home Travel abroad Submarine structure. Principles and structure of a submarine Internal structure of a nuclear submarine

Submarine structure. Principles and structure of a submarine Internal structure of a nuclear submarine

The silent “predators” of the deep sea have always terrified the enemy, both in war and in peacetime. There are countless myths associated with submarines, which, however, is not surprising considering that they are created in conditions of special secrecy. An excursion into the structure of nuclear submarines is offered to your attention in this feature.

The submarine's submersion and ascent system includes ballast and auxiliary tanks, as well as connecting pipelines and fittings. The main element here is the main ballast tanks, by filling them with water the main buoyancy reserve of the submarine is extinguished. All tanks are included in the bow, stern and middle groups. They can be filled and purged one at a time or simultaneously.

The submarine has trim tanks necessary to compensate for the longitudinal displacement of cargo. The ballast between trim tanks is blown using compressed air or pumped using special pumps. Trimming is the name of the technique, the purpose of which is to “balance” the submerged submarine.

Nuclear submarines are divided into generations. The first (50th) is characterized by relatively high noise and imperfect hydroacoustic systems. The second generation was built in the 60s and 70s: the hull shape was optimized to increase speed. The boats of the third are larger, and they also have electronic warfare equipment. The fourth generation nuclear submarines are characterized by an unprecedented low noise level and advanced electronics. The appearance of the fifth generation boats is being worked out these days.

An important component of any submarine is the air system. Diving, surfacing, removing waste - all this is done using compressed air. The latter is stored under high pressure on board the submarine: this way it takes up less space and allows you to accumulate more energy. High-pressure air is in special cylinders: as a rule, its quantity is monitored by a senior mechanic. Compressed air reserves are replenished upon ascent. This is a long and labor-intensive procedure that requires special attention. To ensure that the crew of the boat has something to breathe, air regeneration units are installed on board the submarine, allowing them to obtain oxygen from sea water.

A nuclear boat has a nuclear power plant (where, in fact, the name comes from). Nowadays, many countries also operate diesel-electric submarines (submarines). The level of autonomy of nuclear submarines is much higher, and they can perform a wider range of tasks. The Americans and British have stopped using non-nuclear submarines altogether, while the Russian submarine fleet has a mixed composition. In general, only five countries have nuclear submarines. In addition to the USA and the Russian Federation, the “club of the elite” includes France, England and China. Other maritime powers use diesel-electric submarines.

The future of the Russian submarine fleet is connected with two new nuclear submarines. We are talking about multi-purpose boats of Project 885 “Yasen” and strategic missile submarines 955 “Borey”. Eight units of Project 885 boats will be built, and the number of Boreys will reach seven. The Russian submarine fleet will not be comparable to the American one (the United States will have dozens of new submarines), but it will occupy second place in the world rankings.

Russian and American boats differ in their architecture. The United States makes its nuclear submarines single-hull (the hull both resists pressure and has a streamlined shape), while Russia makes its nuclear submarines double-hulled: in this case, there is an internal, rough, durable hull and an external, streamlined, lightweight one. On Project 949A Antey nuclear submarines, which included the infamous Kursk, the distance between the hulls is 3.5 m. It is believed that double-hull boats are more durable, while single-hull boats, all other things being equal, have less weight. In single-hull boats, the main ballast tanks, which ensure ascent and submersion, are located inside a durable hull, while in double-hull boats, they are inside a lightweight outer hull. Every domestic submarine must survive if any compartment is completely flooded with water - this is one of the main requirements for submarines.

In general, there is a tendency to switch to single-hull nuclear submarines, since the latest steel from which the hulls of American boats are made allows them to withstand enormous loads at depth and provides the submarine with a high level of survivability. We are talking, in particular, about high-strength steel grade HY-80/100 with a yield strength of 56-84 kgf/mm. Obviously, even more advanced materials will be used in the future.

There are also boats with a mixed hull (when a light hull only partially covers the main one) and multi-hulls (several strong hulls inside a light one). The latter includes the domestic missile submarine cruiser Project 941, the largest nuclear submarine in the world. Inside its lightweight body are five durable housings, two of which are the main ones. Titanium alloys were used to make durable cases, and steel alloys were used for lightweight ones. It is covered with a non-resonant anti-location soundproof rubber coating weighing 800 tons. This coating alone weighs more than the American nuclear submarine NR-1. Project 941 is truly a gigantic submarine. Its length is 172 and its width is 23 m. 160 people serve on board.

