HEAVY STRATEGIC MISSILE UNDERCRUISE (TPKSN) PROJECT 941 "SHARK"

HEAVY MISSILE SUBMARINE CRUISER OF STRATEGIC PURPOSE (TRPKSN) PROJECT 941 AKULA

07.03.2012
The Russian Navy will not modernize the Project 941 Akula strategic nuclear submarines in service for financial reasons, ITAR-TASS reports citing a source in the military-industrial complex. According to the source of the agency, the deep modernization of one Shark is comparable in cost to the construction of two new Project 955 Borey submarines.
Currently, the Russian Navy is armed with three submarines of the Akula project: Dmitry Donskoy, Arkhangelsk and Severstal. The last two ships are in the port of Severodvinsk and are not included in the combat strength due to the lack of ammunition - R-39 ballistic missiles. Severstal has been standing at the quay since 2004, and Arkhangelsk since 2006. "Dmitry Donskoy" was used as an experimental ship, participating in the tests of the Bulava missile. (lenta.ru)

30.12.2011
30 YEARS OF JOINING PROJECT 941 TRPKSN

On December 29, 2011, in the Sevmash Museum, veterans of the enterprise and military sailors recalled the history of the construction of the largest submarine in the world - the nuclear submarine "Dmitry Donskoy". 30 years ago, on December 29, 1981, the ship entered the Navy.
Shipbuilders and military sailors are justifiably proud of the unique nuclear-powered ship. More than 1,000 enterprises from all over the country participated in its creation; 1,219 employees at Sevmash were awarded orders and medals. The lead nuclear submarine of the Shark project is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for its size.
After 10 years of operation, the lead missile carrier was put in for repairs and re-equipment. In 2002, the nuclear submarine was taken out of the workshop, having been upgraded in some systems and complexes to the level of ships of the 4th generation. 2002 is considered the second birth of the ship. In recent years, tests of a new missile system"Mace". Today, the ship is involved in testing new submarines being built at Sevmash. The crew of the nuclear submarine is headed by commander of the 1st rank Oleg Tsybin, the factory part of the delivery team is the responsible deliverer Evgeny Slobodyan.
For the 30th anniversary of the leading Shark, the scientists of the factory museum prepared an exposition, and the specialists of the television studio prepared a video film “Dmitry Donskoy is back in the ranks”, which was demonstrated to the audience. (Press service of JSC "PO" Sevmash ")

22.05.2013
By the end of 2013, the Russian Navy will decommission the two largest nuclear submarines in the world, Severstal and Arkhangelsk, built according to Project 941 Akula. According to RIA Novosti, citing a source in the military-industrial complex, by 2018-2020 both nuclear submarines will be disposed of.

22.06.2013
THE ENEMY'S SUBMARINE WILL BE MADE FROM "DMITRY DONSKOY"

In the White Sea, state tests of three nuclear submarines began at once. New boats of projects 995 and 885 "Alexander Nevsky" and "Severodvinsk" will launch training torpedoes on the "Dmitry Donskoy", which went to sea after repairs. According to the Izvestiya newspaper, the Dmitry Donskoy is being used as a measuring laboratory and the military intends to use it to record the sounds of two other submarines.
According to the publication, training torpedoes will be fired at the world's largest nuclear submarine and thus Alexander Nevsky and Severodvinsk will test fire control systems and torpedo tubes. In addition, it is planned to test most of the other systems of both submarines before July 1: if no serious shortcomings are revealed as a result, then in the fall they will be tested with missile launches from both surface and underwater positions. Then they will check the new automatic system control, allowing you to redirect the "Mace" in flight.
Previously, "Dmitry Donskoy" has already undergone several upgrades. In 1989, the nuclear submarine built in 1976 began to be modernized at Sevmashpredpriyatie under project 941U, but in 1991 the work was curtailed. They were only resumed five years later and completed in 2002; then the launch silos were re-equipped for Bulava missiles, which are significantly smaller in comparison with the R-39.
Lenta.ru

In February 1973, the Engineering Design Bureau began work on the creation of a new two-stage liquid-propellant ballistic missile R-29R (ZM40, RSM-50, SS-/NM8), which was a further development of the R-29. Its main difference from previous naval ballistic missiles was a multiple reentry vehicle (MIRV) with individually targetable warheads, which makes it possible to multiply the number of targets hit by a single missile salvo.

A more advanced inertial control system with full astro correction, used on the R-29R, provided the new rocket with increased accuracy. In the course of further improvement of the complex, the accuracy increased even more, actually equaling the accuracy of delivering nuclear strikes strategic bombers. This allowed submarine missile carriers to hit not only areal unfortified (as the Americans say, "soft") targets, but also high-strength ("hard") small-sized objects, in particular, ground-based ICBM launch silos, protected command posts, special ammunition storage facilities, etc. .

To accommodate new missiles in the Central Design Bureau MT "Rubin" under the leadership of the chief designer S.N. Kovalev, the development of an improved SSBN project 667.BDR (code - "Kalmar") began, which, like Murena-M, was to be equipped with 16 missile silos.

Terms of Reference for new missile carrier was formulated in 1972. The boat was a further development of the project 667.BD. On the new ship, the height of the missile silo fencing has increased (which is actually equal to the fencing of the retractable cutting devices).

When creating a new nuclear-powered ship, special attention was paid to improving the fire control system: unlike the 667.BR project, the entire missile ammunition load had to be fired in one salvo, and the intervals between missile launches were reduced.

The robust hull of the boat was divided into 11 watertight compartments. At the same time, the 1st, 2nd and 11th compartments were shelter compartments (their transverse bulkheads were calculated for pressure corresponding to the maximum submersion depth of the boat). Additional measures were taken to enhance the fire safety of the ship by installing new system volumetric chemical fire extinguishing using freon.

