The
Typhoon class submarine is a type of nuclear-powered
ballistic missile submarineA ballistic missile submarine is a submarine equipped to launch ballistic missiles .-Description:Ballistic missile submarines are larger than any other type of submarine, in order to accommodate SLBMs such as the Russian R-29 or the American Trident...
deployed by the
Soviet NavyThe Soviet Navy was the naval part of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have been instrumental in any perceived Warsaw Pact role in an all-out war with NATO when it would have to stop the naval convoys bringing reinforcements over the Atlantic to...
in the 1980s. With a maximum displacement of 33,800 tons, the Typhoons are the largest class of submarine ever built, large to accommodate decent living faculities for the crew, when the submarine remained submerged for months on end. The source of the
NATO reporting nameNATO reporting names are unclassified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
remains unclear, although it is often claimed to be related to the use of the word "typhoon" (тайфун) by
Leonid BrezhnevLeonid Ilyich Brezhnev was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, serving in that position longer than anyone except Joseph Stalin...
in a 1974 speech while describing a new type of nuclear ballistic missile submarine.
The
Typhoon class submarine is a type of nuclear-powered
ballistic missile submarineA ballistic missile submarine is a submarine equipped to launch ballistic missiles .-Description:Ballistic missile submarines are larger than any other type of submarine, in order to accommodate SLBMs such as the Russian R-29 or the American Trident...
deployed by the
Soviet NavyThe Soviet Navy was the naval part of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have been instrumental in any perceived Warsaw Pact role in an all-out war with NATO when it would have to stop the naval convoys bringing reinforcements over the Atlantic to...
in the 1980s. With a maximum displacement of 33,800 tons, the Typhoons are the largest class of submarine ever built, large to accommodate decent living faculities for the crew, when the submarine remained submerged for months on end. The source of the
NATO reporting nameNATO reporting names are unclassified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
remains unclear, although it is often claimed to be related to the use of the word "typhoon" (тайфун) by
Leonid BrezhnevLeonid Ilyich Brezhnev was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, serving in that position longer than anyone except Joseph Stalin...
in a 1974 speech while describing a new type of nuclear ballistic missile submarine. In its day it was one of the most feared weapons of mass destruction ever made. Although technically able to successfully deploy their long-range
nuclear missilesSubmarine-launched ballistic missile is a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead that can be launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles each of which carries a warhead and allows a single launched missile to...
while moored at their docks, Soviet doctrine for these vessels was to have them attack North America while submerged under the
arctic circleThe Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. In , it is the parallel of latitude that runs approximately 66° 33′ 39″ north of the Equator. The region north of this circle is known as the Arctic, and the zone just to the south is called the Northern...
, avoiding the traversal of the
GIUK gapThe GIUK gap is an area in the northern Atlantic Ocean that forms a naval warfare chokepoint. Its name is an acronym for Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom, the gap being the open ocean between these three landmasses...
to remain safe from enemy attack submarines and anti-submarine forces.
| NATO reporting name NATO reporting names are unclassified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
| Soviet project number | Soviet name |
|---|
| Typhoon |
941 |
Akula |
Description and history
The Typhoon class was developed under
Project 941 as the Russian Akula
class (Акула), meaning sharkSharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago, before the time of the dinosaurs....
. It is sometimes confused with other submarines, as Akula is the name NATO uses to designate the Russian Project 971 Shchuka-B
Project 971 Щука-Б , is a nuclear-powered attack submarine first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986...
(Щука-Б) class attack submarines.
Typhoon submarines are among the quietest Russian sea vessels in operation, being quieter and yet more maneuverable than their predecessors. Besides their missile armament, the Typhoon class features six
torpedo tubeA torpedo tube is a device for launching torpedoes in a horizontal direction.There are two main types of torpedo tube:*Those designed to operate below water level, as fitted to submarines and some surface ships...
s; four are designed to handle
RPK-2The RPK-2 Viyuga cruise missile is a complex Russian submarine launched missile. Its NATO reporting name is SS-N-15 Starfish....
(SS-N-15) missiles or
Type 53 torpedoType 53 is the common name for a family of 53cm torpedoes manufactured in Russia, starting with the 53-27 torpedo and continuing to the modern UGST....
es, and the other two are designed to launch
RPK-7The SS-N-16 Stallion was a Soviet 650 mm anti-ship missile that was deployed between 1979 and 1981. The name is a combination of the American designation of SS-N-16 and the NATO term of Stallion for Soviet RU-100s.It refers to either...
