February 11, 1720 Russian carpenter Yefim Nikonov began the construction of "secret boat" is the first Russian submarine. From this event goes to the history of submarine building in Russia.
Yefim Nikonov, a native village Pokrovskoye near Moscow, was an accomplished master carpenter. When recruiting the set, he was determined to work in the shipyards, where were built the warships. When meeting with them at Nikonov was born and matured thought about building a vessel that could navigate under water, go unnoticed to the enemy's ships and destroy them. In 1718 he gave the name of Peter I a petition with the proposal to build a "secret vessel", "in a quiet sea will defeat ships with fire..."
In 1719 Nikonov summoned to St. Petersburg, in the Admiralty office, where Peter I was personally interviewed him and reviewed his project. Being an outstanding master of shipbuilding, Peter appreciated the invention Nikonov and ordered the Admiralty office to first build a small "ship model" (model), "not as a measure, which would in the sea to meet the ship, but for the sake of testimony and in the river test".
Given the orders of Peter I to build a ship, "hiding from the alien eye," the Admiralty Board has allocated for Nikonov construction site on the Galley yard. Here Nikonov created a shed, where in February 1720 and was started construction of the model, completed in 1721
Her trials took place in the summer of the same year, in the presence of Tsar Peter. Although they were far from satisfactory, Nikonov was commanded to begin construction of "the hidden fire of the big ship hull" on the slipway of the Galley yard (shipyard) in St. Petersburg.
Selective list of materials and their quantitative characteristics make it possible to reconstruct the dimensions of the underwater vessel, to restore the principle of the system of the dive and ascent:
* pine boards saw length of 3 fathoms is 60 pieces (120 ft.);
* fat beef to soak the planks — 2 pounds;
* fat for the oiled body — 4 pounds;
* canvas 40 yards;
* fabric 20 yards;
* skin bhatdih (made from the skins of seals) black — 3 PCs.;
* copper boiler and half a bucket;
* copper pipe; copper wire — 3 lbs;
* boards tin with 500 holes thinner than a hair length of 2 ft and 1 ft wide — 10 PCs
With great uncertainty, as neither descriptions nor drawings on this ship was not preserved, we can assume that Nikonov's submarine was barrel-shaped. The basis for this can be part Bocharov in the Assembly of a ship and the requirement to leave "fifteen stripes with an iron width of two inches to two quarters", probably for the manufacture of hoops, anything wooden hull. Her the bow of repeated architecture surface ship, and stern was equipped with the wheel. The wheelhouse on the upper deck was sealed sight glass. As the engine was used oars, the crew consisted of four people.
System immersion and ascent apparently worked as follows. When constipation opening reception of Kingston, outboard take the water to the bottom of the tank — system main ballast. As you fill, the air through the open vent pipe on the roof of the tank was pushed out into the Bay. The pressure in the compartment increases slightly, reducing its difference with the outboard. Small total area of the through holes in the tin boards were allowed to make filling the tank with moderate speed and evenly along the entire length of the tank. When you switch to the underwater position of the suction Kingston were closed. After removal from the tank the air bubbles overlap the vent pipe. The boat being under water in a suspended state, committed with the evolution of rowing oars.
When evacuating the casting piston water pump the weight of the boat is decreased, and it surfaced. When the pump valves to drain the tube and a Central ventilation pipe is kept open. Monitoring the time of passage of the edge of the water was conducted through the wheelhouse Windows.
First Nikonov suggested to equip the boat with guns, but then decided to install the lock chamber, through which when the vehicle in a submerged position could go diver, clad in a spacesuit (designed by the inventor), and using the tools to destroy the bottom of an enemy ship. "And for stroke in the water under the ships should make for each person from bhatdih skin two camisole with pants, right on his head on sheathed or obunoma leather wooden barrel in which to do eyes against the Windows and kill the lead with wells and horse hair, and moreover will be bound to the goods-to-back on the proportions of lead or sand, and when it will be fixed, for the action to provide and the ignition of vehicles do need special tools, which takes the painting".
Later Nikonov has devouroil boat "fiery copper pipes", so to Nikonov required was —In the Main artillery to send promemoria and demand, in order to potaennogo vessel ten pipes of copper was commanded to dump gunpowder and saltpeter to smear the artillery."
In the end, the submarine was called the "fire ship" because of its armament consisted of several "fire-tubes", i.e., devices similar in principle of operation to the flamethrower single action. Apparently, a pipe (or several pipes) would be installed along the deck of the submarine, and to provide mechanism for lifting the angle of elevation to the horizon. The boat will approach secretly to the enemy ship, will push the pipe end on the surface of the water and set it on fire "fire part".
The boat was in the autumn of 1724 Immediately began his test. During one of the dives (the"pucciani") was damaged, the wooden bottom of the ship; the water began to penetrate the hull and the ship had to get ashore. Present at the Peter I encouraged Nikonov and ordered to undo the damage, to continue the experiments.
But the dip never happened: in the autumn of 1724, Peter the great fell seriously ill, and on 25 January 1725 — died. Nikonov lost his patron.
By the autumn of 1724 "secret vessel" was built. His tests, conducted in the presence of Tsar Peter the great, failed. It hit the ground and broke the bottom ("...when descending the ship's damaged bottom, and then not acted and Minato..."). Peter commanded the inventor to fix the damage and strengthen the hull, and also announced that suggested a "no embarrassment to not put the blame".
Nikonov fixed damage, however, on 25 January 1725, Peter died. The inventor lost his patron. Yet, despite various obstacles, he brought the repair up to the end. In spring 1725, the second boat was launched. But in her body to flow again showed up and again pulled ashore.
The last test of the submarine Nikonov took place in 1727.
