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Soviet`s K class, Katyusha class submarine and Cap` Mahomet Gadzhive (1907-1942)
 The K-class submarines were designed by M.A. Rudnitskiy, these were large, capable, long-range boats designated Kreyser by the Soviets. Design work began in 1934. Originally they were intended to carry a small, dismantled floatplane of the SPL series in a hangar aft of the conning tower; the project was not pursued.
During August-September 1941 the Soviets reinforced their submarine strength in the North Fleet by bringing 8 boats from the Baltic via the Stalin (White Sea) river-canal system, K-3 and K-23 were part of those transferred boats.
A Soviet submarine operated for the first time west of the North Cape in late November 1941. This was the K-3 with division commander, Division No.1, Captain 3rd Rank Mahomet/Magomed Imadutinovich Gadzhiev onboard. On December 3 the K-3 attacked the escorted German steamer Altkirch near Hammerfest. The Altkirch was able to evade the torpedoes fired at her, and two escorts counterattacked the submarine with multiple depth charge attacks. The K-3 was severely damaged. Unable to conduct underwater repairs, Gadzhive decided to fight it out with the German ships on the surface with gunfire. The damaged K-3, armed with two 100mm and two 45mm deck guns, succeeded in sinking one of the escorts and driving off the second. After Gadzhiev transferred at sea to the K-23, K-3 returned to port although unable to submerge.
In April-May 1942 Soviet deployment conducted attacks off Nordkyn and Makkaur. Four German transports were sunk in these attacks, which included several engagements with German anti-submarine ships, some of them fought on the surface. The K-23 with Gadzhiev onboard was sunk off Okse Fjord on May 12, 1942by two German anti-submarine ships after a gun duel that followed the submarine reporting to have sunk a cargo ship.
Captain 3rd Rank Mahomet Gadzhiev was officially declared Hero of the Soviet Union on October 10, 1942.
Specifications, K-class series XIV:
The submarines are of the saddle-tank configuration with seven main compartments.
Displacement (srf/sub tons): 1,480/2,095
Dimensions (L*B*D feet): 320`4*24`3*14`10
Propulsion: 2*4,200hp 9-DKR diesels, 2*2,200hp electric motors, 1*800hp diesel generator, 4*60 cell type 2-S battery groups, 2 shafts
Speed (srf/sub knots): 21/10
Range (srf/sub n/miles@knots): 15,000@9 or 2,900@20/160@3 or 10@10
Diving depth (feet): 328
Complement: 62 officers and crew
Torpedo: 6*21"(533mm) bow torpedo tubes, 2*21" stern torpedo tubes, 2*21" torpedo tubes on aft deck, total of 24 torpedoes
Mines: 20 inside the pressure hull, released through two vertical chutes under the control room
Armament: 2*100mm/50cal. B-24 main deck gun,1*45mm/46 cal. K-21 AA gun
Construction
Eighteen hulls were built by Ordzhonikidze, Leningrad; and Marti Yard, Leningrad all but five were launched and commissioned between 1938 and 1942, the five were commissioned later in 1947.
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Russia |
2005 |
Submarine K class series XIV (1938), 3 March 2005, cancellation Murmansk |
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Russia |
2005 |
Submarine K class series XIV (1938), 3 March 2005, cancellation Saint Petersburg |
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Russia |
2005 |
Submarine K class series XIV (1938) (sheet of 14 stamps) |
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Russia |
2005 |
Submarine K class series XIV (1938) |
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