MOSCOW, January 19 – RIA Novosti. The world's most powerful heavy strategic missile submarines, the Akula, are too early to be sent for disposal: they can be upgraded to carry new ballistic or cruise missiles, according to Russian admirals interviewed by RIA Novosti on Friday.

As a source in the shipbuilding industry previously reported to RIA Novosti, two nuclear submarines of Project 941 (code "Akula") - Arkhangelsk and Severstal - will be dismantled by Rosatom after 2020. Their further operation was considered unprofitable and they have already been removed from the Russian Navy, the source said.

Upgrade to "Bulava"

“I can only express my personal regret. These submarines are the most powerful in the world, the most high-tech in production. One Akula carried 20 missiles with ten warheads each. I went to sea on them, being the first deputy commander of the Northern Fleet “They are easy to operate. I have never experienced greater delight,” said former commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov.

In his opinion, “we are acting barbarically with our brainchild, sending the Sharks to be cut to pieces.” The Russian shipbuilding industry, for economic reasons, is no longer able to build such a submarine, the admiral believes.

According to him, these nuclear submarine cruisers can be modernized for the intercontinental ballistic Bulava or modern cruise missiles - following the example of the Americans who modernized the Ohio submarines.

Komoyedov emphasized that “it is not so easy to dismantle such a submarine.” “I would like to express the hope that the decision to dismantle the two submarine cruisers has not yet been made, and if accepted, it will be reviewed. I would even develop a modernization plan,” the admiral said.

He categorically disagreed that the further operation of the Sharks was unprofitable: “In general, maintaining combat-ready armed forces is a costly business. But these submarines are worth the cost.”

"Bulava" in action: how the ballistic missile was launched from a submarine cruiserThe Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the missile submarine cruiser Yuri Dolgoruky in the Barents Sea. Watch footage of combat training shooting.

Work for "Star"

Former First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Igor Kasatonov, also spoke out against cutting up Arkhangelsk and Severstal for metal. As a forced positive aspect, he noted that “recycling will bring money to the budget and provide jobs.”

Most likely, the hulls of the cruisers will be dismantled at the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center in Severodvinsk, the agency’s interlocutor noted.

Departing giants

Project 941 TRKSN are the world's largest nuclear submarines. The ship's total displacement is 49.8 thousand tons, length - 172 meters, width - 23.3 meters. A total of six cruisers of the project were built. "Dmitry Donskoy" - the lead ship in the series - was laid down on June 30, 1976, accepted into service with the Northern Fleet in 1981.

In 1996-1997, due to a lack of funds, three Project 941 nuclear submarines (TK-12, TK-202 and TK-13), which had served only 12-13 years, were withdrawn from service in the Russian Navy.

The cruiser TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" underwent repairs, modernization and re-equipment at Sevmash for more than ten years to test the Bulava missile system. Currently, this Project 941U ship remains the last "Akula" in the Russian Navy.

The most famous warships and submarines of Russia

/ "Yuri Dolgoruky" is a nuclear submarine with new generation ballistic missiles. It is the first submarine produced by Russia since the Soviet era. It was built by the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk for the Russian Navy. The groundbreaking took place in 1996. The first sea trials of the vessel took place in the summer of 2009.

1 out of 10

"Yuri Dolgoruky" is a nuclear submarine with new generation ballistic missiles. It is the first submarine produced by Russia since the Soviet era. It was built by the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk for the Russian Navy. The groundbreaking took place in 1996. The first sea trials of the vessel took place in the summer of 2009.

/ The famous cruiser "Aurora", which is permanently moored near the Petrogradskaya embankment in St. Petersburg, is an object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. The first-rank cruiser of the Baltic Fleet is famous for its role in the October Revolution of 1917. It was laid down in 1897 at the New Admiralty shipyard in St. Petersburg. The cruiser was named after the sailing frigate "Aurora", which became famous during the defense of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky during the Crimean War.

2 out of 10

The famous cruiser "Aurora", which is permanently moored near the Petrogradskaya embankment in St. Petersburg, is an object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. The first-rank cruiser of the Baltic Fleet is famous for its role in the October Revolution of 1917. It was laid down in 1897 at the New Admiralty shipyard in St. Petersburg. The cruiser was named after the sailing frigate "Aurora", which became famous during the defense of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky during the Crimean War.

© Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian FederationThe aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" is the only one in its class in the Russian Navy. The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser is designed to destroy large surface targets and defend naval formations from attacks by a potential enemy. Built at the Black Sea Shipyard in Nikolaev in the early 80s of the last century. The cruiser was named in honor of Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. Previous names of the vessel in order of assignment: “Soviet Union” (project), “Riga” (laying), “Leonid Brezhnev” (launching), “Tbilisi” (tests).

3 out of 10

The aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" is the only one in its class in the Russian Navy. The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser is designed to destroy large surface targets and defend naval formations from attacks by a potential enemy. Built at the Black Sea Shipyard in Nikolaev in the early 80s of the last century. The cruiser was named in honor of Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. Previous names of the vessel in order of assignment: “Soviet Union” (project), “Riga” (laying), “Leonid Brezhnev” (launching), “Tbilisi” (tests).

/ The patrol ship "Admiral Grigorovich" was named in honor of Admiral Ivan Konstantinovich Grigorovich, Russian Minister of Navy in 1911-1917. The ship was laid down in December 2010 at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad and launched in March 2014.

