100 years ago, submarines proved their combat effectiveness, confidently occupying their niche in the field of naval weapons. It was the nuclear submarine missile carriers that were entrusted with the honorable role of "gravediggers of mankind."
Due to the high complexity and high cost, at first there were nuclear submarines only in the fleets of the USSR and the USA. After a while, they were joined by British and French nuclear submarines. Later, Chinese nuclear submarines appeared. Now the Indian Navy has a nuclear submarine - the Indians use Russian equipment, but at the same time are actively working on a project of their own nuclear submarine.
Like any technical system, submarines of different designs have their own advantages and disadvantages. This is what the American cognitive channel Discovery tried to find out, making a rating of the best submarines. From my point of view, it is stupid and ignorant to directly compare submarines from different eras. The presentation of the navigator of the German U-bot, trying to determine with the help of a primitive gyrocompass, where is the North under this damn water, where to sail and what to do - the battery is almost discharged, there is no connection with the coast, and enemy anti-submarine ships are on the tail. What does a German sailor have in common with a member of the crew of a modern nuclear submarine equipped with satellite communications and navigation systems? The nuclear-powered ship can covertly operate for months in the thickness of sea waters, and its weapons are capable of incinerating all life on several continents. It is much more logical to compare only nuclear submarines on the basis of the "Best Submarines" program.
A couple more words from the theory of submarines. Despite their excellent combat qualities, submarines are still too specific weapons, which in most cases are not capable of replacing surface ships. Submarines are powerless against aviation, and in the event of local conflicts, when, for example, it is necessary to support the landing force with fire, their strike potential against ground targets is vanishingly small. The main combat quality of a submarine is stealth, it is this parameter that is usually at the forefront when comparing submarines. Although dignity often becomes a disadvantage, the submarine cannot declare its presence, because it is simply not visible. But these are trifles.
Much more serious is the fact that submarine forces operating separately from aircraft and surface ships are becoming easy prey. The German submarine aces initially filled huge bills for themselves by destroying unarmed transports or attacking an unprepared enemy. With the emergence of more or less serious opposition, the effectiveness of Doenitz's "wolf packs" sharply decreased, and when naval anti-submarine aircraft went out on the hunt, radars and new acoustic stations appeared, the Germans lost their last chances of success. During World War II, 783 German U-bots remained at the bottom of the Atlantic, 32,000 submariners died!
The moral is this: submarines do an excellent job with their tasks, but using them to solve all the problems facing the Navy is pointless and ineffective. And now, I think, it is worth going directly to the rating.
10th place - type "Virginia"
Multipurpose nuclear submarines of the US Navy of the fourth generation.
The lead ship entered service in 2004. Today there are 8 nuclear submarines in service, according to the plan, 22 more submarines are to be built by 2030
At first glance, the performance of the world's most advanced nuclear-powered ship is deeply disappointing. Submerged speed - 25 knots, working depth - 250 meters. Nah … such indicators will not surprise even the Kriegsmarine submariners. Armament also does not shine: 4 torpedo tubes and 12 vertical launch silos for launching Tomahawk cruise missiles. Ammunition - 26 torpedoes and 12 "Battle axes". Not much. From special means - the boat is equipped with an airlock for the exit of combat swimmers and uninhabited underwater vehicles.
But this project also has a number of strengths that make the Virginia nuclear submarine an extremely dangerous underwater adversary. Complete secrecy is her motto! The system of insulated decks, cascade pneumatic cushioning of equipment, new "damping" hull covers and a propeller enclosed in a fenestron (annular fairing) - all this provides an extremely low noise level. The boat is almost undetectable against the background of the ocean noise. General Electric's new S6E nuclear power plant allows the reactor to be recharged once every 30 years, which is in line with the design life of the submarine.
Virginia is full of various high-tech systems and the most modern electronic equipment. For the first time in world practice, instead of a traditional periscope, a telescopic mast is used on which a video camera, an infrared sensor and a laser rangefinder are installed. The image is broadcast to a monitor in the central post via a fiber-optic cable. The solution is, of course, interesting.
