When the apple leopard is returned to service. Repair and modernization of the nuclear submarine "Leopard" on the "Zvezdochka" - bmpd

With the arrival in 2011 and the acceptance for repair of the Leopard nuclear submarine, Zvyozdochka opened the era of repair and modernization of project 971 multi-purpose boats (Pike-B code), better known to shipbuilders and naval sailors as the Barsy. Today, next to the "Leopard" on the slipway of the factory slipway is the "Wolf" - the second representative of this series from the composition of the submarine forces of the Northern Fleet. Their two brothers from the Pacific Ocean - "Bratsk" and "Samara" are still waiting for their turn to stand on a solid foundation.

The fact is that the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center remains the only enterprise in Russia today that can handle a large-scale program for the modernization of nuclear submarines. Therefore, the command of the Navy made a decision to assign to the head enterprise of the Ship Repair Center and its branch - "Nerpa" the implementation of a part of the program to maintain the combat readiness of a group of multi-purpose nuclear submarines. Moreover, Zvezdochka is the most developed enterprise in the domestic ship repair industry, having vast and, most importantly, up-to-date experience in technically complex projects. Such a project, for example, was the modernization of all strategic missile carriers of project 667BDRM - the basis of the naval component of the forces nuclear deterrence. These circumstances explain the fact that the Pacific Bars arrived at the Yagrin shipyard for improvement.

All of them, in addition to repairs, are waiting for a deep modernization, after which the project code will also change. Modernization work will concern both the "stuffing" - all systems and complexes, and the ship's hull. Project 971M multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the third generation, in terms of updated performance characteristics, will approach the nuclear submarines of the next generation - Project 885 Yasen. It can be said that it will be created new ship in the old building.

The inevitable decommissioning of the II and III generation submarines, the physical and moral obsolescence of the Project 971 nuclear submarines, which have more than 20 years of service behind them, especially in the absence of the necessary repairs, combined with the extremely low rate of commissioning of the IV generation ships, forces the Navy command to take seriously the maintenance of the existing grouping of multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the Northern and Pacific fleets.

The actual state of repair carried out in recent years cannot overcome the obsolescence of electronic weapons and technical means. And the characteristics of the strike complex of ships no longer adequately meet modern requirements. To maintain the grouping of multi-purpose nuclear submarines, speaking of project 971, repairs and modernization are required, which, according to experts, includes a number of mandatory elements. These areas should cover the transition to the modern level of control systems, communications and navigation, hydroacoustics, CICS and other REV systems, the introduction of advanced models of missile and torpedo weapons of a wide range, means of ensuring nuclear safety, survivability, habitability, operational reliability, and reducing acoustic visibility.

The overall set of repair and modernization works will extend the service life of these ships by another 15 years. If we take into account that their service life only with maintenance repairs is a quarter of a century, then a decade and a half until the required number of generation IV nuclear submarines is put into operation is a sufficient guarantee of maintaining the combat capability of a multi-purpose group.

For the implementation of such a large-scale task, even the shipyard, which has been successfully coping with the repair of nuclear submarines for many decades, had to carry out serious preparations, from the coordination of design documentation with the designer to the reconstruction of its production capacity.

Unfortunately, good undertakings, as often happens, collided with harsh reality. The classical scheme "first design, then execution in metal" was actually turned on its head. The ships are being repaired, and the R&D and technical re-equipment of the shipyard is still ongoing, despite the fact that the go-ahead to start fulfilling the contract has been given. Due to the rush to fulfill the common task, ship repairers are forced to go ahead of the designers, who, in turn, urgently have to make constant adjustments to the “raw” design documentation, working out issues that require prompt resolution for a long time. scheduled tasks. And this is only one component of the difficult process of updating Barsov.

boats this project belong to the III generation, in which Soviet designers and designers introduced the latest scientific and technical developments. Increasing the role of process automation in the management of systems and complexes of the ship made it possible to reduce the number of crew members. On the other hand, this was reflected in the dense layout of the interior of the boat with equipment. The approach to the construction of ships of project 971 was also changed, with the transition to a block one, when zonal blocks in ready-made placed in the body. All this undoubtedly complicates the already difficult process of upgrading these nuclear submarines, requiring new concepts for the implementation of this program.

On the example of the first-born of the series for the enterprise - the Leopard, one can judge the difficulties that befell the Zvezdochka shipbuilders. design organizations, up to several months delaying the release of design and technological documentation. in a separate line in general course repair and modernization is the process of manufacturing and repairing equipment by manufacturers. The situation, unfortunately, is typical not only in relation to these ships. Many enterprises barely make ends meet, some have completely disappeared from the once all-Union network of industrial cooperation. It must be admitted that the delays in the supply of basic equipment and spare parts for repairs have become a headache for the builders of Zvezdochka.

However, the process is underway. The installation of foundations for equipment, testing of hull elements and tanks continues. With a significant delay, but the "Leopard" was presented for electrical work and they are already being carried out with might and main. The pace of work and the incoming equipment (albeit with more than a six-month delay) allow us to say with confidence that the order will be delivered within the period specified by the state contract. An analysis of the errors received during work on the lead ship of the Barsov series will significantly reduce the time for the return to service of the remaining ships of this project.

The timely fulfillment of the task set also requires the enterprise to implement a number of investment projects for the technical re-equipment and reconstruction of Zvezdochka's production facilities. In addition, it was necessary to introduce the widest list of technical equipment for orders, including stands for testing and tuning systems and mechanisms, means of repair. All this had to be "run in" on the lead Leopard for Zvezdochka. The numbers speak volumes about the extensive work that has been done. From the moment of preparation and during the unloading and repair of equipment to date, more than 1,400 units of technical equipment for orders of project 971M have been manufactured, which is more than half of the required quantity. At the same time, the creation and implementation of new stands continues, for which research and design institutes are involved.

