SSN Nerpa to Depart for India in February

31.01.2012 Nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) Nerpa leased by Russia to India a week ago will leave Russian waters by Feb 10, reported Khabarovsk regional government on Jan 30.

According to release posted on Khabarovsk government's official website, the sub will stay at Vostok marine equipment plant in Bolshoi Kamen during the first decade of Feb 2012 undergoing preparatory activities.

"The sub is being fully equipped with appropriate hardware, armaments, and other supplies needed for journey to a new basing site, i.e. naval base Vishakhapatnam on India's east coast. SSN Nerpa will be navigated by Indian crew which had passed training near St. Petersburg. However, the crew will be assisted by Russian experts", said Vladimir Bychenko, Minister of Industry and Transport, Khabarovsky Krai.

Russia planned to lease the submarine to India in 2009, but the accident happened to the sub on Nov 8, 2008 during sea trials in the Sea of Japan postponed the deadline. As a result of unauthorized operation of onboard firefighting system, freon gas began entering compartments. Twenty men died, other 21 were intoxicated. Totally, there were 208 persons on board.

After repairs, SSN Nerpa was commissioned into Russian Navy in Dec 2009.

SSN Nerpa (K-152, Project 971 Schuka-B) is a third-generation nuclear-powered submarine. She was laid down at Amur Shipyard (Komsomolsk-on-Amur) in 1991, but in mid-90's financing of the sub's construction was shut down.

Completion of the submarine became possible only after India's investment.

Displacement of the sub is 8,140/12,770 tons; max speed is 30 knots; test depth is 600 meters; endurance is 100 days; crew is 73 men; armament includes four 533-mm and four 650-mm torpedo tubes.