Only the first of these submarines to be constructed, the Dmitriy Donskoy, is still in active service with the Russian Navy, serving as a test platform for the Bulava (SS-NX-32) missile which is currently under development. The construction order for an additional vessel (hull number TK-210) was canceled and never completed. Names were later assigned to the four vessels retained by the Russian Navy, which were sponsored by either a city or company. Originally, the submarines were designated by hull numbers only. The submarine had to be scaled accordingly. However, at the time, state-of-the-art Soviet SLBMs were substantially larger and heavier than their American counterparts (the R-39 is more than two times heavier than the Trident I it remains the heaviest SLBM in service worldwide). The project was developed with the objective to match the SLBM armament of Ohio-class submarines, capable of carrying 192 nuclear warheads, 100 kt each. It is sometimes confused with other submarines, as Akula is the name NATO uses to designate the Russian Project 971 Shchuka-B (Щука-Б) class attack submarines. The Typhoon class was developed under Project 941 as the Russian ''Akula'' class (Акула), meaning shark. History Ī Typhoon class submarine on the surface in 1985. The white cheatline marks the vessel's waterline. Line drawing showing the starboard side of the Project 941 (Akula) Soviet ballistic missile submarine. This also greatly increases their survivability - even if one pressure hull is breached, the crew members in the other are safe and there is less potential for flooding. In the main body of the sub, two Delta class pressure hulls lie parallel with a third, smaller pressure hull above them (which protrudes just below the sail), and two other pressure hulls for torpedoes and steering gear. Typhoon-class submarines feature multiple pressure hulls that simplify internal design while making the vessel much wider than a normal submarine. Technically, Typhoons were able to deploy their long-range nuclear missiles while moored at their docks. Their primary weapons system is composed of 20 R-39 (NATO: SS-N-20) ballistic missiles ( SLBM) with a maximum of 10 MIRV nuclear warheads each. A Typhoon-class submarine can stay submerged for periods up to 120 days in normal conditions, and potentially more if deemed necessary (e.g., in the case of a nuclear war). Besides their missile armament, the Typhoon class features six torpedo tubes all of which are designed to handle RPK-2 (SS-N-15) missiles or Type 53 torpedoes. Typhoon submarines are among the quietest Russian sea vessels in operation, being quieter and yet more maneuverable than their predecessors. With the announcement that Russia has eliminated the last SS-N-20 Sturgeon SLBMs in September 2012, the remaining Typhoons have reached the end of service. The Russian Navy canceled its Typhoon modernization program in March 2012, stating that modernizing one Typhoon would be as expensive as building two new Borei-class submarines. The source of the NATO reporting name remains unclear, although it is often claimed to be related to the use of the word "typhoon" ("тайфун") by Leonid Brezhnev in a 1974 speech while describing a new type of nuclear ballistic missile submarine. With a submerged displacement of 48,000 tons, the Typhoons are the largest class of submarine ever built, large enough to accommodate decent living facilities for the crew when submerged for months on end. The Project 941 or Akula, Russian "Акула" ("Shark") class submarine ( NATO reporting name: Typhoon) is a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine deployed by the Soviet Navy in the 1980s.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |