Memory. Igor Spassky

Spassky Igor Dmitrievich - Soviet Russian scientist, specialist in the field of organizing the design and construction of submarines, chief designer of the Leningrad Design and Assembly Bureau "Rubin" of the Ministry of the Shipbuilding Industry of the USSR, Doctor of Technical Sciences.

Born on August 2, 1926 in the city of Bogorodsk (now Noginsk) of the Moscow Region in the family of an employee. Russian.

In 1949 he graduated from the steam-power department of the Higher Naval Engineering School named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky. Since 1949 - in the Navy of the USSR. From October 1949 he served on the Frunze cruiser under construction in the city of Nikolaev. In 1950, lieutenant engineer I.D. Spassky was seconded to work in the shipbuilding industry while remaining in the Navy (he was transferred to the reserve in 1955 to reduce the Armed Forces with the rank of "senior lieutenant engineer").

Since 1950, he worked at SKB-143 (now the St. Petersburg Marine Engineering Bureau Malachite), participated in the creation of an experimental submarine with a steam-gas turbine unit. From 1953 he worked in the Central Design Bureau-18: design engineer, from 1954 - head of the sector, from 1956 - deputy chief designer of a nuclear submarine. Since 1968 - chief engineer, in 1974 he headed the Leningrad design and installation bureau "Rubin" (KB-18; now - OJSC "Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering" Rubin "), first as chief designer, and since 1983 - general designer . He held this post until the end of 2006.

The fundamental contribution of I.D. Spassky to the creation of the naval component of the nuclear missile potential of the USSR and Russia, based on submarines of the Navy, is widely known. He developed a number of fundamental principles that ensure both high efficiency and safety of operation of submarines and their nuclear power plants; the optimal amount of submarine control automation was determined; Fundamentally new technological methods for the construction of submarines have been developed, significantly reducing the time and cost of their construction and significantly increasing their combat characteristics. I.D. Spassky's contribution to science and technology was realized in the construction of more than two hundred submarines, including the creation of a whole family of the most quiet and highly efficient diesel-electric submarines that have won the highest reputation in the world market.

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 23, 1978 to the chief designer of the Leningrad design and installation bureau "Rubin" Spassky Igor Dmitrievich He was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor with the Order of Lenin and the Hammer and Sickle gold medal.

Between 1950 and 2006, he participated in the creation of four generations of submarines. In total, 187 submarines (91 diesel-electric and 96 nuclear) were built according to his projects, which were and still are the core of the Soviet and Russian fleets. He was the head of the Central Design Bureau that developed the K-141 Kursk nuclear submarine, the last Antey-class submarine to enter service with the Russian Navy. On August 12, 2000, a torpedo exploded aboard the submarine and it sank. Most of the crew died during the explosion, but some sailors survived and lived for several more days in the ninth, aft compartment of the ship. Rescue efforts failed. By the time the rescuers reached the compartment, the sailors were long dead. During the rescue operation, I.D. Spassky supervised the cutting and lifting of the boat.

ID Spassky skillfully combined scientific, organizational and social work. He was the chairman of the dissertation council at the Rubin Central Design Bureau of MT, deputy chairman of the scientific council on wave processes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a member of the Commission under the President of the Russian Federation for State Prizes in the field of science and technology, a member of the commission of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. He was the scientific director of the collection "History of domestic shipbuilding" in 5 volumes and the scientific and historical reference book "Russian submarines" in 3 volumes, a member of the main editorial board of the series of reference book "History of the creation and development of the defense industry of Russia and the USSR (1900-1963)".

He was elected a deputy and a member of the Executive Committee of the Leningrad City Council, a People's Deputy of the USSR in 1989-1991.

Lives in St. Petersburg.

He was awarded the Soviet 2 Orders of Lenin (04/06/1970, 01/23/1978), the Orders of the October Revolution (08/1/1986), the Red Banner of Labor (04/28/1963), the Russian orders "For Merit to the Fatherland" 2nd (2002) and 3rd 1st degree, Honor (12/29/2010), medals, including "For Military Merit" (10/26/1955), Certificate of Honor of the Government of the Russian Federation (2001).

Laureate of the Lenin Prize (1965), the State Prize of the USSR (1983) and the Russian Federation (2007). He was awarded the A.P. Aleksandrov Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences (2013, for his fundamental contribution to the development of the Russian nuclear fleet).

Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1987). Doctor of Technical Sciences (1978). Professor (1984). Member of the Interdepartmental Scientific Council for Shipbuilding of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

People's Deputy of the USSR (1989-1991).

Honorary citizen of St. Petersburg (05/22/2002).

Compositions:
"Five Colors of Time" (2001).

The site tells about the main projects and achievements of Igor Spassky, General Designer of the Rubin Central Design Bureau.

