Russian diesel sub St.Petersburg to enter service by yearend

20.02.2009
The Russian diesel submarine St.Petersburg will enter service in the Russian Navy by the end of 2009, Admiral Vyacheslav Popov, a former commander of the Northern Fleet and now chairman of the Federation Council's Commission on Naval Policy, told a conference titled Future of the Russian Navy in St.Petersburg on February 19.

The submarine is currently undergoing testing and will enter service after a few bugs are eliminated, the admiral added.

The Russian Navy will likewise receive the nuclear sub Yuri Dolgoruky (SSBN Borey-1) in the next two years. A more precise time cannot be given, since the submarine is first in its category and is undergoing a special series of tests, said Popov.

Construction of the St.Petersburg, project 677, began at the Admiralteisky shipyards in 1997. The sub was launched in 2004. It has a water displacement of 1,765 tonnes and can sail at an underwater speed of 21 knots. It is equipped with a torpedo-missile complex. It stands out by its ability to remain practically invisible and sail long distances.

The nuclear submarine Yury Dolgoruky is the head of project 955 Borey. Construction was begun in 1996 at the Sevmash Shipbuilding Factory, and it was launched in 2008. It has an underwater displacement of 14,720 tonnes, can develop a surface speed of 15 knots and an underwater speed of 29 knots. It can remain at sea for 90 days at a time, and has a crew of 107. It is equipped with a torpedo-missile complex. The Yury Dolgoruky will be equipped with the cutting-edge Bulava missile system, which is now undergoing testing.

Picture: Diesel submarine St.Petersburg. Photo by Yuri Sinodov, Lenta.ru

Translation: RusNavy.com