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 guaranteed 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 entrusted 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 seek to save weight and dimensions, and the team was placed in 2-, 4- and 6-bed cabins sheathed in plastic under a tree, 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 inherent 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 ship TPKSN
Project designation 941 "Shark"
Developer of the project TsKBMT "Rubin"
Chief Designer S. N. Kovalev
NATO classification SSBN "Typhoon"
Speed (surface) 12 knots
Speed (underwater) 25 knots
(46.3 km/h)
Operating depth 400 m
Maximum immersion depth 500 m
Endurance of navigation 180 days (6 months)
Crew 160 people
(including 52 officers)
Dimensions
Surface displacement 23,200 t
Underwater displacement 48,000 tons
Maximum length (on 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, product 144
Armament
Torpedo-
mine weapons 6 TA caliber 533 mm;
22 torpedoes 53-65K, SET-65, SAET-60M, USET-80 or Vodopad missile torpedoes
Missile armament 20 R-39 SLBMs (RSM-52)
Air defense 8 MANPADS "Igla"
In the modern world, the submarine fleet is of great importance in ensuring the security of states. Especially if these are submarines carrying strategic nuclear weapons. It is they who hold back the major powers from an open military confrontation, which could be the last in the history of mankind. And the larger and more powerful the submarine, the more weapons it can carry and make longer autonomous voyages off the coast of a potential enemy.
Project 941 "Shark"
To date, the largest submarine in the world is the creation of Soviet shipbuilders, the Project 941 Akula nuclear-powered strategic missile cruiser. Its dimensions are colossal, the underwater displacement is 48 thousand tons. The length of the giant is 172 m, and the width is 23.3 m, the height of the warship is comparable to a 9-storey building. The submarine is driven by two water-cooled nuclear reactors with two steam turbines, located separately in robust hulls. The total capacity of the power plant is 100 thousand hp.
A powerful machine under water can reach speeds of up to 25 knots, on the surface - 12 knots. It can submerge almost half a kilometer, and the usual working depth is 380 m. The submarine is operated by a crew of 160 people and can be in autonomous navigation for four months. Moreover, to save the entire crew, a large underwater vehicle is equipped with a pop-up rescue capsule. Armament "Shark" consists of:
- a missile system of 20 ballistic missiles, each of which can carry 10 warheads of 100 kilotons with individual guidance (it was structurally possible to carry 24 missiles). The launch weight of the R-39 missiles is 90 tons, and the combat range is 8.3 thousand km. The entire missile ammunition load can be fired in one salvo both from the surface and from the underwater position in any weather conditions.
- 6 torpedo tubes for launching rocket-torpedoes and torpedoes of caliber 533 mm and installing minefields;
- 8 sets of MANPADS "Igla-1" for air defense;
- electronic weapons.
The big Sharks were born at the Sevmash plant; for this, the largest covered boathouse on the planet was built. Thanks to a strong cabin and a serious reserve of buoyancy, the submarine can break through thick ice (up to 2.5 m), which allows it to carry out combat duty even at the North Pole.
Quite a lot of boat space is allocated to ensure the comfort of the crew:
- spacious two- and four-bed cabins for officers;
- small quarters for foremen and sailors;
- air conditioning system;
- TVs and wash basins in cabins;
- gym, sauna, solarium, swimming pool;
- living corner and lounge for relaxation, etc.
Ohio-class submarines
At one time, after the boats of the Shark project, these were the second largest submarines in the world. Their underwater displacement is 18.75 thousand tons, surface - 16.75 tons. The length of the colossus is 170 m, and the width of its hull is almost 13 m. A total of 18 machines of this type were produced, each of which received weapons in the form of 24 intercontinental ballistic missiles with multiple warheads. The crew of the ship - 155 people. Submerged speed - up to 25 knots, surface - up to 17 knots.
These warships have a solid hull divided into four compartments and a separate enclosure:
- bow, which includes premises for combat, support and household purposes;
- missile;
- reactor;
- turbine;
- enclosure with electrical panels, trim and drainage pumps, an air regeneration unit.
Project 955 Borey
The length of this missile submarine is almost the same as the two previous ships - 170 m. But this fourth-generation nuclear submarine has an underwater displacement of 24 thousand tons, and a surface displacement of 14.7 thousand tons. Therefore, according to this parameter, it can safely be in second place after the boats of the Project 941 Shark project. By 2020, it is planned to build 20 submarines of this series. Currently, there are already three project 955 giants in service: Yuri Dolgoruky, Alexander Nevsky, and Vladimir Monomakh.
