Hard fate "Sharks"
In the fall of 2011, reports appeared in the domestic media that, by 2014, it was planned to decommission and dispose of all the remaining nuclear submarines of Project 941 Shark. The next day, officials from the Department of Defense denied this information. As it turned out, in the coming years, these submarines will remain fleet. Since then, from time to time, new messages have been received about the fate of the Sharks. First of all, the possible modernization of these boats is called. However, repair and re-equipment of "Sharks" are sometimes called inappropriate, because only three such boats remained in service. But in the early eighties, the Soviet Union was going to build ten submarines of project 941. Why, instead of the top ten largest submarines in the world, our country now has only three?
When in the CDB MT "Rubin" under the leadership of S.N. Kovalev began the development of the project 941, the command of the fleet could make quite bold wishes. According to some sources, the possibility of building a series of twelve new submarines was seriously considered. Obviously, for economic reasons, it was subsequently reduced to ten ships. Despite this reduction, the mid-seventies, when the project was created, can be called one of the best periods in stories domestic navy. Therefore, from the issuance of tactical and technical tasks to bookmark head "Shark" it took only three and a half years. Four years later, the first boat of the TK-208 project left the stocks and in December 1981 of the year was put into operation. Thus, the creation of the head of the submarine took about nine years.
Before 1986-87, seven submarines of the 941 project had time to be laid at the Sevmash plant in Severodvinsk. However, the problems began in 1988. Due to a number of financial and political problems, the seventh submarine, ready for 35-40 percent, was cut into metal. The last three boats of the series generally remained at the preliminary preparation stage for construction. The country has begun restructuring and financing of defense projects has declined significantly. In addition, the former (?) Probable adversary, who was directly interested in the absence of such equipment, found out about the new submarines.
It is worth noting that the United States had a strong reason to fear “Sharks”. The boats of the 941 project were the largest submarines in the world and carried solid armament. The original design of the boat with two main robust hulls located at a distance from each other, allowed to enter into the light hull contours two dozen missile silos of the D-19 complex with the Р-39 missiles. Record large size project boats 941 were due to the dimensions of the missiles. P-39 had a length of 16 meters and simply did not fit on the submarines of the old design like the later versions of the project 667. At the same time, the increase in the size of the boat made it possible to place comfortable cabins and crew cabins on it, a small room for rest, a gym, a swimming pool and even a sauna.
In both of the main robust shells, one OK-650BB type reactor was installed with a thermal capacity of up to 190 MW. Two steam turbine units with turbo-gear units had a total capacity of up to 90-100 thousand horsepower. Thanks to this power plant, the 941 project boat with a displacement of 23-28 (surface) or 48-50 thousand tons (underwater) can move under water at speeds up to 25-27 nodes. The maximum depth of immersion 450-500 meters, autonomy - up to 120 day.
The main payload "Shark" were ballistic missiles P-39. These three-stage solid propellant munitions could fly over a range of about 8200-8500 kilometers and deliver ten warheads with targets, according to various sources, from 100 to 200 kilotons. In combination with unlimited navigation range and relatively low noise of the boat carrier, the P-39 rocket provided the 941 submarines with high combat performance. It is worth noting that the P-39 missiles were not very convenient to use. Problems with them were connected, first of all, with weight and size parameters. With a length of 16 meters and a diameter of 2 meters rocket with units of the so-called. depreciation rocket-launch system (ARSS) weighed about 90 tons. After the launch, the P-39 got rid of six tons of APSS weight. However, despite such a mass and size, the P-39 rocket was considered serviceable and put into production.
In general, a potential opponent had every reason to be afraid. In 1987, there was a new reason for concern. The Soviet Union decided to modernize all the existing "Sharks" in accordance with the project XNUMHUTTH. Its main difference from the basic project was the use of upgraded P-941UTTH missiles. Before the collapse of the USSR, at Sevmash, they managed to modify only one project head boat, TK-39. Other submarines were not modernized - there was simply no money for it. In the future, the lack of money constantly affected the fate of "Sharks", and only in a negative way.
According to some sources, maintaining one “Shark” in combat-worthy condition cost 1,5-2 times more than operating boats of the 667BDRM project. In addition, in the late eighties and early nineties, the leadership of our country was ready to make various concessions in international negotiations, including those that were obviously unfavorable for their own defenses. As a result of consultations with, as they then began to speak, foreign partners completely forgot about the construction of the seventh submarine of the series, and decided to write off half of the manufactured ones gradually and dispose of them. In addition, in the early nineties, the production of P-39 missiles ceased. Submarines risk being left without their main weapons.
