Project 941 "Akula" (SSBN "Typhoon" according to NATO classification) - Soviet heavy missile submarine cruisers for strategic purposes. Developed at 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 tactical and technical specifications for the design were issued in December 1972, and S. N. Kovalev was appointed chief designer of the project. The new type of submarine cruiser was positioned as a response to the US construction of Ohio-class SSBNs (the first boats of both projects were laid down 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 to the Trident-I missiles, which were equipped with the American Ohio, the R-39 missile had better flight range characteristics, throw weight and had 10 blocks versus 8 for the Trident. However, the R-39 turned out to be almost twice as long and three times as heavy as its American counterpart. The standard SSBN layout was not suitable for accommodating such large missiles. On December 19, 1973, the government decided to begin 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, launched on September 23, 1980. Before launching, an image of a shark was painted on the side of the submarine in the bow below the waterline; later, stripes with a shark 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 of the year). TK-208 entered service on December 12, 1981. In total, from 1981 to 1989, 6 Akula-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"Shark" class. When her hull was still in the stocks, on its bow, below the waterline, a drawn grinning shark could be seen, which was wrapped 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 saw it again, the people 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, this boat began to be called Typhoon in our country. The construction of “9-story” submarines provided orders for more than 1000 enterprises of the Soviet Union. At Sevmash alone, 1,219 people who participated in the creation of this unique ship received government awards.

For the first time, Leonid Brezhnev announced the creation of the “Shark” series at the XXVI Congress of the CPSU. Brezhnev specifically called the “Shark” “Typhoon” in order to mislead his Cold War opponents.

To ensure reloading of missiles and torpedoes, in 1986 the diesel-electric transport-missile carrier “Alexander Brykin” of Project 11570 was built with a total displacement of 16,000 tons; it could carry 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 silo. The explosion tore 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 undergo minor repairs.
In 1998, tests were carried out in the Northern Fleet, during which 20 R-39 missiles were launched “simultaneously”.

Design

The power plant is made in the form of two independent echelons located in different durable buildings. 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. During the design, the TTZ included a clause on the need to ensure a safe radius; for this purpose, methods for calculating the dynamic strength of complex hull components (fastening modules, pop-up cameras and containers, inter-hull connections) were developed and tested by experiments in experimental compartments.

To build the Sharks, a new workshop No. 55 was specially built at Sevmash - the largest indoor boathouse in the world. The ships have a large reserve of buoyancy - more than 40%. When submerged, exactly half of the displacement is accounted for by ballast water, for which the boats received unofficial name“water carrier.”, and in the competing design bureau “Malachite” - “a 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 the large reserve of buoyancy, coupled with a durable deckhouse, 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 right up to the North Pole.

Frame

A special feature of the boat’s design is the presence of five habitable 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. At the front of the ship, between the main pressure hulls, are missile silos, which were first placed forward of the wheelhouse. In addition, there are three separate pressurized compartments: a torpedo compartment, a control module compartment with a central control post, and an aft mechanical compartment. The removal and placement of three compartments into 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 Kursk (project 949A) could not have had such catastrophic consequences on project 941. On the Akula, the torpedo compartment is designed as 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 connected to each other by three transitions through intermediate strong capsule compartments: in the bow, in the center and in the stern. The total number of waterproof compartments of the boat is 19. Two pop-up rescue chambers, designed for the entire crew, are located at the base of the wheelhouse under the retractable device fence.

The durable hulls are made of titanium alloys, the lightweight ones are made of steel, covered with a non-resonant anti-location and soundproofing rubber coating with a total weight of 800 tons. According to American experts, the durable hulls of the boat are also equipped with soundproofing coatings.

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

In order for the boats to be able to carry out duty in high latitudes, the wheelhouse fencing is made very strong, capable of breaking through ice 2-2.5 m thick (in winter, the thickness of the ice in the Arctic Ocean varies from 1.2 to 2 m, and in some places reaches 2.5 m). The bottom surface of the ice 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 its nose and wheelhouse specially adapted for this, after which the main ballast tanks are sharply purged.

Power point

The main nuclear power plant is designed according to the block principle and includes two water-cooled thermal neutron reactors OK-650 with a thermal power of 190 MW each and a shaft power of 2 × 50,000 liters. pp., as well as two steam turbine units, located one each in both durable hulls, which significantly increases the survivability of the boat. The use of a two-stage rubber-cord pneumatic shock absorption system and a block arrangement 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-bladed fixed-pitch propellers are used as propulsors. To reduce noise levels, the propellers are installed in ring fairings (fenestrons).

The boat has backup propulsion means - two 190 kW DC electric motors. 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 of the ship.

Habitability

The crew is accommodated in conditions of increased comfort. The boat has a lounge for relaxation, a gym, a swimming pool measuring 4x2 m and a depth of 2 m, filled with fresh or salt sea water with the possibility of heating, a solarium, a sauna lined with oak boards, and a “living corner”. The rank and file are housed in small cubicles, command staff- in two- and four-berth cabins with washbasins, TVs and air conditioning. There are two wardrooms: one for officers, the other for midshipmen and sailors. Sailors call the Shark a “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 mass (together with the launch container - 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 multiplex: 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 K-153 diesel submarine, specially converted according to Project 619, but it could only accommodate one silo for the R-39 and was limited to seven launches of dummy models. The entire ammunition load of the Akula missiles can be launched in one salvo with a short interval between the launch of individual missiles. Launch is possible both from surface and submerged positions at depths of up to 55 m and without restrictions on weather conditions. Thanks to the ARSS shock-absorbing rocket-launch system, the rocket is launched from a dry shaft 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, the missiles are suspended at the neck of the silo. The design included the deployment of an ammunition load of 24 missiles, but, by the 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 - the R-39UTTKh "Bark". The new modification planned to increase the firing range to 10,000 km and implement a system for passing through ice. The rearmament of the missile carriers was planned to be carried out until 2003 - the expiration date of the warranty life of the produced R-39 missiles. In 1998, after the third unsuccessful launch, the Ministry of Defense decided to stop work on the 73% complete complex. The Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering, the developer of the “land” Topol-M ICBM, was assigned to develop another solid-fuel SLBM “Bulava”.

In addition to strategic weapons, the boat is equipped with 6 torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber, designed for firing torpedoes and missile-torpedoes, as well as for laying minefields.