(SS-N-16) missiles,
Type 65 torpedoType 65 is a torpedo manufactured in the Soviet Union/Russia. It was developed to counter the US Navy's aircraft carrier battle groups as well as to be used against large merchant targets such as supertankers...
es, or
mineA naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of or contact with an enemy ship...
s. A Typhoon class submarine can stay submerged for periods up to 180 days in normal conditions, and potentially more if deemed necessary (e.g., in the case of a
nuclear warNuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weapons are used. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare is vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
).
Typhoon class submarines feature multiple pressure hulls that simplify internal design while making the vessel much wider than a normal submarine. In the main body of the sub, two
Delta classThe Delta class submarine has formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since its introduction in 1973...
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. 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.
Six Typhoon class submarines were built, with each carrying 20
R-39 missileThe R-39 Rif, or Rif-Ma was a Russian submarine launched ballistic missile . It had the NATO reporting name of SS-N-20 Sturgeon and the bilateral arms control designation RSM-52...
s (SS-N-20) with a maximum of 10
MIRVA multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle warhead is a collection of nuclear weapons carried on a single intercontinental ballistic missile or a submarine-launched ballistic missile . Using a MIRV warhead, a single launched missile can strike several targets, or fewer targets redundantly...
nuclear warheads each. Originally, the submarines were designated by hull numbers only. Names were later assigned to the four vessels retained by the
Russian NavyThe Russian Navy or VMF is the naval arm of the Russian Armed Forces. The international designation of Russian naval vessels is RFS—"Russian Federation Ship"....
, which were sponsored by either a city or company. The construction order for an additional vessel (hull number TK-210) was canceled and never completed. Only the first of these submarines to be constructed, the Dmitriy Donskoy
, is still in active service with the Russian Navy, serving as a test platform for the Bulava
(SS-NX-30) missile which is currently under development. The Arkhangelesk
(TK-17) and Severstal
(TK-20) remain commissioned, though not currently active with the Russian fleet. All the R-39 missiles have been retired. The Typhoons are slated to be replaced by the Borey class
The Borei class , also known as the Dolgorukiy class, is a ship class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine produced and operated by Russian Navy. The class is intended to replace the Delta III and Typhoon classes now in Russian Navy service...
starting in 2009.
In late December 2008, a senior Navy official announced that the two Akula-class submarines, the TK-17 and TK-20, that are in reserve would not be rearmed with the new Bulava SLBM missile system. They could however be modified to carry
cruise missileA cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and uses a lifting wing and a propulsion system, usually a jet engine, to allow sustained flight; it is essentially a flying bomb. Cruise missiles are generally designed to carry a large conventional or nuclear warhead many...
s or to lay mines, or could be used in special operations. In late June 2009, the Navy Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Vladimir Vysotskiy told reporters that the two submarines would be reserved for possible future repairs and modernization.
Satellite photos
- TK-13 Typhoon class submarine at Zapadnaya Litsa
Zapadnaya Litsa is the largest and most important Russian naval base built for the Northern Fleet. The base is located far in the north of Russia, on the Litsa Fjord at the westernmost point of the Kola Peninsula...
on the Kola peninsulaThe Kola Peninsula is a peninsula in the far north of Russia, part of the Murmansk Oblast. It borders upon the Barents Sea on the North and the White Sea on the East and South...
.
- TK-208 Typhoon class submarine at Severodvinsk
Severodvinsk is a city in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located in the delta of the Northern Dvina, west of Arkhangelsk. The town was founded as Molotovsk . Population has declined in recent years .-History:...
, RussiaRussia , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia . It is a semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Typhoon class submarine at SeverodvinskSeverodvinsk is a city in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located in the delta of the Northern Dvina, west of Arkhangelsk. The town was founded as Molotovsk . Population has declined in recent years .-History:...
, RussiaRussia , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia . It is a semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Typhoon class submarine at SeverodvinskSeverodvinsk is a city in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, located in the delta of the Northern Dvina, west of Arkhangelsk. The town was founded as Molotovsk . Population has declined in recent years .-History:...
