February 2020
July 2020
George Alexandrov
On 18th of August 2020 an old navy ship will start to live its third life. The submarine “Slava” (Glory) will open the doors to become a museum.
Ex-number 84 of The Bulgarian underwater fleet was built in 1959 in the former USSR. It's Romeo-class (“Project 633” on USSR classification). Ship’s particulars of the submarine are: 76 meters long, 7 meters wide and 6 meters high. It’s maximum speed on the water was 15.3 knots and 13.2 knots underwater. It can dive up to 300 meters below water surface.
“Slava” served in Soviet Navy twenty five years before it was sold to Bulgaria, with three others submarines of same class. The first name of submarine in Bulgarian Navy was “Leninski komsomol”. After political changes in early 90, it was renamed. Submarine №84 became “Slava”. It served until the Autum of 2011. The last navigation of “Slava” submarine was in December 2010 under command of Capt. Kamen Kukurov (now Chief of Staff of the Navy).The submarine was decommissioned on 1st November 2011. The second life, under Bulgarian naval flag was over.
Some years earlier the Navy got decision to gave the last, at this moment, submarine - №84 „Slava” to the Varna Municipality, in order to transform it into a museum of the Bulgarian underwater fleet and traditions (The first Bulgarian submarine was Podvodnik №18 in 1916). Different problems stop this idea for some years.
But in 2019, private “Beloslav Glass” foundation, with chairman Mr. Danko Kalchev, got the submarine for lease of 10 years. “Slava” was towed to Beloslav – town, not far from Bulgarian sea capital - Varna. The initiators were supported by the Bulgarian Navy, the Bulgarian Submariners Union, the National Maritime Museum in Varna, which currently keeps the flag of “Slava” submarine and many volunteers. After nine months of hard work, “Slava”, will meet officialy its first visitors.
Of course, restauration of “Slava” to its original vision continues. Therefore, all tickets profit will be invested to deal with corrosion and restore of missing parts and elements. Meanwhile, many modern technologies were put into realization of this project.
The wet dock was constructed with special concrete and angles of glass. Electricity will be obtained by solar panels and windmill. Also it is provided intended to be installed an air control system, to observe air quality over Lake of Beloslav and Lake of Varna.
But in 2019, private “Beloslav Glass” foundation, with chairman Mr. Danko Kalchev, got the submarine for lease of 10 years. “Slava” was towed to Beloslav – town, not far from Bulgarian sea capital - Varna. The initiators were supported by the Bulgarian Navy, the Bulgarian Submariners Union, the National Maritime Museum in Varna, which currently keeps the flag of “Slava” submarine and many volunteers. After nine months of hard work, “Slava”, will meet officialy its first visitors.
part of periscope
Of course, restauration of “Slava” to its original vision continues. Therefore, all tickets profit will be invested to deal with corrosion and restore of missing parts and elements. Meanwhile, many modern technologies were put into realization of this project.
The submarine “Slava” will officially become a museum on 18th of August 2020. It's Day of Bulgarian Submariner.
Bow torpedo tubes, February 2020
Stern torpedo tubes July 2020
General characteristics of Project 633 (Romeo class)
Displacement:
|
· 1,475 tons surfaced
· 1,830 tons submerged
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Length:
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76.6 m (251 ft 3 in)
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Beam:
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6.7 m (22 ft)
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Draught:
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5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
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Propulsion:
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Two diesels delivering 2.94 MW (4000 shp) with two electric motors driving two shafts.
|
Speed:
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· 15.3 knots surfaced
· 13.2 knots submerged
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Range:
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14,484km (9,000 miles) at 9 knots
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Complement:
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54 men (10 officers)
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Sensors and
processing systems: |
sonar and radar
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Electronic warfare
& decoys: |
MRP 11-14
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Armament:
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8 × 533mm (21in) torpedo tubes. Six located in the bow and two in the stern.
|
Acknowledgement
We are very pleased with the blog note George wrote for us about the Bulgarian submarine Slava which became a museum ship. He also supplied the photographs.
Further more we are pleased with the fact that this submarine is saved for the future as a museum ship. Last year we saw two Cold War submarines of Soviet design passing underway towards the scrapyard. Including the museum ship at Zeebrugge, Belgium. Let's hope that the Slava will have a long and prosperous future at Varna.
Further more we are pleased with the fact that this submarine is saved for the future as a museum ship. Last year we saw two Cold War submarines of Soviet design passing underway towards the scrapyard. Including the museum ship at Zeebrugge, Belgium. Let's hope that the Slava will have a long and prosperous future at Varna.
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