December 21, 1939 one of the largest shipyards in the USSR began its production activity - Plant No. 402(now "Sevmash"). We will tell you about the most iconic nuclear submarines of the Severodvinsk enterprise.

I generation of nuclear submarines (nuclear submarines)

Project 627 (A) "Kit"

The development of the first Soviet nuclear submarine began with an explanatory note, which was entitled "The idea of ​​the possibility of creating a nuclear submarine", authored by IV Kurchatov, AP Aleksandrov and NA Dollezhal. The first model of Project 627, K-3 Leninsky Komsomol, was launched on October 9, 1957. The surface speed of the boats was 15.2 knots, the underwater speed was 28-30 knots. In total, within the framework of this project, 13 submarines were created, one of which sank.

Project 658

Project 658 was based on the K-3 submarine. The main difference from the previous project was in armament: new submarines were equipped with additional missile systems. The size and displacement of the submarines increased slightly. The cruising speed of the new boats has decreased by 2-3 knots. A total of 5 submarines were built.

II generation of nuclear submarines

Project 667A "Navaga"

The first series of II generation 667A nuclear submarines was equipped with 6 torpedo tubes and 16 rocket launchers. The underwater displacement of the machines was 11,500 tons, the surface displacement of 7760 tons. They developed under water speeds up to 28 knots at a depth of 450 m. 24 submarines got off the Sevmash conveyor within the framework of the project.

Project 667BDR "Kalmar"

The 667BDR series differed from the Navagi in improved missile launchers and increased range of strategic weapons. A total of 14 submarines were created, 4 of which are in service to this day.

Project 667BDRM "Dolphin"

The 667BDRM series is a transitional submarine from II to III generation. The submarines have an underwater displacement of 18,000 tons, and a surface displacement of 12,000 tons. Their dimensions are slightly larger than those of the previous series. The body of the machines is covered with an acoustic masking material. Of the 7 built submarines, 5 are in service with the Russian Navy to this day.

III generation of nuclear submarines

Project 941 "Shark"

The world's largest submarines - Project 941 "Akula" heavy missile submarine cruisers have been produced since 1979. Their underwater displacement is 48,000 tons, the length is 173 meters and the width is 23 meters. The car can float autonomously for up to 6 months. The speed of the submarine can reach 25 knots at a depth of 500 m. Of the 6 built boats, only one remained in the Navy.

Project 949A "Antey"

One of the most famous series of Soviet and Russian submarines, the 949A Antey, has been produced since 1985. The vehicles are capable of developing up to 32 knots at a depth of 600 m. The boat is armed with 24 cruise missiles and 24-28 torpedoes. Of the 11 submarines, the Russian Navy is armed with 8. By the way, the infamous K-141 Kursk, which sank in the Barents Sea on August 12, 2000, belonged to this series.

Project 971 "Pike-B"

The main project 971 multipurpose submarines of the Russian Navy were built from 1983 to 2004. They are capable of speeds up to 33 knots at a depth of 600 m. The vehicle is equipped with 40 torpedoes and 18 air defense missiles. 6 out of 7 boats built by "Sevmash" are in service to this day.

IV generation of nuclear submarines

Project 955 "Borey"

On June 15, 2010, the lead ship Severodvinsk of Project 885 Yasen was launched. The series is equipped with 10 torpedo tubes and 24 rocket launchers. The maximum speed of the boat is 31 knots at a depth of up to 600 m. In addition to the lead ship, 3 more have been laid, which will be launched no earlier than 2015.

The advent of nuclear reactors radically changed the appearance and methods of combat work of submarines. Now it was possible not to rise to the surface for weeks, tracking down the enemy's ship formation. In addition, the power of the new power plants made it possible to significantly increase the size of the submarines and, thanks to this, equip them with new weapons. A number of new technologies led to the fact that in the fifties of the last century, the leading countries of the world were actively creating new projects of submarines and weapons for them. So actively that the most daring ideas began to appear with enviable regularity, which could now be implemented.

K-64. Project 705

Idea

At the end of the fifties, SKB-143 (now SPMBM "Malakhit") simultaneously developed several submarine projects at once, in which one or another new design solution was used. In 1959, the designer A.B. Petrov proposed to create a project of a small-sized single-shaft nuclear submarine (NPS) with a reduced crew and a large number of automation equipment. In addition, the proposal implied the provision of high running characteristics: with an underwater speed of over 40 knots, a promising submarine could, in the shortest possible time, go to the required area of ​​the world ocean and fulfill the tasks assigned to it. An interesting feature of such a submarine would be the ability to evade enemy torpedoes due to its high speed.

The management of SKB-143 became interested in the new idea and put it forward for discussion. The discussion of the proposal with the participation of representatives of the navy, the shipbuilding industry and the country's leadership turned out to be quite lengthy and stormy. The debate led to the adjustment of some of the nuances of the appearance of the future submarine. In a revised form, the proposal received the support of the Minister of the Shipbuilding Industry B.Ye. Butoma and the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral S.G. Gorshkov.

In June 1960, the Central Committee of the CPSU and the USSR Council of Ministers issued a joint resolution on the beginning of the development of a project with the code designation "705" and the name "Lyra". The nuclear submarine project was supposed to use a lot of original technical solutions and new technologies designed to ensure the fulfillment of technical requirements. Because of this, in May 1961, a new decree appeared, according to which the designers of SKB-143 were allowed to deviate from the norms and rules of military shipbuilding that existed at that time, if they can prove the need for such measures. The May 1961 decree actually freed the hands of engineers and made it possible to implement all or almost all of the plans.

The chief designer of the project 705 "Lira" was M.G. Rusanov, and the general management of the program for the development and construction of the submarine became the task of Academician A.P. Alexandrova. From the navy, V.V. Gordeev and K.I. Martynenko. The project to create the nuclear submarine "705" had a high priority and several scientific and design organizations were involved in its creation.

Project 705 and 705K

Project 705

Based on the analysis of several options for the overall architecture, the most successful was selected. The project 705 nuclear submarine was supposed to be built according to a two-hull single-shaft scheme. To improve the hydrodynamic characteristics and increase the underwater speed, specialists from the Moscow branch of TsAGI were involved in the project. The group of hydrodynamic scientists involved in calculating the appearance of a promising submarine was headed by K.K. Fedyaevsky. As a result, a recommendation appeared to make the hull of the boat in the form of a body of revolution with a small streamlined wheelhouse guard on the upper part.

Steel and titanium were offered as the main materials for the construction of the cases. For some time, two variants of the hull were being developed in parallel, differing only in material. The titanium case was superior to the steel case. Therefore, the design of the latter ceased, and titanium became the main material of the sub's hull. Specialists from the Central Research Institute of Metallurgy and Welding, headed by Academician I.V. Gorynin.

