Submarine shark tactical specifications. The Shark Submarine is the largest submarine in the world.

The world's largest nuclear-powered boat designed for combat duty in high latitudes.

The creation of a large strategic missile-carrying boat started in the early 1970s, in response to the American program to develop Ohio-type nuclear-powered ships with 24 Trident I (later Trident II) ballistic missiles. The project was led by the Leningrad Central Design Bureau MT Rubin, chief designer Sergey Kovalev. The lead boat entered the fleet in December 1981, the last in the series - in September 1989.

The development took into account the characteristic areas of the combat service of boats - the high Arctic latitudes. The cutting fence is made with reinforcements, which made it possible to break through heavy ice up to 2–2.5 meters thick when surfacing.

The initial symmetrical requirement (24 missiles) was reduced by Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Sergei Gorshkov to 20. This was due, among other things, to weight and size characteristics: R-39 missiles of the D-19 complex, surpassing the Tridents in basic parameters, were much larger than the Americans . This immediately increased the size of the boat itself.

Five of the six Project 941 TYPHOON SSBNs built at Zapadnaya Litsa, 1980-90s. Photo: Wolf

Therefore, "Shark" turned out to be outstanding in all respects. This is the largest submarine ever built in the world - 48 thousand tons of underwater displacement (about half of them account for the capacity of ballast tanks, for which the project 941 was irreverently nicknamed the “water carrier” in the fleet), the greatest length is 170-173 meters for different representatives of the project, the width of the hull is over 23 meters. The boat is made according to a multihull scheme: under the light hull it has five (!) durable titanium hulls, of which the two main ones (10 meters in diameter) are located in parallel according to the catamaran principle. The hulls are connected by capsular isolated compartments-transitions only in three places. In fact, two boats are located under the light hull at once, which dramatically increases survivability.

The main power plant is represented by two OK-650 reactors and two steam turbine units located in pairs in adjacent strong hulls - in fact, the propulsion system of the boat is completely duplicated. The maximum underwater speed is 25 knots according to the standard, the real 26.3-28 knots (for different representatives of the project). Maximum surface speed 13-14 knots. Working depth of immersion is 400 meters.

The dimensions of the boat made it possible to create comfortable living conditions for the crew (168 people), unthinkable by the standards of the Soviet submarine. The officers were accommodated in two- and four-bed cabins with washbasins, TVs and air conditioners, the sailors in small cockpits. The boat had a gym, a 4m by 2m, 2m deep swimming pool, an oak-lined sauna, a solarium, a lounge, an arcade room, and even a living corner.

"TK-17" Arkhangelsk" and TK-20 Severstal. Photo: Oleg Kuleshov/Defend Russia

The main armament of the nuclear-powered ship is 20 missiles of intercontinental solid-propellant missiles R-39 of the D-19 complex, located in the missile compartment between both strong hulls. The missiles carried 10 low-power high-speed warheads. The launch of missiles could be carried out from a depth of up to 55 meters, and without restrictions on weather conditions on the surface of the sea.

Torpedo armament includes six 533-mm torpedo tubes with an ammunition load of 22 torpedoes, Shkval missile-torpedoes and anti-submarine missiles of the RPK-6M Vodopad and RPK-2 Vyuga complexes.

In total, six boats of project 941 were built, three of them have already been disposed of, two are in reserve (the issue of disposal is being decided). The lead ship of the TK-208 series ("Dmitry Donskoy") was converted according to project 941UM and carried 20 R-30 Bulava missiles, it was used as a test bench for testing the missile.

Since their appearance in the fleets of the whole world, submarines have played almost a decisive role in the development of all naval battle tactics. What is worth at least the legendary German U-35, which sent 226 ships and transports to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, and this was done in just 19 combat exits.

But those ships were very small, and their crew lived in truly Spartan conditions: the maximum comfort they could count on was a shower of sea water, which they were given regularly, at their own request. As time went on, the ships became more and more impressive. Not departed from this trend and their underwater relatives. Not so long ago, the world's largest submarine appeared, which can outshine even some surface ships with its dimensions.

How it was

At the end of September 1980, the Shark entered the expanses of the White Sea. An unknown artist who covered the bow of the vessel with a beautiful painting depicting a shark and a trident. Of course, after the launch, the picture was no longer visible, but among the people the name "Shark" has already become firmly established in everyday life.

All ships of this class officially began to be called by this name, and even a chevron was introduced for their crews with the image of a grinning shark's mouth. In the West, these submarines became known as Typhoon. Soon the largest submarine "Typhoon" became the official rival of the American "Ohio".

Yes, in those years, our former allies intensively replenished their submarine fleet with new ships ... But the Shark was supposed to become not just another boat, but part of the huge and very important Typhoon program. The terms of reference for its design were received by domestic science and industry back in 1972, and S.N. Kovalev was appointed curator of the project.

But the largest submarine in the world is still known all over the world for its size. Why are all experts shocked by them? Perhaps the ship is not so big after all?

Legendary Dimensions

The official name of one of the remaining ships in our fleet is Dmitry Donskoy. So what are the dimensions of the largest submarine? Its total displacement is 27,000 tons, this giant is 170 meters long and 25 meters wide. Its deck is so large that a loaded KAMAZ can easily turn around there. From the keel to the upper part of the cabin, the height is also 25 meters. For reference: this is the height of an eight-story building with an improved layout and high ceilings. The remaining two submarines are in no way inferior to the Donskoy.

If the world's largest submarine lifts all retractable devices, then the height is already similar to a nine-story house. No, the famous Tseretelli did not participate in the design of the ship: such dimensions were simply due to the dimensions of the new high-powered intercontinental missiles.

Missile weapons

The new weapon received the Soviet name "Thunder", in the West they were called Rif. These missiles vastly outperformed the American Trident-I used on the Ohio boats, with much better range and multiple warheads that could penetrate virtually any missile defense system.