4 out of 10

The patrol ship "Admiral Grigorovich" was named in honor of Admiral Ivan Konstantinovich Grigorovich, Russian Minister of Navy in 1911-1917. The ship was laid down in December 2010 at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad and launched in March 2014.

/ "Igor Belousov" is a rescue ship built for the Russian Navy at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg. The ship was launched in 2012. The vessel is designed to provide assistance to the crews of emergency submarines lying on the ground or on the surface, supplying air, electricity and life-saving equipment to submarines and surface ships. In addition, the ship can search and examine emergency objects.

6 out of 10

"Igor Belousov" is a rescue ship built for the Russian Navy at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg. The ship was launched in 2012. The vessel is designed to provide assistance to the crews of emergency submarines lying on the ground or on the surface, supplying air, electricity and life-saving equipment to submarines and surface ships. In addition, the ship can search and examine emergency objects.

/ B-261 "Novorossiysk" is a diesel-electric submarine of Project 636.3 "Varshavyanka". The vessel is designed to combat enemy submarines and ships, for the defense of naval bases, coastal and sea communications, reconnaissance and patrol activities on enemy communications. The submarine was laid down in August 2010, launched in November 2013, and accepted into the fleet in August 2014.

7 out of 10

B-261 "Novorossiysk" is a diesel-electric submarine of Project 636.3 "Varshavyanka". The vessel is designed to combat enemy submarines and ships, for the defense of naval bases, coastal and sea communications, reconnaissance and patrol activities on enemy communications. The submarine was laid down in August 2010, launched in November 2013, and accepted into the fleet in August 2014.

/ TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" is a heavy nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine of Project 941 "Akula", the first ship in the series. The ship is equipped with a Bulava missile system with 6 hypersonic nuclear warheads. The boat was laid down in June 1976 at Sevmashpredpriyatiya, entered service with the Navy in 1981, and became part of the Northern Fleet in 1982. Today, the TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" is the largest submarine in the world.

8 out of 10

TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" is a heavy nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine of Project 941 "Akula", the first ship in the series. The ship is equipped with a Bulava missile system with 6 hypersonic nuclear warheads. The boat was laid down in June 1976 at Sevmashpredpriyatiya, entered service with the Navy in 1981, and became part of the Northern Fleet in 1982. Today, the TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" is the largest submarine in the world.

/ "Peter the Great" is the fourth and only heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser of the third generation of Project 1144 "Orlan" in service. The main purpose of the vessel is to destroy enemy aircraft carrier groups. The cruiser was laid down in 1986 on the slipway of the Baltic Shipyard. She was launched in 1989 and entered the fleet in 1988.

9 out of 10

"Peter the Great" is the fourth and only heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser of the third generation of Project 1144 "Orlan" in service. The main purpose of the vessel is to destroy enemy aircraft carrier groups. The cruiser was laid down in 1986 on the slipway of the Baltic Shipyard. She was launched in 1989 and entered the fleet in 1988.

© Photo: press service of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Federation/Oleg KuleshovK-560 "Severodvinsk" is a Russian multi-purpose nuclear submarine with 4th generation cruise missiles, the lead ship of Project 885 "Yasen". For the first time in the practice of domestic shipbuilding, torpedo tubes were located behind the central post compartment. The Severodvinsk submarine was laid down at the Sevmash defense shipyard in 1993. The ship was launched in 2010.

Heavy strategic missile submarines of Project 941 "Akula" (SSBN "Typhoon" according to NATO codification) are a series of Soviet and Russian submarines, the world's largest nuclear submarines (and submarines in general).

Project 941 Akula submarines - video

The tactical and technical specifications for the design were issued in December 1972, and S. N. Kovalev was appointed chief designer of the project. The new type of submarine cruiser was positioned as a response to the US construction of Ohio-class SSBNs (the first boats of both projects were laid down almost simultaneously in 1976). The dimensions of the new ship were determined by the dimensions of the new solid-fuel three-stage intercontinental ballistic missiles R-39 (RSM-52), with which it was planned to arm the boat. Compared to the Trident-I missiles, which were equipped with the American Ohio, the R-39 missile had better flight range characteristics, throw weight and had 10 blocks versus 8 for the Trident. However, the R-39 turned out to be almost twice as long and three times as heavy as its American counterpart. The standard SSBN layout was not suitable for accommodating such large missiles. On December 19, 1973, the government decided to begin work on the design and construction of a new generation of strategic missile carriers.

The first boat of this type, TK-208 (which means “heavy cruiser”), was laid down at the Sevmash enterprise in June 1976, launched on September 23, 1980. Before the descent, an image of a shark was painted on the side of the submarine in the bow below the waterline; later, stripes with a shark appeared on the crew’s uniform. Despite the later launch of the project, the lead cruiser entered sea trials a month earlier than the American Ohio (July 4, 1981). TK-208 entered service on December 12, 1981. In total, from 1981 to 1989, 6 Akula-type boats were launched and put into operation. The planned seventh ship was never laid down; Hull structures were prepared for it.

The construction of “9-story” submarines provided orders for more than 1000 enterprises of the Soviet Union. At Sevmash alone, 1,219 people who participated in the creation of this unique ship received government awards. For the first time, Leonid Brezhnev announced the creation of the “Shark” series at the XXVI Congress of the CPSU.

