In the United States of America, on May 26, 1958, at the Electric Boat shipyard (General Dynamics) in Groton (Connecticut), the world's first specialized anti-submarine nuclear submarine SSN-597 "Tallibi", optimized to combat missile submarines of the USSR, was laid. She entered service with the US Navy on November 9, 1960. In 1962-1967, 14 more powerful and sophisticated "underwater hunters" "Thresher" were accepted into the composition of the American fleet. These single-hull single-shaft submarines with a displacement of 3750/4470 tons developed an underwater speed of about 30 knots, and the maximum diving depth was up to 250 meters. Distinctive features of the "killers" (as the American sailors nicknamed the anti-submarine nuclear submarines) were super-powerful sonar equipment, relatively low noise levels and relatively moderate torpedo armament (but quite sufficient to solve the tasks of countering submarines), consisting of 4 torpedo tubes of caliber 533 mm, located in the middle of the vessel at an angle to the centreline plane.
USS Tullibee (SSN-597) - US Navy submarine, the smallest of the American nuclear submarines (length 83.2 m, displacement 2300 tons). Named after the tallibi, a freshwater salmon species found in central and northern North America. Initially, the boat's crew consisted of 7 officers and 60 sailors, by the time it was withdrawn from the fleet, it had reached 13 officers and 100 sailors.
If the domestic torpedo nuclear submarines of the first generation (project 627, 627A and 645) were built to destroy enemy surface ships, then in the second half of the 1950s it became obvious that the USSR also needed nuclear submarines with an “anti-submarine bias” that could destroy missile submarines of the "potential enemy" in positions of probable use of weapons, ensure the deployment of their SSBNs (countering surface and submarine forces operating on anti-submarine lines) and protect transports and ships from enemy submarines. Of course, the tasks of destroying enemy surface ships (mainly aircraft carriers), carrying out mine-laying, operations on communications, and the like, traditional for torpedo submarines, were not removed.
Work on the study of the appearance of second-generation nuclear submarines in the USSR began in the late 1950s. In accordance with the government decree on August 28, 1958, the development of a unified steam generating installation began for new nuclear-powered ships. Around the same time, a competition for projects of second-generation submarines was announced, in which the leading design teams specializing in submarine shipbuilding - TsKB-18, SKB-112 Sudoproekt and SKB-143 participated. The greatest tech. the groundwork was available at the Leningrad SKB-143, which, on the basis of its own earlier initiative studies (1956-1958), carried out under the leadership of Petrov, prepared those. proposal for missile (project 639) and torpedo (project 671) boats.
Distinctive features of these projects were improved hydrodynamics, which was worked out with the involvement of specialists from the Moscow branch of TsAGI, the use of three-phase alternating current, a single-shaft layout and an increased diameter of a strong body, which provides transverse placement of 2 new, compact nuclear reactors,which were unified for the second generation nuclear-powered ships.
According to the results of the competition, SKB-143 received an assignment for the design of a project 671 torpedo nuclear submarine (code "Ruff") with a normal displacement of 2 thousand tons and a working immersion depth of up to 300 meters. A distinctive feature of the new nuclear-powered ship was to be a high-power hydroacoustics (for the first time in a competition, the parameters of the GAS were specially stipulated).
If the first generation nuclear submarines used a direct current electric system (this was quite logical for diesel-electric submarines, where batteries were the main source of energy during submerged movement), then the second generation nuclear submarines decided to switch to three-phase alternating current. On November 3, 1959, the TTZ was approved for a new nuclear-powered ship, in March 1960, a preliminary design was completed, and in December - a technical one.
Nuclear submarine project 671 was created under the leadership of chief designer Chernyshev (previously he took part in the creation of boats of projects 617, 627, 639 and 645). Proceeding from the fact that the main purpose of the new submarine was the destruction of American SSBNs in the areas of combat patrolling of these ships (that is, not under the ice of the Arctic, but in "clean water"), the customer, under pressure from the developer, abandoned the requirement to ensure surface unsinkability when filling any of the sub's compartments.
On the new submarine, as well as on the first generation nuclear-powered ships, it was decided to use a two-reactor power plant, which fully met the reliability requirements. We created a compact steam generating unit with high specific indicators, which were almost twice as high as the corresponding parameters of previous power plants.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Gorshkov "as an exception" agreed to use one propeller shaft on the 671-project submarine. This made it possible to reduce noise and displacement. The transition to a single-shaft scheme ensured higher submerged speeds in comparison with foreign counterparts.