But it was necessary to pay for such impressive characteristics with no less impressive dimensions. Each rocket not only weighs 84 tons, but also has a diameter of 2.5 meters! The American analogue weighs 59 tons. With comparable features. So in fairness, we note that our largest submarine in the world still could not become the “most-most” in all respects.

Although no, I could. The fact is that the "Shark" is the only missile carrier that can fire at half the globe, while being under the ice of the Arctic Ocean. This is something incredible even by today's standards. The fact is that each R-39 missile could hit targets located at a distance of 9000 km: in other words, a missile fired at the very North Pole easily reached the equator. Of course, such a formidable weapon reached the United States even more so. Since the greatest immersion depth of a submarine of this type reached five hundred meters, which was 200 meters higher than the Ohio.

Because of this, the boats did not need to go on long sea voyages: having moved a couple of thousand kilometers, they could literally “dissolve” in the expanses of the northern seas.

Foreign analogues

It would be foolish to think that the idea of ​​creating giant submarines visited the minds of exclusively Soviet designers. What are the largest submarines in the world? Firstly, this is the “Ohio” we mentioned: its length is also 170 meters, but its width is “only” 12 meters. Actually, this is where the list ends. No other country in the world has been able to create anything similar.

Design work and crew training for new ships

Thus, the designers had to completely redesign the layout of the ships. At the end of 1973, the decision to start work on the project was finally approved. The first boat was laid down at the beginning of 1976, and it was launched on September 23, 1980. In addition to the cyclopean size, the program provided for an absolutely incredible routine for the operation of these facilities.

The secrecy was incredible, there were no leaks at all. So, the Americans generally got a photo of the largest submarine by accident, just looking at satellite images of the USSR. According to rumors, heads flew in the military department: to look under the nose of such a "whale" is an unforgivable mistake!

In Obninsk, a gigantic training center with a military camp and complete social infrastructure had to be built. Several crews of submariners were supposed to be trained there at once. For each (!) Of the seven boats, it was supposed to have three sets: two crews were combat, who were supposed to work in shifts, and the third was technical, responsible for the condition of the mechanisms. Their mode of operation is very peculiar.

The first set of sailors surf the oceans for three months. Gradually, malfunctions begin to accumulate on the ship. The ship goes to the base, the crew is loaded into comfortable buses (where their families are already waiting for them), and then sent to rest. The place of "holidays" is occupied by techies. Employees of the “soldering iron and file” carry out a complete diagnosis of all systems, carry out preventive maintenance and eliminate all found faults.

Thus, the Shark - the largest submarine - is like a Formula 1 car in a pit stop. Here they will change the “wheels” for you, and the pilot can be replaced if necessary.

Schedule for the second crew

At this time, the second combat crew, slightly tired from the rest, arrives in Obninsk. Here they are mercilessly driven through all the simulators, and then the sailors, having proved their professional suitability, go to Murmansk. After that, they are sent to the ship, which by that time has been brought to full combat readiness and can go to sea. The process is repeated over and over.

In general, the conditions for working on these submarines are really fabulous. Conscript sailors recall that there is a sauna, a gym and comfortable cabins on board. You can serve like this for at least a whole year: psychophysical fatigue is minimal. And this is extremely important for a missile carrier, which can “lie” under the ice of the Northern Ocean for months, masking itself from enemy detection means.

This is what makes Russia's largest submarines unique (there are three left today).

Main technical characteristics

The unique missile carriers were set in motion by two OK-650VV reactors at once, and the power of each of them was 360 MW. The fuel was highly pure uranium dioxide. To understand the power of these power plants, it is enough to know that they would easily provide the electrification of the entire Murmansk and its suburbs. Their energy turns giant propellers and ensures the functioning of the most complex on-board systems.

In the Navy, the boats also received the nickname "loaf", since the shape of the hull strongly resembled this bakery product. But this is only the outer shell of a formidable ship. It is needed to minimize the resistance of the aquatic environment. Inside the "shell" there is a second, especially durable case of a unique design. Nobody in the world has done this.

Most of all, it resembles two giant cigars placed next to each other, which are connected to each other through three through passages at once, which are located at the bow, in the center and at the stern. After that, it is not surprising that the largest nuclear submarine at one time was designed by the best engineers of the Union.

Simply put, there are actually two submarines in one outer hull. For convenience, they are called "left side" and "starboard", meaning by this term the entire "cigar" as a whole. The uniqueness of the design is also in the fact that the “sides” completely duplicate each other: turbines, engines, reactors and even cabins. If everything fails in one half, there is a radiation leak or something like that, the crew will move to the second half and be able to bring the giant submarine to its home port. Yes, the largest Russian submarines have no analogues in the world.

Chassis Specifications

Everything that is on the right submarine is indicated by odd numbers. On the left - even. This is done so that the crew simply does not get confused. By the way, all sailors on board are also called "port specialists" or "starboard specialists", that is, even the crew on the boat is completely duplicated.

Between the two buildings there is a rather significant space in which all the important equipment is located, which is extremely necessary to protect from the effects of high pressure and other negative environmental factors. Yes, yes, this submarine (the largest, by the way) even has missiles there: they are located between the sides of the "cigars" and in front of the wheelhouse (more precisely, in front of it). This is also a unique distinguishing feature, since you will not find a similar layout of missile weapons on any other submarine in the world.

At the same time, the Shark, as it were, “pushes” its massive weapons in front of it. Important! When immersed, water fills (!) The space between the sides, and therefore, when moving, it has a huge impact on the maneuverability of the vessel. This allows not only to save the resource of engines, but also ... to incredibly reduce noise levels.

About how the whale "Shark" fell in love

What else is characteristic of this submarine? The biggest one is good, but the Americans are afraid of these ships for a completely different reason.

Since the advent of submarines, most of all, their crews are afraid of the noise that occurs during the operation of systems and mechanisms. Noises unmask the ship, give it to the enemy Navy. The Shark, with its double hull, has become a champion not only in terms of size, but also in terms of the extremely low level of noise emitted during operation. In one case, the result turned out to be completely unexpected ... Somewhere not far from Spitsbergen, a female whale circled the submarine for a long time, mistaking her for her cavalier.

