On March 19, Russia celebrates the Day of the Submariner, established by the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy dated July 15, 1996 "On the introduction of annual holidays and professional days in the specialty."
The date for the professional holiday was not chosen by chance. On March 19 (March 6, old style), 1906, submarines in the Russian Navy were allocated to an independent class of warships. This is evidenced by the order of the Maritime Department No. 52 dated March 24 (March 11, old style), 1906, signed by the Minister of the Sea, which states: "The Sovereign Emperor [Nicholas II], on the sixth day of March this year, deigned to order ... to include the category of submarines in the classification of ships of the navy." This day is considered the official date of birth of the submarine forces of the Russian Navy.
At the turn of the XIX–XX centuries, almost all the leading powers had just begun to build a submarine fleet.
Although in Russia in the XIX century several experimental submarines were built and even a series of 50 ultra-small submarines intended for the defense of sea fortresses, nevertheless, the design and construction of submarines, as one of the most important areas of military shipbuilding, originated in the country in the first decade of the XX century.
The first Russian combat submarine to join the fleet was the Dolphin ("Destroyer No. 113"), the construction and testing of which were completed in 1903. The first submarines in Russia were called destroyers, or semi-submerged vessels. The real name – the submarine – was established only in 1906.
For the first time, submarines as a new class of ships, which had not yet received official recognition, took part in combat operations in the Russian-Japanese war. A series of submarines of 13 units, the so-called "fish series" (named "Dolphin", "Stingray", "Burbot", etc.), in 1904 was transferred by rail to the Far East to participate in the war with Japan. Russian Russian submarines in the composition of the forces intended for the defense of Vladivostok forced the enemy to abandon actions against the Russian naval base.
The formation of the first union of submarine forces – the submarine brigade as part of the Baltic Fleet – dates back to 1911. The brigade was based in Libava (now Liepaja, Latvia) and consisted of 11 submarines, floating bases Khabarovsk and Europa.
During the First World War (1914-1918), submarines were used to fight on maritime communications. By the end of hostilities, an independent kind of fleet was formed – the submarine forces, which could solve both tactical and operational tasks.
The initial stage in the history of Soviet submarine shipbuilding was 1920-1926, when several small submarines purchased abroad during the First World War were assembled at one of the Black Sea factories.
In 1930-1939, the USSR fleet was replenished with 20 large, 80 medium, 60 small submarines and 20 underwater minelayers. By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), there were 218 submarines in four fleets, 211 of them Soviet-built. During the war, their crews sank about 100 warships and destroyed over 200 transports. More than six thousand submariners were awarded orders and medals, and 21 submariners were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
In the post-war years, intensive development of enterprises that built submarines began. At the same time, work was launched on the creation of new submarine bases in all fleets, primarily in the North and Pacific.
In 1958, the first Soviet nuclear submarine "K-3" (Leninsky Komsomol) joined the fleet, and 10 years later the Navy already had more than 50 nuclear submarines. The introduction of nuclear power plants on submarines gave them unlimited navigation autonomy.
In 1967, the Navy included the first strategic missile submarines (nuclear submarines armed with ballistic missiles).
With the equipping of submarines with ballistic and cruise missiles carrying nuclear weapons, the appearance of nuclear power plants on submarines, the submarine forces entered the ocean and became the main striking force of the Navy, possessing high mobility, stealth, and the ability to solve operational, strategic and strategic tasks.
Decades of global confrontation in the oceans during the Cold War became htm?id=12282792@egNews" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> the final stage of the formation of the national underwater school, the time of development of the underwater forces of the Russian Navy turned into the main branch of the fleet, which is currently the most important argument of the country in strengthening maritime security.
The modern submarine forces of the Russian Navy are based on modern nuclear-powered strategic and multi-purpose submarines armed with sea-based ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Diesel-electric (non-nuclear) submarines are also included in the force.
Submarine forces as a striking force of the fleet have a number of properties that determine their advantage in the armed struggle at sea: stealth actions, the ability to conduct combat operations in any areas of the World Ocean, the ability to deliver powerful nuclear missile strikes against militarily important enemy targets and most effectively conduct combat operations against combat surface ships, submarines, enemy transports and ships. They have the ability to operate under the ice of the Arctic basin and a low dependence on hydrometeorological conditions in the combat area.
Organizationally, submarines are part of all fleets. The Northern and Pacific Fleets have the most powerful groupings of submarine forces.
Today, submarines of various classes continue to carry out combat duty and combat service within the framework of the Russian national security system. The presence of a modern submarine fleet allows Russia to remain among the largest maritime powers. Therefore, the creation of submarines continues today. Currently, the construction of the Yasen and Borey nuclear submarine missile carriers has been completed. This series was followed by ships of improved projects - Borey-A and Yasen-M. These are technically more sophisticated nuclear-powered ships with the intellectualization of combat operations, with the introduction of advanced information technologies and electronic weapons. They have new characteristics in terms of physical fields, weapon control systems, and maneuverability properties.
Along with the construction of fourth-generation submarines, work is already underway on the creation of fifth-generation submarines . The boats of the Husky project, combining the capabilities of a multi-purpose and strategic submarine, will be designed for strategic deterrence and destruction of surface ships/submarines, reconnaissance, as well as strikes against ground targets with precision weapons.
The Russian submarine forces are also updating the non–nuclear component - diesel-electric submarines of the Varshavyanka project are being built. NATO calls Varshavyanka a "black hole in the ocean" for its invisibility. Significant firepower and high stealth allowed the project to become one of the best non-nuclear submarines in the world .
In parallel with the Varshavyanki, a series of non-nuclear diesel-electric submarines of the next generation (IV generation), Project 677 Lada, is being built.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, these boats are the most modern and promising Russian non-nuclear submarines "in terms of combat effectiveness and a number of other tactical and technical characteristics." In addition, the submarines are of modest size, allowing them to be used both in shallow water and at great depths. The lead submarine of this project, St. Petersburg, was accepted into the Russian Navy, but since 2010 it has been in pilot operation in the Northern Fleet. In September 2021, she completed pilot operation and became a full-fledged combat unit in the Russian Navy.
In parallel with the construction of new generation submarines, a search and rescue support system for the actions of the Russian Navy's submarine forces is being developed.
On the Day of the Submariner, solemn events are held in the main bases and bases of the fleets, at which a well-deserved tribute is paid to all generations of submariners.
Traditionally, the Day of the submariner is celebrated not only by the military, but also by designers, builders of submarines, ship repairers - all those who ensure the construction, repair and maintenance of combat readiness of the submarine fleet.
The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources