Sea storm. Top Discovery Submarines
Submarine - Sea Thunderstorm
Steel eyes under black cap
Steel eyes under black cap
100 years ago, submarines proved their combat effectiveness by confidently occupying their niche in the field of naval armaments. It was the nuclear-powered submarine rocket carriers that were given the honorable role of the “grave-diggers of mankind”.
Due to the high complexity and high cost, nuclear submarines were initially only available as part of the fleets of the USSR and the USA. After some time, they were joined by the British and French nuclear submarines. Later, Chinese atomic submarines appeared. Now the submarine is available in the Indian Navy - the Indians use Russian equipment, but at the same time they are actively working on the project of their own submarine.
As with any technical system, submarines of different projects have their own advantages and disadvantages. It also tried to find out the American cognitive channel Discovery, having made a rating of the best submarines. From my point of view, it is foolish and ignorant to directly compare submarines of different eras. Representation of a German U-bot navigator trying to determine with a primitive gyrocompass, where is the North under this damn water, where to sail and what to do - the battery is almost discharged, there is no connection with the coast, and there are enemy anti-submarine ships on the tail. What does a German seaman have in common with a member of the crew of a modern submarine equipped with satellite communication and navigation systems? An atomic-powered vessel can secretly operate for months in the thickness of the sea, and its weapon able to incinerate all life on several continents. It is much more logical, on the basis of the “Best Submarines” program, to compare only nuclear submarines.
A few more words from the theory of submarines. Despite its excellent fighting qualities, submarines are still too specific weapons, which in most cases are not able to replace surface ships. U-boats are powerless against aviationand in the case of local conflicts, when, for example, it is necessary to support the landing force with fire, their striking potential against ground targets disappears. The main combat quality of the submarine is stealth, and this parameter is usually at the forefront when comparing submarines. Although dignity often becomes a disadvantage, the submarine cannot declare its presence, as it is simply not visible. But these are trifles.
Much more serious is the fact that underwater forces operating separately from aircraft and surface ships are easy prey. The German submariners at first filled their huge bills by destroying unarmed transports or attacking an unprepared enemy. With the emergence of more or less serious opposition, the effectiveness of the “wolf packs” Doenitz sharply decreased, and when naval anti-submarine aviation went on the hunt, radar and new acoustic stations appeared, the Germans had the last chance of success. During the Second World 783, the German U-bot remained at the bottom of the Atlantic, 32 000 submariners died!
The moral is this: submarines do an excellent job with their tasks, but using them to solve all the problems facing the Navy is pointless and inefficient. And now, I think, it is worth going directly to the rating.
10 location - type "Virginia"
Multipurpose submarines of the US Navy fourth generation.
The lead ship entered service in 2004 year. Today, the 8 submarine is under construction; according to the plan, before the 2030, 22 submarines should be built
At first glance, the characteristics of the most modern atomic icebreaker in the world cause a deep sense of frustration. The speed of the underwater stroke - 25 nodes, the working depth of the dive - 250 meters. NDA ... such indicators can not surprise even submariners Kriegsmarine. Weaponry does not shine either: 4 torpedo tubes and 12 vertical launchers for launching Tomahawk cruise missiles. Ammunition - 26 torpedoes and 12 "Battle axes". Not much. From special means - the boat is equipped with a lock chamber for the exit of combat swimmers and uninhabited underwater vehicles.
But this project also has a number of strengths that make the Virginia nuclear submarine an extremely dangerous underwater adversary. Full secrecy is her motto! The system of insulated decks, cascade pneumatic depreciation of the equipment, new “silencing” hull coverings and a propeller enclosed in a fenestron (ring fairing) - all this provides an extremely low level of noise. The boat is almost undetectable against the background of ocean noise. The new atomic power plant General Electric S6E allows the reactor to be recharged once every 30 years, which corresponds to the estimated service life of the submarine.
"Virginia" is full of various "high-tech" systems and the latest radio-electronic equipment. For the first time in world practice, instead of the traditional periscope, a telescopic mast is used on which a video camera, an infrared sensor and a laser rangefinder are mounted. The image is transmitted to the monitor in the central post via fiber-optic cable. The solution, of course, is interesting.