Acoustics, laughing and joking, recorded her love serenades on tape. In addition, killer whales sometimes rub against the Sharks' hulls, uttering interested trills. Even world-famous ichthyologists became interested in this phenomenon. They concluded that the combination of engine noise and the resonant sounds of masses of water splashing inside the outer hull somehow attracted marine life.

Of course, the largest Russian submarine was clearly not designed to seduce female whales and play with killer whales, but the effect was still extremely curious.

Once again about the living conditions of sailors

Even compared to surface ships, living conditions on the Sharks were simply inconceivably good. Perhaps, except that the fictional "Nautilus" by Jules Verne could compete with the domestic submarine. It was jokingly nicknamed the "floating hotel".

When designing the boat, they did not seek to save weight and dimensions, and therefore the crew lived in luxurious cabins for two, four and six people, which were furnished really no worse than a hotel room. The sports complex was also amazing: a huge sports hall, many exercise machines and treadmills.

Not every surface warship also has four showers and nine latrines. In the sauna, the walls of which were lined with oak boards, up to ten people could bathe. And there was even a four-meter long pool on board. What is characteristic: even conscripts could use all this wealth, which is something unthinkable for our army in general.

Stab in the back, or the current state of affairs

Western countries were simply terribly afraid of these missile carriers. Of course, after the collapse of the Union, a bunch of "partners" appeared who immediately convinced the government to cut three unique ships into metal. The seventh side of the TK-210 laid down at the shipyards was completely barbarously stolen, deciding not to complete the construction. Huge sums of money and titanic labor that the people of the USSR spent on the creation of these incredible machines were actually splashed into the cold water of the Northern Ocean.

And the disposal took place even though the military and designers almost begged to create floating supply bases for the northern cities on the basis of submarines. Alas, today only Dmitry Donskoy continues to serve, which was converted to Bulava missiles. They pose no danger to the US. The cruisers TK-17 "Arkhangelsk" and TK-20 "Severstal" are awaiting either disposal or an equally senseless modernization.

What did the Americans do with their "Ohio"? Of course, no one began to cut them. The boats are undergoing a planned modernization, they are equipped with new cruise missiles. The US government does not intend to scatter technology, the creation of which was spent so much time and effort.

Dear comrades, surely many of you have visited naval saloons, climbed the uncomfortable trembling gangways to the decks of huge ships. We wandered around the upper deck, examining the missile launchers, sprawling radar branches and other fantastic systems.

Even such simple things as the thickness of the anchor chain (each link is about a pood weight) or the sweeping radius of the ship's artillery barrels (the size of a more summer cottage "six acres") can cause sincere shock and bewilderment in an unprepared layman.
The dimensions of ship mechanisms are simply Huge. Such things are not found in ordinary life - we learn about the existence of these cyclopean objects only during a visit to the ship on the next Navy Day (Victory Day, during the days of the St. Petersburg International Naval Salon, etc.).

Indeed, from the point of view of a single person, small or large ships do not exist. Marine equipment is striking in its dimensions - standing on the pier next to a moored corvette, a person looks like a grain of sand against the backdrop of a huge rock. A "tiny" 2500-ton corvette looks like a cruiser, and a "real" cruiser is generally paranormal in size and looks like a floating city.

The reason for this paradox is obvious:

An ordinary four-axle railway wagon (gondola car), loaded to the brim with iron ore, has a mass of about 90 tons. Very bulky and heavy piece.

In the case of the 11,000-ton missile cruiser Moskva, we have only 11,000 tons of metal structures, cables and fuel. The equivalent is 120 railway wagons with ore, densely concentrated in a single array.

Anchor of the submarine missile carrier pr. 941 "Shark"

How does water hold THIS?! The conning tower of the battleship New Jersey

But the cruiser "Moskva" is not the limit yet - the American aircraft carrier "Nimitz" has a total displacement of more than 100 thousand tons. Truly great is Archimedes, whose immortal law keeps these giants afloat!

A big difference

Unlike surface ships and vessels that can be seen in any port, the submarine component of the fleet has an increased degree of stealth. it is difficult to see even when entering the base - largely due to the special status of the modern submarine fleet.

Nuclear technologies, danger zone, state secret, objects of strategic importance; closed cities with a special passport regime. All this does not add popularity to the "steel coffins" and their glorious crews. Nuclear-powered boats quietly nest in the secluded coves of the Arctic or hide from prying eyes on the coast of distant Kamchatka. Nothing is heard about the existence of boats in peacetime. They are not suitable for naval parades and the notorious "flag display". The only thing these sleek black ships can do is kill.

Baby C-189 against the backdrop of "Mistral"

What does "Baton" or "Pike" look like? How big is the legendary "Shark"? Is it true that it does not fit in the ocean?

It is quite difficult to find out this question - there are no visual aids in this regard. Museum submarines K-21 (Severomorsk), S-189 (St. Petersburg) or S-56 (Vladivostok) are half a century old "diesels" of the Second World War and do not give any idea about the real size of modern submarines.

The reader will surely learn a lot of interesting things from the following illustration:

Comparative sizes of silhouettes of modern submarines on a single scale

The thickest "fish" is a heavy strategic missile submarine.
Below is an American Ohio-class SSBN.
Even lower is the underwater "aircraft carrier killer" of project 949A, the so-called. "Baton" (it was to this project that the deceased "Kursk" belonged).
A multi-purpose Russian nuclear submarine of project 971 (code ) lurked in the lower left corner.
And the smallest of the boats shown in the illustration is the modern German diesel-electric submarine Type 212.

Of course, the greatest interest of the public is associated with the "Shark" (it is also "Typhoon" according to NATO classification). The boat is really amazing: the length of the hull is 173 meters, the height from the bottom to the roof of the cabin is equal to a 9-storey building!

Surface displacement - 23,000 tons; underwater - 48,000 tons. The figures clearly indicate a colossal reserve of buoyancy - more than 20 thousand tons of water are pumped into the ballast tanks of the boat to submerge the Shark. As a result, the "Shark" received the funny nickname "water carrier" in the Navy.