But … no matter how the American submariners try to admire their new boat, this is not at all what their dreams were about. 20 years ago, such a nuclear submarine in the combat composition of the US Navy would have caused a storm of indignation - America was preparing to build completely different submarines, with exorbitant characteristics and very high cost. In these terms, Virginia is just a compromise. Nevertheless, the boats of this project carry successful innovative solutions, have a high combat potential and are designed for mass construction.
9th place - Typhoon
Heavy missile submarine strategic project 941. The length of its hull is like two football fields. Height - from a nine-storey building. The underwater displacement is 48,000 tons. The crew is 160 people.
The largest submarine ever built by man. A dubious achievement in terms of combat effectiveness, but at the same time, one cannot help but admire the size of this submarine. In total, 6 nuclear submarine missile carriers were built according to Project 941.
Due to its cyclopean dimensions, the Typhoon was able to break through ice up to 2.5 meters thick (!), Which opened up the prospect of combat duty in the high Arctic latitudes for the Soviet submarine.
Another advantage of this incredible "underwater catamaran" is its extremely high survivability. Nineteen (!) Pressurized compartments made it possible to disperse and duplicate all the important systems of the ship. Typhoon reactors were placed in two independent compartments in different submarine hulls.
What? What different buildings are we talking about?
The Typhoon owed its immense dimensions to the R-39 solid-propellant ballistic missile with a launch weight of 90 tons; there were 20 of them on board the nuclear submarine cruiser. The designers had to apply unconventional layout solutions, as a result - this incredible "underwater catamaran" has two separate durable titanium hulls (technically, there are five of them!). At the same time, the mass of seawater in the light hull is 15,000 tons, for which the Typhoon received the ironic nickname “water carrier” in the Navy. But it has fulfilled its task of strategic nuclear deterrence 100%. The best thing about this project was said by the specialists of the design bureau "Malakhit" - "the victory of technology over common sense."
8th place - "Goldfish"
Records not reported by TASS. On December 18, 1970, the nuclear submarine of the Northern Fleet K-162 in a submerged position set an absolute world speed record - 44.7 knots (82.78 km / h).
In the fall of 1971, during a long voyage to the Atlantic - up to the Brazilian Basin, she overtook the aircraft carrier Saratoga more than once - the US Navy never managed to break away from it. The Soviet sub, despite all attempts to evade, easily and naturally occupied an advantageous position for an attack in front of the amazed Americans.
In addition to excellent driving characteristics, the K-162 (since 1978 - K-222) had a solid weaponry. As the main caliber - 10 launchers of anti-ship missiles "Amethyst", there were also 4 torpedo tubes and 12 torpedoes.
Why was only one submarine built according to the super-project 661 "Anchar"? There are several reasons for this:
Too high noise, at a speed of more than 35 knots K-162 created a monstrous roar. In the control room, the acoustic noise level reached 100 decibels. This deprived the boat of stealth, and it was pointless to compete in speed with anti-submarine helicopters.
Another funny moment, the titanium monster cost the USSR 240 million rubles (at the same time, American taxpayers paid 450 million dollars for the aircraft carrier "Enterprise", in the 1960s they gave 60 kopecks for 1 dollar … so count it). Unbelievable, but true - the submarine cost almost as much as a giant nuclear aircraft carrier with a displacement of 85,000 tons. No wonder K-162 was nicknamed "Goldfish"!
7th place - "The Elusive Mike"
Another record holder from the ocean depths is the multipurpose nuclear submarine K-278 "Komsomolets" with a titanium hull. On August 4, 1985, she set an absolute diving depth record among submarines - 1027 meters!
In fact, the best submarine of the Soviet Navy was designed for an even greater depth - 1250 meters, while the record-holder submarine could use its weapons at any depth; during test dives, the K-278 was successfully fired with dummy torpedoes at a depth of 800 meters!
The only ship of Project 685 Fin was well armed and very dangerous - 6 bow torpedo tubes and 22 ammunition. The submarine's armament system included Granat strategic cruise missiles, Shkval high-speed submarine missiles, Waterfall anti-submarine missile-torpedoes with nuclear warheads, and homing electric torpedoes.
The amazing submarine became an insoluble riddle for the "potential enemy" Navy - at a depth of 1 kilometer, the "Elusive Mike" was not detected by any acoustic, magnetic or other means.
