The series of naval armored boats of the "MBK" type (project 161) consisted of 20 units ("BK-501" - "BK-520"), built at plant No. 194 and commissioned in 1943-1944. During the war, 3 boats were lost, the rest were written off in 1953-1958. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – ​​151 tons; full displacement – ​​158 tons; length – 36.2 m: width – 5.5 m; draft – 1.3 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 2.4 thousand hp; maximum speed– 13 knots; cruising range - 450 miles; fuel reserve - 9 tons of gasoline; crew - 17 people. Reservation: side – 25-50 mm; deck – 15-30 mm; cutting – 8 mm; towers - 45 mm. Armament: 2x1 – 76 mm guns; 2x1 – 45 mm guns; 1x1 – 37 mm anti-aircraft gun; 2x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun.

The armored boats “Spear” and “Pika” were built at the Putilov plant in 1908-1910. The boats were decommissioned in 1954. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement - 23.5 tons, full displacement - 25 tons; length – 22.5 m: width –3.1 m; draft – 0.7 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 200 hp; maximum speed – 10 knots; cruising range - 300 miles; crew – 12 people. Reservation: wheelhouse, side and deck - 8 mm. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 2x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun.

From a series of “D” type boats built in the USA in 1916-1917. By the beginning of the war, 4 units remained in service. The boats were lost in 1941. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement - 6.5 tons; length – 9.2 m.: width – 2.4 m.; draft – 0.7 m; power plant – gasoline engine, power – 100 hp; maximum speed – 11 knots; cruising range - 500 miles; fuel reserve – 700 kg; crew – 7 people. Reservation: side – 5 mm, deckhouse – 6 mm. Armament: 1x1 - 12.7 mm and 2x1 - 7.62 mm machine guns.

The boats “Alarm” and “Partizan” were built at the Kolomensky plant and put into operation in 1932. In 1941, the boats were modernized. Decommissioned in the 50s. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – ​​45 tons, full displacement – ​​55.6 tons; length – 32 m: width – 3.4 m; draft – 0.9 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 1.6 thousand hp; maximum speed – 22 knots; fuel reserve - 3.3 tons of gasoline; cruising range - 600 miles; crew - 13 people. Reservation: side and deckhouse - 5 mm. Armament: 1x1 - 76 mm gun; 2x1-7.62 mm machine guns.

The series of large armored boats of the Project 1124 type consisted of 97 units and was commissioned in 1936-1945. The boats were built at factories No. 264, No. 340 and No. 363. During the war, 12 boats were lost. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement - 37 - 44 tons, full displacement - 41 - 52 tons; length – 25.3 m: width – 4 m; draft – 0.8 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 1.5 thousand hp; maximum speed – 21 knots; fuel reserve - 4.2 tons of gasoline; cruising range - 280 miles; crew - 17 people. Reservations: side - 7 mm, deck - 4 mm, deckhouse - 8 mm, turrets - 30 - 45 mm. Armament: 2x1 - 76 mm gun; 1x2 - 12.7 mm and 2x1 - 7.62 mm machine guns.

The series of small armored boats of the Project 1125 type consisted of 151 units and was commissioned in 1936-1945. The boats were built at plant No. 340. During the war, 39 boats were lost, the rest were written off in the 50s. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement - 37 - 44 tons, full displacement - 41 - 52 tons; length – 25.3 m: width – 4 m; draft – 0.8 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 1.5 thousand hp; maximum speed – 21 knots; fuel reserve - 4.2 tons of gasoline; cruising range - 280 miles; crew - 17 people. Reservations: side - 7 mm, deck - 4 mm, deckhouse - 8 mm, turrets - 30 - 45 mm. Armament: 2x1 - 76 mm guns; 1x2 - 12.7 mm and 2x1 - 7.62 mm machine guns.

Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – ​​26 tons, full displacement – ​​30 tons; length – 22.7 m: width – 3.5 m; draft – 0.6 m; power plant - gasoline engine, power - 750 - 1,200 hp; maximum speed – 20 knots; fuel reserve - 1.3 tons of gasoline; cruising range - 250 miles; crew - 13 people. Reservations: side – 4 mm, deck – 7 mm, turret – 45 mm. Armament: 1x1 - 76 mm gun; 2x2 - 12.7 mm and 1x1 - 7.62 mm machine gun; 4 min.

The series of small armored boats of the S-40 project consisted of 7 units (“BKA-21”, “BKA-23”, “BKA-26”, “BKA-31”, “BKA-33”, “BKA-34”, "BKA-81") and was built at the Zelenodolsk shipyard named after Gorky No. 340. The boats were intended for the NKVD troops to guard the state border on the Amu Darya. They entered service in 1942. The boat was developed on the basis of the Project 1125U boat. During the war, 3 boats were lost, the rest were written off in the 50s. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – ​​32 tons, full displacement – ​​36.5 tons; length – 24.7 m: width – 3.9 m; draft – 0.6 m; power plant - 2 diesel tank engines, power - 800 hp; maximum speed – 19 knots; fuel reserve - 2.3 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 280 miles; crew - 13 people. Reservations: side – 4 mm, deck – 7 mm, turret – 45 mm. Armament: 1x1 - 76 mm gun; 3x1-7.62 mm machine gun.

The series of naval armored boats of the MKL type (project No. 186) built before the end of the war amounted to 8 units. The boats were built at Leningrad Plant No. 194 and put into operation in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement - 156 tons, full displacement - 165.5 tons; length – 36.2 m: width – 5.2 m; draft – 1.5 m; power plant – 2 diesel engines, power – 1 thousand hp; maximum speed – 14 knots; cruising range - 600 miles; crew - 42 people. Reservations: side – 30 mm, deck – 8 – 20 mm, turret – 45 mm. Armament: 2x1 - 85 mm guns; 1x1 – 37 mm anti-aircraft gun; 2x2 - 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 82 mm mortar.

From a series of boats of the "Sh-4" type, built at plant No. 194 in 1929-1932. By the beginning of the war, 26 units remained in service. During the war, 7 boats were lost, the rest were decommissioned in 1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement - 10 tons; length – 16.8 m: width – 3.3 m; draft – 0.8 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 1.2 thousand hp; maximum speed – 45 knots; fuel reserve - 1 ton of gasoline; cruising range - 300 miles; crew – 5 people. Armament: 1x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 450 mm torpedo tubes; 2 mines.

The series of boats of the G-5 type (project 213) consisted of 329 units and was a modernized version of the Sh-4 type. The boats were built at factories No. 194, No. 532 and No. 639 in 1934 - 1944. nine series and differed in skin thickness, engines, speed and weapons. During the war, 84 boats were lost and 10 were written off. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – ​​15 tons, full displacement – ​​18 tons; length – 9 m.: width – 3.3 m.; draft – 1.2 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 1.7 - 2.3 thousand hp; maximum speed – 50 – 55 knots; cruising range - 200 miles; crew – 6 people. Armament: 1x2 – 7.62 mm or 1-2x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 533 mm torpedo tubes or 1x4 – 82 mm rocket launcher; 2-8 min.

