TTX apl rtmk 671 systems and mechanisms. Naval exercises and events. When it all started

MULTI-PURPOSE NUCLEAR SUBMARINE PROJECT 671RTM

ATTACK SUBMARINE PROJECT 671RTM

16.04.2013
MODERNIZATION OF NOISY SUBMARINES OF PROJECT 671RTM RECOGNIZED INEFFICIENT

The High Command of the Navy will decommission the legendary nuclear submarines of Project 671RTM "Pike" by 2015. These boats were the main threat to American aircraft carriers in the 1980s, but in modern conditions turned out to be too noisy. The decision was made in March, after the Navy High Command worked through all the options for modernizing these boats and recognized them as unpromising.
“The entire contents of these boats need to be replaced, from the reactor to the hydroacoustic station. The hull also requires fine-tuning, because in these boats it is significantly worn out. Therefore, the cost of such modernization is approaching the cost of building a new boat,” explained Izvestia’s interlocutor.
He recalled that production of the Shchuk ended in 1992. These boats belong to the second generation of nuclear submarines; now all their peers - the Soviet submarines of the Lyra project and the American projects Sturgeon and Trasher - have been decommissioned.
Shchuk modernization projects were developed by several military research institutes and the Malakhit naval engineering bureau, which at one time created these submarines. Although the modernization project was presented, it turned out that their main drawback- a lot of noise - it will never be possible to overcome it.
- They contain technical solutions 1960–1970, and the noise level of the ships is significantly inferior to the American Los Angeles. Therefore, it will not be possible to modernize the submarines to the required parameters; it is better to spend the money on repairing third-generation ships of projects 971 “Shark” and 945 “Condor,” the source continued.
However, on submarine fleet"Pikes" are appreciated. One of the Northern Fleet officers told Izvestia that they occupy a much-needed niche of multi-purpose nuclear-powered ships.
- There are about 70 boats in Russia, but if you don’t count strategic missile and diesel boats, as well as those undergoing repairs, there are no more than a dozen torpedo ships, and the tasks they face are big. Now there is nothing to replace the Pike - the Sharks are no longer produced, and the Yasen missiles are still being tested, says the officer.
Now all four remaining Project 671 boats are assigned to the Northern Fleet. "Daniil Moskovsky" and "Petrozavodsk" go to sea, and "Tambov" and "Obninsk" are at the pier due to the depletion of resources. The boats are armed with S-10 Granit cruise missiles.
Business newspaper "Izvestia"

20.05.2014


According to the blog zvezdochka-ru.livejournal.com of the press service of the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center, on Friday, May 16, a docking operation was carried out at the Nerpa shipyard branch to launch the multi-purpose nuclear submarine Obninsk (project 671RTMK). At the end of the five-hour operation, Obninsk was moored to the pier, where the final stages of repairs will now be carried out.
Most of the work on dock repairs and restoration of the ship’s technical readiness is already behind us. The outfitting work and operation No. 2 will be carried out afloat. The nuclear submarine Obninsk is a delivery order for the current year.

As one of the steps in the global reduction of offensive weapons, General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Mikhail Gorbachev proposed withdrawing submarines from the Atlantic strategic cruisers. US President Ronald Reagan categorically rejected the initiative of the Soviet leader, considering them the main trump card of the United States in the confrontation between two political systems.

On May 22, 1985, five ships simultaneously left Zapadnaya Litsa Bay. nuclear submarines project 671. Their task was to discover the locations of American strategic submarines. In addition, Soviet submariners had to show the United States their capabilities. For two weeks Soviet submarines uncovered dozens of combat patrol sites of American missile carriers. In real combat, this would mean the immediate death of enemy ships. As a result of this operation of the Soviet navy The myth about the invulnerability of US submarines was dispelled. Six months after Operation Aport, on November 20, 1985, in Geneva, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev signed a treaty on the unacceptability of the use of nuclear weapons, which became the first step towards ending cold war».

Nomadic missile submarines under a hidden layer of ice they were practically invulnerable carriers of nuclear weapons. American strategic submarines were supposed to hold the largest cities of the USSR: Moscow, Murmansk, Leningrad and Sevastopol under the constant threat of a missile attack. It was to combat it that the Leningrad Design Bureau “Malachite” was developed nuclear submarine project 671 " Ruff" Soon events in the world showed that the need for ships of this class was greater than it seemed during design.

Soviet submarines of project 671 "Ruff" the need for

On October 22, 1962, millions of Americans sat in front of their television and radio receivers. President Kennedy announced the deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. To stop the aggressive build-up of this power, a strict quarantine was introduced. In response to the naval blockade of Cuba, Khrushchev ordered the USSR Minister of Defense Malinovsky to rush to a breakthrough Soviet submarines. Four diesel submarines came to the shores of Liberty Island, whose commanders had the right to attack the American fleet in case of interception. For reinforcement, the submarines were even loaded with one nuclear torpedo. But 1000 miles from Cuba, still on the way to the Sargasso Sea, unexpectedly Soviet submarines were discovered by the Americans. Domestic submarines they tried to evade using the latest tactical developments, but it was all in vain. Their crews even suspected that a spy had settled in the main headquarters of the Navy, not knowing that in fact the newest technology had been used against them for the first time American system monitoring the underwater situation " Sosus" It consisted of sensitive hydrophones located in strategically important areas of the world's oceans. Having discovered diesel submarines, which vitally needed to surface, the Americans began to drive them, not allowing them to rise to the surface, while explosive packages and grenades were continuously dropped on them. The temperature in the compartments rose to 50 degrees. Submariners fainted from the heat and lack of oxygen. Finally, on October 26, in full view of the Americans, she was forced to surface first submarine"B-130". In a last desperate gesture, the Soviet crew unfurled the USSR flag, and a few minutes later a deadly encryption message was broadcast: “Forced to surface. Surrounded by four US destroyers. I have faulty diesel engines and a completely discharged battery. I'm trying to repair one of the diesels. I'm waiting for instructions."

Over the course of several hours, the Navy headquarters received several more similar messages from Soviet submarines thrown to break the American blockade. The military campaign, unprecedented in its courage and adventurism, ended in failure. Due to the short range of their missiles, domestic submarines had to literally break through the powerful US naval defenses. To protect strategic submarines, a powerful cover was needed that could protect well from any threat. Thus, the designers of the Malachite Design Bureau were faced with the most difficult task of creating, in essence, an “underwater fighter” capable of equally successfully hunting the enemy and protecting their own missile carriers. The main advantages of the new submarine were to be speed, depth and maneuverability. In the design of the submarine, everything was subordinated to achieving these qualities, even the streamlined shape, reminiscent of sea predators.

In 1963, the US Navy entered service submarines class " Lafayette" These were new specially designed missile carriers. US submarines « Lafayette"had such low noise that Soviet sonars detected them several kilometers away. Soviet submarine « Ruff"with such equipment could have turned out to be outdated even before its birth, then changes were urgently made to the design - instead of the Kerch hydroacoustic complex, a powerful Rubin was installed, capable of detecting a target at a distance of up to 60 kilometers. But then the next problem appeared. New sonar located in the bow nuclear submarine had a larger size. Therefore, the designers had to rack their brains to find a place to place the torpedo tubes. Several options for placing torpedo tubes were worked out. Finally, the designers managed to find a successful solution; the devices were installed in the bow above the hydroacoustic hull. Due to lack of space, it was necessary to create a completely automated process for loading and loading torpedoes. This was the first time such a scheme was used in domestic shipbuilding. Work on first submarine It was very stressful.

In 1966, to the plant where it was built submarine« Ruff“The crew arrived to speed up the work and master the ship. And then the solemn moment of launching came. According to a long-standing maritime tradition, a bottle of champagne was to be broken on the side of the ship by a woman chosen from among the engineers. When the bottle was broken and the technological channel began to fill with water, the girl suddenly became confused. She was saved by the navigator, who carried her out in his arms. The next day, he and a friend came to her with a marriage proposal, to which the girl gave positive consent. This incident was considered a good sign and they turned out to be right - over the 30 years of its existence submarine project there was not a single accident involving loss of life. In 1967, on the lead submarine of the " Ruff“The reactor was launched and the submarine went to the place of combat duty.

Compared to American submarines similar class " Ruff"had a high speed and immersion depth. New torpedo tubes made it possible to fire from almost the maximum depths for American submarines. Project 671 submarine according to NATO classification it was called “ Victor", What means " winner».

Project 671 nuclear submarine "Ruff"

Technical characteristics of the Project 671 nuclear submarine “Ruff” (“Victor I”):
Length - 95 m;
Width - 11.7 m;
Draft - 7.3 m;
Displacement - 6085 tons;
Immersion depth - 320 m;
Marine propulsion system
Speed ​​- 32 knots;
Crew - 94 people;
Autonomy - 50 days;
Weapons:

Mines - 36;
Missiles "SS-N-15" - 2;

Project 671 nuclear submarine "Ruff"

The almost simultaneous appearance of " underwater hunters"and powerful strategic submarines led to a new round of confrontation at sea. By the beginning of the 70s, the United States, using an improved system " Sosus" controlled almost 40 percent of the Antarctic ocean. At the control center in Norfolk, computers stored hundreds of sound portraits of Soviet submarines in memory and could identify a trace even among the noise coming from civilian ships. Now the interception tactics have also changed. The Americans were in no hurry to show what they had discovered nuclear submarine, preferring to follow them secretly. Specialized US anti-submarine submarines, being much less noisy, sometimes hung on the tail of Soviet missile submarines for days. Even just finding someone being followed was considered good luck. Nuclear submarines class " Ruff"turned out to be the most effective in breaking through anti-submarine lines. Like all Soviet submarines, compared to American ones, they were noisy, but thanks to their high driving performance and speed, more often than others evaded pursuit.

nuclear submarines of project 671 RT "Salmon" history of appearance

In 1971, all strategic US submarines underwent another modernization related to weapons. In addition to new missiles with a separating warhead, they were equipped with powerful anti-submarine and long-range weapons, which were not accidentally called “torpedo missiles.” After leaving submarine The “rocket-torpedo” moved for some time like an ordinary torpedo, then came out of the water and flew to a certain area like a rocket; at the calculated point of the trajectory, the warhead was separated from it, which exploded at a given depth. The new weapon was significantly more accurate and long-range compared to conventional torpedoes. The domestic situation has developed hunter submarine« Ruff” she herself found herself in the role of game. Once again, the designers had to catch up and bypass the potential enemy. And already on December 30, 1972, the modernized nuclear submarine of Project 671 RT, code “ Salmon" For those initiated, the RT index meant that the submarine had received the latest missile system. Snowstorm"(RPK-2) with a firing range of up to 40 km, 533 mm caliber and a nuclear warhead. The warhead of the complex made it possible to hit enemy submarines located within a radius of several kilometers from the epicenter of the explosion. In addition, the submarine's armament Salmon“In addition to the four conventional ones, two 650 mm torpedo tubes with high-power long-range torpedoes were installed. This forced us to strengthen US aircraft carrier groups with new anti-submarine weapons. To accommodate the increased combat reserve the front part nuclear submarine lengthened by one compartment, which allowed the designers to pay more attention to the comfort of the crew. Submarine noise " Salmon" decreased by more than five times, but it soon turned out that this was not enough.