The use of a single-shaft scheme made it possible to place a turbo-gear unit, both autonomous turbine generators and all related equipment in one compartment. This ensured a decrease in the relative length of the submarine's hull. The so-called admiralty coefficient, which characterizes the efficiency of using the power of the ship's power plant, approximately doubled that of the nuclear-powered ship of Project 627 and actually equaled that of the American submarine of the Skipjack type. To create a durable case, it was decided to use steel grade AK-29. This made it possible to increase the maximum immersion depth.
Unlike nuclear submarines of the first generation, it was decided to equip the new vessel with autonomous turbine generators (and not mounted on the main turbo-gear unit), which increased the reliability of the electric power system.
The torpedo tubes, according to the initial design studies, were planned to be shifted to the center of the vessel, as on American nuclear submarines of the "Thresher" type, by placing them at an angle to the diametrical plane of the nuclear-powered ship. However, later it turned out that with such an arrangement, the speed of the submarine at the time of torpedo fire should not exceed 11 knots (this was unacceptable for tactical reasons: unlike the American-made Thresher-type nuclear submarine, the Soviet submarine was intended to destroy not only submarines, but also large surface ships of the enemy). In addition, when using the "American" layout, the work on loading torpedoes was seriously complicated, and the replenishment of ammunition at sea became completely impossible. As a result, on the nuclear submarine of Project 671, torpedo tubes were installed above the GAS antenna in the bow of the vessel.
In 1960, the Leningrad Admiralty Plant began preparations for the construction of a series of new torpedo nuclear submarines. The act of acceptance into the Navy of the Soviet Union of the lead boat of the project 671 - K-38 (the submarine received the serial number "600") - was signed on November 5, 1967 by the chairman of the government commission, Hero of the Soviet Union Shchedrin. 14 nuclear-powered ships of this type were produced in Leningrad. Three submarines (K-314, -454 and -469) were completed according to a modified project. The main difference between these ships was in equipping not only with traditional torpedoes, but also with the Vyuga missile-torpedo complex, which was adopted on August 4, 1969. The missile-torpedo ensured the destruction of coastal, surface and underwater targets at ranges from 10 to 40 thousand meters with a nuclear charge. For launch, standard 533 mm torpedo tubes were used from depths of up to 60 meters.
Construction of submarine K-314 at LAO (order 610). The deckhouse fence is located under the “tent”. 1972 year
Before the descent of the PLA, Project 671 is disguised as a surface ship.
The enemy should never know that nuclear submarines are being built in Leningrad. And therefore - the most thorough disguise!
Project 671 nuclear submarine production: K-38 was laid down on 04/12/63, launched on 07/28/66 and commissioned on 1967-05-11; K-369 was laid down on 1964-31-01, launched on 1967-22-12 and commissioned on 11/06/68; K-147 was laid down on 1964-16-09, launched on 06/17/68, commissioned on 12/25/68; K-53 was laid down on 16.12.64, launched on 15.03.69, entered service on 30.09.69; K-306 was laid down on 03/20/68, launched on 06/04/69, commissioned on 1969-04-12; K-323 "50 years of the USSR" was laid down on 07/05/68, launched on 03/14/70, commissioned on 10/29/70; K-370 was laid down on 04/19/69, launched on 06/26/70, commissioned on 12/04/70; K-438 was laid down on 1969-13-06, launched on 1971-23-03, entered service on 1971-15-10; K-367 was laid down on 04/14/70, launched on 1971-02-07, commissioned on 1971-05-12; K-314 was laid down on 09/05/70, launched on 03/28/72, commissioned on 1972-06-11; K-398 was laid down on 1971-22-04, launched on 1972-02-08, commissioned on 1972-15-12; K-454 was laid down on 1972-16-08, launched on 1973-05-05, commissioned on 1973-30-09; K-462 was laid down on 1972-03-07, launched on 1973-01-09, commissioned on 1973-30-12; K-469 was laid down on 1973-05-09, launched on 1974-10-06, commissioned on 1974-30-09; K-481 was laid down on 1973-27-09, launched on 1974-08-09, commissioned on 1974-27-12.