The crew of the submarine is 107 people, and more than half of them are officers. Its speed in a submerged position reaches 29 knots, in the surface 15 knots. The submarine can stay in autonomous navigation for three months. Borey-class submarines were developed as a replacement for nuclear submarines of the Akula and Dolphin projects. Underwater cruisers of this project are considered the first domestic nuclear submarines, driven by a single-shaft water jet system. The main armament is 16 solid-propellant ballistic missiles of the Bulava type with a combat range of 8,000 km.
Project 667BDRM "Dolphin"
This is another Russian strategic missile submarine that boasts a large size. In the modern navy of the Russian Federation, this is so far the most massive strategic submarine cruiser. The length of the vessel is 167 m. Underwater displacement is 18.2 thousand tons, surface displacement is 11.74 thousand tons. The crew of the ship is about 140 people. The armament of strategic nuclear submarines consists of:
- intercontinental ballistic missiles on liquid fuel R-29RM and R-29RMU "Sineva" with a combat range of more than 8.3 thousand km. All missiles can be fired in one salvo. When moving under water at a depth of up to 55 meters, launching missiles is possible even at a speed of 6-7 knots;
- 4 bow torpedo tubes;
- up to 8 MANPADS "Igla".
The Dolphins are powered by two reactor plants with a total capacity of 180 MW.
Vanguard-class submarines
Of course, Great Britain could not help participating in the competition for the largest submarine nuclear missile cruisers. Boats of the Vanguard series have an underwater displacement of 15.9 thousand tons, surface - 15.1 thousand tons. The length of the ship is almost 150 meters. To start building the Wangard boats, the Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. shipyard was expanded and modernized. As a result of the reconstruction, she received a boathouse with a width of 58 m and a length of 260 m, the height of the boathouse allows the construction of not only nuclear submarines, but even destroyers. A vertical ship lift with a carrying capacity of 24.3 thousand tons was also built. The main armament of the submarine cruiser is 16 Trident II ballistic missiles.
Triumfan type boats
In last place among the largest submarines are ships made by French shipbuilders. Triumfan-type boats have an underwater displacement of 14.3 thousand tons, surface - 12.6 thousand tons. The length of the missile cruiser is 138 meters. The power plant of the underwater vehicle is a pressurized water reactor with a capacity of 150 MW, which provides a speed of up to 25 knots underwater, and up to 12 knots on the surface. Triumph-type boats are armed with 16 ballistic missiles, 10 torpedoes and 8 cruise missiles, which are launched using torpedo tubes.
As you can see, the list of the largest submarines included combat vehicles designed by the leading world powers, which simultaneously possess both strategic nuclear weapons and powerful naval forces.
Submarines are in service with many countries of the world. There are among them small vessels, the crew of which consists of 1-2 sailors and largest submarines in the world. We will talk about the latter in the article.
The largest submarines are submarine cruisers, the underwater displacement of which can reach 48,000 tons and a length of 172 meters.
Length 128 meters
In 10th place among the largest submarines in the world are the Soviet submarines of project 667A "", equipped with ballistic missiles. The submarine is 128 meters long and 11.7 meters wide. Equipment - 16 launchers with R-27 missiles. Range - 2400 kilometers. The total combat set of the submarine is 22 torpedoes, two of which are nuclear.
The development of submarines of the Navaga series began in 1958.
Length 138 meters
French submarines of the "" type are among the largest submarines in the world. The construction of the first submarine began in 1986. The collapse of the USSR made adjustments to the number of submarines built - instead of 6, 4 submarines were created.
Submarine dimensions: underwater displacement - 14,335 tons, hull length - 138 meters, width - 12.5 meters. Armament - 16 M45 class ballistic missiles. Ninth place in our ranking.
Length 140 meters
The Chinese submarines of project 094 "" are also striking in their size. They take the 8th place in the ranking of the largest submarines in the world. They replaced the 092 "Xia" class boats. The construction of new submarines began in 1999. Since China prefers to keep all its military developments secret, little is known about the new generation of submarines. The length of the submarine is 140 meters, the width is about 13 meters, the underwater displacement is 11,500 tons. Armament - 12 ballistic missiles with a range of up to 12 thousand kilometers.
In 2004, the first submarine of the Jin series was launched. According to the Chinese side, there are currently 6 submarines of this type in service with China. They were supposed to start combat patrols in 2014.
Length 150 meters
Among the largest submarines in the world are British submarines of the "". In the 1990s they replaced the Resolution class boats. The appearance of new submarines in the USA and the USSR forced England to start creating a new type of submarine, with the same high combat characteristics. Initially, it was decided to build at least 7 submarines, but with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the need for such a number of missile carriers disappeared. In total, 4 Vanguard-class submarines entered service. Construction of the first of them began in 1986.
Submarine dimensions: underwater displacement - 15,900 tons, hull length - 150 meters, width - 12.8 meters. Armed with 16 Trident-2 D5 ballistic missiles.