To ensure reloading of missiles and torpedoes, in 1986 the diesel-electric transport-missile carrier “Alexander Brykin” of Project 11570 was built with a total displacement of 16,000 tons; it could carry up to 16 SLBMs.

In 1987, the TK-12 "Simbirsk" carried out a long high-latitude voyage to the Arctic with repeated replacement of crews.

On September 27, 1991, during a training launch in the White Sea on the TK-17 Arkhangelsk, a training rocket exploded and burned out in the silo. The explosion tore off the cover of the mine, and the warhead of the rocket was thrown into the sea. The crew was not injured during the incident; the boat was forced to undergo minor repairs.

In 1998, tests were carried out in the Northern Fleet, during which 20 R-39 missiles were launched “simultaneously”.

Design of Project 941 Akula submarines

The power plant is made in the form of two independent echelons located in different durable buildings. The reactors are equipped with an automatic shutdown system in case of loss of power supply and pulse equipment for monitoring the condition of the reactors. When designing, the TTZ included a clause on the need to ensure a safe radius; for this purpose, methods for calculating the dynamic strength of complex hull components (fastening modules, pop-up cameras and containers, inter-hull connections) were developed and tested by experiments in experimental compartments.

To build the Sharks, a new workshop No. 55 was specially built at Sevmash - the largest indoor boathouse in the world. The ships have a large reserve of buoyancy - more than 40%. When submerged, exactly half of the displacement is accounted for by ballast water, for which the boats received the unofficial name “water carrier” in the navy, and in the competing design bureau “Malachite” - “a victory of technology over common sense.” One of the reasons for this decision was the requirement for the developers to ensure the smallest draft of the ship to be able to use existing piers and repair bases. Also, it is the large reserve of buoyancy, coupled with a durable deckhouse, that allows the boat to break through ice up to 2.5 meters thick, which for the first time made it possible to conduct combat duty in high latitudes right up to the North Pole.

Frame

A special feature of the boat’s design is the presence of five habitable durable hulls inside the light hull. Two of them are the main ones, have a maximum diameter of 10 m and are located parallel to each other, according to the principle of a catamaran. At the front of the ship, between the main pressure hulls, are missile silos, which were first placed forward of the wheelhouse. In addition, there are three separate pressurized compartments: a torpedo compartment, a control module compartment with a central control post, and an aft mechanical compartment. The removal and placement of three compartments into the space between the main hulls made it possible to increase the fire safety and survivability of the boat.

Both main strong hulls are connected to each other by three transitions through intermediate strong capsule compartments: in the bow, in the center and in the stern. The total number of waterproof compartments of the boat is 19. Two pop-up rescue chambers, designed for the entire crew, are located at the base of the wheelhouse under the retractable device fence.

The durable hulls are made of titanium alloys, the lightweight ones are made of steel, covered with a non-resonant anti-location and sound-insulating rubber coating with a total weight of 800 tons. According to American experts, the strong hulls of the boat are also equipped with sound-insulating coatings. The ship received a developed cruciform stern tail with horizontal rudders located directly behind the propellers. The front horizontal rudders are retractable.

In order for the boats to be able to carry out duty in high latitudes, the wheelhouse fencing is made very strong, capable of breaking through ice 2-2.5 m thick (in winter, the thickness of the ice in the Arctic Ocean varies from 1.2 to 2 m, and in some places reaches 2.5 m). The bottom surface of the ice is covered with growths in the form of icicles or stalactites of considerable size. When surfacing, the underwater cruiser, having removed the bow rudders, is slowly pressed against the ice ceiling with a specially adapted bow and wheelhouse fencing, after which the main ballast tanks are sharply purged.

Power point

The main nuclear power plant is designed according to the block principle and includes two water-cooled thermal neutron reactors OK-650 with a thermal power of 190 MW each and a shaft power of 2 × 50,000 liters. pp., as well as two steam turbine units, located one each in both durable hulls, which significantly increases the survivability of the boat. The use of a two-stage rubber-cord pneumatic shock absorption system and a block arrangement of mechanisms and equipment made it possible to significantly improve the vibration isolation of the units and, thereby, reduce the noise of the boat.

Two low-speed, low-noise, seven-bladed fixed-pitch propellers are used as propulsors. To reduce noise levels, the propellers are installed in ring fairings (fenestrons). The boat has backup propulsion means: two 190 kW DC electric motors. For maneuvering in cramped conditions, there is a thruster in the form of two folding columns with 750 kW electric motors and rotary propellers. Thrusters are located in the bow and stern of the ship.

Habitability

The crew is accommodated in conditions of increased comfort. The boat has a lounge for relaxation, a gym, a swimming pool measuring 4x2 m and a depth of 2 m, filled with fresh or salt sea water with the possibility of heating, a solarium, a sauna lined with oak boards, and a “living corner”. The rank and file are accommodated in small cockpits, the command personnel are accommodated in two- and four-berth cabins with washbasins, televisions and air conditioning. There are two wardrooms: one for officers, the other for midshipmen and sailors. Sailors call Akula-class submarines “the floating Hilton.”