With regard to infrastructure, it should be noted: for the program of medium repair and modernization of nuclear submarines of the third generation within the framework of the federal target program, calculated until 2018, a number of production and technical facilities of the shipyard are being reconstructed and built. At the expense of multibillion-dollar budgetary and own funds, the reconstruction of the low-pressure steam boiler house, the reconstruction of shop No. 10 was carried out, the technical re-equipment of shop No. 15 - the slipway shops of the enterprise is underway. The construction and re-equipment of several more facilities is underway. Among them are hydraulic structures (first of all, deep-water and shallow-water embankments), ship-lifting and transport-transfer complexes, and screw-processing production.

Unfortunately, it is precisely this set of factors: the delay in the implementation of the technical re-equipment program (really long and labor-intensive), gaps in preliminary design and organizational work, non-fulfillment of work by counterparties - inevitably shifted and continue to shift to the right the execution of state contracts for the repair and modernization of the group of nuclear submarines of project 971 .

This situation is not new for Zvezdochka. The start of the multi-year stage of factory repairs of nuclear submarines of project 667BDRM began in a similar way. Initial difficulties and inconsistencies were eliminated by common efforts, and later the repair of strategic missile carriers was put on the conveyor. With a high degree of confidence, it seems that in the Barsov repair and modernization program, the initial roughness will be eliminated, and subsequent ships of project 971M will return to service in accordance with the contractual terms.

In the seas and oceans, the USSR Navy was required to take adequate steps all the time, eliminating the likely threat. It was required not only to maintain parity in nuclear submarines, which housed nuclear missiles, but also to have effective means of countering the strike formations of the fleet of a potential enemy. After long search effective means of anti-submarine warfare, it was decided to build attack multi-purpose nuclear submarines of project 971.

The new ships were supposed to covertly carry out underwater reconnaissance, controlling the movements of submarine missile carriers of Western countries, and, if necessary, act in advance.

How the new Pike nuclear submarines of project 971 were created

It should be noted that the idea to create a submarine capable of effectively fighting the submarines of a potential enemy at sea appeared immediately after the entry into service of the American Los Angeles-class nuclear submarine fleet. available Soviet fleet submarines were not very suitable for searching for enemy ships in the depths of the world's oceans. The main disadvantage of the second generation Soviet nuclear submarines was the high noise level of the underwater course. This was especially reflected in the combat capability of the Soviet nuclear submarines, which could no longer compete on equal terms with the 3rd generation submarines that appeared in foreign fleets.

Project 971 was a continuation of the practical implementation of the construction of titanium nuclear attack submarines of project 945. The main goal of the project was to scale up the construction of cheaper multi-purpose submarines. The main components and assemblies of Project 945 submarines were taken as the basis of the new project. Instead of a titanium hull, the new nuclear submarines were supposed to have steel hulls of a similar shape, similar performance characteristics, including autonomy and range. In terms of speed, diving depth and armament, the Project 971 submarines should have had similar parameters. Particular emphasis in project 971 was placed on a significant reduction in the noise of the boat. This factor was to play a key role in the subsequent operation of the new class of submarines.

The submarine of project 971 received the code "Pike-B", thereby repeating the glorious combat history"Pike", medium submarines of the Second World War. The project documentation provided for the construction of multi-purpose submarines of the 3rd generation in a large series, which were supposed to replace obsolete boats of the Pike type of project 671 in the fleet. The terms of reference for the new Pike appeared in the summer of 1976. A year later, the new submarine received its shape through the efforts of SKB-143 "Malachite". This design bureau already had experience in building ocean-going submarines, so the Gorky project did not have to be adjusted to new factory conditions.

Only in 1980 were the last technical improvements completed and production documentation compiled. In 1983, the first nuclear submarine of project 971 was laid down, which received the formidable name "Shark". The submarine was supposed to initiate a large series of multi-purpose submarines with improved seaworthiness and hydroacoustic characteristics.

Stages of construction of new nuclear submarines "Pike"

The situation that developed in the mid-80s at sea forced the country's top naval leadership to make every effort to increase the combat capability of the ocean submarine fleet. The tasks aimed at reducing the noise level of the course and increasing the firepower of submarines formed the basis of the new project. The first submarine received serial number No. 501 and was laid down at the shipbuilding plant. Lenin Komsomol in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. In the summer of 1984, the ship was launched and under the new year, 1985, entered service.

All subsequent ships of the new series, Project 971 multi-purpose submarines Shchuka-B, were simultaneously built at two shipyards in the country, in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and at Sevmash in Severodvinsk. A total of 15 ships were launched, of which 8 became part of the Pacific Fleet, and the other 7 formed the strike core of the Northern Fleet.

The first ship of the series, the submarine "Shark" already in the first voyage showed unique results. In terms of underwater noise, the Soviet submarine surpassed its direct competitor, the American nuclear submarine of the Los Angeles type.

Reference: The secret of success Soviet designers and shipbuilders was in a new method of processing screws. For the first time at shipyards engaged in the construction of submarines, high-precision foreign equipment was used - Japanese milling machines Toshiba brand. As a result, it was possible to significantly improve the quality of the metalworking of the propeller blades of the submarine, which was reflected in the reduction of the noise level of the rotating propeller.

Project 971, according to the Western classification "Akula-II", was an unpleasant surprise for the US Navy. From now on, American attack submarines and missile carriers could not sail freely near the Soviet coast. Each movement of the potential enemy submarine was controlled by the Soviet new "pikes".

