Russia Will Scrap 2 More Project 941 / Typhoon Class Nuclear Ballistic Submarines

Russia will decommission and scrap two of the last three remaining Project 941 Akula class (NATO: Typhoon class) nuclear ballistic submarines. The submarines will be withdrawn at the end of this year to begin the dismantling process, whch should be complete sometime between 2018 and 2020.

The Severstal and the Arkhangelsk will join the the three other ships of the class that have already been scrapped. All six submarines were commissioned between 1981 and 1989.

Due to their high cost, Russia decided to replace them with the newer and smaller Project 955 Borey class submarines. Reportedly, modernizing a single Project 941 cost as much as building 2 new Project 955 Borey submarines.

The sixth Project 941 submarine, the Dmitry Donskoy was modernized and serves as a launch platform to test the latest submarine-launched nuclear ballistic missiles such as the Bulava.

The Project 941 submarines are noted for being the largest submarines ever build. The Project 841 specifications are:

• Length: 175 m
• Beam: 23 m
• Draught: 12 m
• Displacement: 24500 tonnes (surfaced), 48000 tonnes (submerged)

Primary armement consisted of:

• 20 RSM-52 / R-39 Rif (NATO: SS-N-20 Sturgeon) with 10 MIRV warheads each

The Typhoon class had the ability to stay at sea on patrol for extended periods due to its size and the ability to punch through the thick ice with a sail that was reinforced for this purpose.

In many navies, submariners in general enjoy better amenities than the average sailor, but the Typhoon class went much further with facilities that most submarines could only dream of.


http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20130521/181272846/Russia-to-Scrap-Worlds-Biggest-Nuclear-Subs.html

By Robert Lawson Collection [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons