Кеңес дизель-электрлік сүңгі қайығы

Soviet diesel electric submarine

The Project 633 class (known in the West by its NATO reporting name as the Romeo class) is a class of Soviet diesel electric submarine, built between 1957 and 1961. A Chinese variant, Type 033, was built in China from 1962 to 1984.

Project 633 was a further development of the Soviet navy's post war 611 (Zulu ) and 613 (Whiskey class) designs, which themselves were derivatives of the German Kriegsmarine Type XXI submarine. The project was undertaken by Lazurit Central Design Bureau of Gorky. Only 20 of the Soviet Union's originally intended 56 were completed between October 1957 and the end of December 1961 because of the introduction of the nuclear submarine into the Soviet Navy. By today's standards Romeo class submarines are considered obsolete, but they still have some value as training and surveillance vessels.

Under the 1950 Sino Soviet Friendship and Mutual Assistance Treaty, the Soviets passed to China (and later to North Korea) the documentation necessary to produce Romeo submarines in 1963. The Chinese Type 033 incorporated some improvements over the original Romeo, Sonar on board was also continuously upgraded: the original Soviet sonar was first replaced by domestic Chinese Type 105 sonar, which consequently was replaced by H/SQ2 262A sonar built by No. 613 Factory. Today most of the Type 033 subs have been retired or preserved, with a few remaining in service for training purposes. Type 033: Complete domestic production in China was achieved in 1967, and subsequently the project was renamed the Type 033. However, experience from deployment of completed boats in warmer climates proved that the original Soviet refrigeration and air conditioning system designed for subarctic and arctic area was woefully inadequate for subtropical and tropical regions, so redesigns were needed to improve refrigeration and air conditioning systems, and all boats to be stationed in tropical and subtropical regions went through such a refit. In September 1969 construction of new Type 033s, with improved air conditioning and refrigeration capability, began at Huangpu Shipyard in Guangzhou, eventually, 13 units were completed. ES5B: Development of the Type 033G, primarily intended for export. This is an upgrade package for Romeo submarine users. The primary improvement of this class is the ability to launch wire guided torpedoes and anti ship missiles (AShM) while submerged. The program originally began in the mid 1980s, and Egypt was reported to be the only customer when China won a contract to upgrade its Romeo class submarine fleet, including both Soviet built and Chinese built units. This is the last type of Chinese Romeo class submarine; with noise reduction of 20 dB to 140 dB in comparison to the 160 dB of the original Soviet Project 633 submarines acquired by China. Four Chinese imported units are based on the western coast. Egypt operates four of an original eight Romeo class submarines that are upgraded variants of the Chinese design. Currently using Romeo class submarines in non operational capacities (i. e. training):
Russia and the Soviet Union had 20 Romeo class vessels in service. These vessels are no longer used as combat vessels in the Russian Navy, although one or two remain in service as immobile training facilities. China has operated an estimated 84 of the Type 33 submarine (Romeo) during the Cold War. Most have been scrapped, but 13 are still in use for training.