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 “boards” 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.

By the beginning of the 1970s, the main participants in the nuclear race, the USSR and the United States, rightly placed their bets on the development of a nuclear submarine fleet equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles. As a result of this confrontation, the world's largest submarine was born.

The opposing sides have begun to create nuclear-powered heavy missile cruisers. The American project, the Ohio-type nuclear submarine, assumed the deployment of 24 intercontinental ballistic missiles. Our answer was a Project 941 submarine, tentatively named "Shark", better known as "Typhoon".

History of creation

Outstanding Soviet designer S. N. Kovalev

The development of Project 941 was entrusted to the team of the Leningrad TsKBMT Rubin, which was led by the outstanding Soviet designer Sergei Nikitovich Kovalev for several decades in a row. The boats were built at the Sevmash enterprise in Severodvinsk. In all respects, it was one of the most ambitious Soviet military projects, still stunning in its scale.

Its second name - "Typhoon" "Shark" is obliged to the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the CPSU L. I. Brezhnev. This is how he presented it to the delegates of the next party congress and to the rest of the world in 1981, which fully corresponded to its all-destroying potential.

Layout and dimensions

The dimensions and layout of the nuclear underwater giant deserve special attention. Under the shell of a light hull was not quite an ordinary "catamaran" of 2 strong hulls arranged in parallel. For the torpedo compartment and the central post with the radio equipment compartment adjacent to it, sealed compartments of the capsule type were created.

All 19 compartments of the boat communicated with each other. Horizontal folding rudders "Sharks" were located in the bow of the boat. In case of its ascent from under the ice, a significant strengthening of the conning tower with a rounded cover and special reinforcements was provided.

"Shark" is striking in its gigantic size. No wonder it is considered the largest submarine in the world: its length - almost 173 meters - corresponds to two football fields. As for the underwater displacement, there was also a record here - about 50 thousand tons, which is almost three times higher than the corresponding characteristic of the American Ohio.

Characteristics

To set this monster in motion, it was equipped with two 190-megawatt nuclear reactors, which powered two turbines with a capacity of about 50 thousand hp. The boat moved thanks to two 7-bladed propellers with a diameter of more than 5.5 meters.

The "combat vehicle crew" consisted of 160 people, more than a third of which were officers. The creators of the "Shark" showed a truly paternal concern for the living conditions of the crew. For officers, 2 and 4-bed cabins were provided. Sailors and foremen were located in small cockpits with washbasins and televisions. Air conditioning was supplied to all living quarters. In their free time from the watch, the crew members could visit the swimming pool, sauna, gym or relax in the “living” corner.

Combat potential

In the event of a nuclear conflict, "Typhoon" could bring down on the enemy at the same time 20 R-39 nuclear missiles, with ten 200-kt multiple warheads each. Such a nuclear "typhoon" could turn the entire east coast of the United States into a desert in a matter of minutes.

In addition to ballistic missiles, the boat's arsenal included more than two dozen conventional and jet torpedoes, as well as Igla MANPADS. Especially for equipping Typhoons with missiles and torpedoes, the Alexander Brykin transport ship was developed with a displacement of 16 thousand tons and designed to carry 16 SLBMs.

In service

In just 13 years from 1976 to 1989, 6 Typhoon nuclear submarines left the stocks of Sevmash. Today, 3 units continue to serve - two in reserve and one - "Dmitry Donskoy" is used as the main object for testing the new Bulava missile system.

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 the 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-propellant 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 patches 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 robust 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 units (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 could only place 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 has 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 the similar US Navy Ohio-class 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. Masorin, announced that until 2015 no 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 ​​(underwater)…………..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"
Surface displacement…………..23 200 t
Underwater displacement…………..48 000 t
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 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 weapons…………..20 R-39 SLBMs (RSM-52) or R-30 Mace (Project 941UM)
Air defense…………..8 MANPADS "Igla"

Photo of submarines of project 941 "Shark"

The length of the submarine project 941 "Shark" in comparison with the football field

TPKSN TK-12 "Simbirsk" project 941 "Shark". The third submarine of this series is being scrapped.