Length 155 meters
Submarine dimensions: underwater displacement 13,050 tons, hull length 155 meters, width - 11.7 meters. Armament - 16 R-29R intercontinental liquid-propellant missiles with a range of more than 6,000 km.
To date, most of the Kalmar submarines have been disposed of, the rest are part of the Russian Pacific Fleet.
Length 155 meters
Submarines of the project "" are among the largest submarines. This is the modernization of the boats of the Murena project. The main difference is the placement of 16 missiles, not 12. For this, the hull of the boat was increased by 16 meters.
Submarine dimensions: underwater displacement 15,750 tons, hull length 155 meters, width - 11.7 meters. Armament - 16 R-29D missiles with a range of more than 9,000 km. Fifth place in the ranking.
Length 167 meters
The submarine of the project "", which occupies the 4th place in our rating, continued the development of the Kalmar project. The construction of the first submarine began in 1981. 7 submarines were built. Now they are all part of the Russian submarine fleet. In terms of size, a submarine of that type is one of the largest submarines in the world. Its underwater displacement is 18,200 tons, length is 167 meters, width is 11.7 meters. Armament - 16 R-29RM class ballistic missiles.
Length 170 meters
American submarines of the "" type are among the largest submarines in the world. They belong to the third generation submarines and are equipped with 24 Trident ballistic missiles. Their feature is multiple warheads and an individual targeting system. Today, Ohio-class submarines form the core of America's nuclear forces. They are on combat duty in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Submarine dimensions: underwater displacement - 18,750 tons, hull length - 170.7 meters, width - 12.8 meters. The maximum diving depth is 55 meters. The first submarine of this type entered service in 1981.
An interesting fact: in 2009, during combat duty, the crew of the USS Rhode Island submarine rescued four men and a boy who were wrecked and were at sea for four days without hope of rescue.
Length 170 meters
Russian submarines of project 955 "" take 2nd place in the ranking of the largest submarines in the world. 3 submarines have been built and put into operation, three are under construction and the last one was laid down in December 2015. In total, by 2018, it is planned to build 8 Borey submarines. The submarine was developed in order to replace the submarines of the Dolphin and Shark projects.
Submarine dimensions: underwater displacement 24,000 tons, hull length 170 meters, width - 13.5 meters. Armament - 16 Bulava missiles.
Length 173 meters
The first place in the ranking of the largest submarines in the world is occupied by the Russian submarine of project 941 "". This is the largest submarine built by man. Imagine a colossus as high as a nine-story building and two football fields long - this is the legendary "Shark". From the point of view of combat effectiveness, such dimensions are questionable, but one cannot help but admire the power of this gigantic submarine.
The construction of the submarine began in 1976. "Shark" was the answer to the project of the American Ohio-class submarine. The first submarine missile carrier entered service in 1980.
Submarine dimensions: underwater displacement 48 thousand tons, hull length 172.8 meters, width - 23.3 meters. The submarine cruiser is armed with 20 R-39 Variant three-stage ballistic missiles.
The submarine has improved conditions for the crew. There is a small swimming pool, solarium, sauna, gym and even a living corner.
The dimensions allow the submarine to break through ice more than two meters thick. And this means that it can carry out combat patrols in the Arctic latitudes.
In total, Russia is armed with 6 Shark-class submarines.
Project 941 Akula heavy missile strategic submarines (SSBN Typhoon according to NATO codification) are a series of Soviet and Russian submarines, the world's largest nuclear submarines (and submarines in general).
Submarines of project 941 "Shark" - video
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 to the side of the submarine; later, shark stripes appeared on the crew uniform. Despite the later launch of the project, the lead cruiser entered sea trials a month earlier than the American Ohio (July 4, 1981). TK-208 entered service on December 12, 1981. In total, from 1981 to 1989, 6 Shark-type boats were launched and put into operation. The planned seventh ship was never laid down; hull structures were prepared for it.
The construction of "9-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.
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.
The design of submarines of the project 941 "Shark"
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.
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 deckhouse under the fence of retractable devices.
Durable 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 nose and a wheelhouse fence, 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. Submarines of the "Shark" type, sailors call the "floating" Hilton "".
Environment regeneration
In 1984, for participation in the work on the creation of TRPKSN pr. 941 "Typhoon" FSUE "Special Design and Technology Bureau for Electrochemistry with a Pilot Plant" (until 1969 - the Moscow Electrolysis Plant) was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.
Armament of submarines of project 941 "Shark"
The main armament is the D-19 missile system with 20 R-39 Variant three-stage solid-fuel ballistic missiles. These missiles have the largest launch weight (together with the launch container - 90 tons) and length (17.1 m) of the SLBMs adopted for service. The combat range of the missiles is 8300 km, the warhead is divided: 10 warheads with individual guidance 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 the BS-153 diesel submarine, specially converted according to project 619, which was based in Sevastopol, but they were able to place only one mine for the R-39 on it and limited themselves to seven launches of throw 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 entrusted 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.
