Correct move underwater
Just recently, considering the plans of the Japanese military department to modernize the Izumo destroyers-helicopter carriers into full-fledged aircraft carriers, I thought about who the Japanese would be friends with along with the Americans, who so kindly helps the Japanese self-defense forces (funny even, to be honest) becomes full-fledged fleet... It is clear that these are China and Russia. You can add someone else, such as South Korea, with which the Japanese have territorial disputes, but the Americans are unlikely to allow the Japanese and South Koreans to grapple.
I have said more than once and I will repeat myself again: today Japan has just a wonderful, and most importantly, fleet consisting of new ships. In the future - 2 aircraft carriers, 2 helicopter carriers, 37 destroyers, 21 submarines, 3 landing dock ships. Considering that 12 submarines also have an independent VNEU, this is a very, very decent force.
Our Pacific Fleet is a very modest force in terms of naval strength.
1 old missile cruiser, 1 old destroyer, 4 old large anti-submarine ships. All are Soviet-built. 3 new frigates. 3 nuclear submarines with cruise missiles and 2 more under repair. 1 nuclear submarine "Shchuka-B" and 3 more under repair. And 8 diesel-electric submarines of the type "Halibut" and "Varshavyanka".
Strategic missile cruisers are not included in this list, they have slightly different, specific tasks. Of course, if it comes to washing away militaristic aspirations from Japan with a large amount of sea water, then it will be possible to recall the "Boreyah". But not before.
So news that the new diesel-electric submarine Magadan has joined the Pacific Fleet is good news. If we consider that the plans until 2024 are to equip the Pacific Fleet with six more submarines of Project 636.3, then this will significantly strengthen the naval grouping in the Pacific Ocean and, accordingly, the defense capability of Russia.
Six "Varshavyanka" - is it a lot or what?
If you study the opinions of many experts, the "Varshavyanka" in their combat characteristics surpass all diesel-electric boats in service with the countries of the region.
Project 636.3 is a modernized and improved project 877 "Halibut", which was created in the USSR at the end of the 70s of the last century.
The project was named "Varshavyanka" with a hint that this boat will be supplied to the countries of the Warsaw Treaty Organization. Indeed, "Varshavyanka" was a simplified export version of "Halibut", which was supplied, although not to the "allies" in the ATS, but was sold to China, India, Vietnam and Algeria.
"For myself" "Varshavyanka" went in a slightly different configuration. They worked well on the boat, it became somewhat longer than the "Halibut", the displacement, speed and depth of diving increased. "Varshavyanka" dives a little deeper than, for example, the Japanese "Soryu", and its speed is higher, either above water or underwater.
Of course, these figures are not a complete indication of how relevant Varshavyanka is as a means of defense or attack.
An important component is the optimal combination of acoustic stealth and the ability to detect targets at maximum range, navigation systems, combat systems control systems and the capabilities of the boat's missile and torpedo armament itself.
The only difference between the Russian submarine and the same "Soryu", and indeed from the advanced non-nuclear submarines, is the absence of VNEU. This, of course, gives advantages to foreign samples, and the problem of Russian VNEU is a big problem for an indefinite time.
However, the boats of Project 636.3 in their characteristics are not much inferior to imported boats, albeit equipped with air-independent installations. But the missile armament of the "Varshavyanka", consisting of "Calibers" is significantly superior to the armament of the same "Soryu", consisting of the American UGM-84 "Harpoon".
The Harpoon is, of course, a very decent rocket, but the Caliber is vastly superior. And in this regard, "Varshavyanka" is a very universal weapon, even if it does not have independence from surfacing.
In addition, the "Varshavyanka" were nicknamed "Black Holes" for a reason, they are really very secretive and quiet boats. Modern means of noise suppression and noise reduction give the submarine a real opportunity to detect an enemy ship outside the zone of its detection and attack it with cruise missiles from under the water.
At the same time, "Caliber" is a universal missile, which can attack not only surface targets, but also objects on the shore.
The quiet running of the Varshavyanka, so quiet that even the most modern hydroacoustic stations have problems detecting Russian boats.
"Varshavyanka" is a very real weapon that can significantly cool the ardor of the Japanese militarists. Six new submarines guarding the Russian borders is, on the one hand, not as many as we would like, but also not as few as it could be.
The presence of nuclear submarines in the Pacific Fleet is excellent. But there are not as many of them as we would like. The Japanese may well be able to deploy two AUG in the near future. Initially oriented, most likely to the west and north. To China and Russia.
Have to answer. And here there are two options: either in quantity, building ships that can neutralize the strength of the Japanese fleet, or in quality, due to technologies that will provide Russian boats with an advantage over the enemy and weapons, the attacks of which the enemy cannot parry.
The strike group of the Japanese fleet from an aircraft carrier, helicopter carrier and destroyers is a reality that will cut the waves in a couple of years. Destroyers' planes, helicopters and missile weapons are a serious force. And, given the capabilities of our Pacific Fleet, the best way to enlighten such groups may be "Calibers" launched from under the water, beyond the guaranteed detection limit, from submarine torpedo tubes.
You can dream as much as you like of naval battles, of naval groupings that shower each other with missiles, shells and torpedoes. But it would be more effective, and most importantly - with the least losses in personnel, to strike with missile weapons from under the water.
We will still have to deal with the containment of Japan's growing interests in the region, especially given the presence of the Japanese behind the American fleet.
We need Varshavyanka. Especially in the Pacific Ocean. Today it is perhaps the hottest region in the world.
The first submarine of project 636.6 "Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky" was transferred to the fleet in November 2019.
The second Varshavyanka was commissioned in October 2020.
The third, "Magadan" - in October 2021.
The fact that 2019 years have passed since the laying of the Magadan (November 2021) to its commissioning (October 2) can be viewed in different ways. We will look in the position that 2 years for a submarine is not so much. In the end, this is a rather complicated technique and rush is not really unnecessary here, it is just dangerous. Better quality.
So three more "Varshavyankas" are a good help, but ... Yes, we have the Northern, we have the Baltic and Black Sea fleets. But in the Pacific Ocean we have, perhaps, the most serious opponents, both in terms of aspirations, in terms of quantity and quality. So the more new ships the Pacific Fleet gets, the better it will affect the country's security.
And yet, our fleet really needs a modern submarine with VNEU.
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