But ... no matter how hard the American submariners tried to admire their new boat, this is not at all what their dreams were about. 20 years ago, such a submarine in the US Navy would have caused a storm of indignation - America was preparing to build completely different submarines, with outrageous characteristics and very high cost. For these indicators, Virginia is just a compromise. Nevertheless, the boats of this project carry successful innovative solutions, have high combat potential and are designed for mass construction.
9 place - Typhoon
Heavy missile submarine cruiser strategic purpose project 941. The length of his body as two football fields. Height - with a nine-story house. Underwater displacement - 48 000 tons. Crew - 160 man.
The largest submarine ever created by man. Doubtful achievement in terms of combat effectiveness, but at the same time, it is impossible not to admire the size of this submarine. A total of 941 nuclear submarine missile carriers was built under the 6 project.
Due to its cyclopean size, the Typhoon was able to break through ice up to 2,5 meters (!) Thick, which opened up the prospect of combat watch in high Arctic latitudes in front of the Soviet submarine cruiser.
Another advantage of this incredible "underwater catamaran" - extremely high survivability. Nineteen (!) Sealed compartments allowed to disperse and duplicate all the important ship systems. Typhoon reactors were placed in two independent compartments in different submarine hulls.
What? What kind of buildings are we talking about?
Typhoon Anchor
The Typhoon owed its immense size to the R-39 solid-fuel ballistic missile with a launch weight of 90 tons, there were 20 of them on board the nuclear submarine cruiser. The designers had to apply unconventional layout solutions, as a result - this incredible “underwater catamaran” has two separate titanium durable hulls (there are five of them in technical terms!). At the same time, the mass of sea water located in the light body is 15 tons, for which Typhoon received navy ironic nickname "water carrier". But he fulfilled his task of strategic nuclear deterrence 100%. Best of all, Malakhit Design Bureau specialists said about this project - "the victory of technology over common sense."
8 place - "Golden Fish"
Records that are not reported Tass. 18 December 1970 of the submarine of the Northern Fleet K-162 submergedly set the absolute world speed record - 44,7 knot (82,78 km / h).
In the autumn of 1971, during a long voyage to the Atlantic - up to the Brazil Basin itself, she repeatedly overtook the aircraft carrier "Saratoga" - the US Navy group failed to break away from it. The Soviet submarine, despite all attempts at evasion, easily and naturally took a favorable position for an attack in front of astonished Americans.
In addition to excellent ride quality, K-162 (with 1978 g. - K-222) possessed solid armament. As the main caliber - 10 launchers of Amethyst anti-ship missiles, there were also 4 torpedo tubes and 12 torpedoes.
Why, on the super-project 661 "Anchar" was built only one submarine? There are several reasons for this:
Too high noise, at a speed of more than 35 nodes K-162 created a monstrous rumble. At the center post, the acoustic noise level reached 100 decibel. This deprived the boat of stealth, and to compete in speed with anti-submarine helicopters was pointless.
Another funny moment, the titanium monster cost the USSR 240 million rubles (at the same time, American taxpayers paid 450 million dollars for the aircraft carrier Enterprise, in 1960's for 1 the dollar was given 60 kopecks ... so consider it). Unbelievable, but true - the submarine cost almost like a giant nuclear aircraft carrier with a displacement of 85 000 tons. No wonder K-162 nicknamed "Golden Fish"!
7 Place - The Elusive Mike
Another record holder from the depths of the ocean is the K-278 multi-purpose nuclear submarine Komsomolets with a titanium hull. 4 August 1985 of the year she set the absolute record of the depth of the dive among submarines - 1027 meters!
In fact, the best submarine of the Soviet Navy was designed for even greater depth - 1250 meters, while the record submarine could use his weapon at any depth; During the test dives K-278 successfully shot out torpedo dummies at a depth of 800 meters!
The only ship project 685 "Fin" was well armed and very dangerous - 6 nasal torpedo tubes and 22 ammunition. The submarine’s weapons complex included strategic cruise missiles “Granat”, high-speed “Squall” submarine missiles, “Waterfall” anti-submarine torpedoes with nuclear warheads and self-guided electric torpedoes.
The amazing submarine became an insoluble riddle for the “likely enemy” Navy — at the depth of 1 the kilometer Elusive Mike was not detected by any acoustic, magnetic or other means.