For all the seeming irrationality of this decision (why does the submarine have such a large reserve of buoyancy ??), the “water carrier” has its own characteristics and even advantages: in the surface position, the draft of the monstrous monster is slightly larger than that of “ordinary” submarines - about 11 meters. This allows you to go to any base, without the risk of running aground, and use all the available infrastructure for servicing nuclear submarines.

In addition, a huge reserve of buoyancy turns the Shark into a powerful icebreaker. When blowing through the tanks, the boat, according to the law of Archimedes, “rushes” up with such force that even a 2-meter layer of arctic ice, strong as a stone, will not stop it. Due to this circumstance, the "Sharks" could carry out combat duty in the highest latitudes, up to the regions of the North Pole.

But even in the surface position, the Shark surprises with its dimensions. How else? - the largest boat in world history!

You can admire the shark view for a long time:

"Shark" and one of the SSBNs of the 677 family

The boat is just huge, there is nothing more to add here

Modern SSBN project 955 "Borey" against the backdrop of a gigantic "fish"

The reason is simple: two submarines are hidden under a light streamlined hull: "Shark" is made according to the "catamaran" scheme with two durable hulls made of titanium alloys. 19 isolated compartments, duplicated by a power plant (each of the robust buildings has an independent nuclear steam generating plant OK-650 with a thermal power of 190 MW), as well as two pop-up rescue capsules designed for the entire crew ...

Needless to say - in terms of survivability, safety and ease of placement of personnel, this floating Hilton was out of competition.

Loading a 90-ton "kuzkina mother". In total, the boat's ammunition included 20 R-39 solid-propellant SLBMs

"Ohio"

No less surprising is the comparison of the American submarine missile carrier "Ohio" and the domestic TPKSN of the "Shark" project - it suddenly turns out that their dimensions are identical (length 171 meters, draft 11 meters) ... while the displacement differs significantly! How so?

There is no secret here - "Ohio" is almost twice as wide as the Soviet monster - 23 versus 13 meters. Nevertheless, it would be unfair to call the Ohio a small boat - 16,700 tons of steel structures and materials inspire respect. Underwater displacement "Ohio" is even greater - 18,700 tons.

Carrier killer

Another underwater monster, whose displacement surpassed the achievements of the Ohio (surface displacement - 14,700, underwater - 24,000 tons).

One of the most powerful and advanced boats of the Cold War. 24 supersonic cruise missiles with a launch weight of 7 tons; eight torpedo tubes; nine isolated compartments. The working depth range is more than 500 meters. Underwater speed over 30 knots.

In order to accelerate the “baton” to such speeds, a two-reactor power plant was used on the boat - uranium assemblies in two OK-650 reactors burn with terrible black fire day and night. The total energy output is 380 megawatts - enough to provide electricity to a city for 100,000 inhabitants.

"Baton" and "Shark"

Two "batons"

But how justified was the construction of such monsters to solve tactical problems? According to a popular legend, the cost of each of the 11 built boats reached half the cost of the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov! At the same time, the "loaf" was focused on solving purely tactical tasks - the destruction of AUGs, convoys, disruption of enemy communications ...
Time has shown that multi-purpose nuclear submarines are the most effective for such operations, for example ...

« Pike-B"

A series of Soviet nuclear multi-purpose boats of the third generation. The most formidable underwater weapon before the advent of American nuclear submarines of the Seawolf type.

But, you do not think that "Pike-B" is so small and frail. Size is a relative value. Suffice it to say that the baby does not fit on the football field. The boat is huge. Surface displacement - 8100, underwater - 12,800 tons (on the latest modifications, it increased by another 1000 tons).

This time, the designers got by with one OK-650 reactor, one turbine, one shaft and one propeller. Excellent dynamics remained at the level of the 949th "loaf". A modern sonar complex and a luxurious set of weapons appeared: deep-sea and homing torpedoes, Granat cruise missiles (in the future - Caliber), Shkval rocket-torpedoes, Vodopad PLUR, thick torpedoes 65-76, mines ... at the same time , a huge ship is operated by a crew of only 73 people.

Why do I say "everything"? Just an example: to control the modern American boat-analogue of the "Pike" - an unsurpassed underwater killer type, a crew of 130 people is required! At the same time, the American, as usual, is saturated to the limit with radio electronics and automation systems, and its dimensions are 25% smaller (displacement - 6000/7000 tons).

By the way, an interesting question: why are American boats always smaller? Is it really all the fault of "Soviet microcircuits - the largest microcircuits in the world" ?! The answer will seem banal - American boats have a single-hull design and, as a result, a smaller margin of buoyancy. That is why the "Los Angeles" and "Virginia" have such a small difference in the values ​​of surface and underwater displacement.

What is the difference between single hull and double hull boats? In the first case, ballast tanks are located inside a single strong hull. Such an arrangement takes up part of the internal volume and, in a certain sense, negatively affects the survivability of the submarine. And, of course, single-hull nuclear submarines have a much smaller margin of buoyancy. At the same time, it makes the boat smaller (as small as a modern nuclear submarine can be) and quieter.

Domestic boats, traditionally, are built according to a two-hull scheme. All ballast tanks and auxiliary deep-sea equipment (cables, antennas towed by the GAS) are moved outside the pressure hull. The rigid body stiffeners are also located on the outside, saving precious interior space. From above, all this is covered with a light "shell".

Advantages: the reserve of free space inside the rugged case, allowing the implementation of special layout solutions. More systems and weapons on board the boat, increased unsinkability and survivability (additional depreciation for close explosions, etc.).

Nuclear waste storage facility in Saida Bay (Kola Peninsula). Dozens of submarine reactor compartments are visible. The ugly "rings" are nothing more than the stiffening ribs of a durable case (the light case was previously removed)

This scheme also has disadvantages and there is no escape from them: large dimensions and area of ​​wetted surfaces. A direct consequence is that the boat makes louder noise. And if there is a resonance between a durable and lightweight body ...

