Sierra-class submarine#Sierra II
{{Short description|Nuclear-powered attack submarine class}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=June 2021}}
| {{Infobox ship begin|sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=Sierra class SSN.jpg |Ship image size=300px |Ship caption=A Sierra II-class submarine underway }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Sierra class |Builders=Krasnoye Sormovo, designed by Lazurit |Operators=*{{navy|Soviet Union}}
|Class before={{sclass2|Alfa|submarine|4}}, {{sclass2|Victor|submarine|4}} |Class after={{sclass|Akula|submarine|4}} |Subclasses= |Cost= |Built range=1979–1992 |In service range= |In commission range=1984–present |Total ships building= |Total ships planned=5 |Total ships completed=4 |Total ships cancelled=1 |Total ships active=4 |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost= |Total ships overhaul= |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type=Nuclear attack submarine |Ship displacement=*Sierra I:
|Ship length=*Sierra I: {{convert|107.16|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam=*Sierra I: {{convert|12.28|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height= |Ship draft=*Sierra I: {{convert|8.8|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship power= |Ship propulsion=*Sierra I & II: 1 × PWR, 190 MW (HEU <= 45%{{cite web|url=https://lynceans.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Marine-Nuclear-Power-1939-2018_Part-3A_R1_Russia_submarines.pdf|title=Marine Nuclear Power:1939 – 2018|date=July 2018|accessdate=30 December 2022}})
|Ship speed=*Sierra I & II: {{convert|10|kn|km/h|1}} (surfaced)
|Ship range=Effectively unlimited, except by food supplies |Ship endurance= |Ship test depth= |Ship complement=Sierra I & II: 61 & 72 |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=*Sierra I & II:
|Ship notes= }} |
The Sierra class, Soviet designations Project 945 Barrakuda and Project 945A Kondor, (NATO reporting names Sierra I and Sierra II respectively), are a series of nuclear-powered attack submarines intended for the Soviet Navy and currently in service with the Russian Navy.
The class resembles the {{sclass|Alfa|submarine|1}} in having a light and strong titanium pressure hull which enables the submarines of the class to dive to greater depths, reduce the level of radiated noise and increase resistance to torpedo attacks. It is powered by a single OK-650 pressurized water reactor.
The upgraded version, the Sierra II class was specifically developed for search and destroy missions against US nuclear submarines. It has speeds and diving depth greater than its American counterparts at the time it was designed. It has also improved quieting and sonar.{{cite book |last1=Polmar |first1=Norman |last2=Moore |first2=Kenneth J. |title=Cold War Submarines: The Design and Construction of U.S. and Soviet Submarines |date=2004 |publisher=Brassey's |location=Washington, DC |isbn=978-1-57488-594-1 |page=283 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U86giz-cluoC&q=sierra+II+ |accessdate=28 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913182445/https://books.google.com/books?id=U86giz-cluoC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=sierra%20II%20&f=false |archive-date=13 September 2016 |url-status=live |via=Google Books}}
Versions
=Project 945 ''Barrakuda'' (Sierra I)=
{{floatbox|File:Sierra I class SSN.svg}}
The first submarine of the Project 945, Carp, was laid down in July 1979{{Cite web |url=http://www.deepstorm.ru/DeepStorm.files/45-92/nts/945/list.htm |title=Подводные лодки. Проект 945 |trans-title=Submarines. Project 945 |language=ru |website=Deepstorm.ru |access-date=2020-01-22}} at the Gorky shipyard and was launched in August 1983 before being transferred to Severodvinsk for fitting out. It was laid up in 1997. The next hull to be built was Kostroma, which was launched in July 1986 and was commissioned in September 1987. K-276 Kostroma was put into a drydock after its 11 February 1992 collision with the US submarine {{USS|Baton Rouge|SSN-689|2}} in the Barents Sea, off Kildin Island.