SOVIET NAVY (USSR)

Project history: In the end of 1932 Soviet delegation visited German-Dutch "IvS" designing bureau, where it was informed about designs of modern submarines, and in the next January Soviet representatives visited trials of Spanish submarine E1 (later sold to Turkey as Gür). The contract with Deschimag was signed in April, 1933 on working out of the design of new medium submarine. To the beginning of 1935 drawings were ready. A year later mass building of IX-bis series has begun. They were originally designated as N (Nemetsky [German]) class, since October, 1937 as S (Sredniy [Medium]) class.
    Saddle-tank hull, with mixed construction (riveted pressure hull and welded light hull). Maximal diving depth was 100m. S-1 and 2 received diesels made by MAN, remaining boats had domestic-made supercharged engines. Fore gun on IX series boats took places behind a streamline shield, on series IХ-бис this shield was removed. Since 1941 the CT on new boats was fulfilled covered, and on earlier submarines it was later covered.

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

1943, S-54, S-55; 1944, S-4, S-13, S-56, S-101: + type 129 sonar

1943, S-54: + type 286M radar

Summer 1944, S-19: - 1 x 1 - 45/43; + 1 x 1 - 25/72 72K.

1944, S-52: - Mars-12 hydrophone; + Mars-24K hydrophone

1945, S-52: + type 291W radar, Tamir-5L sonar

1945, S-53: + Tamir-5L sonar

Naval service: S-4 was sunk 4.1.1945 by ramming of German torpedo boat T3 in Danzig Bight. S-5 was lost 28.8.1941 on a mine en route from Tallin to Kronshtadt. S-6 was lost between 6 and 24.8.1941 in central part of Baltic Sea. S-7 was sunk 21.10.1942 by Finnish submarine Vesihiisi at Alands. S-8 was lost in October, 1942 on a mine off Oland. S-9 was lost between 12 and 14.8.1943 in Gulf of Finland, possibly on a mine. S-10 was lost 27.6.1941 on a mine at Libava. S-11 was lost 2.8.1941 on a mine in Soela-Vjajn Strait. S-12 was lost 2-3.8.1943 in Gulf of Finland.
    S-32 was sunk 26.6.1942 by German aircraft S off Yalta. S-34 was lost between 9 and 13.11.1941 at Sozopol, possibly on a mine.
    S-54 was lost after 5.3.1944, possibly on a mine in the Kongs-fjord. S-55 was lost after 8.12.1943; possibly on a mine off Tana-fiord.

S-9

© Ivan Gogin, 2009-15