Army and Navy

“Russia has only two allies: the army and the navy,” said Emperor Alexander III in the 19th century. Since then, little has changed. A special place in maintaining the status of a great power in Russia belongs to the submarine fleet. Hidden under the water column, under the Arctic ice, invisible and elusive, with a huge power of weapons, submarines terrify all countries of the world. In the 1990s, one Akula-class submarine kept NATO forces from encroaching on our borders. The sailors recalled that when a huge and silent nuclear submarine went on autonomous navigation, all the armies of the world literally stood on their ears. And although the submariners then did not receive a salary for months, Russian submarines continued to function and go on combat missions.

Nuclear submarine of the strategic purpose of the project "Borey" "Alexander Nevsky" Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Igor Spassky, a Leningrad designer, long-term head of the Rubin Central Design Bureau, is rightfully considered the creator of the country's underwater power. Under his leadership, about 200 submarines were built. He is the inspirer and creator of numerous projects in shipbuilding and other fields of science and technology.

Igor Dmitrievich Spassky was born on August 2, 1926 in Noginsk. In 1949 he graduated from the steam power department of the Naval Engineering School. Dzerzhinsky, after that he was an engineer for a short time on the Frunze cruiser under construction. Since 1950, he has been involved in the development of submarines. Few people know, but at first the naval engineer Spassky was not very happy about the prospect of designing submarines.

“I was preparing myself for military service, but by order of the Central Committee of the CPSU, I was assigned to a design bureau. When I found out that I would work with submarines, I was horrified. Shortly before that, he sailed on a submarine, slept behind a diesel engine, and after leaving the ground he became deaf for three days. Then I swore: I would never meet submarines in my life. As they say, don’t promise,” he said.

Showed character

Spassky thoroughly studied the intricacies of the then existing submarines. He knew in practice what an emergency ascent, immersion is, he studied these most complex engineering structures to the last screw. At the beginning of his professional career, he traveled more than 40 thousand kilometers on submarines.

Since 1953, Igor Dmitrievich began working in the country's oldest design bureau, Rubin, then it was called TsKB-18. The talented scientist quickly made himself known. The turning point in his career came in the 1950s, when a novice was assigned to work on a complex installation on a submarine. Spassky plunged headlong into work and suddenly found out that the unit was terribly inefficient, replete with unnecessary details and elements. The lieutenant was not afraid to tell experienced designers about this and offer his own compact version of the installation.

“He showed character, I don’t even know where he came from,” Igor Dmitrievich admitted years later. At first, the inventor received a serious scolding, and then his colleagues consulted, went to Germany, where the installation was made, and made sure that Spassky was right. From that moment, the designer's career began to develop rapidly. A few years later he was appointed deputy chief engineer, then chief engineer. Since 1974, he began to work as the chief designer, head of the bureau.

Shark of steel

Igor Spassky was the general designer and lead developer of strategic nuclear submarines such as Kalmar, Akula, Dolphin, Granit, Antey and others. According to his projects, 187 submarines were designed, of which 91 are diesel-electric and 96 nuclear.

The first "fist" of the submarine fleet was created already in the 60s. Submarines of the Navaga project undermined the dominance of the United States in the vastness of the oceans, and by the mid-70s, the Moray eels finally consolidated the parity of the superpowers. Military historians note that it was then that substantive negotiations between the United States and the USSR on the limitation of strategic arms became possible. Submarines became more and more silent and elusive. There is a well-known joke from the times of the Cold War, when an American aircraft carrier suddenly received an order to deliver spaghetti and pizza from a Russian submarine, which had taken care of the ship for many days without revealing itself.

The world's largest strategic submarine of the Akula class. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Experienced submariners who have served on submarine cruisers for many years often admit that they do not understand how it was possible to come up with and implement such complex inventions. And, despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of workers and engineers from all over Russia are working on the construction of submarines, the author of these unique machines is Igor Spassky.

“You have to feel that for a long time people in a submarine are in a closed space,” says Igor Dmitrievich. “I am still looking for ways to make the sailor feel comfortable on the submarine.”

And the inventor succeeded. The submarines of the Shark project have a swimming pool, a sauna, a smoking room and other "surpluses" for comfortable autonomous trips by sailors. But one must understand that the Shark is the world's largest nuclear submarine. Its height is higher than a nine-story building, and its length is 173 meters: two football fields! Inside there are two hulls designed in the form of a catamaran. At the same time, the colossus is practically silent in the water, which means it is elusive for enemy radars. "Shark" is capable of being in autonomous navigation for up to 180 days, and no one knows where it is, except for the top leadership of Russia. On board are 20 nuclear ballistic missiles capable of wiping out an entire continent. Their combat range is more than 8 thousand kilometers.