{{cite web |url=http://www.system-safety.org/~issc_2006/Shaw-awards%20dinner%20thursday.pdf |title=Submarine Safety |first=John D. |last=Shaw |date=3 August 2006 |website=International System Safety Society |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002201930/http://www.system-safety.org/~issc_2006/Shaw-awards%20dinner%20thursday.pdf |archivedate=2 October 2006 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.eurasian-defence.ru/?q=node/22972 |title=Уникальные подводные лодки проекта 945 "Барракуда" с титановым корпусом возвращаются в строй |trans-title=Unique submarines of Project 945 "Barracuda" with titanium hull return to service |date=5 March 2013 |language=ru |website=Center for Political-Military Studies |accessdate=28 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805133321/http://eurasian-defence.ru/?q=node%2F22972 |archive-date=5 August 2016 |url-status=live}} The submarine was repaired on 3 June 1992 and was renamed Krab on 6 April 1993, but in 1996 its original name Kostroma was restored.{{cite web |url=http://warfare.be/db/linkid/1760/catid/306/ |title=945 Sierra class |website=Warfare.be |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130219180145/http://warfare.be/db/linkid/1760/catid/306/ |archivedate=2013-02-19 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://forum.civilavia.info/viewtopic.php?t=228 |title=В состав Северного флота вернули титановый подводный истребитель |trans-title=Titanium attack submarine returns to Northern Fleet |first=Alexander |last=Torbin |date=29 December 2015 |language=ru |website=Civilia.info |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225062011/http://forum.civilavia.info/viewtopic.php?t=228 |archivedate=25 February 2016 |url-status=dead}} The Sierra I class was also fitted with a releasable escape pod for the crew.{{cite web |url=http://www.oobject.com/category/12-real-escape-pods/ |title=12 real escape pods |first=David |last=Galbraith |website=OObject |accessdate=28 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821194325/http://www.oobject.com/category/12-real-escape-pods/ |archive-date=21 August 2016 |url-status=live}} The pod is covered by a V-shaped casing on the port side of the sail.
=Project 945A ''Kondor'' (Sierra II)=
{{floatbox|File:Sierra II class SSN.svg}}
The Project 945A has a considerably larger sail which is {{convert|5|m|1|abbr=on}} longer than the Sierra I class. The sail also has a curious flat, square leading edge. The masts are offset on the starboard side to make way for two escape pods in the sail. The starboard side also has a 10-point environment sensor fitted at right angles to the front end of the sail. Also, the Sierra II class has a much larger pod on its after fin. The pod houses the Skat 3 passive very low frequency towed sonar array.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
Of the two existing submarines of type Sierra II, the Pskov was in overhaul between 2011 and 2015 according to the Russian website Deep storm.{{Cite web |url=http://www.deepstorm.ru/DeepStorm.files/45-92/nts/945A/K-336/K-336.htm |title=Подводная лодка К-336, Б-336, "Окунь", "Псков". Проект 945А |trans-title=Submarine K-336, B-336, Okun, Pskov. Project 945A |language=ru |website=Deepstorm.ru}} The aforementioned website acknowledges activity of Nizhniy Novgorod under the command of Captain 1st Rank Alexey Ananko in both 2008 and 2013.{{Cite web |url=http://www.deepstorm.ru/DeepStorm.files/45-92/nts/945A/K-534/K-534.htm |title=Подводная лодка К-534, Б-534, "Зубатка", "Нижний Новгород". Проект 945А |trans-title=Submarine K-534, B-534, Zubatka, Nizhny Novgorod. Project 945A |language=ru |website=Deepstorm.ru}}
Both Nizhniy Novgorod and Pskov took part in a large naval exercise in October 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2019/10/26/russian-submarines-to-test-new-weapons-off-norway/ |title=Russian Submarine May Test New Weapons Off Norway This Week |first=H. I. |last=Sutton |date=26 October 2019 |website=Forbes}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/30728/russia-sends-ten-subs-into-north-atlantic-in-drill-unprecedented-in-size-since-cold-war |title=Russia Sends Ten Subs Into North Atlantic In Drill Unprecedented In Size Since Cold War |first=Tyler |last=Rogoway |date=29 October 2019 |website=The Drive}}
=Project 945AB (Sierra III)=
{{floatbox|File:Sierra III class SSN.svg}}
The single submarine of the Project 945AB was laid down in March 1990 but was scrapped in November 1993 before completion.{{cite book |last1=Apalkov |first1=Yu.V |title=Korabli VMF SSSR |trans-title=Ships of the Soviet Navy |language=ru |date=2003 |publisher=Galeja Print |location=Sankt-Peterburg |isbn=5-8172-0076-7 |url=http://www.twirpx.com/file/357060/}}