A series of boats of Project 123-bis (Komsomolets) was built on the basis of the Project 123 boat, developed and built by Leningrad Plant No. 194 and commissioned in 1940 under the designation TK-351. The boat differed from the serial ones by its torpedo tubes, lack of armor, lighter weight and higher speed. The series consisted of 30 boats built in 1944-1945 (“TK-7”, “TK-100”, “TK-110” - “TK-112”, “TK-120”, “TK-122”, “ TK-123", "TK-130", "TK-131" - "TK-134", "TK-140", "TK-142", "TK-143", "TK-146", "TK- 148", "TK-472" - "TK-481", "TK-607", "TK-608"). All of them were built at Tyumen plant No. 639. The boats had duralumin hulls with 5 waterproof compartments, tube torpedo tubes and 7-mm armor for the wheelhouse and machine gun mounts. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – ​​19.5 tons; full displacement – ​​20.5 tons; length – 18.7 m: width – 3.4 m; draft – 1.2 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 2.4 thousand hp; maximum speed – 48 knots; cruising range - 240 miles; crew – 7 people. Armament: 2x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 457 mm torpedo tubes; release gear; 6 depth charges.

Large torpedo boats of the D-3 type (Project 19) were produced in two series. The first was built at Leningrad Plant No. 5 in 1940-1942. (26 units built). The second was built at plant No. 640 in 1943-1945. (47 units). During the war, 25 boats were lost, and 2 were written off. The boats had a wooden two-layer hull and torpedo tubes. The series differed from each other in weight, engines and weapons. Performance characteristics of series 1 boats: standard displacement – ​​30.8 tons, full displacement – ​​32.1 tons; length – 21 m.: width – 3.9 m.; draft – 0.8 m; power plant - 3 gasoline engines, power - 2.3 thousand hp; maximum speed – 32 knots; cruising range - 320 miles; crew – 9 people. Armament: 2x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; release gear; 8 depth charges. Performance characteristics of series 2 boats: standard displacement – ​​32 tons, full displacement – ​​37 tons; length – 21 m.: width – 3.9 m.; draft – 0.9 m; power plant - 3 gasoline engines, power - 3.6 thousand hp; maximum speed – 45 knots; cruising range - 500 miles; crew - 11 people. Armament: 1x1 – 20 mm anti-aircraft gun; 2x2 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 - 533 mm torpedo tubes or 2x4 - 82 mm rocket launcher; release gear; 8 depth charges.

The boat was built at Leningrad Plant No. 194 and put into operation in 1941. It was a variant of the D-3 type boat with a steel hull. The boat was decommissioned in 1950. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement - 21 tons, full displacement - 34 tons; length – 20.8 m: width – 3.9 m; draft – 1.5 m; power plant - 3 gasoline engines, power - 3.6 thousand hp; maximum speed – 30 knots; cruising range - 380 miles; crew – 8 people. Armament: 2x2 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 533 mm torpedo tubes.

A series of boats of the "Yunga" type was developed on the basis of the "OD-200" type hunter, consisted of 5 units ("TK-450" - "TK-454") and was built at plant No. 341 in 1944-1945. The boats were decommissioned in the late 50s. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – ​​47 tons; length – 23.4 m.: width – 4.4 m.; draft – 1.7 m; power plant - 3 gasoline engines, power - 3.6 thousand hp; maximum speed – 31 knots; cruising range - 490 miles; crew - 11 people. Armament: 3x2 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 533 mm torpedo tubes.

The series of boats of the "ZK" type consisted of 15 units ("K-193" - "K-196", "K-206" - "K-208", "K-220", "K-325" - "K- 331"), built in the Leningrad workshop of the OGPU Marine Border Guard (plant No. 5) and commissioned in 1941. During the war, 5 boats were lost. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – ​​19 tons; length – 19.8 m: width – 3.3 m; draft – 1.2 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 600 hp; maximum speed – 16 knots; cruising range - 350 miles; crew – 12 people. Armament: 1x1 - 45 mm gun or 1x1 - 12.7 mm machine gun; 1x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun.

A series of boats with a wooden hull of the KM-2 type were built as border guard, patrol and service boats. In 1935-1942 91 boats were built at the Marine Border Guard Shipyard. During the war, 67 units were converted into patrol boats, and 24 into minesweepers. During the war, 27 boats were lost. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – ​​7 tons; length – 13.8 m: width – 3.1 m; draft – 0.8 m; power plant – gasoline engine, power – 63 hp; maximum speed – 9 knots; crew – 10 people. Armament: 1x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun.

The KM-4 type boat series was a modernized version of the KM-2 and was equipped with two engines. In 1938-1944. 222 boats were built for the Navy. During the war, 45 boats were converted into patrol boats, and 165 into minesweepers. During the war, 13 boats were lost. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – ​​12 tons; length – 19.3 m: width – 3.4 m; draft – 0.8 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 126 hp; maximum speed – 10 knots; cruising range - 220 miles; crew – 10 people. Armament: 1x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun.

A series of boats with a steel hull of type “A” was built at plant No. 341 in 1940-1943. in two versions - mortar boats and minesweepers. The series consisted of 22 boats. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – ​​8 tons; length – 15.6 m.: width – 3 m.; draft – 0.6 m; power plant – gasoline engine, power – 63 hp; maximum speed – 8 knots; crew – 6 people. Armament: 1x24 – 82 mm rocket launcher; 1x1 - 12.7 mm and 1x1 - 7.62 mm machine guns.

Boats with a steel hull of the "Rybinets" type were built at plant No. 341 in 1930-1932. as work and crew boats. During the war, 37 boats were converted into patrol boats, and 44 into minesweeper boats. During the war, 27 boats were lost. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – ​​26 tons, full displacement – ​​30.1 tons; length – 20.8 m: width – 3.3 m; draft – 1.1 m; power plant – diesel engine, power – 136 hp; maximum speed – 9.3 knots; cruising range - 800 miles; crew – 12 people. Armament: 1-2x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun.

The series of boats of the "MKM" type consisted of 6 units ("K-192", "K-210", "K-234", "K-273", "K-274", "K-335") built in 1939 -1940 The boat "K-234" was lost in 1943. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement - 18.3 tons; length – 16.2 m.: width – 3.6 m.; draft – 1.2 m; power plant – gasoline engine, power – 850 hp; maximum speed – 21 knots; cruising range - 370 miles; crew – 10 people. Armament: 1x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun.

Boats with a steel hull of the Yaroslavets type were built at plant No. 345 in 1942-1945. in two versions: mortar boats (35 units) and minesweepers (33 units). Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – ​​23.4 tons; length – 18.7 m: width – 3.6 m; draft – 1 m; power plant - diesel or gasoline engine, power - 65 - 93 hp; maximum speed – 10 knots; crew – 10 people. Armament: 1x24 – 82 mm rocket launcher; 2x1 - 12.7 mm or 1x1 - 7.62 mm machine gun.

Boats with a wooden hull of the Yaroslavets type were built at plant No. 345 in 1942-1945. in two versions: mortar boats (8 units) and minesweepers (8 units). Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement - 19 tons, full displacement - 22.6 tons; length – 19.8 m: width – 3.4 m; draft – 1 m; power plant - diesel or gasoline engine, power - 93 - 100 hp; maximum speed – 10 knots; crew – 10 people. Armament: 1x24 – 82 mm rocket launcher; 2x1 - 12.7 mm or 1x1 - 7.62 mm machine gun.

19 crew and service boats, built at plant No. 5 in the late 30s in 1942-1944. was rebuilt into minesweepers under the designation "D-2" and "D-4". Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – ​​20.3 tons; length – 16.9 m: width – 3.6 m; draft – 1 m; power plant – diesel engine, power – 75 hp; maximum speed – 7.5 knots; cruising range - 1.8 thousand miles; crew - 11 people. Armament: 1x1 - 12.7 mm and 1x1 - 7.62 mm machine guns.