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

Missile carriers of the Akula project are equipped with the following electronic weapons:

Combat information and control system "Omnibus";
analog hydroacoustic complex "Skat-KS" (digital "Skat-3" was installed on the TK-208 during mid-repair);
sonar mine detection station MG-519 “Harp”;
echometer MG-518 “Sever”;
radar complex MRKP-58 "Buran";
navigation complex "Symphony";
radio communication complex "Molniya-L1" with satellite communication system "Tsunami";
television complex MTK-100;
two pop-up buoy-type antennas that allow receiving radio messages, target designations and satellite navigation signals when located 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 unimaginably good living conditions for submarines. This, perhaps, could be expected from the Nautilus, but not from a real boat. For its unprecedented comfort, the Typhoon was nicknamed a “floating hotel.” When designing the Typhoon, apparently, they did not particularly strive to save weight and dimensions, and the crew was accommodated in 2-, 4- and 6-berth cabins lined with wood-like plastic, with desks, bookshelves, lockers for clothes, washbasins and televisions.

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

Comparative assessment

The US Navy has only one series of strategic boats in service - the Ohio, which belongs to the third generation (18 were built, 4 of which were subsequently converted to carry 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 the Ohio (including mines with extra space and with replaceable cups), they use one type of ballistic missiles - 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 surpasses both the Soviet Sharks and the Russian Borei.

It should be noted that the Ohio, unlike Russian submarines, is designed for combat duty in the open ocean in relatively warm latitudes, while Russian submarines are often on duty in the Arctic, while being in the relatively shallow waters of the shelf and, in addition, under a layer of ice, which has a significant impact on boat design. In particular, for Sharks, sea temperatures above +10 °C can cause significant mechanical problems. Among US Navy submariners, diving in shallow waters under the Arctic ice is considered very risky.

The predecessors of the "Sharks" - submarines of projects 667A, 670, 675 and their modifications, were nicknamed "roaring cows" by the American military due to their increased noise; their combat duty areas were located off the coast of the United States - in the coverage area 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 consists of ground-based Strategic Missile Forces.

After the acceptance of strategic submarines of the Akula type into service in the USSR Navy, the United States agreed to sign the proposed SALT-2 treaty, and the United States also allocated funds under the Cooperative 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 dismantling of missiles under the START-1 treaty by shooting from the Akula nuclear submarine, an incident occurred: while the US delegation was observing the shooting from aboard a Russian vessel, the Los Angeles-class multi-purpose nuclear submarine " made maneuvers near the nuclear submarine "Akula", approaching a distance of up to 4 km. The US Navy boat left the firing area after warning detonation of two depth charges.

Main characteristics
Ship type TRKSN
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)
Working diving depth 400 m
Maximum diving depth 500 m
Navigation autonomy 180 days (6 months)
Crew 160 people
(including 52 officers)
Dimensions
Surface displacement 23,200 t
Underwater displacement 48,000 t
Maximum length (according to waterline) 172.8 m
Body width max. 23.3 m
Average draft (according to waterline) 11.2 m
Power point

2 pressurized water 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 of 3.2 MW each
Reserve:
2 diesel generators ASDG-800 (kW)
Lead-acid battery, product 144

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

Submarine Shark - iron predator of the era

It so happened in the history of the Cold War that the Soviet Union always took the second step in the development of weapons after the United States.

However, this second step in most cases always amounted to two, which meant the creation of a weapon that not only equalized the situation, but also surpassed the enemy’s weapons. This happened with the Akula submarine.

The Akula boat was created according to Project 941 and belonged to the third generation of domestic nuclear submarines. "Shark" was our proactive response to the fundamentally new system of sea-based nuclear missile forces "Ohio", developed by the United States.

This submarine - a true independent missile base - represents a special milestone in scientific, design and political terms.

Unique features of the Akula submarine

The Akula submarine turned out to be not only the largest submarine equipped with such a large number of weapons, but also the quietest (two-stage shock absorption system), which significantly increased its potential stealth.

In addition, the Shark was intended for combat duty in the northern latitudes of the Arctic, i.e. adapted for autonomous operation in and under ice.

This was a confident trump card in terms of the operating conditions of our “Sharks” in comparison with “warm-water” American submarines, for which the northern seas were initially closed.

Despite its enormous size (2 football fields in length and a nine-story building in height) and a displacement of 50 thousand tons (more than that of a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser), the "Shark" demonstrated high speed and maneuverability and could carry out combat launches of missiles from lower depths (up to 55 meters without any weather restrictions above the surface of the water), as well as from the surface position.

Image: Dimensions of the Akula submarine

The submarine "Shark" recorded its outstanding dimensions in the Guinness Book of Records.

Watch video - Submarine Shark:

Shark submarine in an arms race

However, these dimensions were not an end in themselves for the designers. The giant missile carrier was created for the new Tsar Rocket, which was designed based on the technical advantages of the Trident-1 missile of the American Ohio system, and which again managed to surpass its foreign “colleague” in some respects.

The short time frame allocated by the state to create an “adequate response” to the Americans was forced to speed up scientific work on the development of a new type of missile, hitherto unused in our country - the solid fuel type.

All types of missiles, starting with Korolev’s developments, in our country were liquid-fueled, and our military did not have any scientific solutions or technologies for solid-fuel missiles.

All previous submarine missile carriers with liquid-propellant missiles could no longer cope with the main task of submarines - stealth, since the preparation and launch of such a missile, due to its technical features, created noise that was already recorded by enemy submarines, which meant unmasking the ship, and in some cases causing enemy pre-emptive strike on the boat.

The new solid fuel brainchild, created in a short time and without proper development, turned out to be very large - 90 tons of weight with 16 meters of “growth”, which was very different from the American Trident-1.

Now the Akula was created for such a heroic rocket. And then, to connect these giant missile carriers of the Northern Fleet (6 Sharks were planned in total), it was necessary to build special floating logistics support.

In 1977, the re-equipment of the base began (taking into account the deep draft of the ship and its length) to receive these submarines; it was planned to create special piers to service the Sharks and supply everything necessary, starting with energy resources.

However, the high-tech piers, as well as the unique coastal infrastructure for the 941 Akula strategic submarines, were not completed. The brainchild of the Soviet defense industry "Akula" with the collapse of the empire remained fatherless for some time.

Moreover, these missile carriers have become “hostages” of negotiations on strategic arms limitation. And they themselves were subject to sawing up for the money of a potential enemy, i.e. The United States allocated significant sums to Russia for their disposal.

Only one ship remained alive - the Dmitry Donskoy, the rest rusted on the pier, having lost the battle not on their own territory - in the depths of the water, but in the political arena.

Photo of the nuclear submarine "Dmitry Donskoy"

Submarine Akula - missile carrier for Bulava

The salvation for the Akula submarine was the unique possibility of modernization with the new Bulava missile; this potential was included in the strategy of the 941 project by the Akula designers initially, and implied a unique operation.