In project 677.BDR further development received means of life support for the crew. In particular, a solarium and a gym appeared on board the ship.

The submarine cruiser received a new Rubicon hydroacoustic complex, developed under the guidance of chief designer S.M. Shelekhov, capable of operating in the infrasonic range and having an automated target classification system. The maximum detection range in the noise direction finding mode with favorable hydrology reached 200 km.

The more accurate navigation system "Tobol-M-1" (on boats of a later construction - "Tobol-M-2") had a storage time of navigation parameters between two observations that exceeded two days, which improved the stealth of the submarine. The complex also included the Shmel navigation sonar station, which makes it possible to determine the position of the ship using sonar transponder beacons.

The Molniya-M communications complex, which included the Tsunami space communications system, was placed on board the submarine. The D-9R missile system included 16 R-29R missiles (length - 13.635 m, diameter - 1.8 m, launch weight - 36.3 tons). The astroinertial control system with full (in direction and range) astrocorrection provided a CEP of about 900 m. An important feature of the complex was the presence of three interchangeable warheads, differing in the number and power of warheads. The R-29R missile carried an MIRV with three 0.2 mt warheads and had a maximum range of 6,500 km. The R-29RL was equipped with a monoblock warhead with a capacity of 0.45 mt and could hit targets at a distance of about 9000 km. R-29RK had the ability to deliver seven warheads (0.1 mt) to a range of up to 6500 km.

Flight tests of missiles of the R-29R type began in November 1976 and ended in October 1978. In the White and Barents Seas, a total of 22 launches were carried out from the K-441 SSBN (four missiles were launched in monoblock, six - in three-block and 12 - in seven-block versions). The typical equipment of the submarine cruiser was the missile variants with three and one warheads.

For the boat, a dynamic error compensation system (SKDO) was worked out, which measures the instantaneous values ​​of the ship's pitching parameters for transmitting them to the missile system. The construction of boats was carried out by the Northern Machine-Building Enterprise (Severodvinsk). The lead ship, K-441, was laid down in 1975 and entered service in December 1976. Captain 1st Rank B.P. became its first commander. Zhukov. K-441 was followed by missile submarines K-124 (1977), K-449 (1977), K-455 (1978), K-490 (1978), K-487 (1978) .), K-44 (1979), K-496 (1979), K-506 (1979), K-211 (1980), K-223 (1980), K- 180 (1980), K-433 (1981) and K-129 (1981).

In progress sea ​​trials K-441 at high speed and depth, the boat touched the rocky ground. The ship was damaged in the bow of the hull, however, thanks to the competent actions of the crew, a catastrophe was avoided and surfaced. There were no victims.

Most of the boats of project 667.BDR, which received the symbol Delta III in the West, served on Far East, in Kamchatka (Rybachy base). At the same time, since 1980, seven single transitions of the SSBN of project 667.BDR have been completed under arctic ice(the first transition was made by a boat under the command of D.N. Novikov).

The boats participating in the inter-fleet crossings experienced particular difficulties in the final section of the polar route (especially when leaving under the ice in the Chukchi Sea). During this period, the entire crew, as a rule, was constantly at their posts for two to three days. The depth often did not exceed 50 m. Wandering shallows with huge ice masses settled on them represented a great danger. Above the boats there was ice, the thickness of which reached 11-15m. At the same time, the space between the ice shell and the ship decreased to 3-4 m with a depth under the keel of only A-5 m. In such conditions automated system control was turned off and the boat moved, controlled manually. The moral and physical stress of people reached the limit, but the commanders of the boats were especially burdened.

Despite the complexity and increased risk, the under-ice transitions from theater to theater were attractive due to their transience, as well as navigation in the area adjacent to Russian territorial waters.

Two boats, K-455 and K-490, switched to LLP in February-March 1979 along the southern route, through the Drake Strait. During the transition, in particular, the effectiveness of the work of the space navigation system "Sluice" was checked.

The Northern Fleet received five submarines, from which a division of strategic submarines was formed, based in Yagelnaya Bay Sayda (three SSBNs) and in Olenya Bay (two boats). In the early 90s, all ships were transferred to Yagelnaya.

The North Sea ships actively carried out combat service, patrolling in the North Atlantic and the waters of the Arctic Ocean.

In 1982, for the first time under polar night conditions, K-211 (commander captain 1st rank I.E. Kovalev, senior captain 1st rank V.M. Busyrev) sailed along the perimeter of the Arctic Ocean (see note). The unique under-ice navigation of K-524 (commander 1st rank captain V.V. Protopopov, senior captain 1st rank A.I. Shevchenko), completed at the end of 1985, should also be noted. The trip to the Baffin Sea, passing through a number of Arctic straits, took 80 days, 54 of which the ship spent under ice at depths of more than 150 m.

It can be said that Project 667.BDR boats were lucky: most of them managed to undergo factory repairs and modernization until 1991, when the rapid collapse of the domestic defense complex. The remaining nuclear-powered ships of this type were later also able to pass through the SRZ. Therefore, by the end of the 90s, the ships kept high level combat capability. The D-9R missile system was also being improved (the next modifications of the R-29R missile were put into service in 1987 and 1990).

However, in the second half of the 1990s, their gradual write-off began, which was due not so much to technical reasons as to the need to comply with Russian-American agreements. In 1995, the K-129 left the system, in 1996 it was followed by the K-124 and K-141.

Project 667.BDR missile submarines continue to be an important element of the country's strategic nuclear forces today. Three ships, K-44, K-487 and K-496, served in the Northern Fleet in 1999, and the Pacific Fleet had eight missile carriers of this type - K-449, K-455, K-490, K-506, K- 211, K-223, K-180 and K-433. To date, the strength of the SSBN in Russian fleet has stabilized and no further reduction on any large scale is likely to occur in the coming years. Therefore, it can be expected that Project 667 SSBNs.