Shots from the deepwater apparatus "Mir", 1994 year
Well ... I do not want to mention this ... this is the same submarine that died in the fire in the Norwegian Sea 7 on April 1989. K-278 sank at a depth of 1858 meters, part of the crew was rescued. The exact causes of the death of the submarine have not been established so far; the Arctic reliably keeps its secrets.
6 place - "Killers cities"
15 November 1960 for the first time went into combat patrols atomic submarine carrier "George Washington" with ballistic missiles on board. The main task of the new submarine ship was the launching of nuclear-missile strikes from the depths of the World Ocean at important administrative centers, military-economic potential objects and large cities with the aim of their complete destruction.
The ideas underlying this ambitious project were as follows:
- A ballistic missile launched from a submarine has a lower flight time compared with a missile launched from a ground base. This factor provides greater surprise and reduces the time during which the enemy can take countermeasures;
- an atomic submarine missile carrier has such a high mobility compared to a conventional diesel boat that the enemy is unable to detect and hit it in time;
- in the presence of a certain number of nuclear missile submarines in positions in the oceans, the enemy will never determine where he should expect an attack;
During the year to “J. Washington "joined another 4 similar submarines. Coming to the launch positions in the Norwegian and Mediterranean seas, each of them could launch 16 A-1 X-ballistic Polaris ballistic missiles at a distance of 2200 km. The missiles were equipped with warheads with explosive power of 600 kilotons, the launch was carried out from a depth of 20 meters. Frankly weak characteristics from the standpoint of our days, but fifty years ago strategic submarines of the type “J. Washington "made the whole world shudder.
5 Place - The Inimitable "Lyra"
Underwater interceptor project 705 (K). The elusive and merciless killer, created to hunt enemy submarines. The speed of the underwater stroke is an 41 knot, incredibly, but Lyra was developing full speed in a minute from a fixed position. At full speed, circulation with a turn on 180 ° was performed in 40 seconds. Such tricks allowed to escape from anti-submarine torpedoes.
“Lyra” could move away from the pier in thirty minutes, pick up the course and hide under water, dissolving in the depths of the World Ocean (the usual NPS needs 2-3 hours). Such amazing characteristics are the result of special technical solutions used to create this project.
First, the specialists of the design bureau Malakhit tried to reduce the size of the submarines to the limit, reducing the crew to a minimum and leaving only one reactor. The submarine, equipped with an integrated automated control system, was operated by a crew of all 32 officers.
Secondly, as a construction material was applied ... correctly, titanium. And, of course, an unusual power plant was required for an unusual boat - a reactor with a liquid metal coolant (LMT) - it was not water that was boiling in the reactor circuits, but lead melt with bismuth was boiling. Actually, a similar "unit" was used only on the Soviet submarine K-27, which did not go into the series. Also, the reactor with the liquid metal filter was tested on the American submarine USS Seawolf ”(SSN-575), but after 4 years of operation it was dismantled and replaced with a conventional water-cooled reactor. Therefore, the Lyra have become the only series of nuclear submarines in the world with a liquid-liquid fuel cell reactor. Reactors of this type have an undeniable advantage - exceptional “pickup” and high power density.
At the same time, a reactor with a liquid metal filter is an increased danger and requires special measures to comply with operating rules. In the case of the slightest solidification, the coolant completely ceases to perform its functions, turning the reactor into a nuclear bomb. Most of the boats with the ZhMT reactors (including the experimental K-27) left the fleet's combat strength due to bad stories in the reactor compartment. So 8 on April 1982 of the year, during a cruise, 123 tons of liquid metal from the primary loop of the reactor spilled onto the K-2 nuclear submarine deck. The elimination of the consequences of the accident took 9 years.
The base station atarin Ave 705 (K) was located in Western Person. There was also created a special coastal complex for servicing submarines of this type: a boiler room for supplying steam to ships, at the piers - the floating tower and the destroyer, which supplied steam from their boilers. However, from the point of view of safety, this turned out to be little - the usual accident on the heating main threatened to turn into a terrible radiation catastrophe. Therefore, the Lyras "warmed" on their own, their reactors were constantly working at a minimally controlled power level. The boat could not be disregarded for a second. All this did not add "Lyrum" popularity among the inhabitants of the garrison.