Well … I hate to mention it … this is the same submarine that died in a fire in the Norwegian Sea on April 7, 1989. K-278 sank at a depth of 1858 meters, part of the crew was rescued. The exact reasons for the death of the submarine have not yet been established, the Arctic reliably keeps its secrets.
6th place - "City killers"
On November 15, 1960, the nuclear-powered submarine "George Washington" with ballistic missiles on board went on combat patrol for the first time. The main task of the new submarine was the infliction of nuclear missile strikes from the depths of the World Ocean on important administrative centers, objects of military-economic potential and large cities with the aim of their complete destruction.
The ideas behind this ambitious project were as follows:
- a ballistic missile launched from a submarine has a shorter flight time than a missile launched from a ground base. This factor provides greater surprise and reduces the time during which the enemy can take countermeasures;
- a nuclear missile submarine has such a great mobility compared to a conventional diesel submarine that the enemy is not able to detect and hit it in time;
- in the presence of a certain number of nuclear-powered missile-carrying submarines in positions in the World Ocean, the enemy will never determine from where he should expect an attack;
Throughout the year, J. Washington”was joined by 4 more similar submarines. Coming to launch positions in the Norwegian and Mediterranean seas, each of them could launch 16 Polaris A-1 ballistic missiles at a range of 2,200 km. The missiles were equipped with warheads with an explosive power of 600 kilotons, the launch was carried out from a depth of 20 meters. Frankly weak characteristics from the position of our days, but fifty years ago, strategic submarine missile carriers of the "J. Washington "made the whole world shudder.
5th place - Inimitable "Lear"
Submarine interceptor project 705 (K). An elusive and merciless killer created to hunt enemy submarines. Submerged speed - 41 knots, incredible, but "Lyra" developed full speed in a minute from a stationary position. At full speed, a 180 ° turn was performed in 40 seconds. Such tricks made it possible to escape from an anti-submarine torpedo.
"Lyra" could move away from the pier in thirty minutes, pick up speed and hide under water, dissolving in the depths of the World Ocean (a conventional nuclear submarine takes 2-3 hours). Such amazing characteristics are the result of special technical solutions used to create this project.
First, the Malakhit Design Bureau specialists tried to reduce the size of the nuclear submarine to the limit, reducing the crew to a minimum and leaving only one reactor. The submarine, equipped with an integrated automated control system, was operated by a crew of only 32 officers.
Secondly, titanium was used as a structural material. And, of course, for an unusual boat an unusual power plant was required - a reactor with a liquid metal coolant (LMC) - not water boiled in the reactor circuits, but a melt of lead with bismuth. Actually, such a "unit" was used only on the Soviet submarine K-27, which did not go into series. The reactor with liquid metal fuel was also tested on the American nuclear submarine USS Seawolf (SSN-575), but after 4 years of operation it was dismantled and replaced with a conventional water-cooled reactor. Therefore, "Lyra" became the only series of nuclear submarines in the world with a reactor with liquid metal fuel. Reactors of this type have an indisputable advantage - exceptional "throttle response" and high power density.
At the same time, the reactor with liquid metal fuel poses an increased danger and requires special measures to comply with the operating rules. In the case of the slightest solidification, the coolant completely ceases to perform its functions, turning the reactor into a nuclear bomb. Most of the boats with ZhMT reactors (including the experimental K-27) left the combat strength of the fleet due to bad stories that happened in the reactor compartment. So on April 8, 1982, during a military campaign, 2 tons of liquid metal from the primary circuit of the reactor poured onto the deck of the K-123 nuclear submarine. The liquidation of the consequences of the accident took 9 years.
The basing point of Atomarin pr. 705 (K) was in Zapadnaya Litsa. A special coastal complex was also created there for servicing submarines of this type: a boiler room for supplying steam to ships, at the piers - a floating station and a destroyer, which supplied steam from their boilers. However, from the point of view of safety, this turned out to be not enough - an ordinary accident on the heating main threatened to develop into a terrible radiation catastrophe. Therefore, the Lyras "warmed up" on their own, their reactors were constantly operating at the minimum controlled power level. The boat could not be left unattended for a second. All this did not add to "Lyram" popularity among the inhabitants of the garrison.
All six terrible horror stories of the Cold War were finally written off in the 90s, putting an end to the development of nuclear submarines with liquid metal core reactors. On both sides of the ocean they breathed a sigh of relief - the Lyras were a formidable underwater adversary for the US Navy, but at the same time, the little ones were completely ruthless in relation to their own crew and the personnel of the military base in West Face.