Environment regeneration

In 1984, for participation in the creation of TRPKSN pr. 941 "Typhoon", the FSUE "Special Design and Technological Bureau for Electrochemistry with a Pilot Plant" (until 1969 - the Moscow Electrolysis Plant) was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

Armament of Project 941 Akula submarines

The main armament is the D-19 missile system with 20 R-39 Variant three-stage solid-fuel ballistic missiles. These missiles have the largest launch weight (together with the launch container - 90 tons) and length (17.1 m) of the SLBMs put into service. The combat range of the missiles is 8300 km, the warhead is multiplex: 10 warheads with individual guidance of 100 kilotons of TNT each.

Due to the large dimensions of the R-39, the Akula project boats were the only carriers of these missiles. The design of the D-19 missile system was tested on the BS-153 diesel submarine, specially converted according to Project 619, which was based in Sevastopol, but it could only accommodate one silo for the R-39 and was limited to seven launches of dummy models. The entire ammunition load of the Akula missiles can be launched in one salvo with a short interval between the launch of individual missiles.

Launch is possible both from surface and submerged positions at depths of up to 55 m and without restrictions on weather conditions. Thanks to the ARSS shock-absorbing rocket launch system, the rocket is launched from a dry shaft using a powder pressure accumulator, which reduces the interval between launches and the level of pre-launch noise. One of the features of the complex is that with the help of the ARSS, the missiles are suspended at the neck of the silo. The design included the deployment of an ammunition load of 24 missiles, but, by the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy, Admiral S.G. Gorshkov, their number was reduced to 20.

In 1986, a government decree was adopted on the development of an improved version of the missile - the R-39UTTKh "Bark". The new modification planned to increase the firing range to 10,000 km and implement a system for passing through ice. The rearmament of the missile carriers was planned to be carried out until 2003, the expiration date of the warranty life of the produced R-39 missiles. In 1998, after the third unsuccessful launch, the Ministry of Defense decided to stop work on the 73% complete complex. The Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering, the developer of the “land” Topol-M ICBM, was assigned to develop another solid-fuel SLBM “Bulava”.

In addition to strategic weapons, the boat is equipped with 6 torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber, designed for firing torpedoes and missile-torpedoes, as well as for laying minefields.

Air defense is provided by eight sets of Igla-1 MANPADS.

Missile carriers of the Akula project are equipped with the following electronic weapons:

• combat information and control system "Omnibus";
• analog hydroacoustic complex "Skat-KS" (digital "Skat-3" was installed on the TK-208 during mid-repair);
• hydroacoustic mine detection station MG-519 “Harp”;
• echometer MG-518 “Sever”;
• radar complex MRKP-58 "Buran";
• navigation complex "Symphony";
• radio communication complex "Molniya-L1" with satellite communication system "Tsunami";
• television complex MTK-100;
• two pop-up buoy-type antennas that allow receiving radio messages, target designations and satellite navigation signals when located at a depth of up to 150 m and under ice.

Representatives

The first boat of this type, TK-208, was laid down at the Sevmash enterprise in June 1976 and entered service in December 1981, almost simultaneously with the similar Ohio-class SSBN of the US Navy. Initially, it was planned to build 7 boats of this project, but according to the SALT-1 agreement, the series was limited to six ships (the seventh ship of the series, TK-210, was dismantled on the slipway).

All 6 built TRPKSN were based in the Northern Fleet in Western Litsa (Nerpichya Bay) 45 km from the border with Norway, these are: TK-208 “Dmitry Donskoy”; TK-202; TK-12 "Simbirsk"; TK-13; TK-17 "Arkhangelsk"; TK-20 "Severstal".

Disposal

In accordance with the SALT-2 strategic arms limitation treaty, and also due to the lack of funds to maintain boats in combat-ready condition (for one heavy cruiser - 300 million rubles per year, for 667BDRM - 180 million rubles) and in connection with the cessation of production of R missiles -39, which are the main armament of the Sharks, it was decided to scrap three of the six built ships of the project, and the seventh ship, TK-210, not to be completed at all. One of the options for the peaceful use of these giant submarines was considered to be their conversion into underwater transports for supplying Norilsk or into tankers, but these projects were not implemented.

The cost of dismantling one cruiser was about $10 million, of which $2 million was allocated from the Russian budget, the rest was funds provided by the United States and Canada.

Current status

As of 2013, out of 6 ships built under the USSR, 3 ships of Project 941 have been scrapped, 2 ships are in reserve, and one has been modernized according to Project 941UM.

Due to the chronic lack of funding, in the 1990s it was planned to decommission all units, however, with the advent of financial opportunities and a revision of the military doctrine, the remaining ships (TK-17 Arkhangelsk and TK-20 Severstal) underwent maintenance repairs in 1999-2002. TK-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" underwent major repairs and modernization under Project 941UM in 1990-2002 and since December 2003 has been used as part of the testing program for the latest Russian SLBM "Bulava".

The 18th Submarine Division, which included all the Sharks, was reduced. As of February 2008, it included the TK-17 Arkhangelsk (last combat duty - from October 2004 to January 2005) and the TK-20 Severstal, which were in reserve after the working life of the "main caliber" missiles had expired. "(last combat duty - 2002), as well as the K-208 Dmitry Donskoy converted to the Bulava. TK-17 "Arkhangelsk" and TK-20 "Severstal" were awaiting a decision on disposal or re-equipment with new SLBMs for more than three years, until in August 2007, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral of the Fleet V.V. Masorin, announced that until 2015 it is planned to modernize the Akula nuclear submarine for the Bulava-M missile system.