The double-hull submarine, which has a characteristic "limousine" fencing of retractable devices, had a robust hull made of high-strength AK-29 sheet steel 35 millimeters thick. Internal flat bulkheads had to withstand pressure up to 10 kgf / cm2. The submarine hull was divided into 7 watertight compartments:
The first is battery, torpedo and residential;
The second - provision and auxiliary mechanisms, the central post;
The third is a reactor;
The fourth - turbine (autonomous turbine units were located in it);
The fifth - electrical, served to accommodate auxiliary mechanisms (the sanitary block was in it);
Sixth - diesel generator, residential;
The seventh is the helmsman (the galley and propeller motors are located here).
The design of the light hull, horizontal and vertical tail, the bow of the superstructure were made of low-magnetic steel. The fencing of the retractable deckhouse devices, the stern and middle parts of the superstructure were made of aluminum alloy, and the rudders and the large-size fairing of the GAK antenna were made of titanium alloys. The submarine of the 671 project (as well as further modifications of the submarine) was characterized by careful finishing of the outer hull contours.
The ballast tanks had a kingston (and not scuppery, as on previous Soviet submarines of post-war projects) design.
The ship was equipped with an air purification and air conditioning system, fluorescent lighting, and a more convenient (in comparison with nuclear submarines of the first generation) layout of cockpits and cabins, modern sanitary equipment.
PLA pr.671 in a flooded transport and lifting dock. Leningrad, 1970
Withdrawal of Project 671 submarines from TPD-4 (Project 1753) in the North
Head submarine pr.671 K-38 at sea
The main power plant of the nuclear submarine of the 671st project (rated power was 31 thousand hp) included two steam generating units OK-300 (thermal power of the water-cooled reactor VM-4 was 72 MW and 4 steam generators PG-4T), autonomous for each side … The recharge cycle of the reactor core is eight years.
Compared to the first generation reactors, the layout of the second generation nuclear power plants has been significantly changed. The reactor has become denser and more compact. Implemented the "pipe in pipe" scheme and made "hanging" of the primary circuit pumps on the steam generators. The number of large-diameter pipelines that connected the main elements of the installation (volume compensators, primary filter, etc.) was reduced. Almost all pipelines of the primary circuit (large and small diameter) were placed in uninhabited premises and closed with biological shielding. The instrumentation and automation systems of the nuclear power plant have changed significantly. The number of remotely controlled fittings (gate valves, valves, dampers, etc.) has increased.
The steam turbine unit included the main turbo-gear unit GTZA-615 and two autonomous turbine generators OK-2 (the latter provided the generation of alternating current 50 Hz, 380 V, included a turbine and a generator with a capacity of 2 thousand kW).
The backup means of propulsion were two PG-137 DC electric motors (each with a capacity of 275 hp). Each electric motor rotated a two-blade propeller with a small diameter. There were two storage batteries and two diesel generators (400 V, 50 Hz, 200 kW). All major devices and mechanisms had remote and automated control.
When designing the nuclear submarine of the 671st project, certain attention was paid to the issues of reducing the noise of the ship. In particular, a hydroacoustic rubber coating was used for the light hull, and the number of scuppers was reduced. The acoustic signature of the submarine compared to the first generation ships has decreased by about five times.
The submarine was equipped with a navigation all-latitude complex "Sigma", a television monitoring system for ice and general conditions MT-70, which, under favorable conditions, was capable of giving out species information at a depth of 50 meters.
But the main informational means of the vessel was the MGK-300 "Rubin" hydroacoustic complex, developed by the Central Research Institute "Morfizpribor" (headed by chief designer NN Sviridov). The maximum target detection range is about 50-60 thousand meters. It consisted of a bow low-frequency hydroacoustic emitter, a high-frequency antenna of the hydroacoustic mine detection system MG-509 "Radian", located in the front part of the fence of retractable cabin devices, hydroacoustic signaling, sound underwater communication station, and other elements. "Ruby" provided all-round visibility, ranging by echolocation, independent automatic determination of target heading angles and its tracking, as well as detection of enemy hydroacoustic active assets.
Fragments of the submarine K-38 - head Project 671
After the 76th year, during the modernization, on the majority of the submarines of the 671SAK Rubin it was replaced by the more advanced Rubicon complex having an infrasonic emitter with a maximum detection range of more than 200 thousand meters. On some ships MG-509 was also replaced by a more modern MG -519.
