acceptance trials. Test of a ship to determine it meets the performance and technical standards established by the State
Aleksey Khlobystov. Soviet submarine tender/repair ship
“Anis.” Specialized retractable submarine antenna
attack center. The area of the control room where the periscope stations and other equipment necessary to plan and control ship operations are located
AZ. Safety rods in the ship’s nuclear reactor
AZ GTZA. Emergency safety system of the main turbogear unit
ballast tanks. The floodable tanks around the hull that are flooded to submerge the ship and blown “dry” to increase buoyancy and surface the ship. The tanks are grouped to permit control of the transverse and longitudinal trim and stability of the ship.
BBR system. Emergency cooling system for the submarine’s nuclear reactor
BCh-1. Designation given to the navigation department on a Soviet submarine
BCh-3. Designation of mine-torpedo combat section on a Soviet submarine
BCh-5. Designation given to the engineering department of a Soviet submarine
Bukhta. Radar system including the retractable mast that supports the radar antenna
cofferdam. Plenum for the storage of high-pressure air (air bank)
conning hatch. Access hatch above the control room
DG. Diesel generator
gas generators. Devices that use powder fuel (similar to rocket fuel) to rapidly produce gas for evacuating MBT in an emergency
GEU. Main propulsion unit
GGS. General nomenclature for the submarine’s loudspeaker communication system
“Gibel lineynogo korablya Novorossiysk.” The Sinking of the Battleship Novorossiysk
GKP. Main command post
Gosstandart. State Committee for Standards
GUP. Main thrust bearing
GTZA. Main turbogear unit
hermitization. Ensuring the gas-tight integrity of a system such as the LOKh tanks
IDA-59. Self-contained breathing apparatus
IDA-59 CGP. Oxygen regeneration cartridges
IP-6. self-contained breathing protective tank
“Ivolga.” Radio antenna located near the bridge area
KAS-150. Air-dropped rescue containers
KIL-164. Soviet ocean salvage ship
Kingston valves. Valves used to close sea access to cooling systems or flood ports at the bottom of submarine ballast tanks that otherwise are open to sea. Without Kingston valves, the tank requires a positive pressure to avoid flooding. In heavy seas, that air can escape from an open flood port, so the Kingston valve, while an added complication, can reduce the potential of losing buoyancy in heavy seas or if the tank is vented unintentionally.
KISGO. Compartment Readiness Command and Information System installed in contemporary Soviet/Russian submarines
KO. Volume compensator of the reactor cooling system
“Kora.” Specialized retractable submarine antenna
“kor. R.” A non-standard term used by the crew of the Komsomolets that apparently means “on the reactor shell”
Korund. The rudder control system
KP. Control panel
KR. Shim rods in the ship’s nuclear reactor
LAS-5M. Emergency inflatable life raft
“Listvennitsa.” A replacement to the dependable “Kashtan” internal ship loudspeaker communication system installed aboard submarines. Komsomolets had the new system despite protests from the designers.
LOKh. A fire-extinguishing system aboard submarines, which uses an inert gas(in this case freon) to starve the fire of oxygen.
longitudinal equilibrium. End-to-end (bow-to-stern) stability
MBT. Main ballast tank
Mir. A Soviet deep water submersible apparatus
“Molybden” Console. Remote console to monitor temperature, operate equipment such as hydraulic pumps, and blow main ballast tanks.
Morskoy Sbornik. Soviet/Russian Naval journal published bi-monthly
Mstislav Keldish. A Soviet science-research vessel
oil separator. Equipment to separate contaminants such as water from oil
Onega Panel. Remote console of the Onega system that can monitor the insulation resistance of equipment throughout the ship
OST. All-Union [Soviet] Standard, used to promulgate details to ensure the standardization of technical systems
OTT. Document of the basic technical requirements for submarines
PDU. Short-term portable breathing device (about 10 months)
PGA-VPM. Portable instrument for measuring the concentration of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere of compartments
“Prichal.” Portable radio sets intended to allow communication between compartments in an emergency
PSN-20. inflatable life rafts carried outside the pressure hull on the rescue chamber, which were designed for twenty persons.
RAVA. Rubberized metal hoses used in cooler systems
RBITS. Manual on Combat Use of Technical Resources
RBZh-PL-82. Manual of Submarine Damage Control
RDO. Radio message
Regenerating cartridges. Chemical substances used aboard submarines to regenerate air (restore its percent concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide) in compartments
RShchN. An electrical distribution panel
RSP. 30 mm. signal cartridges launched with a flare gun
SDS. Ship stationary breathing system
ShDA. Stationary Emergency Breathing System to which the crew can attach a hose to breathe when the air in the compartment is fouled
“Shtil” system. System which supported the reactor’s emergency shielding system
Signal Number 6. Coded message (signal) that a submarine is in distress
“Sintez.” Specialized retractable submarine antenna
“Sinus.” Power supply system for the submarine’s automatic equipment control system
SIZ. Collective name of equipment used to protect the breathing organs of an individual from a hazardous environment
SPS documents. Secret naval documents
State Commission Working Group. Representatives of the Soviet Navy and the Ministry of Shipbuilding Industry appointed to determine the causes of the loss of Komsomolets
“Tayna gibeli linkora Novorossiysk.” The Mystery of the Sinking of the Battleship Novorossiysk
TPPL. Series of documents that specify submarine design requirements as promulgated by the Soviet Navy
TsKB. Design bureau
TsP. Control room of the submarine where the ship systems are monitored and controlled
TsVK. The digital computer system room located in compartment three, next to the control room aboard Komsomolets.
TTsNA. Turbopump units
“Udovl.” Term used on the Komsomolets that indicates the satisfactory condition of the members of the damage control party
UKV Komar. Radio transponder and identification beacon
VMF. Soviet naval authority responsible for the completeness and authenticity of ship’s logs
VPL. Air-foam fire extinguisher system
VPR. Reversible 400 Hz converter
VSD. Medium pressure air system
VSK. The rescue chamber located above the control room and in the sail/fairwater
VVD. High-pressure air tanks
VVD-200. High-pressure (200 kg/cm2) air system used to blow ballast tanks to increase buoyancy
VVD-400. Emergency high-pressure air system
VZY. Air main for systems external to the ship