During the exercises on October 1-2, 1999, two SSBNs from the Northern and Pacific Fleets performed a total of three launches of R-29R missiles, which were launched from the waters of the Barents and Okhotsk Seas and "hit" targets on the combat fields of the Kura ranges ( Kamchatka) and Kanin Nos. At the same time, the missiles were launched "after a few minutes after receiving the order." According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov, these launches should be seen as "working out options for Russia's actions in response to a possible US withdrawal from the 1972 ABM treaty and their subsequent deployment of a national missile defense system."

Note:
On April 2, 2005, our E-mail received a letter from Captain 3rd Rank of the Reserve Dagirov Islam Gireevich, who served as commander of the electric navigation group of the navigational combat unit of the SSBN K-211 of project 667BDR. He added the following facts to the article:
The submarine cruiser K-211 sailed along 85 degrees north latitude. General speed was 9 knots. In each polynya, Captain 3rd Rank Dagirov personally took photographs through the periscope every 15 degrees. In the area of ​​the Greenland Sea, the thickness of the ice was 40 meters. In the area of ​​the island of Svalbard, a day after the K-211 came out from under the ice, 1 reactor circuit flowed (they went on one side). AND personnel 7 compartments collected active water by hand. Now they can't prove they're high-risk veterans. Korshunov - the commander of the 7th compartment - is still suing to prove his case. It is sad to see how in our time they treat veterans who bravely and worthily performed their military duty to the Motherland.

Alexander MOZGOVOI

This event received a lot of attention in our country and abroad. And this is understandable. Yaseni are among the best submarines in their class. According to open data, nuclear-powered ships of this type have an underwater displacement of 13,800 tons, their length is 139.2 m, and the width of the hull is 13 m. The OK-650V pressurized water reactor allows a maximum underwater speed of 31 knots. The working depth of immersion is 520 m, the maximum is 600 m. The ideally streamlined hull and high maneuverability contribute to the implementation of a wide variety of missions both in the ocean and off the coast. On the body of low-magnetic steel applied rubber cover, which reduces noise and reduces the reflection of sonar signals.

The boat carries a wide range of weapons. Behind the fence of retractable devices there are eight vertical shafts of the universal ship firing complex (UKKS), each of which houses four Onyx anti-ship missiles or the Caliber-PL family, various modifications of which can be fired at ships or coastal objects. The defeat of ground targets occurs at a distance of up to 2650 km. The supersonic version of this missile changes the flight path in terms of course and altitude, while the flight speed of the missile warhead after its separation approaches hypersonic. That is, it cannot be intercepted. In other words, "ash trees" will be used for non-nuclear strategic deterrence. However, some publications talk about the possibility of equipping "calibers" with nuclear warheads. The submarine's missile arsenal of 32 units is completed in various combinations.

In the central part of the hull there are ten torpedo tubes with ammunition from 30 remote-controlled and homing torpedoes, including the latest thermal "Physicist-1". Instead of torpedoes or parts of them, mines can be received. According to some sources, strategic cruise missiles "Granat" with a range of up to 3,000 km and nuclear warheads, as well as cruise missiles of the Caliber-NK family and anti-submarine missiles "Vodopad-PL" can be fired through torpedo tubes. It is noted that in the future, SSGNs of this type will receive new models of torpedoes, including the fifth generation Lomonos, and missiles that are currently in the process of being created.

No less impressive is the electronic equipment of the ship. The combat information and control system (CICS) "Okrug" provides real-time control of all combat systems, information about the state of the ship and from surveillance and target designation. The operation of the CICS is provided by several on-board digital computers based on a modern element base. The CICS can receive and transmit data to other ships via secure underwater communication. Radioelectronic complex systems 3Ts-30.0-M are designed to illuminate the situation and target designation.

Of particular note is the MGK-600 Irtysh-Amphora-Ash hydroacoustic complex, which belongs to the new generation SJSC. In the bow of the boat, its main conformal large-sized Amphora antenna is located with digital signal processing and using digital libraries of the Ajax-M automatic target classification system. On the sides there are large-area conformal antennas that allow you to control the situation around the ship. There is also a towed antenna, which is released from the vertical tail fairing of the submarine.

Ashes are highly automated ships. The boats have integrated control systems for technical means "Bulat-Ash", control systems for the electric power system "Luga-Ash", centralized power supply systems "Cosine-Ash" and a number of others. That is why the SSGN crew can consist of 64 people. But in practice, "for safety net" teams of the Premier League are formed from 85-93 people. All of them are officers or midshipmen.

The lead boat of this type, K-560 Severodvinsk, entered service with the Russian Navy on June 17 last year. This nuclear submarine was on the slipway for a very long time. She was laid down on December 23, 1993. But the assembly of the ship was not carried out due to lack of funding. Work resumed in 2004 on a revised project 0885. Serial SSGNs (Kazan, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk and now Arkhangelsk) are also being built according to a modified project - 08851 (885M). It uses components exclusively of Russian production.

According to Vladimir Dorofeev, General Director of the St. Petersburg Marine Engineering Bureau "Malakhit", which is the designer of the ship, "Severodvinsk" successfully completed all the activities of the program of factory and state tests, as well as trial operation in the fleet. “This and deep-sea tests - diving to the maximum depth with testing all the necessary technical means, and activities related to the implementation of rocket and torpedo firing from the ship, as well as the completion of state tests of the main complexes of electronic weapons at great depths, ”he said in an interview with ITAR-TASS. Having received a submarine of a fundamentally new project, military sailors worked out the use of all technical means in various conditions operation. “Projects 885/885M are a breakthrough for our Navy,” Vladimir Dorofeev emphasized, “they have a lot of serious innovations. Such ships are now absent in all fleets, except for the Russian one.