You can see how different nuclear submarines are and how different their “contents” are. Now let’s take a closer look at several domestic submarines: boats of project 971, 949A and 955. All of these are powerful and modern submarines serving in the Russian Navy. The boats belong to three different types of nuclear submarines, which we discussed above:

Nuclear submarines are divided according to their purpose:

· SSBN (Strategic Missile Submarine Cruiser). As part of the nuclear triad, these submarines carry ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. The main targets of such ships are military bases and enemy cities. The SSBN includes the new Russian nuclear submarine 955 Borei. In America, this type of submarine is called SSBN (Ship Submarine Ballistic Nuclear): this includes the most powerful of these submarines - the Ohio-class boat. To accommodate the entire lethal arsenal on board, SSBNs are designed taking into account the requirements of a large internal volume. Their length often exceeds 170 m - this is noticeably longer than the length of multi-purpose submarines.

LARK K-186 "Omsk" pr.949A OSCAR-II with open covers of the launchers of the "Granit" missile system. The boats of the project in the Navy have the unofficial name "Baton" - for the shape of the hull and impressive size.

· PLAT (nuclear torpedo submarine). Such boats are also called multi-purpose. Their purpose: the destruction of ships, other submarines, tactical targets on the ground and the collection of intelligence data. They are smaller than SSBNs and have better speed and mobility. PLATs can use torpedoes or high-precision cruise missiles. Such nuclear submarines include the American Los Angeles or the Soviet/Russian MPLATRK Project 971 Shchuka-B.

Project 941 Akula submarine

· SSGN (nuclear submarine with cruise missiles). This is the smallest group of modern nuclear submarines. This includes the Russian 949A Antey and some American Ohio missiles converted into cruise missile carriers. The SSGN concept has something in common with multi-purpose nuclear submarines. Submarines of the SSGN type, however, are larger - they are large floating underwater platforms with high-precision weapons. In the Soviet/Russian navy these boats are also called “aircraft carrier killers”.

Project 941 Akula heavy strategic missile submarines can be confidently classified as one of the largest nuclear submarines in the world. NATO classification - SSBN "Typhoon". In 1972, after receiving the assignment, TsKMBMT "Rubin" began developing this project.

History of creation

In December 1972, a tactical and technical design assignment was issued to S.N. Kovalev was appointed chief designer of the project. The development and creation of a new type of submarine cruiser was positioned as a response to the construction of Ohio-class SSBNs in the United States. It was planned to use solid-fuel three-stage intercontinental ballistic missiles R-39 (RSM-52), the dimensions of these missiles determined the size of the new ship. When compared with the Trident-I missiles, which are equipped with Ohio-class SSBNs, the R-39 missile has significantly better characteristics in flight range, throw weight and has 10 blocks, while the Trident has 8 such blocks. But at the same time, the R-39 is significantly larger in size, it is almost twice as long, and has a mass three times that of its American counterpart. The standard layout of the SSBN was not suitable for accommodating missiles of such a large size. The decision to begin work on the construction and design of a new generation of strategic missile carriers was made on December 19, 1973.

In June 1976, the first boat of this type, TK-208, was laid down at the Sevmash enterprise, which was launched on September 23, 1980 (the abbreviation TK means “heavy cruiser”). The image of a shark was painted on the bow, below the waterline, before the boat was launched into the water; later, stripes with a shark appeared on the crew’s uniform. On July 4, 1981, the lead cruiser entered sea trials, a month earlier than the American SSBN Ohio, the project of which was launched earlier. On December 12, 1981, TK-208 entered service. Between 1981 and 1989, 6 Akula-type boats were commissioned and launched. The seventh ship of this series was never laid down.

More than 1,000 enterprises of the former Union provided the construction of submarines of this type. 1219 Sevmash employees who participated in the creation of the ship were awarded government awards.

The announcement of the creation of Akula series boats was made at the XXVI Congress of the CPSU by Brezhnev, who stated: We have the Typhoon system, similar to the new American Ohio submarine, armed with Trident-I missiles. The new boat “Akula” was named “Typhoon” deliberately; at that time the Cold War was not yet over, so the name “Typhoon” was used to mislead the enemy.

In 1986, a diesel-electric transport-missile carrier was built, the displacement of which was 16,000 tons, the number of missiles accepted on board was 16 SLBMs. The transport was named "Alexander Brykin" and was intended to provide reloading of missiles and torpedoes.

A long high-latitude trip to the Arctic was carried out in 1987 by the TK-17 Simbirsk boat. During this campaign, crews were changed several times.

