Typhoon class submarine underway |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Akula (Акула) (NATO: Typhoon) |
| Builders: | Rubin Design Bureau |
| Operators: | Soviet Navy Russian Navy |
| Preceded by: | Delta class submarine |
| Succeeded by: | Borei class submarine |
| In commission: | December 12, 1981 |
| Completed: | 6 |
| Active: | 1 |
| Scrapped: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Ballistic missile submarine |
| Displacement: | 23,200–24,500 t (22,830–24,110 long tons) surfaced 33,800–48,000 t (33,270–47,240 long tons) submerged |
| Length: | 175 m (574 ft 2 in) |
| Beam: | 23 m (75 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 12 m (39 ft 4 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × OK-650 pressurized-water nuclear reactors, 190 MW (254,800 hp) each 2 × VV-type steam turbines, 37 MW (49,600 hp) each 2 shafts 7 bladed shrouded screws |
| Speed: | 22.22 knots (41.15 km/h; 25.57 mph) surfaced 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) submerged |
| Endurance: | 120 days submerged[1] |
| Test depth: | 400 m (1,300 ft) |
| Complement: | 160[1] |
| Armament: | 1 × 9K38 Igla SAM 2 × 650 mm (26 in) torpedo tubes • RPK-7 Vodopad AShMs • Type 65K torpedoes 4 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes • RPK-2 Viyuga cruise missiles • Type 53 torpedoes[2] D-19 launch system • 20 × RSM-52 SLBMs |
| Notes: | Ships in class include: TK-208[3] TK-202 TK-12[4] TK-13 TK-17[5] TK-20[6] TK-210 |
The Project 941 or Akula, Russian "Акула" ("Shark") class submarine (NATO reporting name: Typhoon) is a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine deployed by the Soviet Navy in the 1980s. With a submerged displacement of 48,000 tons,[1] the Typhoons are the largest class of submarine ever built,[7] large enough to accommodate decent living facilities for the crew when submerged for months on end.[8] The source of the NATO reporting name remains unclear, although it is often claimed to be related to the use of the word "Typhoon" ("Тайфун") by Leonid Brezhnev in a 1974 speech while describing a new type of nuclear ballistic missile submarine. Soviet doctrine for these vessels was to have them launch SLBMs while submerged under the arctic ice, avoiding the traversal of the GIUK gap to remain safe from the enemy attack submarines and anti-submarine forces. Technically Typhoons were also able to successfully deploy their long-range nuclear missiles while moored at their docks.[9]
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Typhoon submarines are among the quietest Russian sea vessels in operation, being quieter and yet more maneuverable than their predecessors. Besides their missile armament, the Typhoon class features six torpedo tubes; four are designed to handle RPK-2 (SS-N-15) missiles or Type 53 torpedoes, and the other two are designed to launch RPK-7 (SS-N-16) missiles, Type 65 torpedoes, or mines. A Typhoon class submarine can stay submerged for periods up to 120 days[1] in normal conditions, and potentially more if deemed necessary (e.g., in the case of a nuclear war). Their primary weapons system is composed of 20 R-39 (NATO: SS-N-20) ballistic missiles (SLBM) with a maximum of 10 MIRV nuclear warheads each.
Typhoon class submarines feature multiple pressure hulls that simplify internal design while making the vessel much wider than a normal submarine. In the main body of the sub, two Delta class pressure hulls lie parallel with a third, smaller pressure hull above them (which protrudes just below the sail), and two other pressure hulls for torpedoes and steering gear. This also greatly increases their survivability - even if one pressure hull is breached, the crew members in the other are safe and there is less potential for flooding.
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The Typhoon class was developed under Project 941 as the Russian Akula class (Акула), meaning shark. It is sometimes confused with other submarines, as Akula is the name NATO uses to designate the Russian Project 971 Shchuka-B (Щука-Б) class attack submarines. The project was developed with the objective to match the SLBM armament of Ohio class submarines, capable of carrying 192 nuclear warheads, 100 kt each (as 24 UGM-96 Trident I missiles, but today they can carry the trident 2, which has 12 warheads per missile, that gives a total of 288 warheads per submarine, however, at the time, state-of-the-art Soviet SLBMs were substantially larger and heavier than their American counterparts (the R-39 is more than two times heavier than the Trident I; it remains the heaviest SLBM in service worldwide). The submarine had to be scaled accordingly.
