Russian submarine Krab (1912)

Krab (Краб - Crab) was a submarine built for the Imperial Russian Navy. She was designed by Mikhail Petrovich Nalyotov as the world's first submarine minelayer, although due to construction delays the German UC submarines entered service earlier. The mines were stowed in two horizontal galleries exiting through the stern. Diving depth was 45 metres. This ship was built by the Naval yard in Nikolayev by the Black Sea (now Mykolaiv, Ukraine). She was ordered in 1908, launched in September 1912 (or early 1913, sources differ) and entered service in 1915.

For other ships with the same name, see Russian submarine Krab.
Krab, c.1909
History
Russian Empire
Name: Krab
Ordered: 1908
Builder: Naval yard in Nikolayev, Black Sea
Launched: September 1912 (some reports say 1913)
Commissioned: 1915
In service: 1915 - 1917
Fate: Scuttled April 1919, raised 1935 and scrapped
General characteristics
Displacement:
  • 512 tons surface
  • 740 tons submerged
Length: 52.8 m (173 ft)
Beam: 4.3 m (14 ft)
Draft: 3.9 m (13 ft)
Propulsion:
  • 2 shaft gasoline electric
  • 4 petrol engines 1,200 hp
  • 2 electric motors 400 hp
Speed:
  • 11.8 knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph) surfaced
  • 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
Range: 1,700 nmi (3,100 km; 2,000 mi)
Complement: 50
Armament:
  • 2 × 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes (bow) and two torpedo drop collars
  • 1 × 75 mm gun
  • 2 × machine guns
  • 60 mines

Service
Mikhail Nalyotov

This submarine fought during World War I in the Black Sea Fleet. She laid several minefields which accounted for the sinking of the Turkish gunboat Isa Reis and the Bulgarian torpedo boat Shumni as well as several merchant ships. After the Russian Revolution of 1917 the boat was captured by the Germans and transferred to the British intervention force who scuttled the boat near Sevastopol to prevent capture by the Bolsheviks. The wreck was raised in 1935 and scrapped.

References
  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Page in English
  • Page in Russian from Black Sea Fleet
  • Page in Russian Language
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