Retractable devices - PZNS-10 periscope, MRP-10 radio identification system antenna with a transponder, Albatross radar complex, Veil direction finder, Iva and Anis or VAN-M radio communication antennas, as well as RCP. There were sockets for removable antennas, which were installed in the course of solving specific problems.
A navigation complex was installed on board the submarine, which provided dead reckoning and heading guidance.
The ship's armament is six 533 mm torpedo tubes, which provide firing at depths of up to 250 meters.
The torpedo complex was located in the upper third of the first compartment. Torpedo tubes were placed horizontally in two rows. In the center plane of the submarine, above the first row of torpedo tubes, there was a torpedo loading hatch. Everything happened remotely: the torpedoes were placed in the compartment, moved through it, loaded into the vehicles, lowered with the help of hydraulic drives onto the racks.
Torpedo fire control was provided by the "Brest-671" fire control system.
The ammunition load consisted of 18 minutes and torpedoes (53-65k, SET-65, PMR-1, TEST-71, R-1). Loading options were chosen depending on the problem being solved. The mines could be placed at speeds up to 6 knots.
Technical characteristics of the project 671 nuclear submarine:
Maximum length - 92.5 m;
Maximum width - 10.6 m;
Displacement normal - 4250 m3;
Full displacement - 6085 m3;
Buoyancy reserve - 32, 1%
Maximum immersion depth - 400 m;
Working immersion depth - 320 m;
Maximum underwater speed - 33.5 knots;
Surface speed - 11, 5 knots;
Autonomy - 60 days;
Crew - 76 people.
The Soviet submarine, in comparison with the most modern analogue of the United States, the nuclear submarine SSN 637 "Sturgeon" (the lead ship of the series entered service on March 3, 1967) had a high underwater speed (American - 29, Soviet - 33, 5 knots), comparable ammunition and large immersion depth. At the same time, the American nuclear submarine had less noise and had more advanced sonar equipment, which provided better search capabilities. Soviet submariners believed that "if the detection range of an American boat is 100 km, then ours is only 10." Probably, this statement was exaggerated, but the problems of secrecy, as well as increasing the detection range of enemy ships on Project 671 submarines, could not be fully resolved.
K-38 - the lead ship of Project 671 - was accepted into the Northern Fleet. The first commander of the submarine was the captain of the second rank Chernov. During the tests, the new nuclear submarine developed a maximum short-term underwater speed of 34.5 knots, thus becoming the fastest submarine in the world (for that time). Until the 74th year, the Northern Fleet received 11 more nuclear-powered ships of the same type, which were initially based in the Zapadnaya Litsa Bay. From 81 to 83, they were relocated to Gremikha. In the West, these vessels were codenamed Victor (later Victor-1).
The very photogenic, elegant "Viktors" had a rather eventful biography. These submarines were found in almost all oceans and seas where the Soviet fleet carried out combat service. At the same time, nuclear submarines demonstrated fairly high combat and search capabilities. For example, in the Mediterranean Sea, the "autonomous" lasted not 60 prescribed days, but almost 90. There is a known case when the navigator of K-367 made the following entry in the journal: … At the same time, the nuclear submarine did not enter the Italian territorial waters, but kept track of the US Navy ship."
In the 79th year, with the next aggravation of American-Soviet relations, the nuclear submarines K-481 and K-38 carried out combat duty in the Persian Gulf. At the same time, there were about 50 ships of the American Navy. Swimming conditions were extremely difficult (near the surface the water temperature reached 40 °). The participant of the expedition Shportko (the commander of K-481) wrote in his memoirs that the air in the power compartments of the ships was heated up to 70 graus, and in the residential ones - up to 50. Air conditioners had to work at full capacity, but the equipment (which was designed for use in northern latitudes) I could not cope: refrigeration units began to function normally only at a depth of 60 meters, where the water temperature was about 15 degrees.
Each boat had two replacement crews, which were stationed at the floating base "Berezina", which was stationed at Socotra Island or in the Gulf of Aden. The duration of the trip was about six months and in general, it went very well. A. N. Shportko believed that the Soviet nuclear submarines in the Persian Gulf acted quite covertly: if the American naval forces managed to locate Soviet ships for a short time, they could not correctly classify them and organize the pursuit. Subsequently, intelligence data confirmed these conclusions. At the same time, the tracking of the US Navy ships was carried out at the range of use of missile-torpedo and missile weapons: upon receipt of the appropriate order, they would be sent to the bottom with almost 100% probability.