The series of boats of the "BKM-2" type consisted of 5 units and was built on the basis of towing boats in 1943-1944 at plant No. 341. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – ​​58 tons; length – 23 m.: width – 3.5 m.; draft – 1.2 m; power plant – 2 diesel engines, power – 500 hp; maximum speed – 12 knots; crew - 16 people. Armament: 1x16 - 132 mm rocket launcher or 1x1 - 37 mm anti-aircraft gun; 1x2 – 12.7 mm machine gun.

The series of patrol boats of the "PK" type consisted of 7 units ("K-105", "K-108", "K-164", "K-165", "K-197", "K-239", "K -240") built in 1927-1928. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement - 16 - 29 tons; length - 17 - 22.6 m: width -3.4 - 3.8 m; draft - 0.8 - 1.5 m; power plant - diesel engine, power - 300 - 720 hp; maximum speed – 12 – 13 knots; cruising range -200 - 470 miles; crew – 7 – 13 people. Armament: 1x1 – 45 mm gun; 1 - 2x1 - 7.62 mm machine gun.

On November 12, 1931, the technical specifications for two types of armored boats were approved. The large armored boat (for the Amur River) was supposed to be armed with two 76-mm guns in turrets, and the small one with one such gun. The main armament of both types of boats was supplemented by two light turrets with 7.62 mm machine guns. The draft of a large boat is at least 70 cm, and that of a small boat is 45 cm.

In October 1932, Lenrechsudoproekt completed the design of a large armored boat (project 1124). The chief designer of the project was Yu. Yu. Benois - the only engineer in famous family artists and ornithologists.

A little later, Lenrechsudoproekt began designing a small armored boat, Project 1125. The project manager was also Benoit, who completed both armored boats until his arrest in 1937.

The large and small armored boats were very similar in design, so we will give a joint description of them.

The armored boats had to have a shallow draft and had to fit into the railway dimensions of the USSR when transported by rail on an open platform. The middle part of the BKA hull was occupied by an armored citadel. There were turret compartments with ammunition, an engine room, fuel tanks, and a radio room. The fuel tanks were covered with double protection (14 mm) - two armor plates were riveted together. The armor plates served as the deck and armored outer plating, extending 200 mm below the waterline. Thus, the citadel structures simultaneously ensured the overall strength of the hull.

Above the citadel in the armored conning (wheelhouse) there was a ship control post. Communication with the engine room was carried out using a speaking tube and an engine telegraph, and with artillery and machine gun turrets - via telephone (on ships built during the war).

BKA Project 1124 had nine watertight transverse bulkheads, and Project 1125 had eight. All bulkheads had hatches, which provided passage to any compartment without dangerous appearance on deck during the battle. The presence of hatches in the bulkheads violated the textbook rule of designing warships, however, as combat experience showed, it was completely justified. All these manholes were located above the estimated emergency flood line and were closed with waterproof covers, and on the traverses of the citadel with armored ones.

The hull design was mixed: the armor part was riveted, the rest was welded. All parts of welded structures were butt-joined. The kit and armor were riveted, and the plating outside the citadel was welded.

The contours of BKA pr. 1124 and 1125 were similar. To ensure a shallow draft, the hulls were made almost flat-bottomed with vertical sides. This eliminated the need to bend armor plates and greatly simplified the technology.

Both types of boats are characterized by a smooth rise of the keel line in the bow. This allowed the boat to approach the shore almost end-to-end with its bow, which greatly simplified the landing.

On small spacecraft built before 1939, at low and medium speeds, due to the small camber of the sides, the bow part of the upper deck (up to the bow wheelhouse) was heavily flooded. On already built boats, it was necessary to weld sheets in the bow that increased the camber of the frames, and install a bulwark. When adjusting the designs in 1938, the bow frames were given a strong bend along the cheekbone.

The living quarters had a height from the flooring to the edges of the under-deck set on the BKA pr. 1124 - about 1550 mm, and on the BKA pr. 1125 - about 1150 mm. It was impossible to straighten up, standing at full height. The area of ​​the largest 9-seater cockpit was less than 14 m 2 . It was literally filled with lockers, hanging bunks and folding tables. The small BKA had only one cockpit, so it was necessary to place hanging bunks in both machine-gun compartments. Naturally, the boats' living conditions were terrible.

The deck and sides were insulated with crushed cork. Ventilation was natural. The living quarters were heated hot water from the engine cooling system and had natural lighting (side windows with waterproof covers). In the front wall of the cabin there was a window with triplex glass. In addition, there were portholes in the rear wall and armored doors of the cabin. The windows were covered with armored shields with narrow viewing slots.

On BKA pr. 1124, the anchoring device included one anchor weighing 75 kg, retracted into the fairlead (from the port side), and on BKA pr. 1125 - an anchor weighing 50 kg, laid on the deck.

The rudders were suspended, balanced, and did not protrude beyond the main plane. BKA Project 1124 had two rudders, and Project 1125 had one. The rudders were driven by a hand wheel.

Layout diagram of the armored boat pr. 1125

BKA pr. 1125. The boat is equipped with a cast turret of the T-34 tank: and DShKM-2B machine gun turrets

The circulation diameter was about three body lengths. BKA pr. 1124, which had a two-shaft installation, turned almost on the spot and without a rudder, and with the help of the engines it ran wild.

The first series of boats, Projects 1124 and 1125, were equipped with GAM-34BP engines. The large UAV had two engines, the small one - one. The GAM-34 engine (planing engine of Alexander Mikulin) was created on the basis of the four-stroke 12-cylinder aircraft engine AM-34. In the glider version, a reverse gearbox was added to reduce the speed and reverse. B-70 gasoline was used as fuel.

Maximum engine power (800 hp for GAM-34BP and 850 hp for GAM-34BS) was achieved at 1850 rpm. At this number of revolutions, the fullest stroke was achieved.

According to the instructions of plant No. 24 (the engine manufacturer), it was allowed to have a speed of over 1800 for no more than one hour, and then only in a combat situation. The maximum engine speed during combat training operations was allowed no more than 1600 rpm.

A working motor started in 6-8 seconds. after switching on. The maximum permissible speed in reverse is 1200. Engine operating time at reverse- 3 minutes.

After 150 hours of operation, the new engine required a complete overhaul.

The movement of armored boats at maximum speed corresponded to a regime transitioning from displacement sailing to planing. At the same time, the water resistance increased sharply. To further increase the speed, it would be necessary to switch to planing, and for this, with the same engines, it would be necessary to significantly reduce the weight of the UAV, i.e., sacrifice weapons and armor.

On the armored boats of Project 1125, the side height was 1500 mm, so the engine could not be placed below deck. Then a local elevation of 400 mm high was provided above the engine room. The engine room also contained an L-6 type gas generator, batteries, water-oil cooling radiators (the engines were cooled in a closed cycle, sea water flowed into the radiators by gravity from the high-speed pressure), a carbon dioxide fire extinguishing station, which had local and remote (from the wheelhouse) control , thanks to which it was possible to direct gas to any of the fuel tanks. There was also an electric fire pump which was used as a drying agent. Gasoline was stored in four (on BKA pr. 1124) and three (on BKA pr. 1125) inserted steel gas tanks, located in the most protected place - under the conning tower.

To prevent explosions of gasoline vapors when the fuel tank is damaged, engineer Shaterinkov developed an original fire protection system - exhaust gases were cooled in a condenser and again fed into the tank, divided into several compartments, after which they were removed overboard. An underwater exhaust was used to reduce noise. The on-board electrical network was powered by generators mounted on the main engine and batteries. At Project 1124, three-kilowatt generators powered by a car engine (usually ZIS-5) were additionally installed.