Since the missile compartment is located outside the main strong structures of the vehicle, it was possible to easily cut it out of the submarine, with the subsequent construction of a new mine there for new rocket. This was the strength of the 941 complex, unattainable on other missile carriers.

Thus, "Dmitry Donskoy", the only unique and non-analogue strategic nuclear ship, became a test base for the creation of missiles for the next, 4th generation of missile carriers.

Video - Launching all ammunition from a submarine (from under water):

What else will surprise the iron predator?

At the beginning of the third millennium, various projects were put forward to save the “Sharks”, withdrawn from the Navy and subject to disposal, including their use as huge cargo transporters in the polar waters of the northern seas, since the dismantled missile compartment could accept up to 10 tons of cargo.

But fate gave the Sharks only a quarter of a century. February 9, 1982 was the date of birth, i.e. joining the Northern Fleet of the largest submarine ship.

For almost 10 years, the Rubin designers, under the leadership of S. Kovalev, took the domestic giant from the drawings to the launch of the first missiles (December 1972 - the task for technical development was given, and since 1973, within the framework of the Typhoon strategic sea-based nuclear program, work on the creation of Project 941 missile carriers).

The Akula submarine impressed contemporaries not only with its military power:

• 20 ballistic missiles with 10 individually targetable warheads and the possibility of a single launch of the entire missile ammunition load at short intervals;
• 6 torpedo tubes 533 caliber;
• 8 sets of Igla-1 MANPADS for air defense.

The “Shark” was also striking with its unique design solutions for the boat’s layout, when under one outer lightweight hull there are two main strong ones connected by 3 modules.

Such a “catamaran” ensured increased survivability of the submarine, and placement of missiles outside the main hulls and in separate strong autonomous hulls in the event of an accident was guaranteed to preserve the remaining missile system. The 2 nuclear reactors that give life to the Akula could “shut down” themselves in the event of an emergency, which also ensured the viability of the submarine.

And, of course, the entire huge crew of the supergiant was accommodated as comfortably as possible - 170 people served on the ship with thoughtful amenities and recovery and relaxation complexes.

Watch the video - Submarine structure:

The first Shark - the beginning of leadership among submarines

It is interesting that the Akula submarine was already seen in the Russian fleet at the dawn of domestic submarine shipbuilding. It was one of the first submarines with a displacement of 400 tons (which also made it the largest submarine at that time).

The technical design of the first "Shark" was approved in 1905, and launching took place in 1909.

The first Akula submarine became a classic example of the Russian type of submarine - single-hulled and with ballast placed at the ends (at the stern and at the bow), which was later developed by our designers. The first "Shark" had 16 flights (it took part in the First World War).

Our Shark at the beginning of the last century was the first in world practice to look for the enemy, and not wait for him in ambush, as was customary during maneuvers. The 17th voyage of the "Shark" was the last; in 1915, she left to lay mines and did not return; nothing is known about the reasons for her death since then.

The largest nuclear submarine Akula

A shield and a sword in one titanium case, a giant scabbard for powerful weapons, a colossal underwater ship packed with electronics and controlled by a specially trained team - all these are characteristics of the same series of nuclear submarine cruisers, sort of mastodons of the Cold War era.

The largest nuclear submarine of the Shark class alone is capable of inflicting a colossal defeat on any country in the world, except perhaps New Zealand and some countries in South America.

What awaits the largest nuclear submarines?

Should we consider the “Shark” as a powerful, but absolutely unnecessary weapon today? And servicing these strategic cruisers is quite expensive - 300 million rubles annually for each combat unit.

Three of the six underwater giants that were built were dealt with simply - they were cut into pieces, after first removing the nuclear fuel from the reactor blocks, sealing them and burying them in northern Russia. As a result, TK-202, TK-12 and TK-13 were dismantled - they no longer exist, but billions of rubles were saved that would have had to be spent on maintaining these warships.

Watch the video - The largest nuclear submarine Shark:

When thinking about the fate of strategic missile carriers, it is worth considering one important point - every year the United States spends about 400 billion dollars annually on armament and modernization of the army!

Russia, on the other hand, is ten times smaller, and here we still need to take into account its larger territory compared to the United States.

The Cold War in the past equalized the balance of power in the world, and the largest nuclear submarine, the Akula, was far from its most expensive project. The chaos that arose after the collapse of the USSR disrupted many long-term rearmament plans; leaders, goals and objectives changed.

Four out of seven Akulas were lost - the last submarine (TK-201) was dismantled while still in the hull stage.

Meanwhile, the uniqueness of these ships is obvious: unexpected noiselessness and high speed for such giants; ability to swim under the ice for months in the icy waters of Antarctica; ascent anywhere, regardless of ice thickness; an effective system for detecting enemy anti-submarine submarines; excellent buoyancy.

Akula class nuclear submarines are the most dangerous of all submarines

The largest nuclear submarine of the Akula class is the only submarine in the world that, despite its impressive size, is capable of moving on a shallow shelf under thick ice. None of the captains of NATO nuclear submarines would dare to do such an act - there is a high risk of damage to the submarine.

From the point of view of modern military strategy, stationary ballistic missiles are ineffective - they can be detected from space and launched a missile strike on them before they leave their launch silos.

On the other hand, an independent and freely moving strategic missile launcher, which, by and large, is what each Project 941 submarine is, becomes the main joker in the sleeve of the Russian General Staff.

Watch video - Shark submarine in action:

Shark nuclear submarines will always be in demand

The question of transferring the Sharks from military service to peaceful activities has been repeatedly raised, while the costs of their maintenance would be significantly reduced.

For example, the largest nuclear submarine "Akula" could transport cargo - its reconstruction for these purposes will allow it to transport up to 10,000 tons of cargo.

Underwater transportation is beneficial for a number of reasons: it is safer and not dependent on storms, no pirates or similar groups are able to capture underwater transport, and, in the case of transportation in the northern seas, it is also the fastest.

Civilian "Sharks" would not need open water, on their board the cargo would arrive by the shortest route to the northern ports of Europe and America without any obstacles associated today and for hundreds of past years with the icing of the northern seas.

The Sharks can serve for peaceful or military purposes for many years to come - after all, they are the result of decades of hard work by scientists and designers, engineers and military sailors.

Submarine Shark - the most dangerous submarine

The impressive dimensions of the largest submarine on Earth, its unusual layout - two parallel internal hulls, closed by an external one - are amazing, to say the least. Why was it necessary to create such a giant, which undoubtedly cost a large sum?

