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fighting ships of the world

SOVIET / RUSSIAN NAVY (USSR / RUSSIA)

SUBMARINES

B-248 submarines (project 877) (1980 - 1994)

B-871 submarine (project 877V) (1990)

B-248 1990

Project history: Designed by Rubin design bureau (ex-TsKB-18) as two parallel projects, 877 for Soviet Navy and 877E (Warshawianka) for export, particularly to Warsaw Pact allies. This submarine was designed specifically to exploit the new 'Second Captain' automation technology, in which a single central computer would perform both fire control and ship control functions. For example, fire control data were entered automatically, rather than manually as in the 'Leningrad' system of the preceding Project 641. Diving and machinery control were also automated. Most functions are controlled from a single central panel. Manning could therefore be reduced drastically, to a total of 52-60 on a 3-watch basis.

    Silencing (including magnetic and presumably UEP) was emphasised. The diesel-generators are suspended (rafted). The hull has an anti-sonar coating. Flooding ports were eliminated from the forebody of the submarine and the fore planes were moved aft to reduce noise, particularly noise interfering with the bow sonar.

    The design emphasised underwater performance; it was not a submersible like Project 641, which would spend much of its lime surfaced. Therefore Rubin adopted an Albacore hull and accepted limited surface speed. This hull form was probably also attractive because it could meet die requirements of both types of Soviet export customer: shallow-water navies requiring short hulls, and deep-water navies requiring considerable internal volume. Previous diesel submarines had been single-decked, and therefore could add usable space only by adding length. As in other Russian designs, this one is compartmented for survivability; Rubin claims that it can remain afloat (on the surface) with one compartment and two adjacent main ballast tanks flooded. Maximum depth is 300m; periscope depth is 17.5m.

The Protect 877EM combat system is built around a general-purpose computer (MVU-110EM) which receives sonar data and transmits torpedo settings. Torpedoes can also be reloaded from the central control station (using a Murena panel to control an automatic rapid loader); they can be launched at any depth, presumably by water slug. The computer can automatically track and engage two targets using wire-guided torpedoes (only two tubes are fitted to fire such weapons); three more targets can be tracked manually. The central computer can also hold the submarine on an ordered course, and can solve navigational problems (eg, presumably, closest point of approach).

    Project 877 was the first Soviet submarine to use true diesel-electric propulsion. It was probably adopted because it simplified silencing and because it allowed two compact diesels to drive the single screw that was hydrodynamically preferable. The batteries were a new high-capacity type (9700kWh each). The propeller shaft can be turned by a creep motor. There are also two water channels let into the hull aft. Small low-speed propellers in them can be used in an emergency or for manoeuvering.

    Submarines of Project 877 can fire 53-65K, 53-65V, 53-65VA steam-gas driven, SET-53M, TEST-71M and USET-80 electric driven torpedoes and MG-74 Korund-2 torpedo decoys. Project 877 EKM have 53-65KE and TEST-71ME torpedoes, Project 08773 can also fire Club-S SSMs. All submarines can carry 24 DM-1 mines instead of torpedoes.

Modernizations: 2010, B-187; 2013, B-800 Kaluga: - MGK-400 Rubikon sonar suite, MVU-110 Uzel CCS; + MGK-400V1 Rubikon sonar suite, MVU-110EM Uzel CCS.

Naval service: No significant events.

B-177 Lipetsk 2002

© Ivan Gogin, 2016-19