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Stefan Drzewiecki ( 1844–1938) was a Polish-Russian scientist, journalist, engineer, constructor and inventor, working in Russia and France.

Drzewiecki left Poland early in life to complete his education in France. With a knack for creativity and invention, he invented such useful tools as the kilometric counter for taxicabs. At the specific request of Grand Duke Konstantin, Drzewiecki moved to Saint Petersburg in 1873. While in Russia he made an instrument that drew the precise routes of ships onto a nautical chart.

Drzewiecki distinguished himself mainly in aviation and ship building. Beginning in 1877, during the Russo-Turkish War, he developed several models of propeller-driven submarines that evolved from single-person vessels to a four-man model. He developed the theory of gliding flight, developed a method for the manufacture of ship and plane propellers (1892), and presented a general theory for screw-propeller thrust (1920). He also developed several models of early submarines for the Russian Navy.

His work Theorie générale de l'hélice (1920), was honored by the French Academy of Science as fundamental in the development of modern propellers.

You can see on the stamp and on the Picture a submarine designed by Drzewiecki in 1881. Now she is in the Central Naval Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Poland 1973, S.G.?, Scott: 2007.

Source: Wikipedia.

Drzewiecki III Type Submarine (Midget Submarine) 1881


Ordered by Russian War Ministry, Nevskiy Shipbuilding Works, St. Petersburg; Keel laid in late 1879. Displ. 6 t. (surfaced); 19'8" x 4'1 1" x 3'3" (draft); 1 screw, treadle driven, speed; 2,5 knots, Armament; 2 dynamite mines; Complement; 3-4. Operational diving depth; 10 m. Endurance; 175 nm with 0,5 knots, 25 nm with 1 knot.

The craft, designed by Stefan Drzewiecki (one of the greatest inventors of submarines) had a low observation tower with windows, and it was equipped with a prism sight, and a fully mechanized trimming system. The mines were stored in pockets (one each fore and aft). They were to be floated toward the target on air-filled rubber cushions. Hook eyes on both ends were installed to hoist the boat ashore or on board a transport.

It was a slightly modified and improved version of Type II, completed earlier that year. In the fall of 1879, Drzewiecki had successfully demonstrated Type II, reportedly in presence of the future Tsar Alexander III. While the navy did not show any interest, the War Ministry ordered 50 boats of the modified Type III. They were built through 1881, becoming the first series-produced submarines.

The world's first submarine fleet, as one might call it, was assigned to the army which at that time was in charge of coastal defense. Thirty-four of the boats were sent to the Black Sea, the rest were based at Kronstadt. They were deleted in 1886, with many being converted into mooring buoys.

Drzewiecki, one of the foremost submarine designers of his time, in 1884, fitted two Type III craft - with an electric motor. They were the first all-electric submersibles known. He also invented an external torpedo drop-collar that could be trained at the target His joint design with A. N. Krylov for a 120t-submarine won first prize at the International Competition in Paris 1898.

Poland 1973, S.G.?, Scott: 2007.

Source: Watercraft Philately and various web sites.