In 1975, the defense department of the Central Committee urgently convened a meeting with leading specialists from design bureaus for a meeting. Arriving at the main institute named after Krylov, the designers were surprised to see the prosecutor, and the topic of discussion was an official complaint from an officer of the Navy control and reception apparatus. In his opinion, the high noise level of Soviet submarines was a planned act of sabotage. The designers had to defend themselves. After the meeting, the designers promised to consider all options to reduce the noise of submarines. On one of the submarines " Salmon"We began to conduct experiments. Soon a noise reduction scheme was developed, which subsequently began to be implemented during the construction of subsequent Soviet submarines. Its essence was that the main source of noise, the turbine and turbogenerators, were placed by specialists from the Malachite Design Bureau inside a special frame, which was placed on shock absorbers to enhance the effect. The first voyage of a nuclear submarine caused a stir in the Atlantic, where the Americans felt like full masters.

nuclear submarine of project 671 RT "Salmon"

Technical characteristics of the Project 671 RT nuclear submarine “Salmon” (“Victor II”):
Length - 102 m;
Width - 10 m;
Draft - 7 m;
Displacement - 5800 tons;
Immersion depth - 350 m;
Marine propulsion system- nuclear, turbine power 30,000 hp. With.;
Speed ​​- 30.5 knots
Autonomy - 60 days;
Crew - 100 people;
Weapons:
Torpedo tubes 533 mm - 6;
Mines - 36;
Torpedo tubes 650 mm - 4;
Torpedo tubes 533 mm - 2;
Missiles "SS-N-16" - 2.

Soviet submarines of project 671 RDM "Pike" history

Only one had weapons equal in power to all the bombs dropped during the Second World War. At the same time, the US was building ship killers famous nuclear submarines. In addition to anti-submarine and anti-ship weapons, they carried high-precision cruise missiles. Tomahawk"to destroy important objects of the Soviet Union: missile silos and air defense system command posts. To combat such ships, submarines of a new quality were needed. But Soviet submarines The third generation was still being created and could not enter service until the mid-80s. The designers of the Malachite design bureau proposed an unexpected solution. Use a good design nuclear submarine« Salmon» to accommodate a new set of equipment and weapons. Was immediately called chief designer, and one day it was decided to create this submarine. New

On May 26, 1958, in the United States, at the Electric Boat shipyard (General Dynamics) in Groton (Connecticut), the world's first specialized anti-submarine nuclear submarine SSN-597 “Tullibi” was laid down, optimized to combat Soviet missile submarines. On November 9, 1960, she entered service with the US Navy. In 1962-1967 The American fleet was replenished with 14 significantly more advanced and powerful “ underwater hunters” type “Thrasher”. These single-hull, single-shaft submarines with a displacement of 3,750/4,470 tons developed a full underwater speed of about 30 knots and could dive to depths of up to 250 m. Distinctive features“killers” (as the anti-submarine submarines were nicknamed by American sailors) had relatively low noise, heavy-duty hydroacoustic equipment and relatively moderate (but quite sufficient for solving anti-submarine tasks) torpedo armament, consisting of four 533-mm torpedo tubes located in the middle part of the hull at an angle to center plane of the ship.

If the first generation of domestic nuclear-powered torpedo ships (projects 627, 627A and 645) were created to combat enemy surface ships, then in the second half of the 50s it became obvious that the Soviet Union also needed nuclear submarines with an “anti-submarine bias” capable of combating missiles. Submarines of the “potential enemy” in positions where they are likely to use weapons, ensure the deployment of their own SSBNs (countering underwater and surface forces operating on anti-submarine lines), and also protect ships and transports from enemy submarines. Of course, the traditional tasks for torpedo submarines of combating enemy surface ships (primarily aircraft carriers), operating on communications, carrying out mine laying, etc. were not removed.

Work on studying the appearance of 2nd generation nuclear-powered ships began in the USSR in the late 50s. On August 28, 1958, in accordance with a government decree, the design of a unified steam generating plant began for new nuclear submarines. Around the same time, a competition for designs for 2nd generation boats was announced, in which the country's leading design teams specializing in underwater shipbuilding - SKB-143, TsKB-18 and SKB-112 "Sudoproject" - took part. The Leningrad SKB-143 had the greatest technical potential, which, based on its earlier (1956-58) proactive developments carried out under the leadership of A.B. Petrov, prepared technical proposals for torpedo (project 671) and missile (project 639) boats.

The distinctive features of these projects were improved hydrodynamics, developed with the involvement of specialists from the Moscow branch of TsAGI, a single-shaft layout, the use of three-phase alternating current, as well as an increased diameter of the pressure hull, which ensured the transverse placement of two new, more compact nuclear reactors, unified for 2nd generation nuclear submarines .

As a result of the competition, SKB-143 received the task of designing a nuclear torpedo submarine of the 671st project (code “Ruff”) with a normal displacement of 2000 tons and a working diving depth of at least 300 m. Distinctive feature the new ship was supposed to have powerful hydroacoustics (in the conditions of the competition, for the first time, the dimensions of the sonar were specifically stipulated).

If the first generation nuclear submarines used a direct current electrical system (which was logical for diesel-electric submarines, where batteries were the main source of energy when moving underwater), then on the second generation nuclear submarines it was decided to switch to three-phase alternating current.

The tactical and technical specifications for the new nuclear-powered submarine were approved on November 3, 1959, in March 1960 a preliminary design was completed, and in December of the same year - technical projects.

The creation of the Project 671 nuclear submarine was carried out under the leadership of chief designer G.N. Chernyshev (previously he participated in the design of boats pr. 617, 627, 639 and 645). Based on the fact that the new submarine was intended, first of all, to destroy American SSBNs in their combat patrol areas (i.e. in “clear water”, and not under the ice of the Arctic), the customer, under increased pressure from the developer, considered it possible abandon the requirement to ensure surface unsinkability when filling any of the boat’s compartments with water.

As on the 1st generation nuclear-powered ships, it was decided to use a two-reactor power plant on the new boat, which fully satisfies the reliability requirements. A compact steam generating plant was created with high specific performance, almost twice as high as the corresponding parameters of previous power plants.

“As an exception” Commander-in-Chief of the Navy S.G. Gorshkov agreed to use 671 one in the project propeller shaft, which made it possible to reduce displacement and noise. By switching to a single-shaft design, it was possible to achieve significantly higher underwater speeds than those of foreign analogues.

The implementation of a single-shaft design made it possible to place the main turbo-gear unit and both autonomous turbogenerators with all associated equipment in one compartment. This ensured a reduction in the relative length of the boat's hull. T.n. The Admiralty coefficient, which characterizes the efficiency of using the power of a ship’s power plant, exceeded the similar indicator of the Project 627 nuclear submarine by approximately two times and was actually equal to the coefficient of the American Skipjack-class nuclear submarines. In the design of the durable hull, it was decided to use new AK-29 steel, which made it possible to increase the immersion depth.

Unlike the 1st generation nuclear submarines, it was decided to equip the new ship with autonomous (rather than mounted on GTZ) turbogenerators, which increased the reliability of the electrical power system.

According to the initial design studies, it was planned to move the torpedo tubes to the center of the ship, as on the American Thresher-class nuclear submarines, placing them at an angle to the centerline plane of the nuclear submarine. However, it later became clear that with such an arrangement, the speed of the submarine at the time of torpedo firing should not have exceeded 11 knots (which turned out to be unacceptable for tactical reasons: unlike the American Thresher-class nuclear submarines, soviet boat intended to combat not only submarines, but also large enemy surface ships). In addition, with the “American” layout, torpedo loading operations were seriously complicated, and it became completely impossible to replenish ammunition at sea. As a result, it was decided to install the torpedo tubes on the Project 671 nuclear submarine in the bow of the ship, above the sonar antenna.

In 1960, the Leningrad Admiralty Plant began preparing the construction of a series of new nuclear-powered torpedo ships. Act on the acceptance into the USSR Navy of the lead boat of the 671st project - K-38 (serial number “600”) - Chairman of the Government Commission Hero of the Soviet Union G.I. Shchedrin signed on November 5, 1967. Subsequently, another 14 nuclear submarines of this type were built in Leningrad. Three ships (K-314, K-454 and K-469) were completed according to the modified design. The difference was that, in addition to traditional torpedoes, they were equipped with the Vyuga missile-torpedo system, which was put into service on August 4, 1969. The missile-torpedo ensured the destruction of underwater, surface and coastal targets with a nuclear charge at ranges of ID-40 km. It was launched from standard 533-mm torpedo tubes from a depth of 50-60 m.

The double-hull submarine with a characteristic “limousine” fencing of retractable devices had a durable hull made of high-strength AK-29 steel, the thickness of the sheets of which reached 35 mm. Internal flat bulkheads were designed for a pressure of 10 kgf/cm2. The ship's hull was divided into seven waterproof compartments:

1st - torpedo, battery and residential;

2nd - central post, provision and auxiliary mechanisms;

3rd - reactor;

4th - turbine (it also houses autonomous turbine units);

5th - electrical and auxiliary mechanisms (it also contained a sanitary unit);

6th - residential and diesel generator;

7th - helmsman (the rowing electric motors and galley are also located here).

