SOVIET NAVY (USSR)

Project history: Well-known "Shchukas" ("pikes"): the most mass series of Soviet WWII-era submarines. They were designed since 1928 as patrol small (later medium) submarines for Baltic. The big effect on the design was rendered by raised British submarine L55 from which there was borrowed architectural type: saddle-tank with bulge tanks, and a hull form. III series submarines differed by only one 45mm gun, all subsequent submarines received two, nevertheless, weakness of artillery armament during war remained one of the main lacks of the project.

   Submarines were built in six series, but intra-serial differences were insignificant. Intended for Pacific V series (originally III-bis) were built taking into account requirements to transportation by railways and subsequent assembling; they had other division on compartments, CT form and was built with wide application of welding. On V-bis (originally VII) and V-bis-2 series the light hull and CT form were changed. On X series new streamlined CT of "limousine" form was entered, but it has led to only strong washing of the bridge, therefore on X-dis series the CT has usual form, but fore gun was moved to a deck. Also two last series received new more powerful diesels. Maximal diving depth for all series was 90m. Submarines of V-bis-2 and X-bis series differed by the best seaworthiness among all Soviet WWII submarines.

Modernizations: 1940-1941, Shch-208, Shch-209, Shch-210, Shch-211, Shch-212, Shch-213, Shch-319, Shch-322, Shch-323, Shch-324, Shch-401, Shch-402, Shch-403, Shch-404, Shch-421, Shch-422, Shch-423; 1940-1943, Shch-126, Shch-127, Shch-128, Shch-129, Shch-130, Shch-131, Shch-132, Shch-133, Shch-134; 1941-1942, Shch-214, Shch-215, Shch-317, Shch-318, Shch-320: - hydrophone; + Mars-12 hydrophone

1940 - 1943, some boats: - 1 x 1 - 45/43; + 1 x 1 - 12.7/79.

1942 - 1943, Shch-215: - 1 x 1 - 45/43; + 1 x 1 - 25/72 72K, 1 x 1 - 12.7/79

1942 - 1945, Shch-128, Shch-131, Shch-133: + 20 mines

1942, Shch-403; 1943, Shch-318, Shch-404; 1944, Shch-402: + type 129 sonar

1944, Shch-131: - Mars-12 hydrophone; + Spika-24 hydrophone

1944, Shch-132: - Mars-12 hydrophone; + Mars-16K hydrophone

Naval service: Shch-424 was lost 20.10.1939 in Kola Bay as result of collision with trawler RT-43.
   Shch-130 31.8.1943 during night manoeuvres was rammed by Shch-128 and sank; 2.9.1943 she was raised and commissioned again. Shch-139 was damaged 26.4.1945 as result of sabotage in Rakushka Bay and laid aground by a stern, 7.5.1945 she was raised and commissioned again.
   Shch-208 was lost after 23.8.1942; presumably on a mine at mouth of Danube. Shch-210 after 12.3.1942 was lost on a mine at Cape Shabler. Shch-211 was lost after 14.11.1941 at Varna on a mine or as a result of anti-submarine ships attack. Shch-212 was lost after 11.12.1942 on a mine at Zmeiny island. Shch-213 was lost after 28.9.1942; probably on mines in Danube mouth or was sunk 14.10.1942 by German submarine chaser Xanten. Shch-214 was sunk 19.6.1942 by Italian MTB MAS571 at Cape Ai-Todor.
   Shch-317 presumably was sunk 15.7.1942 by Finnish minelayer Ruotsinsalmi, motor launch VMV16 and aircraft off Rodsher Island (Gulf of Finland). Shch-319 was lost in September-early October, 1941 by unknown cause. Shch-320 was lost after 2.10.1942 presumably on a mine in the Gulf of Finland. Shch-322 was lost 12.10.1941 on a mine at Gogland Island. Shch-323 was lost 1.5.1943 on a mine in Leningrad Sea Canal. Shch-324 was lost after 5.11.1941 presumably on a mine in a mouth of Gulf of Finland.
   Shch-401 was lost between 23 and 26.4.1942 presumably on a mine at Cape Nordkyn. Shch-402 was lost after 17.9.1944 presumably on mines in the Kongs-fjord. Shch-403 was lost after 2.10.1943 presumably on mines off Kongs-fjord. Shch-421 was hard damaged 8.4.1942 by a mine at Nordkap and 9.4.1942 torpedoed by submarine K-22. Shch-422 was lost after 30.6.1943, probably was sunk 8.7.1943 by German flying boat BV 138.

Shch-324 1940

© Ivan Gogin, 2009-15