Since 1942, most BKA pr. 1124 and pr. 1125 were equipped with imported four-stroke Hall-Scott engines with a power of 900 hp. With. and Packard with a capacity of 1200 hp. With. These engines were more reliable than GAM-34; but they required more highly qualified service personnel and better gasoline (grades B-87 and B-100).

During the war, BKAs with GAM-34 engines were named 1124-1 and 1125-1, with Hall-Scott engines - 1124-I and 1125-II, and with Packard engines - 1124-III and 1125-III.

The turret of the armored boat pr. 1124/1125 with a 76-mm cannon mod. 1927/32

Shipbuilding historians have written a lot of fables about the armament of pre-war armored boats. This is how V.N. Lysenok describes the armament of the BKA Project 1124: “two 76.2-mm PS-3 tank guns, 16.5 calibers long”; V.V. Burachek: “The boats were equipped with turrets from the T-26 tank, which had a 45 mm cannon. When the production of turrets with 76-mm cannons for the famous T-34 tank began, this made it possible to significantly strengthen the armament of armored boats.” And finally, a large group of authors says that in 1939-1940. “the previous main caliber turrets (from the T-28 tank) were replaced with new ones with 76.2 mm F-34 guns (barrel length 41.5 caliber, elevation angle 70°).” One can only guess where the venerable authors obtained such fantastic information.

In fact, according to the original design of the BKA pr. 1124 and 1125, they were armed with 76-mm tank guns mod. 1927/32, 16.5 klb long in turrets from the T-28 tank. In some documents these guns are called 76-mm KT or KT-28 guns (KT is the Kirov tank gun for the T-28 tank). There were no 45-mm cannons on the BKA pr. 1124 and 1125.

The issue of installing 76 mm PS-3 cannons on the BKA could be considered, but the matter did not go beyond discussions. By the way, this gun had a length of not 16.5, but 21 klb. PS-3 (Syachentov gun) were manufactured in 1932-1936. in small batches, but it was not possible to bring it to fruition. Syachentov himself “sat down”, and PS-3 was not even installed on serial tanks, not to mention BKA.

Armored boat S-40 with a turret of a T-28 tank

Broken BKA-42 Stalingrad, 1942-43.

At the end of the 30s, a crisis arose with the armament of the BKA. Production of 76 mm guns mod. 1927/32 was discontinued by the Kirov Plant at the beginning of 1938.

In 1937-1938 the same plant mass-produced 76-mm L-10 tank guns, 24 klb long, which were installed on T-28 tanks. Naturally, a proposal arose to install L-10 cannons on the BKA.

It should be noted that all 76-mm tank guns mod. 1927/32, PS-3 and L-10 had a maximum elevation angle of +25°. Accordingly, the T-28 tank turrets were designed for this elevation angle. This elevation angle was more than sufficient for tanks designed to fire only direct fire. The river armored boat had a very low height of the line of fire above the water; when firing at direct fire, it had a very large unhittable space, covered by the shore, forest, bushes, buildings, etc.

Therefore, in 1938-1939. The MU turret was designed specifically for BKA pr. 1124 and 1125, allowing an elevation angle of +70° for a 76-mm gun. Apparently, the “MU” project was carried out in the “sharaga” of the OTB, located in the Leningrad prison “Kresty”.

In 1939, the Kirov Plant installed a 76-mm L-10 cannon in the MU turret. The MU turret with the L-10 cannon passed field tests at ANIOP. The results were unsatisfactory. However, by the end of 1939, Plant No. 340 completed one boat with the L-10 cannon, which was supposed to be tested in Sevastopol at the beginning of 1940.

At the end of 1938, the Kirov Plant stopped production of 76-mm L-10 guns, but began mass production of 76-mm L-11 guns. In fact, the new gun was the same L-10, only with a barrel lengthened to 30 klb. The Kirov plant proposed installing the L-11 in the MU turret, which was done. The vertical guidance angle remained the same - +70°, but additional reinforcement was made in the turret, since the recoil of the L-11 was slightly greater.

However, the L-10 and L-11 guns did not take root on the BKA, and in best case scenario were installed on several boats. The fact is that the L-10 and L-11 guns, designed by Makhanov, had original recoil devices, in which the compressor fluid was directly connected with the air of the reel. Under certain fire conditions, this installation failed. This was taken advantage of by Makhanov’s main competitor Grabin, who managed to supplant Makhanov’s guns with his own F-32s 30 klb long and F-34 40 klb long.

The idea of ​​arming the BKA with the 76-mm F-34 cannon could not have arisen earlier than 1940, since it passed field tests in the T-34 tank only in November 1940. In 1940, 50 F-34 guns were manufactured, and in the next year - already 3470, but almost all of them went to T-34 tanks, and until the second half of 1942, F-34 guns in T-34 tank turrets were not installed on BKA.

At the end of 1941 - beginning of 1942, several boats of Project 1124 and 1125 without weapons accumulated near the wall of plant No. 340. They even wanted to arm them with turrets from captured German tanks. But, in the end, instead of tank turrets, 30 armored boats received open pedestal installations with 76-mm Lander anti-aircraft guns mod. 1914/15 And only at the end of 1942, the BKA began to receive turrets from the T-34 with F-34 cannons, which became the standard armament of the BKA pr. 1124 and 1125.

The gun in the turret had a maximum elevation angle of 25 - 26°, which, as mentioned earlier, was extremely inconvenient for the BKA. Periodically, projects arose to create turrets with a large gun elevation angle, but all of them remained on paper. Naturally, the elevation angle increased only for mounted shooting. To conduct effective anti-aircraft fire, installations were required that were close in size to 34-K, which could not be placed on boats of Projects 1124 and 1125. Memoirs tell of the shooting down of bombers by 76-mm cannons of our BKA. Apparently, we are talking about the 76-mm Lander anti-aircraft guns, which by 1942 continued to be quite effective means combat aircraft at medium altitudes, possessing a special anti-aircraft sight and anti-aircraft shells (remote fragmentation grenades, bullet and rod shrapnel). The effectiveness of anti-aircraft fire from tower guns mod. 1927/32 and F-34 was close to zero due to the low elevation angle, the lack of an anti-aircraft sight, the inability to install a remote tube in the turret, etc. Although, theoretically, some aircraft could have been accidentally shot down by a shell F-34. There are even known cases of planes being shot down by 82-mm mines, and one An-2 was already shot down by a vodka bottle in peacetime.

76-mm gun mod. 1927/32 had a piston bolt and a practical rate of fire of 2-3 rounds/min. The 76-mm L-10 and F-34 guns were equipped with semi-automatic wedge breech blocks. On the range machine, the rate of fire of the F-34 reached 25 rounds per minute, and the actual rate in the turret was 5 rounds per minute. All our tank guns of that period did not have ejection devices, and gas pollution in the turrets during frequent firing was extremely high.

BKA-31 (Project 1124) with a 76-mm Lander gun

Vertical guidance of the gun was carried out manually, and horizontal guidance on the BKA with the T-28 turret was done manually, and with the T-34 turret - by an electric motor.

In BKA Project 1124, the ammunition load was 112 76-mm unitary rounds per turret, and in Project 1125 - 100 rounds.

Shells for guns mod. 1927/32, L-10, L-11 and F-34 were the same. But the gun arr. 1927/32 fired cartridges from a regimental gun mod. 1928, and the L-10, L-11 and F-34 guns - with more powerful cartridges from the divisional gun mod. 1902/30 The main projectiles were a steel long-range high-explosive fragmentation grenade and an old Russian high-explosive grenade. The grenade firing range of the gun mod. 1927/32 was 5800 - 6000 m, and for the F-34 it was 11.6 km (for OF-350) and 8.7 km (for F-354).