The structure of the light hull, the bow of the superstructure, and the vertical and horizontal tail were made of low-magnetic steel. The fencing of the retractable wheelhouse devices, as well as the middle and aft parts of the superstructure, were made of aluminum alloy, and the large radome of the hydroacoustic complex antenna and rudders were made of titanium alloys. The Project 671 boat (as well as its further modifications) was characterized by careful finishing of the contours of the outer hull.

The ballast tanks had a kingston (and not scupper, as on all previous Soviet submarines of post-war projects) design.

The ship received an air conditioning and air purification system, fluorescent lighting, as well as a more convenient (compared to 1st generation nuclear-powered ships) layout of cabins and cockpits, and modern sanitary equipment.

home power plant The nuclear submarine of the 671st project (which had a rated power of 31,000 hp) included two OK-300 overproduction units (a VM-4 water-water reactor with a thermal power of 72 MW and four PG-4T steam generators), autonomous for each side. The reactor core was to be recharged on a cycle of eight years.

Compared to the 1st generation reactors, the layout of the second generation nuclear power plants was significantly changed. The reactor has become more compact and “dense”. The “pipe in pipe” scheme was implemented, and the primary circuit pumps were “hung” on the steam generators. The number of large diameter pipelines connecting the main elements of the installation (1st circuit filter, volume compensators, etc.) has been reduced. Almost all primary circuit pipelines (small and large diameter) were placed in uninhabited premises and covered with biological protection. The systems of instrumentation and automation of nuclear power plants have changed significantly. The share of remotely controlled valves (valves, gate valves, dampers, etc.) has increased.

The steam turbine installation consisted of a main turbo-gear unit GTZA-615 and two autonomous OK-2 turbogenerators (the latter provided the generation of alternating current 380 V, 50 Hz and included a turbine and generator with a power of 2000 kW).

As a backup means of propulsion, two PG-137 DC electric motors (2 x 275 hp) were used, each of which drove its own two-bladed small-diameter propeller. There were two batteries, as well as two diesel generators (200 kW, 400 V, 50 Hz). All main mechanisms and devices had automated and remote control.

When creating the Project 671 nuclear submarine, some (albeit insufficient) attention was paid to noise reduction issues. In particular, a hydroacoustic rubber coating of the light hull was used, and the number of scuppers was reduced. As a result, the acoustic visibility of the boat compared to the 1st generation nuclear-powered ships decreased approximately five times.

The submarine was equipped with the Sigma all-latitude navigation system. There was a television system for monitoring general and ice conditions MT-70, capable, under favorable conditions, of providing species information at a depth of up to 50 m.

However, the main information device of the ship was the MGK-300 “Rubin” hydroacoustic complex, developed by the Morfizpribor Central Research Institute under the leadership of chief designer N.N. Sviridov and having a maximum target detection range of about 50-60 km. It included a low-frequency nasal hydroacoustic emitter, a high-frequency mine-detecting sonar antenna MG-509 “Radian” in the front part of the fencing of the retractable wheelhouse devices, an underwater sound communication station, hydroacoustic alarm and a number of other elements. “Rubin” provided all-round visibility, independent automatic tracking and determination of target heading angles, ranging by echolocation, as well as detection of active enemy sonar systems.

After 1976, during modernization, on most boats of the 671st project, the Rubin SJSC was replaced with a more advanced Rubicon complex with an infrasonic emitter, which has a maximum detection range of more than 200 km. On a number of ships, the MG-509 was also replaced by the more modern MG-519.

Retractable devices included a PZNS-10 periscope, an MRP-10 radio identification system antenna with a transponder, an Albatross radar complex, VAN-M or Anis and Iva radio communication antennas, a Curtain direction finder, as well as an RCP device (compressor operation under water). There were sockets for a number of removable antennas installed to solve specific problems.

A navigation system was installed on board the submarine, providing course guidance and dead reckoning.

The ship's armament consisted of six 533-mm torpedo tubes, capable of firing at depths of up to 250 m.

The torpedo complex occupied the upper third of the first compartment. The torpedo tubes were located in two horizontal rows. In the center plane of the ship, above the first row of tubes, there was a torpedo-loading hatch. Everything was done remotely: torpedoes were pulled into the compartment, moved around it, loaded into devices and lowered onto racks using hydraulic drives.

The torpedo firing control was provided by the Brest-671 control system.

The ammunition included 18 torpedoes and mines (SET-65, 53-65k, TEST-71, PMR-1, R-1). The loading option was chosen depending on the tasks being solved. Mine laying could be carried out at speeds of up to 6 knots.

Compared to the most modern American analogue - the nuclear submarine SSN 637 Sturgeon (the lead ship of the series entered service on March 3, 1967), the Soviet submarine had a higher underwater speed (29 and 33.5 knots, respectively), and a slightly greater diving depth and commensurate ammunition. At the same time, the American nuclear submarine had less noise and more advanced hydroacoustic equipment, which provided it with better search capabilities. There was an opinion among Soviet submariners that “if an American boat has a detection range of 100 km, then ours has only 10 km.” This was probably an exaggeration, but the problems of secrecy and increasing the detection range of the enemy on Project 671 boats were never fully resolved.

The lead ship of the 671st project - K-38 - became part of the Northern Fleet. Its first commander was captain 2nd rank E.D. Chernov. During testing, the new nuclear-powered submarine developed a short-term maximum underwater speed of more than 34.5 knots, becoming (at this point in time) the fastest submarine in the world. Until 1974, the Northern Fleet was replenished with 11 more nuclear submarines of the same type, which were initially based in Zapadnaya Litsa Bay. In the period from 1981 to 1983 they were relocated to Gremikha. In the West, these ships received the code name Victor (in further- Victor1)

Elegant, very photogenic “Victors” had a bright, eventful biography. They could be found in virtually all seas and oceans where the Soviet fleet carried out combat service. At the same time, the nuclear submarines demonstrated fairly high search and combat capabilities. In particular, the “autonomy” in the Mediterranean Sea lasted almost 90 days instead of the required 60. There is a known case when the navigator of K-367 wrote in the log: “they determined the place of the ship by the release of the anchor on the aircraft carrier “Nee-Mitz” (which moored in the port of Naples). At the same time, the nuclear submarine did not enter Italian territorial waters, but was tracking the American ship.

In 1979, during another deterioration in Soviet-American relations, the nuclear submarines K-38 and K-481 carried out combat service in the Persian Gulf, where at that time there were up to 50 US Navy ships. The voyage took place in extremely difficult conditions (the water temperature at the surface reached 40°). According to the memoirs of campaign participant A.N. Shportko (commander K-481), in the power compartments of the boats the air heated up to 60-70°, and in living quarters - up to 40-50°. The air conditioners worked at full capacity, but the equipment (designed for use primarily in northern latitudes) could not cope: the refrigeration machines began to work normally only at a depth of 60 m, where the temperature of the sea water dropped to 10-15°.

The boats had two replaceable crews, located on the Berezina floating base, located in the Gulf of Aden or off the island of Socotra. The campaign lasted six months and was, on the whole, very successful. According to A.N. Shporko, Soviet nuclear submarines operated in the Persian Gulf very secretly: even if the US Navy detected them for a short time, they could not correctly classify them, much less organize prosecution. Subsequently, these conclusions were confirmed by intelligence data. At the same time, tracking of American ships was carried out at the range of use of missile and missile-torpedo weapons: if the corresponding order had been received, they would have been sent to the bottom with a probability close to 100%.

In September-October 1971, K-38 and K-323 made an autonomous under-ice expedition to the Arctic. In January 1974, a unique 107-day transition of two nuclear-powered ships of the 670th and 671st projects began under the command of captains 2nd rank V.D. Khaitarov and V.P. Gontarev from the Northern to the Pacific Fleet. The route passed along the Atlantic (to the Cape of Good Hope), the Indian and Pacific oceans. After passing the Faroe-Icelandic anti-submarine line, the boats moved in a tactical group (one ship was at a depth of 100 m, and the other - 150 m). In fact, this was the first experience of a nuclear submarine following such a long period as part of a tactical group.

On March 10-25, the boats called at the port of Berbera (Somalia), where their crews received a short rest. On March 29, while on combat duty, they had brief contact with American surface forces. anti-submarine ships and broke away from them, going to greater depths. On April 13, after completing combat service in specified areas of the Indian Ocean, the boats on the surface, led by the support vessel Bashkiria, headed for the Strait of Malacca.

During the transition, the temperature of the sea water reached 28°. The air conditioning systems were unable to maintain the required microclimate: the relative humidity in the boat compartments was 90%, and the air temperature rose to 70°. Behind the squad Soviet ships American base patrol aircraft Lockheed P-3 Orion, based on Diego Garcia Atoll, carried out almost continuous surveillance.

In the Strait of Malacca, where the ships entered on April 17, American “guardianship” became even tighter: numerous anti-submarine helicopters joined the Orions. On April 20, one of the Rubin GAS units caught fire on board the Project 671 nuclear submarine due to high humidity. However, through the efforts of the crew, the fire was quickly extinguished. On April 25, the ships passed through the strait zone and, breaking away from observation, went into the depths. May 6 nuclear submarine V.P. Gontareva entered Avacha Bay. On May 7, a second nuclear-powered icebreaker joined her.

In January 1976, the strategic missile submarine cruiser K-171, as well as the nuclear submarine K-469, which performed security functions, made another transition from the Northern Fleet to the Pacific Fleet. The ships sailed across the Atlantic Ocean at a distance of only 18 cables from each other. We passed the Drake Passage at different depths, constantly maintaining contact via the ZPS. After crossing the equator, the boats separated and proceeded to Kamchatka (where they arrived in March), each along its own route. Over the course of 80 days, 21,754 miles were covered, and during the entire journey, K-469 surfaced to periscope depth only once (in the Antarctic region).