At the government level, it was decided to give the new ships names that are consonant with the names of Soviet cities. For example, the sixth nuclear submarine of the Shchuka-B type received the name Magadan after launching. However, three years later the submarine received a new name, K-331 Narwhal. With this name, the ship sailed until January 2001.

All nuclear submarines of the "Pike-B" type, commissioned on Far East in the Pacific Fleet were named after the names of Russian cities. So, following the Akula boat, the Far Eastern shipbuilders followed the Barnaul nuclear submarine and, in 1989, the nuclear submarine Bratsk as the lead ship of Project 971. Then came the turn of the nuclear-powered ship Magadan, which was launched in December 1990. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, already in 1992, the Kuzbass multi-purpose submarine entered service with the Pacific Fleet. Laid down in 1993 on a slipway in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the K-419 Samara submarine was already being completed to replace the Soviet era. The submarine entered service in July 1995.

The only ship that stood out by its name among the detachment of new ships was the nuclear submarine K-322 Kashalot, which entered service with the Pacific Fleet in 1988.

Having received the first real confirmation of the correctness of the chosen technical solutions as a result of the implementation of project 971, the construction of submarines of the Shchuka-B type at the Severodvinsk Machine-Building Enterprise was actively launched. "Sevmash" became a home for most of the Soviet nuclear-powered ships. The fate of the second series of Project 971 boats, assembled at the Sevmash shipyards and commissioned by the Northern Fleet, was no exception.

Design features of nuclear submarines of project 971

Project 971 nuclear submarines were originally built as fighters for enemy submarine missile carriers, so powerful weapons were installed on the ships. In terms of combat potential, modern "Pikes" are significantly superior to all domestic counterparts and were much stronger than foreign combat submarines of a similar class.

Together with the Barracuda-class submarines, the new nuclear attack submarines were supposed to form the backbone of the USSR Navy to counter the potential enemy’s naval strike groups on the Northern and Eastern flank. Using your high performance characteristics, stealth and greater autonomy, the new "Pikes" could be successfully used to carry out special operations throughout the oceans.

Nuclear submarines were to be armed with new Granat cruise missiles and a digital sonar system.

The main design features of the project 971 nuclear-powered ships were full automation basic technological and combat processes. All ship control was concentrated in a single main command post. The system for automating the processes and control of the ship made it possible to significantly reduce the crew on the Pike of Project 971. The warship was served by 73 sailors and officers, which is almost two times less than on the main multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the US Navy of the Los Angeles type. The living conditions of the personnel have also improved on the new ships, and the living conditions for the crew who have been at sea for a long time have improved.

One of the innovative solutions applicable in the design of the ship is the organization of the ship's crew rescue system in emergency situations. Boats of the "Pike-B" type were equipped with a pop-up rescue chamber, designed for the entire crew (73 people).

The hull and power plant of the nuclear submarine "Pike"

The first Project 971 nuclear-powered ship of the Pike-B type was a double-hulled ship. The main strong hull of the ship is steel, made of high-strength steel. The hull of the boat was divided into compartments so that all combat posts and the main ship control units were located in separate isolated zones. The inner part of the boat had a frame, type-setting structure with transitions and decks. Due to the two-stage damping of each block, it was possible to achieve a significant reduction in production noise and reduce the acoustic signal emitted by the working mechanisms and the crew. Each block in the ship was isolated from the solid hull by pneumatic shock absorbers, creating a second level of vibration isolation.

For example, rubber shock absorbers and silicone gaskets on the main operating mechanisms were tested for the first time on the K-317 Panther submarine of the Northern Fleet. As a result, the noise of the operating steam turbine plant nuclear reactor and electric motors decreased by 30-40%.

On all subsequent ships launched from the stocks of Sevmash, parts and mechanisms made of synthetic materials were installed. Noise levels produced by Project 971 submarines of the Northern Fleet remain the lowest today.

In the process of building boats, the technology of block assembly of the main structures of the ship was applied. The installation of equipment was now carried out not in the cramped conditions of the boat hull, but directly on stands in the factory workshops. Upon completion of the assembly, the block was installed in the ship's hull, after which it was connected to the main communications of the boat. Innovations introduced into the project, availability rescue chamber for the crew and a hull made of high-strength steel led to an increase in the displacement of the ship up to 8 thousand tons.

For reference: the original design displacement of the submarine was 6-7 thousand tons, but subsequent changes led to the weighting of the ship in running order.

The propulsion system and power supply system of the ship was based on the operation of one OK-650B nuclear reactor, which communicated with four steam generators. A single-shaft steam turbine was installed as a backup power unit on the boat, which had a full backup set of mechanization of all processes. The total capacity of the power plant is 50 thousand hp. As a result, the nuclear-powered ship could develop a surface speed of 11 knots, and under water, at least 33 knots.

A seven-bladed propeller with improved hydrodynamics was driven by two electric motors.

The backup power plant consisted of two DG-300 diesel engines, which provided power supply and the ship's progress in emergency situations. The stock of diesel fuel was designed for 10 days of sailing on standby engines.

Ship armament and navigational equipment

All the first boats of the series were produced with mine-torpedo weapons and were equipped with RK-55 Granat missile systems. Torpedo armament consisted of 4 533 mm torpedo tubes, 4 torpedo tubes of 650 mm caliber. The main difference between the submarines of the new class was the versatility of weapons. The Granat missile system made it possible to fight against all types of naval weapons. The mine-torpedo group was responsible for anti-submarine defense. Cruise missiles and rocket-torpedoes were launched through underwater torpedo tubes from any position of the ship.

