Comparative sizes of submarines. The largest submarines in the world

From the moment of its birth, the submarine fleet plays a huge role in the combat capability of states, performing both offensive and defensive tasks, depending on the military operation in which it participates.

Recognized as the largest submarine in the world project 941 "Shark" , work on which began in 1972 in the Soviet Union. Since 1981, submarines of this project have entered service in the Soviet fleet, carrying it up to today. In total, only 6 copies of this submarine were built, the length of which is 172.8 meters, with a hull width of 23.3 meters and an underwater displacement of 48 thousand tons. The submarine serves 160 crew members, who can be in autonomous navigation for up to 180 days.

For the underwater giant of the Shark project, even a 2.5-meter layer of ice is not terrible, which it can easily break through when surfacing, thereby ensuring the possibility of combat service at the North Pole. On board the submarine there are 20 ballistic missiles.

2nd place

Shark's direct competitor in the dispute between the largest submarines is Ohio project American designers. The length of the hull is 170.7 meters, the width is 12.8 meters, the underwater displacement is 18,750 tons. The beginning of the service of this submarine dates back to 1981. With a maximum diving depth of 550 meters, the Ohio project outperformed the Shark by 50 meters. The crew of the submarine is 155 people, weapons - 24 ballistic missiles. In total, during the existence of the project, 18 copies were produced, 12 of which are currently in service.

Project 955 Borey ranks third in this ranking, the brainchild of Russian engineers has a length of 170 meters and a hull width of 13.5 meters. The underwater displacement of the submarine reaches 24 thousand tons, and its crew is 107 people.

Borey can stay in autonomous navigation for up to 90 days. The submarine is armed with 16 ballistic missiles. In total, 3 submarines of this project were produced, but 8 more submarines are planned to be laid. The implementation of this engineering solution began in 2013, and at present it is the most promising project in the global underwater shipbuilding.

Project 667 BDRM "Dolphin" - another triumphant embodiment of the idea of ​​​​Russian submarine engineers. The length of the submarine is 167.4 meters, the width of the hull is 11.7 meters with an underwater displacement of 18.2 thousand tons. The crew of the submarine is from 135 to 140 people serving the weapons complex, which includes 16 ballistic missiles. The maximum diving depth of the "Dolphin" reaches 650 meters. Work on the project began in 1984, since then 7 boats have been built. The autonomous navigation time reaches 90 days.

British submarines Wangard ”, created in the amount of four copies, have a hull length of 149.9 meters, a width of 12.8 meters and a mass of underwater displacement of 15.9 thousand tons. The autonomy of navigation is 70 days. The crew of the ship is 134 people. The submarine carries 16 ballistic missiles. The development of the project began in 1986, the first vessel entered service in 1993.

6th place

Project "Triumph" , created by French engineers, as well as the Vanguard, is embodied in four copies. The length of the submarines is 138 meters with a hull width of 12.5 meters and an underwater displacement of 14,335 tons. The crew of the submarine consists of 121 people. Armament "Triumfan" provides for 16 ballistic missiles. Project development began in 1989. The maximum immersion depth is 400 meters with a positive potential of up to 70-100 meters.

The Soviet Union and the United States until the beginning of the 70s maintained in relation to each other nuclear parity. Neither side possessed an overwhelming superiority over the other in the number of nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles. In the USSR, they staked on mine installations of nuclear intercontinental missiles and nuclear submarines. Strategic aviation was small in number and did not possess the qualities that would have provided it with air superiority over the enemy. In the United States, on the contrary, at that time there was already a nuclear triad in which the main emphasis was on strategic aviation and silo launchers of ICBMs.

However, even this a large number of nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles, capable of repeatedly destroying all life on the planet, could not satisfy either the Soviet or the American side. In both countries there was a search for a way to create a first strike advantage. The rapidly developing arms race in this direction led to the emergence of the largest submarines in the history of mankind, the Soviet nuclear submarines of Project 941 of the Akula type.

Reasons for the appearance of the steel monster

A huge steel monster with the size of a 9-story building was the answer to the appearance in the US in the Navy submarine type"Ohio". This submarine could carry 24 intercontinental missiles on board. Not a single submarine in the USSR possessed such firepower. The presence of such submarines in the enemy nullified the existing balance in the means of delivery, achieved with such difficulty by this time. Project 941, developed in the Soviet Union, could not only deprive the Americans of superiority in the naval component of the nuclear triad, but also give a certain advantage.

This is what caused the next round of the naval arms race. In the Soviet design bureaus and across the ocean, work began to boil. Each of the countries tried to be the first to create a strategic submarine missile carrier.

