Sarov: Russian Navy's Mysterious Submarine

16.03.2012 The most mysterious submarine in Russian Navy surfaced again in the summer of 2010. According to a spokesman for White Sea Naval Base, although diesel submarine Sarov was put in service only in Aug 2008, she has passed another modernization. The experimental diesel electric submarine is a development of test stand submarine (Project Sargan) started in 1988 by Rubin Design Bureau under direction of chief designer A.V. Belov (works were finished in March 1988). Technical project was approved in March 1989 and drafting works started. Supposedly, Project 877B was the basis for the sub's hull.

Representative of ship-repair center Zvezdochka confirmed information that large-size diesel electric submarine B-90 Sarov stayed in the yard's basin in 2010. However, the official delicately refused to specify what exactly works had been done. But this is quite understandable though. As was said during the ensign hoisting, the submarine was designed for testing of "new and modernized deep-sea equipment, armament, and support systems".

To be more specific, Sarov is a multipurpose testing stand meant for "continuous service and feasibility of numerous upgrades". Externally, however, she looks like a common submarine with typical conning tower and hull lines resembling Project 667A missile-carrying subs. But there are evident distinctions though. For one, two long bulges on the both sides unlikely improve the sub's hydrodynamics and reduce her cruise speed. But apparently, those are not top priority features for Sarov.

One of the main problems resolved with the launching of that submarine was mounting of compact nuclear reactor as a reserve powerplant. The purpose was to design cheap and reliable naval asset capable to stay in submerged position for long time like expensive nuclear-powered subs.

The submarine was supposed to join the Navy in 1993. However, lack of proper financing had a negative impact on the works, so they frequently interrupted, and in 1996 were finally frozen at 40% completeness. Only five years later, after decision jointly made by Ministry of Economic Development and Defense Ministry, construction of the experimental submarine was resumed under technical design partially corrected by Rubin Design Bureau.

In Aug 2003, the under-constructed sub was transferred to Severodvinsk. Three years later, on March 19, 2006 on the 100-th anniversary of Russian submarine fleet, a new keel-laying plaque was planted on the sub at Sevmash shipyard. In March 2007, the experimental submarine obtained the name of Sarov on the initiative of the Sarov Nuclear Center. Later on that year, the submarine commanding officer Capt 1 rank Sergei Kroshkin visited the shipyard and hit the local headlines; that aroused unprecedented splash of "spy" rumors, so that the officer and his bosses got into difficulties.

On Dec 14, 2007 the submarine was withdrawn from Sevmash's assembly shop and launched on Dec 24, 2007 at Severodvinsk military port "behind closed doors". Nonetheless, that information leaked out despite all security measures. In July 2008, the submarine passed appropriate trials and joined the Navy on Aug 2008. Sarov is based in Severodvinsk (Northern Fleet) since 2009.

The submarine has performed many special tasks since 2008; it should be noted that Sarov was modernized and adopted for every test. According to unofficial information, the latest modernization in 2010 was related to trials of crucially new powerplant. However, the shipyard and the design bureau neither comment nor confirm this information.

General characteristics of Sarov submarine:

Crew - 52 men (officers and warrant officers)
Draft - 7 meters
Length – 72.6 meters
Beam - 9.9 meters
Submerged displacement – 3,950 tons
Surface displacement – 2,300 tons
Submerged speed - 17 knots
Surface speed - 10 knots
Test depth - 300 meters
Submergence duration - up to 20 days
Designed endurance – 45 days