K-147, equipped with the latest, unparalleled system for tracking enemy nuclear submarines along the wake, May 29 - July 1, 1985, under the command of Captain 2nd Rank V.V. Nikitina took part in the exercises of the Northern Fleet submarine forces “Aport”, during which she performed six-day continuous tracking of the American SSBN “Simon Bolivar” (La Fayette type), using acoustic and non-acoustic means.

A very dramatic incident occurred with K-314 (commander Captain 1st Rank A.M. Evseenko) in March 1984. Carrying out, together with the Vladivostok BOD, tracking an American strike group consisting of the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk and seven escort ships, maneuvering in Japan sea, a Soviet boat on March 21, while surfacing to clarify the surface situation, pierced the bottom of an American aircraft carrier with its stern for almost 40 m. As a result, the US Navy maneuvers were curtailed and the Kitty Hawk, losing fuel oil through the hole, “crawled” into the Japanese dock , and the Soviet nuclear-powered ship, which had lost its propeller, proceeded in tow to Chazhma Bay, where it also began repairs.

This event caused a sharply negative resonance in the American press. Journalists specializing in naval topics noted the weakness of the AUG security, which allowed the boats of the “potential enemy” to surface directly under the keel of the aircraft carriers.

Time takes its toll. On March 14, 1989, the first boat of the 671st project, K-314, which was part of the Pacific Fleet, was decommissioned. In 1993-1996. The rest of the nuclear submarines of this type also left the fleet. However, the disposal of the honored ships was delayed. Currently, most of them are in the dumps, waiting for years for their fate.

On May 26, 1968, in the USA, at the Electric Boat shipyard (General Dynamics) in Grotton (Connecticut), the world's first specialized anti-submarine submarine "SSN-597" Tullibi, optimized to combat Soviet missile nuclear submarines.
On November 9, 1960, this nuclear submarine entered service with the US Navy.
In 1962 - 1967 The US fleet was replenished with 14 significantly more advanced and powerful “underwater hunters” of the Thresher type.
These single-hull, single-shaft nuclear submarines with a displacement of 3,750/4,470 tons developed a full underwater speed of about 30 knots and could dive to depths of up to 250 m.

The distinctive features of these nuclear submarines - “killers” (as the anti-submarine submarines were nicknamed by American sailors) were relatively low noise, heavy-duty hydroacoustic equipment and relatively moderate (but quite sufficient for solving anti-submarine tasks) torpedo armament, consisting of 4 torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber, located in the middle part of the body at an angle to the longitudinal axis.
If the first generation Soviet torpedo submarines (projects 627, 627A and 654) were created to combat enemy surface ships, then in the second half of the 50s it became obvious that the Soviet Union also needed nuclear submarines with an “anti-submarine bias” capable of combating missile nuclear submarines "potential enemy" in positions where they are likely to use weapons, ensure the deployment of their own SSBNs (countering underwater and surface forces operating on anti-submarine lines), and also protect ships and transports from enemy submarines. Of course, the traditional tasks of combating torpedo submarines were not removed enemy surface ships (primarily aircraft carriers), actions on communications, mine laying, etc.
Work on studying the appearance of the second generation nuclear-powered ship began in the USSR in the late 50s.

On August 28, 1958, in accordance with a government decree, the design of a unified steam generating plant began for new nuclear submarines. Around the same time, a competition for designs for second-generation nuclear submarines was announced, in which the country's leading design teams specializing in underwater shipbuilding - SKB-143, TsKB-18 and SKB-112 "Sudoproekt" - took part. The Leningrad SKB-143 had the greatest technical potential, which, based on its earlier (1956 - 1958) initiative studies carried out under the leadership of A.B. Petrov, prepared technical proposals for torpedo (project 671) and missile (project 639) submarines .
The distinctive features of these projects were the improvement of hydrodynamics, developed with the involvement of specialists from the Moscow branch of TsAGI, a single-shaft layout, the use of alternating three-phase current, as well as an increased diameter of the pressure vessel, which ensured the transverse placement of two new, more compact nuclear reactors unified for second-generation nuclear submarines.

As a result of the competition, SKB-143 received the task of designing a nuclear torpedo submarine of Project 671 (code "Ruff") with a normal displacement of 2000 tons and an operating diving depth of at least 300 m. A distinctive feature of the new ship was to be powerful hydroacoustics (under the conditions of the competition, for the first time specifically the dimensions of the GAS were specified).
If the first generation nuclear submarines used a direct current electrical system (which was logical for diesel-electric submarines, where batteries were the main source of energy when moving underwater), then on the second generation nuclear submarines it was decided to switch to three-phase alternating current.
The tactical and technical specifications for the new nuclear submarine were approved on November 3, 1959; preliminary designs were completed in March 1960, and technical designs were completed in December of the same year. The creation of the Project 671 nuclear submarine was carried out under the leadership of chief designer G.N. Chernyshev (he had previously participated in the design of Project 617, 627, 639 and 645 submarines).

Based on the fact that the new nuclear submarine was intended primarily to destroy US SSBNs in their combat patrol areas (that is, in “clean water” and not under the ice of the Arctic), the Customer, under increased pressure from the developer, considered it possible to abandon the requirement to provide surface unsinkability when filling any of the submarine compartments with water.
As on the first generation nuclear-powered ships, on the new nuclear submarine it was decided to use a two-reactor power plant that fully satisfies the reliability requirements. A compact steam generating plant was created with high specific performance, almost twice as high as the corresponding parameters of previous power plants.
“As an exception,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy S.G. Gorshov agreed to use one propeller shaft in the Project 671 nuclear submarine, which made it possible to reduce displacement and noise. By switching to a single-shaft design, an improvement in the ship’s propulsion qualities by approximately 30% was achieved, as well as (using more powerful domestic energy) ensured that underwater speeds were significantly higher than those of foreign analogues.
The implementation of a single-shaft design made it possible to place in this compartment the main turbo-gear unit and two autonomous turbogenerators with all associated equipment. This ensured a reduction in the relative length of the nuclear submarine hull. As a result, with a larger displacement, the total wetted surfaces of the new nuclear submarine and the Project 627 nuclear submarine turned out to be approximately equal. The Admiralty coefficient, which characterizes the efficiency of using the power of a ship's power plant, exceeded the similar indicator of the Project 627 nuclear submarine by approximately 2 times and was actually equal to the coefficient of the US Skipjack class nuclear submarine.

In the design of the durable hull, it was decided to use new AK-29 steel, which made it possible to increase the immersion depth.
Unlike the first generation nuclear submarines, it was decided to equip the new ship with autonomous (rather than mounted on GTZ) turbogenerators, which increased the reliability of the electrical power system.

When creating the Project 671 nuclear submarine, great importance was attached to the development of underwater detection and target designation means. Improving navigation equipment and weapons.
According to the initial design studies, it was planned to move the torpedo tubes to the center of the ship, as on the American Thresher-class nuclear submarines, placing them at an angle to the centerline plane of the nuclear submarine. However, it later became clear that with such an arrangement, the speed of the submarine at the time of torpedo firing should not exceed 11 knots (which turned out to be unacceptable for tactical reasons: unlike the US Thresher-class nuclear submarines, the Soviet nuclear submarine was intended to combat not only submarines, but also with large enemy surface ships). In addition, with the “American” layout, torpedo loading operations were seriously complicated, and it became completely impossible to replenish ammunition at sea. As a result, it was decided to install the torpedo tubes on the Project 671 nuclear submarine in the bow of the ship, above the sonar antenna.

In 1960, the Leningrad Admiralty Plant began preparing the construction of a series of new nuclear-powered torpedo ships. The act of acceptance into the USSR Navy of the lead nuclear submarine of Project 671 - "K-30" (serial number "600") - was signed by the chairman of the government commission, Hero of the Soviet Union G.I. Shchedrin, on November 5, 1967.
Subsequently, 14 more TUPLs of this type were built in Leningrad.
Three nuclear submarines ("K-314", "K-454" and "K-469"), intended for the Pacific Fleet, were completed according to the modified project 671B. The difference was that, in addition to traditional torpedoes, they were equipped with the Vyuga missile-torpedo system, which was put into service on August 4, 1969. The missile-torpedo ensured the destruction of underwater, surface and coastal targets with a nuclear charge at ranges of 10 - 40 km. It was launched from standard 533-mm torpedo tubes from a depth of 50 - 60 m.

The double-hull nuclear submarine with a characteristic “limousine” fencing of retractable devices had a durable hull made of high-strength AK-29 steel, the thickness of the sheets of which reached 35 mm. Internal flat bulkheads were designed for a pressure of 10 kgf/sq. cm. The nuclear submarine hull was divided by waterproof bulkheads into 7 compartments:
- 1st - torpedo compartment, battery and residential;
- 2nd - central post, provision and auxiliary mechanisms;
- 3rd - reactor compartment;
- 4th - turbine (it also contained autonomous turbine units);
- 5th - electrical and auxiliary mechanisms (it also contained a sanitary unit);
- 6th - residential and diesel generator;
- 7th - helmsman (the rowing electric motors and galley are also located here).

The structure of the light hull, the bow of the superstructure, and the vertical and horizontal tail were made of low-magnetic steel. The fencing of the retractable wheelhouse devices, as well as the middle and aft parts of the superstructure, were made of aluminum alloy, and the large radome of the hydroacoustic complex antenna and rudders were made of titanium alloys. The Project 671 nuclear submarine (as well as its further modifications) was characterized by careful finishing of the contours of the outer hull. The ballast tanks had a kingston (and not scupper, as on all previous Soviet submarines of post-war projects) design.
The ship received an air conditioning and air purification system, fluorescent lighting, as well as a more convenient (compared to first-generation nuclear-powered ships) layout of cabins and cockpits, and modern sanitary equipment.
The main power plant of the Project 671 nuclear submarine (which had a rated power of 31,000 hp) included two OK-300 steam generating units (a VM-4 type water-cooled reactor with a thermal power of 72 MW and 4 PG-4T steam generators), autonomous for each side. The reactor core was to be recharged with a cycle of 8 years.
Compared to the first generation reactors, the layout of the second generation nuclear power plants was significantly changed. Although it remained a loop, the spatial distribution and volumes of the primary circuit were significantly reduced (i.e., the reactor became more compact and “dense”). The “pipe in pipe” scheme was implemented, and the primary circuit pumps were “hung” onto the steam generators.
The number of large diameter pipelines connecting the main elements of the installation (primary circuit filter, volume compensators, etc.) has been reduced. Almost all primary circuit pipelines (small and large diameter) were placed in uninhabited premises and covered with biological protection. The systems of instrumentation and automation of nuclear power plants have changed significantly. The share of remotely controlled equipment (valves, gate valves, dampers, etc.) has increased.
The steam turbine installation consisted of the main turbo-gear unit GTZA-615 and two autonomous OK-2 turbogenerators (the latter provided the generation of alternating electric current 380 V, 50 Hz and included a turbine and generator with a power of 2000 kW).
As a backup means of propulsion, 2 DC electric motors PG-137 (275 hp each) were used, each of which drove its own two-bladed small-diameter propeller. There were 2 batteries (112 cells each with a capacity of 8000 A/hour), as well as 2 diesel generators (200 kW, 400V, 50 Hz). All other mechanisms and devices had automated and remote control.