The reasons for the appearance of a ship of this size are explained by the technical side of the issue. The thing is that the Soviet nuclear submarine was created with the expectation to get ahead of the Americans in terms of the power of a missile salvo. The Project 941 nuclear submarine was supposed to carry on board the new R-39 intercontinental ballistic missiles, which were superior to the American Trident-1 intercontinental missiles deployed on Ohio-class submarine missile carriers. Soviet nuclear baton could carry 10 nuclear warheads, instead of 8 on American rocket, and the R-39 rocket flew much further than its American counterpart. The new Soviet rocket had three stages and was supposed to weigh up to 70 tons according to the project. Having such specifications the main weapon, Soviet designers had to solve the difficult task of creating an appropriate launch platform.

In addition, it was planned to immediately install 20 such missiles on the new nuclear submarine missile carrier. The commissioning of new Soviet nuclear-powered ships was supposed to cool the militant ardor of overseas strategists. As noted by foreign sources, the Soviet Typhoon-class Shark submarine, according to NATO classification, could wipe out the entire US West Coast from the face of the earth with one salvo. The presence of 3-4 missile carriers of this type in the Soviets would endanger the entire territory of the United States, not to mention the vulnerability of the territories of the allied countries in the NATO bloc.

The enormous destructive power akin to a typhoon strike, which the Soviet submarine possessed, became the reason for it to be given the appropriate name "Typhoon" in the West. According to the classification, the boats of project 941 had the cipher "Typhoon".

For reference: According to the NATO classification, Akula submarines were Soviet multi-purpose submarines of the Shchuka-B type of project 971, built already in the mid-80s. The NATO code "Akula" was assigned to these ships by the name of the lead ship of the K-284 "Shark" nuclear submarine project, which entered service with the Pacific Fleet in 1984.

Birth of a record holder

In the Soviet Union, there have already been cases of creating models of equipment - champions. This is the world's largest transport aircraft An-22 "Antey" and the world's first nuclear-powered icebreaker "Lenin". Militarily, the USSR also gave the US military a lot of trouble, creating an excellent military equipment. Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles of the latest generation terrified across the ocean. The navy did not lag behind in this regard, so the world's largest nuclear submarine "Akula" did not come as a surprise to the Soviet country.

The Soviet ship, built in the early 80s of the XX century, remains today an unsurpassed achievement of design thought. In many technical parameters, the new nuclear submarine is rightfully considered the most ambitious Soviet military project. Even the technical measurements of the ship are amazing, not to mention the cost of building a vessel of this magnitude. The length of the ship is 173 meters and the width of the hull is 23 meters. The hull of the boat is a steel cigar the size of a 9-story building. Only the draft of the boat was 12 meters. Such dimensions corresponded to a huge displacement. The Soviet submarine missile carrier had a displacement of a battleship during the Second World War - 50 thousand tons.

In terms of displacement, the Akula nuclear submarine was three times superior to its opponent, the Ohio-class submarine. If we talk about the name of the ship, then the Soviet version is of folk origin. Even on the slipways, the boat began to be called a shark. This comparison was so successful that it subsequently took root in military and political circles. First time on general public the new nuclear missile cruiser was named "Shark" by the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU L. I. Brezhnev.

For reference: In the domestic fleet, the first submarine, called the Shark, was created back in 1909. Ivan Bubnov became the designer of the submarine. The boat was lost in the first world war during a military campaign.

The designers of the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering, the flagship of the Soviet shipbuilding industry, did an excellent job of developing a project for a Soviet submarine super-cruiser. In 1972, Leningraders received a technical assignment for the development of a project for a nuclear submarine strategic purpose III generation. The design work was headed by the talented Soviet designer S.N. Kovalev, who had already completed and successful projects behind him. His offspring plied the seas and oceans, remaining a reliable shield Soviet state. Since 1973, after the decision of the Soviet government, work on the creation of the project began to boil within the walls of the Rubin Central Design Bureau.

The site for the construction of new vessels of this size was the Sevmash enterprise. For the construction of new ships on the territory of the shipyard, a new boathouse of enormous size was specially erected. In the water area of ​​the shipyard, dredging was carried out for the passage of ships of such a large displacement.

Three years later, the first lead submarine of project 941 was laid on the stocks of Sevmash. The ship received the factory index TK-208 (heavy cruiser - 208). In total, it was planned to build this project 7 courts over the next 10-15 years. It should be noted that Soviet designers were able to overtake their American counterparts, having previously created a ready-made project for a new submarine missile carrier. The launching of a new colossal Soviet submarine in September 1980 came as a real shock to the Americans. The first boat of the Ohio type went into the water in December 1981, when the Soviet missile carrier became part of the active fleet.