That is why, as noted, "ash trees" are of great interest and concern abroad. Rear Admiral Dave Johnson, head of the U.S. Naval Systems Command (NAVSEA) Submarine Development Unit, ordered a model of the Severodvinsk to be placed in his office. “I have to see a model of this nuclear submarine every day when I enter the office,” he says. - In the face of this submarine, we will face a tough opponent. That's why I asked in Carderock (there is a research center of the US Navy - Editor's note) to make this model for me. In turn, the American magazine The National Interest, which specializes in the problems of the national security of the United States, naming the five most dangerous Russian nuclear weapons for Washington, put Project 955 Borey SSBNs, Bulava SLBMs and project multipurpose nuclear submarines in the first three places. 885 Ash. Fourth and fifth places are occupied by tactical missiles and RS-24 Yars ICBMs.

According to foreign experts, Yasen-class SSGNs are not inferior to the best American nuclear multi-purpose submarines of the Seawolf type (3 units), and surpass them in terms of the capabilities of delivering missile strikes against ships and coastal targets. They are placed higher than the Virginia-class submarines currently being built in a series of 30 units (for comparison, we will give the tactical and technical elements of these boats: underwater displacement - 7900 tons, length - 115 m, maximum speed underwater course - 30-35 knots, 12 vertical launchers with BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles designed for firing at coastal targets, four 533-mm torpedo tubes with 27 torpedoes, crew - 115 people).

What is the exclusivity of "ash trees"? These are truly versatile submarines. They are equally good for defense and attack. Project 885 SSGNs and their modifications are capable of operating against enemy ships and vessels, inflicting missile and torpedo strikes on them, and laying mines. But most importantly, these nuclear submarines are an ideal means to destroy coastal targets. At the same time, they can use cruise missiles in both conventional and nuclear weapons. That is, a high degree of flexibility in the use of weapons is achieved.

At present, the fight against the coast is coming to the fore for submarines of all subclasses, including non-nuclear ones. Now they do not need to scour the sea and ocean depths to search for enemy ships and vessels. Within the firing range of submarine cruise missiles is about 75-80% economic potential most countries of the world, as well as their political centers. At one time, the United States declared itself an "island", thereby motivating its oceanic expansion in accordance with the theory " sea ​​power» Admiral Alfred Mahan (1840-1914). Now the "island" may be under crossfire from submarine cruise missiles. Most Western European capitals are also great targets for them.

Even conventional cruise missiles are capable of inflicting enormous damage on cities, especially ports, and those where petrochemical industries are concentrated. Let us recall the tragedy that happened in Halifax, Canada on December 6, 1917, when the French steamer Mont-Blanc and the Norwegian Imo collided in the harbor of this city. Mont-Blanc was transporting 2300 tons of picric acid, 10 tons of pyroxylin, 200 tons of TNT and 35 tons of benzene in barrels placed on the upper deck. The collision caused several barrels of benzene to leak and spread it across the deck of Mont-Blanc. And when the ships dispersed, their iron sides struck sparks that caused a fire on the French steamer. On June 9, a monstrous explosion occurred, which is considered the most powerful in the entire pre-nuclear era. As a result, Richmond - the northern district of Halifax - was razed to the ground, 1963 people died, about two thousand went missing, almost nine thousand were maimed and injured, 1,600 buildings were destroyed, and approximately 12,000 were badly damaged.

Modern ports with their huge gas, oil, chemical terminals, as well as saturated with other fire and explosive products, can pose an even greater danger than the steamer Mont-Blanc. The same applies to large industrial centers. Submarine-to-shore cruise missiles tend to attack targets that are well known. These include, among other things, military and civilian administration, ammunition depots and bases. And it's almost impossible to avoid them. The United States and other NATO countries are watching with concern Russia's buildup of cruise missile submarines. “If this trend continues,” said on March 19 at a hearing in the US Congress, the head of the US Northern Command, which is responsible for the defense of the territory of the entire country, Admiral William Courtney, who also heads the Joint Aerospace Defense Command North America(NORAD) - over time, NORAD will face difficulties in protecting North America from the threat from Russian cruise missiles. In turn, the former American submariner, and now an expert in naval strategy Brian Clark believes: "If they really create a new generation of submarine fleet, it will create a problem for the US Navy."

Meanwhile, the activity of Russian submarines in the seas and oceans is growing. According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Viktor Chirkov, "for the period from January 2014 to March 2015, the intensity of submarines entering combat service increased by almost 50% compared to 2013." According to him, over ten submarine crews of the Northern and Pacific fleets were trained for combat service in the World Ocean last year.

However, the Americans are not idle. No wonder Rear Admiral Dave Johnson keeps the Severodvinsk model in front of his eyes. From sub-series to sub-series (in the USA they are called “blocks”), Virginia-class submarines are being improved, and their capabilities are being increased. The Block III sub-series is currently under construction. On March 7 of this year, the Colorado submarine was officially laid down (its construction actually began in 2012), the fifteenth of the Virginia class and the fifth of the Block III subseries. These boats have a new bow sonar station LAB, which in its capabilities is 40% superior to the sonar installed on the first boats of this project. In addition, the Tomahawk CRs are located in two modules, which, if necessary, can contain other payloads, including unmanned aircrafts, delivery vehicles for combat swimmers, etc.

In the future, new modifications of Virginia-type nuclear submarines can change the configuration of weapons. So, by inserting an additional section, it is planned to increase the number of Tomahawk cruise missiles by 28 units, that is, the total ammunition will be 40 pieces. The US Navy wants to receive the first such submarine by 2019. It is not excluded that in the future boats can even be equipped with compact medium-range ballistic missiles. Now we are talking about bringing the series of these boats to 48 units.

