A Delta III class submarine |
|
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Delta III class submarine |
| Builders: | Severnoye Mashinostroitelnoye Predpriyatie Severodvinsk |
| Operators: | Soviet Union, Russia |
| Preceded by: | Delta II class submarine |
| Succeeded by: | Delta IV & Typhoon class submarines |
| Subclasses: | Project 09786 special purpose submarine |
| Completed: | 14 |
| Active: | 5 |
| General characteristics [1][2] | |
| Displacement: |
Surfaced: 10,600 tons Submerged: 13,700 tons |
| Length: | 155 m (509 ft) |
| Beam: | 11.7 m (38 ft) |
| Draught: | 8.7 m (29 ft) |
| Depth: |
Operational: 320m Maximum: 400m |
| Propulsion: | reactor system OK-700A (two VM-4S (2*90 MW) PWR) powering two steam turbines delivering 44,700 kW (60,000 shp) to two five bladed fixed pitched shrouded propellers. |
| Speed: |
Surfaced: 14 knots Submerged: 24 knots |
| Range: | Unlimited, except by food supplies |
| Crew: | 40 officers, 90 enlisted |
| Armament: |
16x RSM-50 R-29R "Vysota" missiles; 4x 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes in the bow with 16 torpedoes (SET-65, SAET-60M, 53-65K, 53-65M) |
The 667BDR Kaľmar (Squid) Delta-III class submarine is a large ballistic missile submarine operated by Russian Navy. Like as other previous Delta class submarines the Delta III is a double hulled design with a thin low magnetic steel outer hull wrapped around a thicker inner pressure hull.
Contents |
The technical description and requirements for a new ballistic missile submarine were published in 1972. In Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering [3] under the direction of main designer Sergeiy Nikiticz Kovalev (Сергей Никитич Ковалёв), the development of Project 667BDR was begun. The submarine was be a successor to the project 667BD. The Delta III subs are significantly quieter and have a higher missile section for new longer missiles.
The hull is divided into ten water-proof sections. The first, third, and tenth sections are emergency sections (transverse struts added to increase pressure resistance) with escape hatches. New modular chemical (freon) fire-fighting system were installed. A solarium and gymnasium were to be installed to improve crew living conditions.
Main propulsion system OK-700A consists of two pressurized water reactor VM-4S (2*90 MW) with two steam turbines giving 60,000 shp to two five bladed, fixed-pitch shrouded propellers with improved hydro-acoustic characteristics. Two back-up TG-3000 turbogenerators were also installed. Average period between refueling and overhaul is ~10 years.
The Delta III class are fitted with a new sonar system MGK-400 Rubikon (in submarine K-424, the older MGK-100 Kerch was installed), developed under the leadership of main designer S.M.Shelechov. The Rubikon can operate in infrasound frequencies and contains automated systems for target classification. Its maximum range in ideal hydrologic conditions is about 200 km. The Delta III is also equipped with a new battle management system, the Almaz-BDR (or MVU-JZBDR) torpedo fire control. For improved stealthiness, a new inertial navigation system, Tobol-M-1 (on newer ships Tobol-M-2,) with higher accuracy was installed. Tobol-M works with data from two observatories which are saved for duration of two days and also contains a hydro-acoustic navigational station (Shmeľ, or "Bumblebee") which allows the submarine to determine its position from hydro-acoustic buoys. The Delta III also includes the Molnija-M communications system with satellite capabilities provided by the Tsunami subsystem.
In February 1973, State Rocket Center Makayev began development of a new two-stage liquid-fueled ballistic missile R-29R (3M40, RSM-50, SS-N-18) The improvements in the R-29R over the original R-29 include MIRVed capability and upgraded inertial navigation system with satellite-assisted navigation, giving the new missile greater accuracy (~900 m), increasing its damage potential against all types of military targets whether "soft" or "hard." Fire control for the R-29R is achieved through the D-9R ballistic missile system, which contains sixteen SLBM tubes just like the preceding Project 667BD. Delta III carried most often 16 of the R-29R (height - 16.635 m; diameter - 1.8 m; starting weight - 36,3 tons) missiles each carrying 3 MIRVs (0,2 мт each) with a range of about 6,500 km (but also can carry R-29RK with 7 (0,1 мт) MIRVs and range of about 6,500 km or R-29RL with single (0,45 мт) warhead and range of about 9,000 km). Coupled with the R-29R's capabilities and the performance of the D-9R, the Russian navy possesses, for the first time, the ability to launch any number of its missiles in a single salvo with shorter launch intervals.
The submarines also have four 533mm bow torpedo tubes and carry sixteen torpedoes of types SET-65, SAET-60M, 53-65K, 53-65M, or any combination thereof.
