Mourning the fate of the first Soviet submarine

"Neptune" - Soviet first travel submarine

Few people know that, since 1991 the Soviet Union has a unique tourist submarine manufactured by Sevodash Severodvinsk Sevmash shipyard. Unlike the ugly, dark-back military submarines, this small submarine is painted bright yellow, has lots of windows and is completely unarmed.

The Western intelligence organizations must have gone crazy with this strange machine. What is this? A new Soviet secret weapon? Why does it have so many windows? Are the Soviets planning to build an underwater reconnaissance device? The Sevmash Shipyard was the site of the largest 941 nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and the yellow ship was modest in size, but the smaller it became, the less dangerous it was. dangerous

In fact, 1991 was also the time when the Soviet state collapsed. Therefore, the explanation for Western intelligence suspicions turned out to be very simple - it was the first submarine to visit and travel in the Soviet Union, and it was named Neptune.

Neptune was built within the framework of the 19730 Ihtiandr project, developed by the Rubin Design Department, for the purpose of serving visitors and admiring underwater views. This submarine has a working depth of 30-40 meters and a maximum of 60 meters.

Neptune Tourist Submarine is 28 meters long, full body made of steel with a thickness of 1.5 cm. The ship's equipment includes an electric battery system, propellers, a steering system and other equipment to help the boat sink and float.

Like on any other submarine, Neptune also has ventilation and air conditioning, water supply, stability stabilizers, navigation equipment, communications, and observation systems. controls, towing equipment and anchoring.

The crew of this submarine consists of three people: the captain, mechanic and a tour guide who is also the manager, responsible for serving the passengers.

In the passenger compartment, along the row of seats is 22 windows for visitors to admire the underwater view. Each of these windows is designed to serve two people at the same time.

In the fall of 1992, a consortium (also named "Neptune") between Russia and Italy was established to operate the operation of the Neptune. The board of directors of the group includes the design department Rubin, Severodvinsk Sevmash (shares the same) and the Italian company Cortina. The company owns a complex resort located on an island in the Caribbean.

In early November 1992, the Neptune submarine was transported to Antigua Island by barge. A trained Russian expert at Sevmash was also sent here to serve the maintenance and operation of the ship.

Also in November 1992, the Neptune tourist submarine made its first voyage. At a busy time, there are 6-7 tourists visiting Antigua Island every day.

After nearly 4 years of diligence taking tens of thousands of tourists to visit the warm Caribbean waters, the Neptune submarine was returned to Severodvinsk Sevmash for repair and modernization in 1996. As a result, it was forgotten. and become junk in the very place where you were born.

Neptune was left lying in Sevmash's workshop for the next 10 years - until it was acquired by a private company. The company has long planned to transport the Neptune submarine to Moscow to turn it into a cafe and museum, but to this day the ship is still in Severodvinsk - in campus of the Spetsfundamentstroy business.