The main reason was its weapons - 20 solid-fuel missiles, each of which carried 10 nuclear warheads. They were huge even compared to the Trident, the main ballistic missile of US submarines in the 1980s.

Soviet R-39s were almost twice as long and weighed three times more than American missiles.

It was impossible to fit 20 launch silos for such giants into the classic cigar-shaped hull of a boat - this is how the Akula submarine, a Project 941 missile carrier, appeared.

The Akula class nuclear submarines were equipped with the most powerful ballistic missiles ever launched from a submarine: 16 meters long; the diameter of the first two stages is 2.4 meters; weight – 90 tons. R-39 missiles carried warheads with a total weight of 2550 kg, throwing them at a distance of up to 10,000 km.

For comparison, the characteristics of the Trident-I ballistic missile (USA): length 10.3 meters; the diameter of the first steps is 1.8 meters; weight - 32.3 tons; flight range – 7400 km; maximum warhead weight is 1360 kg.

Video - Submarine Shark:

Features of the Akula nuclear boat project

The main weapon of the "Sharks" could be launched both from the surface and from a depth not exceeding 55 meters - after opening the external hatches of the missile silos, sea water was removed from them by the pressure of powder gases (mini explosion), i.e. the ballistic missile flew out of a dry silo, even if the submarine was under water at the time of launch.

The submarine "Akula" received its second name - Typhoon - thanks to a missile system of 20 ballistic missiles; in fact, this was its name (D-19 "Typhoon").

In the mid-80s, strategic missile designers at Lockheed Martin (USA) began creating a fourth-class missile, the Trident II. At this time, Soviet designers also began work on a new ballistic missile project - a new type of missile was supposed to replace the R-39 missile.

The Typhoon system was extremely expensive, and besides, it lagged far behind the performance of the Trident II: twice the weight, three times less power, and in terms of hit accuracy it was twice as inferior to the American one.

Therefore, even before the completion of the first Project 941 missile cruiser, Soviet designers began creating a new strategic missile, called the Bark.

New requirements and problems

In the near future, each Akula class submarine had to undergo modernization for a new missile system.

The advantages of the new rocket were: a system of independent passage through a 2.5-meter layer of ice in the Arctic Ocean; long flight range while maintaining the number of nuclear warheads; lower production and storage costs.

During the development of Bark, serious obstacles arose: the project manager V.P. died. Makeev, the Soviet Union disappeared, and along with it, stable funding for the project ceased.

Bulava missile for submarine

In 1998, the Bark ballistic missile project was finally canceled, and the modernization of one of the Sharks that had begun for it was stopped. And in the same 1998, a new project of a strategic complex equipped with R-30 or Bulava missiles was launched.

Characteristics of the "Bulava": length 12.1 meters; diameter 2 meters; with a mass of 36.8 tons, it is capable of delivering a nuclear charge weighing 1,150 kg to a target at a maximum distance of 12,000 km.

Photo: Bulava R-30 - intercontinental ballistic missile

The first launch of the Bulava from a missile carrier took place at the end of September 2004: the Akula class submarine Dmitry Donskoy (TK-208), which had undergone reconstruction for this complex, launched a missile with a training warhead while underwater .

Video - Launch of the Bulava ballistic missile:

Initially, each Akula submarine was conceived as a mobile launch pad for nuclear missiles - during combat duty, the "predator" was supposed to lie at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean and guard the borders of Russia.

Photo: Launch of the Bulava R-30 ballistic missile

Once every four months, the submarine cruisers would replace each other - the next "Shark" would go on duty, and the replaced submarine would return to base for technical inspection and crew rest.

Theoretically, the period of underwater duty could be longer, but, according to doctors, staying under water for more than four months will cause serious damage to the human body.

For a full annual duty schedule, at least eight Project 941 nuclear-powered cruisers are needed, but the creation and annual maintenance of each of them costs a nine-figure sum in US dollars. That is why the final decision on the “Sharks” has not yet been made.

Akula class submarine - Russian predators

It just so happened that from the very first years the progress of human society directly depended on military developments.

If it weren’t for the need to protect one’s territories and resources, today there would be not only space programs, but even computers or, for example, microwave ovens - military orders have always been profitable, allowing for long-term research and diversified development.

The first nuclear submarines

The first engines running on nuclear fuel were created and installed only on military equipment, to this day there is not a single nuclear submarine created for peaceful purposes. The reason for this has been unchanged for thousands of years - rulers are ready to spend significant amounts of money only on weapons.

The Akula class submarine was also created for military purposes; the development and construction of submarines of this series cost the USSR quite a lot - about 400 billion rubles in total.

6.5 nuclear-powered Sharks were built, three of them and the unfinished seventh were subsequently dismantled, leaving three ships in the hope that they could be modernized and entrusted with the protection of Russia’s northern borders.

Watch a video on the topic - Shark class boat:

Of all the “Sharks,” the most fortunate, so to speak, was the missile carrier TK-208, which received the name “Dmitry Donskoy” in October 2002. This submarine was the first of those created under Project 941; work on it began in June 1976 and was launched in September 1980.

The TK-208 submarine cruiser cannot be called a prototype - it was a full-fledged combat ship, carrying 20 nuclear missiles on board.

"Dmitry Donskoy", in addition to its superiority, has another important difference from other "Sharks" - its speed in a submerged position is 2 knots higher than the speed characteristics of its "younger sisters".

The 30-year-old TK-208 is an Akula-class submarine that has undergone several modernizations and was laid up in between.

The main problem for nuclear submarines was no longer the lack of funds for their maintenance (300 million rubles annually for each submarine), but the decommissioning of ballistic nuclear missiles, their main weapon.

Photo: Layout and armament of the nuclear submarine "Shark"

Bulava missile for Akula class submarines

"Sharks" became something like a scabbard without a sword; they required the creation of a new missile system.

Since 1999, the Dmitry Donskoy atomic missile has become a test bed for the new Bulava ballistic missile, and if the tests are successful, two more Russian sharks will be upgraded for this missile system.

Watch video: Bulava - R-30 strategic missile

The second submarine of the Akula class is TK-17, launched in December 1986 (the fifth missile carrier in its series). In November 2002, Atomarina received the name "Arkhangelsk" - in honor of the same name Russian city, whose patronage was henceforth assigned to this warship.

In 2004, the submarine "Arkhangelsk" acted as a command post for the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin; in memory of this event, the command staff of the submarine was invited to the President's anniversary in October 2007.

What does the future hold for Akul-class submarines?

The last nuclear-powered cruiser of Project 941 is the TK-20, launched in April 1989 (the sixth in its series). In May 2000, the ship was given the name "Severstal", in honor of the metallurgical plant of the same name.

