Typhoon-class submarine

Typhoon class

Typhoon-class SSBN profile
Typhoon-class submarine underway
Class overview
Name:	Akula (Акула) (NATO: Typhoon)
Builders:	Sevmash, designed by Rubin
Operators:	Soviet Navy  Russian Navy
Preceded by:	Delta class submarine
Succeeded by:	Borei class submarine
Built:	1976–1986
In service:	1981–present
In commission:	1981–1989
Planned:	7
Completed:	6
Cancelled:	1
Active:	1
Laid up:	2
Retired:	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 MWt each 2 × VV-type steam turbines, 37 MW (49,600 hp) each 2 shafts with 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 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes RPK-2 Viyuga cruise missiles Type 53 torpedoes[2] D-19 launch system 20 × RSM-52 SLBMs

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 tonnes,^[1] the Typhoons are the largest class of submarine ever built,^[3] large enough to accommodate decent living facilities for the crew when submerged for months on end.^[4] 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, as a reaction to the US Navy Ohio-class submarines.^[5]

The Russian Navy canceled its Typhoon modernization program in March 2012, stating that modernizing one Typhoon would be as expensive as building two new Borei-class submarines.^[6] With the announcement that Russia has eliminated the last SS-N-20 Sturgeon SLBMs in September 2012, the remaining Typhoons have reached the end of service.^[7]

Description

Besides their missile armament, the Typhoon class features six torpedo tubes; all of which are designed to handle RPK-2 (SS-N-15) missiles or Type 53 torpedoes. 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. Technically, Typhoons were able to deploy their long-range nuclear missiles while moored at their docks.^[8]

Typhoon-class submarines feature multiple pressure hulls, similar to the World War II Japanese I-400-class submarine, that simplify internal design while making the vessel much wider than a normal submarine. In the main body of the sub, two long 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.

History

A Typhoon class submarine on the surface in 1985.

Soviet "Typhoon" class ballistic missile submarine, with inset of a football field graphic to convey a sense of the enormous size of the vessel.

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. 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 to have been in service worldwide). The submarine had to be scaled accordingly^[9].

In the early 1990s, there were also intentions to rebuild some of the Typhoon-class submarines to submarine cargo vessels for shipping oil, gas and cargo under polar ice to Russia’s far flung northern territories. The submarines could take up to 10,000 tonnes of cargo on-board and ship it under the polar ice to tankers waiting in the Barents Sea. These ships — after the considerable engineering required to develop technologies to transfer oil from drilling platforms to the submarines, and later, to the waiting tankers — would then deliver their cargo world-wide.^[10]

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. The Arkhangelsk (TK-17) and Severstal (TK-20) remain in reserve, not currently active with the Russian fleet. All the R-39 missiles have been retired. The Typhoons have since been replaced by the Borei class since 2010-2011.

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.^[11] In late June 2009, the Navy Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Vladimir Vysotskiy told reporters that the two submarines would be reserved for possible future repairs and modernization.^[12] In May 2010, the Navy Commander-in-Chief reported that Russia's Typhoon-class submarines would remain in service with the Navy until 2019.^[13] In September 2011, the Russian defense ministry decided to write off all Project 941 Akula nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines until 2014. The reasons for decommissioning the Typhoon class vessels are the restrictions imposed on Russia by the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and successful trials of new Borei-class submarine.^[14]

Despite being a replacement for many types of submarines, the Borei class submarines are slightly smaller than the Typhoon class in terms of length (170 m as opposed to 175 m) and crew (107 people as opposed to 160). These changes were in part designed to reduce the cost to build and maintain the submarines. In addition, the United States and Canada provided 80% of funds for scrapping the older Typhoon class submarines, making it much more economical to build a new submarine.^[15] However, according to other sources at the Russian defence ministry, no such decision has been made; in that case, the submarines would remain with the Russian Navy.,^[16] Submarines TK-17 Arhangelsk and TK-20 Severstal will not be modernized as platforms for cruise missiles, but they will be kept in service with their previous armament, R-39 missiles.