Due to the lack of funding for the 941 project boat, almost all the time they stood at the quays without any hope of going on the march. The submarine cruiser TK-202 was the first of the fleet combat fleet. Disposal was delayed: instead of the planned start in 1997, work began only in 1999. Cutting "on needles" was completed by the middle of the two thousandth. In 1997-98, two other boats, the TK-12 and TK-13, were excluded from the fleet's combat strength. They stood at berths for a very long time, and at the beginning of the two thousand years there was hope for their return. Considered the option to return to service boats TK-12. In addition, she was to receive the name "Simbirsk", since the administration of the city of Ulyanovsk expressed a desire to take patronage over her. But these proposals are not realized. In 2004, the United States achieved the beginning of the disposal of the boat. The contract for the destruction of the last submarine TK-13 was signed in 2007 year. A few months later, work began.
As you can see, the “foreign partners” still managed to push through the solution that was beneficial for them. The importance of destroying “Sharks” is perfectly illustrated by the fact that around 75-80% of the costs for the disposal of boats were paid by the United States and NATO. In total, they spent about 25 millions of dollars. Probably due to the danger of Soviet and Russian submarines, they were ready to once again lay out such amounts for disposing of the remaining Russian submarines, including other projects.
A quite fair question may arise: why did not the Russian leadership break the agreement on the joint destruction of unique boats? There are reasons for this. During the first years, our country simply did not have the opportunity to fully maintain all six submarines. Without proper care, nuclear power plants could cause colossal environmental disasters. Later, at the beginning of the two thousandth years, money appeared, but at the same time another problem manifested itself. By the end of the nineties, the lack of missile production began to be felt. A little later, the ammunition situation acquired a fatal character: in 2005, there were reports that there were only ten P-39 missiles for three submarines. In other words, it was not possible to staff even one submarine.
It is worth noting that the command of the Navy drew attention to this problem in the mid-nineties. In 1998, the modernization of the TK-208 submarine began in accordance with the 941U project (another designation “941М”). Instead of the old launchers on the boat, several new mines were assembled, intended for the use of the Bulava P-30 missiles. The development of this rocket had just begun at that time, but appropriate measures had already been taken for testing and subsequent operation. After repairs, in 2002, the boat TK-208 received the name "Dmitry Donskoy", and from 2003, she began to participate in the tests of the Bulava.
Operation submarine "Dmitry Donskoy" continues to this day. The other two remaining boats were less fortunate: they were not modernized. In 2004, TK-17 “Arkhangelsk” and TK-20 “Severstal” were taken to the reserve. In the autumn of 2001, the boat "Severstal" went on a hike with the aim of conducting two training launches. Together with the sailors, television journalists, who filmed the Russian Shark documentary, set off for the combat training mission. Subsequently, the footage was repeatedly used in various films about record submarines. Ironically, these surveys were the last at the moment in the biography of the boat TK-20.
After memorable statements from an unnamed source from 2011, the situation with the boats of the 941 project was repeatedly the subject of discussion. A couple of months after the official denial news about the write-off, the management of the Sevmash plant confirmed that the Dmitry Donskoy submarine will continue to be used as a pilot for developing technologies and technical solutions intended for promising projects. The further fate of "Arkhangelsk" and "Severstal" was not called then. At the beginning of 2012, the commander-in-chief of the Navy, V. Vysotsky, said that all three submarines available would remain in the fleet and be operated during the following years. The situation with the lack of missiles has not been commented. Since then, there have been no official reports on the further fate of the remaining 941 submarines. Probably due to the lack of any clear prospects, Severstal and Arkhangelsk will remain in the fleet for several more years, and then they will be written off. At least, now nobody is going to upgrade them for the use of P-30 missiles. Probably, the fleet command assessed the possibilities and prospects of such modernization and came to the appropriate conclusions.
Submarines project 941 not lucky to appear in a very difficult period of history. In the midst of their construction, transformations began, eventually turning out to be fatal for the country. It took many more years to eliminate their consequences, and as a result, the Sharks spent most of their lives at the pier. Now, when it is possible to find opportunities for the return of boats to the system, the expediency of this began to raise questions. Despite the record-breaking characteristics of its time, the boats of the 941 project are fairly outdated and you will have to invest as much money in updating them as it would take to create a completely new project. Does this make sense?
