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RUSSIA'S BLACK SEA FLEET GETS NEW STEALTH SUBMARINE
November 28, 2013 - 19:14 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - A St. Petersburg-based shipyard on Thursday, Nov 28,
floated out the first of six Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric
submarines to be delivered to the Black Sea Fleet in the next two
years, RIA Novosti reported.
The much-anticipated delivery of these submarines, dubbed by the U.S.
Navy as "black holes in the ocean" because they are nearly
undetectable when submerged, is a key part of Russia's naval strategy
in the Mediterranean, where Moscow has recently deployed a permanent
task force consisting of some 10 surface ships.
Construction of the Novorossiisk submarine started at Admiralty
Shipyards in August 2010, followed by the Rostov-on-Don sub in
November 2011 and the Stary Oskol in August 2012.
The Varshavyanka-class (Project 636) is an improved version of the
Kilo-class submarines and features advanced stealth technology,
extended combat range and the ability to strike land, surface and
underwater targets.
These submarines are mainly intended for anti-shipping and
anti-submarine missions in relatively shallow waters.
The vessels, crewed by 52 submariners, have an underwater speed of 20
knots, a cruising range of 400 miles (electric propulsion) with the
ability to patrol for 45 days. They are armed with 18 torpedoes and
eight surface-to-air missiles.
The Russian Black Sea Fleet has not received new submarines for
decades and currently operates only one boat - the Kilo-class Alrosa,
which joined the navy in 1990.
From: Baghdasarian
November 28, 2013 - 19:14 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - A St. Petersburg-based shipyard on Thursday, Nov 28,
floated out the first of six Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric
submarines to be delivered to the Black Sea Fleet in the next two
years, RIA Novosti reported.
The much-anticipated delivery of these submarines, dubbed by the U.S.
Navy as "black holes in the ocean" because they are nearly
undetectable when submerged, is a key part of Russia's naval strategy
in the Mediterranean, where Moscow has recently deployed a permanent
task force consisting of some 10 surface ships.
Construction of the Novorossiisk submarine started at Admiralty
Shipyards in August 2010, followed by the Rostov-on-Don sub in
November 2011 and the Stary Oskol in August 2012.
The Varshavyanka-class (Project 636) is an improved version of the
Kilo-class submarines and features advanced stealth technology,
extended combat range and the ability to strike land, surface and
underwater targets.
These submarines are mainly intended for anti-shipping and
anti-submarine missions in relatively shallow waters.
The vessels, crewed by 52 submariners, have an underwater speed of 20
knots, a cruising range of 400 miles (electric propulsion) with the
ability to patrol for 45 days. They are armed with 18 torpedoes and
eight surface-to-air missiles.
The Russian Black Sea Fleet has not received new submarines for
decades and currently operates only one boat - the Kilo-class Alrosa,
which joined the navy in 1990.
From: Baghdasarian