When creating the Project 671 nuclear submarine, certain (albeit insufficient) attention was paid to issues of noise reduction. In particular, a hydroacoustic rubber coating of the light hull was used, and the number of scuppers was reduced. As a result, the acoustic signature of Project 671 nuclear submarines decreased by approximately 5 times compared to first-generation nuclear-powered ships.
The Project 671 nuclear submarine was equipped with the Sigma all-latitude navigation complex. There was an MT-70 television system for monitoring general and ice conditions, capable, under favorable conditions, of providing species information at a depth of up to 50 m.
However, the main information means of the nuclear submarine was the MGK-300 Rubin hydroacoustic complex, developed by the Morfizpribor Central Research Institute under the leadership of chief designer N.N. Sviridov and which had a maximum target detection range of about 50 - 60 km. It included a low-frequency nasal hydroacoustic emitter, a high-frequency mine-detecting sonar antenna MG-509 "Radian" in front of the fencing of the retractable wheelhouse devices, an underwater sound communication station, hydroacoustic alarm and a number of other elements. "Rubin" provided all-round visibility, independent automatic tracking and determination of target heading angles, ranging by echolocation, as well as detection of active enemy sonar systems.

After 1976, during modernization, on most Project 671 nuclear submarines, the Rubin SJSC was replaced by the more advanced Rubicon complex with an infrasonic emitter, which has a maximum detection range of more than 200 km. On a number of nuclear submarines, the MG-509 was also replaced by the more advanced MG-519 device.
Retractable devices included a PZNS-10 periscope, an MRP-10 radio identification system antenna with a transponder, an Albatross radar complex, VAN-M or Anis and Iva radio communication antennas, a Zavesa direction finder, as well as an RDP device. There were sockets for a number of removable antennas installed to solve specific problems.
A navigation system was installed on board the submarine, providing heading guidance and dead reckoning.

The submarine's armament consisted of 6 bow torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber, capable of firing at depths of up to 250 m.
The torpedo complex occupied the upper third of the first compartment. The torpedo tubes were located in two horizontal rows. In the center plane of the nuclear submarine, above the first row of tubes, there was a horizontal torpedo-loading hatch. At the bow end in front of the hatch there was a horizontal tray covered with shields, into which a torpedo was lowered by crane and loaded into the nuclear submarine. This design made it possible to radically shorten and simplify the process of loading ammunition, without requiring special physical effort or complex and dangerous operations from the team. Everything was done remotely: torpedoes were pulled into the compartment, moved around it, loaded into devices and lowered onto racks using hydraulic drives.
The torpedo firing control was provided by the Brest-671 control system.
The ammunition load included 18 torpedoes or up to 36 mines (12 of them were in torpedo tubes). Mine laying could be carried out at speeds of up to 6 knots.

CHARACTERISTICS OFAPLPROJECT671

Compared to the most modern analogue of the United States - the Sturgeon nuclear submarine (the lead ship of this series entered service on March 3, 1967), the Soviet nuclear submarine had a higher underwater speed (29 knots and 33.5 knots, respectively), a slightly greater diving depth and comparable ammunition At the same time, the US nuclear submarine had less noise and more advanced hydroacoustic equipment, which provided it with better search capabilities. There was an opinion among Soviet submariners that “if the American nuclear submarine has a detection range of 100 km, then ours has only 10 km.” This was probably an exaggeration, but the problems of stealth and increasing the detection range of the enemy on the Project 670 nuclear submarine were never fully resolved.

The lead ship of Project 671, K-38, became part of the Northern Fleet. Its first commander was Captain 1st Rank E.D. Chernov. During testing, the new nuclear-powered submarine developed a short-term maximum underwater speed of more than 34.5 knots, becoming (at the moment) the fastest nuclear submarine in the world. Until 1974, the Northern Fleet was replenished with 11 more nuclear submarines of the same type, which were permanently based in Gremikha. In the West, these submarines received the code designation "Victor" (hereinafter "Victor-1").

Elegant, very photogenic Victor-class nuclear submarines had a bright, eventful biography. They could be found in virtually all seas and oceans where the Soviet Navy carried out combat service. At the same time, the nuclear submarines demonstrated fairly high search and combat capabilities. In particular, the “autonomous” trips to the Mediterranean Sea continued for almost 90 days instead of the required 60. There is a known case when the navigator of the K-367 submarine wrote in the log: “We determined the location of the ship by the release of the anchor on the Nimitz aircraft carrier (which moored in the port of Naples). Moreover, the K-367 nuclear submarine was not part of the territorial waters of Italy, but was tracking the US aircraft carrier.
In 1979, during another aggravation of Soviet-American relations, the nuclear submarines K-38 and K-481 carried out combat service in the Persian Gulf, where at that time there were up to 50 US Navy ships. The voyage took place in extremely difficult conditions (the water temperature at the surface reached 40 degrees Celsius). According to the recollections of a participant in the campaign, commander of the nuclear submarine "K-481" A.N. Shportko, in the power compartments of the nuclear submarine the air was heated to 60 - 70 degrees, and in living quarters to 40 - 50 degrees Celsius. The air conditioners worked at full capacity, but the equipment (designed for use primarily in northern latitudes) could not cope: the refrigeration machines began to work normally only at a depth of 60 m, where the temperature of the sea water dropped to 10 - 15 degrees.

The nuclear submarines each had 2 replacement crews located on the Berezina floating base, located in the Gulf of Aden or off the island of Socotra. The campaign lasted 6 months and was overall very successful. According to A.N. Shportko, Soviet nuclear submarines operated in the Persian Gulf very secretly: even if the US Navy detected them for a short time, they could not correctly classify them, much less organize prosecution. Subsequently, these conclusions were confirmed by intelligence data. At the same time, tracking of US ships was carried out at the range of use of missile and missile-torpedo weapons: if the corresponding order had been received, they would have been sent to the bottom with a probability close to 100%.
In September - October 1971, the nuclear submarines "K-38" and "K-323" made an autonomous under-ice passage to the Arctic.
In January 1974, a unique 107-day transition of two nuclear submarines of projects 670 and 671 began under the command of captains 2nd rank V.D. Khaitarov and V.P. Gontarev from the Northern to the Pacific Fleet. The route passed along the Atlantic (to the Cape of Good Hope), the Indian and Pacific oceans.

After passing the Faroese-Icelandic anti-submarine line, the nuclear submarines moved in a tactical group (one ship was at a depth of 100 m, the other - 150 m). Periodically, they exchanged call signs using the "ZPS", being from each other at a distance of stable sound-underwater communication. In fact, this was the first experience of such a long follow-up of a nuclear submarine as part of a tactical group.
On March 10 - 25, the nuclear submarines called at the port of Berbera (Somalia), where their crews received a short rest.
On March 29, while on combat duty, they had brief contact with US surface anti-submarine ships and broke away from them, going to greater depths.
On April 13, after completing combat service in specified areas of the Indian Ocean, the surface submarines, led by the support vessel Bashkiria, headed for the Strait of Malacca.

During the transition, the temperature of the sea water reached 28 degrees. The air conditioning systems were unable to maintain the required microclimate: the relative humidity in the compartments was 90%, and the air temperature rose to 70 degrees Celsius. The detachment of Soviet ships was monitored almost continuously by US P-3 Orion patrol aircraft based on Diego Garcia Atoll.
In the Strait of Malacca, where the ships entered on April 17, American “guardianship” became even tighter: Orion aircraft were joined by numerous anti-submarine helicopters.

On April 20, one of the Rubin GAS units caught fire on board the Project 671 nuclear submarine due to high humidity. However, through the efforts of the crew, the fire was quickly extinguished. On April 25, the ships passed through the strait zone and, breaking away from observation, went into the depths.
On May 6, the nuclear submarine captain 2nd rank V.P. Gontarev entered Avacha Bay. On May 7, the second TAPL joined it.
In January 1976, the K-171 strategic missile submarine, as well as the K-469 submarine, which performed security functions, made another transition from the Northern to the Pacific Fleet. These nuclear submarines sailed across the Atlantic Ocean at a distance of only 18 cables from each other. They passed the Drake Passage at different depths, constantly maintaining contact via the UZPS. After crossing the equator, the nuclear submarines separated and proceeded to Kamchatka (where they arrived in March), each along its own route.
Over the course of 80 days, 21,754 miles were covered, and during the entire journey, the nuclear submarine "K-469" surfaced to periscope depth only once (in the Antarctic region).