On the materials of the sites:
http://flot.com/
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/
http://deepstorm.ru/
http://lenta.ru/
http://ria.ru/
http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-578.html
Nerpichya Bay, 2004 year. Reserve. Photo http://ru-submarine.livejournal.com
When in the CDB MT "Rubin" under the leadership of S.N. Kovalev began the development of the project 941, the command of the fleet could make quite bold wishes. According to some sources, the possibility of building a series of twelve new submarines was seriously considered. Obviously, for economic reasons, it was subsequently reduced to ten ships. Despite this reduction, the mid-seventies, when the project was created, can be called one of the best periods in stories domestic navy. Therefore, from the issuance of tactical and technical tasks to bookmark head "Shark" it took only three and a half years. Four years later, the first boat of the TK-208 project left the stocks and in December 1981 of the year was put into operation. Thus, the creation of the head of the submarine took about nine years.
Before 1986-87, seven submarines of the 941 project had time to be laid at the Sevmash plant in Severodvinsk. However, the problems began in 1988. Due to a number of financial and political problems, the seventh submarine, ready for 35-40 percent, was cut into metal. The last three boats of the series generally remained at the preliminary preparation stage for construction. The country has begun restructuring and financing of defense projects has declined significantly. In addition, the former (?) Probable adversary, who was directly interested in the absence of such equipment, found out about the new submarines.
It is worth noting that the United States had a strong reason to fear “Sharks”. The boats of the 941 project were the largest submarines in the world and carried solid armament. The original design of the boat with two main robust hulls located at a distance from each other, allowed to enter into the light hull contours two dozen missile silos of the D-19 complex with the Р-39 missiles. Record large size project boats 941 were due to the dimensions of the missiles. P-39 had a length of 16 meters and simply did not fit on the submarines of the old design like the later versions of the project 667. At the same time, the increase in the size of the boat made it possible to place comfortable cabins and crew cabins on it, a small room for rest, a gym, a swimming pool and even a sauna.
In both of the main robust shells, one OK-650BB type reactor was installed with a thermal capacity of up to 190 MW. Two steam turbine units with turbo-gear units had a total capacity of up to 90-100 thousand horsepower. Thanks to this power plant, the 941 project boat with a displacement of 23-28 (surface) or 48-50 thousand tons (underwater) can move under water at speeds up to 25-27 nodes. The maximum depth of immersion 450-500 meters, autonomy - up to 120 day.
The main payload "Shark" were ballistic missiles P-39. These three-stage solid propellant munitions could fly over a range of about 8200-8500 kilometers and deliver ten warheads with targets, according to various sources, from 100 to 200 kilotons. In combination with unlimited navigation range and relatively low noise of the boat carrier, the P-39 rocket provided the 941 submarines with high combat performance. It is worth noting that the P-39 missiles were not very convenient to use. Problems with them were connected, first of all, with weight and size parameters. With a length of 16 meters and a diameter of 2 meters rocket with units of the so-called. depreciation rocket-launch system (ARSS) weighed about 90 tons. After the launch, the P-39 got rid of six tons of APSS weight. However, despite such a mass and size, the P-39 rocket was considered serviceable and put into production.
In general, a potential opponent had every reason to be afraid. In 1987, there was a new reason for concern. The Soviet Union decided to modernize all the existing "Sharks" in accordance with the project XNUMHUTTH. Its main difference from the basic project was the use of upgraded P-941UTTH missiles. Before the collapse of the USSR, at Sevmash, they managed to modify only one project head boat, TK-39. Other submarines were not modernized - there was simply no money for it. In the future, the lack of money constantly affected the fate of "Sharks", and only in a negative way.
According to some sources, maintaining one “Shark” in combat-worthy condition cost 1,5-2 times more than operating boats of the 667BDRM project. In addition, in the late eighties and early nineties, the leadership of our country was ready to make various concessions in international negotiations, including those that were obviously unfavorable for their own defenses. As a result of consultations with, as they then began to speak, foreign partners completely forgot about the construction of the seventh submarine of the series, and decided to write off half of the manufactured ones gradually and dispose of them. In addition, in the early nineties, the production of P-39 missiles ceased. Submarines risk being left without their main weapons.