It is worth noting that the TK-20 is the only ship of the Russian Navy named after an industrial enterprise. The whole world learned about this missile carrier in August 1995, when this Akula-class submarine surfaced in the center of the geographic North Pole and carried out a training launch of a ballistic missile aimed at a test site near Arkhangelsk.

Since 2010, only one Akula-class submarine, the Dmitry Donskoy, is “on the move”; the remaining two are only 1/3 manned, awaiting the results of field tests of the Bulava and the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation regarding “whether the cruisers will remain in service” fleet or will be disposed of."

It is unknown what the decision will be regarding the three “Sharks”, because There is no clear opinion whether they are needed or not. But the fact that “Russian sharks” are distinguished by a particularly strong and successful design is obvious, and there is a special example of this: the accident that occurred on one of the “Sharks” in September 1991.

The predator submarine is the toughest nut to crack among all submarines

The missile carrier surfaced to launch a training rocket, pre-launch work began and suddenly, even before the “start” command, two powerful explosions occurred one after another, shaking the entire ship.

The captain of the nuclear submarine rushed to his periscope and saw that the outside of the hull of his ship was engulfed in flames - the blazing rocket powder created a high temperature, which could lead to damage to the outer hull.

Having given the command to dive, the captain began to wait tensely for reports of leaks and fires in the compartments, but there were none - the outer hull was extinguished, and an inspection of the damage revealed that the rocket explosion caused minor damage to the launch silo and a small section of the hull.

Any other submarine in a similar situation would have received serious damage and would not have been able to return to port on its own, as the nuclear-powered Akula did in 1991.

History of the Akula: the first submarine in the Russian fleet

At the beginning of the 20th century, the political situation in the world became increasingly tense - for the rulers of many countries, including Russia, the prospect of resolving the conflict by armed means was obvious. The world was on the brink of war, now known as World War I.

The Russian fleet had to be quickly re-equipped; there was a particular shortage of submarines - their creation was entrusted to the Russian engineer I.G. Bubnov, other orders were placed at US shipyards.

Today, in faded archival photos, the Akula boat, designed and built by Bubnov, looks tiny when compared with modern submarine cruisers, but in 1905 it was the design of the largest submarine in Tsarist Russia.

The actual construction of the Akula submarine lasted six long years - bureaucratic delays and lack of funding, modifications made by Bubnov during construction, disruptions in deliveries by foreign and domestic contractors, a number of damages received by the ship during sea trials - all this delayed the transfer of the vessel to the Russian fleet .

Watch the video - History of the submarine:

The history of the Akula submarine

The Sharks project was approved in the spring of 1905, but no money was allocated for construction.

In the spring of 1906, funding for the construction of the submarine began, but in extremely small amounts - an amount of 200 thousand rubles was allocated for the construction of the Akula and Lamprey submarines, with the condition that the submarines would be completed in 20 months.

In the early autumn of 1906, Bubnov approached the Marine Technical Committee with a proposal to replace the design gasoline engines with Diesel engines; after a month and a half of consideration, such a replacement was agreed upon.

Long-term negotiations began with foreign manufacturers of power plants and the first photos of the Akula boat will appear only in four years.

The submarine hull was built quickly on the slipways of the Baltic Shipyard; problems arose with the power plants: the order for diesel engines was placed not with the German plant "MAN", which built diesel engines for French submarines, but at the Russian plant "L. Nobel", which had not previously produced such engines.

The reason for this decision was simple - the Russian manufacturer quoted a lower price for its work.

As a result, the power plants for the Akula submarine were ready only in the spring of 1909, i.e. a year later than planned. In addition, the battery supplied by the French factory "Mate" burned out - a new one had to be ordered.

In the photo, the first Shark is preparing to become an iron predator

In the summer of 1909, the engines were installed and the battery was replaced. The long-awaited moment has arrived - a photo of the Akula submarine leaving the slipway was published in the Russian press.

But the launch of the "Shark" did not yet mean it was ready for combat. The ship underwent a series of design changes: new propellers, supplied to replace the design ones, turned out to be unable to develop sufficient speed; eight torpedo tubes were equipped with breakwaters; many other shortcomings needed to be eliminated.

Photo: The first submarine "Shark" on the stocks

Despite a number of inconsistencies of the Akula with the design specifications (including: lack of speed, low landing on the surface), in September 1911 the submarine was introduced into the Russian navy.

In the photo, the Akula submarine looks more like a toy than the full-fledged combat ship that it was - but this submarine was the first domestic submarine capable of conducting combat operations on enemy territory, which served as the prototype for a whole series of submarines of Tsarist Russia.

Diesel-electric torpedo submarine Akula (1909):

The submarine "Akula" was in service with the fleet of the Russian Empire for four years; it carried out combat missions in the Baltic Sea, defending the Russian shores from the fleet of the Kaiser's Germany.

In 1915, due to a shortage of mine layers, the submarine was equipped with a system for loading and laying mines. On November 14, 1915, the "Shark" set out on its last military campaign - to lay mines along the coast between Memel (modern Klaipeda) and Libava (modern Liepaja).

On the night of November 15, 1915, a storm broke out, coastal observers saw the Shark not far from the shore, struggling with the waves - no one else saw the submarine.

To this day, the exact place where the submarine sank, as well as the reasons for its death, are unknown. Archival photos showing the submarine "Akula" are all that remains of it today...

Project 971 boat - silent killer

Double body, perfect streamlining, driving the acousticians of the NATO Navy crazy - these are the most General characteristics, which the Project 971 "Shark" boat has.

Work on them began over 30 years ago, but so far not a single submarine fleet in the world can surpass the results of these combat submarines.

The family tree of combat submarines places Russian submarines in the third generation position, but they easily deviate from the tracking systems of the most advanced submarines/surface ships of the US fleet, which belong to the fourth generation.

But how is this possible, since the Project 971 Akula submarine was inevitably going to become obsolete after so many years of progress? First of all, it is worth citing one story that happened not so long ago - at the end of February 1996.

Photo: Project 971 nuclear missile cruiser

How did our submarine make fun of the Americans?

In the last winter month of 1996, NATO countries conducted a large exercise, which involved submarines, aircraft and anti-submarine ships.

The training task was to detect and destroy submarines of a mock enemy - it, as usual in all such exercises of the armies of the world, was carried out successfully.

Towards the end of the exercise, when the ships intended to change into marching formation and proceed to their bases, the radio operators received a message from an unknown ship: the commander of a Russian submarine asked to provide assistance to a sailor from his ship - he was having an attack of appendicitis.

