Submarine missile cruiser "Typhoon. Nuclear submarine cruisers of the Russian fleet
HEAVY MISSILE STRATEGIC SUBMARINE CRUISER (TRKSN) PROJECT 941 “SHARK”
HEAVY MISSILE SUBMARINE CRUISER OF STRATEGIC PURPOSE (TRPKSN) PROJECT 941 AKULA
07.03.2012
The Russian Navy will not modernize the strategic nuclear weapons in service submarines project 941 "Shark" for financial reasons, ITAR-TASS reports, citing a source in the military-industrial complex. According to an agency source, the deep modernization of one Akula is comparable in cost to the construction of two new Project 955 Borei submarines.
Currently, the Russian Navy has three Akula-class submarines in service: Dmitry Donskoy, Arkhangelsk and Severstal. The last two ships are in the port of Severodvinsk and are not in service due to the lack of ammunition - R-39 ballistic missiles. Severstal has been moored at the quay wall since 2004, and Arkhangelsk since 2006. Dmitry Donskoy was used as a test ship, participating in tests of the Bulava missile. (lenta.ru)
30.12.2011
30 YEARS OF ENTRY INTO THE Navy TRPKSN PROJECT 941
On December 29, 2011, at the Sevmash museum, veterans of the enterprise and military sailors recalled the history of the construction of the largest submarine in the world - the nuclear submarine Dmitry Donskoy. 30 years ago, on December 29, 1981, the ship joined the Navy.
Shipbuilders and sailors are rightfully proud of the unique nuclear-powered ship. More than 1,000 enterprises from all over the country took part in its creation; at Sevmash, 1,219 employees were awarded orders and medals. The lead nuclear submarine of the Shark project is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for its size.
After 10 years of operation, the lead missile carrier was sent for repairs and re-equipment. In 2002, the nuclear submarine was taken out of the workshop, having some systems and complexes upgraded to the level of 4th generation ships. 2002 is considered the second birth of the ship. IN last years tests of a new missile complex"Mace". Today the ship is involved in testing new submarines being built at Sevmash. The nuclear submarine crew is headed by commander 1st rank Oleg Tsybin, the factory part of the delivery team is the responsible delivery person Evgeny Slobodyan.
For the 30th anniversary of the leading Shark, the research staff of the factory museum prepared an exhibition, and the television studio specialists prepared a video film “Dmitry Donskoy is back in service,” which was demonstrated to those gathered. (Press service of OJSC PA Sevmash)
22.05.2013
By the end of 2013, the Russian Navy will withdraw from its service the two largest nuclear submarines in the world, Severstal and Arkhangelsk, built under Project 941 Akula. As RIA Novosti reports, citing a source in the military-industrial complex, both nuclear submarines will be dismantled by 2018-2020.
22.06.2013
“DIMITRY DONSKOY” WILL BE MADE AN ENEMY SUBMARINE
State tests of three nuclear submarines have begun in the White Sea. New boats of projects 995 and 885 “Alexander Nevsky” and “Severodvinsk” will launch training torpedoes at the “Dmitry Donskoy”, which went to sea after repairs. According to the Izvestia newspaper, "Dmitry Donskoy" is used as measurement laboratory and with its help, the military intends to record the sounds of two other submarines.
According to the publication, training torpedoes will be fired at the world's largest nuclear submarine, and thus the Alexander Nevsky and Severodvinsk will test the fire control systems and torpedo tubes. In addition, before July 1, it is planned to test most of the other systems of both submarines: if no serious deficiencies are identified, then tests with missile launches from both surface and submerged positions will take place in the fall. Then they will check the new one automatic system controls, allowing you to redirect the Bulava in flight.
Previously, Dmitry Donskoy had already undergone several modernizations. In 1989, the nuclear submarine, built in 1976, began to be modernized at Sevmashpredpriyatiya according to project 941U, but in 1991 the work was curtailed. They were resumed only five years later and completed in 2002; then the launch silos were converted to accommodate Bulava missiles, which were significantly smaller in size compared to the R-39.
Lenta.ru
The magazine “Word and Deed” compiled the TOP 5 SSBNs present in the arsenal of the most developed countries in the world.
Missile submarine cruiser strategic purpose(SSBN) is the accepted designation for nuclear submarines designed to launch missile attacks on strategically important enemy targets. In addition to the term “SSBN”, the abbreviation SSBN (nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles), which is more common in the West, is also used to name this class.
Missile-carrying submarine cruisers are part of the triad of nuclear powers and today are in service with Russia, the USA, Great Britain, France, India (under testing) and the People's Republic of China. All of them, to varying degrees, meet modern requirements for strike potential, stealth, defense and crew information, so a detailed comparison of them takes place. Magazine "Word and Deed" made up TOP 5 SSBNs present in the arsenal of the most developed countries in the world.
1. Project 885 Yasen submarines
Nuclear submarine "Severodvinsk"
Today, the absolute leader in its class is the Russian lead ship of Project 885, Severodvinsk. This nuclear submarine is the quintessence of everything that the domestic defense industry has developed over more than half a century of development of submarine shipbuilding. The project has a fundamentally new design system made of low-magnetic steel, which allows the submarine to dive to 600 (ordinary boats no more than 300 meters) or more meters, which makes it practically inaccessible to all types of modern anti-submarine weapons. The submarine's torpedo tubes are located behind the central post compartment, which made it possible to place the antenna of the new hydroacoustic complex at the bow.
In the central part of the ship's hull there is a missile compartment with 8 universal missile silos. They can house 3M55 Onyx anti-ship operational-tactical missiles (24 missiles, 3 in each silo). In addition, the nuclear submarine is capable of using anti-ship tactical missiles of the Kh-35 type, strategic cruise missiles Kh-101 or ZM-14E of the P-900 “Club” complex, which can reach any coastal object from a distance of 5000 km.
“During sea trials and acceptance by the state commission, the nuclear submarine Severodvinsk showed excellent results. Theoretically, Project 885 submarines are capable of single-handedly inflicting significant damage on the US aircraft carrier group. 32 Caliber cruise missiles located on board the cruiser can destroy an aircraft carrier, even if it is accompanied by several ships. A similar situation will happen with an enemy submarine,” he told the magazine. "Word and Deed" military expert Alexey Leonkov
The main advantage of the Russian submarines of the Yasen project is their low noise level: thanks to low-magnetic steel and a special magnetic coating, they are the quietest nuclear submarines in their class. The cost of Severodvinsk is approximately 47 billion rubles.
2. Submarines of the "Seawolf»
The second place is occupied by the American fourth-generation SSBNs of the Seawolf project, which are “classmates” of the Russian Yasen. The submarine's hull is made of HY 100 steel with a high yield strength, which provides the submarine with greater maneuverability. According to Western and domestic experts, the level of hydroacoustic visibility of both submarines is comparable, while the cost of the Sea Wolf is 7 times higher, which is why the States limited themselves to only 3 copies.