In 2013, the State-Run RIA Novosti news has announced that the Navy will scrap two Typhoons beginning in 2018. They will be the TK-17 and TK-20.^[17] As of 2017, the decision about scrapping of TK-17 and TK-20 is still not certain.^[18]

Units

Timeline

TK-208 Dmitriy Donskoy (Typhoon #1)

• 10 February 1982: Entered 18th division (Zapadnaya Litsa), NOR.
• December 1982: Transferred from Severodvinsk to Zapadnaya Litsa.
• 1983-1984: Tests of D-19 missile complex. Commanders: A.V.Olkhovikov (1980–1984).
• 3 December 1986: Entered Navy Board of the Winners of the Socialist Competition.
• 18 January 1987: Entered MoD Board of Glory.
• 20 September 1989 – 1991: Repairs and refit at Sevmash to Project 941U. 1991 refit cancelled.
• 1996: Returned to 941U refit.
• 2002: Named Dmitriy Donskoy.
• 26 June 2002: End of refit.
• 30 June 2002: Start of testing.
• 26 July 2002: Entered sea trials, Re-entered fleet, without missile system.
• December 2003: Sea trials; refitted to carry a new Bulava missile system. New missile system expected to be operational by 2005.
• 9 October 2005: Successfully launched SS-NX-30 Bulava SLBM from surface.
• 21 December 2005: Successfully launched SS-NX-30 Bulava SLBM from submerged position on move.
• 7 September 2006: Test launch of the Bulava missile failed after several minutes in flight due to the problems in the flight control system. The missile fell into the sea about a minute after the launch. The sub was not affected and was returning to Severodvinsk base submerged. Later reports blamed the engine of the first stage for the failure.
• 25 October 2006: Test launch of the Bulava-M missile in the White Sea failed some 200 seconds after liftoff due to the apparent failure of the flight control system.
• 28 August 2008: Underwent successful testing at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast. More than 170 men worked with the Dmitriy Donskoy, 100 of them employed at the Sevmash plant and 70 at other companies.
• As of 2017, the submarine is still in active service.^[23]

TK-17 Arkhangelsk (Typhoon #5)

• 19 February 1988: Entered 18th division (Zapadnaya Litsa) NOR.
• 8 January–9 November 2002: Refit at Sevmash.
• In July 2002, crew petitioned Main Navy Headquarters to adopt the name Arkhangel'sk (renamed on 18 November 2002).
• Commander: 2002-2003 V.Volkov.
• 17 February 2004: Took part in military exercises with President Vladimir Putin aboard.
• In reserve since 2006, the fate of the submarine is unknown. The decision about its dismantling still has not been made.^[18]

TK-20 Severstal (Typhoon #6)

• 28 February 1990: Entered 18th division (Zapadnaya Litsa), NOR.
• 25 August 1996: Successfully launched SLBM
• November 1996: Successfully launched SLBM from North Pole.
• 24 July 1999: Took part in parade on Navy Day in Severomorsk, NOR.
• November–December 1999 – distant cruise.
• 2001: named to Severstal.
• June 2001–December 2002: Repairs at Sevmash.
• Commander: A. Bogachev (2001).
• In reserve since 2004, the fate of the submarine is unknown. The decision about its dismantling still has not been made.^[18]

Photos

Satellite photos

Satellite image of a Typhoon-class Submarine Severodvinsk. Declassified in 2012.

• Two side-by-side (TK-20 and TK-17) at 64°34′30″N 39°46′12″E / 64.5751°N 39.7701°E / 64.5751; 39.7701
• TK-208 at 64°34′08″N 39°46′10″E / 64.568954°N 39.769476°E / 64.568954; 39.769476

Interior photos

• In 2009 a blogger posted dozens of photos of the interior of a Typhoon submarine at Nerpichya Naval Base,^[24] perhaps TK-12 or TK-13 based on the state of decay, claiming the photos were taken in 2004.^[25] That pair of aging submarines was decommissioned several years prior, in 1996 and 1997.

Notable appearances in media

Typhoon-class submarine, covered with ice.

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.

The 2001 documentary Mission Invisible about the Russian submarine Severstal was produced by Corona Films for Discovery Channel with the participation of ZED, France 5, ZDF, RTBF, TV5 Monde and the Scottish Screen Fund.^[26][27]

In 2008 National Geographic released a documentary about the scrapping of one of the Typhoons in the series Break It Down.^[28] This boat is TK-13, which was scrapped over the time period 2007–2009.

In the 2012 film Resident Evil: Retribution it was referenced as a mode for escape.

See also

• List of Soviet and Russian submarine classes
• Submarine-launched ballistic missile

Notes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Typhoon class submarines.

• Typhoon-class page on Globalsecurity.org
• Russian strategic fleet
• The REAL Red October - Typhoon SSBN
• Video of the Typhoon during Sea Trials

SSBN classes in service
People's Liberation Army Navy	Type 092 (Xia) Type 094 (Jin)
French Navy	Triomphant
Indian Navy	Arihant
Russian Navy	Delta III Typhoon Delta IV Borei
Royal Navy	Vanguard
United States Navy	Ohio