4th place - "Pike-B" against "Sea Wolf"
The best of the best. The Soviet multipurpose nuclear submarine of Project 971 "Pike-B" has incorporated the most successful ideas of the legendary predecessor of Project 671RTMK and the titanium submarine of Project 945 "Barracuda".
A severe underwater warrior was not created for records. It was a well-thought-out, balanced project of a multipurpose nuclear submarine with practically no weaknesses. Submerged speed - 30 knots. Working depth of immersion - 480 meters, maximum - 600. Armament - eight torpedo tubes, 40 pieces of ammunition in various combinations: cruise missiles "Granat" with nuclear warheads, anti-submarine missile torpedoes, submarine missiles "Shkval", mines and deep-sea homing torpedoes UGST. Among other things, "Shchuka-B" was armed with the most powerful torpedoes "65-76" caliber 650 mm. The warhead is 450 kg, the cruising range is about 30 nautical miles. The speed in the search mode is -30 knots, at the moment of the attack - 50 … 70 knots. The nuclear submarine could attack the enemy without entering the area of operation of its anti-submarine weapons, and the latest electronic and hydroacoustic equipment of the boat allowed sailors to control the space within a radius of tens of miles from the nuclear submarine.
In the 80s, an international scandal erupted - information was leaked to the press that the KGB, through dummy "civilian"
customers purchased high-precision metalworking machines from Toshiba. Propellers made using the new technology significantly reduced the noise level of Soviet nuclear submarines. America imposed sanctions against the greedy managers of the Toshiba company, but the deed is done - the Pike-B have already gone to sea.
Currently, Project 971 multipurpose nuclear submarines constitute the backbone of the Russian submarine fleet. In total, they managed to build 14 "Shchuk-B", another - K-152 "Nerpa" was completed in export modification, on April 4, 2012 at the Vishakhapatnam base, the boat was accepted into the combat composition of the Indian Navy. Several more hulls, which are in a high degree of readiness, were used in the construction of the Borey-class SSBNs.
Stung by Soviet supremacy, the Pentagon decided to take countermeasures without delay. In October 1989, a new type of submarine was laid down in the United States with the terrifying name "Seawolf" ("Sea Wolf").
The Americans tried their best, the new nuclear submarine uses a revolutionary propulsion system - a water cannon. The distances between the hull of the boat and the power plant mechanisms were increased, new shock absorbers and noise-absorbing coatings were used. The boat is practically invisible when moving at 20 knots.
The armament complex is powerful and diverse: the Mark-48 universal torpedoes, Tomahawk tactical cruise missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Captor anti-submarine mines. To launch them, eight 660 mm torpedo tubes installed on the sides of the nuclear submarine are used. The bow of the boat is completely occupied by the GAS, 6 more passive sonar antennas are installed along the sides. The result is a real ocean bandit capable of dealing with any enemy. That's just the price of the issue … 4 billion dollars. A good submarine usually stands as an aircraft carrier.
30 "Sea Wolves" were supposed to become the mainstay of the American Navy in the future, but, in connection with the collapse of the USSR, only three boats were built. In return, the sailors received "Virginia" with cut characteristics (Remember we talked about this?).
The "Sea Wolf" is certainly cool, but the Russian Navy has three times as many nuclear submarines pr.971 "Shchuka-B", which are almost as good as it in terms of characteristics.
3rd place - type "Los Angeles"
A series of 62 US Navy multipurpose nuclear submarines. The Americans themselves like to call them "fast attack submarines", which, in essence, means "submarine hunters." The main tasks are to provide cover for aircraft carrier groupings and areas of deployment of strategic missile submarines, and fight against enemy submarines. One of the few nuclear submarines with at least some combat experience - during Desert Storm, two Los Angeles were involved in strikes against ground targets.
What is the secret of their popularity? Los Angeles is known for its reliability and low noise floor. They are quite mobile (underwater course up to 35 knots), have a modest size and cost. Real "workhorses" of the fleet.
