KT-89
 Midsection of the P 6-class torpedo boat
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Soviet Union | |
| Name | 775 |
| Builder | shipyard no. 5, Leningrad |
| History | |
 Poland | |
| Name | KT-89 |
| Commissioned | June 25, 1957 |
| Decommissioned | October 25, 1973 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | motor torpedo boat |
| Type | P 6-class torpedo boat |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 25.5 m (83 ft 8 in) |
| Beam | 6.1 m (20 ft 0 in) |
| Draft | 1.13 m (3 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 43 kn (80 km/h; 49 mph) |
| Range | 1,000 nautical miles at a speed of 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Crew | 14 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
KT-89 was a Polish People's Republic's motor torpedo boat from the Cold War period, one of 19 Soviet P 6-class torpedo boats acquired by Polish People's Republic. The unit was built at shipyard no. 5 in Leningrad, then leased to Poland, and commissioned into the Polish Navy on 25 June 1957. The vessel, intensively utilized and marked with hull numbers KT-89 and 416, was decommissioned in October 1973.
Design and construction
[edit]Work on a large motor torpedo boat began in the Soviet Union in 1946.[1] The final design, designated 183, was developed by the CKB-5 design bureau in Leningrad, with the prototype handed over to the Soviet Navy in 1949.[1] Compared to its predecessors, the new vessels featured improved seakeeping capabilities, superior armament, and greater speed.[1] Serial production commenced in 1952, with a total of 360 units built by 1960.[2][3] The boats were tasked with executing independent or coordinated torpedo attacks on surface targets in coastal and enclosed waters.[4]
In the early 1950s, the Polish Navy Command considered building torpedo boats domestically under the TD-200 project.[1] However, in October 1954, it was decided to abandon domestic construction in favor of purchasing or leasing more modern P 6-class torpedo boats from the Soviet Union.[1] In 1955, Poland secured Soviet approval to purchase five new, unused boats of this type at a cost of 2.5 million rubles per unit. Three additional boats were purchased in 1957.[1][5] For economic reasons, the subsequent acquisition of 11 vessels was arranged through a lease agreement, costing a total of 12.6 million rubles.[1]
The future KT-89 was constructed at shipyard no. 5 (Katiernyj Zawod) in Leningrad.[4][6] The unit was likely built in 1953 and, upon completion, was preserved on land in Kaliningrad without entering active service.[1]
Technical and tactical data
[edit]
The vessel was a large motor torpedo boat.[2] The total length of its wooden hull was 25.5 meters, with a beam of 6.1 meters and a draft of 1.13 meters.[4] The standard displacement was 56 tons, and the full displacement was 67 tons.[1][4] The hull was divided into eight compartments (from the bow): I – forepeak, II – crew quarters, III – officer quarters and galley, IV – generator room, officer quarters, and social facilities, V and VI – engines, VII – fuel tanks, and VIII – ammunition magazine and rudder compartment.[1] In the midsection, there was a small open superstructure, behind which were a collapsible mast and a ventilation shaft for the engine room.[1] The vessel was powered by four four-stroke M-50F diesel engines with a combined output of 4,800 hp, driving four fixed-pitch propellers.[4][7] The maximum speed of the vessel was 43 knots, and the economical speed was 32.9 knots.[4][5] The vessel carried 10.3 tons of fuel,[5] providing a range of 1,000 nautical miles at a speed of 14 knots or 600 nautical miles at a speed of 32.9 knots.[7][8] Electric power was supplied by five diesel generators: one DG-12.5 (with 17 hp) and four with 1.36 hp each.[2] The vessel's autonomy was 5 days, and it could go to sea in winds up to force 8 on the Beaufort scale.[2][5] The manual allowed for sailing at maximum speed and using armaments in sea state 3.[1]