On the Seawoolf boat, the main means for destroying surface ships and striking coastal targets are Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles, which are significantly inferior to the Russian Onyx in range and detection. The American nuclear submarine also loses in speed; in underwater and silent mode it is 20 knots, while for the Yasen this figure is 30 knots. Thus, in the event of a one-on-one battle, the Russian submarine has every chance of winning.
3. Virginia-class submarines
US nuclear submarine USS Virginia class
The fourth-generation Virginia-class nuclear submarine is the main striking force of the US Navy. It is significantly cheaper than its successor “Seawolf”, so it is given strategic preference. “Virginia” is also in the same class as the Russian “Yasen”, but is seriously inferior to it. According to Alexey Leonkov, firepower In terms of cruise missiles, the domestic nuclear submarine is 2.5 times superior to the American submarine, and in the class of anti-submarine torpedoes the US submarine is generally no match for us, since it has much less launchers.
The main advantage of the Virginia is the presence of a special module for landing operations. In addition to fire missions, the submarine is capable of performing covert landings of tactical units such as Navy SEALs on land behind enemy lines.
4. Submarines of the Triumphant class of the French Navy
French SSBNs of the “Le Triompant” class are distinguished by a high-tech power plant, which allows the submarines to maintain maximum mobility even in emergency situations. This is achieved through steam generators, which are integrated into a single module with the K-15 reactor, as well as the presence of a backup retractable propulsion unit powered by emergency diesel generators. In addition, the French nuclear submarine has relatively high speed submerged (25 knots) and a hull of sufficient strength.
However, in terms of armament, Triumphan is significantly behind its competitors. It is based on the French M45 solid-fuel ballistic missile, whose specifications and maneuverability are inferior to Russian and American models.
5. Project 094 Jin submarines China
Chinese nuclear submarines of the Jin project were created in the early 90s with significant technological support from the Russian Rubin Design Bureau. That is why, in its appearance with its developed fencing for missile silos, the submarine resembles the Soviet missile carriers of Project 667BDRM “Dolphin”. Despite this obvious similarity, the Chinese have succeeded in minimizing noise levels: in terms of silence, the Jin project significantly exceeds the performance of the American Los Angeles-class MAPL.
Type 094 submarines carry 12 Julan-2 (JL-2) ballistic missiles with a range of 8-12 thousand km. These missiles are an underwater version of the latest Chinese land-based strategic missiles DF-31. Russian experts believe that the JL-2 is a separate development: the three-stage DF-31 is too large to be placed in the missile silos of a submarine cruiser.
Thus, Russian Project 885 Yasen submarines are winners in their class. Their technical equipment, firepower, high stealth and acceptable cost leave no chance for competitors in the event of a hypothetical battle, and the number of feasible combat missions significantly exceeds the capabilities of their American, French and Chinese counterparts.
Maxim Rudenko
In February 1973, the Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau began work on the creation of a new two-stage liquid-propellant ballistic missile R-29R (ZM40, RSM-50, SS-/NM8), which was a further development of the R-29. Its main difference from previous naval ballistic missiles was the multiple warhead (MIRV) with individually targeted warheads, which made it possible to greatly increase the number of targets hit by one missile salvo.
A more advanced inertial control system with full astro-correction, used on the R-29R, provided new rocket increased accuracy. In the course of further improvement of the complex, the accuracy increased even more, actually becoming equal to the accuracy of delivering nuclear strikes strategic bombers. This allowed submarine missile carriers to hit not only area unfortified (as the Americans say, “soft”) targets, but also high-strength (“hard”) small-sized objects, in particular, launch silos of ground-based ICBMs, protected command posts, special ammunition storage facilities, etc. .
To place new missiles in the Rubin Central Design Bureau for MT under the leadership of chief designer S.N. Kovalev began the development of an improved SSBN Project 667.BDR (code - "Squid"), which, like the "Murena-M", was to be equipped with 16 missile silos.
Technical specifications for new missile carrier was formulated in 1972. The boat was a further development of project 667.BD. On the new ship, the height of the missile silo fencing has increased (which is actually equal to the fencing of the retractable wheelhouse devices).
When creating the new nuclear-powered submarine, special attention was paid to improving the fire control system: unlike the 667.BR project, the entire missile ammunition had to be fired in one salvo, and the intervals between missile launches were reduced.
The durable hull of the boat was divided into 11 waterproof compartments. At the same time, the 1st, 2nd and 11th compartments were shelter compartments (their transverse bulkheads were designed for pressure corresponding to the maximum immersion depth of the boat). Additional measures were taken to enhance the fire safety of the ship by installing new system volumetric chemical fire extinguishing using freon.
In project 677.BDR, crew support equipment was further developed. In particular, a solarium and a gym appeared on board the ship.
The submarine cruiser received a new hydroacoustic complex "Rubicon", developed under the leadership of chief designer S.M. Shelekhov, capable of operating in the infrasound range and having an automated target classification system. The maximum detection range in noise direction finding mode with favorable hydrology reached 200 km.
The more accurate navigation complex "Tobol-M-1" (on boats of a later construction - "Tobol-M-2") had a storage time of navigation parameters between two observations exceeding two days, which improved the stealth of the submarine cruiser. The complex also included the Shmel navigation hydroacoustic station, which makes it possible to determine the position of the ship using hydroacoustic transponder beacons.
The Molniya-M communications complex, which included the Tsunami space communications system, was placed on board the submarine. The D-9R missile system included 16 R-29R type missiles (length - 13.635 m, diameter - 1.8 m, launch weight - 36.3 tons). An astro-inertial control system with full (in direction and range) astro-correction provided a CEP of about 900 m. An important feature of the complex was the presence of three interchangeable variants of warheads, differing in the number and power of warheads. The R-29R missile carried a MIRV with three warheads with a capacity of 0.2 mt each and had a maximum range of 6500 km. The R-29RL was equipped with a monoblock warhead with a power of 0.45 mt and could hit targets at a range of about 9000 km. The R-29RK had the ability to deliver seven warheads (0.1 mt) to a range of up to 6500 km.
Flight tests of R-29R type missiles began in November 1976 and ended in October 1978. In Bely and Barents Seas A total of 22 launches were carried out from the K-441 SSBN (four missiles were launched in monoblock, six in three-block and 12 in seven-block versions). The typical equipment of a submarine cruiser is a missile with three and one warhead.
