; Nikitin PI, Mechanical Engineer Midshipman; Kiverov S.Ya., Captain KKI, flagship naval engineer of the Underwater Brigade.
Representatives of the port of Sevastopol also participated in the commission meeting: V.Ye. Karpov, lieutenant colonel of the ship engineer; Lieutenant Burkovsky FM, Mechanical Engineer; Lieutenant NG Golovachev, mechanical engineer.
The Commission concluded that the minelayer needs a major overhaul due to its inherent flaws:
- The operating time of kerosene engines is limited, since they often have to be completely disassembled;
- a small battery capacity is the reason for limiting the submarine cruising range;
- wiring is unsatisfactory;
- the time of submersion submarine is large (from 12 to 20 minutes), due to the slow filling of the large superstructure of the layer. In addition, the nasal trim tank is completely unfortunate - above the waterline;
- a short service life of the body due to the thin plating of the displacers, which, due to the shrinkage, will fail before the casing of the strong body fails.
To eliminate these shortcomings it was proposed:
- replace four kerosene engines with diesel engines having the appropriate power;
- replace the two main high-voltage electric motors with the voltage normally used on submarines;
- change the wiring;
- to replace the worn-out rechargeable battery with a new larger capacity due to saving in mass when installing diesel engines instead of kerosene engines;
- to alter the filling devices of the main ballast, replace the bow trim tank with the nasal propellants.
The commission believed that in the case of the timely delivery of new mechanisms for the repair of an underwater mine layer, it would approximately take at least a year. At the same time, she was aware that with prolonged repairs they would eliminate only some of the shortcomings of the devices and mechanisms. The main disadvantages of a submarine — low submarine and surface speeds, small submarine cruising range, and long submersion times — will only partially be eliminated. The Commission, taking into account the need to use a mine layer in a real war, however, considered it possible to confine itself to only a few corrections that would ensure the combat activity of the underwater mine layer Krab.
These corrections included:
- replacement of a worn-out rechargeable battery with a new one, which was manufactured at that time at the factory;
- repair of existing electrical wiring, with the mandatory installation of a box with fuses that will be available for inspection;
- replacement of the main electric motor stations with more reliable and simple ones;
- a complete reassembly of kerosene engines with the replacement of unusable parts with new ones, with the removal of four cylinders from each nose motor (the speed of the underwater mine layer would be reduced to 10 nodes); correcting thrust bearings and checking shafts; the place vacated after the removal of part of the cylinders should be used to improve household amenities and to install the Sperry gyrocompass in a submarine;
- a decrease in 600 pounds (9,8 tons) of kerosene stock, since part of the cylinders of kerosene engines will be removed;
- The use of 2-x nasal propellants instead of the nasal trim tank remote from the submarine;
- further development of the scallop superstructure on the deck and an increase in the number of air valves to improve the superstructure filling;
- elimination of defects in the manual control of the vertical wheel.
At the suggestion of the commission, it will take about three months to carry out work on this reduced amount of repair work.
20.09.1916/XNUMX/XNUMX act of the Technical Commission reported to the commander of the Black Sea fleet, who emphasized that the commission paid little attention to the most important part of the Crab submarine mine layer - the mine elevator. The commander of the Black Sea Fleet set the task to bring him "to a state in which breakdowns that occurred during the last campaign would not be repeated."
He did not allow the removal of part of the cylinders of kerosene engines, flattening that the surface stroke of the minelayer was already insufficient.
During the calculation of the time needed for the repair, the commission proceeded from the fact that the repair will be limited to the reassembly of the mechanisms and that when 8 cylinders are removed from the nose kerosene engines, it will be possible to use parts of the removed cylinders to replace parts that have failed. However, the decision of the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, which prohibited the withdrawal of part of the cylinders, increased the scope of work. In addition, when the engines were disassembled, it turned out that it was necessary to re-manufacture the 20 pistons and pierce the 13 cylinders.
The production of 20 pistons for the workshops of the Sevastopol port was particularly difficult, because the Curting factory made pistons of fine-grained and very viscous cast iron. Since there was no such cast iron available, the workshops spent a month and a half to select material of the appropriate quality from the available grades of cast iron. And then there was also delayed the introduction of the barrier into the dock, occupied by other vessels. As a result, "Crab" was entered there not in 20's October numbers, but in November 26 of 1916. Subsequently, in 1917, during the replacement of the Crab engines, he was again put in the dock.