Armor-piercing shells of the BR-350 type could be used to fire at armored targets. Theoretically, at a range of 500 m and a normal hit, the armor penetration of the gun mod. 1927/32 was 30 mm, and F-34 - 70 mm. In reality, their armor penetration was much lower, and the guns arr. 1927/32 actually could not fight tanks without the use of cumulative shells, and the F-34 could quite successfully operate against German tanks type Pz.I, Pz.II, Pz.HI and Pz.IV. The author has no information about the supply of cumulative and sub-caliber shells to armored boats.

Theoretically, all boat guns could fire shrapnel, but, as already mentioned, installing remote tubes in the turrets was practically impossible.

Everything related to chemical munitions is a closely guarded secret. But, apparently, they were part of the standard ammunition of armored boats. During civil war The use of 76-mm chemical shells by red river flotillas was noted. Between the wars the Red Army received a large number of chemical shells. Among them were 76-mm chemical shells KhN-354 and KhS-354 and chemical fragmentation shells (with a solid toxic substance) OX-350.

It is worth mentioning the mortar version of the BKA. In 1942, at Zelenodolsk plant No. 340, two armored boats of Project S-40 were armed with army 82-mm mortars. After testing them, the People's Commissar of the Navy allowed the installation of mortars on other boats.

The BKA's machine gun armament consisted mainly of 7.62 mm DT tank machine guns, air-cooled and magazine-fed, and 7.62 mm Maxim machine guns, water-cooled and belt-fed. DT machine guns were placed in tank turrets from the T-28 and T-34, and Maxims were placed in special machine-gun turrets. Maxim machine guns were much more effective than DT machine guns, but shipbuilders did not want to change the design of tank turrets, which led to inconsistency in machine gun armament.

The designs of many ships and boats in the 30s included 12.7 mm DK machine guns, 20 mm ShVAK automatic cannons, etc. However, in reality they were not on the ships. Only now they are periodically “put” on ships by many authors of articles and monographs.

Since 1941, on some boats the Maxima machine gun turrets were replaced with 12.7 mm DShK machine guns.

The DShKM-2B turret with two 12.7 mm DShK machine guns was specially designed for the BKA at TsKB-19 in February 1943. The machine guns had a VN angle of -5°; +82°. Theoretically, the VN speed was 25°/sec., and the GN speed was 15°/sec. But since the turret crew consisted of one person, the guidance drives were manual, the weight of the swinging part of the installation was 208 kg, and the rotating part was 750 kg, the practical guidance speed was clearly lower. The DShKM-2B installation had an ShB-K sight. Armor thickness – 10 mm. Total weight towers - 1254 kg.

The first samples of the turret were put into service in August 1943. However, there are documents that several DShKM-2B turrets were in service in 1942. In addition, in 1943-1945. some BKAs were equipped with coaxial turret mounts with 12.7 mm machine guns (both domestic DShK and imported Colt and Browning),

Thus, until 1943, our BKA actually did not have anti-aircraft weapons. Moreover, this is not the fault of the shipbuilders. Due to the criminal negligence and illiteracy of the deputy. People's Commissar of Defense for Armaments Tukhachevsky and the leadership of the Artillery Directorate of the Red Army did not pay due attention to anti-aircraft guns. But there was a fascination with chimeras such as universal divisional anti-aircraft guns, dynamo-reactive guns, etc. The only plant that produced anti-aircraft guns (No. 8 named after Kalinin) was unable to launch the production of first-class 20- and 37-mm Rheinmetall guns, despite the fact that in 1930 the Germans supplied the plant with samples of guns, a lot of semi-finished products and a complete set of technological documentation.

Before the start of the war, only one naval anti-aircraft gun, the 70-K, was launched into production. The 37-mm 70-K assault rifles had significant weight and size characteristics for armored boats, and most importantly, they were not enough even for large ships. Therefore, 70-K never made it to the BKA.

The 12.7-mm DShKM-2B turret mounts were inconvenient for firing at high-speed, low-flying aircraft; in this regard, turret mounts were more convenient.

Meanwhile, the air defense of armored boats could be solved very simply. In 1941, a powerful 23-mm VYa aircraft gun was put into service (projectile weight - 200 g, muzzle velocity - 920 m/s, rate of fire - 600-650 rounds/min per barrel). The VYa gun was immediately put into large-scale production. So, in 1942, 13,420 guns were manufactured, in 1943 - 16,430, and in 1944 - 22,820 guns. During anti-aircraft firing, the armor protection only got in the way, so the installation could only have four side walls with bulletproof armor, which folded back when firing.

Installation of 24-M-8 on BKA pr. 1124

Installation of BM-13 on BKA pr. 1124

Unfortunately, 23-mm anti-aircraft guns based on VYa were created only after the war. The successors of the VYa - ZU-23 and "Shilka" - are still roaring across the CIS to this day. During the war, the BKA was saved from enemy aircraft not so much by anti-aircraft machine guns, but by the fighter cover of our Air Force and successful camouflage against the background of the coast.

In the second half of the 30s, smoke-generating equipment was specially designed for the BKA. A mixture of a solution of sulfur dioxide in chlorosulfonic acid was used as a smoke-forming substance, which was supplied to the nozzles using compressed air and sprayed into the atmosphere. In the early 40s, the smoke-generating equipment was dismantled from the BKA and replaced with smoke bombs.

It was not planned to equip the BKA project 1124 and 1125 with mine weapons. But already in the first days of the war, the sailors of the Danube Flotilla managed to use improvised means to lay minefields from the BKA pr. 1125. On the boats delivered by industry since the spring of 1942, rails and butts for attaching mines were installed on the aft deck. BKA project 1124 took 8 minutes, and project 1125 - 4 minutes. In the Black Sea alone, the BKA carried out 84 mine laying operations in 1941, and 52 mine laying operations in 1943.

In February 1942, the Navy AU issued a technical assignment to the Design Bureau of the Moscow Kompressor plant (No. 733) for the design of shipborne AU for M-13 and M-8 missiles. The development of these projects was completed by SKB under the leadership of V. Barmin in May 1942.

The M-8-M installation ensured the launch of 24 82-mm M-8 shells in 7-8 seconds. The M-8-M installation was of a tower-deck type and consisted of a swinging part (a block of guides on a truss), an aiming device, guidance mechanisms and electrical equipment. The swinging part could change the elevation angle ranging from 5° to 45°. A rotating device with a ball shoulder strap made it possible to rotate the swinging part of the installation at an angle of 360° horizontally. On the rotating part of the base of the installation, in its above-deck part, guidance mechanisms, an aiming and braking device, a gunner's seat (aka shooter), a firing device and electrical equipment were attached.

The M-13-MI installation provided the launch of 16 M-13 projectiles from eight I-beams in 5 - 8 seconds. The M-13-MI installation was of the above-deck type and could be mounted on the roof of the BKA conning tower (at the suggestion of SKB) or installed instead of the aft artillery tower of the BKA pr. 1124.

In May 1942, the first M-13-MI installation was sent from the Kompressor plant to Zelenodolsk, where it was installed on the BKA pr. 1124. Somewhat later, the M-8-M installation was also delivered to Zelenodolsk. A prototype of the M- installation 1-13MI was installed on BKA No. 41 (from August 18, 1942 No. 51), manager. No. 314, project 1124, and a prototype of the M-8-M installation - on BKA No. 61 (plant No. 350) project 1125.

