Typhoon-Class: Russia Built the Biggest Submarine Ever (Navy Could Not Match It)

 

Typhoon-Class Submarine

The Russian Navy decommissioned the Project 941 Akula (Typhoon-class) submarine Dmitry Donskoy in February 2023, several years earlier than expected.

-Originally commissioned in 1981, the Dmitry Donskoy was the last of the Typhoon-class submarines in service, known for being the largest submarines ever built.

The vessel, which served as a weapons test platform in recent years, was retired due to cost considerations. The Typhoon-class submarines were designed during the Cold War to counter the U.S. Navy's Ohio-class submarines, carrying 20 RSM-52 SLBMs with multiple warheads.

Over a year ago, Russia decommissioned the Project 941 Akula (NATO reporting name Typhoon) heavy nuclear-powered missile-carrying submarine cruiser Dmitry Donskoy several years earlier than expected. In fact, it had been only three years ago that the Kremlin announced the boat would remain in service until at least 2026, even as its role was reportedly limited to that of a weapons test platform for the new Borei-, Borei-A-, Yasen-and Yasen-M-class submarines.

In February 2023, it was officially confirmed that Dmitry Donskoy was decommissioned in February due to cost considerations. The submarine had served for more than 40 years in the Northern Fleet.

Initially designated the TK-208, she was the lead vessel of the Soviet third-generation Akula-class (Russian for "Shark"). She entered service in 1981 with the Soviet Navy, and after a 12-year overhaul and refit that began in 1990, she reentered service in 2002 as the Dmitry Donskoy, named after the Grand Duke of Moscow Dmitry Donskoy (1359–1389), the reputed founder of Moscow.

According to Russian media, Dmitry Donskoy initially carried D-19 strategic intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) as its basic armament. Following its upgrade under Project 941UM, it was involved in the tests of the seaborne Bulava ICBM.

Typhoon-Class: Project 941 Boats

The Sevmash Shipyard built six of a planned seven Project 941 submarines for the Russian Navy, and all were operational with the Northern Fleet. Though the oldest of the submarines, the Dmitriy Donskoy was also the last of the class to remain in service.

The TK-202, TK-12 – later renamed the Simbirsk – and T-13 were withdrawn from active service between 1996 and 2009, and scrapped with the financial support of the United States. Two other boats: the TK-17/Arkhangelsk and TK-20/Severstal remained in service until they were decommissioned circa 2013. A seventh boat, TK-210, was laid down but scrapped before completion.

With a displacement of 48,000 tons, a length of 175 meters (nearly 600 feet), a 23-meter beam, and a 12-meter draught, the Typhoon-class was the largest class of submarines ever built. Developed with multiple pressure hulls, including five inner hulls situated inside a superstructure of two parallel main hulls, the Typhoon-class was also wider than any other submarine ever built. The submarines were powered by OK-650 pressurized-water nuclear reactors, two 50,000 horsepower steam turbines, and four 3,200 KW turbogenerators and this provides the boat with the ability to sail at a speed of up to 22.2 knots on the surface and 27 knots whilst submerged.

Each contained nineteen compartments, including a strengthened module, which housed the main control room as well as an electronic equipment compartment above the main hulls and behind the missile launch tubes. It even was reported that there was a sauna on board as well as a small swimming pool for the crew. The sheer size of the submarines was likely welcomed by the approximately 160 sailors who called the submarine home on voyages lasting 120 days or longer, oftentimes without surfacing for months at a time.

The Typhoon-class subs were designed to counter the United States Navy's Ohio-class subs, which were capable of carrying up to 192 100-kiloton nuclear warheads. By contrast, the Soviet Typhoons could carry a primary cache of 20 RSM-52 SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles), each of which contained up to 10 MIRV (multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle) warheads.

Though the Dmitriry Donskoiy has been decommissioned, in 2021, a new sub of the Borei-class has already begun construction; and when launched, will bear the name of the legendary founder of Moscow.

USS Idaho: Futuristic nuclear-powered fast attack Navy submarine launched

 

USS Idaho: Futuristic nuclear-powered fast attack Navy submarine launched

The future USS Idaho (SSN 799) has been successfully launched into the Thames River from the shipyard of General Dynamics Electric Boat, one of the U.S. Navy’s latest attack submarines.

The launch, also known as “float off,” marks a construction milestone in the life of a ship when it moves from the shipbuilder’s facilities and into the water for the first time to begin final outfitting, testing, and crew certification.

“Today’s launch is a testament to the strong collaboration the Navy has with its shipbuilding partners,” said Capt Mike Hollenbach, Virginia Class Submarine program manager. 