Do not flatter yourself when you hear about the “reserve of free space” indicated above. Inside the compartments of the Russian "Pike" it is still impossible to drive mopeds and play golf - the entire reserve was spent on installing numerous hermetic bulkheads. The number of habitable compartments on Russian boats usually ranges from 7 to 9 units. The maximum was achieved on the legendary "Sharks" - as many as 19 compartments, excluding sealed technological modules in the light body space.

For comparison, the robust hull of the American Los Angeles is divided by airtight bulkheads into only three compartments: central, reactor and turbine (of course, not counting the system of isolated decks). The Americans traditionally rely on the high quality of manufacturing of hull structures, the reliability of equipment and qualified personnel in the crews of submarines.

A whopping big fish. American multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the "Sivulf" type

Another comparison on the same scale. It turns out that the "Shark" is not so large compared to the nuclear aircraft carrier of the "Nimitz" type or the TAVKR "Admiral Kuznetsov" - the dimensions of the aircraft carriers are completely paranormal. The victory of technology over common sense. Small fish on the left - diesel-electric submarine "Varshavyanka"

These are the key differences between schools of underwater shipbuilding on different sides of the ocean. And the submarines are still huge.

MOSCOW, January 19 - RIA Novosti. The world's most powerful heavy strategic missile submarines "Akula" are too early to be sent for disposal: they can be upgraded for new ballistic or cruise missiles, according to Russian admirals interviewed by RIA Novosti on Friday.

As a source in the shipbuilding industry told RIA Novosti earlier, two Project 941 nuclear submarines (code "Akula") - "Arkhangelsk" and "Severstal" - will be disposed of by Rosatom after 2020. Their further operation was considered unprofitable, they have already been withdrawn from the combat strength of the Russian Navy, the source said.

Modernize under the "Mace"

"I can only express my personal regret. These submarines are the most powerful in the world, the most high-tech in production. One Akula carried 20 missiles with ten warheads each. I went to sea on them, being the first deputy commander of the Northern Fleet "They are easy to operate. I have never experienced greater delight," said the former commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov.

In his opinion, "we are acting in a barbaric way with our offspring, sending "Sharks" to be cut into pins and needles." The Russian shipbuilding industry, for economic reasons, is no longer able to build such a submarine, the admiral believes.

According to him, these nuclear submarines can be upgraded for the intercontinental ballistic "Mace" or for modern cruise missiles - following the example of the Americans who modernized the Ohio submarines.

Komoyedov stressed that "it is not so easy to dispose of such a submarine." “I would like to express the hope that the decision to decommission the two submarines has not yet been made, and if it is made, it will be revised. I would even develop a modernization plan,” the admiral said.

He categorically disagreed that the further operation of the "Sharks" is unprofitable: "In general, the maintenance of combat-ready armed forces is a costly business. But these submarines are worth the cost."

Work for "Asterisk"

The former First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Igor Kasatonov, also spoke out against the cutting into metal of Arkhangelsk and Severstal. As a forced positive moment, he noted that "utilization will bring money to the budget and provide jobs."

Most likely, the hulls of the cruisers will be cut up on the basis of the Zvyozdochka ship repair center in Severodvinsk, the source said.

Departing giants

Project 941 TPKSN are the world's largest nuclear submarines. The total displacement of the ship is 49.8 thousand tons, length - 172 meters, width - 23.3 meters. In total, six cruisers of the project were built. "Dmitry Donskoy" - the lead ship in the series - was laid down on June 30, 1976, accepted into the Northern Fleet in 1981.

In 1996-1997, due to lack of funds, three Project 941 nuclear submarines (TK-12, TK-202 and TK-13), which had served only 12-13 years, were withdrawn from the combat strength of the Russian Navy.

The cruiser TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" has been undergoing repairs, modernization and re-equipment at Sevmash for more than ten years to test the Bulava missile system. Currently, this project 941U ship remains the last "Shark" in the Russian Navy.

The most famous warships and submarines of Russia

/ "Yuri Dolgoruky" is a nuclear submarine with a new generation of ballistic missiles. She is the first submarine launched by Russia after the Soviet era. It was built by the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk for the Russian Navy. The bookmark took place in 1996. The first sea trials of the vessel took place in the summer of 2009.

1 out of 10

"Yuri Dolgoruky" is a nuclear submarine with a new generation of ballistic missiles. She is the first submarine launched by Russia after the Soviet era. It was built by the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk for the Russian Navy. The bookmark took place in 1996. The first sea trials of the vessel took place in the summer of 2009.

/ The famous cruiser "Aurora", which is permanently moored at the Petrogradskaya embankment in St. Petersburg, is a cultural heritage site of the Russian Federation. The cruiser of the first rank of the Baltic Fleet is famous for its role in the October Revolution of 1917. It was laid down in 1897 at the New Admiralty shipyard in St. Petersburg. The cruiser was named after the sailing frigate "Aurora", which became famous during the defense of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky during the Crimean War.

2 out of 10

The famous cruiser "Aurora", which is permanently moored at the Petrogradskaya embankment in St. Petersburg, is a cultural heritage site of the Russian Federation. The cruiser of the first rank of the Baltic Fleet is famous for its role in the October Revolution of 1917. It was laid down in 1897 at the New Admiralty shipyard in St. Petersburg. The cruiser was named after the sailing frigate "Aurora", which became famous during the defense of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky during the Crimean War.

© Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian FederationThe aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" is the only aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy in its class. The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser is designed to destroy large surface targets, defend naval formations from attacks by a potential enemy. Built at the Black Sea shipyard in Nikolaev in the early 80s of the last century. The cruiser was named after Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. The former names of the vessel in the order of assignment: "Soviet Union" (project), "Riga" (laying), "Leonid Brezhnev" (launching), "Tbilisi" (testing).

