DESCRIPTION
Less than 15 nautical miles north- east of Leba , lies at the bottom of the Baltic Sea in 32 meters majestic wreck , whose adventurous story began well over 100 years ago.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, the battle at sea , began to use a new weapon - a torpedo . In a short time maby began to install torpedo tubes on nearly all ships. There is also a new , specially designed unit types - torpedo . In the practice of the sea has become popular idea of attacking heavy and little - returnable armored battleships by numerous and fast torpedo boats possessing a new weapon . These units are characterized by low construction, constituted a very difficult target for that time , slow - firing artillery ship - to load and aim the lesser works even it took almost a minute . In addition, small arms fire and Gatling was too dangerous for the torpedo , which will therefore be able to approach a distance that allows to give accurate shot torpedo . One of the main advantages of these units was high speed . It was achieved by increasing the power gym , improve the shape of the hull , mainly by reducing the width in relation to length. This ratio in the first torpedowcach amounted to 1:8 m , and then came up to 1:10. This was reflected in a weaker seaworthiness , in practice, limiting their activities to the good weather.
In 1883, shortly after the start of mass production by the ship torpedo French and English , a massive construction of such units for the German Navy ( " Kaiserischemarine " ) began in the yard Ferdinand Schichau located in Elblag. Soon it became a leader in the production of torpedo boats . One of them was a torpedo tactical number S50 . The wreck , commonly called a " skate ", lies near Leba.
The ship was launched on November 4, 1889 in Elblag and April 10 of the following year was commissioned to give the number of tactical S50 . It was one of a series of six identical torpedo numbered from S48 to S57 built under construction 409/18 and one of dozens of similar torpedo boats , built by the shipyard Schichau in the years 1884-1892 . Simplified design plans for individuals is shown in Figure 1 Arming the original version of the small ship were two ( fore and aft ) operates Hotchkiss gun caliber 37mm . From 1893, it was replaced with one branch of 50mm , the remains of which have survived to this day. In addition to the Department of S50 was equipped with a bow and two on-board torpedo launchers 350mm caliber . During the reconstruction of the ship -board torpedo tubes removed , is adjoined by a second chimney .
On 11 November 1910 , already a severely outdated unit was renamed the auxiliary minesweeper number T50 . At the beginning of World War I September 28, 1914 , the ship sank during a storm to the north- west of Leba. Unit during the 24 years of service do not have the opportunity to take part in the fight at sea.

Diving description

Diving on the wreck of S50 is one of the more " climate " dives that can be made in our seas. Despite the small size and considerable damage S50 gives the impression of greater than it actually is due to the fact that it is wrapped trawl fishing , which raised the floats majestically rises above the wreck . It poses no threat to divers , however, provide specific climate . Our trip to the wreck resting on the keel , we start from the remains of the stern . It is the best preserved part of the torpedo . Despite the progressive degradation of the steel hull , we can still enjoy the view and the majestic rudder stick in the bottom of the bolt . From this point it is clear how they would handle the destruction of the ship. His remains look like Swiss cheese .
The whole wreck is evenly covered with mussels , in some parts of the shellfish only penetrates rust steel . After seeing the screws move in the direction of the bow wreckage. After a few meters you come across a chasm from which the destruction of the wreck is significant. From this point waist is wrapped trawl fishing and swimming around it requires keeping a good precaution . Trawl , however, is clearly visible and is made of thick ropes. Entanglement is therefore relatively difficult. Network trawl covered exact place where there were stern gun caliber 50mm . As a result of storms and water movement , however, has it been discovered and currently lies overturned on the starboard wreck. Scattered around the wreckage of several pieces of equipment , such as winches and ropes, and a lot of small parts , which are difficult to identify . If you're lucky and water currents move slightly trawl , we can see the remains lying beneath it probably Galley S50 .
Concluding watch works are moving toward the bow of the ship. If you look closely , behind the trawl will be able to see the remains of the steam engine and boiler steam torpedo boat . An experienced eye of a tangle of pipes quickly grab the important components that provide S50 achieve dizzying for those times the speed of 21 knots . This three -cylinder steam engine provided a warship 1571 hp and was originally powered by a coal-fired boiler lokomotywowego . S50 could bring about 30 tons of coal . In the later period of engine boiler was replaced with a much more efficient boiler burning ship mazout . The remains of the boiler are very clearly preserved latter part of the wreck. After seeing the boiler start to move in the direction of the bow poorly preserved . The items damaged by water , we can only try to discern fragments of manholes , covers and portholes . This concludes our adventure with the S50 and go home.

http://www.hogarthian.pl/ Tomasz Żabierek