The nuclear submarine "K-147", equipped with the latest, unparalleled system for tracking enemy nuclear submarines along the wake, took part in the exercises of the submarine forces of the Northern Fleet on May 29 - July 1, 1985, under the command of Captain 2nd Rank V.V. Nikitin. Aport", during which she carried out 6-day continuous tracking of the US SSBN "Simon Bolivar" (Lafayette class), using acoustic and non-acoustic means.
A very dramatic incident occurred in the K-314 TAPL (commanded by Captain 1st Rank A.M. Evseenko) in March 1984. Carrying out joint monitoring of the US strike group consisting of the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk and 7 escort ships together with the Vladivostok BPK maneuvering in the Sea of ​​Japan, a Soviet nuclear submarine on March 21, while surfacing to clarify the surface situation, pierced the bottom of the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk with its stern for almost 40 m. As a result, the US Navy maneuvers were curtailed and the aircraft carrier, losing fuel oil through the hole, crawled away "to the Japanese dock, and the Soviet submarine, having lost its propeller, proceeded in tow to Chazhma Bay, where it also began for repairs.
This event caused a sharply negative resonance in the American press. Journalists specializing in naval topics noted the weakness of the US AUG security, which allowed the nuclear submarines of a potential enemy to surface directly under the keel of aircraft carriers. Time takes its toll.

On March 14, 1989, the first TUPL of Project 671, “K-314,” which was part of the Pacific Fleet, was decommissioned.
In 1993 - 1996 The remaining TUPLs of this type also left the fleet's combat personnel. However, the disposal of the honored ships was delayed. Currently, most of them are in the dumps, waiting for years for their fate.

PROJECT 671RT NUCLEAR TORPEDO SUBMARINES

Despite a certain “anti-submarine” specialization, the cruising nuclear submarines of Project 671 were still multi-purpose ships designed to fight enemy surface ships. At the same time, the most important and difficult targets were US attack aircraft carriers. In 1955, the new generation aircraft carrier Forrestal, with a displacement of 78,000 tons, became part of the US Air Force. Subsequently, the US Navy quickly replenished ships with similar characteristics, and in 1961, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Enterprise (89,600 tons), entered service. ). One of the important features of the US aircraft carriers of the post-war generation was an improved anti-torpedo protection system, the creation of which was based on the rich US experience accumulated during the Second World War. In order to sink a post-war aircraft carrier, it required dozens of hits on its side by 533 mm torpedoes or the use of special ammunition (which was not always possible for military-political reasons). And the improvement of anti-submarine weapons of an aircraft carrier formation, in particular the widespread use of anti-submarine warfare helicopters, the introduction of new high-power shipborne hydroacoustic systems towed by variable depth sonar and anti-submarine guided missiles (such as "Asroc", "Ikara", "Malafon"), required an increase in the range of use anti-ship torpedo weapons.
In order to expand the combat capabilities of the Project 671 nuclear submarine in the fight against surface ships (primarily enemy attack aircraft carriers), in November 1961, a joint decision was made by the Navy and the Ministry of Shipbuilding Industry to strengthen torpedo armament by equipping nuclear submarines with new heavy-duty long-range torpedoes 65- 73 caliber 650 mm. One or two such torpedoes could completely disable a large warship (aircraft carrier or battleship).
The use of a powerful nuclear warhead further increased the potential of this weapon. Another important feature of large-caliber torpedoes was their ability to cover a 50-km distance at a speed of 50 knots (to date, no foreign torpedo has such capabilities).
To accommodate new large-sized weapons on board the Project 671 nuclear submarine, a number of changes were required to the design of the nuclear submarine, in particular, increasing the length of the torpedo compartment.

Another important innovation in the weapon system of the modernized nuclear submarine was its equipping with anti-submarine missile system"Vyuga", the development of which has been carried out since 1960 at the Sverdlovsk OKB-9 of the Uralmashplant under the leadership of chief designers F.F. Petrov and N.G. Kostrulin.
The missile included in this complex was supposed to be fired from the submarine's torpedo tubes from a depth of 50 - 60 m, and emerge from the water, and, flying along a ballistic trajectory, deliver nuclear ammunition to the target area. It was planned to create missiles with a caliber of 533 mm and 650 mm ("Vyuga-53" and "Vyuga-65").
On August 4, 1969, by government decree No. 617b - 209, the Vyuga complex with the 81R missile (533 mm caliber) was adopted by the USSR Navy. It could hit underwater targets at ranges from 10 km to 40 km. It should be noted that the analogue of the "Vyuga" in the USA, the Goodyear Airspace Corporation "UUM-44A" "Subroc" anti-aircraft missile system, began to be developed in 1958 and was adopted by the US Navy only in 1965.
Compared to the Soviet complex, it had a slightly longer maximum firing range (about 50 km), which was due to the greater range of the Raytheon AN-BQQ-2 sonar system compared to the domestic Rubin SJSC. During the modernization of the project, some technical elements nuclear submarine power plant.

Due to the need to further reduce the acoustic field, the turbo-gear unit and autonomous turbo generators with service mechanisms were installed on a common frame in a single unit with a two-stage shock-absorbing mount.
Instead of a 200 kW DC diesel generator, the nuclear submarine received a more powerful 400 kW diesel generator. When the steam-producing installation on both sides was forced to cool down at sea, this ensured running under the propeller electric motors or recharging the batteries in the underwater periscope position.
Strengthening the torpedo and missile-torpedo armament, as well as changes in the composition of the power plant, the use of more advanced torpedo firing controls, required an increase in the length of the durable hull by 0.8 m and an increase in its diameter by 0.1 - 0.5 m.
This caused an increase in the displacement of the nuclear submarine and a slight decrease in its speed characteristics.
In 1963, the design of a modernized nuclear submarine began (project 671 RT). July 15, 1967 was approved technical documentation to the ship.
Compared to the Project 671 nuclear submarine, the Project 671RT nuclear submarine has also slightly changed the location of the pressure hull compartments:
- 1st compartment - torpedo tubes and ammunition, living quarters and provisions;
- 2nd compartment - cabins, wardroom, galley and DUK (a special system that ensures waste is thrown overboard);
- 3rd compartment - central post, provision and auxiliary mechanisms;
- 4th compartment - reactor;
- 5th compartment - GTZA - ATG block, desalination plant and power plant post;
- 6th compartment - compressors, steam ejector refrigeration units, PR-501-2 converters;
- 7th compartment - living quarters, diesel generator;
- 8th compartment - rowing electric motors, rudder drives, galley, chemical station.

Project 671 RT nuclear submarines received a slightly improved SJSC MGK-300T Rubin. The combat capabilities of the nuclear submarine have increased significantly due to its equipping with the Accord combat information and control system (CIUS). The ship was also equipped with a number of other new or modernized systems, as well as the new Molniya radio communications complex. In the light hull compartment behind the wheelhouse there was a long-range towed communications antenna of the Paravan system, providing reception of ultra-long waves at a depth of up to 160 m.
The armament consisted of 4 torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber (ammunition capacity of 18 torpedoes) and 2 torpedo tubes of 650 mm caliber (ammunition capacity of 6 torpedoes). Alternative option- up to 46 min.
It was decided to build the Project 671 RT nuclear submarine in Gorky, at the Krasnoye Sormovo plant, where after the Project 670 series of SSBNs were delivered to the fleet, a “pause” formed. One of the Gorky-built nuclear submarines, K0387, was the first to use low-noise propellers arranged in a tandem configuration.
In 1971, the construction of the Project 671 RT nuclear submarine also began at the Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad (which was explained by the insufficiently high pace of work in Gorky). Leningraders made a number of improvements to the technology for constructing nuclear submarines: instead of the block method, the more advanced aggregate-block method was used. Using a special device, frames with already mounted units weighing up to 350 tons were moved into the section through its end.

CHARACTERISTICS OF APLPROJECT671RT

All these nuclear submarines became part of the Northern Fleet and were based in Gremikha and Bolshaya Lopatka. They carried out very intense combat service. Each nuclear-powered ship completed 6-12 autonomous voyages to the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.
The nuclear submarine "K-502" from the 33rd division took part in the group exercises "Aport" in May-June 1985. Of the 5 nuclear submarines of projects 671, 671RT and 671RTM that participated in these exercises, which took place in US SSBN patrol areas, not far from the east coast of the United States, only the K-488 nuclear submarine was briefly detected by US anti-submarine weapons once (however, this happened when the nuclear submarine had already returned to the base after completing the task).
In 1993 - 1995 all Project 671RT nuclear submarines were withdrawn from the fleet and handed over to the Russian Federal Property Agency for dismantling.

PROJECT 671RTM NUCLEAR TORPEDO SUBMARINES

In December 1983, the submarine cruiser K-324 was on combat duty off the Atlantic coast of North America. “Avtonomka” took place in difficult conditions: there were problems with the water supply, the refrigeration unit was out of order, there was sweltering heat in the compartments... The nuclear submarine was tasked with tracking the US frigate McCloy (Bronstein class), which was testing the latest TASS underwater surveillance system ( Towed Array Surveillance System) with an extended towed low-frequency antenna. The nuclear submarine "K-324" managed to record information about the operating parameters of the system, which is very valuable for domestic "science".
Moreover, during the tracking, some features of the interaction of a US surface ship with its submarines and components of a stationary long-range hydroacoustic detection system were revealed. However, unexpectedly, the frigate McCloy stopped testing and went to base. The nuclear submarine "K-324", left "without work", received an order to change the area of ​​​​operation.
However, she failed to do this - suddenly a strong vibration arose, requiring the main turbine to stop. Having surfaced, the commander of the APO "K-324" discovered that he had received an unexpected "valuable gift from Uncle Sam" - 400 m of the top-secret TASS cable antenna was wound around the submarine's propeller.

Of course, the Soviet nuclear submarine, which surfaced in the area of ​​the US test site, was soon discovered by a potential enemy. By morning, the destroyers Peterson and Nicholson (Spruance class) arrived in the area of ​​the incident and established close guard over the nuclear submarine K-324. Obviously, the commanders of these ships received a very specific order - to prevent the Russians from taking possession of the antenna by any means. The “joint voyage” of the practically disabled Soviet nuclear submarine and destroyers lasted almost 10 days. The Americans behaved more and more “sharply” (9and what else could they do?), trying to pass in close proximity to the stern of the Soviet nuclear submarine and cut off the antenna. Fearing even more decisive actions by the US destroyers (who the hell knows, what if they decide to board!), the commander of the nuclear submarine, Captain 2nd Rank V.A. Terekhin, gave the order to prepare his ship for an explosion. The situation defused only when the Soviet ship Aldan arrived to help the K-324 nuclear submarine. The American command finally realized that it was unlikely that they would be able to return their antenna by peaceful means, and no one wanted to start World War III over a “hose.” As a result, the US destroyers were recalled to base, and the K-324 nuclear submarine was towed by the Aldan ship to Cuba, where it was repaired, and the ill-fated antenna was delivered to the USSR for detailed study. The main “hero” of the events described was the cruising nuclear submarine of Project 671RTM - the seventh ship of the series, built in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
In parallel with the expansion of work on the creation of fundamentally new nuclear submarines of projects 945 and 971, a very successful attempt was made in the USSR to “squeeze” the maximum possible out of the design of nuclear submarines of projects 671 and 671RT.
The basis of the modernized project 671RTM (code "Pike") was the development of a new generation of radio-electronic weapons - a powerful GAK, a navigation complex, a combat information and control system, an automated complex of radio communications, reconnaissance complex equipment, as well as measures to reduce the ship's unmasking fields.
In fact, Project 671RTM, as well as the missile submarine cruiser Project 667BDRM, “smoothly transitioned” from the second to the third generation of nuclear-powered submarines.

