After long repair, Ukraine’s only sub – Project 641 diesel electric submarine Zaporizhzhia – would take the sea for trials provisionally on Apr 17, reports RIA Novosti referring to a source in Ukrainian Navy HQ.
According to the source, “ the safety will be provided by Russia’s Black Sea Fleet rescue ship Kommuna” .
Sea trials of SSK Zaporizhzhia were scheduled in May 2011. However, the trials were postponed due to malfunctions revealed, reports RIA Novosti .
The submarine was repaired by Russia’s 13-th Ship Repair Plant in Sevastopol.
Diesel electric submarine Zaporizhzhia was built in 1970 and has not been at sea for 22 years.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , March 21, 2012; Image: sevastopol