Submarines K-38 and K-323 in September-October 71 made an autonomous ice cruise to the Arctic. In January 1974, a unique transition from the Northern to the Pacific Fleet (lasting 107 days) of two nuclear-powered ships of projects 670 and 671 began under the command of captains of the second rank Khaitarov and Gontarev. The route passed through the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific oceans. After the ships passed the Faro-Icelandic anti-submarine line, they moved in a tactical group (one ship at a depth of 150 meters, the other at a depth of 100 meters). This was in fact the first experience of such a long-term following of nuclear submarines as part of a tactical group.
On March 10-25, the submarines made a call at the Somali port of Berbera, where the crews of the ships received a short rest. On March 29, while on combat duty, the nuclear submarine had short-term contact with surface anti-submarine ships of the US Navy. We managed to break away from them by going to a considerable depth. After completing combat service in a given area of the Indian Ocean, on April 13, the submarines on the surface headed for the Strait of Malacca, led by the support ship "Bashkiria".
The seawater temperature during the passage reached 28 degrees. Air conditioning systems could not cope with maintaining the required microclimate: in the boat compartments, the air temperature rose to 70 degrees with a relative humidity of 90%. The detachment of Soviet ships was practically continuously monitored by the base patrol aircraft Lockheed R-3 Orion of the American Navy, which were based on the Diego Garcia Atoll.
The American "guardianship" in the Strait of Malacca (the ships entered the strait on April 17) became denser: a large number of anti-submarine helicopters joined the patrol aircraft. On April 20, one of the Rubin GAS units caught fire on board the Project 671 submarine. The reason was high humidity. But the fire was quickly eliminated by the efforts of the crew. On April 25, the ships passed the strait zone, and went to depth, breaking away from observation. On May 6, the nuclear-powered submarine Gontareva entered Avachinskaya Bay. The second nuclear ship joined her the next day.
In January of the 76th year, the strategic missile submarine K-171, and the nuclear submarine K-469, which performed security functions, made the transition from the Northern Fleet to the Pacific Fleet. Ships across the Atlantic Ocean sailed at a distance of 18 cables. The Drake Passage was covered at varying depths. Constant communication was maintained via the ZPS. After crossing the equator, the vessels parted and arrived in Kamchatka in March, each passing its own route. For 80 days, the submarines covered 21754 miles, while the K-469 during the entire passage only once rose to periscope depth (in the Antarctic region).
PLA K-147 Project 671
PLA K-147 pr.671, modernized in 1984 with the installation of a wake detection system (SOKS). In 1985, using this system, the boat led the American SSBN for 6 days.
PLA K-306 pr.671, which collided with the American submarine in a submerged position. Polyarny, water area SRZ-10, 1975
The submarine K-147, equipped with the newest and unparalleled system for tracking nuclear submarines along the wake, from May 29 to July 1, 1985, under the command of Second Rank Captain Nikitin, participated in the exercises of the submarine forces of the Northern Fleet "Aport", during which was carried out continuous six-day tracking of the SSBN "Simon Bolivar" of the US Navy, using non-acoustic and acoustic means.
In March 1984, a very dramatic incident occurred with the K-314 submarine under the command of Captain First Rank Evseenko. Carrying out, together with the Vladivostok BPK, tracking the US Navy strike group as part of the Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier and 7 escort ships that maneuvered in the Sea of Japan, on March 21, a Soviet submarine, when surfacing to clarify the surface situation, proportioned the bottom of the aircraft carrier for 40 meters … As a result, the maneuvers of the American Navy were curtailed and the Kitty Hawk, losing fuel oil through the hole, went to the Japanese dock. At the same time, the Soviet nuclear-powered ship, which had lost its propeller, proceeded in tow to the Chazhma Bay. It was renovated there.
In the American press, this event caused a negative response. Journalists who specialized in naval issues noted the weakness of the AUG security. This is what allowed the submarines of the "potential enemy" to surface directly under the keel of the aircraft carrier. On March 14, 1989, the first boat of Project 671 - K-314, which was part of the TF, was written off. In 93-96, the rest of the nuclear submarines of this type left the combat strength of the fleet. However, the disposal of the ships was delayed. Today, most of the ships are in layup, waiting for their fate for years.