On the TK-17 Arkhangelsk, during a training launch, a training rocket exploded and burned out in the silo; the launches were carried out in the White Sea on September 27, 1991. The explosion tore off the cover of the missile silo and threw the missile warhead into the sea. After this incident, the boat underwent minor repairs; the crew was not injured in the explosion.

The “simultaneous” launch of 20 R-39 missiles took place in tests conducted by the Northern Fleet in 1998.

Design Features

The power plant on boats of this type is made in the form of two independent echelons, which are located in durable hulls, these hulls are different. Pulse equipment is used to monitor the condition of the reactors; in case of loss of power supply, the reactors are equipped with an automatic extinguishing system.

Even at the design stage, the terms of reference included a clause on the need to ensure a safe radius; in connection with this, a number of experiments were developed and carried out in experimental compartments on methods for calculating the dynamic strength of the most complex hull components (fastening modules, pop-up chambers and containers, inter-hull connections) .

Since standard workshops were not suitable for building Akula-type boats, a new workshop had to be built at number 55 at Sevmash, which is currently one of the largest indoor boathouses in the world.

Shark-class submarines have a fairly large buoyancy reserve of 40%. Due to the fact that half of the displacement on boats of this type comes from ballast water, they received an unofficial name in the fleet - “water carrier”; another unofficial name “victory of technology over common sense” was assigned to the boat at the competing Malachite Design Bureau. A significant reason that influenced this decision was the requirement to ensure the smallest draft of the ship. This requirement was quite justified by the possibility of using existing repair bases and piers.

It is the large reserve of buoyancy, together with a fairly strong deckhouse, that makes it possible to break through ice, the thickness of which is up to 2.5 meters, which allows combat duty in northern latitudes almost to the North Pole.

Frame

One of the design features of the boat is the presence of five habitable durable hulls inside a lightweight hull. Two of which, the main ones, their largest diameter is 10 meters, are located according to the catamaran principle - parallel to each other. Missile silos with D-19 missile systems are located in the front of the ship, between the main pressure hulls.

In addition, the boat is equipped with three sealed compartments: a torpedo compartment, a control module compartment with a central post and an aft mechanical compartment. This placement of three compartments between the main hulls of the boat significantly increases the fire safety and survivability of the boat. According to the opinion of General Designer S.N. Kovaleva:

“What happened on the Kursk (Project 949A), on Project 941 submarines, could not lead to such catastrophic consequences. The torpedo compartment on the Akula is made as a separate module. In the event of a torpedo explosion, the destruction of several main compartments and the death of the entire crew could not have occurred.”

The main buildings are connected to each other by three passages: in the bow, in the center and in the stern. The transitions pass through the intermediate compartments of the capsule. The number of waterproof compartments on the boat is 19. Rescue chambers located at the base of the wheelhouse under the fencing of retractable devices can accommodate the entire crew. Number of rescue chambers -2.

The durable cases were made from titanium alloys, the lightweight case was made of steel and had a non-resonant anti-location and sound-insulating coating, the weight of which was 800 tons. American experts believe that the boat’s durable hulls are also equipped with a soundproofing coating.

The ship has a developed cruciform stern tail with horizontal rudders, which is located directly behind the propellers. The front horizontal rudders are retractable.

To ensure the possibility of being on duty in northern latitudes, the wheelhouse fencing is made very durable, having the ability to break ice, the thickness of which is from 2 to 2.5 meters (in winter, the thickness of ice in the Arctic Ocean can be from 1.2 to 2 meters, sometimes reaches 2.5 meters). From below, the surface of the ice consists of growths in the form of icicles or stalactites that are quite large in size. During the ascent of the boat, the bow rudders are retracted, and the boat itself is pressed against the ice layer with a bow and wheelhouse specially adapted for this purpose, then the main ballast tank is sharply purged.

Power point

The design of the main nuclear power plant was carried out according to the block principle. The main installation includes two OK-650 water-cooled thermal neutron reactors with a shaft thermal power of 2x50,000 hp. and also in both durable hulls there are two steam turbine units, this significantly increases the survivability of the boat.

The Akula project boats use a two-stage rubber-cord pneumatic shock absorption system and a block system of mechanisms and equipment, which can significantly improve the vibration isolation of components and assemblies, and thus reduce the noise of the boat.

Two low-speed, low-noise, seven-bladed fixed-pitch propellers are used as propulsors. To reduce noise levels, the propellers are located in ring fairings (fenestrons).