The internal volume of the robust hull was divided into six compartments using sealed bulkheads. At the same time, the third compartment, which housed the utility rooms and the main command post, had spherical bulkheads. Thanks to this, the third compartment was able to withstand the same water pressure as the rugged case itself. Another measure taken to ensure the safety of the crew was the pop-up deckhouse. In the event of an accident, the wheelhouse could become a life chamber for the entire crew. The design of the wheelhouse made it possible to surface from the maximum depth and with a large heel or differential.

The preliminary design of a promising nuclear submarine meant the reduction of the crew to 16 people. However, the lack of a number of important instruments capable of taking over part of the crew's work led to significant changes. At the request of the fleet, the crew was increased to 29 people, and then brought to the final value - 32 officers and midshipmen. Food supplies were supposed to be enough for autonomous navigation up to 50 days.

The surface displacement of the project 705 submarine, according to calculations, should have exceeded 2250 tons, underwater - 3180 tons. The maximum length of the submarine was 79.6 meters, the width of the hull was 10 meters. In the early stages of the project, it was assumed that the submarine's displacement would not exceed 1500-2000 tons.

The requirements for the maximum underwater speed, taking into account the dimensions and weight of the boat, demanded the creation of a new powerful power plant. From several options, the option with one reactor using a liquid metal coolant was chosen. In comparison with the pressurized water reactors that existed at that time, such a power plant turned out to be more compact and lighter. According to calculations, weight savings reached 300 tons.

The OK-550 reactor, developed at the Gorky OKBM under the leadership of I.I. Afrikanov, was installed on the girder foundation used in previous projects. For a turbo-gear unit with a shaft power of up to 40 thousand hp. a new shock-absorbing installation was developed, which made it possible to reduce the noise level produced by the submarine. Several more noisy units were installed on separate air shock absorbers. The basis of the electrical system of the submarine was two generators with a capacity of 1500 kW (voltage 400 V, frequency 400 Hz). In addition, the boat was equipped with an auxiliary diesel generator (500 kW) and an emergency battery.

Project 705 and 705K

Reducing the crew to the lowest possible level was only possible if a new complex of electronic equipment was created. In this regard, the Central Design Bureau of the plant. Kulakova (now the Central Research Institute "Granit") created a new combat information and control system "Akkord", which made it possible to control all technical means and systems from a central post. Various components of the "Accord" system were designed to collect and process information about the environment, control weapons systems, navigation, etc.

The use of an automated information management system has made it possible to change the methods of equipment operation. So, the project 705 did not provide for the constant duty of the crew members at individual units and mechanisms. Instead, it was supposed to periodically carry out a preventive inspection of the compartments. The submarine's combat shift consisted of only eight people.

The main means of detecting the targets of the Project 705 nuclear submarine was to be the Ocean sonar complex. For navigation, the boat was equipped with the Sozh complex, for control - the Sargan complex. These systems performed their functions in an automatic mode, which significantly reduced the workload on the crew. In addition to these systems, the promising submarine was supposed to receive a number of other equipment designed to control various systems.

The promising submarine received six 533 mm torpedo tubes. Pneumohydraulic devices made it possible to fire at any depth, from periscope to maximum. Project 705 nuclear submarine ammunition consisted of 20 SAET-60 or SAT-65 torpedoes. If necessary, submarines could take on board up to 24 minutes PMR-1 or PMR-2.

On the nuclear submarine of Project 705, pneumohydraulic torpedo tubes were installed for the first time, providing firing in the entire range of immersion depth

Project 705 submarines were supposed to have the following characteristics. The maximum speed on the surface was supposed to reach 14 knots, in the underwater position - to exceed 40 knots. The working depth of immersion is 320 meters, the maximum depth is 400 m. To control the course, the submarine received rudders on vertical aft stabilizers. One pair of depth rudders was placed on horizontal stabilizers, the second - in the bow of the hull, if necessary, it could be removed under the light hull.

On June 2, 1968, the first submarine of Project 705 was laid down on the slipway of the Leningrad Admiralty Association. Already on April 22, 1969, the K-64 submarine was launched. On December 31, 1971, she entered the Northern Fleet. It should be noted that during the sea trials, the new submarine, in the design of which a large number of bold and original ideas were used, was constantly pursued by various technical problems. Reactor malfunctions repeatedly occurred, and cracks in the titanium vessel were also identified. In 1972, during the execution of a combat training mission, problems with the reactor began again. This time, the liquid metal coolant began to freeze, which forced the reactor to be shut down. Problems with the reactor led to the fact that in August 1974 the K-64 submarine was withdrawn from the Northern Fleet's combat strength.

Before the start of serious problems with the K-64 reactor, the industry had time to start building three more submarines of Project 705. Due to malfunctions in the lead ship's reactor, it was decided to suspend construction until the existing shortcomings were identified and corrected.

It took a lot of time to solve the existing problems. Because of this, the serial boats of the project entered the fleet only at the end of the seventies.
Both Leningrad shipbuilders and workers of the Severodvinsk plant "Sevmash" took part in the construction of new submarines. The serial ships that followed the K-64 boat differed from it in the length of the hull. With the revision carried out in the early seventies, the reactor compartment of the Project 705 submarines became slightly longer. Because of this, the total length of the submarines increased to 81.4 m. According to the 705 project, only four submarines were built, after which new ships were built in accordance with the updated 705K project.

Project 705K

Three built submarines of project 705K were laid down in the early seventies. They were supposed to be built in accordance with project 705. Some sources mention the construction of the fourth submarine of project 705K, which was laid down, but later dismantled on the slipway.

The nuclear reactor used on the K-64 submarine did not suit the military, which is why a new power plant had to be developed for the new 705K submarines. Simultaneously with the OK-550 reactor, another power plant was being developed. Designers OKB "Gidropress", headed by V.V. The Stekolnikovs created a preliminary design of the BM-40A reactor, but a different system was chosen for use on submarines. After analyzing the problems that arose during the operation of the K-64 nuclear submarine, it was decided to continue the BM-40A project. The new main power plant had a different composition of units and was mounted on a foundation with double depreciation. The reactor, using a coolant in the form of a lead-bismuth alloy, developed a thermal power of up to 150 MW. The use of a new power plant made it possible to reduce the length of the submarine in comparison with the serial ships of Project 705.

