Croatian submarine Velebit

Velebit in the Lora Naval Base, August 2011
History
Yugoslavia
NameSoča
BuilderBrodogradilište specijalnih objekata, Split
HomeportLora Naval Base, Split
IdentificationP-914
Captured1991
FateCaptured by the Croatian National Guard during an overhaul
Croatia
NameVelebit
Acquired1991
Out of service2005
Renamed1996
Refit1996
Stricken2006
HomeportLora Naval Base, Split
IdentificationP-01
FateRaised from the sea and stored in Lora Naval Base, declared redundant
General characteristics
Displacement
  • Surfaced: 88 tonnes (87 long tons)
  • Submerged: 98.5 tonnes (96.9 long tons)
Length21.09 m (69.2 ft)
Beam2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Draft2.4 m (7.9 ft)
Propulsion
  • 2 × 20 kW electric motors
  • 1 × 105 kW diesel generator
Range250 nmi (460 km; 290 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph)
Endurance6–7 days
Crew4 + 6 special forces
Armament

Velebit (pennant number P-01) was a modified Una-class midget submarine and the only submarine to see service with the Croatian Navy. It was built for the Yugoslav Navy during the 1980s where it was named Soča. At the outbreak of the Croatian War of Independence Soča was being overhauled in the Brodogradilište specijalnih objekata division of Brodosplit shipyard in Split, Croatia. Although stripped of all equipment, it was preserved from the retreating Yugoslav forces by the shipyard workers.

With modifications that were aimed at improving the ships endurance by including a diesel generator, it was launched as Velebit (P-01) in 1996. Since 2001, due to battery set malfunction, Velebit was no longer able to submerge, and was constrained to surface operations. After it was decommissioned in 2006, there were unsuccessful attempts of selling it to a foreign buyer. The submarine was then offered to various museums in Croatia, with a final destination still pending.