Photo report from the board of the Virginia type PLA

Walter Hickey and Robert Johnson (Walter Hickey, Robert Johnson) 2 August 2012

Virginia-class submarines are the newest, technologically the most advanced submarines of the United States Navy.

The first "Virginia" went out to sea only eight years ago, during which time only nine ships of this type were built.

It takes five years to build one submarine and 2,4 billion dollars.

Here we will go through the Virginia-type submarines from stern to bow and find out what makes these ships unique.

We will begin our journey in the engine room, then we will visit the reactor compartment, the cockpit, the command center and go down to the torpedo compartment.

Virginia submarines are a new generation of high-tech submarines that emerged after the end of the Cold War.

Christina Shaw / US Navy

The length of the boat is about 400 feet; Virginia-type submarines are in service from the 2003 year.

US Navy

The boat is designed in such a way that it can operate successfully both in large ocean depths and in coastal shallow water.

David Nagle / US Navy

Currently 9 submarines of this type have been commissioned. In the photo, Cheryl McGuinness, widow of one of the pilots of the victims of September 11, at the naming ceremony for the ship when it was launched (USS New Hampshire)

John Narewski / US Navy

USS Virginia engines do not rotate an ordinary screw, but a hydro jet propulsion pump type.

US Navy / Wikimedia Commons

This design significantly reduces corrosion and makes the ship low noise.

Tosaka / wikimedia

In the engine room of a submarine, here the energy obtained from the SG9 nuclear reactor sets the submarine in motion (almost 32 miles per hour, submerged).

James Pinsky / US Navy

This transition - going from the engine room, above the reactor, through the cockpit into the central part of the ship, is immersed in darkness so that the sailors can sleep.

James Pinsky / US Navy

The ship has a lock chamber with a room for 9 "sea lions" (saboteurs-scuba divers)

James Pinsky / US Navy

Through this airlock, the “fur seals” can leave a submarine underwater.

Andrew McKaskle / US Navy

Airlock located in the central part of the submarine.

Andrew McKaskle / US Navy

Submariners eat well, the menu is designed in such a way as to relieve stress and alleviate the many months of life under water.

Roadell Hickman / US Navy

As one of the sailors said: “It's as if having a tasty 24 meal an hour a day.”

Jennifer A Villalovos / US Navy

Moving further towards the bow of the submarine, we find ourselves in the command center, which is directly under the wheelhouse and where the navigators do their work

Kevin S O'Brien / US Navy

Command center PLA type "Virginia" is much more spacious than the old submarines

Kevin O'Brien / US Navy

The command center is not located directly under the wheelhouse, because Virginia has no periscope.

Peter Lawlor / US Navy

The monitor that the commander is looking at is the PLA “periscope”, a modern photoelectronic system that allows you to see more in real-time than the human eye could reach.

Jeremy Lambert / US Navy

On the "Virginia" there are no traditional ones - the helmsman, plzovschik, watch officer and officer who watches the ballast. Their duties are performed by two officers working at two stations.

James Pinsky / US Navy

The submarine is equipped with a spherical sonar that scans all 360 degrees.

Jennifer Villalovos / US Navy

The complete Virginia team consists of 134 sailors

Kevin O'Brien / US Navy

Despite the presence of a computer navigation system, the route of the submarine is also laid manually.

Roadell Hickman / US Navy

Under the command center there is a torpedo section, where members of the special operations unit may be temporarily located

James Pinsky / US Navy

Submarine armament - Tomahawk and 12 torpedoes 38 vertical takeoff missiles

Kevin O'Brien / US Navy

Pictured: USS Texas officer performs torpedo tubes testing.

Roadell Hickman / US Navy

Virginia-class submarines were designed to carry the Advanced SEAL Delivery system, ultra-small submarines for the delivery of sea lions on mission.

Jennifer Villalovos / US Navy

The only thing that is in front of the torpedo compartment is the bow section, the sonar is mounted in it, and it is designed in such a way as to make the submarine as noisy as possible.

James Pinsky / US Navy

Even after construction is completed, improvements and upgrades are made to the design of the submarines.

US Navy

This is what the United States has in the depths of the sea.

Comments

[Tirpitz]

Interesting photos. + I always wanted to see the US boat from the inside. For comparison, there would still be 971 inside.

[Diesel]

Here, look somewhere from the third minute) I must say right away that the number of monitors per square meter does not mean anything)

[Diesel]

And here is the mushroom Screw Pike

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[rumpeljschtizhen]

And it seems to me that means a lot

[Diesel]

I don’t know about the submariners, but experienced civil aviation pilots were asked which aircraft are easier for you to fly with digital instruments, LCD displays, etc., or with simple ones .... The answer was: "Absolutely no difference."

