Submarine St. Petersburg to Serve and Pass Trials at Northern Fleet

25.09.2012 Undergoing sea trials at Northern Fleet (NF), Lada-class lead submarine St. Petersburg will also perform combat tasks, reports RIA Novosti referring to Alexander Buzakov, director general of JSC Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard.

"Her mission is performing combat tasks at Northern Fleet. The prefix 'experimental' means that some onboard systems needed improvement. Today, we can say with confidence that the shipyard has met all requirements. Hopefully, the sub will leave Baltiysk for Northern Fleet in the end of September", Buzakov said.

Recall that construction of two Lada-class diesel submarines was suspended by former Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Vysotsky because the lead sub St. Petersburg failed to prove designed characteristics.

Submarines of Lada project are designed for antisurface and antisubmarine warfare, protection of naval bases, coastline, sea lanes, and reconnaissance operations. Displacement is 1,765 tons; test depth is 350 meters; speed is 21 knots; crew is 36 men; endurance is 45 days; armament includes torpedoes, rocket torpedoes, and antiaircraft missile system Igla-1M.