Shchuka class submarine
Encyclopedia
The Shchuka class submarines , also referred to as Shch or SC class submarines were a medium-sized class of Soviet
submarine
s, built in large numbers and used during World War II
. "Shchuka" is Russian for pike
.
(Revvoensoviet) adapted a proposed submarine concept that were to "execute positioning service on closed theatres". Plans were made to construct up to 200 submarines in three main versions, the later ones would be larger and with longer range than the previous versions. However, due to the outbreak of World War II, only 88 submarines were commissioned. It was still to be the second most numerous submarine class of the Soviet Navy (only the M class
were more numerous with 111 built). Seven ship construction yards were involved in the program - No. 189, 190, 194 in Leningrad, No. 112 in Gorky, No. 200 in Nikolaev and No. 202 in Vladivostok.
The name of the class was taken from the individual name of the first submarine Shch-301 "Shchuka". Their numbering depended on which Soviet fleet they belonged to: the 100-series belonged to the Pacific Fleet, the 200-series to the Black Sea Fleet, the 300-series to the Baltic Fleet, and the 400-series to the Northern Fleet. There were however some special cases, i.e. the Northern Fleet submarine Shch-424 was renamed Shch-321 when she was transferred to the Baltic Fleet via the Stalin Canal (and later renamed back to Shch-424 when returning).
The conning tower
had brass
symbols as identifiers (Щ-XXX, where the XXX is the number).
In all, 35 Shchuka class submarines were lost, the vast majority during World War II.
The last surviving submarines of the class in the Soviet navy were decommissioned in the mid-1950s and scrapped during the following years, but two submarines of this class, along with two Soviet M class submarine
s (S-121 and S-123) were supplied to People's Liberation Army Navy
in June, 1954, thus becoming the foundation of the submarine force of the People's Republic of China
. However, the two Shchuka class submarines were not technically transferred to China, but instead, loaned to China for training Chinese crews, and technically, they were still Soviet naval property, and thus were not given Chinese names like the Soviet M class submarine
handed to China.
carried the name. Also at least two other, newer Soviet/Russian submarine classes carries the name, however, the NATO reporting names differ. These are the Project 671 Shchuka (NATO: Viktor
) and Project 971 Shchuka-B (Akula
).
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s, built in large numbers and used during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. "Shchuka" is Russian for pike
Esox
Esox is a genus of freshwater fish, the only living genus in the family Esocidae — the esocids which were endemic to North America, Europe and Eurasia during the Paleogene through present.The type species is E. lucius, the northern pike...
.
Development
On January 23, 1930, the USSR Revolutionary Military CouncilRevolutionary Military Council
Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic or Revvoyensoviet Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic or Revvoyensoviet Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic or Revvoyensoviet (Революционный Военный Совет, Revolyutsionny Voyenny Sovyet; Реввоенсовет, Revvoyensovyet; also...
(Revvoensoviet) adapted a proposed submarine concept that were to "execute positioning service on closed theatres". Plans were made to construct up to 200 submarines in three main versions, the later ones would be larger and with longer range than the previous versions. However, due to the outbreak of World War II, only 88 submarines were commissioned. It was still to be the second most numerous submarine class of the Soviet Navy (only the M class
Soviet M class submarine
The M-class submarines, also Malyutka-class , were a class of small, single-, or 1½-hulled submarines built in the Soviet Union and used during World War II. The submarines were built in sections so they could easily be transported by rail...
were more numerous with 111 built). Seven ship construction yards were involved in the program - No. 189, 190, 194 in Leningrad, No. 112 in Gorky, No. 200 in Nikolaev and No. 202 in Vladivostok.
The name of the class was taken from the individual name of the first submarine Shch-301 "Shchuka". Their numbering depended on which Soviet fleet they belonged to: the 100-series belonged to the Pacific Fleet, the 200-series to the Black Sea Fleet, the 300-series to the Baltic Fleet, and the 400-series to the Northern Fleet. There were however some special cases, i.e. the Northern Fleet submarine Shch-424 was renamed Shch-321 when she was transferred to the Baltic Fleet via the Stalin Canal (and later renamed back to Shch-424 when returning).
The conning tower
Conning tower
A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer can con the vessel; i.e., give directions to the helmsman. It is usually located as high on the ship as practical, to give the conning team good visibility....
had brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
symbols as identifiers (Щ-XXX, where the XXX is the number).
Operational service
The Shchukas saw some great losses during the war. The Baltic, Black Sea and Northern fleet lost 60-70% of their submarines. However, the submarines of the Soviet Pacific fleet did not suffer any losses to the Japanese due to the tranquil nature of the theatre (war operations commenced first in 1945 when the Japanese fleet largely was defeated). 3 submarines were however lost here to other reasons (non-battle damages and incidents).In all, 35 Shchuka class submarines were lost, the vast majority during World War II.