For 8 years, from 1981 to 1989, 6 ships of the same type were built in the Soviet Union. The seventh ship planned for construction remained on the stocks, even taking into account the fact that the main hull structures were ready for the submarine. The construction of the Soviet nuclear missile carriers of project 941 was provided by more than 1000 allied enterprises. At the Sevmash shipyard alone, 1200 people worked on the construction of the ship.

An interesting detail: of the 6 ships built according to the project, the very first one turned out to be a long-liver. Submarine KT-208, launched back in 1981, continues to be in service today. Now it is TPRKSN (heavy strategic missile submarine) "Dmitry Donskoy", boat KT-208 of project 941.

Design features of the submarine missile carrier project 941

For the uninitiated, the boat is a huge whale-shaped steel cigar. However, for specialists, it is not so much the size of the ship that attracts special attention, but its layout. The submarine has a two-hull scheme. Behind outer shell light body made of steel, there is a double main strong body. In other words, there are two separate hulls inside the boat, located parallel to each other according to the catamaran scheme. Durable housings are made of titanium alloy. The torpedo compartment, the central post and the aft mechanical compartments on the ship are placed in closed compartments, capsules.

The space between the two strong hulls is filled with mine launchers in the amount of 20 pieces. The conning tower is shifted to the tail of the boat. The entire front deck is one large launch pad. Such an arrangement launchers assumes the possibility of simultaneous launch of the entire ammunition. In this case, the launch of missiles should be carried out with a minimum time interval. The Soviet missile carrier is capable of launching missiles from the surface and from the underwater position. The working depth of immersion for launching is 55 meters.

The ship has 19 compartments, each of which communicates with the others. Horizontal rudders are installed in the light body of the bow of the boat. The conning tower has a reinforced structure, specially designed for emergency ascent of the ship in the presence of a solid ice sheet on the surface. Increased strength is the main distinctive feature Soviet missile carriers III generation. If American Ohio-class nuclear submarines were built to patrol the clear waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, then Soviet submarines mainly operated in the Arctic Ocean, therefore the design of the ship was created with a margin of safety capable of overcoming the resistance of an ice shell of 2 meters thick.

Outside, the boat has a special anti-radar and soundproof coating, the total weight of which is 800 tons. Another feature of the ship's design is the presence of life support systems in each individual compartment. The internal layout of the boat is planned and equipped in such a way as to ensure the survival of the ship's crew in the most unforeseen situations.

The heart of the nuclear-powered ship is two OK-650VV nuclear reactors with a total capacity of 380 MW. The submarine is already set in motion through the operation of two turbines with a capacity of 45-50 thousand l / s each. Such a huge ship also had propellers of the appropriate size - 5.5 m in diameter. Two 800W diesel generators were installed on the boat as backup engines.

A nuclear-powered missile carrier on the surface could develop a speed of 12 knots. Under water, a submarine with a displacement of already 50 thousand tons could move at a speed of 25 knots. The working diving depth was 400 m. At the same time, the boat had a certain margin of critical diving depth, which was an additional 100 m.

A ship of such large dimensions and with such performance characteristics was controlled by a crew of 160 people. Of this number, a third accounted for the officers. The interior living quarters on the submarine were equipped with everything necessary for a long and comfortable stay. Officers and midshipmen lived in 2 and 4-bed comfortable cabins. Sailors and foremen lived in specially equipped cockpits. All living quarters on the boat were served by an air conditioning system. During long trips, the crew of the ship, free from the combat shift, could spend time in the gym, visit the cinema and the library. It should be noted that the autonomy of the ship exceeded all standards that existed until that time - 180 days.

The main comparative characteristics of the project 941 ship

The Soviet nuclear-powered ship, which entered service in 1981, had a significant advantage in comparison with other foreign-built ships of the same type. Likely adversaries Soviet missile carrier III generation were:

• U.S. Ohio-class nuclear submarine with 24 Trident ICBMs, 18 built;
• English nuclear submarine Vanguard with 16 Trident ICBMs, 4 built;
• French nuclear submarine "Triumphant" with 16 M45 ICBMs, 4 ships were also built.

The Soviet nuclear submarine exceeded all the listed ships in terms of displacement by three times. It had a total weight of a volley of 20 R-39 ICBMs - 51 tons. British and French submarines in this parameter significantly lost to the Soviet missile carrier. English and French nuclear submarines could fire warheads at the enemy with a total weight of 44 tons. Only American Ohio-class submarines, of which less than two dozen were launched, could compete with the Soviet submarine giants.