Project 971 submarines "Wolf" and "Leopard", which served in the Northern Fleet, like their counterparts in pacific ocean carried new sonar systems "SKAT-KS". The main information was processed digitally. In addition to the SKAT hydroacoustic complex, the new nuclear submarines were equipped with unique system detection of enemy ships in the wake.

Since the beginning of the 90s, new navigation equipment began to be installed on the Pike. The K-154 "Tiger" submarine has recently been upgraded and is considered by Western experts to be a ship with increased stealth. The nuclear submarines Vepr and Samara are currently undergoing modernization of the propulsion system and re-equipment with new hydroacoustic equipment. The ships are equipped with the new Medveditsa-971 navigation systems and the Symphony space radio communications system.

Today, all Project 971 ships that are in service with the Northern and Pacific Fleets have been re-equipped with Caliber missile systems. Some of the boats have been upgraded. The submarine K-328 "Leopard", as well as the nuclear-powered ship K-461 "Volk", underwent a radical modernization and are back in service. Nuclear-powered ships of a later release, submarines K-335 "Gepard", K-317, K-154 are considered today the main ships of the Northern Fleet.

Conclusion

The appearance at sea of ​​new Soviet nuclear submarines of the Shchuka-B type came as a surprise to the fleets of Western countries. From that moment on, American submarines lost the ability to covertly conduct reconnaissance in the waters of the North Seas and the Pacific Ocean. The collapse of the Soviet Union prevented the mass construction and deployment of new nuclear-powered ships. However, despite their small numbers, first the Soviet and then the Russian Project 971 submarines continue to be the most powerful attack submarines of the Russian Navy today.

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The main performance characteristics of nuclear submarines pr.971:

Nuclear submarine "Tigr", project 971 Dimensions: 110 x 14 x 9 m
Displacement: 8.140 / 12.770 t
NPP: reactor OK-650B (190 MW), 1 turbine with a capacity of 43,000 hp.
Speed: surface 11.6 / underwater 30 knots
Depth of immersion working: 520 m
Depth of immersion maximum: 600 m
Autonomy: 100 days
Crew: 73 people
Armament: 4 x 533 mm TA, 4 x 650 mm TA (28 rockets, torpedoes or mines)
Series:
K-284 "Shark" (1984)
K-263 "Dolphin" (1985)
K-322 "Kashalot" (1986)
K-391 "Bratsk" (1987)
K-331 "Narwhal" (1989)
K-419 "Walrus" (1992)
K-267 "Dragon" (1996)
K-480 "Bars" (1989)
K-317 "Panther" (1990)
K-461 "Wolf" (1992)
K-157 Vepr (1996)
K-328 "Leopard" (1993)
K-154 "Tiger" (1994)
K-335 "Gepard" (1998)
K-337 "Cougar" (2001)
K-333 "Lynx" (2001)
K-152 "Nerpa" (2002)

Multipurpose nuclear submarines, project 971 "Pike-B"