[rumpeljschtizhen]

Well, experienced pilots and a pack of Belomor can fly ...
And the next generation of pilots from childhood accustomed to information displays ??
so it’s necessary to arm not obsolete appliances

[curious]

Exactly, just the quantity and quality of monitors says a lot! Everywhere is clean, light - it's nice to see. Comfort is appropriate. Thank you for the interesting photo story. We have such a rarity, forever everything is secret

[Captain_old]

Mdaaaa ... Sailors ... RB, as we have in the late 70s / early 80s, but the traditions of the kabzdets. So that the sailor went down aboard his hands in his pockets ?! Didn’t salute the flag ?! It’s not for nothing that the booths were set up ...

[Redpartyzan]

or 885 is better. Our Virginia Answer

[Indigo]

draws attention to the large number of stainless steel used, the design of the compartments and the production culture itself - there is something to strive for ..

[curious]

For people and citizens of their country did

[Vito]

Yes, the pictures are really interesting! If I understand correctly the authors of this boat, then the overscope on it has been replaced by a photoelectronic system that gives information in real time. I would like to know more about this! I STILL read that "VIRGINIAS" can dive only 250-300 meters, I would still prefer a higher depth.
And still, the pace of construction and launching of these 4th generation boats is most of all achieved.
One boat a year, it turns out. Honestly, I personally envy!

[ward]

The article describes in detail why the ship ... it is a carrier of saboteurs ... the task of delivery and support ... that is, like the English ... for colonial wars ...

[pavelk]

240 meters is the "cruising" depth. The maximum calculated depth is lower and is not published.

[77bor1973]

But this does not mean that there is no periscope as such.

[curious]

The silence of the boat allows you to work at these depths, especially since the maximum speed is not published

[Alexei]

Maximum diving depth up to 1600 feet (488 meters).

[Belial]

Rather, for comparison, we need to look at our new project 885 "Ash", which still cannot be accepted into service. Ours is better in terms of characteristics, and they tried to make "Virginia" cheaper on many things, although quantity will still prevail over quality.

[curious]

Cheaper relatively super-expensive "Sivulf"., There is a difference

[snek]

The first Virginia went to sea just eight years ago, during which time only nine ships of this class were built.

Only nine ships in eight years ... we would have such "only".

[Redpartyzan]

according to the Navy development program, our pace will be even more rapid

[curious]

About our pace - wait and see

[Drednout]

(almost 32 mph, underwater).

That would be written - up to 32 nodes. Literate!
And nothing boat. Pictures are so-so, the most effective with the funny widow of the deceased pilot (he rest in peace).

[Ratibor12]

As I understand it, "Virginia" is still worse than "Sea Wolfe"? Or better ???

[Diesel]

Worse, but much cheaper)

[Leisure]

Yo! The water cannon is standing, did not know however. The Americans are well done.

[Pripyatchanin]

Interesting photos.

[lelikas]

Photos are valid, but above the text neighing from the heart.

[pavelk]

It looks like an auto-translation.

As one of the sailors said: “It's as if having a tasty 24 meal an hour a day.”
LOL

[Alexey Prikazchikov]

Ndaa not the best thoughts after the photo arose.

[77bor1973]

There are almost twice as many monitors up to and the crew as on the "Wolf".

[Nechai]

Quote: Indigo

draws attention to the large number of used stainless steel, the design of the compartments and the production culture itself - there is something to strive for.

Yes Yes. Schaub the crew also skerched where to adapt where and will love in sleeping places during the rest. Individual sleeping places are provided ONLY for officers. Tradition, s. Electron-optical systems are good, until "side by side" EMR burst out, from the same VMG. And an ambush, without safety optical and analog systems ... It seems to me, as Arkady Isakovich used to say.

[Liliputin]

The first "Virginia" went out to sea only eight years ago, during which time only nine ships of this type were built.

Nichrome yourself, only! Almost 1 submarine / year! Probably such a pace of construction, even with the union, was not like in modern Russia !!!

[Diesel]

No need for Lala, in the union they built 7-8 submarines a year in the 80s ...

[nnz226]

In the USSR, only the plant in Severodvinsk (SMP) produced from 3 to 6 nuclear submarines of different classes a year!

[Karish]

Quote: Nechai

Electron-optical systems are good, until "side by side" EMR burst out, from the same VMG. And an ambush, without safety optical and analog systems ... It seems to me, as Arkady Isakovich used to say.

In general, for this it must at least be discovered. Further, who knows from what depth she releases it, and the boat is not at depth not subject to the action of electromagnetic radiation, and how many such electronic re-scopes she has in stock.