No other ship, domestic missile carriers of projects 667BDRM and 955, could compare in terms of displacement and combat power with submarines of the Akula type. Soviet nuclear submarines, launched in the 1980s, formed the basis of the USSR's nuclear missile power and became the basis for the nuclear marine component of modern Russia.

The nuclear-powered ship KT-208 "Dmitry Donskoy" remains the only operating ship of this class in the Russian Navy. Two vessels, KT-17 "Arkhangelsk" and KT-20 "Severstal" were put into reserve in 2006 and 2004. respectively. The final decision on the fate of these two legendary ships has not yet been made. The nuclear submarine KT-208 received a new name in 2002 - KT-208 "Dmitry Donskoy". The boat is the only one of all ships of this type that has retained its technological resource. This, in turn, made it possible to carry out on the ship in 1999-2002. modernization project 941M. The purpose of the modernization was to re-equip the ship for the new Bulava SLBM.

Equipping the ship with new ballistic missiles is not planned. The submarine is used as a self-propelled floating test facility for new types of rocket technology. The decision of the high government commission was to extend the life of the ship until 2020. The nuclear missile carrier is based on naval base Zapadnaya Litsa and is part of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Federation.

"You are a liar, Nam-Bok, for everyone knows that iron cannot float"
/Jack London/

Dear comrades, surely many of you have visited naval saloons, climbed the uncomfortable trembling gangways to the decks of huge ships. Wandered around the upper deck, looking at the launchers rocket containers, sprawling branches of radars and others fantastic systems.
Even such simple things as the thickness of the anchor chain (each link is about a pood weight) or the sweeping radius of the ship's artillery barrels (the size of a more summer cottage "six acres") can cause sincere shock and bewilderment in an unprepared layman.

The dimensions of ship mechanisms are simply Huge. Such things are not found in ordinary life- we learn about the existence of these cyclopean objects only during a visit to the ship on the next Navy Day (Victory Day, during the days of the St. Petersburg International Naval Show, etc.).
Indeed, from the point of view of a single person, small or big ships does not exist. Marine equipment is striking in its dimensions - standing on the pier next to a moored corvette, a person looks like a grain of sand against the backdrop of a huge rock. A "tiny" 2500-ton corvette looks like a cruiser, and a "real" cruiser is generally paranormal in size and looks like a floating city.

The reason for this paradox is obvious:

An ordinary four-axle railway wagon (gondola car), loaded to the brim with iron ore, has a mass of about 90 tons. Very bulky and heavy piece.

In the case of the 11,000-ton missile cruiser Moskva, we have only 11,000 tons metal structures, cables and fuel. The equivalent is 120 railway wagons with ore, densely concentrated in a single array.

Anchor of the submarine missile carrier pr. 941 "Shark"

How does water hold THIS?! The conning tower of the battleship "New Jersey"

Truly great is Archimedes, whose immortal law keeps these giants afloat!

A big difference

Unlike surface ships and vessels that can be seen in any port, the submarine component of the fleet has an increased degree of stealth. Submarines are difficult to see even when entering the base, largely due to the special status of the modern submarine fleet.

Nuclear technologies, danger zone, state secret, objects of strategic importance; closed cities with a special passport regime. All this does not add popularity to the "steel coffins" and their glorious crews. nuclear boats quietly nest in secluded bays of the Arctic or hide from prying eyes on the coast of distant Kamchatka. Nothing is heard about the existence of boats in peacetime. They are not suitable for naval parades and the notorious "flag display". The only thing these sleek black ships can do is kill.

Baby C-189 against the backdrop of "Mistral"

It is quite difficult to find out this question - there are no visual aids in this regard. Museum submarines K-21 (Severomorsk), S-189 (St. Petersburg) or S-56 (Vladivostok) are half a century old "diesels" of the Second World War * and do not give any idea about real sizes modern submarines.

*even the relatively “fresh” S-189 built in the 1950s was created on the basis of the captured German “Electrobot”

The reader will surely learn a lot of interesting things from the following illustration:

Comparative sizes of silhouettes of modern submarines on a single scale

Below is an American Ohio-class SSBN.

Even lower is the underwater "aircraft carrier killer" of project 949A, the so-called. "Baton" (it was to this project that the deceased "Kursk" belonged).

In the lower left corner, a multi-purpose Russian nuclear submarine of project 971 (code "Pike-B") lurked

And the smallest of the boats shown in the illustration is the modern German diesel-electric submarine Type 212.

Of course, the greatest interest of the public is associated with the "Shark"(it is also "Typhoon" according to NATO classification). The boat is really amazing: the length of the hull is 173 meters, the height from the bottom to the roof of the cabin is equal to a 9-storey building!