In order to expand the front for the construction of third-generation multi-purpose submarines, in July 1976 it was decided to create a new, cheaper ALL based on the "Gorky" project 945, the main difference of which from its prototype was to be used in hull structures instead of titanium alloy steel.
Therefore, the development of the ship, which received design number 971 and the code "Pike-B", was carried out according to the previous tactical and technical requirements, bypassing the preliminary design stage. A feature of the new nuclear submarine, the development of which was entrusted to the Leningrad Design Bureau "Malakhit", was a significant reduction in noise level, approximately five times compared to the most advanced domestic torpedo boat of the second generation. This result was supposed to be achieved through the implementation of earlier developments in the field of increasing stealth, both by the design team of the Special Design Bureau (where the project for an ultra-low-noise nuclear submarine was developed in the early 70s) and by scientists from the Central Research Institute. Academician A.N. Krylov. The efforts of the creators of the ship were crowned with success: for the first time in the history of domestic submarine shipbuilding, the new nuclear-powered ship surpassed the best American analogue, the third-generation multi-purpose nuclear submarine Los Angeles, in terms of stealth.
The Project 971 nuclear submarine received powerful strike weapons, significantly exceeding (in terms of the number and caliber of torpedo tubes, as well as missile and torpedo ammunition) the potentials of domestic and foreign submarines of a similar purpose. Like the Project 945 ship, the new boat was supposed to fight enemy submarines and ship groups, carry out minelaying, conduct reconnaissance and participate in operations. special purpose. The technical design of "Pike-B" was approved on September 13, 1977. However, later it was revised, caused by the need to "pull up" the technological level of the sonar complex to the level of the Americans, who again broke ahead in this area. On their boats of the third generation (type "Los Angeles") was installed GAK AN / BQQ-5 with digital information processing, which provided a much more accurate selection of the useful signal against the background of interference. Another new "introductory", which necessitated changes in the project, was the requirement of the military to equip nuclear submarines of a new generation with Granat strategic cruise missiles.
During the revision, which ended in 1980, the boat received a new digital sonar system with improved performance, as well as a weapons control system that allows the use of cruise missiles.
In the design of the Project 971 nuclear submarine, such innovative solutions were implemented as integrated automation of combat and technical means, concentration of control of the ship, its weapons and weapons in a single center - the main command post (MCP), the use of a pop-up rescue camera (which was successfully tested on boats 705 th project). The submarine of the 971st project belongs to the two-hull type. The robust body is made of high-strength steel with a yield strength of 100 kgf/mm. All the main equipment, HKP, combat posts and cabins are located in depreciated zonal blocks, which are spatial frame structures with decks. Depreciation significantly reduces the acoustic field of the ship, and also allows you to protect the crew and equipment from dynamic overloads that occur during underwater explosions. In addition, the block layout made it possible to rationalize the process of building a ship:
the installation of equipment was transferred from the cramped conditions of the compartment directly to the workshop, to a zonal block accessible from all sides. After installation is completed, the zone block is "rolled" into the boat's hull and connected to the main cables and pipelines of the ship's systems.
The nuclear submarine uses an advanced two-stage damping system, which significantly reduces structure-borne noise. All mechanisms are placed on depreciated foundations. Each zonal block is isolated from the nuclear submarine hull by rubber-cord pneumatic shock absorbers, which form the second stage of vibration isolation. Due to the introduction of integrated automation, the crew of the boat was reduced to 73 people (including 31 officers), which is almost two times less than the number of crew of the American nuclear submarine of the Los Angeles type (141 people). In comparison with the nuclear submarine of project 671RTM, the habitability conditions on the new ship are somewhat improved.
The power plant of the ship includes one OK-650B (190 MW) pressurized water reactor with thermal neutrons with four steam generators (two circulation pumps for the first and fourth circuits, three pumps for the third circuit) and a steam single-shaft block steam turbine plant with a wide redundancy of mechanization . Shaft power - 50,000 l. With. Two alternating current turbogenerators are installed. For DC consumers, there are two groups of batteries and two reversible converters. The boat is equipped with a seven-bladed propeller with improved hydroacoustic characteristics and reduced rotational speed.
In the event of a failure of the main power plant, for its subsequent commissioning, emergency sources of electricity and auxiliary means of movement are provided - two thrusters with DC propulsion motors with a capacity of 410 hp each. with., providing a speed of about 5 knots and also serving for maneuvering in limited water areas.
On board the ship there are two DG-300 diesel generators with reversible converters (2 x 750 hp) with a fuel reserve for 10 days of operation. They are designed to generate direct current for propulsion motors and alternating current for general ship consumers.
The hydroacoustic complex MGK-503 "Skat-KS" with a digital information processing system has a powerful system of noise direction finding and sonar. It includes a developed bow antenna, two long-range onboard antennas, as well as an extended towed antenna placed in a container located on the vertical tail (the dimensions of the container are much larger than on the nuclear submarine of project 671RTM). In addition to the SJSC, Project 971 nuclear submarines are equipped with a highly effective, unparalleled world-wide system for detecting enemy submarines and surface ships along the wake (the equipment installed on the boat makes it possible to record such a trail many hours after the passage of the enemy submarine).
The ship is equipped with the Medveditsa-971 navigation complex, as well as the Molniya-M radio communication complex with the Symphony space communication system and a towed antenna.
The torpedo-missile system includes four torpedo tubes with a caliber of 533 mm and four 650-mm torpedo tubes (the total ammunition load is more than 40 units of weapons, including 28 with a caliber of 533 mm). It is adapted to fire Granat cruise missiles, underwater missiles and Shkval, Vodopad and Veter rocket-torpedoes, as well as torpedoes and self-transporting mines. In addition, the boat can carry out the setting of conventional mines. The firing of the Granat cruise missiles is controlled by a special hardware complex.
In the 90s. The universal deep-sea homing torpedo UGST, created by the Research Institute of Marine Thermal Engineering and GNPP Region, entered service with submarines. It replaced the TEST-71M electric anti-submarine torpedo and the 53-65K high-speed anti-ship torpedo.
At the same time, on the basis of the Soviet-American agreements in 1989, weapons systems with nuclear warheads were excluded from the armament of multi-purpose nuclear submarines - the Shkval and Vodopad rocket-torpedoes with SBCh, as well as the Granat-type missile launchers.
The lead nuclear-powered ship of the 971st project - K-284 - was laid down on the banks of the Amur in 1980 and entered service on December 30, 1984. Already in the process of its testing, the achievement of a qualitatively higher level of acoustic secrecy was demonstrated. The noise level of the K-284 turned out to be 12-15dB (ie, 4-4.5 times) lower than the noise level of the "quietest" domestic boat of the previous generation - 671RTM. According to the NATO classification, the new nuclear submarines received the designation Akula.
After the first "just Sharks", ships appeared, which in the West were called Improved Akula (probably, boats of Severodvinsk construction, as well as the last "Komsomol" ships) were included among them. Compared to their predecessors, they had better stealth than the improved Los Angeles-class boats (SSN-688-I) of the US Navy.
In 1996, the Vepr submarine built in Severodvinsk entered service. Retaining the old contours, he had a new design of a durable hull and internal "stuffing". Again, a serious leap forward was made in the field of noise reduction. In the West, this ship (as well as subsequent nuclear submarines of the 971 project) was called Akula-2.
According to US naval intelligence, the robust hull of the modernized Bars has a 4 m long insert. The additional tonnage made it possible, in particular, to equip the boat with "active" systems to reduce the vibration of the power plant, almost completely eliminating its effect on the ship's hull. According to American experts, in terms of stealth characteristics, the upgraded boat of the 971 project is approaching the level of the American multi-purpose nuclear submarine fourth generation SSN-21 "Sivulf".
High stealth and combat stability give the "Bars" the opportunity to successfully overcome anti-submarine lines equipped with stationary systems for long-range sonar surveillance, as well as countering anti-submarine forces. They can operate in the zone of enemy domination and inflict sensitive missile and torpedo strikes on him. The armament of the Bars allows them to fight submarines and surface ships, as well as to hit ground targets with cruise missiles with high accuracy.
According to MIPT scientists in the brochure "The Future of Russia's Strategic Nuclear Forces: Discussion and Arguments" (Dolgoprudny, 1995), even under the most favorable hydrological conditions typical for the Barents Sea in winter period(the probability of their occurrence is 0.03) Project 971 nuclear submarines can be detected by American Los Angeles-class boats with AN / BQQ-5 sonar at a distance of no more than 10 km. Under less favorable conditions in this region of the World Ocean, it is practically impossible to detect the "Bars" by hydroacoustic means.
It is appropriate to give a description of the Project 971 submarines given by the prominent American naval analyst N. Polmar at hearings in the National Security Committee of the US House of Representatives: "The appearance of Akula-type submarines, as well as other third-generation Russian nuclear submarines, demonstrated that Soviet shipbuilders closed the noise gap faster than expected." A few years later, in 1994, it became known that this gap had been completely eliminated.
According to representatives of the US Navy, at operational speeds of the order of 5-7 knots, the noise of Improved Akula-class boats, recorded by means of sonar reconnaissance, was less than the noise of the most advanced US Navy submarines of the Improved Los Angeles class.
According to US Navy Chief of Operations Admiral D. Burda, american ships turned out to be unable to escort the Improved Akula nuclear submarine at speeds less than 6-9 knots (contact with the new Russian boat took place in the spring of 1995 off the east coast of the United States). According to the admiral, the improved Akula-2 nuclear submarine meets the requirements for fourth-generation boats in terms of low noise characteristics.
Appearing after the end cold war"As part of the Russian fleet of new ultra-secret nuclear-powered ships, it caused serious concern in the United States. In 1991, this issue was raised in Congress. Several proposals were submitted for discussion by American legislators aimed at correcting the current situation in favor of the United States. In accordance with them it was intended, in particular:
- to demand from our country to make public its long-term programs in the field of submarine shipbuilding;
- establish for the Russian Federation and the United States agreed restrictions on quantitative composition multi-purpose nuclear submarines;
- to assist Russia in the re-equipment of shipyards building nuclear submarines for the production of non-military products.
The international non-governmental environmental organization Greenpeace, which actively advocated a ban on nuclear-powered submarines, also joined the campaign to combat Russian submarine building. power plants(First of all, of course, Russian, representing, according to the "greens", the greatest environmental danger). With the aim of "excluding nuclear catastrophes," Greenpeace recommended that Western governments make the provision of financial assistance to Russia dependent on the solution of this issue.
Currently, all multi-purpose nuclear submarines of the 971st project are part of the Northern (Yagelnaya Bay) and Pacific (Rybachy) fleets. They are quite actively (of course, by the standards of the present time) are used for military service.

