Bratsk and subsequent submarines have reactor coolant scoops similar to the ones on the Oscar IIs, short and (the Typhoon, Akula and Oscar classes use the similar OK-650 reactor).Īkula-I Improved (project 971 and 971I) All submarines before K-391 Bratsk have reactor coolant scoops that are similar to the ones of the Typhoon class SSBNs, long and tubular. All were retrofitted with the SOCKS hydrodynamic sensors except Volk. 'Pantera' returned to service in January 2008 after a comprehensive overhaul. K-480 'Bars' was put into reserve in 1998, and is being dismantled in February 2010. K-322 'Kashalot' and K-480 'Bars' are in reserve. The lead boat of the class, K-284 'Akula' was decommissioned in 2001, apparently to help save money in the cash-strapped Russian Navy. These boats are equipped with MGK-500 Skat sonar system (with NATO reporting name Shark Gill). Of the seven original Akula-I submarines, only three are known to still be in service. The four known variants within the Akula class. Information provided by sources varies widely. The submarine is also able to use its torpedo tubes to deploy mines.Īs with many Soviet/Russian craft, information on the status of the Akula Class submarines is sparse, at best. The 650 mm tubes can be fitted with liners to use the 533 mm weaponry. The external tubes are mounted outside the pressure hull in one row, above the torpedo tubes, and can only be reloaded in port or with the assistance of a submarine tender. Improved Akulas, Akula IIs have an additional six 533 mm torpedo tubes mounted externally, capable of launching possibly up to 6 decoys each. These torpedo tubes are arranged in two rows of four tubes each. The white cheatline marks the boat's waterline.Īll Akulas are armed with four 533 mm torpedo tubes which can use Type 53 torpedoes or the SS-N-15 Starfish missile, and four 650 mm torpedo tubes which can use Type 65 torpedoes or the SS-N-16 Stallion missile. Line drawing showing the starboard side of the Project 971 (Akula) Soviet submarine. These are where the OK-300 auxiliary propulsion devices are located, which can propel the submarine at up to 5 knots (9.3 km/h). All Akulas have two T-shaped doors on the aft bottom of the hull, on either side. They are located on the leading edge of the sail, on the outer hull casing in front of the sail and on the bottom of the hull forward of the sail. Most Akulas have the SOCKS hydrodynamic sensors, which detect changes in temperature and salinity. The distinctive "bulb" or "can" seen on top of the Akula's rudder houses its towed sonar array, when retracted. This design requires more power than single-hull submarines because of the greater wetted surface area, which increases drag. This allows more freedom in the design of the exterior hull shape, resulting in a submarine with more reserve buoyancy than its western analogs. The Akula incorporates a double hull system composed of an inner pressure hull and an outer "light" hull. 2.2 Akula-I Improved (project 971 and 971I). The name Akula was used as the NATO designation of the Projekt 971 because the first of the class was the K-284 christened Akula. The name Akula ( Акула meaning "shark" in Russian) is the Soviet designation of the ballistic missile submarine class designated by NATO as the Typhoon class submarine. The Russians call all of the submarines Schuka-B, regardless of modifications. There are four sub-classes or flights of Shchuka, consisting of the original seven "Akula I" submarines which were commissioned between 19, six "Improved Akula" submarines commissioned between 19, one "Akula II" submarine commissioned in 1995 and one Akula III commissioned in 2001. The class is also known under the name Bars (eng. Project 971 Щука-Б ( Shchuka-B, 'Shchuka' meaning pike, NATO reporting name " Akula"), is a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986. Tsunami, Kiparis, Anis, Sintez and Kora Communications antennas (K-152 Nerpa has 8 × 533mm torpedo tubes) 40 torpedoes totalġ–3 × SA-N-10 Igla-M Surface-to-air missile launcher fired from sail (surface use only) *MG-74 Korund noise simulation decoys (fired from external tubes)Ĥ × 533mm torpedo tubes (28 torpedoes) and 4 × 650mm torpedo tubes (12 torpedoes) One 190 MW OK-650B/OK-650M pressurized water nuclear reactorĢ OK-2 Turbogenerators producing 2,000 kWĢ OK-300 retractable electric propulsors for low-speed and quiet maneuvering at 5 knots (6 km/h)Ĥ80 m test depth for Akula I and Akula I Improvedħ3 for Akula I & Improved, 62 (31 officers) for Akula II & III By sequence of construction: Sierra class
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