The backup propulsion system includes two 190 kW DC electric motors. When maneuvering in cramped conditions, the boat uses a thruster, which consists of two folding columns with 750 kW electric motors and rotary propellers. These devices are located at the bow and stern of the ship.

Crew accommodation

The crew is accommodated in conditions of increased comfort. The submarines of the Shark project have a crew lounge, a swimming pool measuring 4x2 meters and a depth of 2 meters, the pool is filled with fresh or salt sea water with the possibility of heating, a gym, a solarium, a sauna, as well as a “living area”. Enlisted personnel are accommodated in small cockpits; command personnel are accommodated in two or four-bed cabins equipped with washbasins, televisions and air conditioning. There are two wardrooms: one for officers, and the second for sailors and midshipmen. Due to the comfort conditions created on the boat, among sailors it was called the “floating Hilton.”

Armament

The main armament of the TK is 20 three-stage solid-propellant ballistic missiles R-39 "Variant". The launch weight of these missiles, together with the launch container, is 90 tons, and their length is 17.1 m, this is the largest launch weight of all SLBMs put into service.

The missiles have a multiple warhead of 10 warheads with individual guidance, each containing 100 kilotons of TNT, and the missiles' flight range is 8,300 km. Due to the fact that the R-39s are quite large in size, their only carriers are Project 941 Akula boats.

Tests of the D-19 missile system were carried out on a specially converted diesel submarine K-153 (Project 619), only one silo for the R-39 was placed on it, the number of launches of dummy models was limited to seven.

launch of an R-39 missile from a Project 941 Akula submarine

From Akula project boats, the entire ammunition load can be launched in one salvo; the interval between missile launches is minimal. Missiles can be launched from a surface or underwater position; in the case of launch from an underwater position, the immersion depth is up to 55 meters; there are no restrictions on weather conditions for launching missiles.

The use of the ARSS shock-absorbing rocket launch system makes it possible to launch a rocket using a powder pressure accumulator from a dry shaft; this significantly reduces the level of pre-launch noise, as well as shortens the interval between rocket launches. One of the features of the complex is the suspension of missiles at the neck of the silo using ARSS. At the design stage, it was envisaged to deploy an ammunition load of 24 missiles, but by the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy, Admiral S.G. Gorshkov, the number of missiles was reduced to 20.

The development of a new, improved version of the R-39UTT "Bark" missile began after the adoption of a government decree in 1986. On the new modification of the rocket, it was planned to implement a system for passing through ice, as well as increase the range to 10,000 km. According to the plan, it was necessary to rearm the missile carriers before 2003, by the time the warranty service life of the R-39 missiles expired. However, the tests of the new missiles were not successful, after the third launch ended in failure, in 1998 the Ministry of Defense decided to stop work on the complex; by the time such a decision was made, the readiness of the complex was 73%. The development of another solid-fuel SLBM, the Bulava, was entrusted to the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering, which developed the land-based ICBM Topol-M.

In addition to strategic weapons, Project 941 Akula boats are equipped with 6 torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber, which can be used to lay minefields for firing rocket-torpedoes and conventional torpedoes.

The air defense system is provided by eight Igla-1 MANPADS systems.

The Akula project boats are equipped with the following types of electronic weapons:

"Omnibus" - combat information and control system;

analog hydroacoustic complex "Skat-KS" (digital "Skat-3" is installed on the TK-208);

sonar mine detection station MG-519 “Harp”;

echometer MG-518 “Sever”;

radar complex MRKP-58 "Buran";

navigation complex "Symphony";

radio communication complex "Molniya-L1" with satellite communication system "Tsunami";

television complex MTK-100;

two buoy-type antennas allow you to receive radio messages, target designations and satellite navigation signals when located at a depth of up to 150 m and under ice.

Interesting Facts

For the first time, the placement of missile silos in front of the wheelhouse was carried out on boats of the Akula project.

For the development of a unique ship, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to the Commander of the first missile cruiser, Captain 1st Rank A. V. Olkhovnikov in 1984

The ships of the Shark project are included in the Guinness Book of Records

The commander's seat in the central post is inviolable; there are no exceptions for anyone, not for the commanders of a division, fleet or flotilla, and even the Minister of Defense.

British Navy submarine HMS Upholder ("Ally")

Submarines float on the water surface without any difficulty. But unlike all other ships, they can sink to the bottom of the ocean and, in some cases, swim in its depths for months. The whole secret is that the submarine has a unique double-hull design.