, RussiaRussia , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia . It is a semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Vessels
Typhoon class — significant dates
| # |
Laid down |
Launched |
Commissioned |
Status |
| TK-208 Dmitriy Donskoy |
June 30, 1976 |
September 27, 1980 |
December 29, 1981 |
In service |
TK-202ТК-202 was a ballistic missile submarine of the Russian Navy, formerly having served in the Soviet Navy.Hull number TК-202 was laid down at the Sevmash shipyards in Severodvinsk in October 1980 and launched in April 1982. She was the second ship of the Soviet Project 941 Akula class...
|
April 22, 1978 |
September 23, 1982 |
December 28, 1983 |
Withdrawn from active service in June 1999, scrapped 2003-2005 |
| TK-12,Simbirsk |
April 19, 1980 |
December 17, 1983 |
December 26, 1984 |
Withdrawn from active service in 1996, scrapped 2006-2008 |
| TK-13 |
February 23, 1982 |
April 30, 1985 |
December 26, 1985 |
Withdrawn from active service in 1997, scrapped 2007-2009 |
| TK-17 Arkhangelsk |
August 9, 1983 |
December 12, 1986 |
December 15, 1987 |
Active as of 2009 |
| TK-20 Severstal |
August 27, 1985 |
April 11, 1988 |
December 19, 1989 |
Active as of 2009 |
| TK-210 Soviet submarine ТК-210 was to be an Akula class submarine. Construction was started at Severodvinsk in the late 1980s, but she was cancelled before completion and dismantled in 1990.- Trivia :...
|
1986 |
1990 (scrapped on the ways) |
|
834 TK 208 Dmitriy Donskoy
Typhoon-#1
- 9 February 1982: Entered 18th division (Zapadnaya Litsa), NOR.
- December 1982: Transferred from Severodvinsk to Zapadnaya Litsa.
- 1983-1984: Tests of D-19 missile complex. Commanders: A.V.Olkhovikov (1980-1984).
- 3 December 1986: Entered Navy Board of the Winners of the Socialist Competition.
- 18 January 1987: Entered MoD Board of Glory.
- 20 September 1989–1991: Repairs and refit at Sevmash to Project 941U. 1991 refit cancelled.
- 1996: Returned to 941U refit.
- 2002: Named Dmitriy Donskoy.
- 26 June 2002: End of refit.
- 30 June 2002: Start of testing.
- 26 July 2002: Entered sea trials, Re-entered fleet, without missile system.
- December 2003: Sea trials; refitted to carry a new Bulava missile system. New missile system expected to be operational by 2005.
- 9 October 2005: Successfully launched SS-NX-30 Bulava SLBM from surface.
- 21 December 2005: Successfully launched SS-NX-30 Bulava SLBM from submerged position on move.
- 7 September 2006: Test launch of the Bulava missile failed after several minutes in flight due to the problems in the flight control system. The missile fell into the sea about a minute after the launch. The sub was not affected and was returning to Severodvinsk base submerged. Later reports blamed the engine of the first stage for the failure.
- 25 October 2006: Test launch of the Bulava-M missile in the White Sea
The White Sea is an inlet of the Barents Sea on the northwest coast of Russia. It is surrounded by Karelia to the west, the Kola peninsula to the north, and the Kanin Peninsula to the northeast....
failed some 200 seconds after liftoff due to the apparent failure of the flight control system.
- 28 August 2008: Undergone successful testing at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast. More than 170 men are currently working with the Dmitriy Donskoy, hundred of them employees at the Sevmash plant and 70 from other involved companies.
830 TK 17 Arkhangelsk
Typhoon-#5
- 19 February 1988: Entered 18th division (Zapadnaya Litsa) NOR.
- 8 January–9 November 2002: Refit at Sevmash.
- In July 2002, crew petitioned Main Navy Headquarters to adopt the name Arkhangel'sk (renamed on 18 November 2002).
- Commander: 2002-2003 V.Volkov.
- 17 February 2004: Took part in military exercises with President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was the second President of Russia and is the current Prime Minister of Russia as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus...
aboard.
- Could be modified to carry cruise missiles or to lay mines, or could be used in special operations.
TK 20 Severstal
Typhoon-#6
- 28 February 1990: Entered 18th division (Zapadnaya Litsa), NOR.
- 25 August 1996: Successfully launched SLBM
- November 1996: Successfully launched SLBM from North Pole.
- 24 July 1999: Took part in parade on Navy Day in Severomorsk, NOR.
- November–December 1999 - distant cruise.
- 2001: named to Severstal.
