Soviet submarine U-359 (originally named S-174, and later known as RZS-359 and PZS-359 before arriving in Denmark)[1] was a Soviet Whiskey-class submarine built in 1953 and in service until 1993.[2] After decommissioning, it was acquired by a Danish project for unemployed youth interested in turning it into a cultural site and tourist attraction.[4]
 U-359 as a museum ship in Nakskov in 2008.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Soviet Union | |
| Name | S-174, RZS-359,PZS-359[1] |
| Ordered | 1953[1] |
| Launched | 1954[1] |
| Completed | 1954[1] |
| Decommissioned | 1993[2] |
| In service | 1954[2] |
| Out of service | 1993[2] |
| Fate | Scrapped |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Whiskey-class submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 76 m (249 ft 4 in)[3] |
| Beam | 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)[3] |
| Height | 11 m (36 ft 1 in)[3] |
| Draught | 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)[3] |
| Propulsion | Diesel-electric[3] |
| Speed | |
| Armament | 10 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes[3] |
History
editIn 1991, a project for unemployed youth in Kolding, Denmark called The Rolling Gallery asked then Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to donate a submarine as a symbol of peace between the East and the West. The project proposed to use it as a cultural site and tourist attraction.[4] Gorbachev agreed with the proposal, but it took three years and a payment of $110,000 to the Russian government before the vessel arrived in Kolding.[4]
.JPG)
Residents were not happy with the having the submarine in the harbor, and after much debate and press coverage Kolding gave the submarine to the town of Nakskov in 1997.[4] However, financial difficulties plagued the project and the plans for an experience center were not realized. The submarine fund attempted to move to Frederikshavn, but Nakskov would not cooperate.[5] The sub served as a tourist attraction in Nakskov until 2010. In April 2011, it was towed to Fredrikshavn to be chopped up for scrap.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Medium submarines Project 613". Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "С-174, РЗС-359, ПЗС-359 (ВМС СССР) U-359 (Дания)проект 613" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "U-båden i Nakskov havn". Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d "U-båden i Kolding" (in Danish). Archived from the original on 11 June 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ "Striden om en ubåd" (in Danish). 30 June 2001. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
Bibliography
edit- Friedman, Norman (1995). "Soviet Union 1947–1991: Russian Federation and Successor States 1991–". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 337–426. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Pavlov, A. S. (1997). Warships of the USSR and Russia 1945–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-671-X.
- Polmar, Norman & Moore, Kenneth J. (2004). Cold War Submarines: The Design and Construction of U.S. and Soviet Submarines. Washington, D. C.: Potomac Books. ISBN 978-1-57488-594-1.
- Polmar, Norman & Noot, Jurrien (1991). Submarines of the Russian and Soviet Navies, 1718–1990. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-570-1.