First ship of class K-424 was be laid down on 30 January 1974 in Severnoye Mashinostroitelnoye Predpriyatie (Sevmash), Severodvinsk as last ship of Delta II class. During build was resolved integrated new D-9R missile system into Delta II hull without any changes in other equipment. Ship was launched on 11 February 1976 and passed sea trials in November 1976. Then tests of new missile system was start. During tests was in White and Barents sea launched 22 missiles (4x R-29PL, 6x R-29R, 12x R-29RK) and missile system is commissioned in September 1978.
Most submarines served in Pacific fleet at Rybachiy submarine base near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. To 1980 seven under-ice Arctic sail and two along Southern territories are accomplished. Under-ice sails were very difficult. In some places is depth of sea smaller than 50 meters and thickness of ice about 15 meters. That gives only few meters around of submarine. Sail was can be performed only by manual drive which was give giant exigencies for crew and commander.
In Northern fleet served two submarines at submarine base Gazhiyevo and three at submarine base Olenya. From 1990s is all Northern fleet subs at Gazhiyevo.
All Delta III submarines passed general overhaul refuelling and upgrade in Zvezdochka shipyard, Severodvinsk or in Zvezda shipyard, Bolshoy Kamen since 1991 when Soviet union collapsed. On ships was be upraded missile system D-9R with lightly modified missiles R-29R which was be delivered from 1987 to 1990. On some ships was be installed sonar station Avrora-1.
Most of ships were decommissioned from 1995, when they reach time to next overhaul, but is ineffective to do it. Only youngest submarine, K-44 Ryazan, passed in years 2005-2007 second general overhaul and refueling which gives it potential service life to 2017.
In 1994-2002 was submarine K-129 rebuild in Zvezdochka shipyard to special purpose submarine of Project 09786 (carrier of minisumbarine) and remarked to BS-136 Orenburg.
On September 30, 2008 a Russian Navy spokesman reported that Ryazan had successfully completed a 30-day transit from a base in northern Russia under the Arctic ice cap to a base on the Rybachiy submarine base, Kamchatka Peninsula. The Navy added that Ryazan will soon be assigned to regularly patrol the Pacific Ocean.[4] As of July 2008[update], six Delta III boats were active, of which two were believed to be in the process of decommissioning.[5]
| # | Shipyard | Name | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fleet | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K-424 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | NA | 30 January 1974 | 11 February 1976 | 30 December 1976 | Northern | Decommissioned 28 March 1995 for scrapping[6] |
| K-441 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | NA | 7 May 1974 | 25 May 1976 | 31 October 1976 | Pacific | Decommissioned 28 March 1995 for scrapping[6] |
| K-449 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | NA | 19 July 1974 | 29 July 1976 | 5 February 1977 | Pacific | in reserve from 1996,[6] decommissioned in 2001, scrapped 2008 |
| K-455 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | NA | 16 October 1974 | 16 August 1976 | 30 December 1976 | Pacific | in reserve from 1998-99,[6] probably decommissioned |
| K-490 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | NA | 6 March 1975 | 27 January 1977 | 30 September 1977 | Pacific | in reserve from 1998-99,[6] probably decommissioned |
| K-487 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | NA | 9 June 1975 | 4 April 1977 | 27 December 1977 | Northern | in reserve from 1998-99,[6] probably decommissioned |
| K-496 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | Borisoglebsk | 23 September 1975 | 13 August 1977 | 30 December 1977 | Northern[6] | decommissioned on 9 December 2008[7] fuel discharged.[8] |
| K-506 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | Zelenograd | 29 December 1975 | 26 January 1978 | 30 November 1978 | Pacific | Removed from service in 2010, Decommissioned in June 2010 |
| K-211 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy | 19 August 1976 | 13 January 1979 | 28 September 1979 | Pacific | Removed from active service in Dec 2010 |
| K-223 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | Podolsk | 19 February 1977 | 30 April 1979 | 27 November 1979 | Pacific | Active 2010 |
| K-180 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | NA | 27 December 1977 | 8 January 1980 | 25 September 1980 | Pacific[6] | In reserve from 2004, Scrapped in 2008 [9] |
| K-433 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | Svyatoy Georgiy Pobedonosets | 24 August 1978 | 20 June 1980 | 15 December 1980 | Pacific | Active 2010 Successfully tested ballistic missile in Oct 2010.[10] |
| BS-136 (ex K-129) | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | Orenburg | 9 April 1979 | 15 April 1981 | 5 November 1981 | Northern | 1994-2002 - conversion to special purpose submarine Project 09786 (carrier of minisumbarine). Active as 2008 [11] |
| K-44 | SEVMASH, Severodvinsk | Ryazan | 31 January 1980 | 19 January 1982 | 17 September 1982[12] | Pacific | Overhauled in 2007 Active 2010 |