Between its outer and inner buildings there are special compartments, or ballast tanks, which can be filled with sea water. At the same time, the total weight of the submarine increases and, accordingly, its buoyancy, that is, the ability to float on the surface, decreases. The boat moves forward due to the operation of the propeller, and horizontal rudders, called hydroplanes, help it dive.

The submarine's internal steel hull is designed to withstand enormous water pressure, which increases with depth. When submerged, trim tanks located along the keel help keep the ship stable. If it is necessary to surface, then the submarine is emptied of water, or, as they say, the ballast tanks are purged. Navigation aids such as periscopes, radar, (radar), sonar (sonar) and satellite communications systems help the submarine follow the desired course.

In the image above, a cross-section of the 2,455-ton, 232-foot-long British attack submarine can travel at 20 mph. While the boat is at the surface, its diesel engines generate electricity. This energy is stored in batteries and then used in scuba diving. Nuclear submarines use nuclear fuel to turn water into superheated steam to run its steam turbines.

How does a submarine sink and surface?

When a submarine is on the surface, it is said to be in a state of positive buoyancy. Then its ballast tanks are mostly filled with air (near picture on the right). When submerged (middle picture on the right), the ship becomes negatively buoyant as air from the ballast tanks exits through the release valves and the tanks are filled with water through the water intake ports. To move at a certain depth while submerged, submarines use a balancing technique where compressed air is pumped into ballast tanks while the water intake ports are left open. At the same time, the desired state of neutral buoyancy occurs. To ascend (far right), water is pushed out of the ballast tanks using compressed air stored on board.

There is little free space on the submarine. In the top picture, the sailors are eating in the wardroom. In the upper right corner is an American submarine on the surface. On the right in the photo is a cramped cockpit where submariners sleep.

Clean air underwater

On most modern submarines, fresh water is made from sea water. And supplies of fresh air are also made on board - by decomposing fresh water using electrolysis and releasing oxygen from it. When the submarine cruises near the surface, it uses hooded snorkels - devices placed above the water - to take in fresh air and throw out exhaust air. In this position, above the conning tower, the boats are in the air, in addition to snorkels, a periscope, a radio communication antenna and other superstructure elements. The air quality on the submarine is monitored daily to ensure proper oxygen levels. All air passes through a scrubber, or scrubber, to remove contaminants. Exhaust gases exit through a separate pipeline.

Operating principle of the submarine

Premier League: what are they?

Nuclear submarines are divided according to their purpose:

PLAT (nuclear torpedo submarine). Such boats are also called multi-purpose. Their purpose: the destruction of ships, other submarines, tactical targets on the ground and the collection of intelligence data. They are smaller than SSBNs and have better speed and mobility. PLATs can use torpedoes or high-precision cruise missiles. Such nuclear submarines include the American Los Angeles or the Soviet/Russian MPLATRK Project 971 Shchuka-B.

The American Seawolf is considered the most advanced multi-purpose nuclear submarine. Its main feature is the highest level of stealth and deadly weapons on board. One such submarine carries up to 50 Harpoon or Tomahawk missiles. There are also torpedoes. Due to the high cost, the US Navy received only three of these submarines.

SSGN (nuclear submarine with cruise missiles). This is the smallest group of modern nuclear submarines. This includes the Russian 949A Antey and some American Ohio missiles converted into cruise missile carriers. The SSGN concept has something in common with multi-purpose nuclear submarines. Submarines of the SSGN type, however, are larger - they are large floating underwater platforms with high-precision weapons. In the Soviet/Russian navy these boats are also called “aircraft carrier killers”.

Inside a submarine

It is difficult to examine in detail the design of all main types of nuclear submarines, but it is quite possible to analyze the design of one of these boats. It will be the Project 949A submarine “Antey”, a landmark (in every sense) for the Russian fleet. To increase survivability, the creators duplicated many important components of this nuclear submarine. These boats received a pair of reactors, turbines and propellers. The failure of one of them, according to the plan, should not be fatal for the boat. The submarine's compartments are separated by intercompartment bulkheads: they are designed for a pressure of 10 atmospheres and are connected by hatches that can be sealed if necessary. Not all domestic nuclear submarines have so many compartments. The Project 971 multipurpose nuclear submarine, for example, is divided into six compartments, and the new Project 955 SSBN is divided into eight.

