UKRAINE: Ukrainian submarine sets sail for the first time after years of repairs and the time and money spent was worth the effort, says navy chief

Record ID: 861078

  • Title: UKRAINE: Ukrainian submarine sets sail for the first time after years of repairs and the time and money spent was worth the effort, says navy chief
  • Date: 11th May 2012
  • Summary: SEVASTOPOL, UKRAINE (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SUBMARINE IN PORT
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • City:
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA61UW2NHSRU31CRSCSV9HD18DJ
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  • Story Text: Ukraine's only submarine headed back to the sea recently, following years of inactivity, followed by repairs.
    The submarine "Zaporozhye", a Soviet-era, Foxtrot class (Project 641) diesel-electric submarine left the port of Sevastopol on the Black Sea for trials. The sub was repaired by Russian engineers and staffed by a crew of Ukrainian submariners who were trained at Russian naval bases.
    The trial was meant to test the capability of the more than 40-year old sub, which has languished for more than a decade on dry dock at a shipyard in what many considered a symbol of the decay of the Ukrainian Navy. At a cost of more than 60 million Ukrainian hryvnia ($7.46 million USD), the vessel was upgraded and outfitted with new equipment in the hopes of raising the combat capability of the Ukrainian navy Submariners put the Zaporozhye through the paces, testing electrical equipment as well as its weapons systems as Russian submarine experts and local emergency agencies stood by.
    Senior Expedition Captain 1st Rank Roman Gladkiy said Russian experts and safety personnel were on hand to monitor the test.
    "Yes, the Russian Black Sea Fleet, and also search and rescue support were ready to render help in emergency situations," Gladkiy said.
    Tugboats pulled and pushed the submarine into port, where it was met by navy officials. Gladkiy explained the tests that had been performed.
    "We checked the navigational system of the warhead, the mine and torpedo launchers, warhead connections, the radio technical part of the warhead and the electromechanical part of the warhead," he said, adding that they worked.
    Despite the expensive repairs, chief of staff of the Ukrainian Navy Vice Admiral Yuri Ilyin said they would pay off enormously, helping the ex-Soviet country expand its submarine force.
    "After examining the pressurized hull, scientific designers and renovation experts gave a guarantee of at least eight to 10 years of operation. This will give us the possibility, we hope, to develop a submarine force. As for repairs, we spent lots on it, more than 60 million hryvnas (7.46 million US dollars) over ten years. But the boat has demonstrated that the money wasn't wasted," Ilyin said.
    Submarines of this type are reportedly most efficient in the Black Sea for their low radar and noise signatures. Russia, Bulgaria, and Romania each have submarines in the Black Sea.
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