Hovercraft Dzheyran and Zubr SVP

History of the creation of hovercraft

The concept of creating something functionally superior to conventional ships and boats was dictated by the Cold War. Thus, in the event of the outbreak of a full-fledged military conflict, one of the main goals of Soviet generals became control over the straits of the Baltic and Black Seas. In the 1960s, the production of “Scats” began, later they were replaced by “Dzheyrans” and “Squids”, and the giant “Bison” became the crown of inventive thought in this direction. But first things first.

The first "Skat", launched in 1969, was small in comparison with subsequent projects and could transport only 40 troops, having low endurance and relatively weak weapons. In total, less than three dozen were produced, which is quite small for a landing craft.

This is “Scat” - the first development of the USSR in this area

But the idea of ​​a ship capable of moving both on water and on land excited the minds of Soviet admirals, and the next year the first Dzheyran appeared, bearing the abbreviation MDKVP - small landing ship on an air cushion. They were produced at the Leningrad Shipbuilding Plant, and some of them were in service until 2010. To date, not a single one of the 20 “projects 12321” produced has survived.

The next step in the development of the SVP was Project 1206 - a landing craft based on the Jeyran, which received the code "Squid". With smaller dimensions and excellent capacity, it is capable of delivering one T-64 tank, two infantry fighting vehicles or 120 troops to the coast. Currently, two such boats are in service with the Russian fleet.

Finally, the time has come for the Zubr - since 1987, they have begun to replace the previous MDKVP, surpassing the Dzheiran in all respects. Project 12322 still remains the world's largest hovercraft. I can’t even believe that, according to the existing classification, this is a “small landing ship.”

Need of government agencies

In addition to active recreation and entertainment, hovercraft have found their purpose in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Emergency Situations. For example, the Sever watercraft is used by transport police to search for and detain crime suspects. The hovercraft not only shows excellent speed characteristics (150 km/h on water), but is also able to overcome long slopes of up to 30 degrees. This vessel was noticed in service with the fishery inspectorate. Excellent tactical and technical characteristics will always be able to attract attention.

For the repair of bridges and structures, maintenance of oil production platforms, carrying out all kinds of diving work, as well as if it is necessary to repair boats, yachts and cargo ships anchored in the roadstead, the Shelf series hovercraft is used. The enormous engine power and large dimensions make it possible to place up to two tons of cargo on the vessel without taking into account 20 workers. 360 degree rotation without displacement allows you to easily maneuver in any hard-to-reach place.

Features of hovercraft

The term “air cushion” itself refers to a small layer under the bottom of the vessel, consisting of compressed air, slightly lifting it above the surface of the water (or ground). This technology also allows the vessel to be used as a ground transport in an accompanying landscape, for example, a coast or a plain.

Let us list the advantages of this type of vessel:

• Speed ​​– the huge “Bison” is capable of moving at maximum speed on par with a passenger car (under appropriate weather conditions);
• All-terrain capability - hovercraft can move with equal success on the surface of water, on ice and on flat ground;
• The ability to overcome obstacles depends on the size of the vessel, but almost any of the MDKVPs are capable of going through short climbs (up to 40 degrees) or climbing with a constant slope of up to 15 degrees;
• Hovercraft do not lose control where it is inevitable for conventional boats, for example, on fast mountain rivers.

But there are a number of disadvantages compared to the usual ships:

• The price of the vessel and the cost of operation - in addition to fuel costs, the air cushion requires regular checks and maintenance of the flexible part, which wears out much faster than other components;
• The wind affects the speed of the hovercraft even more than other types of vessels, so bad weather conditions can significantly reduce the speed or even make movement impossible.

High-quality model of project 12322

At one time, Ustinov and Gorshkov (Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy, respectively) saw the future of the fleet in such developments: hovercraft, ekranoplanes and other ideas for a possible abandonment of “classical” forms, so all developments in these areas were given priority. Let's take a closer look at the MDKVPs accepted into the fleet.