Thus, the repair of the underwater mine layer to finish on the previously scheduled date - December 20 1916 of the year (subject to the start of September 19 repair) - was impossible. In this regard, the chief mechanical engineer of the Sevastopol port outlined a new deadline for the completion of repair work at the end of March 1917. However, this period was not met. Later, another event occurred that delayed the repair of the submarine: December 17, when the exponent Krab was put into dry dock and it began to be filled with water without taking appropriate precautions, the plotter fell on board and water began to flow through the retreated hatches. This accident required additional time to repair the submarine. In addition, the Tudor plant delayed new batteries that were not delivered within the contract period (in September).
January 1 1917, the head of the Black Sea Submarine Brigade, Captain of the First Rank V.Ye. Klochkovsky He sent a letter to the head of the department of diving GKU.
In this letter, he pointed out that due to an accident in the dock, the repair of the electrical part of the minelayer can only be completed after four months if the batteries are delivered in a timely manner. Repair of the Curting engines for the Sevastopol port presented great difficulties, and there was also no guarantee of the satisfactory quality of this repair. Leaving these motors on the barrier is inappropriate for the following reasons:
- these engines are unreliable in operation;
- their repair in the Sevastopol port, which does not have the means to carry out special work, such as casting iron pistons, will not improve the basic qualities of the motors;
- the motors have already served for several years, are worn out, in connection with which their already low qualities will be deteriorated to such an extent that the overhaul will only become a waste of time and money.
Therefore, Klochkovsky proposed replacing Kerosene engines with Curting with 240-strong diesel engines installed on AG-class submarines. If we assume that with such a replacement, the submarine "Crab" will give 7 nodes of economic progress and 9 nodes of full speed, then this solution can be considered quite acceptable.
Maritime Minister Admiral I.K. on the report of the head of the CAB agreed with this proposal, and 17 on January 1917 of the year to the chairman of the commission monitoring the ships under construction in Nikolaev instructed to send two 240-strong diesel engines to the Sebastopol for the underwater mine layer Krab AH, arrived for assembly in Nikolaev. These submarines on the order of Russia built the company Holland in the amount of 6 pcs. (for the Baltic Fleet previously acquired 5 such submarines). They came from America to Nikolaev in batches of three submarines each.
In January, 1917, the foundations for kerosene engines were dismantled and removed from the submarine. Earlier, the main electric motors, battery fans and stations were sent to the Kharkov plant of the Universal Electricity Company (WEC) for repair. A separator of air compressors and torpedo tubes was carried out on the barrier. To eliminate the defects found during combat operation, a mine elevator was repaired.
Thus, the lower guide shoulder straps, along the worm shaft between which the rols rolled, turned out to be of a small thickness, because of which the rols slipped off them; the squares, between which the side guide rollers moved, were installed outside, as a result of which these rollers sometimes touched the beds and the like.
By the end of October, 1917 had installed foundations for diesel engines and the engines themselves, except for gas exhaust pipes equipped with valves manufactured by the workshops of the Sevastopol port, and compressed air cylinders and pipelines for them. Installation on the submarine of the left main electric motor was made later than the scheduled date, since the electric motor from Kharkov was received with a big delay: only at the end of July - beginning of August 1917 of the year. By this time, the second main electric motor was not ready, as well as battery stations and fans. The reasons for this delay at the plant of the Universal Electricity Company are visible from the report of the observer on the electrical part in Kharkov from the year 19.06.1917.
Only 6-7 in November 1917 of the year was completed repair of the right main motor, one battery fan (the second was sent for rework due to a defect found during acceptance) and both stations. To this it is necessary to add that the Tudor plant did not fulfill its obligation, putting only half of the batteries.
Thus, the repair of the mine layer "Crab" was not completed to 01.01.1918.
Of course, this delay in repairing the minelayer Crab cannot be explained only by those. reasons not related to the political events that took place at that moment in Russia.
As a result of the February revolution, autocracy was overthrown. The war continued, bearing only innumerable hardships, sacrifices and the bitterness of defeats on the fronts.
And here is the October Revolution. The new government immediately proposed to all the belligerents to conclude a truce and begin negotiations on a world without indemnities and annexations.
In February, 1918 issued a decree of the Council of People's Commissars on the dissolution of the fleet and the organization of the socialist worker-peasant red fleet ... on a voluntary basis.
03.03.1918 signed the Brest Peace Treaty. It is quite understandable that under these conditions the question of completing the repair of the minelayer "Crab" by itself disappeared, since it was not necessary and all the more possible, at least at first.
All parts:
Part of 1. New project of underwater mine layer
Part of 2. The second and third variants of the underwater layer
Part of 3. Fourth, the latest version of the minelayer Naletova MP.