To date, the US Navy has received 11 Virginia-class submarines of three sub-series since 2000, two more are being tested and will be commissioned in the near future. The industry has been tasked with delivering at least two nuclear submarines of this family annually.

French nuclear submarine Saphir.

Unfortunately, the pace of construction of the Yasen-class SSGNs so needed by the fleet cannot be considered satisfactory. At the laying of the first serial nuclear submarine Kazan in 2009, Vice Admiral Nikolai Borisov, then Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy for armaments, claimed that this submarine "would be commissioned no later than 2015." Now they are talking about 2017.

There is no clarity with the number of boats that the fleet will receive. One has already been delivered to the Russian Navy, four are under construction, two have been ordered. But the fate of the eighth is not yet clear. Some representatives of the military-industrial complex and the Navy say that it will also be built, others argue that the series will be limited to seven units. Although it is obvious that the fleet needs at least 20 "ash trees". The price of each unit depends on the construction time and the number of ships in the series. The higher the pace and the more boats in the series, the lower their cost.

It is necessary to understand that the military-political hysteria around Russia - a kind of modification of the Cold War of the 50-80s of the last century - will not quickly “dissolve”. In a state of tough confrontation with the West, and above all with the United States, we will have to live for a long time.

On the day of laying the Arkhangelsk SSGN, Viktor Chirkov told reporters that by 2020 the fleet would receive ten upgraded nuclear submarines of projects 971 and 949A. They will also become carriers of cruise missiles. For example, project 949AM submarines will carry 72 cruise missiles for various purposes.

However, the commander-in-chief did not mention the titanium nuclear submarines of projects 945 and 945A. They also had to undergo modernization to give them modern qualities. On May 14 last year, a contract was signed with the Zvyozdochka Ship Repair Center for overhaul and the modernization of the Karp and Kostroma nuclear submarines, the first two boats of this type out of four, which should radically “rejuvenate”. On the "Karp" began active work. It was assumed that this nuclear submarine will return to service in 2017. But in February, the first reports appeared about the suspension of work on the boat. And although there were sluggish denials of this information from Zvezdochka, just on the day of laying the Arkhangelsk, it became known that due to budget cuts due to the financial crisis, all work on the Karp was frozen. The enemies of Russia rejoice! After all, they predicted that the fall in oil prices and Western sanctions would slow down, or even stop the renewal of the Russian submarine fleet. “Putin doesn’t have much money, and with the fall in oil prices, Russia has had very difficult problems,” Norman Friedman, a well-known American naval analyst, said in late January. That is why “in the future, Russia is unlikely to deploy a submarine fleet at the forefront in the oceans in numbers capable of threatening the US Navy,” Christopher Keivas, a columnist for the influential American publication Defense News, noted at the same time.

Yes, sanctions low prices on energy carriers are forced to “squeeze”. And here the choice of priorities is important. In our opinion, in a crisis period and taking into account the situation that is developing around Russia, it is just right to focus on the construction and modernization of submarines. Large surface ships designed to display the flag in distant seas will wait until better times.

Moreover, they are undoubtedly inferior in combat stability to submarines. Suffice it to recall the recent episode off the coast of the United States, when, before being sent to long-distance navigation US Navy 12th Aircraft Carrier Strike Group, led by nuclear aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt conducted a ten-day exercise off the coast of Florida in February of this year. The French nuclear submarine Saphir took part in them. She managed to safely overcome the order of anti-submarine defense and go on the attack. In real combat conditions, she would have sunk or at least seriously damaged an aircraft carrier. But very serious ships escorted the nuclear floating airfield: the recently completed modernization of the cruiser Normandy, the latest missile destroyers Farragut, Forrest Sherman and Winston S. Churchill, as well as the nuclear submarine Dallas. But they could not intercept Saphir, although they knew about her presence.

This is not the first time that submarines have made a mockery of surface ships. The most notorious incident occurred on October 26, 2006 off Okinawa, when a Chinese Song-class diesel-electric submarine conducted a successful mock attack on the US aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. She safely passed the anti-submarine warrant and surfaced five miles from American ship. And only after that it was discovered.

An example can be given from domestic practice. During exercises held in June 2003 in the Baltic Sea, a diesel-electric submarine of project 877 “hit” the Peter the Great nuclear-powered missile cruiser with torpedoes. The anti-submarine forces, and they were considerable, really did not want to lose face, because the Presidents of Russia Vladimir Putin and Poland Alexander Kwasniewski watched the exercises from the Marshal Ustinov cruiser, but failed to disrupt the attack. When the large anti-submarine ship "Admiral Levchenko" fired torpedoes at the boat and rained rocket bombs on it, it had already done its job.

To work out anti-submarine actions, the US Navy regularly attracts not only its own nuclear submarines, but also diesel-electric submarines of other states, since they are less noisy compared to nuclear submarines. The Swedish nuclear submarine Gotland was even leased by the American fleet for two years. Diesel-electric submarines and nuclear submarines of the Australian Navy are involved in such exercises, South Korea, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Peru and other countries. And, as a rule, they get the better of American PLO forces.

The same teachings confirmed that the most effective tool combat modern submarines are submarines. This is especially relevant in connection with the intention of the United States to upgrade the fleet of its strategic missile submarines. 12 SSBN(X) submarines with a submerged displacement of 20,810 tons each will be built under the Ohio Replacement Program (ORP) for a whopping $347 billion. The bow end, together with the GAS LAB and two modules for Tomahawk cruise missiles, is “borrowed” from Virginia Block III multipurpose nuclear submarines. SSBNs have a pump-jet water jet propulsion system. But most importantly, the boats will receive a fully integrated electrical system, which will make it possible to get rid of hydraulic drives, and the propellers will not be connected by turbo-gear units that turn the propeller shafts with noise. The stern electric motor will rotate the propeller. Thus, the acoustic visibility of the submarine will be significantly reduced. The designers came to the original design of the fence of retractable devices. This is a very narrow structure, in profile resembling a small sail inflated by the wind. In a submerged position, it will play the role of a keel, only located not in the lower part of the hull, but in the upper one. Behind the retractable devices fence are four Trident II D-5 LE SLBM launchers. There are 16 units in total.

