Swans, or the long history of building training ships, part 2

ORP "Vodnik" in 1977 maneuvers before the next exit to the sea. Photo collection of the MV Museum / Stanislav Pudlik

The previous issue of "Mórz i Okrętów" presented a long and confusing history of designing training ships for the Polish Navy. The fate of the ships under the code name "Swan" continues below.

After 15 years of attempts, changing the concept and requirements, two training ships of project 888 were transferred to the Naval Academy (VMAV) in 1976.

Structure Description

Project 888 ships received a steel hull with a transverse bracing system, fully welded manually, semi-automatically or automatically. The units were built by the block method, the hull of three sections, and the wheelhouse of five. Mounting contacts are placed in the same plane. The sides also received a transverse strapping system, and the superstructure (forcastle) and cuttings were mixed. In the middle part of the hull, a double bottom is designed, mainly used for various service tanks. The units received anti-keel keels on both sides, extending from 27 to 74 frames, i.e. from the 1,1st to the 15th compartment. On the main deck, within the wheelhouse (lower), a bulwark was added with a height of XNUMX m. The designers gave a guarantee that the blocks would be two-compartment unsinkable. According to the rules, they can swim anywhere in the world. XNUMX tons of ballast can be added to improve the stability of the project.

The hull has 10 transverse watertight bulkheads dividing its interior into 11 compartments. These bulkheads are located on frames 101, 91, 80, 71, 60, 50, 35, 25, 16 and 3 - when viewed from the bow, since bulkhead numbering starts from the stern. In the fuselage compartments, again when viewed from the bow, the following rooms are arranged:

• Compartment I - the extreme bow contains only a supply of paint;

• Compartment II - divided into two stores, the first for anchor chains (chain chambers), the second for spare parts;

• Section III - occupied an electrical warehouse and living quarters for 21 cadets;

• Compartment IV - here, in turn, a living quarters for 24 cadets and an ammunition rack with a feeding device, brought up in the center of the longitudinal symmetry of the hull, were designed;

• Compartment V - on the sides there are two living quarters, each for 15 sailors, and the converter room and artillery headquarters are located in the center in the plane of symmetry;

• Compartment VI - divided into two living quarters for 18 cadets each and a gyroscope squeezed between them;

• VII compartment - the first of three engine rooms, it houses both main engines;

• Compartment VIII - here are the mechanisms of the so-called. an auxiliary power plant with three units and a boiler house with a vertical water tube boiler for own needs;

• Compartment IX - in it, across the entire width of the hull, there is the NCC, the engine room control center, followed by the hydrophore compartment and the engine room of the cold products warehouse;

• Compartment X - entirely occupied by a large refrigerated warehouse, divided by assortment;

• Compartment XI - a room for an electro-hydraulic steering gear and small stores with emergency and anti-chemical equipment.

The main deck is occupied by a superstructure, stretching from the bow to the midships, which then smoothly flows into the first deckhouse tier. Again, going from the bow in this superstructure, the following premises were outlined: in the forepeak, which, probably, will not surprise anyone, the boatswain's warehouse was located; behind it is a large bathroom with toilets, a washroom, a dressing room, a laundry room, a dryer, a warehouse for dirty linen and a warehouse for detergents; further, on both sides of the corridor, one living room for six cadets and five for ensigns and non-commissioned officers (three or four). On the starboard side there is a place for a library with a reading room, a non-commissioned officer's wardroom and a large ward for cadets and sailors. The last room can easily be converted into a classroom. On the other side is the officer's wardroom, which is also the representative saloon of the ship. Pantries were attached to both dining rooms.