Formation of an experienced automated nuclear submarine of project 705 on the slipway

Exploitation

The seventh submarine of the Lira project (K-463) entered the Navy in late December 1981. The new submarines made a splash in the respective circles. Despite the problems with various systems, the new submarines had the highest performance. During the tests, the submarines of projects 705 and 705K developed an underwater speed of up to 41 knots. Thus, in terms of underwater speed, the Lyras were second only to the K-222 submarine, built according to the 661 Anchar project and developing a speed of over 42 knots. The new nuclear power plant could go to maximum operating parameters without special procedures. Thanks to this, the submarine was able to gain full speed in just 1-1.5 minutes and make a 180 ° turn in 40-45 seconds.

The unique running characteristics of the Lyra submarines made it possible to create several new methods of avoiding enemy torpedoes. Having detected the attack in time, the submarine could quickly pick up the required speed and get away from the torpedo. In addition, in the course of evading the enemy's attack, the submarine could turn around and counterattack. With the fact that torpedoes were the only weapons of Project 705 and 705K submarines, such capabilities became one of the main factors that determined their combat potential.

The appearance of new Soviet submarines with the highest speed characteristics made a great impression on the command of the potential enemy. The most modern anti-submarine weapons dramatically lost their effectiveness and could not be guaranteed to hit the new Soviet submarines, which received the NATO designation Alfa. A number of foreign anti-submarine missiles and torpedoes, which are still in use, owe their existence precisely to Soviet boats of projects 705 and 705K.

As always happens with new bold projects, the operation of the Lira submarines was accompanied by a number of problems. First of all, it is necessary to note a fundamentally unavoidable drawback associated with the use of a liquid metal coolant in the reactor. To prevent the coolant alloy from freezing, it was necessary to constantly maintain a certain temperature of the reactor, which accordingly affected the operation of the submarines. In particular, it was difficult to base using the existing infrastructure. In addition, it was required to constantly monitor the state of the liquid metal coolant and regularly regenerate it - cleaning it from oxides. Finally, it was supposed to form two crews for each submarine of the project. One of them was supposed to work on a submarine at sea, the second was to monitor the state of the systems while at the base. Nevertheless, until the end of the service, all "Lyras" remained with one crew.

Despite design flaws or operational problems, nuclear submarines of projects 705 and 705K were actively used by sailors of the Northern Fleet. Submarines regularly participated in exercises and made autonomous campaigns. During one of the campaigns, the boat "Lira" clearly demonstrated its combat capabilities. According to some sources, in the mid-eighties, one of the submarines of this type, while in the North Atlantic, pursued a NATO submarine for 22 hours. The boat of the potential enemy repeatedly made attempts to evade pursuit, but the high characteristics of the Lyra did not allow her to do so. The Soviet sailors left NATO only after the appropriate command from the headquarters.

In the mid-eighties, serious economic and political reforms began in the Soviet Union. Their result, among other things, was a significant reduction in the number of exercises and campaigns. One of the first victims of the outbreak of Perestroika was the K-123 submarine. In mid-1983, she was sent for a major overhaul, which was supposed to be completed in a few years. However, the reduction in funding led to the fact that the renovation was completed only at the end of the summer of 1992. Shortly before that, in early June, all seven submarines of projects 705 and 705K received new names. In accordance with the updated nomenclature, the letter "K" in the names of the ships was replaced by "B". The numbers remain the same.

After the completion of the repair of the nuclear submarine K-123, renamed B-123, it remained the only submarine of the project that was in the combat composition of the Navy. All other boats were taken out of it back in 1990. B-123 remained in service until 1997. In the nineties, due to financial problems and the impossibility of timely maintenance, the disposal of all submarines of projects 705 and 705K began. The process of dismantling boats and disposing of radioactive materials continues to this day.

Nuclear submarines of projects 705 and 705K served no more than 15-20 years, during which they effectively performed combat training tasks and were on duty in specified areas of the oceans. Unfortunately, due to technical and economic problems, the Soviet navy received only seven such ships, but even such a small number of submarines could have a big impact on the course of a hypothetical conflict.

The high combat qualities of the Lyra submarines were due to a large number of new original technical solutions. The use of the most automated control systems for the reactor, weapons, etc. allowed not only to reduce the crew, but also to gain extensive experience in the creation of ship electronics. Probably, it was the widespread use of automation that made it possible to avoid serious accidents and casualties. So, during the years of service there were several accidents of various kinds, including two disruptions in the operation of the reactor with thickening and solidification of the liquid-metal coolant. Nevertheless, during the struggle for survivability, the crews of the submarines did not lose a single person. All boats were retained, although the head K-64 was withdrawn from the fleet just a few years after the start of service.

Unrealized projects based on "Lyra"

In 1963, work began on a deep modernization of Project 705. In the course of the project with a new designation "705A" it was planned to create on the basis of "Lyra" a submarine capable of destroying enemy ships using cruise missiles "Amethyst". In addition to changing the layout of the hulls, it was required to modify a number of systems for various purposes, as well as to create a combat information and control system capable of controlling missile weapons. Separately, it was required to provide target designation for missiles using a sonar system.

A draft version of the 705A project was developed at SKB-143. However, in the future, the command of the Navy and the leadership of the shipbuilding industry decided to assign all projects of nuclear submarines with missile weapons to one design bureau. In the mid-sixties, all materials on the new project were transferred to the Gorky Central Design Bureau-112 (now the Lazurit Central Design Bureau), where the 705A project received a new index - 686. For a number of reasons, the 705A / 686 project was never completed, but some of the developments were used in later projects of multipurpose nuclear submarines.

In the early sixties, there was a proposal to create a submarine capable of carrying ballistic missiles on the basis of the Lyra project. The project with the index "705B" was created by the designers of SKB-143. Already the first analyzes of the capabilities showed that the project 705 submarine would be capable of carrying ballistic missiles only after a number of major modifications, the result of which was to increase its dimensions and deteriorate running characteristics. The solution to the problem could be a new ballistic missile with dimensions that fit into the dimensions of the Lyra, like the American Polaris. In this case, it was possible to slightly increase the dimensions of the submarine and equip it with eight missiles, while maintaining a sufficiently high underwater speed.

Project 705B submarines could carry and use the R-27K missiles of the D-5 complex. By 1964, the employees of SKB-143 had created several versions of the draft design, which differed from each other in various details, including the number of missiles: the ammunition load of one of them was 12 units. Already in 1962, the documentation for the 705B project was transferred to TsKB-16 (later renamed TsPB "Volna", now it is part of the SPMBM "Malachite"), where the development received a new index "687". The design of a promising strategic submarine missile carrier continued until 1969, after which it was closed in favor of Project 667A.

In the late sixties, SKB-143 began work on the creation of the 705D project. The letter "D" meant "pre-armed", which fully reflected the purpose of the project. It was assumed that the new submarines, in addition to six torpedo tubes, will receive four or six launchers of rocket torpedoes of 650 mm caliber. To simplify the project and exclude serious modifications to the durable hull, containers with missiles had to be placed inside the wheelhouse enclosure. The 705K project became the basis for the 705D project.