“IDAHO will be a valuable national asset and source of pride for our Sailors, the shipbuilders and all Americans for years to come.”

Virginia-class fast-attack submarine submarine sponsor Terry Stackley christened the boat on March 16, 2024, with water she collected from several lakes in Idaho. 

The submarine began construction in 2017 and will be the 26th Virginia-class fast attack submarine to deliver to the fleet and the fifth U.S. Navy ship named for the state. 

The last ship named Idaho was battleship BB 42, commissioned in 1919.

Virginia-class fast-attack submarines allow the Navy to maintain the nation’s undersea supremacy well into the 21st century.  

Virginia submarines have enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities, and special warfare enhancements that enable them to meet the Navy’s multi-mission requirements. 

Additionally, through the extensive use of modular construction, open architecture, and commercial off-the-shelf components, the Virginia class is designed to remain state-of-the-art for its entire operational life by rapidly introducing new systems and payloads.

The submarine will undergo rigorous US Navy sea trials.

Sea trials are an intense series of tests to demonstrate the satisfactory operation of all installed shipboard equipment. 

Sea Trials ensure that the submarine’s overall performance is in accordance with its plans and specifications. 

New construction ships undergo Builder’s Trials and Acceptance Trials prior to the submarine’s delivery and Final Contract Trials several months after delivery before sailing away.

The sail away is the submarine’s final departure from the construction yard for its homeport or commissioning site. 

It signifies the end of the new construction period and the beginning of its life as it prepares to perform the mission it was designed to undertake.

Capabilities and missions

The USS Idaho SSN 799 will have Acoustic Stealth, developed at Acoustic Research Detachment, Bayview, Idaho.

The submarine features nuclear power, and the original nuclear submarine propulsion system was built at Idaho National Lab in 1953—all of the nuclear training officers and crew from the USS Nautilus SSN 571 trained in Idaho.

The submarine is built at an estimated cost of $2.6 billion; its life is expected to be 30 years.

The submarine’s armament includes 12 Vertical-Launch Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles and 4 Horizontal Torpedo Tubes capable of launching Mark 48 Advanced Capability Torpedoes and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles.

The special operations of the submarine include an integrated Lock In / Lockout chamber for Navy SEAL Operations Capability.

The missions of this submarine are sea control and freedom of navigation operations, land attack, antisubmarine warfare, carrier/task force battle group escort, mine laying and detection, special operations control/support, antisurface ship warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and launch/recovery of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles.

The submarine is expected to be commissioned in 2025.

Guam slated to homeport its first Virginia-class fast-attack submarine

 

The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota transits Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on June 20, 2024, as it begins sea trials after undergoing a two-year maintenance period. (Claudia LaMantia/U.S. Navy)

The Navy will beef up its submarine squadron on Guam in the coming months by homeporting one of the service’s most advanced fast-attack subs there. 

The Virginia-class USS Minnesota is expected to arrive in the U.S. territory sometime during the next fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, Lt. Cmdr. Rick Moore, a spokesperson for U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force, said by email Friday.

 “We are committed to posturing our most capable platforms to preserve peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” he wrote. “Although I am unable to discuss specifics at this time, the Navy routinely assesses its overseas force positioning, to include forward-deployed naval force submarines homeported in Guam.”

 USS Minnesota, which was commissioned in 2013, is currently homeported at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. In early July, it completed a two-year maintenance overhaul at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Hawaii.

 Guam is of growing importance to the Pentagon’s Indo-Pacific strategy as China continues to expand its Navy and its ambitions in the region. The U.S. territory is home to Andersen Air Force Base, Naval Base Guam and Camp Blaz, a massive Marine Corps base still under construction.

 The island would serve as a crucial hub in the event of a conflict with China because it is the westernmost American territory and closest to the South China Sea, a flashpoint in the region. The nuclear-powered Virginia-class subs will eventually replace the Navy’s aging fleet of Cold War-era Los Angeles-class vessels.

 Virginia-class subs are designed for a greater range of missions, with an emphasis on littoral operations, according to a Navy fact sheet. They support a host of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance.

 The subs are designed so that their torpedo rooms can be reconfigured to hold a large number of special operations forces and their equipment during extended deployments. Guam was homeport to five Los Angeles-class submarines for most of 2022, a group that included USS Annapolis, USS Jefferson City, USS Asheville, USS Springfield and USS Key West.

 In early 2023, however, the Key West headed back to the U.S. mainland after 35 years of service in the fleet and awaits decommissioning.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2024-08-02/navy-guam-submarine-uss-minnesota-14716907.html?utm_source=Stars+and+Stripes+Emails&utm_campaign=Daily+Headlines&utm_medium=email

Source - Stars and Stripes