A mass series of third-generation nuclear submarines with reduced noise and a multifunctional weapon system.

Refer to nuclear boats third generation, entered the fleet from 1984 to replace their predecessors (mainly the family of boats). A total of 15 such boats were built, currently 12 are in service, one has been leased to India.

The creation of the boat was launched in the summer of 1976, in September 1977 a technical project was ready, which was finalized until 1980. In 1983, the first boat of the series was laid down. The developer is the Leningrad SKB-143 Malachite. Chief designer Georgy Chernyshev.

When designing this type of submarine, special attention was paid to low noise. The measured acoustic parameters of Project 971 were a very unpleasant surprise for Americans who are used to the fact that Russian submarines are very noisy. To reduce noise, I had to go to a number of tricks - for example, Soviet Union bypassing the tight export control of the West, he imported metalworking centers of the Japanese corporation Toshiba, on which propellers for these boats were then made.

The design of the boat is double-hull, standard for the Soviet fleet, the material is high-strength steel (the competitor, the Project 945 boat, was built from titanium alloys, which increased the cost of production and complicated the technology).

Surface displacement over 8,000 tons, underwater - about 13,000 tons. Operating depth 480−520 meters for different versions project. Crew 73 people.

Installed combat Information system"Omnimbus", the hydroacoustic complex MGK-540 "Skat-3" and the navigation complex "Symphony-U" are associated with it.

Armament - eight bow torpedo tubes (four caliber 533 mm and four caliber 650 mm). Ammunition load up to 40 missiles, rocket torpedoes or torpedoes, 12 of them - 650 mm caliber (type 65-76 torpedoes, 86R missiles of the RPK-7 Veter anti-submarine complex). In caliber 533 mm, the boat could use torpedoes of the UGST and USET-80 types, Shkval missiles, anti-submarine missiles of the 83R type of the RPK-6 Vodopad complex, as well as strategic cruise missiles S-10 "Garnet".

Some boats are equipped with 533 mm launchers REPS-324 "Barrier" for means of hydroacoustic countermeasures - active jamming stations simulating the acoustic portrait of a boat. Also, SOKS equipment was installed on some of the boats - the MNK-200-1 Tukan detection station, which makes it possible to detect enemy ships and submarines along the wake.

One of the boats laid down under the Soviet Union, the K-152 Nerpa, was completed according to the Irbis project 971I and leased to India. Export version Shchuk-B is deprived of some critical important systems, including Granat missiles and SOKS equipment, the basic systems are coarsened in export performance. At the moment, an agreement has been signed on the completion of this project with the subsequent transfer of another boat to India - the so-called. "Order 519" (the degree of readiness is about 60 percent).

At the moment, boats of this type are sent for modernization. During the planned modernization of the boat of the Russian fleet, as far as can be judged from open sources, the submarines will be completely replaced by on-board electronic equipment, and the weapon system will also be changed, in particular, they will equip the submarines with a new universal missile system "Caliber-PL", which allows the use of anti-ship missiles, anti-submarine missiles and missiles for striking ground targets.