The NATO Joint Fleet Command experienced a state of deep shock - according to acoustics and aerial reconnaissance, there should not have been any foreign military vessels nearby.

The feeling of shock increased to a critical limit when, in response to permission, a Russian submarine surfaced almost in the center of the battle formation of NATO ships!

Watch video - Project 971 boat:

The sailor on board the submarine was evacuated to the British Navy destroyer Glasgow, from there he was sent by helicopter to a military hospital, where he was safely operated on, and the submarine sank under water and after a short time disappeared from the radar again.

Meanwhile, NATO military experts present at the exercise and observing the Russian submarine made a second mistake: they believed that it was a Project 971 Akula nuclear submarine - in fact, it was the Tambov nuclear submarine, built according to the earlier 671 project.

The third-generation submarines, whose running noise was reduced fourfold compared to the previous Shchukas, received the working name Shchuka-B. According to the plan of the USSR high command, they were supposed to replace the outdated series of Soviet Barracuda-class submarines.

According to the Western classification, the submarine of Project 971 was called “Akula”, meanwhile the first submarine of the project was actually called “Akula” (K-284, commissioned by the USSR Navy in 1984), but in the mid-90s it was dismantled for scrap.

Predatory family of Project 971 submarines

Approximately 40% of the nuclear submarines of the 971st project were not completed - in varying degrees of readiness they are still standing on the factory stocks. The submarines were created at two military shipyards: No. 199 (Komsomolsk-on-Amur) and No. 402 (Severodvinsk).

Completed in December 2009, the nuclear submarine Nerpa (K-152), built at the 199th plant, was awaiting transfer to the Indian Navy; three other submarines built at the same enterprise are serving in the Russian Navy.

Seven submarines were built at the 402nd plant, the first of them (K-480 "Ak Bars") was partially dismantled, five vessels are serving in the Navy, one boat (K-328 "Leopard") is mothballed.

The hulls of the last two Project 971 boats, laid down in 1993, were used in the construction of the Arctic nuclear-powered cruisers Yuri Dolgoruky (K-535) and Alexander Nevsky (K-550), created under Project 941 Akula.

A detailed description of the technologies that have made it possible to significantly reduce the acoustic noise of moving Russian submarines, of course, is under the strictest confidence.

Watch the video - Testing of the nuclear submarine project 971:

From what is known: the Project 971 "Shark" boat consists of two hulls, between which double shock-absorbing blocks are laid, the lines of its tail fins are calculated with the greatest precision, which made it possible to minimize turbulence along the hull, which usually occurs when a warship moves through thick water.

Despite repeated attempts by the US State Department to disrupt or slow down the creation of nuclear submarine cruisers (the introduction of sanctions in the 80s against the Japanese Toshiba, which supplied high-precision metal-cutting machines to the USSR; in the 90s - projects for the reconstruction of defense factories for civilian shipbuilding with US funding ), the Russian submarine fleet was nevertheless modernized.

Nuclear submarine Typhoon - iron trump card

Project 941, within the framework of which each nuclear submarine "Shark" was created, also known as "Typhoon" according to the NATO classification, initially had different goals than today.

The General Staff of the Soviet Union needed a means of conducting combat from the territory of the Arctic Ocean, especially since the United States was creating Ohio-class nuclear submarines capable of delivering a simultaneous nuclear strike on several dozen targets on the territory of the USSR from anywhere in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Only mobile submarines from under the northern ice shell had a chance of a pre-emptive nuclear strike - it is impossible to track a submarine under the ice even from orbital satellites.

The technical specifications for the construction of the Soviet Arctic submarine were very complex: the nuclear submarine "Akula", whose second name is "Typhoon", was supposed to have 20 launch silos for nuclear ballistic missiles, with the possibility of simultaneous launch of all 20 from an underwater/under-ice position .

The strategy for a potential nuclear war at that time consisted of an immediate missile strike, perhaps the only one - the chance of a second salvo was minimal, because the area from which the launch will take place will immediately be hit by retaliatory nuclear strikes.

In addition, the “economical” command demanded that the draft of the huge cruiser allow it to be based on existing military submarine bases. For your information: additional bases were built for the Ohio-class nuclear submarines.

Watch the video - Nuclear submarine Typhoon:

What problems did you have with the Sharks?

As a result, the ship turned out to be simply huge, most (up to 55%) of its 50,000 ton displacement is allocated to the contents of ballast tanks, which is why the Arctic cruiser received an apt nickname among submariners - a water carrier.

The nuclear-powered cruiser Dmitry Donskoy, completed in 1981, created a new problem - loading the main armament of the nuclear-powered ship was impossible.

The R-39 ballistic missiles were of impressive size, and it was not possible to combine the loading shafts of the nuclear cruiser with the railway line along which each missile was transported - the huge "Shark" could not approach the piers, because those were designed for smaller submarines.

It was necessary to create a loading device that is unique to this day - a heavy-duty crane capable of lifting and supporting the weight of a ballistic missile.

The problems of delivering and loading weapons on board the Project 941 nuclear submarine did not end there.

According to the plans of the USSR General Staff, it was necessary to create a personal infrastructure for the "Sharks": it was only partially created and had one colossal drawback - the line along which the ballistic missiles were supposed to be delivered had many turns and bends along which long platforms with missiles could not pass.

The confrontation between submarines continues

However, in 1990, the nuclear submarine "Akula", also known as "Typhoon", was withdrawn from serial construction, the partially created last TK-210 was dismantled under the SALT treaty, simultaneously with the main weapons of nuclear cruisers (R-39 missiles).

Project 941 came to life in 1996; a new ballistic missile, Bulava-M, was created for Arctic submarines, the precise guidance of which was supposed to be carried out using the GLONASS system.

What tasks can the nuclear submarine "Akula" - "Typhoon" perform these days, since the threat of nuclear war seems to have disappeared along with the confrontation between the USSR and the USA?

First of all, American Ohio-class nuclear submarines are still on duty in the Pacific Ocean, each spending up to 2/3 of the year there. The SALT Treaty deprived nuclear submarines of Trident missiles, but they were replaced by Trident 2 - 24 ballistic missiles are available in the launch silos of each of the 18 American missile carriers.

Watch video TOP 10: Ten best submarines in the world

In 1993, a certain scientific project called SCICEX ("scientific research of ice") was launched, within the framework of which five scientists went aboard American nuclear submarines on each Arctic voyage - during the Arctic voyage they examined the state of ice. arctic ice, population of local fauna.

The program was temporarily stopped in 1998, at that time five “scientific” expeditions were carried out. In recent years, data has been collected by submarine crews on instructions from the US Navy command.