A dynamic error compensation system (DEC) was developed for the boat, measuring instantaneous values of the ship's pitching parameters for transmitting them to the missile system. The construction of the boats was carried out by the Northern Machine-Building Enterprise (Severodvinsk). The lead ship, K-441, was laid down in 1975 and entered service in December 1976. Its first commander was Captain 1st Rank B.P. Zhukov. The K-441 was followed by the missile submarine cruisers K-124 (1977), K-449 (1977), K-455 (1978), K-490 (1978), K-487 (1978) .), K-44 (1979), K-496 (1979), K-506 (1979), K-211 (1980), K-223 (1980), K- 180 (1980), K-433 (1981) and K-129 (1981).
During sea trials of K-441 at high speed and deep down the boat touched rocky ground. The ship was damaged in the bow of the hull, but thanks to the competent actions of the crew, they managed to avoid disaster and surface. There were no casualties.
Most of the Project 667.BDR boats received in the West symbol Delta III, served on Far East, in Kamchatka (Rybachy base). Moreover, since 1980, seven single crossings of the Project 667.BDR SSBN have been completed under Arctic ice (the first crossing was made by a boat under the command of D.N. Novikov).
Boats participating in inter-naval passages experienced particular difficulties on the final section of the polar route (especially when emerging from under the ice in the Chukchi Sea). During this period, the entire crew, as a rule, was constantly at their posts for two to three days. The depth often did not exceed 50 m. The wandering shallows with huge ice masses settled on them posed a great danger. Above the boats there was ice, the thickness of which reached 11-15 m. At the same time, the space between the ice shell and the ship was reduced to 3-4 m with a depth under the keel of only A-5 m. In such conditions automated system the controls were turned off and the boat moved, controlled manually. The moral and physical stress of people reached the limit, but a particularly large burden fell on the boat commanders.
Despite the complexity and increased risk, under-ice transitions from theater to theater were attractive due to their transience, as well as navigation in an area adjacent to Russian territorial waters.
Two boats, K-455 and K-490, moved to LLP in February-March 1979 along the southern route, through the Drake Passage. During the transition, in particular, the efficiency of the "Gateway" space navigation system was tested.
The Northern Fleet received five submarine cruisers, from which a division of strategic submarines was formed, based in Yagelnaya Bay, Sayda Bay (three SSBNs) and in Olenya Bay (two boats). In the early 90s, all ships were transferred to Yagelnaya.
North Sea ships actively carried out combat service, carrying out patrols in the North Atlantic and the waters of the Arctic Ocean.
In 1982, for the first time in polar night conditions, K-211 (commander captain 1st rank I.E. Kovalev, senior captain 1st rank V.M. Busyrev) sailed along the perimeter of the Arctic Ocean (see note). It should also be noted the unique under-ice navigation of K-524 (commander captain 1st rank V.V. Protopopov, senior on board captain 1st rank A.I. Shevchenko), performed at the end of 1985. The voyage to the Baffin Sea, which passed through a number of Arctic straits, took 80 days, 54 of which the ship spent under ice at depths of more than 150 m.
We can say that the Project 667.BDR boats were lucky: most of them managed to undergo factory repairs and modernization before 1991, when the rapid collapse of the domestic defense complex. The remaining nuclear-powered ships of this type were later also able to pass through the shipyard. Therefore, by the end of the 90s, the ships retained high level combat effectiveness. The D-9R missile system was also being improved (the next modifications of the R-29R missile were put into service in 1987 and 1990).
However, in the second half of the 90s, their gradual decommissioning began, which was due not so much to technical reasons, but rather to the need to comply with Russian-American agreements. In 1995, K-129 left service, followed by K-124 and K-141 in 1996.
Project 667.BDR missile submarines continue to be an important element of the country's strategic nuclear forces today. In 1999, three ships served as part of the Northern Fleet - K-44, K-487 and K-496, and the Pacific Fleet had eight missile carriers of this type - K-449, K-455, K-490, K-506, K- 211, K-223, K-180 and K-433. To date, the number of SSBNs in the Russian fleet has stabilized and a further reduction on any large scale will probably not be made in the coming years. Therefore, we can expect that Project 667.BDR SSBNs will remain in service until the second half of the first decade of the 21st century, when they will be replaced by new strategic missile-carrying submarines of a new construction.
During the exercises on October 1-2, 1999, two SSBNs from the Northern and Pacific fleets carried out a total of three launches of R-29R missiles, which launched from the Barents and Okhotsk seas and “hit” targets on the battlefields of the Kura training grounds ( Kamchatka) and Kanin Nos. In this case, the missiles were launched “a few minutes after receiving the order.” According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov, these launches should be considered as “testing Russia’s options in response to the United States’ possible withdrawal from the 1972 ABM Treaty and its subsequent deployment of a national missile defense system.”
Note:
On 04/02/2005, our e-mail received a letter from Captain 3rd Rank Reserve Dagirov Islam Gireevich, who served as commander of the electronic navigation group of the navigational combat unit of the SSBN K-211 project 667BDR. He added the following facts to the article:
The submarine cruiser K-211 sailed at 85 degrees north latitude. General speed was 9 knots. In each hole, Captain 3rd Rank Dagirov personally took photographs through a periscope every 15 degrees. In the Greenland Sea area, the ice thickness was 40 meters. In the area of the island of Spitsbergen, a day after the K-211 emerged from under the ice, 1 reactor circuit leaked (they were on one side). And the personnel of compartment 7 collected active water with their hands. Now they cannot prove that they belong to high-risk veterans. Korshunov, the commander of the 7th compartment, is still suing to prove his case. It is sad to see how veterans who bravely and honorably performed their military duty to their Motherland are treated in our time.
On September 23, 1980, the first strategic missile submarine of the Typhoon (Shark) class was launched into the White Sea at the shipyard in the city of Severodvinsk. A special feature of this submarine is the presence on board of ballistic missiles capable of hitting a target at a distance of more than 9,000 km. Firing from a submerged position from the North Pole, the Typhoon missile can hit targets at the Earth's equator. Therefore, this cruiser is rightly called strategic (in Greek “Strateqos” - “commander”), both missile and submarine, capable of carrying out the most important tasks of the high command.
When the hull of the submarine was still on the stocks, on the bow of the submarine, below the waterline, a grinning shark was drawn, which was wrapped around a trident. And although after the descent the shark and the trident disappeared under the water and were never seen again, the cruiser was already popularly dubbed the “Shark”. And for the crews of both the first and subsequent submarines of this class, a special sleeve patch with the image of a shark was introduced.
American experts gave the name “Typhoon” to this submarine. But even for those who served on the boat itself, this name was considered secret until recently.
This boat became our answer to the Americans, who in April 1979 launched the first of the new class of boats, the Ohio. Then followed by “Michigan”, “Florida”, “Georgia” and others.
Our Typhoon was a worthy response to the Americans. And not only because the submarine itself was unique. In itself, it was only one of the components of a grandiose program with the same name. This program planned an unprecedentedly wide scope of naval construction in our country.