All six horrific Cold War horror stories were finally written off in the 90-s, putting an end to the development of nuclear submarines with reactors with liquid iron and leather. On both sides of the ocean, they sighed with relief - the Lyra were a formidable underwater adversary for the US Navy, but at the same time the little ones were completely ruthless towards their own crew and personnel of the military base in Western Person.
4 place - "Pike-B" against the "Sea Wolf"
The best of the best. The Soviet multi-purpose submarine of the 971 Pike-B project absorbed the most successful ideas of the legendary predecessor of the Ave. 671 RTMK and the titanium submarine of the Ave 945 Barracuda.
Severe underwater warrior was not created for records. It was a thought-out to the smallest detail, a balanced project of a multi-purpose submarine which has virtually no weak points. Submerged Speed - 30 nodes. Immersion depth - 480 meters, limit - 600. Armament - eight torpedo tubes, 40 units of ammunition in various combinations: Granat cruise missiles with nuclear warheads, anti-submarine torpedoes, Squall submarines, mines and UGST deep-water self-guided torpedoes. Among other things, Pike-B was armed with the most powerful torpedoes “65-76” caliber 650 mm. The warhead is 450 kg, the range of the course is of the order of 30 nautical miles. The speed in the search mode is -30 nodes, at the time of the attack - 50 ... 70 nodes. The submarine could attack the enemy without entering into the zone of action of its anti-submarine weapons, and the newest electronic equipment and sonar equipment of the boat allowed the sailors to control the space within a radius of tens of miles from the submarine.
In 80, an international scandal broke out - information leaked to the press that the KGB through dummy "civilian"
customers purchased from Toshiba high-precision metalworking machines. Propellers made by the new technology, at times reduced the noise of the Soviet submarines. America imposed sanctions against Toshiba’s greedy managers, but it’s done - Pike B has already gone to sea.
Currently, the multi-purpose submarines of the 971 Ave. form the basis of the submarine fleet of Russia. In total, 14 Shchuk-B was built, another one - K-152 Nerpa was completed in export version, 4 on April 2012 of the year on the basis of Vishakhapatnam the boat was adopted by the Indian Navy. A few more buildings, which are in high readiness, were used in the construction of the Borey-type SSBN.
Stung by Soviet superiority, the Pentagon decided to take countermeasures without delay. In October, a new type of submarine with the awesome name “Seawolf” (“Sea Wolf”) was laid in the USA 1989.
The Americans tried as best they could, on the new submarine a revolutionary propulsion unit is used - a water cannon. The distances between the hull of the boat and the mechanisms of the power plant were increased, new shock absorbers and noise absorbing coatings were used. The boat is almost undetectable when moving 20 nodal move.
The armament complex is powerful and diverse: Mark-48 universal torpedoes, Tomahawk tactical cruise missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Captor anti-submarine mines. For their launch, eight 660 mm torpedo tubes mounted along the sides of the submarine are used. The bow of the boat is fully occupied by the HAS, another 6 passive sonar antennas are installed along the sides. The result was a real ocean gangster able to deal with any adversary. That's just the price issue ... 4 billion dollars. A good submarine usually stands as an aircraft carrier.
30 "Sea wolves" were supposed to become the pillar of the US Navy in the future, but due to the collapse of the USSR, they built only three boats. In return, the sailors received a Virginia with reduced characteristics (Remember, we talked about this?).
The “sea wolf” is of course cool, but the Russian Navy has three times the number of submarines from the 971 “Pike-B” submarine, which are almost as good as its characteristics.
3 Place - Los Angeles Type
A series of 62 multipurpose nuclear submarines of the US Navy. Americans themselves like to call them “fast attack submarines”, which, in essence, means “submarine hunters”. The main tasks are to cover aircraft carrier groups and areas of deployment of strategic submarine missile-carriers, and to combat enemy submarines. One of the few submarines that have at least some combat experience - during the “Storm in the Desert” two “Los Angeles” were involved in strikes against ground targets.
Central post
What is the secret of their popularity? Los Angeles is known for its reliability and low noise level. They are quite mobile (underwater travel to 35 nodes), have a modest size and cost. Real fleet workhorses.