Aborted Barrakuda (Sierra I) modernization
Modernization of the Carp and Kostroma of Project 945 for the Russian Navy was anticipated in the 2010s, but in the event, was not completed. A January 2013 contract for refit and recommission of the two submarines was signed with the Zvezdochka Shipyard in Severodvinsk, with the refit expected to take three years.{{cite news |last=Nilsen |first=Thomas |url=http://barentsobserver.com/en/security/2013/03/brushes-dust-25-year-old-sub-05-03 |title=Brushes dust off 25-year old sub |newspaper=Barents Observer |date=2013-03-05 |accessdate=2013-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310070123/http://barentsobserver.com/en/security/2013/03/brushes-dust-25-year-old-sub-05-03 |archive-date=2013-03-10 |url-status=dead}} It was originally planned that the submarines would be transferred to Zvezdochka before end of April 2013, with the overhaul beginning in summer 2013. Zvezdochka was to carry out the refit, repair mechanical parts, and replace nuclear fuel and all electrical equipment of the submarines. The submarines were also expected to receive a new sonar, combat information management system (BIUS), the GLONASS navigation system and new armament consisting of the Kalibr cruise missiles.{{cite web |url=http://flotprom.ru/news/?ELEMENT_ID=139706 |title=ВМФ России вернет в строй подводные лодки с титановыми корпусами |trans-title=The Russian Navy will return to service submarines with titanium hulls |language=ru |website=Flotprom |accessdate=28 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103081631/http://flotprom.ru/news/?ELEMENT_ID=139706 |archive-date=3 January 2017 |url-status=live}} However, in March 2015 it was reported that the final decision on the modernization of submarines Carp and Kostroma had not yet been made due to cost issues.{{cite web |url=http://bastion-karpenko.ru/945-2/ |title=Многоцелевая Атомная Подводная Лодка Проекта 945 "Барракуда" |trans-title=Project 945 Multipurpose Nuclear Submarine "Barracuda" |language=ru |website=БАСТИОН |access-date=2016-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305093047/http://bastion-karpenko.ru/945-2/ |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://svpressa.ru/war21/article/114524/ |title="Карп" второй свежести: Стоит ли модернизировать титановые субмарины советских годов постройки? |trans-title=Carp's second life: Should we upgrade our Soviet-era titanium submarines? |language=ru |first=Anton |last=Mardasov |date=3 March 2015 |website=Svobodnaya Pressa |accessdate=28 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302001148/http://svpressa.ru/war21/article/114524/ |archive-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=live}}{{update after|2016}}
Units
| class="wikitable"
|+ ! # ! Name ! Project ! Laid down ! Launched ! Commissioned ! Fleet ! Status ! Notes |
| Russian submarine Carp (B-239)
| Carp | 945 | 20 July 1979 | 29 July 1983 | 29 September 1984 | |
| Russian submarine Kostroma (B-276)
| Kostroma | 945 | 21 April 1984 | 26 July 1986 | 27 November 1987 | Northern Fleet | Reserve | Projected repairs "indefinitely suspended" as of July 2018{{cn|date=April 2023}} |
| Soviet submarine B-534
| Nizhniy Novgorod | 945A | 15 February 1986 | 8 July 1989 | 26 December 1990 | Northern Fleet | |
| Russian submarine Pskov (K-336)
| Pskov | 945A | 29 June 1989 | 28 July 1992 | 17 December 1993 | Northern Fleet | Active |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
{{Commons category|Sierra class submarines}}
- {{cite book |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Robert |title=Jane's Submarines : War Beneath The Waves from 1776 to the Present Day |date=2005 |publisher=Collins |location=New York |isbn=978-0-06081-900-2 |edition=1st U.S.}}
- [http://ship.bsu.by/main.asp?id=101045 945 Барракуда (945 Barracuda)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222011348/http://ship.bsu.by/main.asp?id=101045 |date=22 February 2008 }} at Энциклопедия кораблей [Encyclopedia of Ships] {{in lang|ru}}
{{Sierra class submarine}}
{{Soviet and Russian submarines after 1945}}
{{Current SSN}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sierra-class submarine}}