Identification of the wreck of the submarine "Akula"

An identification campaign conducted jointly by the Estonian ship “Deep Explorer” and Russian researchers from the project “Bow ships of the Great Victory” in the waters of the Baltic Sea, led to the confirmation of the identity of the submarine “Akula” flying the flag of the Russian Empire during the First World War. The ship was found by Estonian hydrographers in 2013.

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Identification was possible thanks to distinctive structural elements (screws), torpedo launchers and partially visible letters on the port side.

The single-hull construction of the project of the legendary Russian constructor Ivan Grigoryevich Budnov was the first ship of this type in the tsarist fleet, which, besides the ability to operate at long distances and in the communication routes of the enemy, could also carry out the torpedo attack. The idea of its creation was born during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905).

The keel for the construction of the ship was laid in 1906 at the Baltic Plant in St. Petersburg. The finished ship was 56m long and 3.7m wide, and her draught was 3.4m. The maximum draught was set at 50m. The design had 3 screws, which were driven by 3 Diesel engines – 900 hp (on the surface) and 1 electric engine with 225 hp (when submerged). This translated into speeds of 10.66 knots when surfaced and 6.4 knots when submerged. The surface range of “Akula” at economy speed was 1900Mm, while in submersion it dropped to 38Mm.

The ship was armed with 4 450mm torpedo launchers, 4 Drzewiecki torpedo launchers and 1 47mm gun (mounted in 1915).

The ship was sunk on 28 November 1915. Most probably the reason of sinking was the mine. During the fateful voyage all members of the 35-person crew lost their lives. Further dives on the vessel are expected to provide answers to the exact causes of the sinking. Due to the remains of the crew inside the vessel, no exploration of its interior will be carried out. Procedures have also been initiated to turn the site into a mass grave.

According to the explorers, another group of divers arrived at the site shortly after them. They made an unauthorised dive and carried out their own “research” with destructive effects on the wreck. How? This is unfortunately not stated.

Source: tvzvezda.ru/
Photo: facebook.com/hylkysukellus