In the North, along the entire coast of the Barents and White Seas, special piers, workshops, and warehouses for storing spare parts and mechanisms were built; automobile and railways. So-called loading points were also built - gigantic structures, nicknamed “gallows” among sharp-tongued sailors. Missiles, torpedoes and other equipment were actually suspended from them, which were then loaded on board the submarine.
Blasting work was also carried out to deepen the fjords in the places where boats were based, shelters were created in the rocks in case of a nuclear attack by a potential enemy, etc.
This program, according to one of its participants, Lieutenant Commander A.I. Sklyarov, also provided for a previously unprecedented procedure for operating submarines. In the Moscow region, in the city of Obninsk, a special training center was built under this program.
Plus it includes housing, kindergartens, schools, medical institutions. Submariner crews were supposed to undergo training in this center, replacing each other.
For each submarine cruiser it was supposed to have as many as three crews: two combat crews - for service at sea and one technical crew - for troubleshooting, current repairs and preparing the nuclear-powered ship for a new voyage.
The crew's work schedule should have been like this. The first combat crew spends two to three months at sea on combat duty, during which some malfunctions inevitably accumulate on board. Upon arrival at the base, the ship is placed at the disposal of the technical crew, to whom all defective statements are transferred. Meanwhile, the combat crew itself departs for the airport, where a specially ordered aircraft is loaded and departs for the Moscow region. From here, having taken their families, everyone goes on vacation to different parts of the country.
By that time, the second combat crew, tanned, rested and even tired of family comfort, flies together with families from all over the country to Obninsk. Here, to refresh their memory and skills, submariners are put through all the simulators, they take tests and, having confirmed their qualifications, fly with their belongings on a special flight back to Murmansk. From the airport, the crew arrives by special bus directly to the pier - to the ramp of their cruiser, which is already completely ready for a new combat campaign. They accept the boat from the technical crew, remove the ramp, and the ship goes into combat service, controlled by the second combat crew.
The whole process is then, in theory, repeated over and over again.
But, as they say, it was smooth on paper. Difficulties began already during the design, when the question of missile weapons arose. The Americans equip their submarines with solid fuel missiles, which are less difficult to maintain than liquid ones. We haven’t had such missiles for a long time. And when the first domestic naval solid-fuel ballistic missile, the R-31, appeared, it turned out that it was impossible to fit it into the same missile silo where a liquid one had previously been placed - the dimensions were not the same.
Thanks to domestic technologies of the 70-80s of the 20th century, such a missile turned out to be not more compact, as one might expect, but a larger weapon in size and weight. Plus, the weight and size characteristics of the new radio-electronic equipment have increased by 2.5-4 times compared to the devices of the previous complex.
As a result, it was necessary to design an original type of submarine that has no analogues in the world with two strong hulls located in parallel (a kind of “underwater catamaran”). In addition, such a “flattened” shape of the ship in the vertical plane was dictated by draft restrictions in the area of the Severodvinsk Shipyard and repair bases of the Northern Fleet, as well as technological considerations - it was necessary to ensure the possibility of simultaneous construction of two ships on one slipway “string”; It seemed to be more convenient and cheaper this way.
However, even the designers themselves admit that the chosen scheme was largely forced and far from optimal. This, by the way, has led to the fact that sometimes Project 941 submarines are also called “water carriers.”
At the same time, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining - it made it possible to increase the survivability of a heavy submarine cruise due to separation power plant in autonomous compartments in two separate durable hulls (this improved explosion and fire safety (by removing missile silos from the durable hull), as well as placing the torpedo compartment and the main command post in isolated durable modules.
Translated from technical language into everyday language, this means the following. To accommodate all the weapons and equipment, the designers had to create a sort of underwater catamaran. Two strong cylindrical hulls are connected to each other by three transverse transitions - at the bow, in the middle and at the stern. Missile launch silos and some other equipment are located between the buildings. And from above everything is covered with a light, streamlined body, shaped like a flattened loaf of Gulliver-sized bread.
Thus, it turns out that in one common light hull there are, as it were, two boats. In practice, they are usually referred to as “left side” and “starboard side”, meaning the left and right side of the entire cylindrical cigar. In these durable cigar-boards, everything is duplicated: reactors, turbines, all mechanisms and even cabins.
And even if all the equipment suddenly fails in one half, the other will allow you to completely complete the combat mission and return to base. After all, there are also exactly two specialists in the team, and they are called starboard and port specialists.
To distinguish between the right and left sides, it is customary to number everything on the left with even numbers, and everything on the right with odd numbers.
Between the lightweight outer and durable inner casings there remains a fairly large space where immersion tanks, all sorts of containers and in general everything that may not be protected from high pressure and the effects of sea water. And containers with missiles are also located on the Typhoon in the space between the sides—in the front part of the boat, in front of the wheelhouse. As a result, it turned out that the Typhoon is the only submarine missile carrier with missiles located in front of the wheelhouse. Other submarines seem to “drag” missiles behind them, but Typhoon “pushes” its missiles ahead of itself.
That’s where the nickname “water carrier” comes from. When diving, the entire space between the sides is filled with sea water, and the boat accelerates this entire mass of water and drags it along with it. Which ultimately increases the overall weight and negatively affects the maneuverability of the boat.
However, no one demanded any special “agility” from the Typhoon. Its main task is to deliver missiles to the area specified by the command as discreetly as possible and, if necessary, launch them at specified targets.
Therefore, the main weapons are those developed at the NPO named after V.P. Makeev intercontinental ballistic missiles. The containers, located, as already mentioned, between the cylinders of the durable housings, are connected by communications with the equipment in the compartments of the durable housing. And here there is a certain violation of symmetry. The equipment on one side is used to test missiles, and on the other - to prepare and conduct launches.
Each of the 100-ton missiles is capable of hitting a target at a distance of up to 9,000 km, which means that from the North Pole you can hit the equator. And this will be enough for America even more so. Therefore, from the very beginning, the Typhoon was designed for navigation only in the Arctic Ocean. He does not need to go far from his northern bases. We have other submarines for duty in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, off the coast of the United States. But about them in turn.
The double-hull design of the Typhoon, among other things, made it possible to accommodate the crew with unprecedented comfort for submariners. Such conditions, perhaps, could be expected from Jules Verne's Nautilus, but not from a real boat. For this, by the way, “Typhoon” received another nickname - “floating hotel” or “underwater hotel”.
And that’s to say: the crew here lives in 2-, 4- and 6-berth cabins lined with wood-like plastic, with desks, bookshelves, wardrobes, washbasins and TVs.
The Typhoon also has a special recreation complex, which includes a gym with a Swedish wall, a horizontal bar, a punching bag, cycling and rowing machines, and treadmills.