3 out of 10

The aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" is the only aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy in its class. The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser is designed to destroy large surface targets, defend naval formations from attacks by a potential enemy. Built at the Black Sea shipyard in Nikolaev in the early 80s of the last century. The cruiser was named after Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. The former names of the vessel in the order of assignment: "Soviet Union" (project), "Riga" (laying), "Leonid Brezhnev" (launching), "Tbilisi" (testing).

/ The patrol ship "Admiral Grigorovich" was named after Admiral Ivan Konstantinovich Grigorovich, Russian Naval Minister in 1911-1917. The ship was laid down in December 2010 on the slipway of the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad and launched in March 2014.

4 out of 10

The patrol ship "Admiral Grigorovich" was named after Admiral Ivan Konstantinovich Grigorovich, Russian Naval Minister in 1911-1917. The ship was laid down in December 2010 on the slipway of the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad and launched in March 2014.

/ "Igor Belousov" is a rescue ship built for the Russian Navy at the "Admiralty Shipyards" in St. Petersburg. The ship was launched in 2012. The vessel is designed to assist the crews of emergency submarines lying on the ground or on the surface, supplying air, electricity and life-saving equipment to submarines and surface ships. In addition, the ship can search for and inspect emergency objects.

6 out of 10

"Igor Belousov" is a rescue ship built for the Russian Navy at the "Admiralty Shipyards" in St. Petersburg. The ship was launched in 2012. The vessel is designed to assist the crews of emergency submarines lying on the ground or on the surface, supplying air, electricity and life-saving equipment to submarines and surface ships. In addition, the ship can search for and inspect emergency objects.

/ B-261 "Novorossiysk" - diesel-electric submarine of project 636.3 "Varshavyanka". The ship is designed to fight enemy submarines and ships, to defend naval bases, coastal and sea communications, reconnaissance and patrol activities on enemy communications. The submarine was laid down in August 2010, launched in November 2013, and accepted into the Navy in August 2014.

7 out of 10

B-261 "Novorossiysk" - diesel-electric submarine of project 636.3 "Varshavyanka". The ship is designed to fight enemy submarines and ships, to defend naval bases, coastal and sea communications, reconnaissance and patrol activities on enemy communications. The submarine was laid down in August 2010, launched in November 2013, and accepted into the Navy in August 2014.

/ TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" is a Project 941 Akula heavy nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine, the first ship in the series. The vessel is equipped with the Bulava missile system with 6 hypersonic nuclear warheads. The boat was laid down in June 1976 at Sevmashpredpriyatie, entered service with the Navy in 1981, and in 1982 became part of the Northern Fleet. To date, TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" is the largest submarine in the world.

8 out of 10

TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" is a Project 941 Akula heavy nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine, the first ship in the series. The vessel is equipped with the Bulava missile system with 6 hypersonic nuclear warheads. The boat was laid down in June 1976 at Sevmashpredpriyatie, entered service with the Navy in 1981, and in 1982 became part of the Northern Fleet. To date, TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" is the largest submarine in the world.

/ "Peter the Great" is the fourth and the only heavy nuclear missile cruiser of the third generation of the project 1144 "Orlan" in service. The main purpose of the vessel is the destruction of enemy aircraft carrier groups. The cruiser was laid down in 1986 on the slipway of the Baltic Shipyard. It was launched in 1989 and entered the fleet in 1988.

9 out of 10

"Peter the Great" is the fourth and the only heavy nuclear missile cruiser of the third generation of the project 1144 "Orlan" in service. The main purpose of the vessel is the destruction of enemy aircraft carrier groups. The cruiser was laid down in 1986 on the slipway of the Baltic Shipyard. It was launched in 1989 and entered the fleet in 1988.

© Photo: press service of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Federation / Oleg KuleshovK-560 "Severodvinsk" is a Russian multi-purpose nuclear submarine with 4th generation cruise missiles, the lead ship of Project 885 "Ash". For the first time in the practice of domestic shipbuilding, torpedo tubes were located behind the central post compartment. The Severodvinsk submarine was laid down at the Sevmash defense shipyard in 1993. The ship was launched in 2010.

Project 941 "Shark" (SSBN "Typhoon" according to NATO classification) - Soviet heavy strategic missile submarines. Developed in TsKBMT "Rubin" (St. Petersburg).

The development order was issued in December 1972. Project 941 nuclear submarines are the largest in the world.

History of creation

The performance specification for the design was issued in December 1972, and S. N. Kovalev was appointed chief designer of the project. The new type of submarines was positioned as a response to the US construction of Ohio-class SSBNs (the first boats of both projects were laid almost simultaneously in 1976). 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.

The first boat of this type TK-208 (which means "heavy cruiser") was laid down at the Sevmash enterprise in June 1976, the launch took place on September 23, 1980. Before descending in the bow below the waterline, the image of a shark was applied on board the submarine, later stripes with a shark also appeared on the crew uniform .. Despite the later launch of the project, the head cruiser entered sea trials a month earlier than the American Ohio (July 4, 1981 of the year). 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.

On September 23, 1980, at the shipyard of the city of Severodvinsk, the first Soviet submarine of the Akula class was launched on the surface of the White Sea. When her hull was still in the stocks, on its bow, below the waterline, one could see a painted grinning shark, which wrapped itself around a trident. And although after the descent, when the boat got into the water, the shark with the trident disappeared under the water and no one else saw it, the people have already dubbed the cruiser the “Shark”. All subsequent boats of this class continued to be called the same, and a special sleeve patch with the image of a shark was introduced for their crews. In the West, the boat was given the code name "Typhoon". Subsequently, we also began to call this boat Typhoon. The construction of "9-story" submarines provided orders for 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.

For the first time, the creation of the Shark series was announced by Leonid Brezhnev at the XXVI Congress of the CPSU. Brezhnev specifically called the "Shark" "Typhoon" to mislead Cold War opponents.

To ensure reloading with missiles and torpedoes, in 1986, a diesel-electric transport-missile carrier "Alexander Brykin" of project 11570 was built with a total displacement of 16,000 tons, it took on board up to 16 SLBMs.

