![]() ![]() The Typhoon class was developed under Project 941 as the Russian Akula class (Акула), meaning shark. This also greatly increases their survivability-even if one pressure hull is breached, the crew members in the other are safe and there is less potential for flooding. In the main body of the sub, two long pressure hulls lie parallel with a third, smaller pressure hull above them (which protrudes just below the sail), and two other pressure hulls for torpedoes and steering gear. Typhoon-class submarines feature multiple pressure hulls, similar to the World War II Japanese I-400-class submarine, that simplify internal design while making the vessel much wider than a normal submarine. Technically, Typhoons were able to deploy their long-range nuclear missiles while moored at their docks. Their primary weapons system is composed of 20 R-39 (NATO: SS-N-20) ballistic missiles (SLBM) with a maximum of 10 MIRV nuclear warheads each. A Typhoon-class submarine can stay submerged for periods up to 120 days in normal conditions, and potentially more if deemed necessary (e.g., in the case of a nuclear war). ![]() With the announcement that Russia has eliminated the last SS-N-20 Sturgeon SLBMs in September 2012, the remaining Typhoons have reached the end of service.īesides their missile armament, the Typhoon class features six torpedo tubes all of which are designed to handle RPK-2 (SS-N-15) missiles or Type 53 torpedoes. The Russian Navy canceled its Typhoon modernization program in March 2012, stating that modernizing one Typhoon would be as expensive as building two new Borey-class submarines. The source of the NATO reporting name remains unclear, although it is often claimed to be related to the use of the word "typhoon" ("тайфун") by Leonid Brezhnev in a 1974 speech while describing a new type of nuclear ballistic missile submarine, as a reaction to the US Navy Ohio-class submarines. With a submerged displacement of 48,000 tonnes, the Typhoons are the largest class of submarine ever built, large enough to accommodate decent living facilities for the crew when submerged for months on end. They worked mainly in the center of the sub while the fore and aft sections could be sealed off to increase survivability.The Project 941 or Akula, Russian "Акула" ("Shark") class submarine (NATO reporting name: Typhoon) is a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine deployed by the Soviet Navy in the 1980s. The Alfa-class had a miniscule crew of only 32 men. Titanium is also more time-consuming to bend and shape. They took ample time to make because of the difficulty of welding titanium that had to be accomplished with a unique process at a dedicated facility. The boats were expensive due to the costly acquisition of titanium. These advances for the Alfa-class came about in 1968, so the subs were ahead of their time. Meanwhile, the Soviet subs could float underneath enemy ships to launch torpedoes upwards for a better chance of a hit. Deep diving at 1,148 feet meant that enemy torpedoes could not strike it at the time of these innovations. It took less than a minute to get up to full speed or reverse direction. They could travel at an eye-opening 47 miles per hour (41 knots) when submerged. ![]() This was a smaller powerplant that enabled the sub to maneuver quickly with the savings in space and weight. Titanium is also less corrosive in seawater.Ī new lead-bismuth cooled fast reactor would provide speed. The titanium is also paramagnetic – a condition which reduced the magnetic field and helped it become less detectable. They were just as strong as steel at 33 to 50 percent of the weight and able to withstand the high pressure of a deep dive. Their titanium hulls could withstand fatigue and fractures. The Soviets called the Alfa-class the Project 705 Lira. Its hull was made out of titanium instead of steel, which allowed it to sneak deeply out of the range of anti-submarine weapons. One submarine featured in the story was the Russian Alfa-class. It was so richly detailed with unmatched amounts of specifications for submarines that the Pentagon and CIA thought that its author, the late Tom Clancy, a former insurance agent, was somehow stealing secrets to put in his book. The book Hunt for Red October changed everything regarding military thrillers in the 1980s. ![]()
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