Akula class submarine

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Project 971 Щука-Б (Shuka-B, 'Shuka' meaning pike, NATO reporting name "Akula"), is a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986. The class is sometimes erroneously called the "Bars" class, after one of its members. Note that Akula ("shark") is the Soviet designation of the ballistic missile submarine class designated by NATO as the Typhoon class submarine. They are sometimes bitterly called "the Walker class," referring to John Anthony Walker, whose espionage data related to sonar detection was used to improve this submarine.

There are three sub-classes or flights of Shchuka, consisting of the original seven "Akula I" submarines built between 1982 and 1986, five "Improved Akula" submarines built between 1986 and 1991, and four "Akula II" submarines built from 1991. This information is disputed, however, as the distinction between the Improved Akula and the Akula II class is debated by authoritative sources.

Akula incorporates a double hull system that increases the strength reserve and is able to dive deeper than any other modern SSN. It is the quietest Russian nuclear attack submarine; the noise radiated by the Akula-II class is comparable to that of last versions of the American Improved Los Angeles class.

All 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. These torpedo tubes are arranged in two rows of four tubes each. Improved Akulas and Akula IIs have an additional six 533 mm torpedo tubes mounted externally, however it is unclear whether these are fully functional external tubes, or if they are only capable of launching Mines and decoys. The external tubes are mounted outside the pressure hull in one row, above the 'Normal' Torpedo tubes, and can only be reloaded in port or with the assistance of a submarine tender. The 650 mm tubes can be fitted with liners to use the 533 mm weaponry. The submarine is also able to use its torpedo tubes to launch mines.

Current status

Information on the status of the Akula Class submarines is sketchy at best. Information provided by several internet sites varies widely.

Akula-I submarines

Of the seven original Akula-I submarines, only three are known to still be in service. The lead boat of the class, K-284 'Akula' was decommissioned in 1995, apparently to help save money in the cash-strapped Russian Navy. Three others, K-322 'Kashalot', K-480 'Bars' [Currently Ak Bars], and K-317 'Pantera' are all thought to be in reserve.

Akula-I Improved submarines

The five Akulas of this class are all thought to be in service. There is some debate about the hull number of the 5th submarine. Some sources report it as K-267, while others say K-295. Most however agree on the name 'Drakon'. Sources also disagree as to whether construction of this class has been suspended, or if there are a further two units planned. Improved Akula-I Hulls: Volk, Tigr, Narval. There is a new class, while not confirmed thought to be in the building stages, the Akltanta based on the Virginia Class. ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

Akula-II submarines

The Akula-II 'Vepr' is the only Akula-II known to be in service at present. The 'Gepard' is in service and was launched a short time after the Kursk submarine disaster, along with the halted 'Kuguar' and 'Rys'. A fifth submarine of unknown name is also thought to have construction suspended. The 'Gepard' is known to have a slightly smaller and streamlined Towed Array Sonar Dispenser than the other submarines of the class. Gepard also appears to have a longer sail than other Akula class submarines.

Leasing to India

It was reported in December, 2005 that Russia may be preparing to lease two Akulas to India, that Indian Navy personnel have completed training in Russia to run the boats, and that India is paying for the completion of two additional Akulas.

Again it was reported on 1 July,2006 that a nuclear-powered Nerpa submarine that will be leased to India was launched at a shipyard in the Russian Far East.Nerpa is the Project 971 third-generation submarine (NATO code name Akula-II), the most advanced Russian nuclear attack submarine. A second submarine is also being fixed which will also join the indian navy later in 2007.

Whereas the Russian Navy's Akula-II submarines are equipped with 28 nuclear-capable cruise missiles with a striking range of 3,000 km, the Indian version is expected to be armed with the 300-km Klub nuclear-capable missiles [link]

General characteristics

• Classification:
• *English: Nuclear Powered Attack submarine (SSN)
• *Russian: Podvodnaya Lodka Atomnaya (PLA)

• Displacement:
• *5,700-7,500 tons surfaced
• *7,900-9,100 tons submerged
• *7,900-9,500 tons submerged (Akula-II)

• Maximum speed:
• *20 knots (37 km/h) surfaced
• *35 knots (65 km/h) submerged

• Operating Depth:
• *450 m test depth
• *550 m never-exceed depth
• *600-660 m calculated crush depth

• Propulsion:
• *1 190 MW OK-650B pressurized water nuclear reactor
• *1 OK-7 steam turbine 43,000 hp (32 MW)
• *2 OK-2 Turbogenerators producing 2,000 kW
• *1 seven-bladed propeller
• *2 retractable electric propulsors for low-speed manuvering at 3 knots (6 km/h)

• Length: 108.0 - 111.7 m (sources vary)

• Beam: 13.5 m

• Draft: 9.6 m

• Armament:
• *four 533 mm torpedo tubes (plus six external 533 mm tubes on Improved Akulas and Akula II’s)
• *four 650 mm torpedo tubes
• *storage space for up to forty torpedoes/mines/missiles etc.
• *One SA-18 Igla-M Surface-to-air missile launcher fired from sail. (To be used if the sub is forced to remain surfaced)
• *assorted small arms for security. (Locked away when away from port)

• Sonar:
• *MGK-503-M Skat active/passive suite
• *Flank arrays
• *Pelamida towed array sonar
• *MG-70 mine detection sonar

• Countermeasures:
• *Bukhta ESM/ECM
• *MG-74 Korund noise simulation decoys (fired from external tubes)
• *MT-70 Sonar intercept receiver
• *Nikhrom-M IFF

• Other systems:
• *Chiblis Surface Search Radar
• *Medvyedista-945 Navigation system
• *Molniya-M Satellite communications
• *MGK-80 Underwater communications
• *Tsunami, Kiparis, Anis, Sintez and Kora Communications antennas
• *Paravan Towed VLF Antenna
• *Vspletsk Combat direction system

• Crew: 25 Officers, 26 Enlisted. (See: Military rank)

• Commissioned: 1985

Appearances in fiction

• An Akula-class submarine appears in the film Crimson Tide. She engages a U.S. Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine but is destroyed.
• In the 1987 book Skydancer by Geoffrey Archer, the Akula is depicted as having a silent propulsion system similar to that of the Red October (another fictional submarine). It is discovered by the fictional British Resolution-class submarine HMS Retribution.

 

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