A Cold war Era Soviet 'Trench Art' Bakelite Desk Model of a ...

Estimate

£240 - £260

A Cold war Era Soviet 'Trench Art' Bakelite Desk Model of a Diesel-electric First Scud Missile-firing Submarine Mounted on Composite Bakelite Base with Flip Date Rotary Calendar, the Bottom of Base Covered with Green Wool, Perhaps from a Soviet Military Uniform Shirt, Base 33cm long and Submarine 28cm.

Further Details About this Particular Model of Submarine:
The Soviet Navy's Project 611 (NATO reporting name: Zulu class) was among the first Soviet post-WWII attack submarines, comparable to the American GUPPY fleet-boat conversions. They were contemporaries of the Whiskey-class submarines and shared similar sonar systems. Like many submarines designed between 1946 and 1956, their design was influenced by the German Type XXI U-boat.

Initially, the first Zulu-class submarines were fitted with twin 57mm and twin 25mm anti-aircraft guns but lacked snorkels. These guns were later removed, and snorkels were added shortly after they entered service.

In 1956, six Zulu-class submarines were converted into the world's first ballistic missile submarines. One was armed with a single R-11FM Scud missile, and the other five carried two missiles each. These were designated Project AV 611 and given the NATO reporting name Zulu V. The missiles extended into an enlarged sail and required the submarine to surface for launch. The Soviet submarine B-67 successfully launched a missile on 16th September 1955.

The Zulu-class was the precursor to the Foxtrot-class, which in turn influenced the Golf-class ballistic missile submarines. A total of 26 Zulu-class boats were built between 1952 and 1957, 8 in Leningrad and 18 in Severodvinsk. Initially named B-61 to B-82 and B-88 to B-91, most were renamed in the 1970s and 1980s. The class received NATO reporting names Zulu I to Zulu V, with Zulu V referring to the six converted missile submarines.