Due to the lack of funding for the 941 project boat, almost all the time they stood at the quays without any hope of going on the march. The submarine cruiser TK-202 was the first of the fleet combat fleet. Disposal was delayed: instead of the planned start in 1997, work began only in 1999. Cutting "on needles" was completed by the middle of the two thousandth. In 1997-98, two other boats, the TK-12 and TK-13, were excluded from the fleet's combat strength. They stood at berths for a very long time, and at the beginning of the two thousand years there was hope for their return. Considered the option to return to service boats TK-12. In addition, she was to receive the name "Simbirsk", since the administration of the city of Ulyanovsk expressed a desire to take patronage over her. But these proposals are not realized. In 2004, the United States achieved the beginning of the disposal of the boat. The contract for the destruction of the last submarine TK-13 was signed in 2007 year. A few months later, work began.
As you can see, the “foreign partners” still managed to push through the solution that was beneficial for them. The importance of destroying “Sharks” is perfectly illustrated by the fact that around 75-80% of the costs for the disposal of boats were paid by the United States and NATO. In total, they spent about 25 millions of dollars. Probably due to the danger of Soviet and Russian submarines, they were ready to once again lay out such amounts for disposing of the remaining Russian submarines, including other projects.
A quite fair question may arise: why did not the Russian leadership break the agreement on the joint destruction of unique boats? There are reasons for this. During the first years, our country simply did not have the opportunity to fully maintain all six submarines. Without proper care, nuclear power plants could cause colossal environmental disasters. Later, at the beginning of the two thousandth years, money appeared, but at the same time another problem manifested itself. By the end of the nineties, the lack of missile production began to be felt. A little later, the ammunition situation acquired a fatal character: in 2005, there were reports that there were only ten P-39 missiles for three submarines. In other words, it was not possible to staff even one submarine.
It is worth noting that the command of the Navy drew attention to this problem in the mid-nineties. In 1998, the modernization of the TK-208 submarine began in accordance with the 941U project (another designation “941М”). Instead of the old launchers on the boat, several new mines were assembled, intended for the use of the Bulava P-30 missiles. The development of this rocket had just begun at that time, but appropriate measures had already been taken for testing and subsequent operation. After repairs, in 2002, the boat TK-208 received the name "Dmitry Donskoy", and from 2003, she began to participate in the tests of the Bulava.
Operation submarine "Dmitry Donskoy" continues to this day. The other two remaining boats were less fortunate: they were not modernized. In 2004, TK-17 “Arkhangelsk” and TK-20 “Severstal” were taken to the reserve. In the autumn of 2001, the boat "Severstal" went on a hike with the aim of conducting two training launches. Together with the sailors, television journalists, who filmed the Russian Shark documentary, set off for the combat training mission. Subsequently, the footage was repeatedly used in various films about record submarines. Ironically, these surveys were the last at the moment in the biography of the boat TK-20.
After memorable statements from an unnamed source from 2011, the situation with the boats of the 941 project was repeatedly the subject of discussion. A couple of months after the official denial news about the write-off, the management of the Sevmash plant confirmed that the Dmitry Donskoy submarine will continue to be used as a pilot for developing technologies and technical solutions intended for promising projects. The further fate of "Arkhangelsk" and "Severstal" was not called then. At the beginning of 2012, the commander-in-chief of the Navy, V. Vysotsky, said that all three submarines available would remain in the fleet and be operated during the following years. The situation with the lack of missiles has not been commented. Since then, there have been no official reports on the further fate of the remaining 941 submarines. Probably due to the lack of any clear prospects, Severstal and Arkhangelsk will remain in the fleet for several more years, and then they will be written off. At least, now nobody is going to upgrade them for the use of P-30 missiles. Probably, the fleet command assessed the possibilities and prospects of such modernization and came to the appropriate conclusions.
Submarines project 941 not lucky to appear in a very difficult period of history. In the midst of their construction, transformations began, eventually turning out to be fatal for the country. It took many more years to eliminate their consequences, and as a result, the Sharks spent most of their lives at the pier. Now, when it is possible to find opportunities for the return of boats to the system, the expediency of this began to raise questions. Despite the record-breaking characteristics of its time, the boats of the 941 project are fairly outdated and you will have to invest as much money in updating them as it would take to create a completely new project. Does this make sense?
On the materials of the sites:
http://flot.com/
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/
http://deepstorm.ru/
http://lenta.ru/
http://ria.ru/
http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-578.html
Nerpichya Bay, 2004 year. Reserve. Photo http://ru-submarine.livejournal.com
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