Prevent war

Today, the formidable giant Sharks have been replaced by more modern Borey-class missile carriers. And although this project was developed under the leadership of the new general designer of the Rubin Central Design Bureau, Vladimir Zdornov, Igor Spassky's developments were used to the fullest.

But in the 90s, the design bureau in a market economy could have completely disappeared if not for the firm hand of Spassky. All military enterprises of the country were then without work. Igor Dmitrievich proposed a bold decision: to place missile weapons on diesel submarines. In the context of the suspension of the construction of the nuclear submarine fleet, this decision made it possible to maintain the power of the Russian army. To keep the bureau afloat, Spassky expanded the range of its activities. The Rubin Central Design Bureau participated in the creation of oil platforms, a floating spaceport and other projects.

The whole world, with bated breath, watched the most difficult operation to lift the nuclear submarine "Kursk". Photo: wikipedia.org / Uploaded by Schleming

Among the key events for Spassky, which required him to concentrate all his strength and abilities, a special place is occupied by the recovery of the fallen nuclear cruiser Kursk. The operation to lift the nuclear submarine was unparalleled in history in terms of complexity, scope of work and risk. The submarine lay at a depth of 108 meters in the Barents Sea, where storms almost never subside. It was extremely difficult to calculate the lifting force, in addition, the 154-meter boat was partially submerged in the ground. "Kursk" was successfully raised, the whole world, with bated breath, watched this most difficult operation. The collapse of Spassky's beloved offspring is still given to him with pain in his heart.

“But you can’t lower your wings, you have to work hard, and most importantly, don’t be lazy,” says the 90-year-old hero of the day. - For me, the Motherland and the state are the foundation of the foundations. Military education gives an understanding that the country must be protected and protected. However, war cannot be allowed, because today war is the end on our “ball”.

August 2, 1926 was born Igor Spassky, general designer of submarines, ex-head of the Rubin Central Design Bureau.

Private bussiness

Igor Dmitrievich Spassky (89 years old) Born in Noginsk near Moscow in a military family. “I was a very shy boy as a child - horror,” he later recalled. - I was embarrassed to go to the store. My father, a regular military man, told me: “So you won’t make a man out of you. You need to be in the military." And just before the war, a naval special school was opened in Moscow, and after the eighth grade I was assigned there.”

After school he entered the Higher Naval Engineering School. F. E. Dzerzhinsky. After graduating in 1949, he served for some time on the Frunze cruiser under construction of the Black Sea Fleet, then was sent to the Design Bureau for the creation of submarines. “I went to the faculty, which trains surface officers. There was some kind of childish savagery: they say, one must die for the homeland under the sun, not under water. But in life everything is a matter of chance. When I served on a cruiser after my studies, I was sent to a design bureau in Leningrad. I arrive, and the chief engineer says to me: "You will design submarines." “What submarines? I'm a surface rider!" But there is nothing to do. I delved into this matter, began to generate something - they looked after me, put me forward. I quickly went up the steps: I became the chief engineer in about twelve years, ”said Spassky.

Since 1953, he worked at TsKB-18 (now the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering). Participated in the design of nuclear submarine missile carriers of the first and second generations. In 1956 he became deputy chief engineer, in 1968 - chief engineer, in 1974 - head of the Leningrad design and installation bureau "Rubin" (since 1983, the head of the bureau became known as the general designer).

He also published a number of scientific papers on the theory of construction and construction of submarines. In 1973 he became a candidate, in 1978 - a doctor of technical sciences, in 1984 - was elected a professor and corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, in 1987 - a full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

With the beginning of perestroika and the subsequent collapse of the USSR, the state order for new nuclear submarines dropped sharply. Rubin, under the leadership of Spassky, began to simultaneously engage in civil projects, among which stood out the development and construction of platforms for oil production off Sakhalin Island, in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and off the coast of South Korea.

Another important project was the Sea Launch floating cosmodrome, created from a converted oil platform. Spassky also supervised small projects that brought money to the design bureau, for example, the modernization of city trams. In 2006, he described the scope of the Central Design Bureau in the following way: “Now, in addition to submarines, we are forced to do God knows what: both platforms for the Arctic regions and high-speed trains. But it's still a technique. And I had to work in a completely non-core area: we created a wonderful business center on Nevsky Prospekt, we recently completed the Planet Neptune shopping and entertainment complex. This is also very interesting, although difficult.

In 2007, he left the management of Rubin, remaining at the Central Clinical Hospital as a scientific director.

Igor Spassky is married to a native Petersburger, Lyudmila Petrovna. The couple have a son and a daughter.

What is famous

The famous designer of Soviet and Russian nuclear and diesel submarines. According to his designs, 187 submarines were built (91 diesel-electric and 96 nuclear submarines), which formed the core of the domestic submarine fleet. These are, in particular:

Strategic nuclear submarines of projects 667BDR "Kalmar", 941 "Akula", 667BDRM "Delfin",

Nuclear submarine missile cruisers of projects 949 "Granit" and 949A "Antey".

