History, Development, and Use
of the Osetr (Lake) class submarine

 

 

This section will cover the history, development, and use of the 'Osetr' class submarine.  In this section you will find where the boat has been used, when it was designed, its limitations and abilities, and how it functions.

Back to the
Osetr (Lake) Class Submarine

 

Brief Operational History

At the turn of the century the Russian Empire gradually extended its influence into Manchuria and along the Korean peninsula.  This put it at odds with the Japanese Empire who saw the Russians as encroaching on their territory.  War eventually broke out in early 1904 and the Russian Pacific Squadron suffered a number of serious reverses.  In response to this the  Russian government instituted the 1904 Emergency Program which called for the purchasing of new ships and submarines for the war with Japan.

The Russians went to the United States looking for submarines that could be quickly sent to the war.  They settled on a design called the 'Protector' that had been proposed by a firm owned by Simon Lake.  One complete example would be provided by the company and the Russians would manufacture a further five.

Mechanically the 'Protector' had a number of interesting features.  It had a diving chamber that could be used when the submarine was submerged.  The boat also had retractable wheels operated by hydraulics that allowed it to move on the sea floor.  It was also the first submarine designed to could also surface and submerge while maintaining an even keel.

All of the boats would be made in Russia at Libau with the first boat (the Protector) was laid down on 15 June 1904.  The remaining five boats were launched the following year.

Soon after its completion the Protector was renamed the Osetr by the Russian navy.  It and four other boats (the Kefal, Bychek, Paltus, and Plotva) were then sent to the Pacific.  They arrived in the Spring and were declared fully operational in the fall.

Osetr Class Submarines in Service
Name Launched Stricken
Osetr
(ex-Protector)		 September 1905 1913
Kefal October 1905 1915
Bychek 1906 1913
Paltus 1906 1913
Plotva 1906 1913
Sig 1906 July 1914

The boats were all stricken from the fleet lists between 1913 and 1915 as newer and more capable submarines became available.

   

Tactical Use and Limitations

The Osetr submarine was a fairly conventional submarine designed for anti-shipping operations.  Its chief limitation was that the submarine lacked the range to operate in Japanese coastal waters.  Otherwise the Osetr was a sound design that handled well.  The wheels, diving chamber, and ability to maintain an even keel while surfacing or submerging only added to its capability.

 

Deployment Chronology

The Osetr class submarine was part of a requirement to gain as many submarines as possible to assist in what they correctly believed was a coming war with Japan.  When the war ended the quest for a better submarine continued.  In this section you can learn more about that submarine when it appears on our site by clicking the link below.

The Osetr (Lake) Class replaced... Osetr (Lake) Class Submarine The Osetr (Lake) Class was followed by...
Nothing, they were part of an emergency requirement. Kaimen Class Submarine

 

Sources Cited

Here are some of the most informative sources that we have used in compiling this information for you.  We hope you can find them as useful as we have.