There is also a sauna covered with oak boards for five people. There is also a small swimming pool on the boat: 4 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 2 meters deep. The pool can be filled with either fresh or salt sea water - cold or heated.
We even found a place on the Typhoon for a solarium, but for some reason the tan in it has some kind of “alien” greenish tint. Therefore, submariners try not to overuse ultraviolet baths, so as not to stand out too much later on the shore.
There are also four showers and nine latrines, which is also quite good.
The cozy and quiet lounge has rocking chairs and singing canaries, fish and indoor flowers. And one of its walls is a large screen on which any landscape is shown at your choice: forest, mountains, steppe, Crimean beach and much more - about three dozen options in total.
Separately from this hall there is a room with slot machines for fans.
The Typhoon also has two wardrooms: one for officers, the other for midshipmen and sailors. The wardroom, as you know, on a ship is called “a room used for collective recreation, classes, meetings and a common table.” Four meals a day are served on board.
The menu is the most exquisite by the standards of the Soviet system; breakfast, lunch and dinner necessarily contained something meat. At dinner, a small glass of dry wine (50 grams in total) was also required - not for the sake of drunkenness, but to combat vitamin deficiency. In the evenings - however, the concept of a day in a submarine, like living in a spaceship, is very relative - you can drink tea with condensed milk, honey, cookies, bagels.
The ship's cooks, the cooks, are generally famous for their invention, and in terms of skill they are in no way inferior to their land-based colleagues from the best restaurants. In addition, eating on a submarine is to some extent considered entertainment. So the dishes prepared by the cooks are usually eaten clean.
Moreover, uneaten food, like all food waste in general, is a very serious problem on a submarine.
There are no trash cans on the submarine, so food waste and any other garbage on the boat is packed in plastic bags and once every three days they are “shot” overboard from a special DUK apparatus (for removing containers). At depth, by the way, this is much more difficult to do than in space. There, when the hatch of the transition chamber is opened, the cosmic vacuum sucks everything out on its own, but under water, on the contrary, you have to overcome, “push through” the outboard water pressure. The “shot” bags of waste then sink to the bottom, where their contents are used as food for marine life.
However, let's return to the combat capabilities of the Typhoon - after all, in fact, it was not built at all as an underwater sanatorium.
When creating a new ship, the customer was given the task of expanding its area combat use under the ice of the Arctic right up to the pole (and beyond it) due to the improvement of navigation and hydroacoustic weapons.
Power plant with a capacity of 100,000 hp. made according to the block layout principle with the placement of autonomous modules (unified for all boats of the 3rd generation) in both durable hulls. The adopted layout solutions made it possible to reduce the dimensions of the nuclear power plant, while increasing its power and improving other operational parameters.
It includes two OK-650 pressurized water thermal neutron reactors (190 MW each) and two steam turbines. The block layout of all units and component equipment, in addition to technological advantages, made it possible to apply more effective vibration isolation measures that reduce the noise of the ship.
Compared to previous nuclear submarines, the reactor control and protection system has changed significantly. Implementation of pulse equipment! made it possible to control its condition at any power level, including in a subcritical state. Safety is ensured by the “self-propelled” mechanism, which, in the event of a power failure, ensures complete “silencing” of the reactor, even if the ship capsizes.
Four 3200 kW turbogenerators and two DG-750 diesel generators are installed on board the boat. As a reserve, two DC electric motors with a power of 190 kW are used, which are connected to the main shaft line via couplings.
Two low-noise seven-bladed propellers are installed in ring nozzles. To maneuver in cramped conditions, the ship is equipped with a thruster in the form of two folding columns with propellers at the bow and stern.
When creating the Typhoon, much attention was paid to reducing its hydroacoustic signature. In particular, the ship received a two-stage rubber-cord pneumatic shock absorption system, as well as new, effective soundproofing and anti-hydrolocation coatings. As a result, in terms of hydroacoustic stealth, the Typhoon, despite its gigantic size, is significantly less noticeable in the ocean than all previously built domestic submarines, and is likely to come close to its American counterpart - the Ohio-class submarine.
The submarine is equipped with the new Tobol-941 navigation system, including the Symphony satellite navigation system, a combat information and control system, a MG-519 Arfa hydroacoustic mine detection station, an MG-518 Sever echo-ice meter, and an MRKL- radar complex. 58 "Buran", television complex MTK-100. On board there is a radio communication complex "Molniya-L 1" with a satellite communication system "Tsunami".
A digital hydroacoustic complex of the "Scat" type, integrating four sonar stations, is capable of simultaneously tracking 10-12 underwater targets.
Retractable devices located in the wheelhouse enclosure include two periscopes (command and universal), a radio sextant antenna, RAS, radio antennas for the communication and navigation system, and a direction finder.
The boat is equipped with two buoy-type pop-up antennas, which allow receiving radio messages, target designations and satellite navigation signals when located at great depths (up to 150 m) or under ice.
We also thought about how to launch rockets in Arctic conditions with minimal risk to the crew. It is optimal, of course, to carry out a rocket launch directly from under water. But, unfortunately, not a single designer in the world has yet been able to teach rockets to break through ice on their own. So, to launch missiles from under the Arctic “ice shell,” the boat had to surface in ice holes, breaking through ice up to 3 m thick.
No other submarine in the world is designed for such “tricks.” And for Typhoon, despite solid experience in this field and special technical equipment, each ascent in ice is a difficult and unsafe process. First they look for suitable wormwood. In general, a place that is clear of ice is usually called a polynya, but there are few of them in the Arctic. In winter, 90% of the water area is covered with drifting ice, in summer - about 50%. The ice is very thick, there are fields with ice thickness up to 35 m.
Therefore, quite often the captain and his crew simply have to look for a place where the ice thickness does not exceed three meters. This is done using special devices like an echo sounder. Then the bow horizontal rudders are removed and slowly, very carefully “adhered to the ice” - that is, they are stuck from below to the surface of the ice. And this surface is covered with numerous growths like icicles or stalagmites of very significant size. So the “icing” areas on the boat had to be especially strengthened.
So, pressing against the ice ceiling with the nose and wheelhouse specially adapted for this, they sharply blow through the main ballast tanks. At this moment, throughout the boat, in addition to the whistling of air in the purged tanks, the crackling and grinding of breaking ice can be heard.
On the Typhoon, as already mentioned, the missiles are located in front - in front of the wheelhouse. This was done precisely so that the mine covers would be free of ice after surfacing. After this, the opening lids of the mines sweep the remaining pieces of ice overboard, and missiles can be fired.
The entire ammunition load can be launched in two salvos, and in clear water, missiles can be launched not only from a surface position, but also from a depth of up to 55 m, without restrictions on weather conditions on the sea surface.