The calculation here is that the melting of ice will eventually make navigation in the Arctic Ocean possible, facilitate the extraction of minerals, as well as year-round maneuvers of the navies of NATO countries.

The conclusion suggests itself: Russia needs combat-ready “Sharks” now more than ever.

Read the following articles with this publication:

The first cases of submarines being used for combat purposes date back to the mid-19th century. However, due to their technical imperfections, submarines for a long time played only a supporting role in the naval forces. The situation changed completely after the discovery of atomic energy and the invention of ballistic missiles.

Goals and dimensions

Submarines have different purposes. The size of the world's submarines varies depending on their purposes. Some are designed for a crew of only two people, while others are capable of carrying dozens of intercontinental missiles. What tasks do the world's largest submarines perform?

"Triumfan"

French strategic nuclear submarine. Its name means "triumphant". The length of the boat is 138 meters, displacement - 14 thousand tons. The ship is armed with three-stage M45 ballistic missiles with multiple warheads, equipped with individual guidance systems. They are capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 5,300 kilometers. At the design stage, the designers were tasked with making the submarine as invisible as possible to the enemy and equipping it with an effective early detection system for enemy anti-submarine defense systems. Careful study and numerous experiments have shown that the main reason for revealing the location of an underwater vessel is its acoustic signature.

When designing the Triumphan, all known noise reduction methods were used. Despite the impressive size of the submarine, it is a rather difficult object to detect acoustically. The specific shape of the submarine helps reduce hydrodynamic noise. The sound level produced during operation of the ship's main power plant has been significantly reduced thanks to a number of non-standard technological solutions. "Triumphan" has on board an ultra-modern sonar system designed for early detection of enemy anti-submarine weapons.

"Jing"

Strategic nuclear-powered missile submarine built for the Chinese Navy. Due to the increased level of secrecy, much of the information about this ship comes not from the media, but from the intelligence services of the United States and other NATO countries. The submarine's dimensions were determined based on a photograph taken in 2006 by a commercial satellite designed to take digital images of the earth's surface. The length of the vessel is 140 meters, displacement - 11 thousand tons.

Experts note that the dimensions of the Jin nuclear submarine are larger than the dimensions of previous, technically and morally obsolete Chinese Xia-class submarines. The new generation vessel is adapted to launch Julan-2 intercontinental ballistic missiles equipped with multiple nuclear warheads. Their maximum flight range is 12 thousand kilometers. The Julan-2 missiles are an exclusive development. When designing them, the dimensions of the Jin class submarines, intended to become carriers of these formidable weapons, were taken into account. According to experts, the presence of such ballistic missiles and submarines in China significantly changes the balance of power in the world. Approximately three-quarters of the United States is within range of the Jin boats in the area. Kuril Islands. However, according to information available to the US military, test launches of Julan missiles often end in failure.

"Vanguard"

British strategic nuclear submarine, the size of which allows it to compete with the largest submarines in the world. The length of the vessel is 150 meters, displacement - 15 thousand tons. Boats of this type have been in service with the Royal Navy since 1994. Today, Vanguard-class submarines are the only carriers of British nuclear weapons. They carry Trident-2 ballistic missiles. This weapon deserves special mention. It is produced by a famous American company for the US Navy. The British government took on 5% of the cost of developing the missiles, which, according to the designers' plans, were supposed to surpass all their predecessors. The affected area of ​​Trident-2 is 11 thousand kilometers, the accuracy of the hit reaches several feet. Missile guidance does not depend on the American global positioning system. Trident 2 delivers atomic warheads to a target at a speed of 21 thousand kilometers per hour. The four Vanguard boats carry a total of 58 of these missiles, representing the UK's "nuclear shield".

"Murena-M"

Soviet submarine built during the Cold War. The main goals of creating the boat were to increase the range of missiles and overcome American sonar detection systems. Expanding the affected area required changing the dimensions of the underwater vessel compared to previous versions. The launch silos are designed for D-9 missiles, the launch mass of which is twice the usual. The length of the ship is 155 meters, displacement is 15 thousand tons. According to experts, Soviet designers managed to complete the initially set task. The range of the missile system has increased approximately 2.5 times. To achieve this goal, the Murena-M submarine had to be made one of the largest submarines in the world. The size of the missile carrier did not change the level of its stealth for the worse. The design of the boat included vibration damping mechanisms, since at that time the US sonar tracking system became a serious problem for Soviet strategic submarines.

"Ohio"

"Borey"

The development of this nuclear submarine began in the Soviet Union. It was finally designed and built in Russian Federation. Its name comes from the name of the ancient Greek god of the north wind. In accordance with the plans of the creators, the Borey boat in the foreseeable future should replace the Akula and Dolphin class submarines. The length of the cruiser is 170 meters, displacement - 24 thousand tons. Borei was the first strategic submarine built in the post-Soviet era. First of all, the new Russian boat serves as a platform for launching Bulava ballistic missiles equipped with multiple nuclear warheads. Their flight range exceeds 8 thousand kilometers. Due to problems with financing and disruption of economic ties with enterprises located on the territory of the former Soviet republics, the completion date of the ship's construction was repeatedly postponed. The Borey boat was launched in 2008.

"Shark"

According to NATO classification, this vessel is designated "Typhoon". The dimensions of the Akula submarine exceed everything that has been created throughout the history of submarines. Its construction was the Soviet Union's response to the American Ohio project. The huge size of the heavy submarine cruiser "Akula" was due to the need to deploy on it R-39 missiles, the mass and length of which significantly exceeded those of the American Trident. Soviet designers had to come to terms with large dimensions in order to increase the flight range and weight of the warhead. The Akula boat, adapted for launching these missiles, has a record length of 173 meters. Its displacement is 48 thousand tons. Today, the Akula remains the largest submarine in the world.

Creation of an era

The USSR also occupies the first place in the ranking. This is understandable: the superpowers involved in the Cold War believed in the possibility of delivering a pre-emptive strike. They saw their main task as quietly placing nuclear missiles as close to the enemy as possible. This mission was assigned to large submarines, which became the legacy of that era.

Since their appearance in the fleets of the whole world, submarines have played almost a decisive role in the development of all naval combat tactics. Consider 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 missions.

But those ships were very small, and their crew lived in truly Spartan conditions: the maximum comfort they could count on was a shower from sea ​​water, which was provided to them regularly, at their own request. As time went on, the ships became more and more impressive. Their underwater relatives have not deviated from this trend either. Not so long ago, the world's largest submarine appeared, which is capable of eclipsing even some surface vessels in its dimensions.

