Boat "Rocket" - a ship equipped with wings below the waterline. It is classified as “P” and is designed to simultaneously serve 64-66 passengers. The specific capacity is determined by the modification of the vehicle. “Rocket” has dimensions of 27 * 5 * 4.5 m, during the course it settles by 1.1 m, during idle time - by 1.8 m. In the empty state, the displacement of the vessel is 18, in the filled - 25.3. The ship can move at a speed of not more than 70 km / h, but the normative - from 60 to 65 km / h. The design provides one propeller, and the main engine is installed in 900-1000 horsepower.
It is interesting
The Rocket boat is not a single product, but a whole series launched in production during the Soviet Union. The projects on which these ships were built were called:
They began to make ships in 1957. Their production continued until approximately the mid-70s. During this period, about three hundred boats for river transport support were launched. The first of them received the symbolic name "Rocket-1". The Krasnoye Sormovo plant was rightly proud of its construction.
The boat "Rocket-1" made its first voyage in 1957, it was launched on August 25. The route ran between Kazan and Nizhny Novgorod. In total, the ship overcame 420 kilometers of the water surface in just seven hours! The technical characteristics of the Rocket boat amazed the imagination of ordinary people. 30 lucky people became those people who for the first time in such a short time on water were able to make this fascinating journey.
Present and future
Since the Rocket boat (ship speed - up to 70 km / h) showed such excellent parameters, it quickly gained popularity. The name of this vessel in the people almost immediately became a household name. This tradition has survived to the present day - today, all ships resembling a classic Soviet ship are called “rockets”.
In the Soviet period, the Rocket missile was not accessible to everyone. Wealthy families could afford a weekend trip to some beautiful region: pilots delivered their passengers to charming bays and bays, inaccessible to land travelers. But the price of such a cruise bit. For example, electric trains, at which it was possible to leave at the same distance from the city, were several times cheaper. Nevertheless, it was simply impossible to imagine a better rest on the water for the whole family than the Rocket boat.
Today, this ship is used daily. For example, it can be seen at the river station of Nizhny Novgorod. Day after day, faithful ships transport passengers between cities and ride tourists along sightseeing routes.
Capital "Rocket"
Projects of boats were immediately considered as schemes according to which it would be necessary to build watercraft for the great Soviet capital, Moscow. Therefore, they were designed by the best shipbuilders of that era. Accordingly, as soon as the first "Rocket-1" was launched, this ship was in the capital as soon as possible. His first flight was made in 1957 in the summer months, when a festival was held in the city dedicated to students and youth. It was an international event, in which the authorities were going to show all the best that is in the Soviet Union. And the ships of the river fleet, of course, too.
Massively hydrofoil ships began to be operated in the waters of Moscow only at the beginning of the next decade, where they enjoyed well-deserved success until 2006. And since 2007, the authorities launched a large-scale program designed to restore inland water transport, in particular, the Rocket Park. Since 2009, four such ships have been regularly flying:
- 102 (only for VIP flights);
- 185;
- 191 (previously cruised as the 244th);
- 246.
Unofficial sources claim that other hydrofoil vessels will soon appear on the legendary Soviet projects - as soon as they finish the work on the restoration of vehicles.
general characteristics
A hydrofoil boat is such a high-speed ship that operates on the principle of dynamic support. The vessel has a hull, and "wings" are located under it. If the ship moves slowly or stands, the balance is ensured by Archimedean force. With increasing speed, the force that the wings provoke is raised above the water surface. Such a constructive solution made it possible to minimize water resistance, which affects the speed.
River types of water transport with wings did what previously seemed impossible - high-speed navigation through the country's waterways. Now, a matter of hours began to go on trips, which led to a rapid increase in the popularity of transport. Moreover, ships are relatively inexpensive to operate and are characterized by a long service life. All this has become the basis for competitiveness, which is why from the moment of their launch to the present day “winged” types of water transport are serious rivals of other means of transportation.
Non-missile "Missiles"
The Rocket was not the only vehicle of its kind. The first launch of this iconic ship for river ships was carried out, and the very next year the Volga hydrofoil boat went on a voyage. Incidentally, it was demonstrated at the Brussels exhibition, and for good reason: the ship was able to get a gold medal.
Two years later, the first Meteor was launched (another analogue of the Rocket), and then the Comet, which became the first in the open spaces for this type of ship. Over the years, numerous “Seagulls”, “Whirlwinds” and “Satellites” saw the light. Finally, the top of shipbuilding in this area can be called the ship "Petrel" - a full-fledged gas turbine ship.
Pride of the Country of Soviets
The Soviet Union had the largest base of hydrofoil ships, and this was largely due to the fact that the launch of the "Rocket" was well established. But the country itself did not use everything that it produced: channels for selling motor ships abroad were debugged. In total, "Rocket" was sold in several dozen different countries.
The development of ships with wings under water was mainly carried out by Rostislav Alekseev. "Rocket" is one of the important reasons for pride. The ship, designed for routes up to five hundred kilometers, fully justified the money invested in it and remains attractive to this day.
Serious production
When the Rocket boats showed their excellent parameters, proved their reliability and it became clear that they have considerable prospects, the government decided to launch mass production of these ships. The task was entrusted to the Sea plant, located in Feodosia. A little later, it was possible to establish the manufacture of ships in the following cities:
- Leningrad
- Khabarovsk
- Nizhny Novgorod;
- Volgograd.