TRPKSN TK-20 "Severstal" project 941 "Shark". The sixth submarine from this series.

TRPKSN TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" project 941 "Shark". The first submarine of this series.

TK-17 "Arkhangelsk" project 941 "Shark". The fifth submarine of this series.

TRPKSN TK-202 pr. 941 "Shark". The second ship of the series. July 1990 Arctic 87 gr. NL

TRPKSN TK-13 project 941 "Shark". The fourth submarine of the series is being scrapped

Russia is decommissioning the last two Akula-class (NATO Typhoon) nuclear-powered missile submarines from its reserve. This is reported by the main media of the country.

“The denuclearization and disposal of the TK-17 Arkhangelsk and TK-20 Severstal submarines will begin in 2020. Their re-introduction to the combat strength turned out to be unprofitable.

Two Project 941 Akula submarines (as they are called according to the correct Russian classification) were disarmed and anchored in the port of Severodvinsk, awaiting an official decision from the Kremlin. Arkhangelsk and Severstal, built in the 1980s, have been in reserve since 2006 and 2004, respectively.

Shark/Typhoon class

The parameters of these boats are 173 meters long, 23 meters high and 23.3 meters wide. They have a displacement of 49,800 tons and are capable of reaching a maximum operational depth of 400 meters. Six submarines of this class with double hulls (based on two Delta-class hulls) were included in the Guinness Book of Records. In 1996-1997, due to lack of funding, after only 13 years of active operation, the Kremlin decommissioned three Akula submarines: TK-12 Simbirsk, TK-202 and TK-13.

The Soviet Union designed the Akula submarines to counter American Ohio-class submarines, they were designed for constant strategic patrols of territories located north of the Arctic Circle (which is why they received a reinforced hull, an additional reserve of buoyancy equal to 35% of the displacement, and were equipped with shielded propellers that protected the ship from collisions with ice). An unusual feature of the "Sharks" was the missile compartment in the tail of the submarine in front of the tower. Each boat was equipped with twenty three-stage ballistic missiles R-39 "Reef" (SS-NX-20 Sturgeon) of 84 tons, capable of hitting any point in the continental United States.

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Submarines "Shark" could reach speeds of 22 knots on the surface and 27 knots when submerged thanks to two water-cooled nuclear reactors 650 OKB 190 MW each, the same as those used in the classes "Lira", "Fin", "Barracuda" "," Antey. Of the eight submarines of this class planned by the Soviet Union, only six were built.

The last Typhoon

The latest Project 941 submarine is used as an experimental platform for the Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles. TK-208 was the first submarine commissioned and will be the last to go to sea as part of the 18th submarine division of the Northern Fleet. Significant modifications to which the "Dmitry Donskoy" has undergone, turned this boat into the first advanced "Shark", the level of which is not inferior to the fourth generation submarines.

Project 941UM was conceived to launch RSM-56 Bulava missiles. Submarine TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" project 941UM will remain in operation until 2020: from 2003 to 2010, she carried out 14 test launches, half of which were cancelled.

"Red October"

The "seventh" Shark-class submarine, nicknamed "Red October", became the main character of Tom Clancy's first novel, published by Naval Institute Press in 1984. In the novel, the Soviet submarine of project 941 "Shark" had a new type of propulsion system, made using stealth technology without mobile parts, called "caterpillar mover". Clancy presented a modified Shark submarine armed with 27 ballistic missiles: thanks to the stealth engine technology, the Red October would be able to proceed unhindered to destroy the upper part of the east coast of the United States. In The Hunt for Red October, Commander Marco Ramius, played by Sean Connery, secretly makes his way to the US coast with the intent of defecting and handing over a submarine to the US Navy.