The detection, tracking, and, if necessary, the destruction of such SSBNs will fall on the shoulders of Russian multi-purpose submarines. That is why when designing fifth-generation nuclear submarines, according to Viktor Chirkov, the Navy's main requirements for designers are to increase stealth and improve weapon systems. This also applies to the APL. strategic purpose. As stated CEO TsKB MT Rubin, which designs Russian SSBNs, Igor Vilnit, "the Boreys will certainly have modifications Borey-B, Borey-D, etc." That is, the rivalry under water continues. And this derby, apparently, will not have a stop.

On the eve of the Navy Day, July 26, the nuclear submarine of the new generation Novosibirsk was laid down at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. This submarine missile carrier will be the third among the multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the Yasen project, which was developed by employees of the St. Petersburg Marine Engineering Bureau Malachite.

According to state program By 2020, the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk plans to build seven nuclear submarines of the Yasen class and the modernized Yasen-M class, which will later become Russia's main multi-purpose nuclear cruisers.

"Ash"
Project 885 Yasen multi-purpose submarines with a displacement of 13,800 tons are capable of reaching speeds of over 30 knots, diving to a depth of 600 meters and being in autonomous navigation for a hundred days. The crew of the submarine is designed for 90 people, including 32 officers. The ships are armed with ten 533 mm torpedo tubes and launchers for Caliber and Onyx cruise missiles.

Severodvinsk, the lead submarine of the project, laid down at the Sevmash Production Association on December 21, 1993, has already completed the entire cycle of factory sea trials and is now undergoing state tests at sea. They promise to hand over Severodvinsk to the fleet by the end of 2013. The second nuclear cruiser of the Kazan project, laid down in 2009, this moment is located in the slipway shop of Sevmash and will be transferred to the Navy in 2017.

Boreas
In addition to the multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the Yasen project, this year Sevmash plans to commission the Navy and two strategic cruisers series "Borey" (955) - a project that in the future will form the basis of Russia's naval strategic nuclear forces. The lead cruiser in the series of submarine missile carriers of the fourth generation, Yuri Dolgoruky, developed at the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering, was adopted by the Russian Navy in 2012. Laid down at Sevmashpredpriyatie on November 2, 1996, Yuri Dolgoruky is about 170 meters long, 13.5 meters wide and has a total displacement of 24,000 tons. The ship is to take into service 16 Bulava missiles, which were developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering.

Another "Borey" "Alexander Nevsky" is now undergoing state tests, making the second state exit, on November 15 they are preparing to hand it over to the fleet. The third ship of the series, "Vladimir Monomakh", must complete state tests no later than December 12, 2013 and will also be handed over to the Navy this year.

It is assumed that under the state armament program until 2020, the fleet will receive eight strategic missile submarines: three project 955 (code "Borey") and five project 955A (code "Borey-A").

"Shark"
Today, the core of the Navy's combat power is about 60 submarines, from nuclear-powered missile submarines to multi-purpose diesel submarines. However, before 2018, the submarines of projects 941 (Shark, according to NATO classification Typhoon) and 667 BDR and BDRM (Kalmar and Dolphin, according to NATO classification Delta- 3" and "Delta-4").

The final decision to decommission two Project 941 Akula-class submarines, Arkhangelsk and Severstal, which were decommissioned several years ago, was made recently. The third strategic submarine of the same series, Dmitry Donskoy, will remain in the fleet until 2017, when a separate decision will be made on it. Decommissioning and disposal of "Arkhangelsk" and "Severstal" will occur for financial reasons: maintaining their life support systems in a normal state requires prohibitively large financial costs. Modernization is also not economically feasible - a major overhaul with the modernization of one Shark will cost more than the construction of two new Boreys. Dismantlement of Arkhangelsk and Severstal, which is scheduled for 2016-2020, will be handled by Rosatom.

The Shark class submarines, the largest submarines ever built, even got into the Guinness Book of Records due to their size: their length is 172 meters, width - 23.3 m, draft - 11.5 m. quiet and elusive to radar and designed to destroy enemy surface and submarine ships. The ammunition of such a submarine includes 20 missiles, each of which has 10 individually targetable multiple warheads.

The removal of all nuclear submarines of project 941 "Shark" (according to NATO classification - Typhoon) from combat duty occurred in accordance with the START-3 agreement between Russia and the United States, which entered into force in February 2011.
based on materials

8:26 / 24.02.12

Heavy rocket submarine cruisers strategic purpose of Russia and foreign countries(rating)

The information agency "Arms of Russia" continues to publish ratings of various weapons and military equipment. This time Russian experts compare heavy strategic missile submarines (TPK) of Russia and foreign countries.

Comparative evaluation was carried out according to the following parameters:

• firepower(the number of warheads (WB), the total power of the WB, the maximum firing range of an intercontinental ballistic missile, its accuracy - KVO)
• constructive excellence TRPK(displacement, overall characteristics, conventional density of the TRPK - the ratio of the total mass of the submarine to its volume)
• technical reliability(probability of non-failure operation of submarine systems, time of salvo launch of all missiles, preparation time for missile launch, probability successful start)
• exploitation(speed of the TPK both on the surface and in the submerged position, noiselessness characteristics, autonomous navigation time)

The sum of points for all parameters gave an overall assessment of the compared TRPK. At the same time, it was taken into account that each TRPK taken from the statistical sample, compared with other TRPKs, was evaluated based on technical requirements of his time.

