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SKB Rubin - History 1926-1941

The USSR Labor and Defense Council approved the first military shipbuilding program for a six-year period in 1926. The program provided for the construction of 12 submarines. First of all, 6 torpedo submarines were to be built, later named “Submarines I Series” or type “D” (“Decembrist” is the name of the first submarine of this series and the first military ship built in the USSR). From November 4, 1926, at the Baltic Shipyard, the construction of submarines was headed by Technical Bureau No. 4 (Technical Bureau No. 4). This name was assigned to the Podpla department. B.M. Malinin was appointed Head of the Technical Bureau No. 4. According to the projects developed under his leadership, 133 submarines were later built. He became the first engineer, who was later awarded the title of Chief Designer. A common (in modern terms, draft) project of submarines I series was developed. The main authors of the project were K. I. Ruberovsky and B. M. Malinin. Three submarines of the first series ("Decembrist", "Narodovolets", "Krasnogvardeets") were laid at the Baltic Shipyard. The head submarine of this series, the Decembrist, was incorporated into the naval forces in 1930. The second submarine of this series, the D-2 (Narodovolets), has survived until today, which, after prolonged use and rework - the training vessel was restored by the joint efforts of OAO TsBB MT Rubin, OAO Baltiysky Zavod and OAO Admiralty Shipyards. This submarine, which is a monument to the achievements of Russian science and technology of the 30s of the twentieth century, is located in St. Petersburg and is a branch of the Central Naval Museum. With the participation of the engineers of the Technical Bureau No. 4, the British submarine "L-55" was raised and restored at the Baltic Shipyard in 1928. It sank in 1919 by the Soviet destroyer Azard in the Gulf of Finland. A project of "combined" submarines of the II series - mine-layer barriers, which had sufficiently powerful torpedo and artillery weapons, was developed in 1928. In 1929 the lead submarine of the Leninets Series II (chief designer - B.M. Malinin) was laid at the Baltic Shipyard. In the future, several more projects of similarly designed submarines were developed The XI series project was developed in 1933 (6 units). The head submarine of this series "Voroshilovets" was handed over to the Navy in December 1936. The XIII series project was developed in 1934 (7 units). The main submarine "L-13" was handed over to the Navy in October 1938. The XIII-38g series project was developed in 1937 (5 units). The main submarine "L-20" was commissioned to the Navy in September 1942. A project of a submarine of the III series (4 units) - a torpedo boat of average displacement (type "U") (chief designer - B.M. Malinin) was developed. In the future, several more projects of submarines of the "U" type were developed, representing a further improvement of submarines of this type. The V series project was developed in 1932 (12 units). The head submarine of the series - "Salmon" was commissioned to the Navy in 1933. The V-bis series project was developed in 1933 (13 units). The lead submarine of the series - "Lin" was commissioned to the Navy in 1934. The V-bis-2 series project was developed in 1934 (14 units). The head submarine of the series - “Cod” was commissioned to the Navy in 1935. The X series project was developed in 1935 (32 units). The lead submarine of the series - "Shch-401" was commissioned to the Navy in 1936. And the X bis series project was developed in 1938 (11 units). The lead submarine of the series - "Shch-135" was commissioned to the Navy in 1941. In 1930 the Special Technical Bureau of Economic Management under the authorized representative of the State Political Administration in the Leningrad Military District (HSE ECU PP OGPU in the LVO), located at the Baltic Shipyard, began work. The designers of submarines also worked there. The tasks were : correction of problems encountered in testing submarines of the I series; and development of a squadron submarine project (IV series - 3 units). A draft of a submarine of the IV series was developed; the lead submarine of the IV series Pravda was commissioned to the USSR Navy in 1936. On 18 January 1931, the Board of Soyuzverfy (All-Union Association of Shipbuilding Industry Plants) Technical Bureau No. 4 of the Baltic Plant was incorporated into the Central Design Bureau for Special (Military) Shipbuilding (TsKBS). In April, the 3rd Division of the TsKBS and the Special Technical Bureau took place in the Special Design and Technical Bureau No. 2 (OKTB-2), which was subordinate to the OGPU. In this bureau, which existed until April 1932, the development of the project for a large squadron submarine of the IV series (Pravda) and a submarine of a small displacement of the 6th series, which could be transported by rail from one theater of war to another, was started. OKTB-2 ceased to exist in 1932, having transferred its functions to the Central Design Bureau of Special (Underwater) Shipbuilding No. 2. A draft of an all-welded submarine of a small displacement of the VI series (30 units) has been developed. The lead submarine of this series, the M-1, was commissioned by the Soviet Navy in 1934. Later, the project of the sixth series was improved, and submarines VI bis (20 units) were built on it. In 1933 a group of Soviet specialists, which included employees of the TsKBS-2, was sent to Germany, Spain and the Netherlands to familiarize themselves with the state of submarine construction abroad. As a result of the business trip, an agreement was reached with the German company Deshimag on the development of a draft design of a submarine of medium displacement with the best models of mechanisms made at that time by foreign industry. Initially, the project was called "E-2", then the code number "H" was assigned to it, and subsequently - the IX series. In 1934 inside the TsKBS-2 a Special Design Bureau (CSC) was organized to develop working drawings of the IX series submarines. In February 1935, the CSC was disbanded. The lead submarine of the IX series "S-1" ("N-1") was handed over to the Navy in 1936. In total, three submarines were built on this project using foreign mechanisms. The next 38 submarines, which were fully provided with domestic mechanisms, were given the name of the IX-bis series. A draft cruiser squadron of the XIV series (chief designer - M.A. Rudnitsky), the largest in size and the most powerful weaponry submarine of the period preceding the beginning of World War II, was developed. The main submarine of this project "K-1" was handed over to the Navy in 1939. In 1935 the engineer of TsKBS-2 conducted experimental work on the implementation of this cycle, carried out on a submarine XII series "M-92" ("C-92", "R-1"). TsKBS-2 again passed to the subordination of the Baltic plant. In 1936 TsKBS-2 as part of Glavmorprom was transferred to the People's Commissariat of Defense Industry (NKOP). A draft of more sophisticated submarines of small displacement XII series (46 units) has been developed. The main submarine of this series, the M-171, was commissioned to the Navy in 1937. In 1937 the bureau became known as the Central Design Bureau No. 18 (TsKB-18), became an independent economic organization and came under the direct subordination of the 2nd Main Directorate of the People’s Commissariat of the Defense Industry. In 1938 TsKB-18 moved from Baltiysky Zavod to a new building at 50 Suvorovsky Avenue. TsKB-17 and TsKB-19 were located in the same building. A draft of a two-shaft submarine of small displacement with an increased torpedo ammunition (4 torpedoes) - XV series (57 units) was developed. The head submarine of this project "M-200" was handed over to the Navy in 1943. For the successes achieved in shipbuilding, a large group of shipbuilders was awarded orders and medals of the USSR. Among them were the first bureau order bearers - V.Vasilyev, P.Z.Golosovsky and V.I. Yakovlev. TsKB-18 moved to the Shuvalov Palace (Embankment of the Fontanka River, d. 21, the former House of Engineering and Technical Workers).