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.
Delfin was designed by Naval architect Senior Assistant Ivan Grigoryevich Bubnov, Lieutenant M.N. Beklemishev and Lieutenant I.S. Goryunov of the Construction Commission for Submarines (later the Rubin Design Bureau). The design was of a single-hull type submarine with saddle tanks whose outer plating was covered with teak to prevent damage in the case of grounding.[1] She was ordered in July 1901[1] laid down by Baltic Works at St. Petersburg, launched in 1902, and entered service in 1903, training officers and sailors. Initially the vessel was classed as a torpedo boat and only given a number instead of a name.[1]
General characteristicsedit
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.
Armamentedit
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 historyedit
While undergoing her first sea trials, Delfin's ballast tanks were faulty and it took 12 minutes to complete her dive.[1] This foreshadowed future events for the vessel. On 29 June 1904 the submarine sank in the Neva River by the wall of the Baltic Shipyard during a test dive. The captain and 24 crewmen were killed, and 12 men were rescued. The vessel was raised 3 July and transferred to the Siberian flotilla, arriving in Vladivostok in late 1904. Delfin returned to service in February 1905.[1]
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]
russian, submarine, delfin, delfin, russian, Дельфин, dolphin, first, combat, capable, russian, submarine, commissioned, 1903, decommissioned, 1917, having, served, during, world, during, test, dive, 1904, crew, were, killed, submarine, dolphin, 1903history, r. Delfin Russian Delfin 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 Submarine Dolphin 1903History Russian Empire NameDelfin BuilderBaltic plant Saint Petersburg Russia Launched1902 Commissioned1903 Decommissioned1917 FateScrapped 1920 General characteristics TypeSubmarine Displacement113 tons surfaced 126 tons submerged Length19 6 m 64 ft Beam3 3 m 11 ft Draught2 9 m 9 ft 6 in Propulsion1 shaft petrol electric 300 hp 120 hp Speed9 knots 17 km h 10 mph surfaced 4 5 knots 8 3 km h 5 2 mph submerged Complement22 officers and men Armament2 external 15 in 380 mm torpedoes in Drzewiecki drop collars 1 machine gun Contents 1 Design 1 1 General characteristics 1 2 Armament 2 Service history 3 Notes 4 ReferencesDesign editDelfin was designed by Naval architect Senior Assistant Ivan Grigoryevich Bubnov Lieutenant M N Beklemishev and Lieutenant I S Goryunov of the Construction Commission for Submarines later the Rubin Design Bureau The design was of a single hull type submarine with saddle tanks whose outer plating was covered with teak to prevent damage in the case of grounding 1 She was ordered in July 1901 1 laid down by Baltic Works at St Petersburg launched in 1902 and entered service in 1903 training officers and sailors Initially the vessel was classed as a torpedo boat and only given a number instead of a name 1 General characteristics edit 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 edit 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 editWhile undergoing her first sea trials Delfin s ballast tanks were faulty and it took 12 minutes to complete her dive 1 This foreshadowed future events for the vessel On 29 June 1904 the submarine sank in the Neva River by the wall of the Baltic Shipyard during a test dive The captain and 24 crewmen were killed and 12 men were rescued The vessel was raised 3 July and transferred to the Siberian flotilla arriving in Vladivostok in late 1904 Delfin returned to service in February 1905 1 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 edit a b c d e f g h Gardiner and Gray p 312References editGardiner Robert Gray Randal eds 1985 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1906 1921 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 85177 245 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Russian submarine Delfin amp oldid 1160185226, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