Features of using the SVP design

The hovercraft is equipped with a powerful engine, due to which it can deftly avoid obstacles and maneuver at high speed (up to 40 km/h). Vessels of this type practically do not adhere to the surface, sliding smoothly due to the compressed air in the case.

Boats and hovercraft are suitable for use in difficult conditions, as well as in shallow water, wooded areas and rocky bottoms. For comfortable operation of the vessel, it is enough to maintain the engine speed around 2500, approximately half the possible power.

The reliability of the vessel's hull protects those inside from discomfort and problems while moving. The operation of the SVP is based on a dual-engine design, which ensures maximum safety for passengers and the driver. In case of engine failure, the ship should be brought to the base using a special propeller (towed or in snowmobile mode).

The design of the flexible fencing provides for the use of a self-propelled vehicle for movement on uneven surfaces, snow and water.

Landing ship "Jeyran"

It was developed as a development of the potential of the already existing "Skat" in 1964-1965. Project manager – L.V. Ozimov. Due to the novelty of the idea (hovercraft of such dimensions had not been produced by any country before), before its creation, a lot of research was carried out on the viability and possible characteristics of the future vessel. Just to test different approaches to the design, two samples were made with a displacement of 28 and 30 tons. Further, it was on these prototypes that all design innovations were tested.

The first sample, as stated above, was produced in 1970. Until 1985 inclusive, 20 ships of this class were manufactured.

Archival photo of "Jeyran"

Design Features

Among the positive aspects noted even at the stage of factory prototypes, the almost complete unsinkability and the design of pontoons and hold, which constantly provide positive buoyancy, stand out. After the practical use of the first model, changes were made to the design of another series: the standard armament was strengthened, the living conditions were improved, and the hull became welded instead of riveted.

The service compartments of the Jeyran are located along the sides, while in the center plane there is a through passage for equipment. For control, both air rudders (at full speed) and jet rudders that take air from axial blower fans (at low speed) are used.

The landing compartment optionally contains:

• Two medium tanks;
• Four PT-76 amphibious tanks;
• Five armored personnel carriers;
• Two hundred paratroopers.

Other parameters are shown in the table:

Currently, the Project 12321 military hovercraft is no longer used by any state, but ten years ago the last of them performed their service regularly.

Hovercraft Catalog
Name

MORE ABOUT Hovercraft (Hovercraft)

hovercraft (hovercraft)

- a type of vessel with a dynamic principle of support, which can move at high speed both over water and over a solid surface (amphibious
hovercraft
) at a short distance above it, on the so-called air cushion formed by air injected under the bottom.

In his work “Vortex theory of the rotor” (1925), V. Levkov was the first to substantiate the possibility of creating a hovercraft

and created an aerodynamic laboratory in 1926.

Later, the principle of hovercraft propulsion

developed by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in 1927, outlining this principle in his article “Friction and Air Resistance.”

The world's first experimental hovercraft

were built in 1935 by Soviet designer Vladimir Levkov.

By the beginning of the 21st century, many experimental hovercraft

with a displacement of more than 150 tons, which have already made passenger and cargo flights.

Air bag

- this is a layer of compressed air under the bottom of the ship, which lifts it above the surface of the water or ground. The absence of friction on the surface reduces resistance to movement. The ability of such a vessel to move over various obstacles on land or over waves on water depends on the lifting height.

Based on the method of creation, they distinguish between static

(created by a fan) and
dynamic
(created by increasing pressure when the device moves near the supporting surface)
air cushions
.

According to the formation scheme, the following types of air cushion are distinguished: chamber, skeg, nozzle, slot or wing (dynamic)

.

The easiest way to form an air cushion

-
chamber
. Air forced by a fan under the domed bottom flows freely around its perimeter. The greater the air supply, the higher the vessel rises, but this requires increased energy consumption, so at high lifting heights this method is not economical. To reduce air consumption in ships intended to move only above the surface of the water, the cushion along the sides is protected by rigid walls submerged in the water or narrow hulls - skegs. Such vessels are called skeg-type vessels.

