Yuri Dolgorukiy the lead submarine of the Project 955 class, is being prepared to return to the sea. According to an Arms-TASS report, the ship was moved out of the repair facility and transferred to a floating dock. It was moved to the dock in December 2010, apparently to fix the problems discovered during the sea trials.
At the same time, Novomoskovsk, a Project 667BDRM/Delta IV submarine, was returned to the dock. It is the last submarine of the Project 667BDRM class that was undergoing overhaul at Zvezdochka. It seemed to be completed in December 2010, but apparently more work needs to be done.
The book
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Sorry, I'm a little late with my question.
Does someone know the status of the Delta IV KS-64 currently at Zvedzdochka / Severodvinsk?
Once it was intended to use the special section of KS-411 (Yankee Stretch) and to rebuild the Delta IV into a new "mothership" (much like the Delta III KS-129). Do they continue in that task or was it cancelled or scrapped?
Thanks for any response
Cheers from bernd reuter
bernd reuter
I too share your interest in the K-64. There has always been a little intrigue about this particular boat. The K-64 was the unnamed third completed Delta IV submarine (Project 667BDRM, Delfin Class) that was officially offered up for scrap back in 2001. Later the fate of the K-64 seemed to change. First news was that the K-64 would be retained as an operational Delta IV “boomer” and join its six sisters in “deterrence patrols” after a refit. Then the story was the submarine would be rebuilt as a special-ops boat; later news suggested that conversion never started. Rumor had it the nuclear reactor power plant of K-64 had issues and it wasn’t financially viable for the submarine to reenter service. Then the story circulated the K-64 would be used for parts and cannibalized to support the remaining Delta IV fleet.
I too would appreciate any new facts or educated opinions on the fate of K-64.
Frank Shuler
USA
Thanks for your nice response, Frank!
With the help of google earth we can see some of it's "fate":
Go to Severodvinsk and use the History Layer:
14 July 2003
64.569110° 39.767997° - the ship already with a cut out missile section
You know it was intended to create KS-64 with a plug in of the special section of K-411 Yankee Stretch.
5 May 2004
The ship is now here 64.583342° 39.809994°.
The KS-411 "Orenburg" is first seen on
5 Mai 2005 and on 10 June 2005 right here 64.579407° 39.787631° (still with the special section).
And on 11 August 2005 we have it here 64.579171° 39.788376° next to TK-12.
On 5 Mai 2006 we have KS-411 here 64.583479° 39.810740° at the Zvedzdochka yard short before work started.
On 24 September 2007 we have it already without the special section right here 64.586147° 39.822158°. You can even see the cut just aft of the sail. See also http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/8225/subyankeestretchks411sp.jpg
We have a last picture of K-64 showing the boat off the Zvedzdochka yard http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/2151/subdeltaivbs64zvedzdoch.jpg
The fleetbook "Weyers 2008-2010" says the rebuild of BS-64 was halted due to lack of funds but mentioned that work was resumed in 2006 and that the finalization of ship is scheduled for 2009.
The ship was intended to support Paltus class Midgets (we can see one of these rare birds at Olenya 69.216826° 33.381100° (25 June 2010).
Well obviously that did not happened yet..or never.
So the only mothership in support of 29th special squadron at Olenya Bay is BS-136 (Delta III Stretch).
Maybe we will get some hints
Cheers to all
bernd reuter
Thanks for sharing the information and great pics! Any picture of a Russian submarine is always appreciated. Information sure is hard to come by and even “official” statements from the Russian government are usually contradicted. It’s just my opinion but I don’t think K-64 will ever see “blue water” again.
Frank Shuler
USA