In March 2012, information appeared from sources of the Russian Ministry of Defense that the Project 941 Akula strategic nuclear submarines would not be modernized for financial reasons. According to the source, the deep modernization of one Akula is comparable in cost to the construction of two new Project 955 Borei submarines. The submarine cruisers TK-17 Arkhangelsk and TK-20 Severstal will not be modernized in light of the recently adopted decision; the TK-208 Dmitry Donskoy will continue to be used as a test platform for weapons systems and sonar systems until 2019.

Performance characteristics of Project 941 Akula submarines

Speed ​​(surface)...................12 knots
Speed ​​(underwater).........................25 knots (46.3 km/h)
Working depth of immersion...............400 m
Maximum immersion depth......500 m
Navigation autonomy.........................180 days (6 months)
Crew...............160 people (including 52 officers)

Overall dimensions of Project 941 “Shark” boats
Surface displacement........................23 200 t
Underwater displacement............48,000 t
Maximum length (according to the vertical line)............... 172.8 m
Hull width max.......23.3 m
Average draft (according to water line)............... 11.2 m

Power point
2 pressurized water nuclear reactors OK-650VV, 190 MW each.
2 turbines 45000-50000 hp each. each
2 propeller shafts with 7-bladed propellers with a diameter of 5.55 m
4 steam turbine nuclear power plants of 3.2 MW each
Reserve:
2 diesel generators ASDG-800 (kW)
Lead-acid battery, product 144

Armament
Torpedo-mine weapons.............6 TA 533 mm caliber;
22 torpedoes: 53-65K, SET-65, SAET-60M, USET-80. Rocket torpedoes "Waterfall" or "Shkval"
Missile weapons.........................20 SLBM R-39 (RSM-52) or R-30 Bulava (Project 941UM)
Air defense...............8 MANPADS "Igla"

TRPKSN TK-12 "Simbirsk" project 941 "Shark". The third submarine of this series is being scrapped.

When I was little, Steven Spielberg's Jaws had a profound influence on my relationship with the sea. The fear of water that appeared in me then did not give me peace for a very long time.

Now I understand that the shark from the movie “Jaws” did not exist in reality, but no one knows what the depths of the ocean hide from us. I am not the type of person who believes that Megalodon still lives somewhere in the depths (this is such a prehistoric shark), but nevertheless, if you consider that the ocean makes up 70% of the entire land surface, and 95% the world's oceans remain unexplored to this day, you inevitably begin to believe that in the depths of the ocean there can live creatures much larger than those with whom we are accustomed to sharing our home planet.

If there are large, not yet described creatures in the sea, then the most terrible one will probably be some kind of shark. There are plenty of sensational reports and articles about the discovery of such fish, but all of them are most often exaggerated. But nevertheless, perhaps there is some truth in all this and I decided to choose 10 of them. So - the 10 most famous man-eating sharks.

There is no concrete evidence of the existence of this shark. During the 70s and 80s there were reports of a large shark near Cape Town, South Africa. A large shark of 7-8 meters in length was reported. It received the name Submarine because of its impressive size.

9 – Mysterious Mariana Trench Shark

In 1989, deep-sea exploration was carried out in Suruga Bay off the coast of Japan. Scientists placed the bait at a depth of one and a half kilometers. A lot of all sorts of small and larger fish gathered near the bait. A giant shark with a length of 9 to 15 meters was also discovered there. There is even video footage of sharks. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to accurately determine its dimensions, because... the only thing you can start from in measurements is the bait, and its dimensions are unknown.

8 - The shark that swallowed the great white

In 2003, researchers attached a tracking device to one white shark. Four months later, the device was washed ashore by a wave. The information contained in the device showed a sudden jump in temperature from 8 degrees Celsius to 26, which meant that it had been eaten by someone. Further, a drop in depth to 560 meters was recorded, after which the device slowly surfaced and was thrown ashore by the current.

7 - Colossus

Colossus is the name given to a giant species of great white shark that lives off the coast of South Africa, off Seal Island. These areas are home to a large population of seals, which in turn attracts hungry sharks. This giant is 4.8 meters long and weighs approximately two tons.

6 - Slash

This aggressive shark was spotted off the coast of New Zealand. This almost five-meter giant is named so because of the large scar on the left side of its mouth. The scar remained after an unsuccessful attempt to attach a tracking device, after which, in principle and naturally, the shark began to react quite aggressively towards people.

5 - Cuban

This shark was caught off the coast of the northern coast of Cuba in 1945, according to the fishermen who caught it, the shark was 6.5 meters in length and weighed more than three tons.

4 – Maltese large white

On the morning of April 17, 1987, a huge white shark, which the locals nicknamed the “Big Giant,” was caught off the coast of Malta. Another two-meter shark could fit in this female's stomach. Eyewitnesses say that it was more than 7 meters long!

3 - Prince Edward Island Shark

This giant was caught near the Canadian Prince Edward Island. Caught in 1983, this shark is the largest of those whose size is known with certainty. The length is 6 meters.

The Black Devil is reported to be between 7 and 18 meters long. It lives in the Sea of ​​Cortez, off the coast of the California Peninsula. This is the only shark that has been reported to attack small vessels. But there is no evidence to confirm these reports.