The infamous Kursk belongs to the Project 949A boats. This submarine sank in the Barents Sea on August 12, 2000. All 118 crew members on board became victims of the disaster. Many versions of what happened have been put forward: the most likely of all is the explosion of a 650 mm torpedo stored in the first compartment. According to the official version, the tragedy occurred due to a leak of a torpedo fuel component, namely hydrogen peroxide.

The Project 949A nuclear submarine has a very advanced (by the standards of the 80s) apparatus, including the MGK-540 Skat-3 hydroacoustic system and many other systems. The boat is also equipped with an automated Symphony-U navigation system that has increased accuracy, increased range and a large volume of processed information. Most of the information about all these complexes is kept secret.

Compartments of the Project 949A Antey nuclear submarine:

First compartment:
It is also called bow or torpedo. This is where the torpedo tubes are located. The boat has two 650 mm and four 533 mm torpedo tubes, and in total there are 28 torpedoes on board the submarine. The first compartment consists of three decks. The combat stock is stored on racks designed for this purpose, and torpedoes are fed into the apparatus using a special mechanism. There are also batteries located here, which are separated from the torpedoes by special flooring for safety reasons. The first compartment usually houses five crew members.

Second compartment:
This compartment on submarines of projects 949A and 955 (and not only on them) plays the role of the “brain of the boat”. This is where the central control panel is located, and this is where the submarine is controlled. There are consoles for hydroacoustic systems, microclimate regulators and navigation satellite equipment. There are 30 crew members serving in the compartment. From it you can get into the control room of the nuclear submarine, designed for monitoring the surface of the sea. There are also retractable devices: periscopes, antennas and radars.

Third compartment:
The third is the radio-electronic compartment. Here, in particular, there are multi-profile communication antennas and many other systems. The equipment of this compartment allows receiving target indications, including from space. After processing, the received information is entered into the ship's combat information and control system. Let us add that the submarine rarely makes contact, so as not to be unmasked.

Fourth compartment:
This compartment is residential. Here the crew not only sleeps, but also spends their free time. There is a sauna, gym, showers and a common area for communal relaxation. In the compartment there is a room that allows you to relieve emotional stress - for this, for example, there is an aquarium with fish. In addition, in the fourth compartment there is a galley, or, in simple terms, a nuclear submarine kitchen.

Fifth compartment:
There is a diesel generator that generates energy here. Here you can also see an electrolysis installation for air regeneration, high-pressure compressors, a shore power supply panel, diesel fuel and oil reserves.

5 bis:
This room is needed for decontamination of crew members who worked in the reactor compartment. We are talking about removing radioactive substances from surfaces and reducing radioactive contamination. Due to the fact that there are two fifths of the compartment, confusion often occurs: some sources claim that the nuclear submarine has ten compartments, others say nine. Even though the last compartment is the ninth, there are ten of them in total on the nuclear submarine (including 5 bis).

Sixth compartment:
This compartment, one might say, is located in the very center of the nuclear submarine. It is of particular importance, because it is here that two OK-650V nuclear reactors with a capacity of 190 MW are located. The reactor belongs to the OK-650 series - a series of water-cooled nuclear reactors using thermal neutrons. The role of nuclear fuel is played by uranium dioxide, highly enriched in the 235th isotope. The compartment has a volume of 641 m³. Above the reactor there are two corridors that allow access to other parts of the nuclear submarine.

Seventh compartment:
It is also called turbine. The volume of this compartment is 1116 m³. This room is intended for the main distribution board; power plants; emergency control panel for the main power plant; as well as a number of other devices that ensure the movement of the submarine.

Eighth compartment:
This compartment is very similar to the seventh, and is also called the turbine compartment. The volume is 1072 m³. The power plant can be seen here; turbines that drive nuclear submarine propellers; a turbogenerator that provides the boat with electricity, and water desalination plants.

Ninth compartment:
This is an extremely small shelter compartment, with a volume of 542 m³, with an escape hatch. This compartment, in theory, will allow crew members to survive in the event of a disaster. There are six inflatable rafts (each designed for 20 people), 120 gas masks and rescue kits for individual ascent. In addition, the compartment contains: steering system hydraulics; high pressure air compressor; electric motor control station; lathe; combat post for reserve rudder control; shower and food supply for six days.

Armament

Let us separately consider the armament of the Project 949A nuclear submarine. In addition to torpedoes (which we have already discussed), the boat carries 24 P-700 Granit anti-ship cruise missiles. These are long-range missiles that can fly along a combined trajectory of up to 625 km. To aim at a target, the P-700 has an active radar guidance head.