By order of the People's Commissar of the Navy of November 29, 1942, the M-8-M and M-13-MI rocket launchers were put into service. The industry was given an order for the production of 20 M-13-MI units and 10 M-8-M units.

In August 1942, the Kompressor plant produced the M-13-M11 launcher for 32 132 mm M-13 projectiles. The M-13-MP was a turret-deck type, its design was similar to that of the M-8-M launcher. In Zelenodolsk, the M-13-M11 launcher was mounted on BKA No. 315, Project 1124, instead of the aft artillery turret. In the fall of 1942, the installation was tested and was recommended for adoption. However, it was not accepted into service, and the prototype remained in the Volga Flotilla.

Combat operation of the M-8-M and M-13-M launchers on the seas, rivers and lakes revealed a number of their design flaws. Therefore, in July-August 1943, the SKB Kompressor plant began designing three ship-based launchers of the improved type 8-M-8, 24-M-8 and 16-M-13. The designed installations differed from the previous ones by more reliable locking of missiles on guides in stormy sea conditions; increasing the speed of aiming the installation at the target; reduction of forces on the handles of the flywheels of the guidance mechanisms. An automated firing device with foot and manual control was developed, allowing firing with single shots, bursts and salvo fire. The rotating device of the installations and their fastening to the decks of the ship were sealed.

The Navy Artillery Directorate proposed shortening the length of the guides for 132-mm shells from 5 to 2.25 m. However, experimental firing showed that with short guides the dispersion of shells is very high. Therefore, on the 16-M-13 launchers, the length of the guides was left the same (5 m). The guides of all launchers used on the BKA were I-beams.

Work on the 82-mm M-8-M launcher, as directed by the customer (the Navy AU), was stopped at the preliminary design stage.

In February 1944, the design bureau of the Kompressor plant completed the development of working drawings for the 24-M-8 installation. In April 1944, Plant No. 740 produced two prototypes of the 24-M-8. In July 1944, the 24-M-8 installations successfully passed ship tests in the Black Sea. On September 19, 1944, the 24-M-8 installation was adopted by the Navy.

Installation of M-8-M on BKA pr. 1125

Working drawings of the 16-M-13 rocket launcher, designed to launch 16 M-13 missiles, were completed by SKB in March 1944. A prototype was manufactured by Sverdlovsk plant No. 760 in August 1944. Ship tests of the 16-M-13 took place at Cherny sea ​​in November 1944. In January 1945, the 16-M-13 launcher was adopted by the Navy.

In total, during the Great Patriotic War The industry manufactured and supplied 92 M-8-M installations, 30 M-13-MI installations, 49 24-M-8 installations and 35 16-M-13 installations to fleets and flotillas. These systems were installed both on BKA pr. 1124 and 1125, and on torpedo boats, patrol boats, captured German landing barges, etc.

On armored boats, sometimes for lack of special installations They also made “homemade products on the knee” to launch rockets. For example, in the winter of 1942-1943. On an initiative basis, in the 7th division of OVR boats of the Leningrad naval base, homemade launchers for 82-mm M-8 shells were made on two BKA pr. 1124 (BKA-101 and BKA-102). The simplest guides made of steel slats were hung on the barrels of 76 mm F-34 guns. A rail was placed on top of each barrel and secured to it with clamps to launch one projectile.

Both BKAs fired M-8 shells at the enemy coast several times, and after launching the shells, the guns could fire normally. And once, according to the recollections of division commander V.V. Chudov, BKA-101, being north-west of the island. Lavensaari, fired two M-8 shells at a German T-class small destroyer.

There was little use for “homemade homemade launchers” at sea (another issue is the use of homemade launchers for rockets on land, especially during street battles, where they were literally irreplaceable). Their accuracy of fire was very poor, and the installations themselves “did not ensure safety,” that is, they posed a greater danger to the team than to the enemy. In connection with this order of the People's Commissar of the Navy dated January 24, 1943, the design and manufacture of launchers was prohibited rocket launchers without the knowledge of the General Staff of the Navy.

The table shows the data for the most widely used variants of the M-8 and M-13 projectiles. The same M-13 projectile had many other variants: M-13 with TC^t6 (range 8230 m), M-13 with TC-14 (range 5520 m), etc. All these projectiles could be included in the ammunition load of armored boats. For example, the author found naval firing tables for the M-13 projectile weighing 44.5 kg with the ballistic index TS-29. Its maximum firing range is 43.2 kb (7905 m).

Data from the M-8 and M-13 missiles

How practical was it to install launchers with M-8 and M-13 missiles on armored boats? In the author's opinion, this is a controversial issue. For boats of Project 1124, when installing rocket weapons, the artillery power was halved. For boats of Project 1125, the draft increased significantly and the speed decreased. The missile launchers were not armored; they were loaded and aimed by servants who were not protected from enemy fire. Finally, even one bullet hitting a rocket on the launcher could lead to the death of the boat. In fact, after the installation of jet weapons, the boat ceased to be an armored boat. All the same installations for missiles were installed on other sea and river vessels of almost all types - from crew and torpedo boats to fishing seiners. Therefore, in the author’s opinion, it was more expedient to install rockets on unarmored ships and boats, and the UAVs should have been used as purely artillery ships. Another question is that in the absence of other watercraft there was no other way out.

During the war, BKAs were often called “floating tanks.” This name largely corresponds to reality, but you can’t take things to the point of absurdity! If the tank commander cannot see the target in rough terrain, he can drive to a hillock and hit the target with direct fire. An armored boat, naturally, cannot do this - its line of fire is always below the shore. Therefore, from a tank gun with an elevation angle of 25°, an armored boat cannot hit a target that is invisible from the turret. Except, of course, for the use of chemical shells. Therefore, the maximum elevation angle of boat guns should be 60-75°. In the 1930s, the Red Army had a sufficient number of powerful and relatively light artillery systems that provided effective mounted fire. Among them are the 122-mm regimental howitzer “Lom” (prototypes), 122-mm howitzer mod. 1910/30 (large-scale production), 122-mm howitzer M-30 mod. 1938 (large-scale production), 152-mm mortar mod. 1931 (small-scale production), 152-mm howitzer mod. 1909/30 (large-scale production) and a 152-mm howitzer M-10 mod. 1938 (large-scale production). Thus, there was plenty to choose from.

Naturally, the BKA should have had special naval turret installations, and not tank turrets. And it's not just a matter of elevation angle. Why do you need a turret with 40-50 mm armor when the side armor thickness is 7 mm? It's just a joke - the upper half of the gunner's body is covered with projectile-proof armor, and the lower half with bullet-proof armor. Why protect part of the ammunition load with 50 mm armor when the rest of the ammunition load is protected by 7 mm armor?

Why is the BKA turret needed to be as cramped as a tank turret? The tightness in the tower means, first of all, greater fatigue for the crew, especially during a long stay in the tower. This is severe gas pollution during shooting, which no domestic fans could cope with. In a cramped turret, the rate of fire of cannons is 5-7 times lower than when firing from the same cannon on a firing range. By reducing the thickness of the turret armor and increasing the volume of the armor space, you can only gain weight.

BKA pr. 1125 with an installation for firing rockets. Dnieper flotilla.

Let's not forget that in the 30s, and especially in 1941-1943. There were not enough tank turrets for tanks, and they were made for BKA to the detriment of tank forces.

At the very beginning of hostilities, it became clear that on the BKA pr. 1125, the servants of the bow turret with a 7.62 mm machine gun could not fire simultaneously with the cannon turret located directly behind. In this regard, the bow turret was dismantled on the boats under construction.