A draft version of the 705D project was ready in 1970, and two years later the naval command approved the terms of reference. In addition to additional armament in the form of rocket torpedoes, the modernized submarines were to receive several more new systems and assemblies that would improve the characteristics and facilitate the work of the crew. In the first quarter of 1974, SKB-143 submitted for consideration a technical design of a promising nuclear submarine with enhanced armament. The project was approved, but all work stopped there. Due to the protracted development, the promising boat no longer looked suitable for future use.

Based on materials from sites:
http://deepstorm.ru/
http://voencomrus.ru/
http://army.lv/ru/
http: //russkaya-sila.rf/
http://oosif.ru/
http://kuleshovoleg.livejournal.com/

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For a long time they have been the main striking force of our fleet and a means of countering a potential enemy. The reason for this is simple: our country has historically not worked out with aircraft carriers, but missiles launched from under the water are guaranteed to hit any point on the globe. That is why, even in the Soviet Union, great importance was attached to the development and creation of new types of submarines. At one time, project 971 became a real breakthrough, within the framework of which multipurpose low-noise ships were created.

New "Pikes"

In 1976, a decision was made to design and build new submarines. The task was entrusted to the well-known enterprise "Malachite", on which the country's nuclear fleet has always counted. The peculiarity of the new project is that during its development the developments on the "Barracuda" were fully used, and therefore the stage of preliminary design and many calculations were skipped, which significantly reduced the cost of the project itself and accelerated the work carried out within its framework.

Unlike the “ancestors” of the 945 family, project 971, at the suggestion of engineers from Komsomolsk-on-Amur, did not imply the use of titanium in the production of cases. This was due not only to the huge cost and shortage of this metal, but also to the monstrous laboriousness of working with it. In fact, only Sevmash could pull such a project, the capacities of which were already fully loaded. The first components had already been sent to the stocks ... as intelligence provided information about a new American submarine of the Los Angeles type. Because of this, the project 971 was urgently sent for revision.

It was already fully completed in 1980. Another feature of the new "Shchuks" was that most of the work on their design and creation was carried out in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Prior to that, the Pacific shipyards were in the position of a "poor relative" and performed only the functions of slaves.

Other features of the project

Few people know about this historical fact, but at the very beginning of the 80s, our country purchased Toshiba products from Japan - especially precise machines for metal processing, which made it possible to make new screws that produce a minimum of noise during operation. The deal itself was highly secret, but the United States, which by that time had practically "colonized" Japan, found out about it almost immediately. As a result, the Toshiba company even came under economic sanctions.

Thanks to the propellers and some other design features, the 971 project was distinguished by an amazing sailing silence. This is largely the merit of Academician A. N. Krylov, who worked for several years to reduce the noise level of submarines, being involved in the creation of the "Barracuda". The efforts of the honored academician and the whole team of the research institute headed by him did not go unreported: the boats of Project 971 "Pike-B" were noisy several times less than the newest American "Los Angeles".

Appointment of new submarines

The new submarines were able to adequately meet any enemy, since their strike weapons and its variety amazed even seasoned Moremans. The thing is that the "Shchuk-B" had to destroy surface and submarine vessels, lay mines, conduct reconnaissance and sabotage raids, participate in special operations ... B "".

Innovative solutions and ideas

As we said, the initial design of this type of submarine had to be significantly corrected. The only weak link of our submarines in comparison with their American counterparts was the lack of a digital noise filtering complex. But in terms of general combat characteristics, the new "Pike" still greatly outnumbered them. For example, they were armed with the latest anti-ship missiles "Granat", which, if necessary, made it possible to severely thin out any enemy surface naval grouping.

But already after the "file refinement" in 1980, the Pikes still received the Skat-3 digital jamming complex, as well as the latest guidance systems that allowed the use of the most advanced cruise missiles. For the first time, the means of controlling the battle and the weapons themselves were achieved, a special pop-up capsule was massively introduced into the design to save the entire crew, which was successfully tested back on the Barracuda.

Design features

Like all the main submarines of the USSR of this class, Project 971 submarines used the now classic two-hull scheme. For the first time in the history of "underwater" shipbuilding, the experience of block articulation of submarine fragments was widely used, which made it possible to perform most of the work in the comfortable conditions of the workshop. Zonal units of equipment were also widely used, which, after completion of installation, were simply connected to centralized data buses.

How did you reduce the noise level?

In addition to the special screws, which we have already mentioned many times, special damping systems are used. Firstly, all mechanisms are installed on special “foundations”. Secondly, each zonal unit has another depreciation system. Such a scheme made it possible not only to significantly reduce the volume of noise generated by the submarine, but also to additionally protect the crew and equipment of the submarine from the action of shock waves generated during the explosions of depth charges. So our fleet, for which submarines were almost always the main striking force, received a weighty "argument" for deterring a potential enemy.

Like all modern submarines, "Shchuki" have a well-developed keel tail with a prominent boule, which houses the towed antenna of the radar complex. The peculiarity of the plumage of these boats is that it is made, as it were, a single whole with the power elements of the main hull. All this is done in order to minimize the number of eddies as much as possible. The latter can lead the enemy's hydroacoustics to the trail of the vessel. These measures have borne their legitimate fruits: "Pike" are considered to be the most inconspicuous submarines today.

Submarine dimensions and crew

Surface displacement of the ship is 8140 tons, underwater - 10,500 tons. The maximum length of the hull is 110.3 m, the width does not exceed 13.6 m. The average draft on the surface is approaching ten meters.

Due to the fact that various solutions for the integrated automation of its control were massively applied in the design of the boat, the crew was reduced to 73 people in comparison with the American 143 crew members (on the Los Angeles). If we compare the new "Pike" with the previous varieties of this family, then the living and working conditions of the crew were significantly improved. Due to the reduction in the number of the latter, it also became possible to place people in the two most protected compartments (residential).

Power point

The heart of the ship is a 190 MW reactor. It includes four steam generators and one turbine, the controls and mechanization of which are repeatedly duplicated. The power delivered to the shaft is 50,000 hp. with. The propeller is seven-bladed, with a special section of the blades and a reduced rotation speed. The maximum speed of the ship under water, if translated into values ​​understandable by "land", exceeds 60 km / h! Simply put, a boat can move in dense environments faster than many sports yachts, not to mention heavy combat ships. The thing is that the hulls of the boats were developed by a whole "battalion" of academicians with numerous works in the field of hydrodynamics.