At high lifting heights, the nozzle method
of forming an air cushion
, when the air forced by a fan is supplied under the bottom through nozzles inclined inward, located along its edges. The jets of air flowing from the nozzles are bent so that the centrifugal forces acting on air particles moving along curved trajectories are balanced by the increased pressure in the cushion, and the air cushion is, as it were, “locked” by these jets. To increase the lifting height and reduce the power consumption for the formation of an air cushion, flexible fences are additionally installed around its perimeter.

Chamber scheme

used on the experimental passenger
river vessel
Neva, built in 1962 in Leningrad.
And Gorky shipbuilders built the skeg-type vessel
“Gorkovchanin” for transporting passengers along shallow rivers, the experimental
boat
“Raduga” and the experimental passenger vessel “Sormovich” with a displacement of 32 tons with a nozzle design for forming a cushion.

In addition to light experimental vessels

larger hovercraft
are being created .
Increasing their size is beneficial because as the area of ​​the air cushion increases, the specific power consumption for its formation decreases and the seaworthiness of ships
.

Thanks to the minimum pressure on the ground (0.01 atm.), the vessel

environmentally safe for low-density water-saturated soils, including permafrost zones and shallow-water fish spawning grounds.
With high speed, maneuverability and amphibiousness, the hovercraft
is an excellent entertainment device on water and ice.

Landing ship "Zubr"

Soviet military thought developed in the direction of increasing the dimensions and technical parameters of an already existing successful model. The new task assigned to Almaz was to create a ship capable of landing even more military equipment and manpower on the enemy’s coast. Moreover, the term “coast” here is very arbitrary - the resulting “Bison” (project 12322), due to its impressive dimensions and power of the power plant, is a much more all-terrain vehicle and can move on land, ignoring trenches, trenches and minefields.

But let's return to the source. Development began in 1978 under the same lead designer. However, the staff of people working on the continuation of the MDKVP series has increased. In addition to L. V. Ozimov, already known to us, Yu. M. Mokhov, Yu. P. Semenov and G. D. Koronatov were noted in the development.

The lead ship was, in fact, a prototype under the number MDK-95 and left the shipyard in 1986. The tests took a long time, but by 1988 the project was considered successful and accepted into the USSR Navy.

View from one of the decks

Design Features

By analogy with the serial “Dzheyran”, the body is made entirely of an alloy of aluminum and magnesium. The main part of the vessel, as a guarantor of strength and unsinkability, is a rectangular pontoon. The superstructure on it is longitudinally divided into three parts: the middle one is intended for transporting equipment and is equipped with tank tracks and ramps. The side ones include power plants, premises for personnel, living quarters, systems for supporting life and protection against weapons of mass destruction.

An interesting fact is that the Project 12322 MDKVP carries two power plants with a total capacity of 400 kilowatts, including two gas turbine generators and a main switchboard. Control automation tools are also used: you can control technical processes from the main command post, central control station or using remote consoles.

Particular attention is paid to the comfort of the crew and troops: the premises intended for living and recreation are provided with ventilation, insulation from heat and noise, air conditioning, heating, as well as well-equipped compartments for preparing and eating food.

The equipment compartment, depending on the situation, can accommodate:

• 3 tanks;
• 10 armored personnel carriers with crew and troops;
• 8 infantry fighting vehicles;
• 8 light amphibious tanks;
• 78 nautical min.

Living quarters for transported people are designed for 140 people; if necessary, it is possible to re-equip the technical compartment for full-time accommodation for another 366 paratroopers.

The remaining data is presented in the table:

Despite all the outstanding parameters, “Bison” has a number of disadvantages, including:

• Huge cost of engine maintenance. The necessary turbines are produced only by the State Enterprise NPKG “Zorya” - “Mashproekt”, located on the territory of Ukraine. Purchasing just one engine out of five costs approximately a million dollars;
• For obvious reasons, the security of the hull is questionable, but there is no specific example due to the fact that these ships did not participate in military clashes.

But “Bison” in full scale

But even if we are not destined to see them “in action,” you must agree, the scale of Soviet military thought is impressive.