1 – Great White Shark – Deep Blue

If you haven't seen this video, immediately type in a search engine - Deep Blue. This is what scientists named this giant white shark. This predator was discovered near the island of Guadeloupe and its length is more than 6 meters.

Among all the various achievements of mankind, there are many records, the authorship of which belongs to our compatriots. One of these is the creation of the largest submarine in the world. Soviet submarine cruisers of the Akula project, built in the 1980s, are unparalleled in size to this day.

The height of the Akula project submarine is approximately equal to the height of a nine-story building. Now imagine a nine-story building confidently moving forward at a depth of several hundred meters - such a picture can shock even a not very impressionable person!

But the Soviet designers working on “Project 941” thought about records in the last place. The main task was to ensure the preservation of military parity between the USSR and the USA.

By the 1970s, it became obvious that submarines carrying nuclear weapons played a very important role in ensuring national security.

The leadership of the USSR learned from intelligence reports that work had begun in the United States to create a new generation of nuclear submarines. The new Ohio-class missile carriers were supposed to provide the United States with an overwhelming advantage in sea-based nuclear carriers.

In December 1972, the Central Design Bureau of Marine Equipment "Rubin" received tactical and technical assignments for the design of a third-generation Soviet missile carrier. The chief designer of the project was Sergey Kovalev, the legendary creator of Soviet missile submarines.

"Shark", view from the right shell. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Size matters

On December 19, 1973, the government of the Soviet Union decided to begin work on the design and construction of a new generation of strategic missile carriers.

The new Soviet three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile R-39, specially designed for arming submarines of a new type, was superior in its performance to the American counterpart Trident-I. The R-39 had the best characteristics of flight range, throw weight and had 10 blocks versus 8 for the Trident.

But you have to pay for everything. The high qualities of the R-39 were combined with unprecedented dimensions for sea-based missiles - almost twice as long and three times as heavy as the American counterpart.

This meant that it was necessary to develop a completely unique submarine cruiser, the size of which would have no analogues.

As a result, the Project 941 missile cruisers had the greatest length - 172.8 meters, the greatest hull width - 23.3 meters, a surface displacement of 23,200 tons and an underwater displacement of 48,000 tons.

The lead ship of the series, which was supposed to build 7 missile carriers, was laid down at the Sevmash plant in 1976. The launch of TK (heavy cruiser) 208 took place on September 23, 1980.

Anchor "Shark" in Severodvinsk. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Schekinov Alexey Victorovich

"Sharks" of different types

When the hull of the boat was still in the stocks, on its bow, below the waterline, a drawn grinning shark could be seen, which was wrapped around a trident. And although after the descent, when the boat got into the water, the shark with the trident disappeared under the water and no one saw it again, the cruiser was already popularly dubbed the “Shark”. All subsequent boats of this class continued to be called the same, and a special sleeve patch with the image of a shark was introduced for their crews.

There is a certain confusion with domestic underwater “Sharks”. The name of the project does not refer to any of the boats included in it. According to NATO codification, this project is called “Typhoon”.

In NATO codification, “Sharks” refer to domestic multipurpose submarines of Project 971 “Shchuka-B”. The lead boat of this project, K-284, bore its own name “Shark”, without having anything to do with the “Rocket Sharks”.

And the first “Shark” in the history of the Russian submarine fleet was a submarine designed engineer Ivan Bubnov, launched in 1909. The "Shark", which became the first underwater ship in the Russian Navy, created according to a Russian design, was lost in the Baltic during the First World War.

But let's return to the "Record Shark". The first boat of the new project, TK-208, entered service with the USSR Navy in December 1981, almost simultaneously with its competitor Ohio.

"Shark" in the ice. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Bellona foundation

High reliability missile carrier

The main type of weapons of the missile carrier are 20 three-stage solid-fuel ballistic missiles R-39. The missiles have a multiple warhead with 10 individually guided warheads, each containing 100 kilotons of TNT, and the missiles' flight range is 8,300 km.

From Akula project boats, the entire ammunition load can be launched in one salvo; the interval between missile launches is minimal. Missiles can be launched from a surface or underwater position; in the case of launch from an underwater position, the immersion depth is up to 55 meters; there are no restrictions on weather conditions for launching missiles.

Unlike American Ohio-class submarines, which were primarily built for service in tropical waters, Akula-class missile carriers have increased strength, allowing them to break ice 2.5 meters thick. This makes it possible for the Akula to carry out combat duty in the Far North and even directly at the North Pole.

One of the design features of the boat is the presence of five habitable durable hulls inside a light hull, two of which are the main ones, their largest diameter is 10 meters, they are located according to the catamaran principle - parallel to each other. Missile silos with missile systems are located in the front of the ship, between the main pressure hulls. In addition, the boat is equipped with three sealed compartments: a torpedo compartment, a control module compartment with a central post and an aft mechanical compartment.

The durable cases were made from titanium alloys, the lightweight case was made of steel and had a non-resonant anti-location and sound-insulating coating, the weight of which was 800 tons.

The unique design of the Akula ensures the survival of the crew in the event of an emergency on board, similar to the one that occurred on the Kursk submarine.

Ohio class nuclear submarine. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

"Floating Hilton"

Not only the combat characteristics of the new submarines were unique, but also almost everything connected with them.

The project included the construction of a special submarine training center in Obninsk near Moscow with all the infrastructure for crew members and their families.