History of creation

The decision to develop a mass series of third-generation multi-purpose submarines was made in July 1976. The boat was designed by SKB-143 Malachite. Until 1997, the work was supervised by the chief designer G. N. Chernyshev, after his death - Yu. I. Farafontov. The terms of reference were left the same as those of the project 945 "Barracuda", the work of the Central Design Bureau "Lazurit", and the design was carried out on its basis, therefore, work on the preliminary design stage was not carried out. Unlike the Barracuda, the hull of the boat was supposed to be made not from titanium, but from low-magnetic steel. This proposal was made by shipbuilders from Komsomolsk-on-Amur. This requirement was due to both the shortage and high cost of titanium, and the difficulties in working with it, which could be overcome only by one Soviet enterprise, Sevmash, as well as the Gorky enterprise Krasnoye Sormovo, whose capacities were clearly not enough to build a large series in fairly short terms. At the same time, the replacement of titanium with steel made it possible to use the increased capacities of the Far Eastern plants. On September 13, 1977, the technical project was approved, however, in connection with the construction in the United States of a new type of submarines "Los Angeles" with new generation sonar systems, "Pike-B" was sent for revision.

The improved project was ready by 1980. The first part of the series was built in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, due to the increased level of production and technical potential of the Far Eastern shipyards.

In the early 1980s, the Soviet Union purchased a batch of high-precision metal-cutting machines from the Japanese company Toshiba, which made it possible to apply new technologies in the processing of propellers, which drastically reduced the noise of submarines. The deal was secret, but information about it got into the world press. As a result, the US imposed economic sanctions against the company.

Project 971 boats received the code name "Akula" in NATO countries. Later, the project was improved several times, and the boats built according to the modified projects received the code names "Improved Akula" in the west (Russian. "Improved Shark"), project 971M corresponds to the designation "Akula-II". The last of the built boats, K-335 "Gepard", the embodiment of the latest technical achievements, is called "Akula-III" in the West.

Design

Frame

Project 971 has a two-hull design. The robust body is made of high quality alloy steel with σ t = 1 GPa (10,000 kgf/cm²). To simplify the installation of equipment, the boat was designed using zone blocks, which made it possible to transfer a significant amount of work from the cramped conditions of the submarine compartments directly to the workshop. After the installation is completed, the zone block is "rolled" into the boat's hull and connected to the main cables and pipelines of the ship's systems. A two-stage depreciation system is used: all mechanisms are placed on depreciated foundations, in addition, each zonal unit is isolated from the body by rubber-cord pneumatic shock absorbers. In addition to reducing the overall noise of nuclear submarines, such a scheme can reduce the impact of underwater explosions on equipment and crew. The boat has a developed vertical tail with a streamlined boule, in which there is a towed antenna. Also on the submarine are two reclining thrusters and retractable bow horizontal rudders with flaps. A feature of the project is the smoothly mating connection of the tail unit with the body. This is done to reduce hydrodynamic turbulence that creates noise.

Boat noise at 4-8 knots 90-110 dB per 1 Pa at a distance of 1 m

Power point

Energy supply is carried out by a nuclear power plant. On the lead boat, K-284 "Shark", a water-cooled nuclear reactor OK-650M.01 is installed. On later orders, the AEU has minor improvements. Some sources report that subsequent boats are equipped with OK-9VM type reactors. The thermal power of the reactor is 190 MW, the shaft power is 50,000 liters. With. Two auxiliary electric motors in folding outboard columns have a capacity of 410 hp each. with., there is one diesel generator ASDG-1000.

Crew accommodation

Habitability conditions are somewhat improved compared to the project 671RTMK "Pike". The entire crew is located in the 2nd living compartment in the cabins. In the remaining compartments, the personnel keep watch and perform their official duties.

Armament

"Pike-B" is armed with a torpedo-missile system, including 4 torpedo tubes of caliber 650 mm and 4 torpedo tubes of caliber 533 mm, ammunition is 40 units, including 12 caliber 650 mm and 28 caliber 533 mm.

The following can be used as ammunition of 650 mm caliber: torpedoes 65-76, anti-submarine missile systems PLRK-6 "Waterfall" and PLRK-7 "Wind" with the possibility of installing a nuclear charge.

533 mm caliber devices are equipped with the Grinda torpedo preparation system and can use torpedoes, in particular UGST deep-sea torpedoes and USET-80 electric homing torpedoes, missile torpedoes (APR-ZM type), anti-submarine guided missiles (PLUR) model 83R, underwater missiles M5 "Shkval", C-10 "Granat" cruise missiles with a nuclear warhead, designed to destroy aircraft carriers, are currently being converted into the Kalibr-PL complex. Also, through torpedo tubes, it is possible to lay both conventional and self-transporting mines.

The weapon system used allows the Pike-B to fight submarines and surface ships, as well as to hit ground targets with high-precision cruise missiles.

Modifications

Project 971 boats received the code name "Akula" in NATO countries. Later, the project was improved several times:

Service History

In the same year, another "Pike-B" with a crew under the command of Captain 1st Rank A. V. Burilichev, while in combat service in the far reaches of the Atlantic, discovered a US Navy SSBN and secretly watched her go on combat patrol. After that campaign, the crew commander was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation.

Comparative evaluation

In June-July 2012, the submarine was unnoticed by the US Navy in the Gulf of Mexico for several weeks.

Some experts are skeptical about comparing project 971 with boats of the fourth generation, considering the performance rating to be too high.

	"Los Angeles"	"Pike"	"Pike-B"	"Barracuda"	"Condor"	"Fin"	"Ruby"
Appearance
Years of construction	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Years of service	c	c	c	c	c	c-	c
Built	62	15	15	2	2	1	6
Displacement (t) surface underwater	6082 7177	6990 7250	8140 12770	5940 9600	6470 10400	5880 8500	2410 2607
Speed ​​(kt) surface underwater	17 30-35	11,6 31	11,6 33	19 35	19 35	11 33	15 25
Diving depth (m) working ultimate	280 450	400 600	480 600	480 550	520 600	1000 1250	300

Reaction

Original text (English)

The Improved Akula SSN, which went to sea in 1990, soon revealed that the Soviets had surpassed the U.S. Navy in some areas of acoustic quieting--the Improved Akula was quieter than our newest attack submarines, the Improved LOS ANGELES class .