The missiles are located in special containers between the light and durable hulls of nuclear submarines. Their arrangement roughly corresponds to the central compartments of the boat: containers with missiles go on both sides of the submarine, 12 on each side. All of them are turned forward from the vertical at an angle of 40-45°. Each of these containers has a special lid that slides out during a rocket launch.

P-700 Granit cruise missiles are the basis of the arsenal of the Project 949A boat. Meanwhile, there is no real experience in using these missiles in combat, so it is difficult to judge the combat effectiveness of the complex. Tests have shown that due to the speed of the rocket (1.5-2.5 M), it is very difficult to intercept it. However, not everything is so simple. Over land, the missile is not capable of flying at low altitude, and therefore represents an easy target for enemy air defense systems. At sea, the efficiency indicators are higher, but it is worth saying that the American aircraft carrier force (namely, the missile was created to fight them) has excellent air defense cover.

This type of weapon arrangement is not typical for nuclear submarines. On the American boat "Ohio", for example, ballistic or cruise missiles are located in silos running in two longitudinal rows behind a fence of retractable devices. But the multi-purpose Seawolf launches cruise missiles from torpedo tubes. In the same way, cruise missiles are launched from the domestic Project 971 Shchuka-B MPLATRK. Of course, all these submarines also carry various torpedoes. The latter are used to destroy submarines and surface ships.

In continuation of publications about submarines that were previously in service with the USSR and Russian Navy, and converted into museums, we bring to your attention a brief overview of modern Russian submarines. The first part will look at non-nuclear (diesel-electric) submarines.

Currently, the Russian Navy is armed with diesel-electric submarines of three main projects: 877 Halibut, 677 Lada and 636 Varshavyanka.

All modern Russian diesel-electric submarines are built according to a scheme with full electric propulsion: the main engine is an electric motor powered by batteries, which are recharged on the surface or at periscope depth (when air enters through the RDP shaft) from a diesel generator. The diesel generator compares favorably with diesel engines in its smaller dimensions, which is achieved by increasing the shaft rotation speed and eliminating the need for reverse.

Project 877 "Halibut"

Submarines of Project 877 (code "Halibut", according to NATO classification - Kilo) - a series of Soviet and Russian submarines from 1982-2000. The project was developed at the Rubin Central Design Bureau, the general designer of the project is Yu.N. Kormilitsin. The lead ship was built in 1979-1982. at the plant named after Lenin Komsomol in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Subsequently, Project 877 ships were built at the Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard in Nizhny Novgorod and Admiralty Shipyards OJSC in St. Petersburg.

For the first time in the USSR, the hull of the boat was made in an “airship” shape with an optimal length-to-width ratio from the point of view of streamlining (slightly more than 7:1). The chosen shape made it possible to increase the underwater speed and reduce noise, at the expense of deteriorating seaworthiness on the surface. The boat has a double-hull design, traditional for the Soviet school of submarine shipbuilding. The light hull limits the developed nasal tip, in the upper part of which there are torpedo tubes, and the lower part is occupied by the developed main antenna of the Rubicon-M hydroacoustic complex.

The project boats received an automated weapon system. The armament included 6 torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber, up to 18 torpedoes or 24 mines. In Soviet times, ships were equipped with the Strela-3 defensive air defense system, which could be used on the surface.

Submarine B-227 "Vyborg" of project 877 "Halibut"

Submarine B-471 "Magnitogorsk" project 877 "Halibut"

Longitudinal section of the submarine Project 877 "Halibut":

1 - main antenna of SJSC "Rubicon-M"; 2 - 533 mm TA; 3 - first (bow or torpedo) compartment; 4 - anchor spire; 5 - bow hatch; 6 - spare torpedoes with a fast loading device; 7 - bow horizontal rudder with tilting mechanism and drives; 8 - living quarters; 9 - nasal group AB; 10 - gyrocompass repeater; 11 - navigation bridge; 12 - attack periscope PK-8.5; 13 - anti-aircraft and navigation periscope PZNG-8M; 14 - PMU of the RDP device; 15 - durable cabin; 16 - PMU antenna of the radar "Cascade"; 17 - PMU of the direction finder antenna "Frame"; 18 - PMU antenna SORS MRP-25; 19 - container (fender) for storing the Strela-ZM MANPADS; 20 - second compartment; 21 - central post; 22 - third (living) compartment; 23 - aft group AB; 24 - fourth (diesel generator) compartment; 25 - DG; 26 - cylinders of the VVD system; 27 - fifth (electric motor) compartment; 28 - GGED; 29 - emergency buoy; 30 - sixth (aft) compartment; 31 - aft hatch; 32 - GED of economic progress; 33 - stern rudder drives; 34 - shaft line; 34 - aft vertical stabilizer.