The D-19 missile system includes 20 solid-fuel three-stage intercontinental ballistic missiles R-39 ICBMs with multiple D-19 reentry vehicles (RSM-52, Western designation SS-N-20). Their guidance is carried out using an inertial navigation system with full astro-correction, which ensures accuracy of hitting a circle with a diameter of 500 m at a distance of about 10,000 km.
For the D-19 complex, an original launch system was created with placement of almost all elements of the launcher on the rocket itself. Starting is carried out using a powder pressure accumulator. At the moment of launch, the powder charges create a gas cavity around the rocket, which significantly reduces the hydrodynamic loads in the underwater portion of the movement.
For self-defense, the Typhoon has six 533-mm torpedo tubes with a quick-loading device. Typical ammunition load is 22 torpedoes 53-65K, SET-65 and SAET-60M, as well as 81R Vodopad missile torpedoes. Instead of part of the missile and torpedo armament, mines can be taken on board the ship.
To protect a submarine on the surface from low-flying aircraft and helicopters, there are eight sets of Igla MANPADS. They also say that it will soon be in service anti-aircraft missile system self-defense, capable of being used from a submerged position.
The first Typhoon, which entered service on December 12, 1981, was commanded by Captain 1st Rank A.V. Olkhovnikov, who was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for mastering such a unique ship. Following the lead ship, it was planned to build a large series of Project 941 heavy submarine cruisers and create an entire structure to service new modifications of this ship. All these plans went up in smoke at the end of the 80s, when the USSR began to burst at all the seams.
As a result, it was decided to limit ourselves to the construction of a series of six ships of Project 941 (i.e., one division). The unfinished hull of the seventh missile carrier, TK-210, was dismantled on the slipway in 1990. To some extent, the reduction of the program was facilitated by the fact that in the mid-90s the implementation of the American program for the construction of Ohio-class missile submarines also ceased. Instead of the planned 30 submarines, the US Navy received only 18 nuclear-powered ships, of which it was decided to keep only 14 in service by the beginning of the 21st century.
All six “heavy strategic missile submarines” were consolidated into a division that was part of the 1st flotilla of nuclear submarines. The ships are based in Nerpichya Bay. Reconstruction of the base in Zapadnaya Litsa to accommodate new heavy-duty nuclear-powered ships began in 1977 and took four years.
During this time, a special berth line was built, specialized piers were manufactured and delivered. An original complex of missile loading facilities (KSPR) was also created. Especially to provide a “floating rear” for boats of the 941st project in Leningrad at the Admiralty Shipyard in 1986, the floating base “Alexander Brykin” was launched, with a total displacement of 11,440 tons, having 16 containers for R-39 missiles and equipped with a 125-ton crane .
However, a unique coastal infrastructure that provides servicing for Project 941 ships was created only in the Northern Fleet, and even then not completely. But the Pacific Fleet never managed to build anything like this. Nevertheless, the Typhoons still had their say in the underwater Cold War.
A submarine of this type made its first deployment on combat duty in 1986, and during patrols with the help of an icebreaker, the crew was replaced. Ten years later, due to a lack of funds, some of the submarines were put into reserve. However, those who remain continue to serve in combat.
Currently, plans for the development of Russia's strategic nuclear forces provide for the modernization of Project 941 ships with the replacement of the D-19 missile system with a new one. If the plans come true, the Typhoons have a chance to remain in combat service for several more years.
In the future, it is possible to convert some of the Project 941 nuclear-powered ships into transport nuclear submarines designed to transport cargo from Europe to America under the ice of the Arctic. The cargo compartment, built in place of the missile compartment, will be capable of accepting up to 10,000 tons of cargo.
Alexander MOZGOVOY
This event received a lot of attention in our country and abroad. And this is understandable. Yaseni are among the best nuclear submarines in their class. According to open data, nuclear-powered ships of this type have an underwater displacement of 13,800 tons, their length is 139.2 m, and the hull width is 13 m. The OK-650V pressurized water reactor allows for a maximum 31-knot underwater speed. The operating diving depth is 520 m, the maximum is 600 m. The ideally streamlined hull and high maneuverability characteristics contribute to the performance of a wide variety of missions both when operating in the ocean and off the coast. The low-magnetic steel body is coated with a rubber coating, which reduces noise and reduces the reflection of sonar signals.
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The boat carries a wide range of weapons. Behind the retractable device fence there are eight vertical shafts of the universal naval firing complex (UKSK), each of which houses four Onyx anti-ship missiles or the Kalibr-PL family, various modifications of which can be fired at ships or coastal objects. Ground targets are hit at a range of up to 2650 km. The supersonic version of this missile changes its flight path in course and altitude, while the flight speed of the missile warhead after its separation approaches hypersonic. That is, it cannot be intercepted. In other words, the Ashes will be used for non-nuclear strategic deterrence. However, some publications talk about the possibility of equipping “calibers” with nuclear warheads. The submarine's 32-unit missile arsenal is assembled in different combinations.
In the central part of the hull there are ten torpedo tubes with ammunition of 30 remote-controlled and homing torpedoes, including the latest thermal “Physicist-1”. Instead of torpedoes or parts thereof, it is possible to receive mines. According to some sources, strategic cruise missiles "Granat" with a firing range of up to 3000 km and nuclear warheads, as well as cruise missiles of the "Caliber-NK" family and anti-submarine missiles "Vodopad-PL" can be fired through torpedo tubes. It is noted that in the future, SSGNs of this type will receive new types of torpedoes, including the fifth generation “Lomonos”, and missiles, which are currently in the process of being created.
No less impressive is the ship's electronic equipment. The combat information and control system (CIUS) "Okrug" exercises real-time control of all combat systems, information about the state of the ship and from surveillance and target designation equipment. The operation of the BIUS is ensured by several on-board digital computers based on modern components. The BIUS can receive and transmit data to other ships via secure underwater communication. 3Ts-30.0-M integrated radio-electronic systems are designed for situational illumination and target designation.
It is especially worth dwelling on the MGK-600 “Irtysh-Amphora-Ash” hydroacoustic complex, which belongs to the new generation sonar system. Its main conformal large-sized antenna “Amphora” with digital signal processing and using digital libraries of the “Ajax-M” automatic target classification system is located in the bow of the boat. On the sides there are large-area conformal antennas that allow you to monitor the situation around the ship. There is also a towed antenna, which extends from the vertical tail fairing of the submarine.
"Yaseni" are highly automated ships. The boats have integrated control systems for technical equipment “Bulat-Yasen”, control systems for the electrical power system “Luga-Yasen”, centralized power supply systems “Cosine-Yasen” and a number of others. That is why the SSGN crew can consist of 64 people. But in practice, “to be on the safe side,” Premier League teams are formed from 85-93 people. They are all officers or midshipmen.