The vessel was equipped with two single TTKA-53M torpedo tubes (caliber 533 mm), mounted along the sides amidships with a 6° outward offset, carrying two torpedoes of the 53-38U or 53-39 type.[2][4] The vessel's artillery armament consisted of two twin 2M-3M autocannons (caliber 25 mm), with a total ammunition supply of 4,000 rounds, mounted in front of the superstructure (offset to the left of the vessel's longitudinal axis to improve visibility from the bridge) and on the stern.[1][7] Its anti-submarine warfare armament consisted of 8–12 BB-1 depth charges, located along the sides in the stern section, behind the torpedo tubes.[4][7] Optionally, instead of torpedoes and depth charges, the vessel could carry 18 AMD-500 naval mines.[2] The electronic equipment included the Tros fire control system, Kremnij-1 identification friend or foe system, R-609 radio communication station, and Zarnica radar.[1][2][5] The vessel was also equipped with stern-mounted launchers for 12 smoke candles.[9]
The vessel's crew consisted of 14 members – 2 officers, 9 petty officers, and 3 sailors.[4][5]
Service
[edit]
On 25 June 1957, the vessel was incorporated into the Polish Navy under the designation KT-89 (KT – torpedo boat),[8] by order no. 017/Org. of the Commander of the Navy, along with its sister ships KT-88 and KT-90, and the white-and-red naval ensign was raised for the first time the following day.[4][10] Initially, the ship was part of the Subchaser Division of the Water Region Defence Brigade of the Main Base, stationed in the Hel Fortified Area, but the base was changed to Gdynia a year later. In November 1958, the unit was transferred to the Torpedo Boat Division, changing its base to Gdynia a year later. In November 1958, the vessel was subordinated to the Torpedo Boat Brigade, still operating from Gdynia.[4][10] On 1 January 1960, the ship's hull number was changed to 416.[10][11] As a result of a reorganisation in 1965, the Torpedo Boat Brigade was renamed the 3rd Torpedo Boat Brigade, and the vessel was assigned to the 1st Torpedo Boat Division.[4]
From 31 May 1971, the unit was subordinated to the 1st Missile-Torpedo Boat Division of the 3rd Ship Flotilla.[4][10] During its long service, the boat (like other Polish Project 183 units) was intensively used, taking part in exercises and manoeuvres, and many naval specialists were trained on board.[4] On 19 September 1973, the vessel was struck from the naval register by order of the Commander of the Navy (No. 040/Org.).[10] The flag was lowered for the last time on 25 October 1973.[4][10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Rochowicz, Robert (1999). "Kutry projektu 183" [P 6-Class Torpedo Boats]. Morza, Statki i Okręty (in Polish). 2 (15): 38–39, 41–42. ISSN 1426-529X.
- ^ a b c d e f g Volkov, Roman; Brichevsky, Andrew. "Large torpedo boat - Project 183". russianships.info. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
- ^ Gogin, Ivan. "TK-501 attack craft (torpedo) (project 183) (1949 – 1960". www.navypedia.org. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Koszela, Witold (2017). Okręty floty polskiej. T. 1 [Ships of the Polish Fleet. Vol. 1] (in Polish). Oświęcim: Napoleon V. pp. 304, 306. ISBN 978-83-65746-67-2.
- ^ a b c d e f Ciesielski, Czesław; Pater, Walter; Przybylski, Jerzy (1992). Polska Marynarka Wojenna 1918-1980: zarys dziejów [Polish Navy 1918–1980: An Outline of History] (in Polish). Warsaw: Bellona. p. 222. ISBN 978-83-11-08202-1.
- ^ Gogin, Ivan. "KT-89 torpedo attack craft (project 183, 1956 – 1958)". www.navypedia.org. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ a b c d Pietlewannyj, M. B. (2009). Korabli stran Warszawskogo dogowora Коробли стран Варшавского договора [Ships of the Warsaw Pact Countries] (in Russian). Saint Petersburg: Galeja Print. p. 123. ISBN 978-5-8172-0127-7.
- ^ a b Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 314, 416. ISBN 978-1-55750-132-5.
- ^ Piwowoński, Jan; Nowicki, Brunon; Werka, Adam (1989). Flota spod biało-czerwonej [Fleet under the White and Red Flag] (in Polish). Warsaw: Nasza Księgarnia. p. 331. ISBN 978-83-10-08902-1.
- ^ a b c d e f Ciślak, Jarosław (2014). "Jednostki lekkich sił uderzeniowych Marynarki Wojennej" [Units of the Polish Navy's Light Strike Forces]. Morze, Statki i Okręty (in Polish). 2 (144): 20–25. ISSN 1426-529X.
- ^ Serafin, Mieczysław (2008). Polska Marynarka Wojenna 1945-2007: kronika wydarzeń [Polish Navy 1945–2007: A Chronicle of Events] (in Polish). Gdynia: Zespół Redakcyjno-Wydawniczy Marynarki Wojennej. p. 64. ISBN 978-83-88698-03-3.