In the near future, the Northern Fleet of the Russian Federation will receive a long-awaited addition to its submarine ranks. The newest Russian multipurpose nuclear submarine of the fourth generation "Severodvinsk" will appear in the list of submarines of the fleet.
At the moment, she is already undergoing mooring trials at Sevmash, factory sea trials in the White Sea are scheduled for May this year. And in the second half of 2011, the Severodvinsk nuclear submarine will become part of the Russian Navy. Most likely, the base of the Severodvinsk will be the Kola Peninsula, and the nuclear submarine will carry out combat service in the Barents Sea and the North Atlantic.
Work on the development and creation of the Severodvinsk nuclear submarine began in 1993. On December 21, 1993, the laying of the lead nuclear submarine of Project 885, which was named Severodvinsk, took place at Sevmash (Severodvinsk Northern Machine-Building Enterprise). It was planned that the first nuclear submarine would become part of the fleet in 2000, but, as often happens in our country, in the future, due to insufficient funding, the progress of work slowed down sharply, the dates were postponed to 2007, but they also failed to meet them.
Characteristics of the nuclear submarine project 885
Overall length 120 meters
Maximum width 15 meters
Average draft 10 meters
Displacement:
normal 9500 m3
full 11.800 m3
Full submerged speed 28-31 knots.
Crew 85 people.
The nuclear submarine "Severodvinsk" is a one-and-a-half-hull type submarine, produced according to a single-shaft scheme. The boat hull is made of high strength steel. The submarine is equipped with a pop-up rescue chamber that can accommodate all crew members.
Due to the design features, the boat is considered the quietest submarine in shipbuilding history. According to reports, the ship uses a low-noise water jet propulsion unit and also has two thrusters.
The nuclear submarine is equipped with a fourth-generation power plant that meets all modern nuclear safety requirements, made according to the monoblock scheme (integrated layout diagram).
The nuclear submarine's missile armament is located in eight universal, vertical launch silos. They can accommodate X-35 anti-ship tactical missiles, P-100 Onyx anti-ship tactical missiles (24 PRKs, three in each silo), and can also accommodate cruise missiles capable of hitting coastal targets at long range.
In the bow of the submarine there are 533-mm and 650-mm torpedo tubes. They can fire remotely controlled and homing torpedoes along the wake, as well as promising cruise missiles of the latest generation capable of hitting both underwater and surface targets, as well as ground ones.
The development and creation of such missiles is carried out by the Novator Design Bureau (Yekaterinburg). Novator has developed a unified family of 3M missile systems that can be used both on surface ships and on submarines with standard 533-mm torpedo launchers. The ZM family of missile systems includes the ZM-54E anti-ship cruise missiles (a development of the Granat missile launcher), the ZM-54E1 (with a longer range and warhead) and the ZM-14E cruise missile for engaging ground targets with increased secrecy.
These missile systems allow, due to their versatility, to use various options for the submarine's ammunition, depending on the assigned combat missions.
The nuclear submarine has a universal 533-mm torpedo UGST on its torpedo armament, and the boat's capabilities for the use of mine weapons have also been significantly expanded.
In the future, it is planned that such boats of the Severodvinsk type will take on a significant share of non-nuclear deterrence, while remaining a very serious threat to enemy warships, submarines and transport vessels. Military experts, both Western and domestic, agreed that the Project 885 nuclear submarine is on a par with the American Sea Wolf nuclear submarine in terms of sonar visibility, while possessing more versatility than the Americans.