The boats are well armed - there are 4 torpedo tubes and 12 vertical launchers to launch "Tomahawks", the general ammunition load is 38 missiles and torpedoes. "Tomahawks", "Harpoons", "tricky" mines "Keptor" - a standard set of American submarines. Some of the "Los Angeles" are equipped with a container of Dry Deck Shelter to work underwater saboteurs.
Open cover of rocket mines
America is in no hurry to part with their proven submarines. Even with the new “Virginia”, many of the “Los Angeles” are being upgraded and will remain in service at least until the 2030 year.
2 Place - Ohio Type
The most advanced nuclear submarines. At underwater displacement 18 700 tons of American designers
managed to "shove" on the "Ohio" 24 launch shafts to launch ballistic missiles "Trident".
Otherwise, these are ordinary submarines built in the best traditions of the American submarine fleet: the 4 compartment, the only reactor, the submerged speed of the 20-25 nodes, four torpedo tubes for self-defense. To enhance the combat stability of the "Ohio" was focused in two directions. First, the developers have achieved a radical reduction of acoustic, magnetic, radiation and thermal fields. Secondly, the combat stability of the boat is provided by a mode of extremely high secrecy - during combat patrols, the exact position of the SSBN is unknown even to the helmsman, only a few senior officers of the submarine know the coordinates.
In connection with the strategic offensive arms limitation treaty, 4 from 18 Ohio was reclassified into a SSGN (nuclear submarine with cruise missiles). The Trident ballistic missiles were removed from the mines; instead, 22 tactical Tomahawks (154 each) were placed in the 7 rocket mines. The two mines nearest to the wheelhouse are converted into airlock chambers for combat swimmers. In addition, 66 paratroopers can be stationed on the boat, in addition to the main crew.
Tomahawks
Surprisingly, the Ohio created by 35 years ago fully complies with modern requirements, while their operating intensity factor corresponds to 0,6. This means that the boats of 2 / 3 of their time spend on combat patrols.
The command of the US Navy plans to completely remove the "Ohio" from the fleet combat no earlier than 2040 of the year. Sixty years in combat service? We'll see…
1 Place - Nautilus
January 17, 1955 on the radio sounded historical message: “Underway on nuclear power”.
The submarine USS Nautilus (operational code SSN-571) entered the history of the world as the first real submarine, which forever belongs to first place. I apologize for the involuntary pun, but all of her diesel predecessors were essentially not submarines. They were "diving" boats, spending the lion's share of time in the water. Diving was considered a tactical maneuver, and the time spent under water was limited to a few days. At the same time, the mobility of the boat in the underwater position was extremely limited.
Only the unquenchable flame of a nuclear reactor allowed to completely disappear under water, providing the submarine with an inexhaustible source of energy. From now on and in spite of all the limitations of the ancient philosophers, man could spend months at the bottom of the sea, creating his indomitable path to new achievements.
Even at the design stage, it became clear what prospects open up for ships with a nuclear power plant. In the 1954, the Nautilus was launched, the first trials began, giving the sailors confidence in their power over the forces of nature. The nuclear-powered ship developed a sub-23 node and could maintain such a speed indefinitely. Within reasonable limits, of course, one reactor charge was enough for nautical miles for 25000. This figure means that the submerged cruising range of the Nautilus was limited only by stocks of products, air and crew endurance.
Having set its first record only by the appearance of the light, the Nautilus continued to amaze - 3 August 1958, he became the first ship to reach the North Pole. Inspired by the success of nuclear power, the American seamen in 1959, completely abandoned the construction of diesel-electric submarines.
And then ... and then began the fleet weekdays. "Nautilus" in terms of operation turned out to be a fucking ship. Turbine vibration was such that already on 4 nodes the sonar became useless. The concentrated loadings and significant dimensions of the energy compartment required new layout solutions, while the mass of lead biological protection was 740 tons (almost a quarter of the ship's displacement!). I had to abandon a number of the equipment provided by the project.
"Nautilus" became famous as a record for the number of emergency. These were mainly navigational errors (for example, an Essex carrier ram in 1966, or an unsuccessful attempt to break through the Arctic ice during the conquest of the North Pole). Not without a sour fire - in 1958, the submarine burned for several hours.
After serving a quarter of a century, the submarine embarked on an eternal joke in the city of Groton, becoming a floating museum.
I wish everyone to live their life as brightly as Nautilus did.
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