The chief designer of the 671RTM project was G.N. Chernyshev (creator of nuclear submarines of projects 671 and 671RT), in 1984 he was replaced by R.A. Shmakov.
One of the most important elements of the armament of the modernized nuclear-powered submarine was to be the Shkval anti-submarine complex, the development of which began in accordance with the Resolution of the CPSU Central Committee and the Council of Ministers of the USSR in 1960. The “ideologists” of the new complex were scientists from the Moscow branch of TsAGI. Professor N.E. Zhukovsky (now State Scientific Research Center TsAGI), in particular Academician G.V. Logvinovich. The direct development of weapons was carried out by NII-24 (now SNPO "Region") under the leadership of chief designer I.L. Merkulov (later he was replaced by V.R. Serov, and the work was completed by E.D. Rakov).

The Shkval complex included an ultra-high-speed underwater missile with a speed of 200 knots (with a range of 11 km). This was achieved by using an engine running on hydro-reacting fuel, as well as by moving the projectile in a gas cavity, minimizing hydrodynamic resistance. The missile, equipped with a nuclear warhead, was controlled by an inertial system that was not sensitive to interference.
The first launches of an underwater missile were carried out on Lake Issyk-Kul in 1964, and on November 29, 1977, the VA-111 Shkval complex with the M-5 missile was adopted by the USSR Navy.

It should be noted that there are no analogues to this highly effective complex, which has an almost absolute probability of hitting a target within its reach, abroad at the present time.
The placement of new weapons and equipment, as well as the implementation of additional measures to reduce the acoustic signature of the ship, required the insertion of a cylindrical insert into the hull of the nuclear submarine in the area of ​​the second compartment. As a result, the length of the nuclear submarine's pressure hull increased by 4.2 m, the displacement also increased slightly and the maximum speed decreased.
The designers strengthened the wheelhouse fencing and the lightweight hull, which provided the submarine with more reliable ascent in ice.
The main power plant of the nuclear submarine (power 31,000 hp) was actually similar to the nuclear submarines of projects 671 and 671RT: two pressurized water reactors of type VM-4, GTZA-615, one propeller with 290 rpm, two auxiliary electric motors with a power of 375 l each .With.
An additional set of measures was taken to increase the secrecy of nuclear submarines through the introduction of fundamentally new solutions for depreciation (the so-called “disconnection of foundations”) and acoustic decoupling of mechanisms and structures. Enclosures for the ventilation system and vertical scuppers appeared on nuclear submarines, creating less hydrodynamic noise. The ship received a demagnetization device, making it difficult to detect by aircraft magnetometers.
The hydroacoustic complex "Skat" (chief designer B.B. Indin) provided detection and classification of targets, as well as their automatic tracking during noise direction finding in the audio and infrasound frequency range. The complex made it possible to detect targets through echo direction finding with measuring the distance to them and provided initial data for target designation to torpedo weapons.

In terms of its capabilities, the Skat complex was three times superior to the SAC of the previous generation and came very close to the US complexes (although it was still inferior to it in terms of weight and size characteristics). The maximum target detection range under normal hydrological conditions was 230 km. Onboard noise receivers operating in passive mode were used, as well as an extended towed infrasound antenna, folded up and placed in a special bulb-shaped container located above the vertical tail of the submarine.
The Medveditsa-671RTM navigation complex provided continuous automatic generation of position coordinates, course, speed relative to water and ground, roll and pitch angles, as well as automatic transmission of these parameters to other ship systems.
The combat information and control system (CIUS) "Omnibus" produced automated collection, processing and visual display of information that ensured decision-making on maneuvering, combat use of weapons, as well as control of torpedo and missile firing.
The nuclear submarine was equipped with a new automated communications complex "Molniya-L" with the space communications system "Tsunami-B", as well as a special reconnaissance complex.

CHARACTERISTICSAPLPROJECT671RTM

The armament of the Project 671RTM nuclear submarine included 4 torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber (ammunition of 16 torpedoes 53-65K or SET-65, M-5 underwater missiles and missile torpedoes "81R"), 2 torpedo tubes of 650 mm caliber (ammunition of 8 heavy-duty torpedoes 65-76). Instead of torpedoes, nuclear submarines could carry 36 Golets-type mines and hydroacoustic countermeasures, simulators of the MG-74 Korund).

In addition, the nuclear submarines carried special sabotage guided missiles “Siren” and other “special purpose” weapons, many of which would be the envy of super agent 007 James Bond, born from the imagination of Ian Flemying. In particular, in 1975, OKB im. N.I. Kamov created a single-seat helicopter "Ka-56", intended for transporting saboteurs and capable, together with its pilot, of being fired from a 533 mm torpedo tube of a submerged nuclear submarine.
It was decided to simultaneously organize the construction of the Project 671RTM nuclear submarine at the Leningrad Admiralty Association (with subsequent completion at the Nerpa shipyard and in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, at the Leninsky Komsomol shipyard (with completion at the Bolshoy Kamen shipyard).
The creation of Project 671RTM nuclear submarines in our country practically coincided with the implementation in the United States of a program for the construction of third-generation multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the type - the most massive nuclear submarines of this type in the world) equipped with a powerful AN/BQQ-5 sonar system.
The lead ship in the series is the Los Angeles nuclear submarine (surface displacement - 6080 tons, underwater displacement - 6927 tons, maximum speed 31 knots, maximum diving depth - 450 m, armament - 4 torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber with ammunition of 26 torpedoes and missile-torpedoes ) - joined the US Navy in 1976.
New US nuclear submarines continued to surpass their Soviet counterparts in terms of stealth and hydroacoustic system characteristics. However, this gap, as the Americans themselves admit, has narrowed significantly and is no longer of the same “dramatic” nature.

At the same time, US nuclear submarines have actually become equal to Soviet ones in terms of maximum speed underwater passage (although somewhat inferior in terms of maximum depth dives).
At the same time, Pike-class nuclear submarines had better maneuverability and combat survivability. They also had some advantage in weapons. Due to more high level automation, Project 671RTM nuclear submarines had a significantly smaller crew than the US nuclear submarine Los Angeles, which made it possible to create better habitability conditions on board. However, in general, according to experts, the Project 671RTM nuclear submarine and the US nuclear submarine "SSN-688" were approximately equivalent ships.

The development of Project 671RTM nuclear submarines in the fleets has been somewhat delayed. The reason for this was the lack of development of the Omnibus BIUS: until the mid-80s, the system was not capable of fully solving the tasks assigned to it. On nuclear submarines of early construction, the Omnibus had to be adjusted during the operation of the nuclear submarine, which significantly limited their combat capabilities.
Already in the process of building a series of nuclear submarines, it was decided to switch from a seven-bladed propeller to a less “noisy” tandem design (two coaxial four-bladed propellers of counter rotation), which led to a lengthening of the nuclear submarine by 1 m.

However, the most important improvement introduced on the Project 671RTM nuclear submarine was a fundamentally new type of weapon - strategic small-sized subsonic cruise missiles "Granat" with a maximum firing range of 3000 km. Equipping nuclear submarines with cruise missiles has completely transformed them into multi-purpose ships capable of solving a wide range of tasks in both conventional and nuclear wars. In terms of their weight and size characteristics, the Granat missile launchers were virtually no different from standard torpedoes. This made it possible to use them from standard 533 mm torpedo tubes. The last five nuclear submarines were put into operation under the 671RTMK project (with a weapons complex supplemented by the KR). Subsequently, the remaining ships of Project 671RTM were also equipped with cruise missiles.

After entering into service, some of the nuclear submarines received “proper names”. Thus, the nuclear submarine "K-524", famous for its polar voyages, until August 1992 bore a very "curly" name - "60 years of patronage of the Komsomol", the nuclear submarine "K-358" until 1996 was called "Murmansk Komsomolets". Since 1996, the nuclear submarine "K-388" has been called "Daniil Moskovsky", and the nuclear submarine "K-448" (the last nuclear submarine of Project 671RTM, commissioned after the collapse of the Soviet Union) since April 10, 1995 has been called "Tambov". Perhaps one of the most striking fragments in the biography of Project 671RTM ships was participation in large-scale operations “Aport” and “Atrina”, carried out in the Atlantic by the forces of the 33rd division of nuclear submarines and which significantly shook the confidence of the “potential enemy” - the United States - in the possibility of their The Navy solves anti-submarine missions.