Part of 4. How was arranged underwater mine layer "Crab"
Part of 5. The first military campaign of the underwater mine layer "Crab"
Part of 6. "Crab" becomes in repair
Part of 7. The end of the first underwater mine layer "Crab"
Representatives of the port of Sevastopol also participated in the commission meeting: V.Ye. Karpov, lieutenant colonel of the ship engineer; Lieutenant Burkovsky FM, Mechanical Engineer; Lieutenant NG Golovachev, mechanical engineer.
The Commission concluded that the minelayer needs a major overhaul due to its inherent flaws:
- The operating time of kerosene engines is limited, since they often have to be completely disassembled;
- a small battery capacity is the reason for limiting the submarine cruising range;
- wiring is unsatisfactory;
- the time of submersion submarine is large (from 12 to 20 minutes), due to the slow filling of the large superstructure of the layer. In addition, the nasal trim tank is completely unfortunate - above the waterline;
- a short service life of the body due to the thin plating of the displacers, which, due to the shrinkage, will fail before the casing of the strong body fails.
To eliminate these shortcomings it was proposed:
- replace four kerosene engines with diesel engines having the appropriate power;
- replace the two main high-voltage electric motors with the voltage normally used on submarines;
- change the wiring;
- to replace the worn-out rechargeable battery with a new larger capacity due to saving in mass when installing diesel engines instead of kerosene engines;
- to alter the filling devices of the main ballast, replace the bow trim tank with the nasal propellants.
The commission believed that in the case of the timely delivery of new mechanisms for the repair of an underwater mine layer, it would approximately take at least a year. At the same time, she was aware that with prolonged repairs they would eliminate only some of the shortcomings of the devices and mechanisms. The main disadvantages of a submarine — low submarine and surface speeds, small submarine cruising range, and long submersion times — will only partially be eliminated. The Commission, taking into account the need to use a mine layer in a real war, however, considered it possible to confine itself to only a few corrections that would ensure the combat activity of the underwater mine layer Krab.
These corrections included:
- replacement of a worn-out rechargeable battery with a new one, which was manufactured at that time at the factory;
- repair of existing electrical wiring, with the mandatory installation of a box with fuses that will be available for inspection;
- replacement of the main electric motor stations with more reliable and simple ones;
- a complete reassembly of kerosene engines with the replacement of unusable parts with new ones, with the removal of four cylinders from each nose motor (the speed of the underwater mine layer would be reduced to 10 nodes); correcting thrust bearings and checking shafts; the place vacated after the removal of part of the cylinders should be used to improve household amenities and to install the Sperry gyrocompass in a submarine;
- a decrease in 600 pounds (9,8 tons) of kerosene stock, since part of the cylinders of kerosene engines will be removed;
- The use of 2-x nasal propellants instead of the nasal trim tank remote from the submarine;
- further development of the scallop superstructure on the deck and an increase in the number of air valves to improve the superstructure filling;
- elimination of defects in the manual control of the vertical wheel.
At the suggestion of the commission, it will take about three months to carry out work on this reduced amount of repair work.
20.09.1916/XNUMX/XNUMX act of the Technical Commission reported to the commander of the Black Sea fleet, who emphasized that the commission paid little attention to the most important part of the Crab submarine mine layer - the mine elevator. The commander of the Black Sea Fleet set the task to bring him "to a state in which breakdowns that occurred during the last campaign would not be repeated."
He did not allow the removal of part of the cylinders of kerosene engines, flattening that the surface stroke of the minelayer was already insufficient.
During the calculation of the time needed for the repair, the commission proceeded from the fact that the repair will be limited to the reassembly of the mechanisms and that when 8 cylinders are removed from the nose kerosene engines, it will be possible to use parts of the removed cylinders to replace parts that have failed. However, the decision of the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, which prohibited the withdrawal of part of the cylinders, increased the scope of work. In addition, when the engines were disassembled, it turned out that it was necessary to re-manufacture the 20 pistons and pierce the 13 cylinders.
The production of 20 pistons for the workshops of the Sevastopol port was particularly difficult, because the Curting factory made pistons of fine-grained and very viscous cast iron. Since there was no such cast iron available, the workshops spent a month and a half to select material of the appropriate quality from the available grades of cast iron. And then there was also delayed the introduction of the barrier into the dock, occupied by other vessels. As a result, "Crab" was entered there not in 20's October numbers, but in November 26 of 1916. Subsequently, in 1917, during the replacement of the Crab engines, he was again put in the dock.
