Akula-class submarine

Akula-class submarine
Class overview
Name:	Akula
Operators:	Soviet Navy Russian Navy Indian Navy
Preceded by:	Operational precedessor: Victor class By sequence of construction: Sierra class
Succeeded by:	Yasen class
Cost:	est. $1.55 billion (1995 dollars)
In service:	1984
Planned:	21 (6 later cancelled)
Completed:	15
Active:	10 (9 In Russia, 1 In India)
General characteristics
Type:	nuclear-powered attack submarine
Displacement:	surfaced: 8,140 tons Akula I and Akula I Improved 8,450–8,470 tons Akula II and III submerged: 12,770 tons Akula I and Akula I Improved 13,400–13,800 tons Akula II and III
Length:	110.3 m for Akula I and Akula I Improved 113.3 m for Akula II and Akula III
Beam:	13.6 m
Draught:	9.7 m
Propulsion:	one 190 MW OK-650B/OK-650M 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 OK-300 retractable electric propulsors for low-speed and quiet maneuvering at 5 knots (6 km/h)
Speed:	10 knots surfaced 28-35 knots submerged
Endurance:	100 days
Test depth:	480 m test depth for Akula I and Akula I Improved 520 m for Akula II and III 600 m maximum operating depth
Complement:	73 for Akula I & Improved, 62 (31 officers) for Akula II & III
Sensors and processing systems:	MGK-540 active/passive suite Flank arrays Pelamida towed array sonar MG-70 mine detection sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys:	Bukhta ESM/ECM *MG-74 Korund noise simulation decoys (fired from external tubes) MT-70 Sonar intercept receiver Nikhrom-M IFF
Armament:	4 × 533mm torpedo tubes (28 torpedoes) and 4 × 650mm torpedo tubes (12 torpedoes) (K-152 Nerpa has 8 × 533mm torpedo tubes) 40 torpedoes total 1–3 × SA-N-10 Igla-M Surface-to-air missile launcher fired from sail (surface use only)
Notes:	Chiblis Surface Search radar Medvyeditsa-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

Project 971 Щука-Б (Shchuka-B, 'Shchuka' meaning pike, NATO reporting name "Akula"), is a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986. The class is also known under the name Bars (eng. snow leopard). There are four sub-classes or flights of Shchuka, consisting of the original seven "Akula I" submarines which were commissioned between 1984 and 1990, six "Improved Akula" submarines commissioned between 1991 and 2009, one "Akula II" submarine commissioned in 1995 and one Akula III commissioned in 2001.^{[citation needed]} The Russians call all of the submarines Schuka-B, regardless of modifications.

The name Akula (Акула meaning "shark" in Russian) is the Soviet designation of the ballistic missile submarine class designated by NATO as the Typhoon class submarine. The name Akula was used as the NATO designation of the Projekt 971 because the first of the class was the K-284 christened Akula.

Construction

Descriptions of the SSN Akula class.

The Akula incorporates a double hull system composed of an inner pressure hull and an outer "light" hull. This allows more freedom in the design of the exterior hull shape, resulting in a submarine with more reserve buoyancy than its western analogs. This design requires more power than single-hull submarines^{[citation needed]} because of the greater wetted surface area, which increases drag.

The distinctive "bulb" or "can" seen on top of the Akula's rudder houses its towed sonar array, when retracted. Most Akulas have the SOCKS^{[citation needed]} hydrodynamic sensors, which detect changes in temperature and salinity. They are located on the leading edge of the sail, on the outer hull casing in front of the sail and on the bottom of the hull forward of the sail. All Akulas have two T-shaped doors on the aft bottom of the hull, on either side^{[citation needed]}. These are where the OK-300 auxiliary propulsion devices are located, which can propel the submarine at up to 5 knots (9.3 km/h).^{[citation needed]}

Line drawing showing the starboard side of the Project 971 (Akula) Soviet submarine. The white cheatline marks the boat's waterline.

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, Akula IIs have an additional six 533 mm torpedo tubes mounted externally, capable of launching possibly up to 6 decoys each^{[citation needed]}. The external tubes are mounted outside the pressure hull in one row, above the 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 deploy mines.

Current status

As with many Soviet/Russian craft, information on the status of the Akula Class submarines is sparse, at best. Information provided by sources varies widely.

Akula-I (project 971)

The four known variants within the Akula class.

