Ukrainian submarine Zaporizhzhia

Zaporizhzhia (U-01)
Career (Soviet Union)
Name: B-435
Operator: Soviet Navy
Builder: New Admiralty Shipyard
Laid down: 23 March 1970
Launched: 29 June 1970
Commissioned: 1970
In service: 1970
Out of service: 1997
Career (Ukraine)
Name: U-001 "Zaporizhia"
Namesake: city of Zaporizhia
Operator: Ukrainian Navy (former)
In service: 1997
Out of service: 2014 (See 'Captured' entry)
Renamed: 1997
Homeport: Sevastopol
Captured: Surrendered to / Captured by pro-Russian Forces in March of 2014
Fate: Uncertain as of April 2015
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:Foxtrot-class submarine
Displacement:1945 tons surfaced
2471.5 tons submerged
Length:70.1 m (230 ft)
Propulsion:Diesel-Electric
Speed:8.13 kn (15.06 km/h; 9.36 mph) Surfaced
16.05 kn (29.72 km/h; 18.47 mph) Submerged
Range:30000 miles Surfaced (at 8.13 knots)
15.3 nautical miles (28.3 km) Submerged (at 16.05 knots)
Endurance:575 hours Submerged
Test depth:250 m (820.2 ft)
280 m (918.6 ft) max
Crew:78 officers, warrants, seamen
Armament:10 21-inch Torpedo tubes, six forward and four stern

Zaporizhzhia (U-01) (Ukrainian: Запоріжжя) is a project 641 ("Foxtrot" class) diesel-electric powered submarine, and was the only submarine of the Ukrainian Navy[1] up until her seizure in 2014 by pro-Russian forces during the events of March of that year. She formerly carried the Soviet Navy pennant number B-435. Zaporizhia was designed at the Rubin Design Bureau (Saint Petersburg).

Captured by pro-Russian forces on 22 March 2014 (during the 2014 Crimean crisis), most of the Ukrainian personnel, among them the captain of the submarine, had left the vessel, while the others had chosen to begin their service in the Russian Black Sea Fleet with the submarine.

Zaporizhzhia had a crew of 78, commanded by 1st Rank Capt. Oleh Orlov. The submarine was operated by a reserve unit, having not yet returned to front line duty after her refurbishment.

History

Zaporizhzhia's keel was laid down in 1970 at the New Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad.[1] In 1970 she was commissioned into the Soviet Red Banner Northern Fleet,[1] where she conducted 14 patrols, including a port call in Cuba. In 1990 the submarine was transferred to the Soviet Black Sea Fleet,[1] serving there until 1994.[1] In 1995, the submarine's batteries permanently failed and she became abandoned without their replacement.

In 1997 unable to fix the broken down submarine, the administration of Russian Navy handed it over to the Ukrainian Navy during the partition of the Black Sea Fleet.[1] Like most of the country's naval ships, she was renamed after one of Ukraine's cities — Zaporizhzhia.[1] The city's community began to co-sponsor the ship, especially the accommodational needs of the crew. But it was only in 2003 when Ukrainian government became able to buy a new batteries set abroad and make Zaporizhzhia's survival real. However, she was immediately placed under repair in Sevastopol.[1]

In 2005, Zaporizhzhia was considered for inclusion in the 2006 joint exercise conducted by the Ukrainian Navy and the Italian Navy, but the end of her repair was postponed. Being on a years-long repair, Zaporizhzhia was an inactive military unit stated Defense Minister Anatoly Hrytsenko in April 2006.[2] In January 2007, (Defense Minister) Hrytsenko stated that Ukraine intended to sell Zaporizhzhia.[3]

As of July 2010 Zaporizhzhia was preparing for trials after repairs.[4] All repairs were finished on 17 April 2011.[1] First trial sail was be finished successfully on 18 July 2012.[5] Late June 2013 all long-term maintenance work and its test were completed.[6]

