2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16
The first use of submarines for combat purposes dates back to the middle of the 19th century. However, due to their 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.
Targets and measurements
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 are the tasks of the world's largest submarines?
Triumphant
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 ship 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 beforethe 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 "Triumfan" all known methods of noise reduction were used. Despite the impressive size of the submarine, it is a fairly difficult object to detect acoustically. The specific shape of the submarine 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 guided missile submarine built for the Chinese Navy. Due to the heightened level of secrecy, much 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 vessel is 140 meters long and has a displacement of 11,000 tons.
Experts saythat 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 the 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.
Vanguard
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. Hisproduced by the famous American company "Lockheed Martin" 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 of the Murena-M boat 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 mechanisms, since at that time the US sonar tracking system became a serious problem for Soviet strategic submarines.
Ohio
The US Navy has 18 submarines of this class capable of carrying half of the country's thermonuclear arsenal. The dimensions of the largest submarine in US history are amazing. In terms of dimensions, "Ohio" has almost no competitors in the world. Only the dimensions of Russia's Borey and Shark submarines beat the American giant's record. Length "Ohio" - 170 meters, displacement - 18 thousand tons. Boats of this type are designed for long patrols and intimidation of potential enemies. The Ohio has no equal in terms of the number of launch silos: the ship can carry 24 Trident-2 ballistic missiles. According to some reports, the submarine has a very low noise level, but the exact information about this remains classified. Four Ohio-class boats were converted to carry Tomahawk cruise missiles in 2003.
Borey
The development of this nuclear submarine started in the Soviet Union. It was finally designed and built in the Russian Federation. HisThe 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 was 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. Borey 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 of the Soviet Union to the American Ohio project. 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. Adapted forLaunching these missiles, the Shark boat has a record length of 173 meters. Its displacement is 48 thousand tons. To date, the Shark remains the largest submarine in the world.
Spawn of an era
The first lines of the rating are occupied by US and USSR submarines. This is understandable: the superpowers involved in the 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.
Recommended:
Submarines of the world: list. The first submarine
Submarines are primarily used for military purposes and form the basis of the fleets of many countries. This is due to the main characteristic of submarines - ste alth and, as a result, low visibility for the enemy. In this article you can read about whether there is an absolute leader among submarines
Railway track is Definition, concept, characteristics and dimensions. Train dimensions and features of track facilities operation
Traveling by train through cities and towns, you can learn a lot of interesting and amusing things about the world of the railway. More than once, traveling people have asked themselves questions about where this or that railway track leads? And what does the engineer who manages the train feel when the train is just starting off or arriving at the station? How and from where do metal cars move and what are the ways of the rolling stock?
American submarines: list. Nuclear submarine projects
Navy for any country is a geopolitical deterrence mechanism. And the submarine fleet, by its very presence, influences international relations. If in the 19th century the borders of Britain were determined by the sides of its military frigates, then in the 20th century the US Navy becomes the leader of the oceans. And American submarines played an important role in this
Submarine "Dolphin": project creation, construction, purpose, assignments, design and history of the submarine
The first combat submarine "Dolphin" served as a prototype for the further development of domestic ships of this class until 1917. The building was experimental in nature and had no great combat value, but was the beginning of the development of domestic submarine shipbuilding
Submarine graveyard in Russia. Submarine disposal
Submarine cemeteries in Russia are located in the Kara Sea, on the Kola Peninsula, in the Murmansk region, near Vladivostok. Dismantling submarines is a complex and dangerous process. This can be found in the article
