Submarine: A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship

Machinery: Two PWRs with steam turbines driving two 7-bladed screws; 50,000 SHP

Speed (knots): 24 (submerged)Number in class: 7

Users: Russian-operated but under CIS control

Comments: A direct descendant of the highly successful Delta III SSBNs, the Delta IV was originally seen as a 'just in case' program should the Typhoons not perform as desired. Unveiled in the light of the START II world, this formidable design has been seen for what it is, a very capable and quiet SSBN able to sustain long operations, even in the Arctic regions. Delta IVs carry 16 liquid-fueled SS-N-23 (RSM-54) Skiff submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

^{Delta III. JACK RYAN ENTERPRISES, LTD.}

Class name: Delta III (Russian: Kal'mar class) (Project 667 BDR)

Producer (country/manufacturer): Russia/Severodvinsk

Displacement (surfaced/submerged): 10,600/13,250

Dimensions (ft/m): Length: 510/155.5 Beam: 39.4/12.0 Draft: 28.2/8.6

Armament: Sixteen SS-N-18 SLBMs; six 533mm torpedo tubes with 18 weapons

Machinery: Two PWRs with steam turbines driving two 5-bladed screws; 50,000 SHP

Speed (knots): 24 (submerged)

Number in class: 14

Users: Russian-operated but under CIS control

Comments: First appearing in the mid-1970s, the Delta IIIs were the first Soviet SSBNs to truly rival the American SSBNs in weapons. Specifically, her long-range SS-N-18 (RSM-50) Stingray missiles with multiple reentry vehicles gave her the ability to hit numerous targets in North America from pier side at either Petropavlovsk or Murmansk bases. Delta IIIs will probably be the oldest SSBNs retained by the Russian Navy under START II, and some will probably serve until the beginning of the twenty-first century.

^{A Russian Navy Delta III-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, shortly after completing a transit of the Arctic to join the Russian Pacific Fleet. OFFICIAL U.S. NAVY PHOTO}

Class name: Fourth-generation SSBN (Delta IV follow-on) (Project:?)

Producer (country/manufacturer): Russia/Severodvinsk

Displacement (surfaced/submerged): [?] 13,000-15,000 (submerged)

Dimensions (ft/m): (unknown)

Armament: est. sixteen SS-N-? SLBMs; six 650mm and 533mm torpedo tubes with about 20 weapons

Machinery: PWRs with steam turbines driving two 7-bladed screws;? SHP

Speed (knots): [?] 25–30 (submerged)

Number in class:?

Users: Russia

Comments: Should the Russians choose to build a fourth-generation SSBN, it will probably be based upon the highly successful Delta IV boat. Improvements will probably be limited to further quieting and some refinement to weapons (improved targeting and accuracy), as well as sensors.

^{Kilo. JACK RYAN ENTERPRISES, LTD.}

Class name: Kilo (Russian: Varshavyanka class) (Project 877)

Producer (country/manufacturer): Russia/Komsomolsk, Krasnaya Sormova, United Admiralty

Displacement (surfaced/submerged): 2,325/3,076

Dimensions (ft/m): Length: 243.7/74.3 Beam: 32.8/10 Draft: 21.6/6.6

Armament: Six 533mm torpedo tubes with 18 weapons

Machinery: Diesel-electric drive with one 6-bladed screw; 5,900 SHP

Speed (knots): 17 (submerged)

Number in class: 20+

Users: Russia, Poland, Algeria, Romania, India, Iran

Comments: Currently the only diesel-electric submarine known to be in production in Russia. The Kilo is a medium-sized, inexpensive SSK with excellent quieting and weapons, although the lack of a towed array limits it in the area of sensors. Something of a best-seller, the Kilo has become an important source of hard currency for the struggling Russian sub builders, though newer, more advanced Western designs may intrude on sales.

^{Tango. JACK RYAN ENTERPRISES, LTD.}

Class name: Tango (Project 641B)

Producer (country/manufacturer): Russia/Krasnaya Sormova

Displacement (surfaced/submerged): 3,100/3,900

Dimensions (ft/m): Length: 300.1/91.5 Beam: 29.5/9 Draft: 23/7

Armament: Ten 533mm torpedo tubes with 24 weapons

Machinery: Diesel-electric drive with three 5-bladed screws; 6,000 SHP

Speed (knots): 20 (submerged)Number in class: 18

Users: Russia

Comments: One of the last big classes of diesel boat to be constructed by the Soviet Union, the Tangos were originally designed to be open ocean SSKs with the primary missions of attacking aircraft carriers and interdicting merchant ships. Extremely quiet and capable, they have excellent range and weapons. A number of the Tangos will continue to serve until the turn of the century.

Class name: Fourth-generation SS (Kilo follow-on) (Project:?)

Producer (country/manufacturer): Russia/Severodvinsk

Displacement (surfaced/submerged): [?] 2,500-3,000 (submerged)

Dimensions (ft/m): (unknown)

Armament: six 533mm torpedo tubes with about 20 weapons

Machinery: Diesel-electric drive with one 7-bladed screw; probable AIP system;? SHP

Speed (knots): [?] 25–30 (submerged)

Number in class:?

Users: Russia and?

Comments: If Russia chooses to keep building conventionally powered submarines, they will probably base the next design on a prototype boat known as Beluga that has been undergoing testing in the Black Sea. The new design SS may utilize a novel Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system to extend slow-speed submerged endurance, which reduces the time the submarine would have to spend snorkeling. In addition, with a hull form based on the Alfa-class SSNs the fourth-generation SS may be capable of high SSN-like speeds for short periods.

People's Republic of China

While the Russians ran headlong into the business of building nuclear submarines, the People's Republic of China (PRC) took a slow, steady pace. Their first SSN, the Han class, is a simple boat with very little of the high technology that would be considered standard on an American or British boat. From the Hans have come the Xia class, the PRC's first SSBN. It appears that both the Han and the Xia have finished their production runs. With only six first-generation units, the Chinese appear to have mixed feelings about the success of the Han and Xia. Nevertheless, it is likely that within the foreseeable future, the Chinese will begin production of the Han and Xia follow-ons.