Submarines of the Russian Navy
Many people who are not indifferent to issues related to the fleet have already heard about the activities of the Naval Analyzes organization. Its experts analyze both issues of modern naval forces and everything related to ships of the past. Perhaps one of the most interesting graphs created by Naval Analyzes is the infographic showing the composition of the submarine forces of the modern Russian Navy. We are talking about both nuclear and diesel-electric submarines (as you know, unlike the United States, Russia combines two types of power plants in the submarine fleet). The graph shows strategic missile submarines (SSBNs), nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines (SSGNs), multipurpose nuclear submarines, and special-purpose submarines.
Naval Analysts specialists can be forgiven for some controversial points and inaccuracies. For example, the fact that they included the Knyaz Vladimir nuclear submarine among the presented strategic submarines of Project 955 "Borey", which in reality will become part of the fleet no earlier than 2019. According to reports, the boat is now undergoing factory and government tests. The same can be said about the newest multipurpose submarine K-561 "Kazan" of project 885 "Ash". The submarine may be included in the fleet in 2019. In general, the graph clearly shows that the Russian submarine fleet ranks second in the world in terms of overall potential. Immediately after the US submarine forces.
US Navy submarines
Of course, the US Navy could not bypass the Naval Analyzes, and one of the works shows all the submarines that are at the disposal of the US Navy. The graph shows the core of the US nuclear triad - the Ohio-class strategic submarines. In the SSBN variant, each of them carries 24 Trident II D5 ballistic missiles. The Ohio class submarine can even now be called the most destructive ship in history. It is worth noting, however, that some of these submarines have been converted to carry cruise missiles, thus moving into the category of SSGNs.
However, fans of the US Navy are probably more interested in the numerical strength of the latest fourth-generation multipurpose submarines. We are talking about "Virginia" and "Seawulf". And if the latter were built by the Americans only three pieces, then the US intends to produce Virginia in a large batch of 30 ships. Thus, the overall potential of the US submarine fleet will remain at a very high level even after the final withdrawal from the fleet of the well-deserved multipurpose submarines of the Los Angeles type. The latter, by the way, were produced by 62 units for the entire time.
Chinese Navy submarines
For many, the most interesting work of the series will seem to be the graph showing the composition of the PRC's submarine fleet. This is not surprising given how rarely information about Chinese submarines is presented in the Russian-language media. The Celestial Empire in the foreseeable future aims to have a naval force that will occupy at least the second place in the world in terms of total potential. Presumably, this also applies to nuclear submarines with ballistic missiles.
At the same time, specifically now, China's submarine forces look rather strange than threatening. This is caused, among other things, by too much noticeable borrowing from the Soviet Union / Russia. For example, Project 094 Jin SSBN is difficult to visually distinguish from the familiar Soviet missile carrier of Project 667BDRM Dolphin. According to reports, the 094 submarines carry 12 Juilan-2 (JL-2) ballistic missiles with a range of up to 12 thousand km. These missiles are considered an underwater version of the Chinese DF-31 land-based strategic missiles.
The strategic submarines of project 092 "Xia", also shown on the graph, are very outdated, but China continues to operate them. It should be noted that the promising strategic submarines of the 096 Teng project are called upon to strengthen the maritime component of the PRC nuclear triad. Each of them, according to available data, will carry 24 ballistic missiles, which can only be compared with the already mentioned American submarines of the Ohio type. Although it is unlikely that China will have missiles with the characteristics of the Trident II D5.
EU submarines
The situation is even more complicated with the composition of the submarine fleets of the EU countries. Suffice it to say that it now formally includes UK submarines, but that is for now. The country is expected to leave the European Union on March 29, 2019. In general, the British fleet is often plagued by serious difficulties. In 2017, it was reported that all the newest British Astiut-class multipurpose nuclear submarines were out of action. The source also spoke about the problems with the "predecessors" of these boats - "Trafalgard".
Apart from Great Britain, France has the most powerful submarine forces in Europe. Recall that the latter has four strategic missile submarines "Triumfan". As for the multipurpose boats, the Fifth Republic boasts six Ryubi nuclear submarines, built in 1976-1993. It is worth noting that the Ryubi-class nuclear submarines are the smallest in service nuclear submarines in the world. Each of them has an underwater displacement of 2607 tons.
The German submarine fleet looks pale against the background of the British and French, although during the Second World War, German submariners struck terror into the hearts of seasoned American and British sailors. Modern Germany has no nuclear submarines at all, and Deutseche Marine has only six diesel-electric submarines. However, these are very modern submarines of Project 212A, which interested a number of foreign customers.
Italy also boasts a fairly powerful fleet of diesel-electric submarines.
The Greek Navy has a very large submarine fleet, as follows from the graph.
It is worth noting that the charts we have presented are far from the only ones created by Naval Analyzes. By visiting the organization's website, you can, in particular, get acquainted with the numerical strength of the fleets of the countries of Latin America, the surface potential of the EU countries and many other interesting facts concerning the modern (and not only) fleets of the world.