In March 22, 2014, it was reported that the submarine had been taken over by Russian forces after being surrounded and harassed by Russian Navy ships, who demanded its surrender.[7] The commander of the ship reportedly agreed to surrender his ship, then started flying the Russian Navy flag.[8] Zaporizhzhia became under Black Sea Fleet control, after completely removed some Ukrainian symbols from the ship.[9] Half of submarine's crew continue to serving in the Russian Navy. On March 29, 2014, the Black Sea Fleet was reported to have refused to add the submarine to its ranks on the grounds that it was obsolete and suffered from a number of technical issues. The Russian Navy then offered to return the Zaporizhzhia to Ukraine either to continue its service or to be recycled as scrap-metal.[10][11] It was reported the submarine would be transferred from the Streletskaya buhta to Yuzhnaya buhta, where the Russian submarine division is.[12] Later sources in Russian Navy announced that submarine should be returned to Ukrainian Navy.[13] Later (it was reported) Russia decided not to return the submarine to Ukraine.[14][15] But in mid-May the submarine was scheduled to returned to Ukraine, where it was likely to become a museum piece.[16] A part of the Ukrainian Navy was then returned to Ukraine but Russia suspended this agreement before returning submarine Zaporizhzhia because/after Ukraine did not renew its unilaterally declared ceasefire on 1 July 2014 in the War in Donbass.[17]

Ship Log

From September to November 1970, submarine was at sea for 20 days, 422 hours (236 submerged, 186 surfaced). Traveled 1,660 miles (2,672 km) while surfaced and 432 miles (695 km) while under water. The submarine completed 15 submerges, and used 125 tons of fuel.

During the service in Atlantic in June - December 1971, submarine was at sea for 210 days. It traveled 18,342 miles (29,519 km) while surfaced and 5,340 miles (8,594 km) while under water. The submarine completed 71 submerges, and used 825 tons of fuel.

During June 27 - August 10, 1972 Zaporizhzhia underwent medium repairs.

From July - October 1994, submarine was at sea for 16 days. Traveled 243.5 miles (391.9 km) while surfaced and 4.2 miles (6.8 km) while under water.

In January 1995 Zaporizhzhia traveled only 53 miles (85 km) in 4 hours while being towed.

Armament

Main torpedoes used are: 53-51, 53-39, 53-61, 53-65, САЕТ-60.

Torpedo tubes are 533 mm (1.75 ft) diameter, and 8.145 m (26.7 ft) long. Tubes are placed 700 mm (2.3 ft) away from each other.

Also carries 12 extra torpedoes. 22 Total.

Can also carry 32 MTD type mines or 26 PM-2 or RM-2 type mines.

Can be equipped with 4 MANPADS.

Handheld weapons include:
12 handguns Makarov PM
12 assault rifles (AK, AKM)

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 (Russian) В строю:подлодка Запорожье вышла в бухту для выполнения учебных заданий, Korrespondent (20 March 2012)
  2. ↑ Украина продаст свою единственную подводную лодку
  3. ↑ "Ukraine wants to get rid of its submarine". forUm. Retrieved 2007-01-26.
  4. ↑ Only submarine of Russian Black Sea Fleet to be repaired by late July, Kyiv Post (July 1, 2010)
  5. ↑ 19 Июл 2012. "Первое пробное погружение подводной лодки "Запорожье" прошло успешно". Flot.com. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  6. ↑ (Ukrainian) Підводний човен “Запоріжжя” по закінченню заводського ремонту перейшов до нового місця базування The submarine "Zaporozhye" at the end of the factory repair moved to a new location-based, Armed Forces of Ukraine (27 June 2013)
  7. ↑ Ukrainian soldiers get Russia's OK to leave Crimea
  8. ↑ Military photos . net
  9. ↑ Ukrainian Sailors Surrender Submarine to Russian Navy
  10. ↑ "The Black Sea Fleet refuses to use the Ukrainian submarine".
  11. ↑ Russia offers to return Ukraine the submarine Zaporizhzhia for scrap-metal
  12. ↑ http://podrobnosti.ua/accidents/2014/03/22/966133.html
  13. ↑ Единственную подводную лодку ВМС Украины потащат из Севастополя в Одессу на буксире(Russian)
  14. ↑ флот України. ПІДВОДНИЙ ЧОВЕН "ЗАПОРІЖЖЯ" ЗАЛИШИТЬСЯ РОСІЇ
  15. ↑ NEWSru.com. Россия передумала отдавать Украине ее единственную подлодку, захваченную в Крыму
  16. ↑ (Ukrainian) Russia will give another 4 ships to the Ukrainian Navy, Televiziyna Sluzhba Novyn (12 May 2014)
  17. ↑ http://korrespondent.net/ukraine/politics/3401903-korrespondent-na-malenkom-flotu-na-chto-seichas-sposobny-ostatky-ukraynskoho-flota

External links