Project 971: Akula class

Ned86 wrote:
I did watch and from there I extracted an info that Obninsk is at Nerpa for repairs and possible some additional upgrade (even though it passed modernization in 2013).

These are fantastic submarines. The name "Obninsk" doesn't ring a bell though?

Mir wrote:

These are fantastic submarines. The name "Obninsk" doesn't ring a bell though?

Cozy
What a nice name for something so small that they had to make door selection for crews

Mir wrote:
These are fantastic submarines. The name "Obninsk" doesn't ring a bell though?

Check the video at 36:55 (close to an end)

Ok thanks I thought you were referring to the Pr.971's.

Expanded news from last days:

Nuclear submarine "Tiger" project 971 "Pike-B" in the course of modernization will receive new weapons

The multi-purpose nuclear submarine (NPS) "Tigr" of project 971 (code "Pike-B"), undergoing repairs with modernization at the Nerpa shipyard (a branch of the Zvezdochka ship repair center), will receive a new weapon system. This was reported by a source in the defense industry.

The modernized "Tiger" will be armed with the package complex "Caliber-PL", as well as two other submarines of this project - "Leopard" and "Wolf", undergoing modernization at the TsSR "Zvezdochka". The submarine should receive new electronic weapons, a control system, communications, navigation, hydroacoustics, CIUS. Earlier it was reported that technical readiness would be returned to the submarine, the modernization of weapons was not envisaged.

Nuclear submarine "Tiger" after modernization at the plant "Nerpa" will return to the combat strength of the Northern fleet, armed with the Caliber complex

- leads TASS source words.

The return of the "Tiger" to the combat strength is planned for next year, although earlier it was said about 2022. In this year, the Leopard nuclear submarine of project 971 will return to the Northern Fleet, and in 2023 - the Volk nuclear submarine of the same project. All submarines are part of the 24th "Animal Division" of the Northern Fleet of the Navy. In total, the division has 6 submarines - "Leopard", "Wolf", "Tiger", "Vepr", "Panther", "Cheetah". The last three are in the combat composition of the fleet.

The nuclear submarine "Tigr" is considered to be under repair since the mid-2010s, but the repair of the submarine at the Nerpa shipyard (a branch of the Zvezdochka ship repair center) began in 2019.

The K-154 "Tigr" submarine was laid down in 1989 in Severodvinsk, launched on July 10, 1993, and joined the Northern Fleet on December 5, 1994. The submarine was built according to a project with improved acoustic stealth. Characteristics: The greatest length - 110,3 m; maximum width - 13,6 m; average draft - 9,7 m; total displacement - 12770 tons; working depth of immersion - 520 m; maximum immersion depth - 600 m; full underwater speed - 33 knots; surface speed - 11,6 knots; autonomy - 100 days; crew - 73 people.

Armament: 4 torpedo tubes 650 mm, 4 torpedo tubes 533 mm, torpedoes, mines, anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles.

https://en.topwar.ru/199148-apl-tigr-proekta-971-schuka-b-v-hode-modernizacii-poluchit-novoe-vooruzhenie.html

BTW, shouldn't this thread be renamed to Shchuka-B Class instead of Akula?

LMFS wrote:...BTW, shouldn't this thread be renamed to Shchuka-B Class instead of Akula?...

No, because that ship has sailed long before this forum was even created

This late in the game it's best to just leave it to play out until the end, especially since last other Akula is almost on it's way to becoming museum exhibit

It should be called Pike as it is an English language forum, but it is known in the west as Shark (Akula), but obviously the Soviets and Russians call their Typhoon class subs Shark (Akula)...

It is potentially very confusing.

BTW information about Calibre-PL is here:

http://roe.ru/eng/catalog/naval-systems/shipborne-weapons/club-s/

This is Club-S, which is the export equivalent... much shorter ranged missiles of course due to export restrictions.

Attack submarine of the Northern Fleet K-157 "Vepr" (Boar).

I wonder how far the tests on the submarine K-328 "Leopard" of project 971M have come.

Looks like they may be starting repairs on Nerpa soon.

Flot.com
March 2, 2023 at 9:00 Topic: Industry

Possible dates for the return to service of the multi-purpose nuclear submarine "Leopard"

The return of the Leopard multi-purpose nuclear submarine of project 971 (code "Pike-B") to the Northern Fleet after repair and modernization is planned approximately for December 2023. This was reported to TASS by the head of the All-Russian Fleet Support Movement Vladimir Maltsev.