Six Typhoon class submarines were built. Originally, the submarines were designated by hull numbers only. Names were later assigned to the four vessels retained by the Russian Navy, which were sponsored by either a city or company. The construction order for an additional vessel (hull number TK-210) was canceled and never completed. Only the first of these submarines to be constructed, the Dmitriy Donskoy, is still in active service with the Russian Navy, serving as a test platform for the Bulava (SS-NX-32) missile which is currently under development. The Arkhangelsk (TK-17) and Severstal (TK-20) remain commissioned, though not currently active with the Russian fleet. All the R-39 missiles have been retired. The Typhoons are slated to be replaced by the Borei class starting in 2010-11.
In late December 2008, a senior Navy official announced that the two Typhoon-class submarines, the TK-17 and TK-20, that are in reserve would not be rearmed with the new Bulava SLBM missile system. They could however be modified to carry cruise missiles or to lay mines, or could be used in special operations.[10] In late June 2009, the Navy Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky told reporters that the two submarines would be reserved for possible future repairs and modernization.[11] In May 2010 the Navy Commander-in-Chief reported that Russia's Typhoon-class submarines would remain in service with the Navy until 2019.[12] In September 2011, Russian defense ministry decided to write off all Project 941 Akula nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines till 2014. The reason for decommission of the world's largest submarines are restrictions imposed on Russia by Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and successful trials of new Borei class submarine.[13] However acording to other sources at the Russian defence ministry no such decision has been made and that the submarines would remain with the Russian Navy.[14]
The Submarine Cargo Vessel is a proposed idea by the Rubin Design Bureau where a Typhoon has its missile launchers removed and replaced with cargo holds. The projected cargo capacity of this configuration is 15,000 tonnes (15,000 long tons).
| # | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TK-208[3] Dmitriy Donskoy | June 30, 1976 | September 27, 1980 | December 29, 1981[1] | In service. Upgraded to project 941UM for use of Bulava missiles |
| TK-202 | April 22, 1978 | September 23, 1982 | December 28, 1983[1] | Withdrawn from active service in June 1999, scrapped 2003-2005 |
| TK-12,Simbirsk | April 19, 1980 | December 17, 1983 | December 26, 1984[1] | Withdrawn from active service in 1996, scrapped 2006-2008 |
| TK-13 | February 23, 1982 | April 30, 1985 | December 26, 1985[1] | Withdrawn from active service in 1997, scrapped 2007-2009 [15] |
| TK-17[5] Arkhangelsk | August 9, 1983 | December 12, 1986 | December 15, 1987[1] | In reserve from 2006, main armament inactive. |
| TK-20[6] Severstal | August 27, 1985 | April 11, 1988 | December 19, 1989[1] | In reserve from 2004, main armament inactive. |
| TK-210 | 1986 | 1990 (scrapped on the ways)[1] |
Typhoon-#1
Typhoon-#5
Typhoon-#6
Two to four units (depending on the satellite map service you click) visible in the waters of the naval base/submarine manufacturing/scrap base of Severodvinsk, Russia
One to three units (depending on the satellite map service you click) visible in the waters of the Zapadnaya Litsa naval base on the Kola peninsula
Probably the best-known fictional Typhoon class submarine was the stealth equipped Red October, the subject of the Tom Clancy novel The Hunt for Red October and its 1990 movie adaptation, starring Sean Connery as the fictional Captain Marko Ramius.
In the novel, the Red October used a drive system consisting of long shafts cut through the hull containing impellers called a tunnel drive or caterpillar drive. In the movie, the caterpillar drive was instead said to be a magnetohydrodynamic drive with no moving parts. In both the novel and the movie, the drive was said to be near-silent; this made the Red October a perfect platform for launching depressed-trajectory ballistic missiles at the United States.
The movie features the Red October as an upgraded Typhoon class submarine with additional length and a towed array sonar (the distinctive "bulb" seen on top of the rudder houses).
In 2008 National Geographic released a documentary about the scrapping of one of the Typhoons in the series "Break It Down".[16] This ship is TK-13, which was scrapped over the time period 2007-2009.
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