In the same speech, Polmar quoted the words of the Commander of Naval Operations of the United States, Admiral Jeremy Burda (English Jeremy Michael Boarda):

For the first time since we launched the Nautilus, a situation has arisen that the Russians have submarines in the sea that are quieter than ours. As you know, low noise is the main quality for submarines.

Representatives

In total, the project planned to build 25 ships: 13 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and 12 in Severodvinsk. In 1983-1993, 20 submarines were laid down, of which 14 were completed (seven at each shipyard); 10 of them are part of the Russian Navy, on the last of them - K-335 "Gepard" the flag was raised on December 4, 2001 in the presence of the President and Supreme Commander V. Putin. Two submarines, Lynx and Cougar, were not completed, and the hulls were used in the construction of project 955-955A, like K-535 Yuri Dolgoruky and K-550 Alexander Nevsky; another, the K-152 Nerpa, was launched only in 2006 and was originally intended to be leased to India, as a result of which it had differences in the installed equipment. As of May 2011, the submarine was in Bolshoy Kamen, where the Vostok plant is located. On April 4, 2012, the submarine was officially accepted into service with the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam Base.

Table colors:
White - not completed or disposed of not launched
Green - operating in the Russian Navy
Yellow - operating as part of foreign navies or as a civil ship
Blue - under renovation or modernization
Red - decommissioned, scrapped or lost

Plant named after Lenin Komsomol No. 199, Komsomolsk-on-Amur

Northern Machine-Building Enterprise No. 402, Severodvinsk

Current state

All completed boats of the project, except for three, were in service until the early 2000s and were part of the Northern and Pacific Fleets, based on Yagelnaya Bay (now the city of Gadzhiyevo) (SF) and in the village of Rybachy (Pacific Fleet). As of the beginning of 2017, 4 submarines of the project are combat-ready; 3 - on the Northern Fleet and one - on the TF, the rest - under repair or conservation.

The lead boat of the project, K-284 "Shark", was excluded from combat strength fleet and at least since 1996 has been laid up at the base of the Pacific Fleet in Pavlovsky Bay. K-480 "Ak Bars" was decommissioned from the fleet in 1998 and was in long-term storage in Yagelnaya Bay. In 2007 K-480 was towed to Zvezdochka shipyard for cutting into metal. Unfinished structures of Sevmash boats K-337 Cougar and K-333 "Lynx" were used in the construction of the strategic missile carrier "Yuri Dolgoruky" of project 955 "Borey". Two of the four unfinished boats of the plant. Leninsky Komsomol were canceled at the early stages of readiness, the third boat, K-152 Nerpa, was completed and on January 23, 2012 was officially leased to the Indian Navy for $ 650 million for a period of 10 years. Interestingly, in the Indian Navy, the Nerpa will carry the name "Chakra". Previously, this name was borne by the Soviet nuclear submarine K-43 of project 670 "Skat", which was part of the Indian fleet on a lease in 1988-1992 and has become a good base for training Indian submariners over the years: many sailors who served on the first "Chakra" subsequently occupied important posts in the country's navy, including eight who rose to the rank of admiral. The terms of the contract with India also provide for the completion and leasing to the Indian side of the fourth of the unfinished boats in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the readiness of which as of 2002 was 42%.

Over three boats: "Wolf", "Tiger" and "Leopard" patronize the regions of Nizhny Novgorod.

In 2014, a deep modernization of the nuclear submarine began at the Zvezdochka shipyard. The first upgraded boats are K-328 "Leopard", K-461 "Wolf", K-391 "Bratsk" and K-295 "Samara". In total, it was planned to upgrade 6 boats.

accidents

On November 8, 2008, during tests in the Sea of ​​Japan, as a result of unauthorized operation of the LOH fire extinguishing system on board the K-152 Nerpa, 20 people died - 17 civilians and 3 military. Another 21 people were hospitalized (later another 20 people from civilian specialists asked for help. 208 people were on board the nuclear submarine at the time of the accident, 81 of them were military personnel. .

Notes

1. K-322, Sperm Whale Project 971
2. See K-152 "Nerpa"
3. Silent "Superakula" armed with "Caliber" "Izvestia", April 28, 2017.
4. "Gepard" - the first nuclear submarine cruiser of the XXI century, Igor Lisochkin, shipbuilding.ru
5. Fedorov, Vyacheslav WEAPONS OF RUSSIA. "Gepard": Underwater hunter. (indefinite) . Military Library Fedorov (2000-2008). Retrieved March 13, 2008. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011.
6. "Panther" is being tested, Andrey Gavrilenko, "Red Star" (rosprom.gov.ru), 01/18/2007
7. Mikhailov, Andrey "Silent hunter" of the depths turned 20 years old (indefinite) . Rosprom. federal agency by industry. 06/21/2004 (PRAVDA.Ru, 06/16/2004). Retrieved March 13, 2008. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012.
8. What is known about the character of noise created by submarines? Appendix 1 - The Future of Russia’s Strategic Nuclear Forces - by Eugene Miasnikov, Center for Arms Control, …
9. Yu. V. Apalkov "Submarines" vol. 1 part 2, "Galea Print", St. Petersburg, 2002
10. Myasnikov, Viktor Strategic missiles flew to China and Iran (indefinite) . nvo.ng.ru(07.07.2006). Retrieved March 14, 2008. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012.