To increase the survivability of radio communications, whip and handrail antennas were used, located along the perimeter of the wheelhouse.

The project provided for observation from the conning tower through the cracks in the armor plates. In combat conditions, this turned out to be extremely inconvenient; it was necessary to raise the shields, open the windows, and look out of the slightly open armored doors, which increased the losses in the crew. Therefore, a tank rotating periscope was installed on the roof of the cabin. In addition, tank observation blocks were used.

During the war, telephone communications were installed on armored boats of both projects. The commander could now easily communicate with the crews in the towers, with the engine room and the aft (tiller) compartment.

To reduce the fire hazard on boats, the Shaternikov system was used, in which cooled exhaust gases were pumped into gas tanks.

During combat operations on freezing rivers and lakes, it was necessary to extend the navigation time of the UAV. This was not easy to do - the light hull of the armored boat could not ensure safe navigation even in broken ice. Plates young ice the paint was stripped off, causing corrosion. The thin blades of the propellers were often damaged. Sludge and fine ice clogged the cooling system, causing the boats' engines to overheat.

Commander Yu.Yu.Benoit found an original way out of the situation. The armored boat was dressed in a wooden “fur coat”. Wooden boards 40-50 mm thick protected the bottom and sides of the boat (100-150 mm above the waterline). The wooden “coat” almost did not change the boat’s draft due to the buoyancy of the wood. Another question is that the BKA in the “fur coat” had a lower speed.

E.E. Pammel designed a propeller with thicker blade edges, and the maximum speed of a boat with strengthened propellers decreased by only 0.5 knots. At the same time, Pammel proposed a profiled device he specially designed, which was installed so that the propeller operated as if in a semi-nozzle. This not only improved the traction qualities of the complex, but also served as additional protection for the propeller. Only because of wartime technological difficulties did this semi-attachment not go into production and was installed on only one armored boat.

To strengthen the hull, the portholes were sealed. An exception was made only for the commander's cabin and cockpit.

To protect the cooling system, F.D. Kachaev proposed installing an ice box in the engine room - a cylinder, the height of which exceeded the draft of the boat. A lattice partition was placed inside, which retained the ice entering along with the sea water. Accumulated fine ice or slush could be removed without leaving the engine room. This simple device, as the autumn-winter navigation of 1942-1943 showed, turned out to be very reliable.

To improve living conditions in 1944, Yu.Yu. Benois proposed installing specially designed boiler-stoves that served both for heating and cooking (instead of inconvenient Primus stoves). They operated on both liquid and solid fuel and earned the full approval of the personnel of the armored boats.

Alterations were also made to the steering system. The rudders, despite being protected by tunnels, were often damaged. And removing the steering wheel and repairing it in the conditions of front-line bases that did not have special equipment was very difficult. As a result, the design was significantly simplified.

To increase the maximum speed of the UAV, K.K. Fedyaevsky proposed using “air lubrication.” The compressed air supplied under the boat's hull was supposed to spread over the bottom and, by changing the nature of the flow around it, reduce friction resistance. According to calculations, the speed should have increased by 2-3 knots. At the beginning of 1944, working drawings were developed, and by the beginning of navigation on the Volga, one of the boats of Project 1124 was prepared for the experiment. Slots were cut in the bottom skin in the plane of one of the bow frames. Above them, inside the housing, waterproof boxes were welded, to which compressed air from the supercharger was supplied through pipes. But tests showed that when air was supplied, the speed did not increase, but decreased. Since the main engines went into overdrive, it could be assumed that air got into the tunnels, and the propellers, working in a mixture of water and air, became “light.” It was not possible to eliminate air from entering the screws, and the system had to be dismantled.

To be continued

History of creation

The large armored boat intended for the Amur was supposed to be armed with two 76-mm cannons in two turrets from the tanks, and the small armored boat with one 76-mm cannon in the tank turret. At the same time, they planned to install two small turrets with rifle-caliber machine guns on the armored boats. The maximum draft of a large armored boat was planned to be up to 0.7 m, and for a small one - up to 0.45 m. The boats had to fit into the railway dimensions of the USSR to allow transportation by rail.

Design

The armored boat of Project 1125 had a single-shaft power plant with a GAM-34 engine, therefore - worse maneuverability and survivability compared to Project 1124. But, to some extent, this was compensated by a lower draft. As of October 17, 1937, the characteristics of the armored boat Project 1125: total displacement 26 tons; maximum length 22.5 m; maximum width 3.4 m; maximum draft 0.5 m. 1 GAM-34BP engine provided 20 knots with a range of 250 km. Armament: 1 76-mm KT-28 cannon and 1 DT machine gun in the turret of a T-28 tank. In addition, 3 Maxima in 3 PB-3 towers. The boat's armor is bulletproof: sides 7 mm; deck 4 mm; sides and roof of the cabin 8 and 4 mm. The sides are armored from 16 to 45 frames. The lower edge of the side armor dropped below the waterline by 150 mm. The installation of the PB-3 turret on the bow of the Project 1125 boats required increasing the barbette of the gun turret by 100 mm (to be able to rotate above the bow machine-gun turret). In March 1938, instead of PB-3 machine-gun turrets with a Maxim machine gun, the Zelenodolsk plant began installing PBK-5 turrets with a DT machine gun. By June 27, 1938, the plant had in stock 25 turrets from T-28 tanks for installation on boats of projects 1124 and 1125. At this time, the installation of modified turrets on armored boats with an elevation angle increased to 70° and armor thickness reduced from 20 to 10 mm was discussed . T-28 turrets of the first modification with a common rectangular entrance hatch were installed only on 24 armored boats of Project 1125. On subsequent armored boats, the same T-28 turrets were installed, but with 2 round hatches. The displacement of boats pr. 1125 with PBK-5 turrets with DT machine guns is 25.5 tons; maximum length 22.65 m; waterline length 22.26 m; maximum width with fender 3.54 m; boat side height 1.5 m; armored boat draft 0.56 m. 1 GAM-34VS engine with AK-60 aircraft compressor, D-3 auxiliary engine. The armored boat developed 18 knots (33 km/h). Crew 10 people 2.2 tons of gasoline for 16-20 hours of full speed. The design armament consisted of a 76-mm KT-28 gun with a firing angle of 290°, later replaced by an F-34 cannon and 4 machine guns - 1 in the tank turret and 3 in the turrets - one in front of the gun turret (which was raised on the barbette), one on the combat wheelhouse and one in the stern. To differentiate the hull, the cannon turret and wheelhouse are shifted to the stern (23rd frame). As during the construction of armored boats Project 1124, the design of the turrets and the installation of machine guns (open and closed at the top, two and single barrel) were also changed on the boats. Turrets with a 76-mm PS-3 cannon and 45-mm 20-K cannons with the same elevation angle (60°) were developed for armored boats, but they were not accepted for production. An experimental boat, Project 1125, built without armor, after testing was handed over by order of Deputy People's Commissar of the Navy I.S. Isakov for use as a training boat. Production boats had already been booked, and the first production armored boat of Project 1125 entered service in 1938. It was planned that in 1939 the Zelenodolsk plant would hand over 38 BKA pr. 1125 to the fleet associations, but only 25 of them were provided with T-28 tank turrets. The Kirov Plant undertook to supply the remaining 13 tank turrets according to a new, naval - modified project, which made it possible to fire at air targets. And in 1939, the project of the second series of boats was approved - modified, which were supposed to be equipped with economical ZIS-5 engines. The installation of modified 76-mm turrets with an elevation angle of 70° and four coaxial universal 12.7-mm machine guns in two DShKM-2B turrets on Project 1125U armored boats under construction was planned to begin in 1940.