Surface displacement - 23,000 tons; underwater - 48,000 tons. The figures clearly indicate a colossal reserve of buoyancy - more than 20 thousand tons of water are pumped into the ballast tanks of the boat to submerge the Shark. As a result, the "Shark" received the funny nickname "water carrier" in the Navy.

For all the seeming irrationality of this decision (why does the submarine have such a large reserve of buoyancy ??), the “water carrier” has its own characteristics and even advantages: in the surface position, the draft of the monstrous monster is slightly larger than that of “ordinary” submarines - about 11 meters. This allows you to go to any base, without the risk of running aground, and use all the available infrastructure for servicing nuclear submarines. In addition, a huge reserve of buoyancy turns the Shark into a powerful icebreaker. When blowing through the tanks, the boat, according to the law of Archimedes, “rushes” up with such force that even a 2-meter layer as strong as a stone will not stop it, arctic ice. Due to this circumstance, the "Sharks" could carry out combat duty in the highest latitudes, up to areas North Pole.

But even in the surface position, the Shark surprises with its dimensions. How else? - the largest boat in the world!

You can admire the shark view for a long time:

"Shark" and one of the SSBNs of the 677 family

Modern SSBN project 955 "Borey" against the backdrop of a gigantic fish

Loading a 90-ton "kuzkina mother"
In total, the boat's ammunition included 20 R-39 solid-propellant SLBMs

Ohio

No less surprising is the comparison of the American submarine missile carrier "Ohio" and the domestic TPKSN of the "Shark" project - it suddenly turns out that their dimensions are identical (length 171 meters, draft 11 meters) ... while the displacement differs significantly! How so?

There is no secret here - "Ohio" is almost twice as wide as the Soviet monster - 23 versus 13 meters. Nevertheless, it would be unfair to call the Ohio a small boat - 16,700 tons of steel structures and materials inspire respect. Underwater displacement "Ohio" is even greater - 18,700 tons.

Carrier killer

Another underwater monster, whose displacement surpassed the achievements of the Ohio (in / and water - 14,700, underwater - 24,000 tons).

One of the most powerful and advanced boats of the Cold War. 24 supersonic cruise missiles with a launch weight of 7 tons; eight torpedo tubes; nine isolated compartments. The working depth range is more than 500 meters. Underwater speed over 30 knots.

In order to accelerate the “baton” to such speeds, a two-reactor power plant was used on the boat - uranium assemblies in two OK-650 reactors burn with terrible black fire day and night. The total energy output is 380 megawatts - enough to provide electricity to a city for 100,000 inhabitants.

"Baton" and Shark

Two "batons"

Pike-B

A series of Soviet nuclear multi-purpose boats of the third generation. The most formidable submarine before the advent of American nuclear submarines of the Seawolf type.

But, you do not think that Pike-B is so small and frail. Size is a relative value. Suffice it to say that the baby does not fit on the football field. The boat is huge. Surface displacement - 8100, underwater - 12,800 tons (on the latest modifications, it increased by another 1000 tons).

This time, the designers got by with one OK-650 reactor, one turbine, one shaft and one propeller. Excellent dynamics remained at the level of the 949th "loaf". A modern sonar complex and a luxurious set of weapons appeared: deep-sea and homing torpedoes, Granat cruise missiles (in the future - Caliber), Shkval rocket-torpedoes, Vodopad PLUR, thick torpedoes 65-76, mines ... at the same time , a huge ship is operated by a crew of only 73 people.

Why do I say "everything"? Just an example: to control a modern American boat-analogue of the "Pike" - an unsurpassed underwater killer of the "Los Angeles" type, a crew of 130 people is required! At the same time, the American, as usual, is saturated to the limit with radio electronics and automation systems, and its dimensions are 25% smaller (displacement - 6000/7000 tons).

By the way, an interesting question: why are American boats always smaller? Is it really all the fault of "Soviet microcircuits - the largest microcircuits in the world" ?!
The answer will seem banal - American boats have a single-hull design and, as a result, a smaller margin of buoyancy. That is why the "Los Angeles" and "Virginia" have such a small difference in the values ​​of surface and underwater displacement.

What is the difference between single hull and double hull boats? In the first case, ballast tanks are located inside a single strong hull. Such an arrangement takes up part of the internal volume and, in a certain sense, negatively affects the survivability of the submarine. And, of course, single-hull nuclear submarines have a much smaller margin of buoyancy. At the same time, it makes the boat smaller (as small as a modern nuclear submarine can be) and quieter.