In 1987, the TK-12 "Simbirsk" carried out a long high-latitude voyage to the Arctic with repeated replacement of crews.

On September 27, 1991, during a training launch in the White Sea on the TK-17 Arkhangelsk, a training rocket exploded and burned out in the mine. The explosion blew off the cover of the mine, and the warhead of the rocket was thrown into the sea. The crew was not injured during the incident; the boat was forced to stand up for a small repair.

In 1998, the Northern Fleet underwent tests, during which a "simultaneous" launch of 20 R-39 missiles was carried out.

Design

The power plant is made in the form of two independent echelons located in different durable housings. The reactors are equipped with an automatic shutdown system in case of loss of power supply and pulse equipment for monitoring the condition of the reactors. When designing, the TTZ included a clause on the need to ensure a safe radius; for this, methods for calculating the dynamic strength of complex hull components (mounting modules, pop-up chambers and containers, inter-hull communications) were developed and tested by experiments in experimental compartments.

For the construction of "Sharks" at Sevmash, a new workshop No. 55 was specially erected - the largest covered boathouse in the world. Ships have a large margin of buoyancy - more than 40%. When submerged, exactly half of the displacement falls on ballast water, for which the boats received the unofficial name "water carrier" in the fleet, and in the competing design bureau "Malachite" - "the victory of technology over common sense." One of the reasons for this decision was the requirement for the developers to ensure the smallest draft of the ship to be able to use existing piers and repair bases. Also, it is a large reserve of buoyancy, coupled with a strong cabin, that allows the boat to break through ice up to 2.5 meters thick, which for the first time made it possible to conduct combat duty in high latitudes up to the North Pole.

Frame

A design feature of the boat is the presence of five manned durable hulls inside the light hull. Two of them are the main ones, have a maximum diameter of 10 m and are located parallel to each other, according to the principle of a catamaran. In front of the ship, between the main strong hulls, there are missile silos, which were first placed in front of the wheelhouse. In addition, there are three separate pressurized compartments: the torpedo compartment, the control module compartment with a central post, and the aft mechanical compartment. The removal and placement of three compartments in the space between the main hulls made it possible to increase the fire safety and survivability of the boat. According to the general designer S. N. Kovalev.

“What happened at the Kursk (project 949A) could not have had such catastrophic consequences on the 941 project. On the "Shark" the torpedo compartment is made in the form of a separate module. And a torpedo explosion would not have led to the destruction of several bow compartments and the death of the entire crew. ”Both main strong hulls are interconnected by three transitions through intermediate strong capsule compartments: in the bow, in the center and in the stern. The total number of watertight compartments of the boat is 19. Two pop-up rescue chambers, designed for the entire crew, are located at the base of the cabin under the fence of retractable devices.

Robust hulls are made of titanium alloys, light - steel, covered with non-resonant anti-radar and soundproof rubber coating with a total weight of 800 tons. According to American experts, durable boat hulls are also equipped with soundproof coatings.

The ship received a developed cruciform stern plumage with horizontal rudders placed directly behind the propellers. The front horizontal rudders are retractable.

In order for the boats to be able to carry out duty at high latitudes, the felling fence is made very strong, capable of breaking through ice 2-2.5 m thick (in winter, the ice thickness in the Arctic Ocean varies from 1.2 to 2 m, and in some places reaches 2.5 m). From below, the ice surface is covered with growths in the form of icicles or stalactites of considerable size. When surfacing, the submarine cruiser, having removed the bow rudders, slowly presses against the ice ceiling with a specially adapted bow and wheelhouse, after which the main ballast tanks are blown sharply.

Power point

The main nuclear power plant is designed according to the block principle and includes two water-cooled reactors on thermal neutrons OK-650 with a thermal power of 190 MW each and a shaft power of 2 × 50,000 l. with., as well as two steam turbine installations, located one at a time in both strong hulls, which significantly increases the survivability of the boat. The use of a two-stage system of rubber-cord pneumatic damping and a block layout of mechanisms and equipment made it possible to significantly improve the vibration isolation of the units and, thereby, reduce the noise of the boat.

Two low-speed, low-noise, seven-blade fixed-pitch propellers are used as propellers. To reduce the noise level, the propellers are installed in annular fairings (fenestrons).

The boat has reserve means of propulsion - two DC electric motors of 190 kW each. For maneuvering in cramped conditions, there is a thruster in the form of two folding columns with 750 kW electric motors and rotary propellers. Thrusters are located in the bow and stern parts of the ship.

Habitability

The crew is placed in conditions of increased comfort. The boat has a lounge for relaxation, a gym, a swimming pool measuring 4 × 2 m and a depth of 2 m, filled with fresh or salty outboard water with the possibility of heating, a solarium, a sauna sheathed with oak boards, a “living corner”. The rank and file is accommodated in small cockpits, the command staff - in two- and four-bed cabins with washbasins, TVs and air conditioning. There are two wardrooms: one for officers, the other for midshipmen and sailors. Sailors call the "Shark" "floating "Hilton"".

Armament

The main armament is the D-19 missile system with 20 three-stage solid-propellant ballistic missiles R-39 "Variant". These missiles have the largest launch weight (together with the launch canister - 90 tons) and length (17.1 m) of the SLBMs put into service. The combat range of the missiles is 8300 km, the warhead is divided: 10 individually guided warheads of 100 kilotons of TNT each. Due to the large dimensions of the R-39, the Akula project boats were the only carriers of these missiles. The design of the D-19 missile system was tested on a K-153 diesel submarine specially converted according to project 619, but they could only place one mine for the R-39 on it and limited themselves to seven launches of throwing models. The launch of the entire Akula missile ammunition load can be carried out in one salvo with a small interval between the launch of individual missiles. The launch is possible both from the surface and from the underwater positions at depths up to 55 m and without restrictions due to weather conditions. Thanks to the shock-absorbing rocket-launch system ARSS, the launch of the rocket is carried out from a dry mine using a powder pressure accumulator, which makes it possible to reduce the interval between launches and the level of pre-launch noise. One of the features of the complex is that with the help of ARSS, rockets are suspended at the mouth of the mine. When designing, it was planned to place an ammunition load of 24 missiles, but, by decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy, Admiral S. G. Gorshkov, their number was reduced to 20.