Power point

The first series of armored boats of projects 1125 and 1124 had GAM-34BP or GAM-34BS gasoline engines. The large armored boat has two engines, and the small one has one. Maximum engine power - GAM-34BP - 800 hp. With. and GAM-34BS - 850 l. With. - at 1850 rpm. At these speeds, the armored boats could accelerate to full speed; their movement at the highest speed corresponded to a regime transitioning from displacement sailing to planing.

Armament

Gun - originally the armored boat and Project 1125 had a 76-mm tank gun mod. 1927/32 with a barrel length of 16.5 calibers in the turrets of the T-28 tank. But at the beginning of 1938, the production of these guns at the Kirov plant was stopped. Since 1938, the same plant has mass-produced 76-mm L-10 tank guns with a barrel length of 26 calibers. These guns were installed on some armored boats in the same turrets of the T-28 tank.

L-10 cannons are installed on BKA pr. 1125 from 4 to 18.

Machine gun, anti-aircraft and light weapons - three or four 7.62 mm DT machine guns - one coaxial in the tank turret, up to three in three turrets - on the wheelhouse, on the engine room hood and sometimes on the nose, or one or three 7.62 mm DT machine gun - 1 coaxial in a tank turret, up to 2 in 2 turrets - sometimes on the hood of the engine room and sometimes on the nose; and from one to four (2 coaxial) 12.7 mm DShK machine guns; and the crew's personal weapons.

Means of communication

The armored boats were equipped with an Ersh radio station with a power of 50 W, operating in the wave range 25-200 m (0.5-12 MHz) when transmitting and 25-600 m (0.5-12 MHz) when receiving, with a range of 80 miles.

Modernizations during the war

During the fighting, it became necessary to extend the navigation time of armored boats on freezing bodies of water; but it was difficult to do this - the light hull of the armored boat was not able to ensure safe navigation even in broken ice. Plates of young ice stripped the paint from the hull, which led to its corrosion. On armored boats, thin propeller blades were often damaged. The commander of the armored boat - as well as its chief designer - Yu. Yu. Benoit found an acceptable way out of this situation - the boat was “dressed” in a wooden “fur coat”. Boards with a thickness of 40 to 50 mm protected the bottom and sides (100-150 mm above the waterline) of the ship. This so-called “fur coat” almost did not change the sediment at all due to the buoyancy of the tree. But the “fur coat” also had disadvantages - the armored boat in it had a lower speed. In this regard, engineer Pammel created a design for a propeller with blade edges that are thicker than the previous ones; the maximum speed of an armored boat with reinforced propellers decreased by only 0.5 knots. So Soviet armored boats became mini-icebreakers; it was important on

At the end of 1962, a large anti-submarine ship joined the USSR Navy project 61“Komsomolets of Ukraine”, the development of which was carried out at TsKB-53 since 1956. It was the first fairly large serial BNK, equipped with a gas turbine unit, and as a result became a milestone not only in domestic, but also in world military shipbuilding. Despite the fact that the construction of this project, according to the program, was planned since 1959, even then it was clear that having only one torpedo tube and four RBUs ​​among anti-submarine weapons, such a ship could not effectively fight modern enemy nuclear submarines. Therefore, already in 1958, B.I. Kupensky’s group was issued TTZ for the design of a more armed BOD according to project 1125. Its main difference was that it was supposed to carry on board a six-barreled RBU-24000 launcher for Vikhr anti-submarine missiles with a nuclear warhead and have one or two permanently deployed anti-submarine helicopters.

According to the results of the preliminary design work, the ship's displacement was: standard 5,900 tons, normal 6,650 tons, full 7,400 tons. To speed up the work, the project was carried out in the hull of a destroyer pr.58 with dimensions of 160 x 16 x 6 meters and with its own boiler-turbine unit with a capacity of 2 x 45,000 hp. The full speed of the ship was assumed to be 40 knots, which would make it possible to quickly overtake submarines with the highest 30-knot underwater speed.

BOD armament Project 1125 in addition to the RBU-24000, it consisted of two M-1 Volna air defense systems with two-boom launchers, two twin universal 76.2 mm AK-726 artillery mounts, two RBU-6000 rocket launchers and two five-tube 533 mm torpedo tubes. In the aft section there was a runway and an under-deck hangar for a helicopter (or two), as well as aviation fuel reserves and an aviation ammunition cellar.

In the end from project 1125 abandoned in favor of a serial BOD pr.61, and the Whirlwind anti-submarine missile system (but in the form of a rechargeable double-boom launcher) was adopted only by aircraft-carrying anti-submarine cruisers Project 1123 And 1143 . First of all, the decision to refuse was made to please industry, as a result of which our fleet missed the chance to deploy a more powerful anti-submarine system than was later created. After all, many such ships could be built, based on their serial cost. Besides, project 1125 could subsequently be modernized with the advent of new weapons, which absolutely could not be done with pr.61 due to its overly compact layout.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Perm Shipyard produced “floating tanks” - armored boats - according to mobilization orders. Few people know or remember about this now. However, if you drive into a remote corner of the industrial zone in Zakamsk, you can see an AK-454 armored boat (according to another version, BK-454) on a pedestal in front of the entrance to the Kama plant. In 1974, on the initiative of the plant director Ivan Pavlovich Timofeev, boat No. 181, which took part in hostilities on the Volga, Dnieper, Danube, and Amur rivers, was delivered to the plant, repaired and installed on a pedestal on May 9, 1974.

On January 31, 1984, by decision of the Perm Regional Executive Committee No. 58-r, the monument was accepted under state protection, and on December 5, 2000, by order of the governor of the Perm region No. 713-r, it was included in the state list of historical monuments of the Perm region of local (regional) significance. At present, out of 154 (?) built boats, 12 units have been preserved in the form of monuments.

In November 1942, by order State Committee defense shipyard switched from manufacturing river tugs to producing armored boats of the AK-454 series according to project 1125 by general designer Benoit Yu Yu.
By 1948, 132 armored boats were produced. Among the paratroopers they were called “sea tanks.”
The Perm armored boats were armed with the turrets of the T-34-76 tank with a 76-mm F-34 cannon and a DT 7.62 machine gun, as well as two anti-aircraft installations twin DShK pudeguns. In addition to the main armament, the boats could carry and install 4 sea mines using semi-makeshift equipment.


Photo by Dmitry Shelekhov

When designing, the armored boats were intended for operations on the border Amur River, but the war made its own adjustments. The boats were used both on rivers and lakes and in naval theaters of war, especially during landing operations.


Photo by Dmitry Shelekhov

One of the requirements when designing the boat was its dimensions, allowing it to be moved on railway platforms to any theater of military operations.

From this angle it is clear that part of the side has undergone serious repairs

On the northern side of the pedestal of the armored boat there are 16 marble slabs on which are carved the names of 192 workers and employees of the plant who died in the Great Patriotic War, and in the center there is a metal plate with the inscription: “Letter to 2045”, an old capsule with the inscription: “Laid here May 9, 1975 capsule with the Appeal of Great Patriotic War veterans, labor veterans and shock workers of the IX Five-Year Plan to Komsomol members and youth of the year 2000. Open May 9, 2000." I guess it's already been opened.

The photo shows that the armored boat was equipped with only one bow anchor.
On Ladoga, boats were additionally equipped with wooden lining of the sides and bottom and received an advantage over Finnish boats when operating in ice conditions

And this is the view just to the left of the boat.
At the feet of the imperturbable leader of all nations, two young mothers sat comfortably with beer

Material used in the text