The lead boat of this type, K-560 Severodvinsk, entered service with the Russian Navy on June 17 last year. This nuclear submarine was on the slipway for a very long time. It was laid down on December 23, 1993. But the ship was not assembled due to lack of funding. Work resumed in 2004 according to the revised project 0885. Serial SSGNs (Kazan, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk and now Arkhangelsk) are also being built according to the modified project - 08851 (885M). It uses components exclusively made in Russia.
According to Vladimir Dorofeev, General Director of the St. Petersburg Marine Engineering Bureau "Malachite", which is the designer of the ship, "Severodvinsk" successfully completed all the activities of the factory and state testing program, as well as trial operation in the fleet. “These include deep-sea tests - diving to extreme depths with testing of all necessary technical means, and activities related to missile and torpedo firing from the ship, as well as the completion of state tests of the main electronic weapon systems at great depths,” he noted in an interview ITAR-TASS agency. Having received a submarine of a fundamentally new design, the sailors practiced the use of all technical means in various operating conditions. “Projects 885/885M are breakthrough for our Navy“,” Vladimir Dorofeev emphasized, “they have a lot of serious innovations.” Such ships are currently absent from all fleets except the Russian one.”
That is why, as noted, “ash trees” are of great interest and concern abroad. Head of the command's submarine development division naval systems US Navy (NAVSEA) Rear Admiral Dave Johnson ordered a model of the Severodvinsk to be installed in his office. “I have to see a model of this nuclear submarine every day when I walk into the office,” he says. “We will face a tough opponent in this submarine.” That’s why I asked Carderock (where the US Navy Research Center is located - Editor’s note) to make this model for me.” In turn, the American The magazine National Interest, specializing in the problems of national security of the United States, naming the five most dangerous Russian nuclear weapons for Washington, ranked the Project 955 Borei SSBN, the Bulava SLBM and the Project 885 Yasen multipurpose nuclear submarines in the first three places. The fourth and fifth places are occupied by tactical missiles and ICBMs RS-24 Yars.
According to foreign experts, Yasen-class SSGNs are not inferior to the best American nuclear attack submarines of the Seawolf type (3 units), and are superior to them in terms of the ability to launch missile attacks on ships and coastal targets. They are placed above the Virginia-type submarines currently being built in a series of 30 units (for comparison, here are tactical and technical elements of these boats: underwater displacement - 7900 tons, length - 115 m, maximum speed underwater speed - 30-35 knots, 12 vertical launchers with BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles designed for firing at coastal targets, four 533-mm torpedo tubes with ammunition of 27 torpedoes, crew - 115 people).
What is the exclusivity of “ash trees”? These are truly versatile submarines. They are equally good for defense and attack. Project 885 SSGNs and their modifications are capable of operating against enemy ships and vessels, inflicting missile and torpedo strikes on them, and laying mines. But most importantly, these nuclear submarines are an ideal weapon for destroying coastal targets. At the same time, they can use cruise missiles with both conventional and nuclear warheads. That is, a high degree of flexibility in the use of weapons is achieved.
Currently, the fight against the shore is coming to the fore for submarines of all subclasses, including non-nuclear ones. Now they no longer need to scour the depths of the sea and ocean to search for enemy ships and vessels. Within the firing range of submarine cruise missiles is about 75-80% of the economic potential of most countries of the world, as well as their political centers. At one time, the United States declared itself an “island,” thereby motivating its oceanic expansion in accordance with the theory of “ sea power» Admiral Alfred Mahan (1840-1914). Now the “island” may find itself under crossfire from submarine cruise missiles. Most Western European capitals are also excellent targets for them.
Even conventional cruise missiles are capable of causing enormous damage to cities, especially port cities, and those where petrochemical production is concentrated. Let us remember the tragedy that occurred in Halifax, Canada on December 6, 1917, when the French steamer Mont-Blanc and the Norwegian Imo collided in the harbor of this city. Mont-Blanc carried 2,300 tons of picric acid, 10 tons of pyroxylin, 200 tons of TNT and 35 tons of benzene in barrels placed on the upper deck. The collision caused several barrels of benzene to leak, and it spread across the deck of the Mont-Blanc. And when the ships dispersed, their iron sides produced sparks that caused a fire on the French steamer. At 9.06 there was a monstrous explosion, which is considered the most powerful in the entire pre-nuclear era. As a result, Richmond - the northern district of Halifax - was razed to the ground, 1,963 people died, about two thousand were missing, almost nine thousand were maimed or injured, 1,600 buildings were destroyed, and approximately 12,000 were badly damaged.
Modern ports with their huge gas, oil, chemical terminals, as well as those saturated with other fire and explosive products, can pose an even greater danger than the Mont-Blanc steamer. The same applies to large industrial centers. Submarine-to-shore cruise missiles typically attack well-known targets. These include, among other things, military and civil administration, ammunition depots and bases. And it is almost impossible to avoid them. The United States and other NATO countries are watching Russia's buildup of cruise missile submarines with alarm. “If this trend continues,” said the head of the US Northern Command, which is responsible for the defense of the entire country, Admiral William Courtney, who also heads the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), at a hearing in the US Congress on March 19, “then over time NORAD will face challenges in protecting North America from the Russian cruise missile threat." In turn, former American submariner and now expert on naval strategy Brian Clark believes: “If they really create submarine fleet new generation, it will create a problem for the US Navy."
Meanwhile, the activity of Russian submarines in the seas and oceans is growing. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Viktor Chirkov, said, “from January 2014 to March 2015, the intensity of submarines entering combat service increased by almost 50% compared to 2013.” According to him, over ten submarine crews of the Northern and Pacific fleets were trained for combat service in the World Ocean last year.
However, the Americans are not asleep either. It’s not for nothing that Rear Admiral Dave Johnson keeps a model of the Severodvinsk before his eyes. From subseries to subseries (in the USA they are called “blocks”), Virginia-class nuclear submarines are improved and their capabilities are increased. The Block III sub-series is currently under construction. On March 7 of this year, the Colorado submarine was officially laid down (its construction actually began in 2012), the fifteenth of the Virginia class and the fifth of the Block III subseries. These boats have a new bow hydroacoustic station LAB, which is 40% more capable than the sonar installed on the first boats of this project. In addition, Tomahawk missile launchers are located in two modules, which, if necessary, can contain other payloads, including unmanned ones aircrafts, means of delivery of combat swimmers, etc.
In the future, new modifications of Virginia-class nuclear submarines may change the weapon configuration. Thus, by inserting an additional section, it is planned to increase the number of Tomahawk cruise missiles by 28 units, that is, the total ammunition will be 40 units. The US Navy wants to receive the first such submarine by 2019. It is possible that in the future the boats may even be equipped with compact medium-range ballistic missiles. Now we're talking about on bringing the series of these boats to 48 units.
