On
Monday, the Russian Navy’s second Borey-class nuclear-powered
submarine, the Aleksandr Nevsky, has entered service. The sub is part of
a next-generation class that will be the backbone of Russia’s sea-based
nuclear deterrent for decades to come.
The ceremony marking the
submarine’s entry into service was initially scheduled for Dec. 21, but
was postponed by two days. Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu was the
highest-ranking government official present at a navy shipyard in the
northern city of Severodvinsk, for the ceremony of the Aleksandr Nevsky
raising her new flag.
“The St. Andrew’s flag raised today is the
boat’s combat emblem, which symbolizes her readiness to defend this
nation’s interests in seas and oceans,” Shoigu said.
The
submarine had been undergoing sea trials since October 2010 and
completed them in September. It was also involved in test-firing Bulava
intercontinental ballistic missiles, the designated nuclear weapon for
all Borey-class subs.
“We had some 14 sea voyages. The boat
proved to be quite reliable. She is also very fine in terms of speed and
maneuverability,” Vasily Tankovid, Captain first class of the Aleksandr
Nevsky, told RT.
Aleksandr Nevsky is the first series-built
submarine of the class. Its predecessor, the first-in-class sub Yury
Dolgoruky, has been part of the Navy since January.
“Aleksandr
Nevsky has completed all its trials. All the specifications laid out in
the project have been fully confirmed,” said Nikolay Semakov, chief
engineer at the Sevmash shipyard, which builds Borey-class subs. “I can
assure you that the Navy is getting a modern boat on a par with its
foreign counterparts.”
Two additional Borey-class submarines are
currently in the making, with Vladimir Monomakh undergoing sea trials
and expected to enter service next year and Knyaz Vladimir currently
being built.
As many as eight submarines of the class may
eventually be brought into service. Five of them, starting with the
Knyaz Vladimir, will feature a significantly upgraded version of the
Borey design. They can carry 20 of the solid-propellant Bulava ICBMs, as
opposed to 16 for the original version.
The Borey-class subs are
170 meters long, can dive up to 450 meters and travel at speeds of up
to 29 knots (54 kilometers per hour) when submerged. In addition to the
ballistic missile launchers the subs are equipped with 533-millimeter
torpedo tubes and carry RPK-2 Viyuga anti-submarine missile systems.
Each
vessel has a crew of 107 sailors and officers, and are fitted with a
floating rescue chamber to evacuate all personnel in an emergency. [via]
Monday, December 23, 2013
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