In 1986, a government decree was adopted on the development of an improved version of the missile - R-39UTTKh Bark. In the new modification, it was planned to increase the firing range to 10,000 km and implement a system for passing through the ice. The re-equipment of the missile carriers was planned to be carried out until 2003 - the expiration date of the warranty resource of the produced R-39 missiles. In 1998, after the third unsuccessful launch, the Ministry of Defense decided to stop work on the 73% ready complex. The development of another solid-propellant SLBM "Bulava" was assigned to the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering, the developer of the "land" ICBM "Topol-M".

In addition to strategic weapons, the boat is equipped with 6 torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber, designed to fire torpedoes and rocket-torpedoes, as well as to lay minefields.

Air defense is provided by eight sets of Igla-1 MANPADS.

The missile carriers of the Shark project are equipped with the following electronic weapons:

• combat information and control system "Omnibus";
• analogue hydroacoustic complex "Skat-KS" (on TK-208, in the process of medium repair, a digital "Skat-3" was installed);
• sonar mine detection station MG-519 "Arfa";
• echometer MG-518 "North";
• radar complex MRCP-58 "Buran";
• navigation complex "Symphony";
• the Molniya-L1 radio communication complex with the Tsunami satellite communication system;
• television complex MTK-100;
• two pop-up buoy-type antennas that allow you to receive radio messages, target designation and satellite navigation signals when you are at a depth of up to 150 m and under ice.

Crew Conditions

On the Typhoon, the crew were provided with not just good, but unthinkably good living conditions for submarines. This, perhaps, could be expected from the Nautilus, but not from a real boat. For unprecedented comfort, the Typhoon was nicknamed the “floating hotel”. When designing the Typhoon, apparently, they did not particularly strive to save weight and dimensions, and the team was placed in 2-, 4- and 6-bed cabins sheathed in plastic under wood, with desks, bookshelves, lockers for clothes, sinks and TVs.

There was also a special recreation complex on Typhoon: a gym with a wall bars, a crossbar, a punching bag, bicycle and rowing machines, and treadmills. (True, some of this - purely Soviet - did not work from the very beginning.) There are four showers on it, as well as as many as nine latrines, which is also very significant. The sauna, sheathed in oak planks, was generally designed for five people, but if you tried, it could accommodate ten. And there was also a small pool on the boat: 4 meters long, two wide and two deep.

Comparative evaluation

The US Navy is armed with only one series of strategic boats - the Ohio, which belongs to the third generation (18 were built, of which 4 were subsequently converted to Tomahawk cruise missiles). The first nuclear submarines of this series entered service simultaneously with the Sharks. Due to the possibility of consistent modernization laid down in Ohio (including mines with a margin of space and with interchangeable glasses), they use one type of ballistic missile - Trident II D-5 instead of the original Trident I C-4. In terms of the number of missiles and the number of MIRVs, the Ohio is superior to both the Soviet Sharks and the Russian Boreas.

It should be noted that Ohio, unlike Russian submarines, are designed for combat duty in the open ocean in relatively warm latitudes, while Russian submarines are often on duty in the Arctic, being at the same time in the relative shallow water of the shelf and, in addition, under a layer of ice, which has a significant impact on the design of boats. In particular, for Sharks, outboard temperatures above +10 ° C can cause significant mechanical problems. For U.S. Navy submariners, swimming in shallow water under the Arctic ice is considered very risky.

The predecessors of the "Sharks" - submarines of projects 667A, 670, 675 and their modifications, due to increased noise were nicknamed by the American military "roaring cows", their combat duty areas were off the coast of the United States - in the area of ​​​​operation of powerful anti-submarine formations, moreover they had to overcome the NATO anti-submarine line between Greenland, Iceland and Great Britain.

In the USSR and Russia, the main part of the nuclear triad is made up of ground-based strategic missile forces.

After the adoption of strategic submarines of the Akula type into the combat structure of the USSR Navy, the United States agreed to the signing of the SALT-2 treaty proposed by it, and the United States also allocated funds under the Joint Threat Reduction program for the disposal of half of the Sharks while simultaneously extending the service life of their American "peers" until 2023-2026.

On December 3-4, 1997, in the Barents Sea, during the disposal of missiles under the START-1 treaty, an incident occurred by shooting from the Akula nuclear submarine: while the US delegation was watching the shooting from the Russian ship, the multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the Los Angeles type "performed maneuvers near the Akula nuclear submarine, approaching a distance of up to 4 km. A US Navy boat left the firing area after a warning detonation of two depth charges.

Main characteristics

• Type of shipTPKSN
• Project designation941 "Shark"
• Project Developer TsKBMT "Rubin"
• Chief designerS. N. Kovalev
• NATO classificationSSBN "Typhoon"
• Speed ​​(surface) 12 knots
• Speed ​​(underwater)25 knots (46.3 km/h)
• Operating depth400 m
• Maximum diving depth500 m
• Endurance 180 days (6 months)
• Crew160 people (including 52 officers)

Dimensions

• Surface displacement23 200 t
• Underwater displacement48,000 tons
• Maximum length (according to design waterline) 172.8 m
• Hull width max. 23.3 m
• Average draft (on design waterline) 11.2 m

Power point

• 2 water-cooled nuclear reactors OK-650VV, 190 MW each.
• 2 turbines of 45,000 - 50,000 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

Reserved:

• 2 diesel generators ASDG-800 (kW)
• Lead-acid battery, item 144

Armament

• Torpedo-mine weapons6 TA caliber 533 mm;
• 22 torpedoes 53-65K, SET-65, SAET-60M, USET-80 or Vodopad missile torpedoes
• Missile armament20 SLBM R-39 (RSM-52)
• PVO8 MANPADS "Igla"