Of the seven original Akula-I submarines, only three are known to still be in service. These boats are equipped with MGK-500 Skat sonar system (with NATO reporting name Shark Gill). The lead boat of the class, K-284 'Akula' was decommissioned in 2001, apparently to help save money in the cash-strapped Russian Navy. K-322 'Kashalot' and K-480 'Bars' [Currently Ak Bars] are in reserve. K-480 'Bars' was put into reserve in 1998, and is being dismantled in February 2010. 'Pantera' returned to service in January 2008 after a comprehensive overhaul. All were retrofitted with the SOCKS hydrodynamic sensors except Volk. All submarines before K-391 Bratsk have reactor coolant scoops that are similar to the ones of the Typhoon class SSBNs, long and tubular. Bratsk and subsequent submarines have reactor coolant scoops similar to the ones on the Oscar IIs, short and (the Typhoon, Akula and Oscar classes use the similar OK-650 reactor).

Akula-I Improved (project 971 and 971I)

The six Akulas of this class are all thought to be in service. They are quieter than the original MGK-500 Skat sonar system on Akula-I is upgraded to the MGK-501 Skat-MS. 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: K-328 Leopard, K-461 Volk, K-154 Tigr, K-419 Kuzbass, K-295 Samara and K-152 Nerpa. These submarines are much quieter than early Akula class submarines and all have the SOCKS hydrodynamic sensors except Leopard. The Akula-I Improved submarines have 6 533 mm decoy launching tubes, as do subsequent submarines. They have a different arrangement of limber holes on the outer hull than Akula Is. Nerpa and Iribis (not completed) have a different rescue chamber in the sail.^{[citation needed]} I can be distinguished by the large dome on the top surface.

Akula-II (project 971U)

K-157 Vepr is the only completed Akula II^{[citation needed]}. The Akula II is some meters longer and displaces about 700 tons (submerged displacement) more than the Akula I. The added space was used for additional quieting measures. The MGK-501 Skat sonar system on Akula-I is replaced to a new MGK-540 Skat-3 sonar system,. K-157 Vepr became the first Soviet submarine that was quieter than the latest U.S. attack submarines of that time, which was the Improved Los Angeles class (SSN 751 and later). Two of these submarines were used to build the Borei class SSBNs.

Akula-III (project 971M)

K-335 Gepard is the only completed Akula III (see table for others)^{[citation needed]}(There is no AKULA III NATO classification). It is longer and has a larger displacement compared to the Akula II. Also, it has an enlarged sail and a different towed-array dispenser on the vertical fin. Again, more noise reduction methods were employed. The Gepard is the most advanced Russian submarine before the submarines of the Severodvinsk and Borei classes are commissioned. One of this class was used to complete the Borei SSBNs.

The Soviet advances in sound quieting were of considerable concern to the West, for acoustics was long considered the most significant advantage in U.S. submarine technology compared to the Soviets.

Akula class submarine under way

In 1983–1984 the Japanese firm Toshiba sold sophisticated, nine axis milling equipment to the Soviets along with the computer control systems, which were developed by Norwegian firm Kongsberg Vaapenfabrik. U.S Navy officials and Congressmen announced that this technology enabled the Soviet submarine builders to produce more accurate and quieter propellers.

Due to the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, production of all Akulas slowed.

The 1999–2000 edition of Jane's Fighting Ships incorrectly listed the first Akula-II as Viper (the actual name is "Vepr", "wild boar" in Russian), commissioned November 25, 1995, Gepard (Cheetah), launched 1999 and commissioned December 5, 2001, and Nerpa, laid down in 1993 began sea trials in October, 2008 and was commissioned by the Indian Navy as INS Chakra II in April 2012.