Enemy ship detection tools

The real highlight of the new "Pike" was the MGK-540 "Skat-3" complex. He is able not only to filter out interference, but also to independently detect the bearing of noise from the propellers of any ship. In addition, the "Skat" can be used as a conventional sonar when passing unfamiliar fairways. The detection range of enemy submarines has tripled compared to the submarines of previous generations. In addition, "Skat" determines the characteristics of the pursued targets much faster and gives out a forecast for the time of combat contact.

A unique feature of any project 971 submarine is the installation that allows you to detect any surface ship by the wake it leaves. The equipment calculates the waves diverging from it even several hours after the passage of the ship in this square, which makes it possible to covertly track enemy ship groupings at a safe distance from them.

Weapon characteristics

The main striking force is four 533 mm caliber missile and torpedo tubes. But four more installations of caliber 650 mm TA look much more impressive. In total, the submarine can carry up to 40 missiles and / or torpedoes. "Pike" can fire missiles "Granat", as well as "Shkvalami", equally effective in the submerged and surfaced positions. Of course, it is possible to shoot with conventional torpedoes and release automatic mines from torpedo tubes, which are independently put into a combat position.

In addition, with the help of this submarine, you can set conventional minefields. So the range of weapons is very wide. When cruise missiles are launched, their guidance and tracking occurs in a fully automatic mode, without distracting the crew's attention from performing other combat missions. Alas, but in 1989, after the conclusion of agreements with the Americans that were extremely unfavorable for our country, Project 971 submarines went on alert without the "Grenades" and "Whirlwinds", since these weapons can carry a nuclear charge.

Significance of "Shchuk" for the domestic shipbuilding

As we said, these submarines became the first independent project of the shipyards of the Far East, which for the first time received a state order of such complexity and importance. The K-284 boat, which became the flagship of the series, was laid down in 1980 and entered service with the fleet four years later. During construction, minor corrections were promptly made to the design, which were routinely used in the creation of all subsequent submarines.

Already during the first tests, sailors and members of the Ministry of Defense were delighted with how quiet the submarine turned out to be. These indicators were so good that they made it possible to speak with full confidence about the entry of Soviet shipbuilding to a fundamentally new level. Western military advisers, who recognized the Pike as a weapon of a new class and assigned them the Akula code, fully agreed with this.

Due to their characteristics, Project 971 submarines can penetrate deeply echeloned anti-submarine defenses equipped with standard acoustic detection equipment. Given the powerful armament, the submarine may well stand up for itself even if discovered.

Even in the zone of enemy domination, quiet and invisible nuclear submarines of Project 971 can inflict sensitive losses on the enemy, up to the shelling of coastal targets by means of nuclear destruction. "Pike" are quite capable of surface and submarine ships, as well as the destruction of strategically important command centers, even if located at a considerable distance from the coastal zone.

The significance of the Schuka-B project for our country

The appearance of the Project 971 nuclear submarine confused the Americans with all the cards. Before that, they quite rightly considered their offensive surface forces to be the strongest in the world, and the Soviet fleet, which had significantly fewer surface ships, was rated quite low by their experts. Pikes have reached a completely new level of play. They can work calmly even deep behind enemy lines, going beyond the anti-submarine defense lines. In the event of a full-scale war, not a single command center is immune from a nuclear strike from under the water, and there is no need to talk about a full-scale cut of sea routes.

Any offensive operation of a potential enemy in such conditions turns into an analogue of a dance, and you can forget about the surprise of an attack. The US leadership "Pike" (especially the modernized ones) is very worried. Already in 2000, they repeatedly made attempts to legally break through an agreement on a strong restriction of their use, but the interests of the Russian Federation in such "mutually beneficial" agreements do not have.

Modifications and further development of the project

Subsequently, "Pike" (project 971) has been repeatedly improved, especially in terms of sonar stealth. They are especially different from other ships "Vepr" and "Dragon", built according to the individual project 971U. They are immediately noticeable by the changed contours of the hull. The latter was lengthened by four meters at once, which made it possible to regularly place additional equipment for direction finding and apply new design solutions aimed at reducing the noise level. The displacement in the surface and submerged positions increased by more than one and a half tons.

The power plant, which is powered by the OK-650B3 reactor, has also changed significantly. The changes were so obvious that the new nuclear-powered multipurpose submarine was immediately dubbed Improved Akula in foreign media. According to the same project, four more submarines were supposed to be built, but in the end, only two of them were laid down and created at the shipyards. The first of them, the K-335 "Gepard", was generally built according to the special project 971M, which provided for the use of the latest achievements of the radio-electronic industry in the design.

This boat generally became known to Western sailors as Akula II, since its differences from the basic design were striking. The second completed submarine, aka K-152 "Nerpa", was also created according to a special project 971I, originally intended to be leased to the Indian Navy. Basically, "Nerpa" differs from its "brothers" in the most simplified radio-electronic stuffing, in which there are no secret components.

The continuity of generations

Initially, all boats of this series had only an index, not designated by proper names. But in 1990, the K-317 received the name "Panther". It was given in honor of the submarine of the Russian Empire, which was the first to open a combat account. Subsequently, the project 971 nuclear submarine Tiger became the "birthday girl". Soon, all submarines of this family also received their own names, echoing the designations of the ships that were part of the Imperial and Soviet Navy. The only exception that has project 971, "Kuzbass". Previously, this ship was called "Walrus". At first it was named after one of the first submarines of the Empire, but later they honored the memory of Soviet sailors.

But the most significant were the nuclear submarines produced at Sevmash. Their entire series was codenamed "Bars". For this, all the submarines of the project received the nickname "cats" in the west.

"Semi-combat" work

During the NATO aggression against Serbia in 1996, the K-461 "Wolf" was on alert in the Mediterranean Sea. American hydroacoustics managed to detect its location during the passage of the Strait of Gibraltar, but our submariners managed to get away from them. It was possible to re-find the "Wolf" only directly off the coast of Yugoslavia. In this military campaign, the nuclear submarine covered the domestic aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" from potential aggressive actions of "Western partners". At the same time, the "Wolf" conducted covert tracking of six NATO nuclear submarines, including one submarine of the "rival" type "Los Angeles".

In the same year, another "Pike-B", which was under the command of A. V. Burilichev, was on alert in the waters of the Atlantic. There, the crew discovered the US Navy SSBN, and then covertly accompanied the ship throughout its combat duty. If it was a war, the American missile carrier would go to the bottom. The command understood all this perfectly, and therefore Burilichev immediately after the "business trip" received the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. This is another evidence of the high combat qualities and stealth of any Project 971 boat.

About cases of appendicitis at sea ...

