Hello Paul & group,

Merry christmas, greetings from snowy Finland. And here's something
specially spectacular for holidays :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zvezda_M503

This is Zvezda M503A 4-stroke diesel, that was used on 200-ton class
missile boats. Layout is quite one-off, it's 7-bank radial with 6-cyl
inline blocks :) thus, 42 cylinders. Quoted power is ~4000 HP @  2200
RPM. TBO is somewhere like 500 hours :)

(Translated from German wikipedia)
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swesda_M503
"Also, the engine has a turbocompound charging with three
hydrodynamic couplings. In the lower speed range and performance
exhaust energy is not sufficient to bring the large turbocharger on
the required speed, the supercharger is driven over hydrodynamic
couplings by the crankshaft - like a compressor. At high engine
speeds, and associated high power, the turbine of the turbocharger
delivers the excess energy via the hydrodynamic clutches directly to
the crankshaft."

I try to get a service or training manual for this mega-gizmo. It's
interesting to see how they made that coupling, how much it slips,
and what's the gear ratio. SFC isn't that great for a diesel, but
then again, this is an out-and-out military speedboat engine.

There was four Osa-II's in Helsinki on a company that offered
joyrides with them. Engine noise was so excessive that they run out
of customers... even the most bone-headed said the noise was
'murderous' :d

Cheers,
Petri

Hey Petri how are you doing? Long time no see. I am seriously
thinking of another trip to Europe this summer. I am thinking of
flying into Frankfort and drive  up through Poland and the Baltic
countries to Estonia. Then take the ferry to Finland and visit
everybody there.

Where are you living now?

Paul Lamar


I worked with a Polish fellow that had been in the Polish Navy while ruled by
the Soviets. He was on a submarine that he said used a 42 cylinder radial
engine to charge the batteries and surface propulsion. Must be the same
engine. Runs real smooth.
The fellow had/has a severe drinking problem. When they take his license away
due to DUI he does not drive until he gets it back but only keeps it a couple
of months max.
He got out of Poland by saying he was going to visit relatives but never went
back. I do not know if he would chance going back for a visit now.

Dale Davies

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