The rating conducted by the IA "Arms of Russia" considered the TPK of all countries that are now full members of the world nuclear submarine club. Let us remind you that, in addition to the United States (“founding father”), Russia also includes Great Britain, France, China and India, which already has experience in operating the Soviet multi-purpose missile nuclear submarine of Project 670, which was leased to it in 1988-1991, and is building its own nuclear submarine -rocket carrier "Arihant".

Heavy strategic missile submarines of Russia and foreign countries

By the number of points scored, the listed complexes were distributed as follows:

Symbol TPRK	A country	Number of points scored
TRPK type Ohio	USA	49,4
TRPK 667BDRM "Dolphin"	Russia	47,7
TPK 941" Shark"	Russia	47,1
TPK 955 Boreas	Russia	41,7
TRPK type vanguard	England	35,9
TRPK type Le Triomphant	France	33,4
TRPK project 094 "Jin"	China	30,1
TRPK project INS Arihant	India	17,7

According to the data given in the table, by the number of points scored, the first 4places were taken by:

Ohio-type TPK

Main characteristics:

• speed (surface) 17 knots
• speed (underwater) 25 knots
• operating depth 365 m
• maximum immersion depth 550 m
• crew of 14-15 officers, 140 sailors and foremen

Dimensions:

• surface displacement 16 746 t
• displacement underwater 18 750 t
• maximum length (on design waterline) 170.7 m
• case width max. 12.8 m
• average draft (on design waterline) 11.1 m

Power point atomic:

• pressurized water reactor type GE PWR S8G
• two turbines of 30,000 liters. With
• 2 turbogenerators 4 MW each
• 1.4 MW diesel generator

Armament:

• missile - 24 Trident II D5 ballistic missiles

Submarines Ohio class (English Ohio class SSBN / SSGN) - a series of 18 American strategic nuclear submarines of the 3rd generation, which entered service from 1976 to 1992. Since 2002, the only type of missile carriers in service with the US Navy. Each boat is armed with 24 Trident missiles.

The first series of eight missile carriers was armed with Trident I C-4 missiles and based at Naval Base (Naval) Bangor, Washington, on the US Pacific coast. The remaining 10 boats, the second series, were armed with Trident II D-5 missiles and were located at the naval base of Kings Bay, Georgia.

In 2003, in order to fulfill the arms limitation treaty, a program was launched to convert the first four boats of the project into carriers of Tomahawk cruise missiles, which ended in 2008.

The remaining four boats of the first series were re-equipped with Trident-2 missiles, and all Trident-1 missiles were removed from combat duty. Due to the reduction of missile carriers in the Pacific, part of the Ohio-class boats was transferred from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Ohio-class boats form the backbone of the US strategic offensive nuclear forces and are constantly on combat duty, spending 60% of their time at sea. By the early 1960s, after a series of studies, American analysts came to the conclusion that the strategy of "massive retaliation" had no prospects.

In the 1950s, American strategists hoped to disable the strategic nuclear forces of the USSR with a preventive missile strike. The studies carried out have shown that all strategic targets cannot be destroyed with a single strike, and a retaliatory nuclear strike will be inevitable. Under these conditions, the strategy of "realistic deterrence" was born.

As N.V. Ogarkov, head of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces, said in the early 1980s, “the appearance and rapid improvement of nuclear weapons raised the question of the expediency of war as a means of achieving a political goal in a completely new way. The rejection of the need to wage a general nuclear war led to a revision of the requirements to developing strategic weapons".

TRPK project 667BDRM "Dolphin"

Main characteristics:

• speed (surface) 14 knots
• speed (underwater) 24 knots
• maximum immersion depth 650 m
• crew 140 people

Dimensions:

• surface displacement 11,740 t
• displacement underwater 18 200 t
• maximum length (on design waterline) 167.4 m
• case width max. 11.7 m
• average draft (according to DWL) 8.8 m

Nuclear power plant:

• 2 VM-4SG reactors with a total capacity of 180 MW
• 2 steam turbines with a total capacity of 60,000 liters. With
• 2 turbogenerators TG-300, 3 kW each
• 2 diesel generators DG-460, 460 kW each
• reserve propeller motor with a capacity of 325 liters. With

Armament:

torpedo-mine - 4 TA caliber 533 mm

missile - 16 R-29RM ballistic missiles

The last ship of the “667 family”, as well as the last Soviet submarine missile carrier of the 2nd generation (in fact, “smoothly passed” into the 3rd generation) was the strategic missile submarine of project 667BRDM (code “Dolphin”), just like its predecessors , created by the Central Design Bureau of MT "Rubin" under the leadership of the general designer, academician S.N. Kovalev.

The government decree on the development of a new nuclear-powered submarine was issued on September 10, 1975. The main weapon of the ship was to be the new D-9RM missile system with 16 R-29RM intercontinental liquid rockets (RSM-54, SS-N-24), which have an increased firing range, accuracy and radius of separation of warheads. The development of the missile system began at KBM in 1979.

Its creators were focused on achieving the highest possible technical level and performance characteristics with limited changes to the submarine project. The tasks were successfully solved through the implementation of original layout solutions (combined tanks of the last marching and combat stages), the use of engines with limiting characteristics, the use of new structural materials, improved production technology, as well as increasing the dimensions of the rocket due to the volumes "borrowed" from the launcher installation.

In terms of their combat capabilities, the new BR surpassed all modifications of the most powerful American Trident naval missile system, while having a smaller mass and dimensions. Depending on the number of warheads and their mass, the firing range of ICBMs could significantly exceed 8300 km.

The R-29RM was the last missile developed under the leadership of V.P. Makeev, as well as the last domestic liquid-propellant ICBM. In a certain sense, it was the "swan song" of liquid-propellant ballistic missiles of submarines. All subsequent domestic BRs were designed with solid fuel.

