Has Russia
created the most powerful nuclear submarine in the world? Silent. Stealthy.
Lethal.
Russia
recently unveiled the Kazan, a new Yasen-class nuclear attack
submarine that can destroy subs, surface ships and even entire bases. The
country is touting the Kazan as its most powerful sub … EVER.
The launch
was held in northern Russia at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. Russia
released the details through its state news agency TASS.
Marking a
return to Cold War submarine patrol levels, Admiral Vladimir Korolyov also
noted Russian submarine crews spent more than 3,000 days on patrol in 2016.
Russia plans
to have seven of these powerful submarines in play within 6 years. The
attack subs will join 6 new stealth submarines in the fleet, nicknamed “black
holes” because they are so hard to detect.
It is
expected that the Kazan can strike targets 1,500 miles away and conduct
missions for 100 days carrying a crew of approximately 90 sailors.
What kind
of weapons does it carry?
The Kazan
sub can carry 300 torpedoes. Each of the ten 533mm torpedo tubes has an
ammunition load of 30.
In addition,
the sub will carry eight Oniks and Kalibr cruise missiles.
These
long-range Kalibr cruise missiles were deployed for the first time in combat
during the Russian campaign in Syria, according to Russian officials. In
November 2015, the Russian Defence Ministry released footage described as the
Rostov-on-Don diesel-electric stealth submarine firing missiles at targets in
the country.
Kalibrs are
said to be able to hit sea targets about 220 miles away and ground targets more
than 1,500 miles away. Russia has said that the missiles are so precise that
they will hit a target within about 10 feet.
To put that
into context, this submarine could be stealthily submerged in the waters
between Greenland and Canada. From there, it could theoretically launch a
Kalibr missile that would be able to reach and strike New York City.
U.S.
submarines use powerful Tomahawk missiles that have a similar range.
What does
it look like?
The Kazan is
about 456 feet long and about 43 feet wide. This sub is a beast. On the
surface, it displaces 8,600 tons. When it is submerged underwater, it displaces
about 13,800 tons.
Speed
The sub can
travel at speeds of up to about 31 knots and can reach depths of around 20,000
feet below the surface.
The
submarine is nuclear powered and harnesses 43,000 horsepower from a
single-shaft steam turbine nuclear power unit.
What can
subs be used for?
Submarines
are potent weapons in a nation’s arsenal. They can be used for attacks against
enemy subs, ships and assets on the ground, as well as in the air. These
stealthy state-of-the art weapons can also be harnessed for other missions,
such as surveillance.
In fact,
they are even used to carry, and stealthily insert, special operations teams into
hostile areas in a covert way.
Listen to a
Navy SEAL explain what
it is like inside a submarine on missions and reveal how submarines shoot them
out of torpedo tubes.
And subs are
a platform for nuclear weapons.
Rise of
Russian Submarines 2.0
A number of
recent international submarine scuffles have made it into the public domain.
In November
2015, a Russian sub was spotted off the coast of Scotland and the RAF scrambled
in response.
In another
example, the following year Russia claimed a Dutch sub was spying in the
Mediterranean and that two of its ships had chased it away.
The Arctic
is one area where submarine scuffles will likely intensify. A race to control
the Arctic has already been long underway with Russia building up its forces
there.
Submarines
will continue to play a fundamental role in Russia’s strategic objectives
there. Russian officials have not been shy about making statements on how more
subs will be joining the fleet in the area.
Why are
things escalating under the water there?
As the ice
melts and recedes it opens up opportunities. For example, a faster shipping
route between Europe and Asia could open up. And of course, there will be newly
accessible, significant natural resources like oil and gas. These are just two
massively lucrative and motivating factors.
The U.S. has
a formidable submarine fleet that includes attack submarines, ballistic missile
submarines and guided missile submarines. The Navy deploys three classes
of attack subs: the Los Angeles, Seawolf and Virginia. All of these subs can
perform a range of missions from surveillance through to striking a target from
a great distance with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Ohio Class
Ballistic (SSBN) Missile submarines, known as "Boomers," have a
strategic nuclear deterrence mission and can operate underwater for months
FOX NEWS
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