The boats are well armed - there are 4 torpedo tubes and 12 vertical launch silos for launching Tomahawks, the total ammunition load is 38 missiles and torpedoes. "Tomahawks", "Harpoons", "cunning" mines "Captor" - a standard set of American submarines. Some of the Los Angeles are equipped with a Dry Deck Shelter for underwater saboteurs.
America is in no hurry to part with its proven submarines. Even with new Virginias, many of the Los Angeles are undergoing modernization and will remain in service until at least 2030.
2nd place - type "Ohio"
The most advanced nuclear submarine missile carriers. With an underwater displacement of 18,700 tons, American designers
managed to "shove" on the "Ohio" 24 silos for launching ballistic missiles "Trident".
Otherwise, these are ordinary submarines, built in the best traditions of the American submarine fleet: 4 compartments, a single reactor, an underwater speed of 20-25 knots, four torpedo tubes for self-defense. To increase the combat stability of the Ohio, emphasis was placed in two directions. First, the developers have achieved a radical reduction in acoustic, magnetic, radiation and thermal fields. Secondly, the combat stability of the submarine is ensured by an extremely high secrecy regime - during combat patrols, the exact position of the SSBN is unknown even to the helmsmen, only a few senior officers of the submarine know the coordinates.
In connection with the Treaty on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, 4 out of 18 Ohio were reclassified to SSGN (nuclear submarine with cruise missiles). Ballistic missiles "Trident" were removed from the silos, instead of 154 tactical "Tomahawks" (7 in each) were placed in 22 missile silos. The two mines closest to the wheelhouse have been converted into airlock chambers for combat swimmers. In addition, in addition to the main crew, 66 paratroopers can be accommodated on the boat.
Surprisingly, the Ohio, created 35 years ago, fully meets modern requirements, while their operational intensity ratio corresponds to 0. 6. This means that 2/3 of their time boats spend on combat patrols.
The command of the US Navy plans to completely withdraw "Ohio" from the combat composition of the fleet no earlier than 2040. Sixty years in combat? We'll see…
1st place - Nautilus
On January 17, 1955, a historic message sounded on the air: “Underway on nuclear power”.
The submarine USS Nautilus (operational code SSN-571) entered world history as the first real submarine, which forever holds the first place. I apologize for the unintentional pun, but all of its diesel predecessors, in fact, were not submarines. They were "diving" boats, spending the lion's share of their time on the surface. Diving was considered a tactical maneuver, and the time spent under water was limited to a few days. At the same time, the submerged mobility of the boat was extremely limited.
Only the inextinguishable flame of a nuclear reactor made it possible to completely hide under water, providing the submarine with an inexhaustible source of energy. From now on, and in spite of all the limitations of the ancient philosophers, a person could be at the bottom of the sea for months, creating his own indomitable path to new achievements.
Even at the design stage, it became clear what prospects opened up for ships with a nuclear power plant. In 1954, the Nautilus was launched, the first trials began, instilling confidence in sailors in their power over the forces of nature. The nuclear-powered ship developed 23 knots in a submerged position and could maintain such a speed indefinitely. Within reasonable limits, of course, one reactor charge was enough for 25,000 nautical miles. This figure means that the cruising range of the Nautilus in the submerged position was limited only by supplies of food, air and the endurance of the crew.
Having set its first record only by a phenomenon in the world, "Nautilus" continued to amaze - on August 3, 1958, it became the first ship to reach the North Pole. Inspired by the success of nuclear power, American sailors in 1959 completely abandoned the construction of diesel-electric submarines.
And then … and then the naval routine began. The Nautilus turned out to be a shitty ship in terms of operation. The vibration of the turbines was such that already at 4 nodes the sonar became useless. Concentrated loads and significant dimensions of the energy compartment required new layout solutions, while the mass of lead biological shielding was 740 tons (almost a quarter of the ship's displacement!). I had to abandon a number of equipment provided for by the project.
"Nautilus" became famous as a record holder in the number of emergency situations. These were mainly navigational errors (for example, the ram of the aircraft carrier "Essex" in 1966 or an unsuccessful attempt to break through the Arctic ice during the conquest of the North Pole). Not without a non-acidic fire - in 1958, the submarine burned for several hours.
After serving a quarter of a century, the submarine has become a permanent dock in Groton, turning into a floating museum.
I wish everyone to live their lives as brightly as "Nautilus" did.