Domestic boats, traditionally, are built according to a two-hull scheme. All ballast tanks and auxiliary deep-sea equipment (cables, antennas towed by the GAS) are moved outside the pressure hull. The rigid body stiffeners are also located on the outside, saving precious interior space. From above, all this is covered with a light "shell".

Advantages: the reserve of free space inside the rugged case, allowing the implementation of special layout solutions. More systems and weapons on board the boat, increased unsinkability and survivability (additional depreciation for close explosions, etc.).

storage nuclear waste in Saida Bay (Kola Peninsula)
Dozens of submarine reactor compartments are visible. Ugly "rings" are nothing more than stiffening ribs of a strong body (the light body has been previously removed)

Do not flatter yourself when you hear about the “reserve of free space” indicated above. Inside the compartments of the Russian "Pike" it is still impossible to drive mopeds and play golf - the entire reserve was spent on installing numerous hermetic bulkheads. The number of habitable compartments on Russian boats usually ranges from 7 to 9 units. The maximum was achieved on the legendary "Sharks" - as many as 19 compartments, excluding sealed technological modules in the space of a light body.

For comparison, the robust hull of the American Los Angeles is divided by airtight bulkheads into only three compartments: central, reactor and turbine (of course, not counting the system of isolated decks). The Americans, traditionally, rely on the high quality of manufacturing hull structures, the reliability of equipment and qualified personnel as part of the crews of submarines.

These are the key differences between schools of underwater shipbuilding on different sides of the ocean. And the boats are still huge.

A whopping big fish. American multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the "Sivulf" type

Transportation of cut-out nuclear submarine reactor compartments

The newest Russian multi-purpose nuclear submarine K-329 "Severodvinsk" (admission to the Navy is scheduled for 2013).
Two Sharks undergoing recycling are visible in the background.

The first cases of the use of submarines for combat purposes date back to the middle of the 19th century. However, due to its technical imperfection, submarines for a long time played only a supporting role in the naval forces. The situation changed completely after the discovery of atomic energy and the invention of ballistic missiles.

Goals and dimensions

Submarines have different purposes. The size of the world's submarines varies depending on their purpose. Some are designed for a crew of only two people, others are capable of carrying dozens of intercontinental missiles on board. What tasks do the largest submarines in the world perform?

"Triumph"

French strategic nuclear submarine. Its name means "triumphant" in translation. The length of the boat is 138 meters, the displacement is 14 thousand tons. The vessel is armed with three-stage ballistic missiles M45 with multiple warheads, equipped with individual guidance systems. They are capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 5300 kilometers. At the design stage, the designers were tasked with making the submarine as invisible to the enemy as possible and equipping it with an effective system for early detection of enemy anti-submarine defense systems. Careful study and numerous experiments have shown that the main reason for disclosing the location of a submarine is its acoustic signature.

When designing the Triumfan, all known methods for reducing noise were used. Despite the impressive size of the submarine, it is a rather difficult object to detect acoustically. specific form submarines helps to reduce hydrodynamic noise. The level of sound produced during the operation of the ship's main power plant has been significantly reduced due to a number of non-standard technological solutions. Triumfan has on board an ultra-modern sonar system designed for early detection of enemy anti-submarine weapons.

"Jin"

A strategic nuclear-powered missile submarine built for the Chinese Navy. Because of advanced level secrecy, a significant part of the information about this vessel does not come from the media, but from the intelligence services of the United States and other NATO countries. The dimensions of the submarine are based on a photograph taken in 2006 by a commercial satellite designed to digitally image the earth's surface. The length of the ship is 140 meters, the displacement is 11 thousand tons.

Experts note that the dimensions of the nuclear submarine "Jin" are larger than the dimensions of the previous, technically and morally obsolete Chinese submarines of the "Xia" class. The ship of the new generation is adapted to launch Juilang-2 intercontinental ballistic missiles equipped with multiple nuclear warheads. The maximum range of their flight is 12 thousand kilometers. Missiles "Juilang-2" are an exclusive development. Their design took into account the dimensions of the Jin-class submarines intended to carry this formidable weapon. According to experts, the presence of such ballistic missiles and submarines in China significantly changes the balance of power in the world. Approximately three-quarters of the territory of the United States is in the zone of destruction of the Jin boats located in the Kuril Islands. However, according to information available to the US military, test launches of Julang missiles often end in failure.