Under the guidance of the inventor, a whole family of low-noise and highly efficient diesel-electric submarines was created, which are in demand on the world market.

Headed by Spassky, the highly specialized Rubin Central Design Bureau became the head organization of the United Shipbuilding Corporation for the design of platforms for the development of oil and gas fields on the continental shelf.

What you need to know

Igor Spassky

The Rubin Central Design Bureau developed the Kursk nuclear submarine, which sank due to a torpedo explosion on August 12, 2000. Most of the crew died during the explosion, the surviving sailors tried to escape in the aft compartment of the ship, but by the time the rescuers got to the compartment, the sailors were already dead.

During the rescue operation, General Designer Spassky was a consultant, some journalists accused him of ineffective rescue of the crew.

According to the project of the Rubin Central Design Bureau, part of the submarine was raised to the surface. The cabin of the nuclear submarine "Kursk" has become a monument to the dead submariners in Murmansk.

Igor Dmitrievich Spassky(born August 2, 1926, Noginsk) - Soviet and Russian scientist, engineer, entrepreneur, general designer of about 200 Soviet and Russian submarines and former head of the Rubin Central Design Bureau.

Biography

the USSR

Rubin's other major project was Sea Launch, a floating spaceport built from a converted oil platform. Since the spaceport is located in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, where there are optimal conditions for launching launch vehicles (you can use the inertia of the Earth's rotation as efficiently as possible), launches from it are almost ten times cheaper than those offered by NASA. Spassky was the chief designer of the marine part of the project.

In addition, Spassky led such exotic projects as the construction of a cargo submarine for year-round operations in the Arctic Ocean and an ice-resistant offshore platform for oil production from the ocean shelf, as well as more modest projects such as modernizing city trams. He also became the general director of a consortium (it includes the Rubin Central Design Bureau, Admiralty Shipyards and several other shipbuilding enterprises) building non-nuclear submarines for the Russian Navy (for example, diesel-electric submarines of project 677 Lada) and for export - for India, Poland and some other countries (for example, the Amur or Sadko submarines - the so-called "tourist submarines").

The governor of St. Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak, jokingly called Spassky the "Hero of Capitalist Labor", referring to the success of Rubin in a market economy.

Part of the proceeds Spassky spent on charity: the reconstruction of the Nikolo-Epiphany Cathedral in St. Petersburg and the Church of John the Baptist in Staraya Ladoga, the construction of a monument to the 300th anniversary of the Russian fleet, the celebration of the centenary of the Russian Museum and many other projects. For his philanthropic activities, the Russian Orthodox Church awarded him "the Order of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow".

Nuclear submarine "Kursk"

Spassky was the head of the Rubin Central Design Bureau that developed the Kursk nuclear submarine, the last Antey-class submarine to enter service with the Russian Navy. On August 12, 2000, a torpedo exploded on board the submarine, and it sank. Most of the crew died during the explosion, but some sailors survived and lived for several more days in the ninth, aft compartment of the ship. Rescue efforts, slowed down by bureaucratic delays, failed. By the time the rescuers reached the compartment, the sailors were long dead.

During the rescue operation, Spassky was a consultant, and some journalists claim that it was he who was responsible for the ineffective actions of military rescuers in the first days after the explosion. The press also accused the Rubin Central Design Bureau of design flaws that led to the death of the crew. Some journalists, such as Elena Milashina from Novaya Gazeta, wondered why most of the accidents on Russian nuclear submarines in recent years have occurred on submarines designed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau. In an open letter to Novaya Gazeta, the company's vice president Alexander Zavalishin and the general designer of nuclear submarines, Igor Baranov, replied that no ship could withstand the simultaneous detonation of torpedoes, each of which is designed to destroy warships, and the Kursk was no exception. They also noted that more than three-quarters of Russian nuclear submarines are designed by Rubin, and if you take the percentage, it does not reflect the special accident rate of their submarines. Investigators who examined the Kursk disaster said that the automatic shutdown system of the nuclear reactor worked perfectly and saved the Barents Sea from a nuclear catastrophe.

When plans were announced to raise the submarine from the ground, more than 500 proposals for their implementation were received. The government chose the Rubin bureau's plan. The destroyed and whole parts of the submarine were separated, after which the whole part was raised to the surface and towed to a repair shipyard in Roslyakovo (a village near Severomorsk); Spassky supervised the work of cutting and raising the boat, another international team was engaged in towing and docking.

Awards and titles

Notes

Links

Spassky, Igor Dmitrievich on the site "Heroes of the country"

Heroes of Socialist Labor