K-139 "Belgorod" project 09852

In a year, Russia will receive the world's largest nuclear submarine, and it will be 11 meters longer than the Project 941 Akula submarines. Officially unveiled as the next model of the Antey II class of Project 949A, the Project 09852 K-139 Belgorod submarine will carry out scientific research missions as a platform for unmanned vehicles and special equipment. K-139 was redesigned and received a new central compartment 30 meters long, due to which the dimensions of the submarine reached 184 meters. This is 30 meters larger than the original size of the Antey-class submarines and 11 meters longer than the Akula-class submarines.

The materials of InoSMI contain only assessments of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the editors of InoSMI.

Among the various achievements of mankind, there are many records, the authorship of which belongs to our compatriots. One of these is the creation of the largest submarine in the world. The Soviet submarines of the Akula project, built in the 1980s, are still unrivaled in size to this day.

The height of the submarine of the Shark project is approximately equal to the height of a nine-story building. Now imagine a nine-story building moving confidently forward at a depth of several hundred meters - such a picture can shock even a not too impressionable person!

But the Soviet designers who worked on the "941 project" were the last to think about records. The main task was to ensure the preservation of military parity between the USSR and the USA.

By the 1970s, it became clear that submarines with nuclear weapons on board play a very important role in ensuring the security of the state.

From intelligence reports, the leadership of the USSR learned that work had begun in the United States on the creation of nuclear submarines of a new generation. The new Ohio-class missile carriers were supposed to provide the United States with an overwhelming advantage in sea-based nuclear launchers.

In December 1972, the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering received a tactical and technical assignment for the design of a third-generation Soviet missile carrier. The chief designer of the project was Sergey Kovalev, the legendary creator of Soviet submarine missile carriers.

"Shark", view from the right shell. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Size matters

On December 19, 1973, the government of the Soviet Union decided to start work on the design and construction of a new generation of strategic missile carriers.

The new Soviet three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile R-39, specially designed to arm a new type of submarine, surpassed the American counterpart Trident-I in its performance. The P-39 had the best characteristics of flight range, throwable mass and had 10 blocks against 8 for the Trident.

But you have to pay for everything. The high qualities of the R-39 were combined with dimensions unprecedented for sea-based missiles - almost twice as long and three times as heavy as the American counterpart.

This meant that a completely unique submarine cruiser had to be developed, the dimensions of which would be unparalleled.

As a result, the Project 941 missile cruisers had the greatest length - 172.8 meters, the largest width of the hull - 23.3 meters, a surface displacement of 23,200 tons and an underwater displacement of 48,000 tons.

The lead ship of the series, in which it was supposed to build 7 missile carriers, was laid down at the Sevmash plant in 1976. The launch of TK (heavy cruiser) 208 took place on September 23, 1980.

Anchor "Shark" in Severodvinsk. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Schekinov Alexey Victorovich

"Sharks" of different types

When the hull of the boat was still in the slipways, on its bow, below the waterline, one could see a painted grinning shark that 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 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.

There is some confusion with domestic underwater "Sharks". The name of the project does not apply to any of the boats included in it. According to NATO codification, this project is called "Typhoon".

In the NATO codification, "Sharks" refers to domestic multi-purpose submarines of project 971 "Pike-B". The lead boat of this project, K-284, bore its own name "Shark", while not having any relation to the "Missile Sharks".

And the first "Shark" in the history of the Russian submarine fleet was a submarine designed engineer Ivan Bubnov launched in 1909. The Shark, which became the first Russian-designed submarine in the Russian Navy, sank in the Baltic during World War I.

But let's get back to the Record Shark. The first boat of the new project, TK-208, entered the Soviet Navy in December 1981, almost simultaneously with its rival Ohio.

"Shark" in the ice. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Bellona foundation

High reliability missile carrier

The main armament of the missile carrier is 20 R-39 three-stage solid-propellant ballistic missiles. The missiles have a multiple warhead for 10 individually targetable warheads, each with 100 kilotons of TNT equivalent, the range of the missiles is 8300 km.