The last surviving submarines of the class in the Soviet navy were decommissioned in the mid-1950s and scrapped during the following years, but two submarines of this class, along with two Soviet M class submarine
Soviet M class submarine
The M-class submarines, also Malyutka-class , were a class of small, single-, or 1½-hulled submarines built in the Soviet Union and used during World War II. The submarines were built in sections so they could easily be transported by rail...
s (S-121 and S-123) were supplied to People's Liberation Army Navy
People's Liberation Army Navy
The People's Liberation Army Navy is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army , the military of the People's Republic of China. Until the early 1990s, the navy performed a subordinate role to the PLA Land Forces. Since then, it has undergone rapid modernisation...
in June, 1954, thus becoming the foundation of the submarine force of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. However, the two Shchuka class submarines were not technically transferred to China, but instead, loaned to China for training Chinese crews, and technically, they were still Soviet naval property, and thus were not given Chinese names like the Soviet M class submarine
Soviet M class submarine
The M-class submarines, also Malyutka-class , were a class of small, single-, or 1½-hulled submarines built in the Soviet Union and used during World War II. The submarines were built in sections so they could easily be transported by rail...
handed to China.
Pacific Fleet
- Shch-101
- Shch-102
- Shch-103 (lost 4 November 1935)
- Shch-104
- Shch-105
- Shch-106
- Shch-107
- Shch-108
- Shch-109
- Shch-110
- Shch-111
- Shch-112
- Shch-113
- Shch-114
- Shch-115
- Shch-116
- Shch-117Soviet submarine S-117S-117 was a Soviet Shchuka class submarine that was lost on or about 15 December 1952, due to unknown causes in the Strait of Tartary in the Sea of Japan. The boat may have collided with a surface ship or struck a mine. All forty-seven crewmen died in the incident.- External links :*...
(lost 15 December 1952) - Shch-118
- Shch-119
- Shch-120
- Shch-121
- Shch-122
- Shch-123
- Shch-124
- Shch-125
- Shch-126
- Shch-127
- Shch-128
- Shch-129
- Shch-130
- Shch-131
- Shch-132
- Shch-133
- Shch-134
- Shch-135
- Shch-136
- Shch-137
- Shch-138 (lost 18 July 1942)
- Shch-139
Black Sea Fleet
- Shch-201
- Shch-202
- Shch-203 (lost 26 August 1943)
- Shch-204 (lost 6 December 1941)
- Shch-205
- Shch-206 (lost 9 July 1941)
- Shch-207 (lost 26 August 1943)
- Shch-208 (lost 23 August 1942)
- Shch-209
- Shch-210 (lost 12 March 1942)
- Shch-211 (lost 14 November 1941)
- Shch-212 (lost 11 December 1942)
- Shch-213 (lost 14 October 1942 found on 13 sept. 2010)
- Shch-214 (lost 19 June 1942)
- Shch-215
- Shch-216 (lost 17 February 1944)
Baltic Fleet
- Shch-301 (lost 28 August 1941)
- Shch-302 (lost October 1942)
- Shch-303
- Shch-304 (lost November 1942)
- Shch-305 (lost 5 November 1942)
- Shch-306 (lost 12 November 1942)
- Shch-307
- Shch-308 (lost 26 October 1942)
- Shch-309
- Shch-310
- Shch-311 (lost 12 October 1942)
- Shch-315
- Shch-317 (lost 15 July 1942)
- Shch-318
- Shch-319 (lost 29 September 1941)
- Shch-320 (lost 27 October 1942)
- Shch-322 (lost 11 October 1941)
- Shch-323 (lost 1 May 1943)
- Shch-324 (lost 5 November 1941)
Northern Fleet
- Shch-401 (lost 23 April 1942)
- Shch-402 (lost 21 September 1944)
- Shch-403 (lost 2 October 1943)
- Shch-404
- Shch-405 (lost 13 July 1942)
- Shch-406 (lost 26 May 1943)
- Shch-407
- Shch-408 (lost 25 May 1943)
- Shch-411
- Shch-413
- Shch-414
- Shch-421 (lost 9 April 1942)
- Shch-422 (lost 5 July 1943)
- Shch-424 (lost 20 October 1939)
See also
"Shchuka" is a traditional Russian/Soviet submarine name, often given to the first submarine of a new class of a new generation submarines. For instance, the first submarine of the early 20th century Som classSom class submarine
The Som class were a series of submarines built for the Imperial Russian Navy in 1904-1907. They were designed by the Electric Boat Company and ordered in the 1904 emergency programme at the time of the Russo-Japanese War. The boats were designed to be transportable by train. The first boat, Som,...
carried the name. Also at least two other, newer Soviet/Russian submarine classes carries the name, however, the NATO reporting names differ. These are the Project 671 Shchuka (NATO: Viktor
Victor class submarine
The Victor class is the NATO reporting name for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was originally put into service by the Soviet Union around 1967. In the USSR, they were produced as Project 671. Victor-class subs featured a teardrop shape, which allowed them to travel at high speed...
) and Project 971 Shchuka-B (Akula
Akula class submarine
Project 971 Щука-Б , is a nuclear-powered attack submarine first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986...
).