Representatives
The first boat of this type, TK-208, was laid down at the Sevmash enterprise in June 1976 and entered service in December 1981, almost simultaneously with a similar Ohio-class US Navy SSBN. Initially, it was planned to build 7 boats of this project, however, under the OSV-1 agreement, the series was limited to six ships (the seventh ship of the series, TK-210, was dismantled on the slipway).
All 6 TRPKSNs built were based on the Northern Fleet in Zapadnaya Litsa (Nerpichya Bay), 45 km from the border with Norway, these are: TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy"; TK-202; TK-12 "Simbirsk"; TK-13; TK-17 "Arkhangelsk"; TK-20 Severstal.
Disposal
In accordance with the OSV-2 strategic arms limitation treaty, as well as due to the lack of funds to maintain the boats in combat-ready condition (for one heavy cruiser - 300 million rubles a year, for 667BDRM - 180 million rubles) and in connection with the cessation of production of R missiles -39, which are the main armament of the Sharks, it was decided to dispose of three of the six built ships of the project, and not to complete the seventh ship, TK-210, at all. As one of the options for the peaceful use of these giant submarines, they were considered to be converted into underwater transports to supply Norilsk or into tankers, but these projects were not implemented.
The cost of dismantling one cruiser was about $10 million, of which $2 million was allocated from the Russian budget, the rest was funds provided by the United States and Canada.
Modern status
As of 2013, out of 6 ships built under the USSR, 3 ships of project 941 have been disposed of, 2 ships are in reserve, and one has been modernized according to project 941UM.
Due to the chronic lack of funding, in the 1990s it was planned to decommission all units, however, with the advent of financial opportunities and the revision of military doctrine, the remaining ships (TK-17 Arkhangelsk and TK-20 Severstal) underwent maintenance repairs in 1999-2002. TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" was overhauled and upgraded under project 941UM in 1990-2002 and since December 2003 has been used as part of the test program for the latest Russian SLBM "Bulava".
The 18th submarine division, which included all the Sharks, was reduced. As of February 2008, it included TK-17 Arkhangelsk (last combat duty from October 2004 to January 2005) and TK-20 Severstal ”(last combat duty - 2002), as well as converted to the Bulava K-208 Dmitry Donskoy. TK-17 "Arkhangelsk" and TK-20 "Severstal" for more than three years were waiting for a decision on the disposal or re-equipment with new SLBMs, until in August 2007 the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral of the Fleet V.V. it is planned to modernize the nuclear submarine "Akula" under the missile system "Bulava-M".
In March 2012, information appeared from the sources of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation that the strategic nuclear submarines of project 941 Akula would not be upgraded for financial reasons. According to the source, the deep modernization of one Shark is comparable in cost to the construction of two new Project 955 Borey submarines. Submarine cruisers TK-17 Arkhangelsk and TK-20 Severstal will not be upgraded in light of the recent decision, TK-208 Dmitry Donskoy will continue to be used as a test platform for weapons systems and sonar systems until 2019.
Tactical and technical characteristics of submarines of project 941 "Shark"
Speed (surface) .................... 12 knots
Speed (submerged) .............. 25 knots (46.3 km/h)
Operating immersion depth..............400 m
Maximum immersion depth .................... 500 m
Endurance of navigation ............... 180 days (6 months)
Crew ............... 160 people (including 52 officers)
Overall dimensions of the boats of the project 941 "Shark"
Displacement surface ....................... 23 200 t
Underwater displacement ...............48 000 t
Maximum length (according to design waterline) ............... 172.8 m
Width of the hull max .................... 23.3 m
Average draft (according to DWL) ............... 11.2 m
Power point
2 water-cooled nuclear reactors OK-650VV, 190 MW each.
2 turbines of 45000-50000 hp each
2 propeller shafts with 7-bladed propellers with a diameter of 5.55 m
4 steam turbine NPPs 3.2 MW each
Reserved:
2 diesel generators ASDG-800 (kW)
Lead-acid battery, product 144
Armament
Torpedo-mine armament .................... 6 TA caliber 533 mm;
22 torpedoes: 53-65K, SET-65, SAET-60M, USET-80. Rocket torpedoes "Waterfall" or "Shkval"
Missile armament...................20 R-39 (RSM-52) or R-30 Bulava (project 941UM) SLBMs
Air defense .............. 8 MANPADS "Igla"
TPKSN TK-12 "Simbirsk" project 941 "Shark". The third submarine of this series is being scrapped.
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.