Thus, the repair of the underwater mine layer to finish on the previously scheduled date - December 20 1916 of the year (subject to the start of September 19 repair) - was impossible. In this regard, the chief mechanical engineer of the Sevastopol port outlined a new deadline for the completion of repair work at the end of March 1917. However, this period was not met. Later, another event occurred that delayed the repair of the submarine: December 17, when the exponent Krab was put into dry dock and it began to be filled with water without taking appropriate precautions, the plotter fell on board and water began to flow through the retreated hatches. This accident required additional time to repair the submarine. In addition, the Tudor plant delayed new batteries that were not delivered within the contract period (in September).
January 1 1917, the head of the Black Sea Submarine Brigade, Captain of the First Rank V.Ye. Klochkovsky He sent a letter to the head of the department of diving GKU.
In this letter, he pointed out that due to an accident in the dock, the repair of the electrical part of the minelayer can only be completed after four months if the batteries are delivered in a timely manner. Repair of the Curting engines for the Sevastopol port presented great difficulties, and there was also no guarantee of the satisfactory quality of this repair. Leaving these motors on the barrier is inappropriate for the following reasons:
- these engines are unreliable in operation;
- their repair in the Sevastopol port, which does not have the means to carry out special work, such as casting iron pistons, will not improve the basic qualities of the motors;
- the motors have already served for several years, are worn out, in connection with which their already low qualities will be deteriorated to such an extent that the overhaul will only become a waste of time and money.
Therefore, Klochkovsky proposed replacing Kerosene engines with Curting with 240-strong diesel engines installed on AG-class submarines. If we assume that with such a replacement, the submarine "Crab" will give 7 nodes of economic progress and 9 nodes of full speed, then this solution can be considered quite acceptable.
Maritime Minister Admiral I.K. on the report of the head of the CAB agreed with this proposal, and 17 on January 1917 of the year to the chairman of the commission monitoring the ships under construction in Nikolaev instructed to send two 240-strong diesel engines to the Sebastopol for the underwater mine layer Krab AH, arrived for assembly in Nikolaev. These submarines on the order of Russia built the company Holland in the amount of 6 pcs. (for the Baltic Fleet previously acquired 5 such submarines). They came from America to Nikolaev in batches of three submarines each.
In January, 1917, the foundations for kerosene engines were dismantled and removed from the submarine. Earlier, the main electric motors, battery fans and stations were sent to the Kharkov plant of the Universal Electricity Company (WEC) for repair. A separator of air compressors and torpedo tubes was carried out on the barrier. To eliminate the defects found during combat operation, a mine elevator was repaired.
Thus, the lower guide shoulder straps, along the worm shaft between which the rols rolled, turned out to be of a small thickness, because of which the rols slipped off them; the squares, between which the side guide rollers moved, were installed outside, as a result of which these rollers sometimes touched the beds and the like.
By the end of October, 1917 had installed foundations for diesel engines and the engines themselves, except for gas exhaust pipes equipped with valves manufactured by the workshops of the Sevastopol port, and compressed air cylinders and pipelines for them. Installation on the submarine of the left main electric motor was made later than the scheduled date, since the electric motor from Kharkov was received with a big delay: only at the end of July - beginning of August 1917 of the year. By this time, the second main electric motor was not ready, as well as battery stations and fans. The reasons for this delay at the plant of the Universal Electricity Company are visible from the report of the observer on the electrical part in Kharkov from the year 19.06.1917.
Only 6-7 in November 1917 of the year was completed repair of the right main motor, one battery fan (the second was sent for rework due to a defect found during acceptance) and both stations. To this it is necessary to add that the Tudor plant did not fulfill its obligation, putting only half of the batteries.
Thus, the repair of the mine layer "Crab" was not completed to 01.01.1918.
Of course, this delay in repairing the minelayer Crab cannot be explained only by those. reasons not related to the political events that took place at that moment in Russia.
As a result of the February revolution, autocracy was overthrown. The war continued, bearing only innumerable hardships, sacrifices and the bitterness of defeats on the fronts.
And here is the October Revolution. The new government immediately proposed to all the belligerents to conclude a truce and begin negotiations on a world without indemnities and annexations.
In February, 1918 issued a decree of the Council of People's Commissars on the dissolution of the fleet and the organization of the socialist worker-peasant red fleet ... on a voluntary basis.
03.03.1918 signed the Brest Peace Treaty. It is quite understandable that under these conditions the question of completing the repair of the minelayer "Crab" by itself disappeared, since it was not necessary and all the more possible, at least at first.
All parts:
Part of 1. New project of underwater mine layer
Part of 2. The second and third variants of the underwater layer
Part of 3. Fourth, the latest version of the minelayer Naletova MP.
Part of 4. How was arranged underwater mine layer "Crab"
Part of 5. The first military campaign of the underwater mine layer "Crab"
Part of 6. "Crab" becomes in repair
Part of 7. The end of the first underwater mine layer "Crab"
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