"Vangard"

A British strategic nuclear submarine that rivals the largest submarines in the world. The vessel is 150 meters long and has a displacement of 15,000 tons. Boats of this type have been in service with the Royal Navy since 1994. To date, the Vanguard-class submarines are the only carriers of British nuclear weapons. They are equipped with Trident-2 ballistic missiles. This weapon deserves special mention. It is produced by the famous American company for the US Navy. The British government took on 5% of the cost of developing missiles, which, according to the designers, were supposed to surpass all their predecessors. The Trident-2 hit zone is 11 thousand kilometers, the accuracy of hitting reaches several feet. Missile guidance is independent of the US Global Positioning System. "Trident-2" deliver to the target atomic warheads at a speed of 21 thousand kilometers per hour. Four Vanguard boats carry a total of 58 of these missiles, representing the UK's "nuclear shield".

Murena-M

Soviet submarine built during the Cold War. The main goals of the creation of the boat were to increase the range of missiles and overcome American sonar detection systems. The expansion of the affected area required a change in the dimensions of the submarine compared to previous versions. The launch silos are designed for D-9 missiles, the launch weight of which is twice the normal one. The length of the ship is 155 meters, the displacement is 15 thousand tons. According to experts, the Soviet designers managed to complete the original task. The range of the missile system has increased by about 2.5 times. In order to achieve this goal, the Murena-M submarine had to be made one of the largest submarines in the world. The dimensions of the missile carrier did not change for the worse the level of its secrecy. The design of the boat was designed to dampen the vibration of the mechanisms, since at that time the US sonar tracking system became a serious problem for Soviet strategic submarines.

"Ohio"

"Borey"

The development of this nuclear submarine began in the Soviet Union. It was finally designed and built in Russian Federation. Its name comes from the name of the ancient Greek god of the north wind. In accordance with the plans of the creators, the boat "Borey" in the foreseeable future should replace the submarines of the "Shark" and "Dolphin" classes. The length of the cruiser is 170 meters, the displacement is 24 thousand tons. Borey became the first strategic submarine built in the post-Soviet era. First of all, the new Russian boat serves as a platform for launching Bulava ballistic missiles equipped with multiple nuclear warheads. The range of their flight exceeds 8 thousand kilometers. Due to funding problems and the disruption of economic ties with enterprises located on the territory of the former Soviet republics, the deadlines for completing the construction of the ship were repeatedly postponed. The boat "Borey" was launched in 2008.

"Shark"

According to NATO classification, this ship has the designation "Typhoon". The dimensions of the submarine "Shark" surpass anything that has been created throughout the history of the existence of submarines. Its construction was the answer Soviet Union American project"Ohio". The huge size of the Akula heavy submarine was due to the need to place R-39 missiles on it, the mass and length of which significantly exceeded those of the American Trident. Soviet designers had to put up with large dimensions in order to increase the flight range and weight of the warhead. The Shark boat, adapted to launch these missiles, has a record length of 173 meters. Its displacement is 48 thousand tons. To date, the Shark remains the largest submarine in the world.

Generation of an era

The first lines of the rating are also occupied by the USSR. This is understandable: the superpowers involved in cold war, believed in the possibility of delivering a preemptive strike. They saw their main task in quietly placing nuclear missiles as close to the enemy as possible. This mission was entrusted to large submarines, which became the legacy of that era.

IN modern world great importance the submarine fleet plays a role in ensuring the security of states. Especially if these are submarines carrying strategic nuclear weapons. It is they who hold back the major powers from an open military confrontation, which could be the last in the history of mankind. And the larger and more powerful the submarine, the more weapons it can carry and make longer autonomous voyages off the coast of a potential enemy.

Project 941 "Shark"

To date, the largest submarine in the world is the creation of Soviet shipbuilders, the Project 941 Akula nuclear-powered strategic missile cruiser. Its dimensions are colossal, the underwater displacement is 48 thousand tons. The length of the giant is 172 m, and the width is 23.3 m, the height of the warship is comparable to a 9-storey building. The submarine is driven by two water-cooled nuclear reactors with two steam turbines, located separately in robust hulls. The total capacity of the power plant is 100 thousand hp.

A powerful machine under water can reach speeds of up to 25 knots, on the surface - 12 knots. It can submerge almost half a kilometer, and the usual working depth is 380 m. The submarine is operated by a crew of 160 people and can be in autonomous navigation for four months. Moreover, to save the entire crew, a large underwater vehicle is equipped with a pop-up rescue capsule. Armament "Shark" consists of:

• a missile system of 20 ballistic missiles, each of which can carry 10 warheads of 100 kilotons with individual guidance (it was structurally possible to carry 24 missiles). The launch weight of the R-39 missiles is 90 tons, and the combat range is 8.3 thousand km. The entire missile ammunition load can be fired in one volley both from the surface and from the underwater position in any weather conditions.
• 6 torpedo tubes for launching rocket-torpedoes and torpedoes of caliber 533 mm and installing minefields;
• 8 sets of MANPADS "Igla-1" for air defense;
• electronic weapons.