Tactical and technical data of project 877 "Halibut":

Project 677 "Lada" ("Cupid")

Project 677 submarines (code "Lada") - a series of Russian diesel-electric submarines developed at the end of the 20th century at the Rubin Central Design Bureau, general designer of the project Yu.N. Kormilitsin. The boats are intended to destroy enemy submarines, surface ships and vessels, protect naval bases, the sea coast and sea communications, and conduct reconnaissance. The series is a development of project 877 "Halibut". A low noise level was achieved thanks to the choice of a single-hull design type, a reduction in the size of the ship, the use of an all-mode main propulsion motor with permanent magnets, the installation of vibration-active equipment and the introduction of a new generation of anti-hydrolocation coating technology. Project 677 submarines are being built at the Admiralty Shipyards JSC in St. Petersburg.

The Project 677 submarine is made according to the so-called one and a half hull design. The axisymmetric, durable body is made of AB-2 steel and has the same diameter along almost the entire length. The bow and stern ends are spherical in shape. The hull is divided along the length into five waterproof compartments by flat bulkheads; by means of platforms, the hull is divided in height into three tiers. The lightweight body is given a streamlined shape, providing high hydrodynamic characteristics. The fencing of the retractable devices has the same shape as that of Project 877 boats, at the same time, the stern empennage is cross-shaped, and the front horizontal rudders are placed on the fencing, where they create minimal interference with the operation of the hydroacoustic complex.

Compared to Varshavyanka, the surface displacement has been reduced by almost 1.3 times - from 2,300 to 1,765 tons. Full submerged speed increased from 19-20 to 21 knots. The crew size was reduced from 52 to 35 submariners, while the autonomy remained unchanged - up to 45 days. Boats of the "Lada" type are distinguished by a very low noise level, a high level of automation and a relatively low price compared to foreign analogues: the German type 212, and the Franco-Spanish project "Scorpene", while possessing more powerful weapons.

Submarine B-585 "St. Petersburg" of project 677 "Lada"

Longitudinal section of the Project 677 Lada submarine:

1 - fencing of the main antenna of the sonar; 2 - nasal central hemorrhage; 3 - 533 mm TA; 4 - torpedo loading hatch; 5 - anchor; 6 - bow (torpedo) compartment; 7 - spare torpedoes with a fast loading device; 8 - fence of auxiliary mechanisms; 9 - nasal AB; 10 - navigation bridge; 11 - durable cabin; 12 - second (central post) compartment; 13 - central post; 14 - main command post; 15 - REV aggregate enclosure; 16 enclosure of auxiliary equipment and general ship systems (bilge pumps, pumps of the general ship hydraulic system, converters and air conditioners); 17 - third (living and battery) compartment; 18 - wardroom and galley block; 19 - residential premises and medical block; 20 - aft AB; 21 - fourth (diesel generator) compartment; 22 - DG; 23 - fence of auxiliary mechanisms; 24 - fifth (electric motor) compartment; 25 - GED; 26 - fuel tank; 27 - stern rudder drives; 28 - shaft line; 29 - aft Central City Hospital; 30 - aft vertical stabilizers; 31 fairing of the GPBA exit channel.

Tactical and technical data of project 677 "Lada":

*Amur-950" - an export modification of Project 677 "Lada" is equipped with four torpedo tubes and a launcher for ten missiles, capable of firing a salvo of ten missiles in two minutes. Immersion depth - 250 meters. Crew - from 18 to 21 people. Autonomy - 30 days .

Due to shortcomings of the power plant, the planned serial construction of boats of this project in its original form was canceled, the project will be further developed.

Project 636 "Varshavyanka"

Submarines of Project 636 (code "Varshavyanka", according to NATO classification - Improved Kilo) multi-purpose diesel-electric submarines - an improved version of the export submarine Project 877EKM. The project was also developed at the Rubin Central Design Bureau, under the leadership of Yu.N. Kormilitsin.

Submarines of the Varshavyanka class, which combines projects 877 and 636 and their modifications, are the main class of non-nuclear submarines produced in Russia. They are in service with both Russian and a number of foreign fleets. The project, developed in the late 1970s, is considered very successful, so the construction of the series, with a number of improvements, continues in the 2010s.