How it was

At the end of September 1980, in the open spaces White Sea"Shark" came out. The artist who covered the bow section of the vessel with a beautiful painting depicting a shark and a trident is unknown. Of course, after launching the picture was no longer visible, but among the people the name “Shark” had already firmly entered into everyday use.

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

Yes, in those years our former allies were intensively replenishing their submarine fleet with new vessels... But the Akula was supposed to become not just another boat, but part of the huge and very important Typhoon program. Domestic science and industry received technical specifications for its design back in 1972, and S. N. Kovalev was appointed curator of the project.

But the world's largest submarine is still known throughout the world precisely for its size. Why are all experts shocked by them? Perhaps the ship is not so big?

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 top of the deckhouse, 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 building. No, the famous Tseretelli did not participate in the design of the vessel: such dimensions were simply due to the size of the new high-power intercontinental missiles.

Missile weapons

The new weapon received the Soviet name "Thunder", but in the West they were called Rif. These missiles were significantly superior to the American Trident-I, which were equipped with the Ohio boats, having much better characteristics in terms of flight range and the number of multiple warheads that could overcome almost any missile defense system.

But you had 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 equivalent weighs 59 tons. With comparable characteristics. So, in fairness, we note that our largest submarine in the world still could not become the “best” in all respects.

Although no, I could. The fact is that the “Shark” is the only missile carrier that can fire at half of 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: simply put, a missile fired at the North Pole itself could easily reach the equator. Of course, such formidable weapons reached the United States even more so. Since the greatest diving 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 away, they could literally “dissolve” in the vastness of the northern seas.

Foreign analogues

It would be foolish to think that the idea of ​​​​creating giant submarines visited the minds of only 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.

Work on the design and training of crews of new ships

Thus, the designers had to completely rework the layout of the ships. At the end of 1973, the resolution to begin 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 dimensions, 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 actually received a photo of the largest submarine by accident, simply by looking satellite images THE USSR. According to rumors, heads rolled in the military department: looking at such a “whale” under the nose is an unforgivable oversight!

In Obninsk they had to build a gigantic training center with a military camp and complete social infrastructure. 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 crews, who were supposed to work in shifts, and the third was a technical one, responsible for the condition of the mechanisms. Their mode of operation is very unique.

The first set of sailors sails the oceans for three months. Gradually, faults 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 on vacation. The place of “resort-goers” is taken by techies. “Soldering Iron and File” workers carry out a complete diagnosis of all systems, carry out preventive maintenance and eliminate all faults found.

In this way, the Shark - the largest submarine - is like a Formula 1 car in a pit stop. Here they will change your “wheels”, and they can also replace the pilot if necessary.

Routine for the second crew

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

In general, the conditions for working on these submarines are truly fabulous. Conscript sailors recall that there is a sauna, 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, camouflaging itself from enemy detection means.

This is what makes the biggest ones unique submarines Russia (today there are three of them left).

Main technical characteristics

The unique missile carriers were powered by two OK-650VV reactors at once, and the power of each of them was 360 MW. The fuel was especially pure uranium dioxide. To understand the power of these power plants, it is enough to know that they could easily ensure the electrification of the entire Murmansk and its suburbs. Their energy spins giant propellers and ensures the functioning of 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 just 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 body of a unique design. No one 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 this, 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 located in one outer hull. For convenience, they are called “left side” and “starboard side”, meaning by this term the entire “cigar” as a whole. The design is also unique in that the “sides” completely duplicate each other: turbines, engines, reactors and even cabins. If everything fails on one half, there is a radiation leak or something similar, the crew will move to the second half and will be able to bring the giant submarine to its home port. Yes, the largest Russian submarines have no analogues in the world.

Housing characteristics

Everything on the right sub is marked with odd numbers. On the left - even. This is done so that the crew simply does not get confused. By the way, all the 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 remains quite a significant space in which all the important equipment is located, which urgently needs to be protected 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 the front part of the wheelhouse (more precisely, in front of it). This is also a unique distinctive feature, since you will not find such a missile armament configuration on any other submarine in the world.

At the same time, the “Shark” seems to “push” its massive weapons in front of itself. Important! When submerged, water fills (!) the space between the sides, and therefore, when moving, has a huge impact on the maneuverability of the vessel. This allows not only to save engine life, but also... to incredibly reduce noise levels.

About how the whale fell in love with Shark

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

Since the advent of submarines, what their crews have been most afraid of is the noise that occurs during the operation of systems and mechanisms. The noises unmask the ship and give it away to the enemy Navy. The “Shark,” with its double hull, became a champion not only in size, but also in the extremely low level of noise emitted during operation. In one case, the result was completely unexpected... Somewhere near Spitsbergen, a female whale circled around the submarine for a long time, mistaking it for her beau.

The acousticians, laughing and joking, recorded her love serenades on tape. In addition, killer whales sometimes rub against the hulls of the Sharks, emitting interested trills. Even world-famous ichthyologists became interested in this phenomenon. They came to the conclusion that the combination of engine noise and the resonant sounds of masses of water splashing inside the outer casing somehow attracts sea ​​inhabitants.

Of course, the largest Russian submarine was clearly not designed with the goal of seducing female whales and playing with killer whales, but the effect was still extremely interesting.

Once again about the living conditions of sailors

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

There was no effort to save weight and dimensions when designing the boat, and therefore the crew lived in luxurious cabins for two, four and six places, which were furnished and really no worse than a hotel room. Sports complex It was also amazing: a huge gym, lots of exercise equipment and treadmills.

Not every surface combatant has four showers and nine latrines either. Up to ten people could wash in the sauna, the walls of which were lined with oak boards. And there was even a four-meter-long swimming pool on board. What is characteristic is that even conscripts could use all this wealth, which is generally something unthinkable for our army.

A stab in the back, or the current state of affairs

Western countries were simply terrified 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 barbarically stolen, deciding not to complete construction. The huge sums of money and titanic labor that the people of the USSR spent on creating these incredible machines were actually splashed out into the cold water of the Northern Ocean.

And the disposal took place even though the military and designers were almost begging to create floating supply bases for northern cities based on submarines. Alas, today only the Dmitry Donskoy, which was converted to carry Bulava missiles, continues to serve. They do not pose any danger to the United States. The cruisers TK-17 Arkhangelsk and TK-20 Severstal are awaiting either disposal or an equally meaningless modernization.

What did the Americans do with their Ohio? Of course, no one began to saw them. The boats are undergoing planned modernization and are being equipped with new cruise missiles. The US government does not intend to throw away technologies that have spent so much time and effort creating.