TRPK project 941 "Shark"

Main characteristics:

• speed (surface) 12 knots
• speed (underwater) 25 knots
• operating depth 400 m
• maximum immersion depth 500 m
• autonomy of navigation 180 days
• crew 160 people

Dimensions:

• surface displacement 28 500t
• displacement underwater 49 800 t
• maximum length (on design waterline) 172.8 m
• case width max. 23.3 m
• average draft (according to DWL) 11.2 m

Power point:

• 2 water-cooled nuclear reactors OK-650VV, 190 MW each
• 2 turbines of 45000-50000 hp each
• 2 propeller shafts with 7-bladed propellers with a diameter of 5.55 m
• 4 steam turbine nuclear power plants, 3.2 MW each
• 2 diesel generators ASDG-800 (kW)
• lead-acid battery, item 144

Armament:

• torpedo-mine - 6 TA caliber 533 mm
• 22 torpedoes 53-65K, SET-65, SAET-60M, USET-80 or Vodopad missile torpedoes
• Missile - 20 R-39 SLBMs (RSM-52)
• Air defense 8 MANPADS "Igla"

The performance specification for the design was issued in December 1972, and S. N. Kovalev was appointed chief designer of the project. new type submarine cruisers was positioned as a response to the US construction of Ohio-class SSBNs. The dimensions of the new ship were determined by the dimensions of the new solid-fuel three-stage intercontinental ballistic missiles R-39 (RSM-52), with which it was planned to arm the boat.

Compared with the Trident-I missiles, which the American Ohio was equipped with, the R-39 missile had the best characteristics of flight range, throwable mass and had 10 blocks against 8 for the Trident. However, at the same time, the R-39 turned out to be almost twice as long and three times as heavy as its American counterpart. To accommodate such large missiles, the standard SSBN layout did not fit.

On December 19, 1973, the government decided to start work on the design and construction of a new generation of strategic missile carriers. "Shark", project 941. The first boat of this type TK-208 was laid down at the Sevmash enterprise in June 1976, the launch took place on September 23, 1980.

Before the descent, in the bow below the waterline, an image of a shark was applied to the side of the submarine; later, stripes with a shark appeared on the crew uniform. Despite the later launch of the project, the lead cruiser reached sea ​​trials a month earlier than the American "Ohio" (July 4, 1981).

TK-208 entered service on December 12, 1981. In total, from 1981 to 1989, 6 Shark-type boats were launched and put into operation. The planned seventh ship was never laid down; hull structures were prepared for it. The construction of "9-storey" submarines provided more than 1000 enterprises of the Soviet Union.

Only at Sevmash, 1219 people who participated in the creation of this unique ship received government awards. Purpose Designed for long-range nuclear missile strikes against large military-industrial facilities and force bases.

TRPK project 955 "Borey"

Main characteristics:

• speed (surface) 15 knots
• speed (underwater) 29 knots
• operating depth 400 m
• maximum diving depth 480 m
• autonomy of navigation 90 days
• Crew 107 people

Dimensions:

• surface displacement 14,720 t
• underwater displacement 24,000 tons
• maximum length (on design waterline) 160 m
• case width max. 13.5 m
• average draft (according to waterline) 10 m

The power plant is nuclear

• OK-650V 190 MW
• PTU with GTZA
• propeller shaft
• jet propulsion

Armament:

• torpedo-mine - 6 TA x 533 mm, torpedoes, torpedo missiles, cruise missiles.
• Rocket - 16 launchers of the D-30 complex, SLBM R-30 (SS-NX-30) "Mace" Number of missiles: 16 (project 955)

The new, fourth-generation strategic nuclear submarines of project 955 code "Borey" are coming into service with the Navy. The lead ship of this project was a submarine named after Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. The design and technical documentation was developed by the engineers of the Rubin Design Bureau.

After the approval of the plan, the nuclear submarine was laid down on December 22, 1996 at the shipbuilding plant of JSC PO "Northern Machine-Building Enterprise" in Severodvinsk. During the construction of the Yury Dolgoruky nuclear submarine, the experience of Soviet shipbuilders was applied.

Also in the creation of a nuclear submarine, the idea of ​​​​creating a hull structure was borrowed, which made it possible to reduce the cost of building a submarine. The nuclear submarine is equipped with a water nuclear reactor type OK-650V on thermal neutrons. The power of steam turbine plants is 190 MW.

A novelty in the design of the Borey series was a water jet, which will significantly reduce the noise level of the submarine. One more characteristic feature Project 955A submarine will be armed with 12 Russian-made Bulava-type ballistic missiles.

The next upgraded series of Project 955 missile submarines will have 16 such missiles. After a series of successful mooring and sea trials, the Yuri Dolgoruky nuclear-powered missile submarine received tail number K-535 and became part of the Russian Navy. Soon, a series of successful rocket launches with new ballistic missiles was carried out from the nuclear submarine.

Government Russian Federation plans to build 8 Project 955 Borey missile carriers. However, today the completion of the construction of the second submarine K-550 "Alexander Nevsky", laid down on March 19, 2004, and the continuation of the construction of the third nuclear submarine "Vladimir Monomax", laid down on March 19, 2006, are moving rather slowly.

Also, the name of the fourth submarine of this project is already known - "Saint Nicholas". All four nuclear submarines will be deployed at the naval base in Vilyuchinsk (Kamchatsky Peninsula) and will become part of the Pacific Fleet.

A lot of work has already been done there to build the necessary infrastructure, both for ships and for submariners:

• completely rebuilt pier area
• organized technical protection of the basing system
• the training center was modernized
• put into operation several residential buildings for family members of submariners

Ships like the Yuri Dolgoruky strategic missile submarine will soon become the basis of the naval component of the nuclear triad of the Russian Federation.

When writing the article, open materials from Internet sources were used