World-largest Submarine To Be Scrapped

Novosti ^ | January 20 2005

[knighthawk]

MOSCOW, January 20 (RIA Novosti) - A Project 941 Typhoon submarine, the prototype of the Soviet submarine in "The Hunt for the Red October," is going to be scrapped, with another ship of the series to follow suit soon, according to Izvestia. The United States will pay for the disposal operation.

Red October's prototype, the first Typhoon-class, nuclear-powered intercontinental ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), had just entered the inventory of the Soviet Navy by the time the movie was shot. The submarine was the Soviet response to the US Navy's Ohio-class submarine.

The Typhoon is among the world's most unique weapons systems. Its size earned her a page in the Guinness Book of Records and has a multi-hull design. The outer hull, covered by sonar signal-absorbent coating, houses five pressure hulls with a sauna, a swimming pool, a gym and a smoking lounge. No other submarine in the world can boast that. The space between the two main pressure hulls houses 20 silos for the world-largest RSM-52 intercontinental ballistic missiles each mounting 10 multiple individually targeted reentry vehicle (MIRV) warheads.

The Typhoon can fire off its ICBMs from under the thick polar packed ice stealthily, i.e. without having to surface. Other SSBNs had to do it before launch, thus exposing themselves to the enemy. Therefore, the Typhoon cannot be detected by reconnaissance satellites and, hence, prevented from launching a nuclear attack.

In the early 1990s, Russia and the United States agreed on a bilateral [nuclear] disarmament. A decision was made to dispose of the Typhoon-class submarines in addition to the early nuclear-propulsion subs.

"Now, there are only three Project 941 heavy submarine cruisers in the submarine division's inventory, namely the Arkhangelsk, the Severstal and the Dmitry Donskoi, the latter being upgraded," Admiral Gennady Suchkov, the former Russian Navy's Northern Fleet commander, said.

"Project 941 is the best interms of maneuverability and combat capabilities," said a submarine designer, "but the Navy needs smaller-displacement ships nowadays."

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Lou L]

With a sub that large, you'll get a pretty good echo with that "ping!"

[Future Snake Eater]

"Give me a ping, Vasiliy; one ping only please."

[Strategerist]

Wonder if FR could have a fund drive and buy it.

The world's first Message Board to have a SSBN.

[gridlock]

[Red Badger]

[stainlessbanner]

Trident-class bttt

[Red Badger]

see #7

[Semper Vigilantis]

SSBN Typhoon Class (Type 941)

[drt1]

Now, there are only three Project 941 heavy submarine cruisers in the submarine division's inventory, namely the Arkhangelsk, the Severstal and the Dmitry Donskoi, the latter being upgraded"

"The United States will pay for the disposal operation.

Why on Earth is the US paying for disposal of this one submarine while the Russians are upgrading another. Seems self defeating to me or am I out to lunch?

[Tijeras_Slim]

The outer hull, covered by sonar signal-absorbent coating, houses five pressure hulls with a sauna, a swimming pool, a gym and a smoking lounge.

Stick wings on it and call it the Airbus 380.

[68skylark]

The Typhoon can fire off its ICBMs from under the thick polar packed ice.

My BS detector went off at this point. I'm no expert, though. Can any of our sub experts confirm whether it's possible to fire off an ICBM from under polar ice?

[Nowhere Man]

Wonder if FR could have a fund drive and buy it.

The world's first Message Board to have a SSBN.

Well, that would be one way to counter the DUmmies at DU. B-)

[Ranxerox]

The Typhoon can fire off its ICBMs from under the thick polar packed ice stealthily, i.e. without having to surface. Other SSBNs had to do it before launch, thus exposing themselves to the enemy. Therefore, the Typhoon cannot be detected by reconnaissance satellites and, hence, prevented from launching a nuclear attack.

If this reporter is implying that they launch ICBMs through the ice, he is sadly misinformed. He probably meant they could launch while submerged, like our subs.

[Plutarch]

Ship that thing to Orlando, and make it an attraction at Universal Studios.

[Professional Engineer]

Think the old scow might be a good taget for the Foxhole Air Force?

[Nowhere Man]

My BS detector went off at this point. I'm no expert, though. Can any of our sub experts confirm whether it's possible to fire off an ICBM from under polar ice?

I'm not a sub expert but my guess is that the sub would have to have a hardened sail to crack the ice as she surfaces, after a successful breaking of the ice, they can then launch the missiles. That's the way that I take it. I don't know of any rockets or missiles that can go through the ice. I think the first Soviet SSBN sub to be able to crack through the ice to do this was the Delta II, IIRC.

[smonk]

the thing is a monster

[vvpete]

Why not? One of its predecessors is serving that function at Long Beach, CA.