At the end of February of the same 1996, an anecdotal incident occurred at all. At that time, large-scale exercises of the NATO fleet were being carried out. The order of anti-submarine ships just managed to get in touch with the command and report on the absence of potential enemy submarines along the course of the convoy ... A few minutes later the commander of the Russian submarine contacted the British ships. And soon the "hero of the occasion" herself emerged in front of the crazed British sailors.

The crew reported that one of the sailors was in serious condition due to bursting appendicitis. Under the conditions of the submarine, the success of the operation was not guaranteed, and therefore the captain made an unprecedented decision to communicate with foreign colleagues. The patient was quickly loaded onto an English helicopter and sent to the hospital. It is difficult to imagine how the British sailors, who had just reported about the absence of enemy submarines, felt at this moment. What is even more interesting, they were unable to locate the old series Project 971 boat at that time! Since then, Project 971 "Shark" has been deeply respected by

Current state of affairs

Currently, all submarines of this series are in service, serve in the Pacific Ocean and the above-mentioned "Nerpa" is in service in and, under the terms of the contract, will stay there until 2018. It is possible that after that the Indians will prefer to extend the contract, since they highly appreciate the combat qualities of the Russian submarine.

By the way, the Indian Navy called the Nerpa Chakra. It is interesting that earlier the boat 670 "Skat" had exactly the same name, which also served India on lease terms in the period from 1988 to 1992. All the sailors who served there became real professionals in their field, and some officers from the first "Chakra" have already managed to rise to the rank of admirals. Whatever it was, but the Russian "Pike" today is actively used in the difficult task of carrying out combat duty and serve as one of the guarantors of the state sovereignty of our country.

Today, when the fleet begins to gradually recover after the 90s, there is already talk that the fifth generation nuclear submarines should be based precisely on the developments of Project 971, since the ships of this series have managed to repeatedly prove their prospects. Themselves "Pike" correspond in their parameters to fourth-generation submarines. An indirect confirmation of this is the fact that they repeatedly deceived the SOSUS hydroacoustic detection system, which at one time created many problems for Soviet sailors.

On September 9, 1952, signed by I.V. Stalin Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR on the creation of a nuclear submarine (PLA). The general management of research and development work on the facility was assigned to the PGU at the Council of Ministers of the USSR (B.L. Vannikov, A.P. Zavenyagin, I.V. (V.A.Malyshev, B.G. Chilikin). The scientific leader of the work on the creation of an integrated nuclear power plant (NPP) was appointed A.P. Aleksandrov, chief designer of the nuclear power plant - N.A. Dollezhal, the chief designer of the boat was V.N. Peregudov.

To supervise the work and consider scientific and design issues related to the construction of the submarine, Section No. 8 was organized under the Scientific and Technical Council of the PSU, headed by V.A. Malyshev. Along with the Kurchatov Institute, the main work on the nuclear power plant was entrusted to Laboratory "B", and its director D.I. Blokhintsev was appointed deputy scientific supervisor. By a resolution of the Council of Ministers, Laboratory "B" was entrusted with the execution of computational and theoretical work, the development of fuel elements, the construction and testing of an experimental submarine reactor.

The first and most important task was the choice of the type of reactor as the main source of energy, as well as the general appearance of the power plant. At first, these were reactors based on graphite and beryllium moderators with heat-generating pipes carrying pressure, similar in type to the First NPP under construction at that time. Somewhat later, installations arose in which heavy water was the moderator. And only then (and at that rate it was one month!) A pressurized pressurized water reactor appeared.

Thus, from the very beginning, Laboratory B considered two options for nuclear power plants for submarines: with a water coolant and a lead-bismuth liquid metal coolant. On the initiative of A.I. Leipunsky, work on the creation of transport nuclear installations was started in Laboratory "B" back in 1949.

By this time, it was known that work was underway in the United States on two types of installations: thermal reactors with pressurized water and intermediate neutron reactors with sodium coolant. Therefore, work on the creation of power plants for nuclear submarines was deployed in two directions: pressurized water reactors and reactors with a liquid metal coolant.

The choice of a lead-bismuth eutectic alloy as a coolant for nuclear reactors was made by A.I. Leipunsky even before the beginning of the deployment of work in the USSR on nuclear submarines. As the chief designer of the nuclear power plant N.A. Dollezhal: “This option was especially supported by D.I. Blokhintsev, then director of Laboratory B in Obninsk, where Academician Alexander Ilyich Leipunsky worked on the use of fast neutron technology. His idea was that it was possible to create a nuclear power plant for a submarine, in the reactor of which a liquid metal (for example, an alloy of lead and bismuth) would be used as a coolant, and it could be heated to a sufficiently high temperature without creating pressure. A.I. Leipunsky was an outstanding scientist, and there was no reason to doubt the seriousness of his proposals. "

A.I. Leipunsky, and after his death in 1972 - B.F. Gromov. Projects of serial reactor plants for submarines were developed by OKB Gidropress (Podolsk) and OKBM (Nizhny Novgorod), and the designs of the ships themselves were developed by the St. Petersburg Marine Engineering Bureau (SPMBM) Malakhit.

Unlike the Americans, A.I. Leipunsky proposed and substantiated a lead-bismuth eutectic alloy as a coolant, despite its inferior thermophysical properties in comparison with sodium. Subsequent experience in the development of these competing areas confirmed the correctness of the choice he made. (After several accidents at the prototype ground stand and an experimental submarine, work in the United States in this direction was terminated.)

One of the first problems arose at the very beginning of work in substantiating the neutronic characteristics of a reactor with an intermediate neutron spectrum, which was formed in the core, due to the large neutron leakage caused by the small size of the reactor and the use of a beryllium moderator. A.I. Leipunsky put before V.A. Kuznetsov, the task of creating a critical assembly on which it would be possible to test the methods and constants for calculating the intermediate reactor. Such a critical assembly was created in 1954. But on March 11, 1954, during the critical mass gain, the reactor accelerated on prompt neutrons. A.I. Leipunsky and all the physicists involved in the experiment were urgently hospitalized in Moscow.

The problem could be solved only with the presence of large-scale experimental stands, on which the equipment would be tested in conditions close to full-scale ones. Therefore, in 1953, on the basis of Laboratory B, the construction of full-scale prototype stands of nuclear power plants with water cooling (stand 27 / VM) and liquid metal cooling (stand 27 / VT) began, which were put into operation in 1956 and 1959, respectively. These stands were the reactor and turbine compartments of nuclear submarines. For a long time, they became the main experimental base of the IPPE and the Kurchatov Institute for testing new types of reactors, as well as the base of the Obninsk Naval Training Center for training submarine crews.

