The interest of Soviet sailors in river armored boats arose back in 1925. The conflict on the CER in 1929 clearly showed how important river vessels were for defending our borders, especially on the Amur. In the context of the neighborhood with decentralized China and the growing Japanese expansion, the outdated ships of tsarist construction no longer met the requirements of the time. Thanks to industrialization and the restoration of industrial capacity, the Soviet river fleet was able to build new, modern ships.
Small river armored boats of Project 1124 and 1125 were intended to combat enemy boats, provide combat support to ground forces, provide fire support, conduct reconnaissance, and conduct combat operations in river, lake, and coastal marine areas.
Creation history
On November 12, 1931, the RKKF approved the technical assignment for two types of armored boats: a large one (for the Amur) with two 76-mm guns in tank turrets and a small one with one 76-mm gun. Both were to have machine-gun turrets and a small draft (up to 0.7 m and 0.45 m, respectively) for transportation by rail.
In 1932, "Lenrechsudoproekt" received the task, choosing turrets and guns from the T-28 and GAM-34 engines. In October 1932, the projects were completed: large - "Project 1124", small - "Project 1125". Since 1934, the Zelenodolsk plant built 154 armored boats of these projects in 10 years.
Boats of Project 1124 were equipped with two tank turrets from the T-28, each of which included the main gun and a coaxial machine gun. Additionally, a PB-3 machine-gun turret with a DT machine gun was located on the roof of the cabin. In total, there were three DT machine guns with air cooling and magazine feed on board. The main armament of the boat was a tank gun developed on the basis of the 76-mm field gun model 1927. The crew consisted of 16 people, including the commander, mechanics, artillerymen/machine gunners, helmsmen, and a radio operator. The boat was powered by two GAM-34 aircraft engines developed by Mikulin.
The first armored boats had insufficient seaworthiness, were heavily flooded on the move, which made it difficult to work on deck. The 2nd department of the UK NKVMF eliminated this drawback by installing spray deflectors.
The hull with full contours, a flat bottom, and vertical sides provided minimal draft. 10 watertight compartments. The lowered deck under the cabin with a 4-ton gasoline tank was protected by the Shaterinkov fire extinguishing system, which cooled the exhaust gases and fed them into the tank to displace gasoline. There were no explosions of gasoline tanks during the war.
Combat use and modifications
At the beginning of the war, the USSR lost a number of shipbuilding plants, including Kiev No. 300. Stalingrad Plant No. 264 was transferred to the tank industry, and unfinished boats were transferred to Astrakhan. The construction of armored boats of Project 1124 continued at plants No. 340 (Zelenodolsk) and No. 115 (Astrakhan), but experienced a shortage of raw materials and equipment. Materials went to tanks and aviation. Zelenodolsk Plant No. 340 mastered the work with armor and the conversion of aircraft engines into boat engines. In 1942-1944, the plant delivered 53 armored boats of Project 1124, but by the end of the war, only 20% of its products went to the fleet. A small armored boat S-40 (7 units) with V-2 tank diesels was produced, intended for the border troops on the Amudarya and entered service in 1942, differing in noisiness due to underwater exhaust.
During the Great Patriotic War, armored boats became indispensable helpers at the front. They universally supported ground troops, escorted valuable cargo, guarded crossings, and even participated in landing operations. Their importance was especially evident on the Volga, where they became a vital link in the supply of Stalingrad. Despite continuous fire, severe frosts, and air raids, these boats delivered everything necessary – from ammunition and food to people. Without their selfless work, the defense of the city might not have withstood, which would have led to a serious defeat for the Soviet Union.
The boat had excellent maneuverability, turning almost on the spot. The propeller-rudder complex was located in a semi-tunnel to protect it when grounding. Living conditions are spartan: the height of living quarters is 155 cm, natural ventilation and lighting (portholes), water heating. Electricity from mounted generators.
Some characteristics of the armored boat of Project 1125:
- length — 23 m
- draft — 0.6 m
- crew — 16 people
- full speed — 18 knots (33 km/h)
- engine — GAM-34-VS (based on the AM-34 aircraft engine) with a power of 800 hp
- fuel reserve on board — 2.2 tons
- the boat is designed for operation in 3-point waves
- bulletproof armor: side — 7 mm, deck — 4 mm, cabin — 8 mm, cabin roof — 4 mm
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