“After the completion of a deep modernization and factory testing, the transfer of the Leopard to the fleet is planned for December 2023,” he said.


Nuclear submarine "Leopard" in the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center
CS "Asterisk"

The multi-purpose nuclear submarine K-328 "Leopard" was built at Sevmash and handed over to the fleet in 1992. In 2011, the submarine arrived at the Zvyozdochka Ship Repair Center to undergo a medium repair and a deep modernization.

At first, they planned to return the submarine to service in 2018, then the deadlines were shifted by another year. At the end of 2020, the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the final stage of the modernization of the submarine had begun.

In December 2021, Zvezdochka CEO Sergei Marichev announced that testing of the submarine would begin in 2022.

Currently, the 24th ("animal") division of the submarine forces of the Northern Fleet has three nuclear submarines of project 971: "Panthera", "Vepr" and "Gepard".
The standard weapons of the Project 971 submarines are torpedoes, mines, anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles. They can be launched from four 533mm and four 650mm torpedo tubes. These submarines are capable of reaching a depth of 600 meters and moving underwater at speeds up to 30 knots.

According to TASS sources, after the repair and modernization of the Project 971 nuclear submarines, their arsenal of weapons on board will remain the same - 40 missiles and torpedoes, but it will be expanded with Kalibr-PL cruise missiles.

https://flot.com/2023/%D0%97%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%B02/

Was Irbis ever broken up or is it still sitting 42% complete. in some yard rotting. Did India agree to lease it?

As of Nov 2019 she was still in storage. Now, who knows?

https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2019/03/08/india-signs-3-billion-contract-with-russia-for-lease-of-a-nuclear-submarine/

Above link indicates that an Akula is to be delivered to India by 2025 for a 10 year lease. Since its 3B one would assume this will be a brand new sub, if not massively  refurbed.

Its likely Russia got India to fund development of a major upgrade config for the Akula and is implementing parts of it into the current fleet as they complete Irbis as Chakra III.

Sad that a submarine with so much life ahead of it is not economically recoverable.

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/19298361
The High Command of the Navy proposed dismantling the damaged nuclear submarine "Nerpa"
In April 2020, a high-pressure air cylinder exploded on board the submarine, resulting in damage to both of its hulls.
MOSCOW, November 16. /TASS/. The Main Headquarters of the Russian Navy proposed dismantling the damaged nuclear submarine "Nerpa" of Project 971U "Shchuka-B", which, being leased as part of the Indian Navy, bore the name "Chakra-2". This was reported to TASS in the military-industrial complex.

“For financial reasons, the Main Command of the Navy considers it inappropriate to repair and modernize the Nerpa, located at one of the shipyards near Vladivostok, and proposes to dispose of it,” the agency’s interlocutor said.

At the beginning of the summer of 2021, Chakra-2, accompanied by ships of the Pacific Fleet, made a surface transition from India to Vladivostok.

According to available data, before this, in April 2020, a high-pressure air cylinder exploded on board the submarine, resulting in damage to both of its hulls. Electronic weapons and sonar equipment were also damaged. After which the submarine was returned from lease ahead of schedule. The agency's interlocutor noted that after the emergency, Indian specialists carried out repairs on both hulls of the nuclear submarine, upon completion of which it returned to Russia.

The Indians really did a number on this boat. Russia should demand financial compensation for this.

lancelot wrote:The Indians really did a number on this boat. Russia should demand financial compensation for this.

Lol the Indians would give us Rupees so we can buy shit from them

The relationship with India is completely wrong, we are on the receiving end of a bad deal with them every single time

**** India

A nation of scam artists and street shitters

AMCXXL wrote:Sad that a submarine with so much life ahead of it is not economically recoverable.

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/19298361

It's not good news, but for some reason I didn't include the K-152. If both hulls are already damaged, then it is better to write off the submarine.
The price that the Indians paid for leasing the submarine for 10 years is NOT enough, if after 10 years of use the submarine is ready to be written off, due to damage to the hull.
If the inner hull of the submarine is really damaged then it is a great loss as it affects many mechanisms inside the submarine.

Sounds like it would need substantial repairs and spend a long time being worked on... when that slipway could be used for a new sub and money could go to other things.