Cruising nuclear submarine K-27 (project 645)

The first Soviet cruising nuclear submarine K-27 (project 645) with a liquid metal-cooled nuclear power plant successfully passed state tests in 1963. In 1964, she made a long voyage to the equatorial Atlantic, during which (for the first time in the Soviet Navy) she covered 12,278 miles in 1240 sailing hours (51 days) without surfacing. The boat commander I.I. Gulyaev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The sailors praised the nuclear power plant. One of the creators of the nuclear power plant, chief engineer of stand 27 / VT K.I. Karikh. In 1965, the K-27 made a second cruise, becoming the first Soviet nuclear submarine to secretly penetrate the Mediterranean Sea.

At this time, the creation of a series of boats of the second generation with nuclear power plants, using a lead-bismuth liquid metal coolant, was launched. In the early 1960s, in connection with the creation and launching of combat patrols in the ocean of US submarine missile carriers, which were called "city killers" in the Western world (by the type of target selection - their missiles were aimed at our cities), the USSR made a decision on the creation of special anti-submarine submarines. One of the points of the program was the task of building a small high-speed automated submarine destroyer, i.e. fighter "city killers".

The design of the nuclear submarine of Project 705 (Soviet code "Lira") began after the release of the Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR in the summer of 1960. The main task is to create a highly maneuverable, high-speed, small displacement submarine with nuclear power plants, with a titanium hull, with a sharp reduction in the number crew, with the introduction of new types of weapons and technical equipment.

The most important element of the steam generating installation of the new boat was a lead-bismuth nuclear reactor developed under the scientific supervision of the IPPE. Heavy biological shielding and low steam parameters of a nuclear power plant with a pressurized water reactor (at that time) led to a large specific gravity of the reactor facility. The new reactor with a liquid metal coolant made it possible to reduce the displacement, the diameter of the strong hull and the length of the submarine, and increase the underwater speed. Due to this, the fundamental differences of the new steam generating plant were compactness, block layout, high degree of automation and maneuverability, good economic and weight and dimensions.

Nuclear submarine project 705

A special place in the development of reactors with a lead-bismuth coolant was occupied by the problem of the technology of this coolant. This phrase refers to the methods of monitoring and maintaining the required quality of the coolant and the cleanliness of the primary circuit during the operation of the reactor plant. The importance of this problem was realized after the reactor accident on the K-27 boat in May 1968. Appropriate methods and devices for maintaining the quality of the coolant were developed when the construction of the planned series of submarines of projects 705 and 705K was completed.

The first cruising submarine of the new type K-64 was put into trial operation in December 1971. And although only six ships of this type were in combat in the fleet, the appearance of a new Soviet anti-submarine submarine in the ocean made a lot of noise and became an unpleasant surprise for the US Navy. American submarine strategic missile carriers were placed in a difficult tactical position. The small size of the Project 705 submarines, a significant range of diving depths, and a high full speed allowed it to maneuver at maximum speed, which is impossible for all other types of submarines, and even evade anti-submarine torpedoes. The ships of this project for their speed and maneuverability were included in the "Guinness Book of Records".

“Now, looking back,” writes the chief designer of SPMBM “Malakhit” (where the project of the boat was developed) R.A. Shmakov, - it should be admitted that this boat was a project of the XXI century. She was ahead of her time by several decades. Therefore, it is not surprising that for many specialists, testers, and personnel of the Navy, it turned out to be too difficult to master and operate. "

“The idea of ​​creating such a boat, which became the submarine of project 705, - said the deputy chief designer of the project B.V. Grigoriev, - could be realized only in the 1960s, when Soviet society was on the rise, new areas of research and development were opening up, and the country's defense was the most important state priority. " “Project 705 nuclear submarine,” according to the definition of the Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee and the USSR Minister of Defense D.F. Ustinov, - has become a national task, has become an attempt to make a breakthrough to achieve military-technical superiority over the Western bloc. "

The commanders and officers of submarines with reactor installations developed at IPPE gave a very high assessment to the submarine itself and its nuclear power plant, calling it a "miracle boat", well ahead of its time.

Today it can be considered generally accepted that at the IPPE under the leadership of A.I. Leipunsky laid the foundations for a new direction of nuclear power, and also demonstrated on an industrial scale a unique reactor technology. This made it possible to ensure the compactness of the reactor plant, which is important when creating submarines of limited displacement, to ensure high maneuverability, and to increase the reliability and safety of the reactor plant.

A great contribution to the development of this direction was made by A.A. Bakulevsky, B.F. Gromov, K.I. Karikh, V.A. Kuznetsov, I.M. Kurbatov, V.A. Malykh, G.I. Marchuk, D.M. Ovechkin, Yu.I. Orlov, D.V. Pankratov, Yu.A. Prokhorov, V.N. Stepanov, V.I. Subbotin, G.I. Toshinsky, A.P. Trifonov, V.V. Chekunov and many others.

Which were designed in the early 80s at the Rubin Design Bureau. Submarines of project 949A, in fact, are an improved version of the ships of project 949 "Granit", work on which began in the late 60s. The main task of these submarine cruisers is to destroy enemy aircraft carrier strike groups.

The first submarine of Project 949A was adopted by the USSR Navy in 1986. In total, eleven submarines of this series were built, eight of which are currently serving in the Russian Navy. Another submarine is in conservation. Each of the "Anteevs" bears the name of one of the Russian cities: Irkutsk, Voronezh, Smolensk, Chelyabinsk, Tver, Orel, Omsk and Tomsk.

One of the most tragic pages in the modern history of the Russian fleet is associated with the submarines of Project 949A. In August 2000, the Kurs nuclear submarine was destroyed in the Barents Sea along with the crew. The official reasons for this disaster still raise many questions.

One of the main tasks facing the Soviet navy after the end of World War II was the fight against American aircraft carrier groups. Project 949A "Antey" became the pinnacle of development of highly specialized submarine cruisers - "killers" of aircraft carriers.

The cost of one submarine "Antey" was 226 million Soviet rubles (mid-1980s), which is ten times less than the cost of an American aircraft carrier of the "Nimitz" class.

History of creation

At the end of the 60s, the development of two projects, inextricably linked with each other, began in the USSR. In OKB-52, work began on the creation of a new long-range anti-ship missile system, which could be used against powerful enemy ship groups. First of all, it was about the destruction of American aircraft carriers.

Around the same time, the Rubin Central Design Bureau began to create a third-generation submarine missile carrier, which would become the carrier for the new missile system and replace the outdated Project 675 nuclear submarines.

The military needed a powerful and effective weapon capable of hitting enemy ships at considerable distances and a submarine with greater speed, stealth and immersion depth.