It was assumed that each of the "Sharks" would receive three crews - two main and one technical, who would serve on a rotational basis.

The first crew, having completed a combat tour lasting 2-3 months, was supposed to leave the base in the Moscow region, and then go on vacation. At this time, a technical crew was supposed to work on the boat. Upon completion of the repair work, the technical crew handed the boat over to the second main crew, who were rested, had additional training in Obninsk and were ready to go to sea.

Much attention was paid to the life of submariners on the boat itself. A relaxation lounge, a sauna, a solarium, a gym, two wardrooms and even a swimming pool - Soviet submariners had never seen anything like this before. As a result, the Sharks received another nickname: the “floating Hilton.”

At home among the whales

The main weakness of the first domestic nuclear submarines was the high noise level, which unmasked them. The Sharks' hulls were designed so well that the noise level was significantly lower than even the designers expected. For the Americans, the “silence” of the “Shark” was an unpleasant surprise. Indeed, it feels somehow uncomfortable to think that somewhere in the ocean a “nine-story building” is moving silently and imperceptibly, with its salvo capable of turning several American megacities into a radioactive desert.

Submariners assure that the “Shark” managed to merge with the ocean so much that whales and killer whales often mistook the missile carrier for a relative, thereby creating an additional “cover” for it.

The appearance of Project 941 Akula missile carriers in the USSR Navy deprived the US military command of hopes of acquiring an overwhelming advantage over the USSR in sea-based nuclear forces.

But big politics intervened in the history of this project. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, US representatives, proposing new disarmament treaties, showed keen interest in the decommissioning and disposal of Soviet Sharks.

TK-202 in 1999, before disposal. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

The first one is also the last one

Of the seven planned Sharks, six were built, the last of which was accepted into the fleet in September 1989. The hull structures of the seventh boat were dismantled in 1990.

TK-202, TK-12 "Simbirsk" and TK-13 were disposed of between 2005 and 2009 with financial support from the United States. TK-17 "Arkhangelsk" and TK-20 "Severstal" were withdrawn to the fleet reserve in 2004-2006 due to lack of ammunition and are now also awaiting disposal.

The only missile carrier of the Akula project that still remains in service is the same submarine TK-208, launched on September 23, 1980.

In 2002, TK-208 was given the name “Dmitry Donskoy”. The largest submarine missile carrier in the world has undergone modernization under Project 941 UM and is now converted to the Bulava missile system. It was from the Dmitry Donskoy that most of the Bulava test launches were carried out. It is assumed that the missile carrier will continue to be used as a test platform for hydroacoustic complexes and weapons systems intended for the latest types of Russian submarines.

The "Shark" class is still the undefeated record of the USSR. Sailing autonomously for 120 days, she crossed the oceans with ease and undetected; she was able to break thick Arctic ice and hit enemy targets, firing the entire ammunition load of ballistic missiles in a short time. Today they cannot find a use for it, and its fate is unclear.

Our answer

The war that unfolded between the USSR and the USA required worthy responses from both sides to mutual challenges. In the 70s, the United States received a ship with a displacement of 18.7 tons. Its speed was 200 knots, and the equipment included equipment for underwater missile launches from a depth of 15 to 30 meters. In response, the country's leadership demanded the creation of superior technology from Soviet science and the military-industrial complex.

In December 1972, a tactical and technical specification was issued for the creation of a submarine cruiser with the code “Shark” and number 941. Work began with a government decree on the start of development; the project was assigned to the Rubin Central Design Bureau. The implementation of the design idea took place in the largest boathouse in the world - at the Sevmash plant; the laying took place in 1976. During the construction of the submarine, several technological breakthroughs were made, one of them was the aggregate-modular construction method, which significantly reduced the delivery time of the facility. Today this method is used everywhere in all types of shipbuilding, but the Akula class submarine was the first in everything.

At the end of September 1980, the first submarine cruiser “Akula” of Project 941 was launched into the White Sea from the Severodvinsk shipyard. According to a maritime legend, or were, on the bow of the submarine, until it was launched into the water, below the waterline, a shark was drawn baring its teeth, wrapping its tail around trident. After descending into the sea, the drawing disappeared under water and no one saw the emblem again, but popular memory, fascinated by symbolism and signs, immediately gave the name to the cruiser - “Shark”. All subsequent submarines of type 941 received the same name, and their own symbols were introduced for crew members in the form of a sleeve patch with the image of a shark. In the USA, the cruiser was given the name "Typhoon".

Design

The Akula class submarine is designed like a catamaran - two hulls, each with a diameter of 7.2 meters, are located parallel to each other in a horizontal plane. A sealed compartment with a control module is located between the two main buildings; it contains the control panel and radio equipment of the cruiser. The rocket unit is located in the front of the boat between the hulls. It was possible to move from one part of the boat to another using three passages. The entire hull of the boat consisted of 19 waterproof compartments.

Project 941 (“Shark”) has in its design, at the base of the wheelhouse, two pop-up evacuation chambers with a capacity for the entire operating crew. The compartment in which the central post is located is located closer to the stern of the cruiser. Titanium casing covers two central hulls, a central post, torpedo rooms, the rest of the surface is covered with steel, on which a hydroacoustic coating is applied, reliably hiding the boat from tracking systems.