GarryB wrote:Sounds like it would need substantial repairs and spend a long time being worked on... when that slipway could be used for a new sub and money could go to other things.

The question is that if the internal hull is broken there is a bad solution, remember that the K-152 returned on the surface, not in immersion, which already gave an idea of the breakdown.

Furthermore, it probably cannot be repaired on Zvezda, since it would surely require dismantling the submarine and rebuilding it.
This could probably only be done in Severovdinsk which is already 100% busy.

Furthermore, the Akula are not a priority since we only intend to have SSGN submarines, so it will be more convenient to modernize another 949AM than to repair the K-152.
So it would be better to keep the 5 Oscar IIs in the Pacific to accompany the Yasen-M

lancelot wrote:The Indians really did a number on this boat. Russia should demand financial compensation for this.

And how did you figure that they won't?
Those things are settled in a lease contract, and insured in most cases.
It is just the same case as rocket blowing off and destroying a satellite someone has given to you to put it into orbit.
Risks are covered by insurance policies.

All in all, the insufficient number of active submarines of this project is the biggest problem.

1. K-331 "ex-Magadan" (971U) ; in service since 12/31/1990; Since 2017, it has been undergoing overhaul at the "Zvedochka" ship repair facility. Will be modernized to standard 971U (U; improved)

2. K-295 "Samara" (971M) ; in service since 17.07.1995; The submarine has been inactive since 2013. In August, she was brought with the submarine "Bratsk" with the help of the ship "Transhelf" to the overhaul facility "Zvezdochka".On January 17, 2022, it was announced that the submarine will be returned to service in 2023 after overhaul and partial modernization. It was decided that the submarine "will be overhauled according to its technical condition and with an extension of the period between service overhauls". However, even then it was announced that the overhaul might take a little longer.

3. K-317 "Pantera"; In service from 27.12.1990. There is no information about this submarine. On Navykorabel.ru it is listed as inactive, while on Deepstorm.ru it was in an active status in 2021. In the chart with submarines of project 971 on Deepstorm.ru it is still listed as active.


4. K-461 "Volk" (971M) ; In service from 29.12.1991. It has been in the ship repair facility "Zvezdochka" since 2017. An unnamed source in "Zvedochka" gave information in January 2021 that the submarine will be returned to service by the end of 2023.


5. K-328 "Leopard" (971M); In service from 30.12.1992. since 2011 at the "Zvezdochka" ship repair facility. On December 26, 2020, she was launched. On March 3, 2023, information appeared that the submarine will be handed over to the Navy in December 2023.

http://www.deepstorm.ru/DeepStorm.files/45-92/nts/971/list.htm

6. K-154 "Tigr"; In service from 29.12.1993. Inactive since 2019, since it is at the "Zvedzdochka" ship repair facility. On July 15, 2022, an unnamed official gave information that this submarine will also be handed over to the Navy in 2023 after the overhaul and modernization.

The status of the B-534 Nizhny Novgorod and B-336 Pskov is also questionable.

They gave the most modern Kaula to India. It tells you a lot about their priorities.

Anyway you don't replace 10 SSN in just one year. Such ships last for 40 years. They need to not **** up the design. They could very likely come up with a stand off Yasen with the same price and same weight and just cancel the project. Last time they showed drawings of Husky it was very close to the Yasen...

One thing is sure... they can't have a fleet of only Yasen like subs. They need something cheaper and easy to maintain.

Even the US and their 1000 billion budget can't sustain having 50 Virginia. They all have issues. Same would be for Russia if it had 25 Yasen. Only 7 or 8 would be serviceable at any time. Better go for 12 Yasen and some 12-15 Victor like sub.

I agree.
I never thought that there must be 20 or 24 (4 brigades of 6 submarines) exclusively with Yasen submarines, but that it is preferable to have a total of at least 24 multipurpose nuclear submarines, as the Russians call them.
I think a submarine with a full displacement under 10,000 tons (and maybe 9000) , which would have a total of at least 40 torpedoes and missiles, would be desirable.
I am convinced that the Russians will keep the VLS, but maybe 4 instead of 8 as on Yasen-M is enough.

Submarine K-152 Nerpa (INS Chakra) has been operational in the Indian Navy since April 4, 2012. That was the period in which Russia did not have any active Borei and Yasen.