In 1969, the Navy prepared an official assignment for the development of a new submarine, the project received the designation "Granite" and number 949. The military requirements for a new anti-ship missile were also formulated. They had to have a flight range of at least 500 km, high speed (at least 2500 km / h), start from both underwater and surfaced positions. This missile was planned to be used not only for arming submarines, but also for surface ships. In addition, the military was very interested in the possibility of salvo firing - it was believed that a "flock" of twenty missiles had more chances to penetrate the echeloned air defense of an aircraft carrier order.

However, the effectiveness of long-range anti-ship missiles was determined not only by their speed and the mass of the warhead. A reliable system of target designation and reconnaissance means was needed: the enemy first had to be found in the vast ocean.

The "Success" system that existed at that time, which used Tu-95 aircraft, was far from perfect, so the Soviet military-industrial complex was tasked with creating the world's first space system for searching for surface objects and monitoring them. Such a system had a number of advantages: it did not depend on the weather, it could collect information about the situation on huge areas of the water surface, and was practically inaccessible to the enemy. The military demanded that target designations be issued directly to weapons carriers or command posts.

The lead organization responsible for the development of the system was OKB-52 under the leadership of V.N. Chelomey. In 1978, this system was put into service. She received the designation "Legend".

In the same year, the first Project 949 submarine, K-525 Arkhangelsk, was launched, in 1980 it was commissioned into the fleet, in 1983 the second ship of this project, the nuclear submarine K-206 Murmansk, was commissioned. The construction of submarines was carried out at the "Northern Machine-Building Enterprise".

At the end of 1975, tests began on the main weapon of these submarine cruisers - the P-700 Granit missile system. They were successfully completed in August 1983.

Further construction of submarines was carried out according to the improved project 949A "Antey". The upgraded nuclear submarine has one more compartment, which has improved its internal layout, the length of the ship has increased, and its displacement has increased. More advanced equipment was installed on the submarine, the developers managed to increase the stealth of the ship.

Initially, it was planned to build twenty nuclear submarines under the Antey project, but the collapse of the Soviet Union adjusted these plans. In total, eleven ships were built, two boats, K-148 Krasnodar and K-173 Krasnoyarsk, have been disposed of or are in the process of being disposed of. Another submarine of this project, K-141 "Kursk", was lost in August 2000. Currently, the Russian fleet includes: K-119 Voronezh, K-132 Irkutsk, K-410 Smolensk, K-456 Tver, K-442 Chelyabinsk, K-266 Orel , K-186 "Omsk" and K-150 "Tomsk".

Completion of another nuclear submarine of this project, K-139 Belgorod, will continue according to a more advanced design - 09852. Another submarine of the Antey type, K-135 Volgograd, was mothballed in 1998.

Description of construction

Submarines of the project "Antey" are made according to a two-hull scheme: the internal strong hull is surrounded by a light external hydrodynamic hull. The aft part of the vessel with tail and propeller shafts as a whole resembles the nuclear submarine of Project 661.

The double-hull architecture has a number of advantages: it provides the ship with an excellent buoyancy reserve and increases its protection against underwater explosions, but at the same time significantly increases the ship's displacement. The underwater displacement of the nuclear submarine of this project is about 24 thousand tons, of which about 10 thousand are water.

The sturdy hull of the submarine cruiser has a cylindrical shape, the thickness of its walls is from 48 to 65 mm.

The body is divided into ten compartments:

• torpedo;
• management;
• combat posts and radio room;
• Living spaces;
• electrical equipment and auxiliary machinery;
• auxiliary mechanisms;
• reactor;
• GTZA;
• rowing electric motors.

The ship has two crew rescue areas: in the bow, where the pop-up camera is located, and in the stern.

The number of the submarine's crew is 130 people (according to other information - 112), the autonomy of the ship's navigation is 120 days.

The submarine "Antey" has two water-cooled reactors OK-650B and two steam turbines that rotate propellers through gearboxes. The ship is also equipped with two turbine generators, two diesel generators DG-190 (800 kW each) and two thrusters.

Submarines of the Antey project are equipped with the MGK-540 Skat-3 hydroacoustic complex, as well as with space reconnaissance and target designation and combat control systems. The cruiser can receive information from the satellite system or from aircraft in a submerged position, using special antennas for this. Also, the boat has a towed antenna, which is released from a pipe located on the stern stabilizer.

The 949A submarines are equipped with the Symphony-U navigation complex, which is distinguished by increased accuracy, large range and can process a significant amount of information.

The main type of nuclear submarine weapons are the P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles (ASM). Missile containers are located on both sides of the wheelhouse, outside the sturdy hull of the boat. Each of them has a 40 ° tilt. The missile can carry a conventional (750 kg) or nuclear warhead (500 Kt). The firing range is 550 km, the missile speed is 2.5 m / s.

The submarine can conduct both single fire and launch anti-ship missiles in a salvo, firing up to 24 missiles at a time. RCC "Granit" have a complex trajectory, as well as good noise immunity, which makes them a serious threat to any enemy. If we talk about the defeat of an aircraft carrier order, then the likelihood of this is especially high with salvo firing. It is believed that in order to sink an aircraft carrier, nine "Granites" must hit it, but even one accurate shot is enough to prevent aircraft from taking off from its deck.

In addition to missiles, Project 949A Antey submarines have torpedo armament at their disposal. The submarines have four 533 mm torpedo tubes and two 650 mm torpedo tubes. In addition to conventional torpedoes, they can be fired with rocket-torpedoes. The torpedo tubes are located in the bow of the ship. They are equipped with an automatic loading system, so they have a high rate of fire - the entire ammunition load can be fired in just a few minutes.

Nuclear submarine of project "Antey"

Below is a list of all nuclear submarines of this project:

• Krasnodar. Disposed of at the Nerpa plant.
• Krasnoyarsk. It is in the process of scrapping, its name has already been assigned to another submarine of Project 885.
• Irkutsk. It is currently undergoing repair and modernization under the 949AM project. It is part of the Pacific Fleet.
• Voronezh. It is in the combat composition of the Northern Fleet.
• "Smolensk". Included in the combat strength of the Northern Fleet.
• Chelyabinsk. It is in the Pacific Fleet. It is currently undergoing repair and modernization under the 949AM project.
• "Tver". It is in the combat composition of the Pacific Fleet.
• "Eagle". It is undergoing renovation, which should be completed this year.
• "Omsk". Included in the combat strength of the Pacific Fleet.
• Kursk. She died in the Barents Sea on August 12, 2000.
• "Tomsk". It is part of the Pacific Fleet, currently under repair.

Project evaluation

To assess the effectiveness of the Antey submarines, one should first of all pay attention to the main weapon of these submarines - the P-700 Granit anti-ship missile system.

Developed back in the 80s of the last century, today this complex is clearly outdated. Neither the range of this missile, nor its anti-jamming capability meet modern requirements. And the elementary base on which this complex was created has long been outdated.