From the boats of the Shark project, the entire ammunition load can be launched in one salvo, the interval between missile launches is minimal. Missiles can be launched from the surface and underwater position, in the case of launching from a submerged position, the immersion depth is up to 55 meters, there are no weather restrictions for launching missiles.

Unlike American Ohio-class submarines, which were primarily built with a focus on service in tropical waters, Shark-class missile carriers have increased strength, allowing them to break ice 2.5 meters thick. This makes it possible for the Shark to carry out combat duty in the Far North and even directly at the North Pole.

One of the design features of the boat is the presence of five habitable strong hulls inside the light hull, two of which are the main ones, their largest diameter is 10 meters, they are located according to the catamaran principle - parallel to each other. Missile silos with missile systems are located in front of the ship, between the main pressure hulls. In addition, the boat is equipped with three pressurized compartments: a torpedo compartment, a control module compartment with a central post, and an aft mechanical compartment.

The durable hulls were made of titanium alloys, the light hull was made of steel and has a non-resonant anti-radar and soundproof coating, the weight of which is 800 tons.

The unique design of the Shark ensures the survival of the crew in the event of an emergency on board, similar to the one that occurred on the Kursk submarine.

Ohio-class nuclear submarine. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

"Floating Hilton"

Unique were not only the combat characteristics of the new submarines, but almost everything connected with them.

The project envisaged the construction of a special training center for submariners in Obninsk, near Moscow, with all the infrastructure for crew members and their families.

It was assumed that each of the "Sharks" will receive three crews - two main and one technical, who will serve on a rotational basis.

The first crew, having made a military campaign lasting 2-3 months, was supposed to leave the base in the Moscow region, and then go on vacation. At this time, a technical crew was supposed to work on the boat. At the end of the repair work, the technical crew handed over the boat to the second main crew, who had rested, had additional training in Obninsk and was ready to go to sea.

Much attention was paid to the life of submariners on the boat itself. A lounge, a sauna, a solarium, a gym, two wardrooms and even a swimming pool - Soviet submariners had never seen anything like it before. As a result, the Sharks received another nickname - the "floating Hilton".

Own among the whales

The main weakness of the first domestic nuclear submarines was the high noise level that unmasked them. The hulls of the Sharks were designed so well that the noise level was much lower than even the designers expected. For the Americans, the "silence" of the "Shark" was an unpleasant surprise. Indeed, it somehow becomes uncomfortable at the thought that somewhere in the ocean a “nine-story building” is moving silently and imperceptibly, with its salvo capable of turning several American megacities into a radioactive desert.

Submariners claim that the "Shark" managed to merge with the ocean so much that whales and killer whales often mistook the missile carrier for a relative, thereby creating additional "cover" for it.

The appearance of Project 941 Akula missile carriers in the USSR Navy deprived the US military command of hopes of gaining an overwhelming advantage over the USSR in sea-based nuclear forces.

But big politics intervened in the history of this project. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, US representatives, proposing new disarmament treaties, showed a lively interest in the decommissioning and disposal of the Soviet "Sharks".

TK-202 in 1999, before scrapping. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

The first one is the last one

Of the seven Sharks planned, six were built, the last of which was accepted into the fleet in September 1989. The hull structures of the seventh boat were dismantled in 1990.

TK-202, TK-12 Simbirsk and TK-13 were scrapped between 2005 and 2009 with US financial support. TK-17 "Arkhangelsk" and TK-20 "Severstal" in 2004-2006 were withdrawn to the fleet reserve due to the lack of ammunition and are now also awaiting disposal.

The only missile carrier of the Akula project that is still in service is the same TK-208 submarine, launched on September 23, 1980.

In 2002, TK-208 was given the name "Dmitry Donskoy". The largest submarine missile carrier in the world has been upgraded according to project 941 UM and has now been converted to the Bulava missile system. It was from the Dmitry Donskoy that most of the test launches of the Bulava were carried out. It is assumed that the missile carrier will continue to be used as a test platform for sonar systems and weapons systems designed for the latest types of Russian submarines.