Sierra class submarine

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008)

Class overview

Builders:	Gorky, later towed to Severodvinsk for completion
Operators:	Russia
Preceded by:	Alfa class submarine
Succeeded by:	Akula class submarine
Completed:	4
Active:	К-276 "Kostroma" К-534 "Nizhny Novgorod" К-336 "Pskov" (improved project 945A)
Lost:	0
Retired:	1 B-239 Carp
General characteristics
Displacement:	Group 1: 7,200 tons (surfaced) 8,100 tons (submerged) Group 2: 7,600 tons (surfaced) 9,100 tons (submerged)
Length:	Group 1: 351 ft (107 m) Group 2: 364.2 ft (111.0 m)
Beam:	Group 1: 41 ft (12 m) Group 2: 46.6 ft (14.2 m)
Propulsion:	Group 1+2: 1 × PWR, 190 MW 2 × 1,002 hp emergency motors 1 shaft, 2 spinners
Speed:	Group 1+2: 10 knots (18.5 km/h) (surfaced) Group 1: 34 knots (63.0 km/h) (submerged) Group 2: 32 knots (59.3 km/h) (submerged)
Range:	Effectively unlimited, except by food supplies
Complement:	Group 1+2: 61
Armament:	Group 1+2: 4 × 25.6 in (650 mm) torpedo tubes 4 × 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes • SS-N-21 Sampson SLCM with 200 kT nuclear warhead • SS-N-15 Starfish anti submarine weapon: 200 kT depth charge or 90 kg HE Type 40 torpedo • SS-N-16 Stallion, 200 kT depth charge or 90 kg HE Type 40 torpedo Minelaying configuration: 42 mines instead of torpedoes

The Sierra class (NATO reporting name) or Project 945 (Барракуда/Barrakuda) nuclear submarine was the Soviet Union's successor class to the partly successful Project 705 Lira (Alfa) class submarine. The Sierra class has two light and strong titanium hulls which enables the class to dive to greater depths, reduce the level of radiated noise levels and increase resistance to torpedo attacks.

1 Sierra I
2 Sierra II
3 Sierra III
4 References

[edit] Sierra I

The first of the group 1 type, Karp, was laid down in May 1982 at the Gorky shipyard and was launched in August 1983 before being transferred to Severodvinsk for fitting out. It was laid up in 1997. The next group 1 to be built was the Krab, which was launched in July 1986 and was commissioned in September 1987. Krab was renamed Kostroma and is still in service with the Russian Northern fleet. The Sierra I type was also fitted with a releasable escape pod for the crew. The pod is covered by a V shaped casing on the port side of the sail.

[edit] Sierra II

The Sierra II (Project 945.A - Кондор/Kondor) type has a considerably larger sail which is 16.5 ft (5.0 m) longer than the Sierra I type. The sail also has a curious flat, square leading edge which must impact hydrodynamic quietening. The masts are offset on the starboard side to make way for two escape pods in the sail. The starboard side also has a 10-point environment sensor fitted at right angles to the front end of the sail. Also, the Sierra II type has a much larger pod on its after fin. The pod houses the Skat 3 passive very low frequency towed array. The two boats of the Sierra II class, Pskov and Nizny-Novgorod are both operational in the Russian Northern fleet.

[edit] Sierra III

The sole Sierra III/Project 945.B (Mars), was scrapped before completion in July 1992, with the second and third cancelled before the keel was laid.^[1]

The Soviet titanium technology is far in advance of the West's requiring fewer passes to achieve weld at the disadvantage of the cost of each hull which limits numbers built despite the advantages of greater depths and underwater speed. This is clearly shown in the Sierra class.

While only one is considered to be completely operational, the first hull of the series is due to be brought for repair at the Zvezdotshka shipyard in 2007.