Units

Akula class—significant dates

#	Project	Name	NATO	Shipyard	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Status
K-284	971	Akula	Akula I	Amur Shipyard	6 November 1983	16 June 1984	30 December 1984	Pacific Fleet. 2001 removed from service
K-263	971	Delfin	Akula I	Amur Shipyard	9 May 1985	28 May 1986	30 December 1987	Pacific Fleet, removed from active service, status unclear
K-322	971	Kashalot	Akula I	Amur Shipyard	5 September 1986	18 July 1987	30 December 1988	Pacific Fleet, removed from active service, status unclear
K-480	971	Ak Bars	Akula I	Sevmash	22 February 1985	16 March 1988	31 December 1988	Northern Fleet. Removed from service 1998. Scrapping since February 2010.
K-391	971	Bratsk	Akula I	Amur Shipyard	23 February 1988	14 April 1989	29 December 1989	Pacific Fleet, removed from active service, Since 2008 undergo overhaul and modernization
K-317	971	Pantera	Akula I	Sevmash	6 November 1986	21 May 1990	30 December 1990	Northern Fleet
K-331	971	Magadan (ex Narval)	Akula I	Amur Shipyard	28 December 1989	23 June 1990	31 December 1990	Pacific Fleet
K-461	971	Volk	Akula I Improved	Sevmash	14 November 1987	11 June 1991	29 December 1991	Northern Fleet
K-328	971	Leopard	Akula I Improved	Sevmash	26 October 1988	28 June 1992	15 December 1992	Northern Fleet
K-419	971	Kuzbass	Akula I Improved	Amur Shipyard	28 July 1991	18 May 1992	31 December 1992	Pacific Fleet, in repairs since 2010
K-154	971	Tigr	Akula I Improved	Sevmash	10 September 1989	26 June 1993	29 December 1993	Northern Fleet
K-295	971	Samara	Akula I Improved	Amur Shipyard	7 November 1993	5 August 1994	28 July 1995	Pacific Fleet
K-157	971	Vepr	Akula II	Sevmash	13 July 1990	10 December 1994	25 November 1995	Northern Fleet
K-335	971 M	Gepard	Akula III	Sevmash	23 September 1991	17 September 1999	5 December 2001	Northern Fleet
K-337	971U	Kuguar	Akula II	Sevmash	18 August 1992	x	x	Not completed. Hull used for Yuri Dolgorukiy SSBN (project 955 Borei)
K-333	971U	Rys	Akula II	Sevmash	31 August 1993	x	x	Not completed. Hull used for Alexander Nevsky SSBN (project 955 Borei)
K-152	971I/09719	Nerpa/ INS Chakra	Akula II	Amur Shipyard	1993	4 July 2006	28 December 2009	Pacific Fleet. Has been leased out to India from the end 2011 to 2020.
K-xxx	971M	not named	Akula II	Sevmash	1992	x	x	Not Completed. Hull used for Vladimir Monomakh SSBN (project 955 Borei)
K-xxx	971I/09719	Iribis	Akula I Improved	Amur Shipyard	1994	x	x	Construction halted at 60% completion. May be completed and leased to India.
K-xxx	971M	not named	Akula II	Amur Shipyard	1990	x	x	Sold for scrap
K-xxx	971M	not named	Akula II	Amur Shipyard	1991	x	x	Sold for scrap

Lease to India

Three hundred Indian Navy personnel are being trained in Russia for the operation of the Akula II submarine Nerpa. India has finalized a deal with Russia, in which at the end of the lease of these submarines, it has an option to buy them. The submarine will be named INS Chakra as was the previous India-leased Soviet Charlie-I SSGN. INS Chakra was officially inducted into the Indian Navy on April 4, 2012.

Whereas the Russian Navy's Akula-II could be equipped with 28 nuclear-capable cruise missiles with a striking range of 3,000 km (1,620 nmi; 1,864 mi), the Indian version was reportedly expected to be armed with the 300 km (162 nmi; 186 mi)-range 3M-54 Klub nuclear-capable missiles. Missiles with ranges greater than 300 km (162 nmi; 186 mi) cannot be exported due to arms control restrictions, since Russia is a signatory to the MTCR treaty.

Nerpa 2008 accident

On 27 October 2008, it was reported that K-152 Nerpa of the Russian Pacific Fleet had begun her sea trials in the Sea of Japan before handover under a lease agreement to the Indian Navy. On 8 November 2008, while conducting one of these trials, an accidental activation of the halon-based fire-extinguishing system took place in the fore section of the vessel. Within seconds the halon gas had displaced all breathable air from the compartment. As a result, 20 people (17 civilians and 3 seamen) were killed by asphyxiation. Dozens of others suffered freon-related injuries and were evacuated to an unknown port in Primorsky Krai. This was the worst accident in the Russian navy since the loss of the submarine K-141 Kursk in 2000. The submarine itself did not sustain any serious damage and there was no release of radiation.

Recent overseas deployments

In August 2009, the news media reported that two Akula-class submarines operated off the East Coast of the United States, with one of the submarines being identified as a Project 971 Shchuka-B type. U.S. military sources noted that this was the first known Russian submarine deployment to the western Atlantic since the end of the Cold War, raising concerns within U.S. military and intelligence communities. The U.S. Northern Command confirmed that this 2009 Akula-class submarine deployment did occur.

In August 2012, the news media reported that another Akula-class submarine operated in the Gulf of Mexico purportedly undetected for over a month, sparking controversy within U.S. military and political circles, with U.S. Senator John Cornyn of the Senate Armed Services Committee demanding details of this deployment from Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, the Chief of Naval Operations.

External links

• Akula Class - Project 971 at FAS.org
• Description of the class (as of 1999) at "SUBSIM Review"
• Details of the Akula class (and others) at "Hazegray"