The big Sharks were born at the Sevmash plant; for this, the largest covered boathouse on the planet was built. Thanks to a strong cabin and a serious reserve of buoyancy, the submarine can break through thick ice (up to 2.5 m), which allows it to carry out combat duty even at the North Pole.

Quite a lot of boat space is allocated to ensure the comfort of the crew:

• spacious two- and four-bed cabins for officers;
• small quarters for foremen and sailors;
• air conditioning system;
• TVs and wash basins in cabins;
• gym, sauna, solarium, swimming pool;
• living corner and lounge for relaxation, etc.

Ohio-class submarines

At one time, after the boats of the Shark project, these were the second largest submarines in the world. Their underwater displacement is 18.75 thousand tons, surface - 16.75 tons. The length of the colossus is 170 m, and the width of its hull is almost 13 m. A total of 18 machines of this type were produced, each of which received weapons in the form of 24 intercontinental ballistic missiles with multiple warheads. The crew of the ship - 155 people. Submerged speed - up to 25 knots, surface - up to 17 knots.

These warships have a solid hull divided into four compartments and a separate enclosure:

• bow, which includes premises for combat, support and household purposes;
• missile;
• reactor;
• turbine;
• enclosure with electrical panels, trim and drainage pumps, an air regeneration unit.

Project 955 Borey

The length of this missile submarine is almost the same as the two previous ships - 170 m. But this fourth-generation nuclear submarine has an underwater displacement of 24 thousand tons, and a surface displacement of 14.7 thousand tons. Therefore, according to this parameter, it can safely be in second place after the boats of the Project 941 "Shark" project. By 2020, it is planned to build 20 submarines of this series. Currently, there are already three project 955 giants in service: Yuri Dolgoruky, Alexander Nevsky, and Vladimir Monomakh.

The crew of the submarine is 107 people, and more than half of them are officers. Its speed in a submerged position reaches 29 knots, in the surface 15 knots. The submarine can stay in autonomous navigation for three months. Borey-class submarines were developed as a replacement for nuclear submarines of the Akula and Dolphin projects. Underwater cruisers of this project are considered the first domestic nuclear submarines, driven by a single-shaft water jet system. The main armament is 16 solid-propellant ballistic missiles of the Bulava type with a combat range of 8,000 km.

Project 667BDRM "Dolphin"

This is another Russian strategic missile submarine that boasts large sizes. In modern navy The Russian Federation is so far the most massive strategic submarine cruiser. The length of the vessel is 167 m. Underwater displacement is 18.2 thousand tons, surface displacement is 11.74 thousand tons. The crew of the ship is about 140 people. The armament of strategic nuclear submarines consists of:

• intercontinental ballistic missiles liquid fuel R-29RM and R-29RMU "Sineva" with a combat range of more than 8.3 thousand km. All missiles can be fired in one salvo. When moving under water at a depth of up to 55 meters, launching missiles is possible even at a speed of 6-7 knots;
• 4 bow torpedo tubes;
• up to 8 MANPADS "Igla".

The Dolphins are powered by two reactor plants with a total capacity of 180 MW.

Vanguard-class submarines

Of course, Great Britain could not help participating in the competition for the largest submarine nuclear missile cruisers. Boats of the Vanguard series have an underwater displacement of 15.9 thousand tons, surface - 15.1 thousand tons. The length of the ship is almost 150 meters. To start building the Wangard boats, the Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. shipyard was expanded and modernized. As a result of the reconstruction, she received a boathouse with a width of 58 m and a length of 260 m, the height of the boathouse allows the construction of not only nuclear submarines, but even destroyers. A vertical ship lift with a carrying capacity of 24.3 thousand tons was also built. The main armament of the submarine cruiser is 16 Trident II ballistic missiles.

Triumfan type boats

In last place among the largest submarines are ships made by French shipbuilders. Triumfan-type boats have an underwater displacement of 14.3 thousand tons, surface - 12.6 thousand tons. The length of the missile cruiser is 138 meters. The power plant of the underwater vehicle is a pressurized water reactor with a capacity of 150 MW, which provides a speed of up to 25 knots underwater, and up to 12 knots on the surface. Triumph-type boats are armed with 16 ballistic missiles, 10 torpedoes and 8 cruise missiles, which are launched using torpedo tubes.

As you can see, the list of the largest submarines included combat vehicles, designed by the leading world powers, possessing at the same time both strategic nuclear weapons and powerful naval forces.