To date, the US Navy has received 11 Virginia-class submarines of three subseries since 2000, two more are being tested and will be commissioned in the near future. The industry has been tasked with delivering at least two nuclear submarines of this family annually.
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French nuclear submarine Saphir. |
Unfortunately, the pace of construction is so needed by the fleet SSGNs of the "Ash" type cannot be considered satisfactory. At the laying of the first production nuclear submarine Kazan in 2009, the then deputy commander of the Russian Navy for armaments, Vice Admiral Nikolai Borisov, stated that this submarine “will enter service no later than 2015.” Now they are already talking about 2017.
There is also no clarity on the number of boats the fleet will receive. One has already been delivered to the Russian Navy, four are under construction, two have been ordered. But the fate of the eighth is not yet clear. Some representatives of the defense industry and the Navy say that it will also be built, others claim that the series will be limited to seven units. Although it is obvious that the fleet requires at least 20 “ash trees”. The price of each unit depends on the construction time and the number of ships in the series. The higher the pace and the more boats in the series, the lower their cost.
It is necessary to understand that the military-political hysteria around Russia is a kind of modification cold war 50-80s of the last century - will not “dissipate” quickly. We will have to live in a state of tough confrontation with the West, and above all with the United States, for a long time.
On the day of the laying of the Arkhangelsk SSGN, Viktor Chirkov told reporters that by 2020 the fleet would receive ten modernized nuclear submarines of projects 971 and 949A. They will also become carriers of cruise missiles. For example, Project 949AM submarines will carry 72 cruise missiles for various purposes.
However, the commander in chief did not mention the titanium nuclear submarines of projects 945 and 945A. They also had to undergo modernization to give them modern qualities. On May 14 last year, a contract was signed with the Zvyozdochka Ship Repair Center for the overhaul and modernization of the nuclear submarines Karp and Kostroma - the first two boats of this type out of four that should be radically “rejuvenated.” Active work has begun at Karp. It was assumed that this nuclear submarine would return to service in 2017. But in February, the first reports appeared about the suspension of work on the boat. And although there were weak refutations of this information from Zvezdochka, just on the day of the laying of the Arkhangelsk, it became known that due to budget cuts due to the financial crisis, all work on the Karp had been frozen. That's why Russia's enemies rejoice! After all, they predicted that falling oil prices and Western sanctions would slow down, or even stop, the renewal of the Russian submarine fleet. “Putin doesn’t have a lot of money, and with the fall in oil prices, Russia has very difficult problems,” noted the famous American naval analyst Norman Friedman at the end of January. That is why “in the future, Russia is unlikely to deploy a submarine fleet at the forefront of the World Ocean in numbers capable of threatening the US Navy,” noted Christopher Keivas, a columnist for the influential American publication Defense News, at the time.
Yes, sanctions and low prices they are forcing them to tighten up on energy resources. And here the choice of priorities is important. In our opinion, during a crisis period and taking into account the current situation around Russia, it is precisely necessary to focus on the construction and modernization of submarines. Large surface ships designed to show the flag in distant seas will have to wait until better times.
Moreover, they are undoubtedly inferior in combat stability to submarines. Suffice it to recall the recent episode off the coast of the United States, when, before being sent to long voyage The US Navy's 12th Carrier Strike Group, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, conducted a ten-day exercise off the coast of Florida in February of this year. The French nuclear submarine Saphir took part in them. She managed to safely overcome the anti-submarine defense order and go on the attack. In real combat conditions, it would have sunk or at least seriously damaged an aircraft carrier. But the nuclear floating airfield was escorted by very serious ships: the cruiser Normandy, which had recently completed its modernization, the latest missile destroyers Farragut, Forrest Sherman and Winston S. Churchill, as well as the nuclear submarine Dallas. But they were unable to intercept Saphir, although they knew about her presence.
This is not the first time that submarines have made a mockery of surface ships. The most notorious incident occurred on October 26, 2006, off Okinawa, when a Chinese Song-class diesel-electric submarine conducted a successful training attack on the American aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. She safely passed the anti-submarine warrant and surfaced five miles from the American ship. And only after that it was discovered.
An example can be given from domestic practice. During exercises held in June 2003 in the Baltic Sea, a Project 877 diesel-electric submarine “hit” the nuclear-powered missile cruiser “Peter the Great” with torpedoes. The anti-submarine forces, and they were considerable, really did not want to lose face, since the presidents of Russia Vladimir Putin and Poland Alexander Kwasniewski watched the exercises from the cruiser Marshal Ustinov, but they failed to disrupt the attack. When big anti-submarine ship“Admiral Levchenko” fired torpedoes at the boat and rained down jet bombs on it, which had already done its job.
To practice anti-submarine operations, the US Navy regularly attracts not only its own nuclear submarines, but also diesel-electric submarines of other countries, since they are less noisy than nuclear submarines. The Swedish nuclear submarine Gotland was even leased by the American fleet for two years. The Australian Navy's diesel-electric submarines and non-nuclear submarines are involved in such exercises. South Korea, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Peru and other countries. And, as a rule, they prevail over American anti-aircraft defense forces.
The same exercises confirmed that the most effective means of combating modern submarines are submarines. This is especially relevant in connection with the intention of the United States to renew the fleet of its strategic missile nuclear submarines. 12 SSBN(X) submarines with an underwater displacement of 20,810 tons each will be built under the Ohio Replacement Program (ORP) for the enormous sum of $347 billion. The first keel is scheduled for 2021, and commissioning in 2031. The bow end, along with the LAB sonar and two modules for Tomahawk cruise missiles, is “borrowed” from multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the Virginia Block III type. SSBNs have a pump-jet water-jet propulsion system. But the most important thing is that the boats will receive a fully integrated electrical system, which will allow them to get rid of hydraulic drives, and the propellers will not be connected by turbo-geared units that turn noisily propeller shafts. The propeller will be rotated by a stern electric motor. This will significantly reduce the acoustic signature of the submarine. The designers came up with an original design for fencing retractable devices. This is a very narrow structure, in profile resembling a small sail inflated by the wind. In a submerged position, it will play the role of a keel, only located not in the lower part of the hull, but in the upper part. Behind the retractable device fence are four blocks of Trident II D-5 LE SLBM launchers. There are 16 units in total.
Detection, tracking, and, if necessary, destruction of such SSBNs will fall on the shoulders of Russian multi-purpose submarines. That is why, according to Viktor Chirkov, when designing fifth-generation nuclear submarines, the fleet’s main requirements for designers are increasing stealth and improving weapons systems. This also applies to strategic nuclear submarines. As stated CEO Central Design Bureau MT Rubin, which designs Russian SSBNs, Igor Vilnit, “Boreys will certainly have modifications Borey-B, Borey-D, etc.” That is, the rivalry under water continues. And this derby, apparently, will not stop.