- June 2001–December 2002: Repairs at Sevmash.
- Commander: A.Bogachev (2001).
Typhoon-based cargo vessel
The Submarine Cargo Vessel is a proposed idea by the
Rubin Design BureauRubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering in Saint Petersburg is one of the main Russian centers of submarine design, having designed more than two-thirds of all nuclear submarines in the Russian Navy...
where a Typhoon has its missile launchers removed and replaced with cargo holds. The projected cargo capacity of this configuration is .
Notable popular culture
Probably the most well-known fictional Typhoon class was the
stealth submarineA stealth ship is a ship which employs stealth technology construction techniques in an effort to ensure that it is harder to detect by one or more of radar, visual, sonar, and infrared methods...
Red October
. It is the subject of the Tom ClancyThomas Leo Clancy Jr. is an American author, best known for his technically detailed espionage and military science storylines set during and in the aftermath of the Cold War and his video games. His name is also a brand for similar movie scripts written by ghost writers and many series of...
novel The Hunt for Red OctoberThe Hunt for Red October is a 1984 novel by Tom Clancy. The story follows the intertwined adventures of Soviet submarine captain Marko Aleksandrovich Ramius and CIA analyst Jack Patrick Ryan.The novel was originally published by the U.S...
and the movie adaptation of that book. The ship portrayed was what became of the 7th canceled ship of the class.
In the novel, the Red October
used a drive system consisting of long shafts cut through the hull with impellerAn impeller is a rotor inside a tube or conduit to increase the pressure and flow of a fluid.- Impellers in pumps :An impeller is a rotating component of a centrifugal pump, usually made of iron, steel, bronze, brass, aluminum or plastic, which transfers energy from the motor that drives the pump...
s inside them, called a tunnel drive or caterpillar drive. In the movie, the caterpillar drive was instead said to be a magnetohydrodynamic driveA magnetohydrodynamic drive or MHD propulsor, is a method for propelling seagoing vessels using only electric and magnetic fields with no moving parts, using magnetohydrodynamics.- Principle :...
. In both the novel and the movie, the drive was said to be near-silent; this made the Red October a perfect platform for launching depressed-trajectory ballistic missiles at the United States.
One well-known scene from the book involves a gun battle inside the submarine in the missile room where two characters take potshots at each other peeking from behind ballistic missile tubes. Typhoon class submarines are not designed this way; the missile silos are between the two pressure hulls and are inaccessible to personnel. It is, however, the way the US Navy configures the launch tubes for
PolarisThe Polaris missile was a two-stage solid-fuel nuclear-armed submarine-launched ballistic missile built during the Cold War by Lockheed Corporation of California for the United States Navy. It was designed to be used as part of the Navy's contribution to the United States arsenal of nuclear...
ballistic missiles, and Clancy likely assumed at the time (1984) that the Russian submarine was designed in the same manner. (This being still a time of the Soviet Union's existence, there was no way for him to have obtained the information.)
In the animated series
Blue Submarine No. 6is the name of a manga series by Satoru Ozawa, which was subsequently developed into a four episode OVA series by Gonzo.Recently, Shouji Murahama of GONZO stated with NewWords Magazine that a live-action Blue Submarine No. 6 movie will be produced for approximately 10 billion yen . Masahiko Ohkura...
an unnamed Typhoon-class submarine was shown in the third and final episode.
In the computer game
Red Alert 2Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 is a 2.5D real-time strategy computer game by Westwood Studios, which was released for Microsoft Windows on September 28, 2000 as the follow up to Command & Conquer: Red Alert. Set in the early 1970s, Red Alert 2 supposedly picks up at the conclusion of the Allied...
, as well as
Yuri's RevengeCommand & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge is an expansion pack to Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 developed by Westwood Studios. The game was released in North America on October 10, 2001 by EA Games...
, the Typhoon is a Soviet naval unit, but unlike its real counterpart, it is an attack submarine and can only hit other naval units.
See also
- Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, is a long-range ballistic missile typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery, that is, delivering one or more nuclear warheads...
- Nuclear strategy
Nuclear strategy involves the development of doctrines and strategies for the production and use of nuclear weapons.As a sub-branch of military strategy, nuclear strategy attempts to match nuclear weapons as means to political ends...
- Ohio-class submarine
The Ohio class is a class of nuclear-powered submarines used by the United States Navy. The United States has 18 Ohio class submarines:...
External links