Kasatka-class submarine
 Russian submarine Kasatka | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Kasatka class |
| Builders: | Baltic works |
| Operators: |
 |
| Preceded by: | Som class |
| In commission: | 1904–1922 |
| Completed: | 6 |
| Lost: | 2 |
| Scrapped: | 4 |
| General characteristics as designed | |
| Type: | Submarine |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: | 33.5 m (109 ft 11 in) |
| Beam: | 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: |
|
| Range: |
|
| Complement: | 24 |
| Armament: |
|
The Kasatka class was a class of submarines built for the Imperial Russian Navy. The six boats were built between 1904 and 1905. They were designed by I. G. Bubnov and were based on the Russian submarine Delfin. The first boat, Kasatka, experienced significant problems with stability on trials and had to have extra flotation added. In 1905, four the class were transferred from Western Russia to Vladivostok with the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War. Initially powered by a kerosene/electrical system, the boats were re-built around 1910 with a diesel-electric power plant following the end of the war. The class remained in service throughout World War I. Two were captured by the German Empire in 1918 and handed over to the British following the German surrender. They were scuttled by the British in 1919 to prevent their capture by the Soviets. The remaining four were broken up for scrap in 1922.
Design and description
I. G. Bubnov was tasked with producing a submarine design following experience with the Russian submarine Delfin. As designed the class had a surfaced displacement of 142 tonnes (140 long tons) and displaced 180 tonnes (177 long tons) when submerged. They were 33.5 metres (109 ft 11 in) long with a beam of 3.5 metres (11 ft 6 in) with a draught of 3.4 metres (11 ft 2 in). The submarines were propelled by one shaft powered by a kerosene engine for travel on the surface rated at 150 kilowatts (200 bhp) and an electric motor rated at 89 kilowatts (120 hp).[lower-alpha 1] The Kasatka class had a maximum speed of 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) on the surface and 5.5 knots (10.2 km/h; 6.3 mph) submerged.[1][2] Initially the design called for a three-shaft propulsion system, but due to the increased hostilities with the Empire of Japan, the submarines were completed with only the one shaft-design.[2] They had a range of 700 nautical miles (1,300 km; 810 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced and 50 nautical miles (93 km; 58 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged. The class was armed with four torpedoes carried externally in Drzewiecki drop collars and one machine gun. Vessels of the class had a complement of 24.[1][2]
Modifications
In 1910, the Kasatka class were rebuilt with new power plants. They received a diesel-electric system which included a diesel engine rated at 89 kilowatts (120 bhp). The displacement of the submarines increased to 155 tonnes (153 long tons) surfaced and 189 tonnes (186 long tons) submerged. The submarines also received a new bridge amidships and a conning tower. Two of the class, Nalim and Skat, were given a 47 mm (1.9 in) gun in 1915.[1][2]
Ships
| Kasatka-class submarines[1][2] | ||||
| Name | Builder | Launched | Completed | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasatka (Касатка) | Baltic Works, St. Petersburg | 1904 | March 1905 | Broken up 1922 |
| Keta (ex Feldmarshal Graf Sheremetev) | 1904 | May 1905 | Broken up 1922 | |
| Makrel (Макрель) | 1907 | N/A | Broken up 1922 | |
| Nalim (Налим) | 8 September 1904 | May 1905 | Scuttled at Sevastopol 26 April 1919 | |
| Okun (Окунь) | 1904 | N/A | Broken up 1922 | |
| Skat (Скат) | 1904 | March 1905 | Scuttled at Sevastopol 26 April 1919 | |
Service history
The first submarine of the class, Kasatka was ordered in the 1903 building programme, with the rest ordered as part of the 1904 Emergency Programme.[2] Feldmarshal General Sheremetev was paid for by public subscription with the Sheremetev family as major donors.[1] Due to the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, only Kasatka ran sea trials. During trials, Kasatka had trouble during operation of the ballast tanks, steering gear and water entered the submarine through the main hatch when submerged. The latter problem was rectified by the addition of two floats attached to the aft casing first on Kasatka and then on the others. Kasatka was then transferred to Vladivostok by rail, followed by the rest between September and December 1904 with the exception of Makrel and Okun. Makrel and Okun remained in the west and were used as evaluation boats for the design. Kasatka and Skat became operational in March 1905, followed by Feldmarshal General Sheremetev and Nalim in May 1905.[1][2]
During World War I, Nalim and Skat were transferred to the Black Sea in 1915 and joined the Black Sea Fleet. That same year, Feldmarshal General Sheremetev, Kasatka, Makrel and Okun were transferred to the Baltic Sea and joined the Baltic Fleet. In March 1917, the Nalim and Skat were removed from service. In August 1917, Feldmarshal General Sheremetev was renamed Keta. In 1918, Kasatka, Makrel and Okun were transferred to the Caspian Sea. In April 1918, Nalim and Skat were re-activated and used against the Soviets. After the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed ending the Russian participation in World War I, they briefly flew the flag of the Ukrainian State before the Germans seized Nalim and Skat. In November 1918, following the Armistice of 11 November 1918 which ended World War I, the British took over the submarines after the German Empire surrendered.[1][2] The two subs were later scuttled by the British at Sevastopol to prevent their capture by the Soviets during the Russian Civil War.[2] The surviving boats were broken up for scrap in 1922.[1]