Also, production was arranged on the territory of Georgia, in the city of Poti.
Produced ships were exported to:
- Finland
- Romania
- Lithuania
- China;
- Germany.
And today, "Missiles" go to some of these countries. Over time, many ships were converted to cottages, restaurants, cafeterias.
And how was this conceived?
Looking at how successful the ship became, it involuntarily seems that the government planned it. But was it really so? The project was developed under the control of the Ministry of Shipbuilding, funded by the state - this fact is undeniable. But historical reports prove that officials did not connect real expectations and hopes with these models. This was largely due to the non-standard nature of the idea as such - they were afraid that it might burn out at all. And it was such a time when it was very easy to remain “misunderstood", which could not only become a nuisance, but lead to complete collapse.
In an effort to do everything possible, the brilliant Soviet shipbuilder Rostislav Alekseev set himself the task of maximum - to design and build a ship and demonstrate it not to anyone, but immediately to Khrushchev himself, that is, bypassing all the lower authorities. This bold plan had a chance of success and was implemented in the summer of 1957. The ship "on all wings" raced along the Moscow River and was moored not on a random pier, but where the Secretary General usually liked to stay. Alekseev personally invited Nikita Khrushchev on board. And so began the swim, which allowed the ship to become legendary. Even then, the main face of the country appreciated the admiration of the public for the overtaking ship. And the Secretary General himself was impressed by the speed. It was then that the phrase that was saved for posterity was born: “Enough of us to ride on rivers on oxen! We will build! ”
The story does not end
Yes, the "Missiles" were popular, they were the pride of the nation, they were loved, they knew, they were admired, money was paid for them. But time passed, the ships gradually became obsolete. Of course, at first they were repaired, but when the Secular Union went "downhill", it was not up to the ships. The technical and moral depreciation of river transport only increased. At some point, it seemed that this direction of vehicles has virtually no future, at least not in the coming decades.
And a few years ago they launched a program designed to revive the best ships of the Soviet Union - “Rocket”. And along with them, it was decided to invest in "Comets" and "Meteors". Despite the rather difficult economic situation in the country, the government was able to allocate money for work to improve transport and modernize ships for the needs of our time. A special program was developed to support ships with wings underwater. The year 2016 was important, when the Comet 120M vessel was to demonstrate that the efforts made did not go to dust.
But was the Rocket the first?
Now few people recall this, but the Rocket was not the first attempt to create a vehicle of this kind. Even before it, developments were underway, suggesting that it would be possible to achieve the best speed indicators if wings were placed under the ship's hull. For the first time the idea of such a ship was born in the XIX century!
Why was it not possible to construct anything sensible before Alekseev did this? At first, steam engines were used, the power of which is rather limited. They simply were not enough to develop the speed at which the wings would be really useful. Therefore, at that stage everything ended with fantasies and assumptions "how can this be." However, these were interesting times: the public regularly saw all new types of hulls and the specifics of the structure, the ships set records, but months passed, and new ships were already beating them. This race seemed endless. Among the people, the first ship equipped with wings under the water was called the “frog”. Although he moved quickly, he jumped on the surface of the water and was rather unstable.
High-speed fleet: how was it?
In 1941, in Nizhny Novgorod (which at that time was called Gorky), a thesis on a glider with wings under water was defended at the Industrial Institute. The author of this project was Rostislav Alekseev - the one who in the future "with a breeze" will take Khrushchev to Moscow.
The drawings showed the commission an excellent vessel with high speed performance. It had to work on a principle that had never been put into practice by anyone. In the world at that time, nothing like that simply existed. To say who the jury was stunned means half to express their delight and surprise.
Opportunities and conservatism
The defense of the thesis was excellent for Alekseev and inspired him to draw up a report in which he proposed to put the project into practice. The document was sent to the Navy, and soon an answer was received: the circuits were unsuccessful, unacceptable and were not interested in serious designers.
Adult uncles in the Soviet Navy did not play with toys! Well, at the end they signed a rather flattering phrase for a young engineer: "You are too ahead of time."
When perseverance defeats unbelief
Others would have surrendered in the place of Rostislav: there was a war, there was no money, the situation was catastrophically difficult, and what threatened the near future was completely impossible to imagine. But the young specialist did not want to give up. Only a year has passed since the letter was refused, and now Alekseev made contact with Krylov, the chief designer of the plant, specializing in water transport. This clever man, able to look into the future, saw in the blueprints of a newly minted engineer the possibility of a breakthrough and wanted to take a closer look at them. This was followed by several stressful years in the conditions of the war and shortly after it. Numerous skeptics scolded the project, while engineers worked on it, tirelessly. And in 1957, finally came to real success.
The new ship was tested quickly, and immediately after that they headed to the capital, coincidentally - during the international festival, which the head of state was to visit. In just 14 hours, the ship arrived at the site, while the river boats used in those days covered this distance in about three days. Well, you already know how the story went on.
Did Alekseev himself expect such a triumph? Probably yes. Although it was difficult to guess the scale in advance. Are we now waiting for the return of the updated "Rocket" to the waterways of our country? Sure, yes. This ship has become an important historical and national heritage, and at the same time an excellent vehicle applicable in everyday life.