The front retractable rudders of a horizontal design are located in the bow of the boat. The upper deckhouse is reinforced and equipped with a rounded roof that is capable of breaking through strong ice cover when surfacing in northern latitudes.

Characteristics

Type 941 submarines were equipped with third-generation power plants (their power was 100,000 hp) of a block type; the placement was divided into two blocks in durable housings, which reduced the dimensions of the nuclear power plant. At the same time, performance characteristics have been improved.

But it was not only this step that made the Akula class submarines legendary. The characteristics of the power plant included two OK-650 pressurized water nuclear reactors and two steam turbines. All assembled equipment made it possible not only to increase the efficiency of the entire operation of the submarine, but to significantly reduce vibration and, accordingly, improve the noise insulation of the ship. The nuclear installation was put into operation automatically when the electrical power disappeared.

Specifications:

• Maximum length - 172 meters.
• Maximum width - 23.3 meters.
• The height of the body is 26 meters.
• Displacement (underwater/surface) - 48 thousand tons/23.2 thousand tons.
• Autonomy of navigation without ascent - 120 days.
• Immersion depth (maximum/working) - 480 m/400 m.
• Navigation speed (surface/underwater) - 12 knots/25 knots.

Armament

The main armament is “Variant” solid-fuel ballistic missiles (hull weight - 90 tons, length - 17.7 m). The missile's range is 8.3 thousand kilometers, the warhead is divided into 10 warheads, each of which has a power of 100 kilotons of TNT and an individual guidance system.

The entire submarine's ammunition arsenal can be launched in a single salvo with a short launch interval between missile units. The ammunition load is launched from surface and submerged positions; the maximum depth at launch is 55 meters. The design characteristics provided for an ammunition load of 24 missiles, which was later reduced to 20 units.

Peculiarities

Project 941 Akula submarines were equipped with a power plant consisting of two modules located in different, securely fortified hulls. The condition of the reactors was monitored by pulse equipment, an automatic response system at the slightest loss of power supply.

When issuing a design assignment, one of the mandatory conditions was to ensure the safety of the boat and crew, the so-called safe radius, for which the hull components were calculated using the dynamic strength method and tested experimentally (two pop-up modules, container fastening, hull mating, etc.) .

The Akula class submarine was built at the Sevmash plant, where the world's largest indoor boathouse, or workshop No. 55, was designed and created especially for it. Project 941 ships are characterized by increased buoyancy - more than 40%. In order for the boat to be completely submerged, its ballast must be half its displacement, which is why the second name appeared - “water carrier”. The decision on such a design was made with a far-sighted aim - repairs and preventive maintenance will be necessary at existing piers and repair plants.

The same reserve of buoyancy ensures the survival of the ship in northern latitudes, where it is necessary to break through thick ice coverings. Project 941 Akula-class submarines cope with the harsh conditions of the North Pole, where ice thickness reaches 2.5 meters with accompanying ice ridges and swells. the ability to break through ice has been repeatedly demonstrated in practice.

Crew comfort

The submarine cruiser was crewed mainly by officers and midshipmen. Senior officers were accommodated in two- and four-berth cabins equipped with a TV, washbasin, air conditioning system, wardrobes, desks, etc.

The sailors and junior officers had comfortable quarters at their disposal. Living conditions on the submarine were more than comfortable; only ships of this class were equipped with a sports hall, a swimming pool, a solarium and a sauna. In order not to be too distracted from reality on a long hike, a living corner was created.

laid up

Over the entire period of construction of Type 941 submarines, six cruisers were adopted by the Navy:

• "Dmitry Donskoy" (TK - 208). Adopted in December 1981, after modernization it began service again in July 2002.
• TK-202. Received home port and entered service in December 1983. In 2005, the boat was cut into scrap metal.
• "Simbirsk" (TK-12). Admitted to the Northern Fleet in January 1985. Was disposed of in 2005.
• TK-13. The cruiser was commissioned in December 1985. In 2009, the hull was cut into metal, and part of the submarine (six-compartment block, reactors) was transferred to long-term storage on the Kola Peninsula.
• "Arkhangelsk" (TK-17). Date of entry into the fleet - November 1987. Due to the lack of ammunition, the issue of disposal has been discussed since 2006.
• "Severstal" (TK-20). Enlisted in the Navy in September 1989. In 2004, it went into reserve due to lack of ammunition and is planned for disposal.
• TK-210. The laying of the hull structures coincided with the breakdown of the economic system. Lost funding and was dismantled in 1990.

The Akula class nuclear submarines were consolidated into one division, with Zapadnaya Litsa (Murmansk region) serving as their base. The reconstruction of Nerpichya Bay was completed in 1981. To accommodate type 941 cruisers, a mooring line and piers with special capabilities were equipped, and a unique crane with a lifting capacity of 125 tons was built for loading missiles (not put into operation).

Current state

Today, all available nuclear submarines of the Akula class are in their home port in mothballed form, and their future fate is being decided. The Dmitry Donskoy submarine was upgraded to carry Bulava combat equipment. According to media reports, in 2016 it was planned to dispose of inoperative copies. There were no reports of the plan being implemented.

The giant Project 941 Akula submarine is still a unique weapon, the only cruiser capable of carrying out combat duty in the Arctic. They are almost invulnerable to anti-submarine submarines in US service. Also, not a single potential enemy has technical aviation means to detect a cruiser under thick ice.