Russian submarine Delfin
Submarine Dolphin, 1903
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History | |
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Russian Empire | |
Name | Delfin |
Builder | Baltic plant, Saint Petersburg, Russia |
Launched | 1902 |
Commissioned | 1903 |
Decommissioned | 1917 |
Fate | Scrapped, 1920 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Submarine |
Displacement |
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Length | 19.6 m (64 ft) |
Beam | 3.3 m (11 ft) |
Draught | 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) |
Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Complement | 22 officers and men |
Armament |
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Delfin (Russian: Дельфин, lit. 'Dolphin') was the first combat-capable Russian submarine. She was commissioned in 1903 and decommissioned in 1917, having served during World War I. During a test dive in 1904, 25 crew were killed.
Design
Delfin was designed by
General characteristics
Delfin displaced 113 tons surfaced and 126 tons submerged. She was 19.6 metres (64 ft) long with a beam of 3.3 metres (11 ft) and a draught of 2.9 metres (9 ft 6 in). The submarine was powered by one gasoline/electric motor that created 300 bhp and 120 hp respectively that drove one shaft. This gave Delfin a speed of 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) surfaced and 4.5 knots (8.3 km/h; 5.2 mph) submerged. The ship was crewed by 22 men, including officers.
Armament
Delfin's main armament was two external 15 in (380 mm) torpedoes in Drzewiecki drop collars. The boat was also equipped with one machine gun.[1]
Service history
While undergoing her first sea trials, Delfin's ballast tanks were faulty and it took 12 minutes to complete her dive.
In May 1905, Delfin sank again after suffering an explosion due to petrol vapours. She returned to service after the Russo-Japanese War had ended.[1]
During World War I Delfin was transferred to Murmansk in October 1916 and served in the Northern flotilla. She was found to be unsuitable for combat operations and was deleted in August 1917. While awaiting disposal in Murmansk, she was sunk.[1] The remains were scrapped in 1920.[citation needed]
The centenary of Delfin’s sinking - the first Russian submarine accident - was marked by the St. Petersburg Submariners Club with wreath-laying, a mourning service, and by guards of honor and an orchestra marching at the Smolenskoye Orthodox cemetery.[citation needed]
Notes
References
- Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.