On May 29, 1985, 3 nuclear submarines of Project 671RTM (“K-299”, “K-324” and “K-502”), as well as “K-488” of Project 701RT) simultaneously left Zapadnaya Litsa), a little later they were joined Nuclear submarine "K-417" (project 671). Of course, the entry into the ocean of an entire formation of nuclear submarines could not go unnoticed by US naval intelligence. An intensive search began, which, however, did not bring the expected results. At the same time, Soviet nuclear-powered submarines, acting secretly, themselves carried out intense work tracking US missile submarines in their combat patrol areas (in particular, the K-324 nuclear submarine had 3 hydroacoustic contacts with US SSBNs), the total length of which was 28 hours , and also studied the tactics of US anti-submarine aircraft. The Americans managed to establish contact only with the Soviet nuclear submarine K-488 (which was already returning to base); Operation Aport ended on July 1.
In March-June 1987, Operation Atrina, similar in scope, was carried out, in which 5 Soviet nuclear submarines of Project 671RTM took part - "K-244", "K-255", "K-298", "K-299" and "K-524", whose operations were supported by naval aviation aircraft, as well as two Kolguev-class reconnaissance ships equipped with sonar with extended hydroacoustic antennas. Although US intelligence knew about the departure of nuclear-powered ships from Zapadnaya Litsa, the US Navy lost them in the North Atlantic. The dramatic “underwater hunt” began again, in which all anti-submarine forces of the US Atlantic Fleet took part - deck and shore-based aircraft, 6 anti-submarine nuclear submarines (in addition to the nuclear submarines deployed by the US Navy in the Atlantic), 3 powerful ship search groups, as well as 3 the latest hydroacoustic observation ships of the Stolwalt type, which use powerful underwater explosions to generate hydroacoustic pulses. British navy ships also joined the search operation. According to the stories of the commanders of Soviet nuclear submarines, the concentration of anti-submarine forces was such that it seemed almost impossible to surface for a radio communication session and air pumping. Nevertheless, the nuclear submarines managed to reach the Sargasso Sea area undetected, where the Soviet “veil” was finally discovered.

The Americans managed to establish the first contacts with the nuclear submarine only 8 days after the start of Operation Atrina. At the same time, Project 671RTM nuclear submarines were mistakenly mistaken for SSBNs, which further increased the concern of the US naval command and political leadership (it should be recalled that the events described occurred at the next peak of the Cold War, which at any moment could transform into a “Hot War” ), When returning to base to separate from US anti-submarine weapons, the submarine commanders were allowed to use secret hydroacoustic countermeasures.

Successful implementation Operations "Aport" and "Atrina" confirmed the assumption that the US Navy, with the massive use of modern nuclear submarines by the USSR, would not be able to organize any effective counteraction to them.
The most difficult under-ice navigation at the end of 1985 was made by the nuclear submarine "K-524" (commander captain 1st rank V.V. Protopopov, senior on board - commander of the 33rd division captain 1st rank A.I. Shevchenko). The idea of ​​​​the campaign was to pass from the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, bypassing Greenland from the northeast.
Entering the Lincoln Sea, the submarine passed through the narrow and shallow Robeson and Kennedy Straits, separating Greenland from Grant Land and Grinnell Land, passed the Kane Basin and through Smith Strait entered Baffin Bay and further into the North Atlantic.
The route was extremely difficult and dangerous. It was replete with shoals and icebergs, abundantly thrown up by the glaciers of Greenland. In the Baffin Sea, because of the icebergs, there were no safe depths at all. Under these conditions, the only reliable information means was hydroacoustics.

Already in the Atlantic, the nuclear submarine "K-524" met with the US aircraft carrier "America" ​​and openly "attacked" it (conditionally, of course). The entire campaign lasted 80 days, 54 of which were under ice, at depths of more than 150 m. For participation in this operation, Captain 1st Rank V.V. Protopopov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Project 671RTM nuclear submarines were the first to master transpolar passages from the Pacific to the Northern theater. In 1981, 1982 and 1983 in order to optimally distribute multi-purpose nuclear submarines between fleets, such transitions were carried out by the nuclear submarines "K-255", "K-324" and "K-218", built in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. At the beginning of 1989, in accordance with Russian-American According to agreements, weapons equipped with nuclear warheads were removed from the multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the US Navy and the USSR Navy and stored on the shore. As a result, Project 671RTM nuclear submarines lost the Shkval and Granat missiles.
Project 671RTM ships participated in solving not only military, but also purely peaceful tasks. Thus, the nuclear submarine "Daniil Moskovsky" (captain 1st rank P.I. Litvin), after ensuring missile launches of heavy submarine cruiser TK-20 from the North Pole region, delivered at the end of August 1995 to the polar port of Kharasavey, covered with ice for the passage of surface ships, 10 tons of sugar and flour.
On August 29, 1991, Project 671RTM nuclear submarines were reclassified from cruising to large 1st rank nuclear submarines (the letter “K” in the ship number was replaced by the letter “B”),

This decision, which affected, in particular, the salaries of command personnel, was very negatively received in the fleets.
In the mid-90s, Project 671RTM nuclear submarines began to gradually leave service. On July 3-1, the nuclear submarines "K-247", "K-492" and "K-412" were excluded from the Pacific Fleet, having completed a total of 12, 10 and 6 autonomous cruises. After a fire in the turbine compartment that occurred in 1994, the K-305 nuclear submarine never returned to service, having become part of the technical reserve.
However, being already at a respectable age, the Shchuka-class submarines continued to demonstrate high combat qualities. This is evidenced by an incident that occurred in the winter of 1996, 150 miles from the Hebrides.
On February 29, the Russian embassy in London appealed to the command of the British Navy with a request to provide assistance to a nuclear submarine sailor who had undergone an operation on board the ship to remove appendicitis, after which peritonitis was discovered (treatment of which is only possible in an inpatient setting). Soon the patient was redirected to shore by a Lynx helicopter with destroyer"Glasgow". However, the British press was not so much touched by the unexpected manifestation of Russian-British naval cooperation as expressed bewilderment by the fact that at the time when negotiations were underway in Longjohn on the evacuation of a patient, in the North Atlantic, precisely in the area where the Russian TUPL was located , NATO anti-submarine maneuvers took place (by the way, the Glasgow MS also took part in them). However, the Russian nuclear submarine was detected only when it itself surfaced to transfer the unfortunate sailor to the helicopter. According to the influential British newspaper The Times, the Russian nuclear submarine has demonstrated how secretive it is by tracking anti-submarine forces and remaining undetected. It is noteworthy that the Pike-class nuclear submarine was mistaken by the British for a more modern (and, naturally, quieter) Project 971 nuclear submarine.

In 1999, the following nuclear submarines of Project 671RTM served as part of the Northern Fleet: "B-138", "B-218", "B-244", "B-254", "B-255",
"B-292", "B-298", "B-299", "B-324", "B-358", "B-388", "B-414", "B-448", "B" -502" and "B-524".
The Pacific Fleet included the nuclear submarines "B-242", "B-251", "B-264", "B-305", "B-355", "B-360" and "B-507".

It is likely that in the future the rate of “washing out” of Project 671RTM nuclear submarines from the fleet will accelerate even more. However, some nuclear submarines of this type will most likely survive until 2010. It can be assumed that these SSBNs will undergo modernization aimed at reducing noise, strengthening weapons and avionics. However, the volume of this work will depend on the extent to which the Russian government will be able to finance the Navy.

The captain of the dry cargo ship "Brotherhood" Vadim Demchenko contacted me. He was very indignant at the misinformation that was written about his ship. I quote part of his letter:
...
The collision of my ship with K-53 was big secret openly. Personally, I was officially warned that this incident was known to only a dozen people at the shipping company. That's how they lived. The crew saved the ship, the cargo, and they themselves were saved without injuries, casualties or losses. They thanked everyone and promised to reward the entire crew. As always, they forgot. They gave 4 badges “Honorary Worker of the Marine Fleet.” The crew was disbanded.
The ship was sold for scrap. (My transfer to another ship cost me the Order of Lenin and work abroad. (Although this has nothing to do with the case).
The story itself. The ship was loading grain in Canada to Odessa. We entered Ceuta to replenish supplies of fresh water and fuel. We left the port of Ceuta and set course 98. The loaded ship picked up speed.
Very strange and interesting. Well, where did this nonsense come from - a fire, a blackout, no lights, drifting....
23.33 September 18, 1984 The ship has already reached a speed of 14 knots. September 19 appears everywhere, since the time on the boat was changed and they recorded 01.34 September 19. The ship has a normal running watch. The surveillance is visual and the radar is turned on. Since visibility is good, the radar is in preparation and turns on periodically, in accordance with navigation safety rules. In this area, all ships are either fellow travelers or oncoming ships, practically the course lines are parallel. The area is not a high-risk navigation area. A terrible blow, comparable only to an explosion, shook the ship!!!
Until the moment when the Spanish diver, emerging from the flooded engine room, showed us pieces of rubber and shouted “Russian submarine,” everyone believed that it was an explosion. But that was later.
Within 50 seconds M.O. the main deck was flooded. Almost the ship, with a draft of 10 meters, sank to a draft of 12.5 m, along the main deck. The vessels of our series had a great loss, so that the tank and stern rose above the water.
The hole turned out to be 100 square meters in size. From the keel to a height of 5m. and 20m long. As we later found out, the boat struck with its bow, on a collision course, at an angle of about 45 degrees. (as confirmed by boat heading, ship heading and acoustic bearing). The impact hit the end of the 3rd hold and ended throughout the entire M.O. The boat simply entered the hull of the ship and took a piece of the side with it. The hole was not a ragged hole. There was just a large piece of the side missing.
Glory to Soviet shipbuilders!!!
M.O. completely flooded, the 3rd hold is depressurized!? Single-compartment unsinkable vessel. However, afloat!!!. Apparently, in the presence of grain, the permeability coefficient is very small, and the grain was not washed out so actively, since there was no big wave or strong rolling.
Whatever it was, theoretically, the ship should have sunk within one minute. And it stayed afloat. M.O. flooded, the turbogenerator stopped, but after 20 seconds the EDC (emergency diesel generator) started up.
If the ship was not illuminated, it was only for 30-40 seconds. And no one jumped overboard shouting “mine.”
Out of alarm, the crew quickly left the ship on lifeboats, but did not leave the ship. At the SOS signal, ships began to approach. The first to arrive was the Bulgarian ship "Five from RMS". For some reason they launched their boat in a hurry, it stalled
and the wind carried her away into the pitch darkness. The Bulgarian captain did not raise our people until one of our boats went in search of the would-be rescuers, they were found and brought to their side in tow. On board they provided a friendly welcome to our sailors. Soon our motor ship "Captain Medvedev" arrived and took everyone from the Bulgarian ship.
One of our boats was constantly on duty at the side of our ship. Just so that it is not considered abandoned, and does not go to anyone as prey.

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