In the end of April 2004 the Navy Commander-in-Chief disbanded the division of Project 941 (Typhoon) strategic submarines, based in the Northern Fleet. It was the only division of submarines of this class. It included three submarines – Severstal, Arkhangelsk and Dmitry Donskoi. Only one of them - Severstal - has missiles on board, and even this submarine has only ten out of the full load of 20 missiles. Three other submarines of this class had been decommissioned earlier. This decision leaves Russian strategic fleet without Project 941 submarines and their missiles.
The reason the submarines are being decommissioned is that the R-39 (SS-N-20) missiles that they carry have reached end of their operational lives. The submarines were to be refitted with new missiles during their overhaul originally scheduled in mid-1990s. That became impossible after the breakup of the Soviet Union, since the first stage of the missile was produced at the Pavlograd plant in Ukraine. Production of these missiles in Russia was deemed impractical and the submarines were slated for dismantlement, which began in 2002.
The only submarine that will remain in service is Dmitry Donskoi – the first of this class. It entered overhaul in 1992 and was brought back into operation in 2003 as a test bed for a new Bulava missile. It is, however, not clear when, if ever, it could be operationally deployed with the new missile, which is still on very early stages of development.
The book
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Can you please tell me which squadron(s) the Typhoon fleet is a part of? I have read several conflicting reports citing the 18th, 11th & 12th as the squadron they are in service to.
GREAT site! Thanks!
Jeff
I think it was the 18th division. At least this is the number that was mentioned at the time the division was disbanded.
Is it possible to find drawings of the interior layout of the 941 submarine? Maybe design drawings? Specifically regarding the layout and location of the five inner pressure hulls and other compnents within the main hull. It is very difficult to find reliable information about this stuff... I suppose its probably classified. also where are the main ballast tanks located within the main hull, or is the entire space between the main hull and the pressure hulls flooded for diving?
Thanks for any help! I think I'll try to get a copy of the book?
We have some drawings in the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces book, but I'm not sure they are that detailed. You could try one of the Norman Polmar books on the Soviet Navy.
Hello -
I the discussions about Soviet/Russian SSBNs on this site. I am researching the Typhoon, and trying to answer the following questions:
- Did the Typhoon perform as expected?
- What were the reasons for stopping construction of unit 7 of the class?
What led to the low number of operational deployments and early demise of the Typhoon?
- Was there a technological design flaw in the class?
- Was maintenance on the typhoon too much for the average Soviet/Russian sailor?
- Overall was the Typhoon class a disappointment?
Can you help me answer any of these questions? Or point me in the direction of where I might find some answers?
Thanks very much.
These are good questions, but I'm sure it won't be easy to find answers. I don't know the system very well, but my impression is that the Soviet navy had mixed feelings about Typhoon. They liked its solid-propellant missiles much better than liquid-fuel ones. But the price was the size of the submarine. But from what I've heard, I wouldn't say that Typhoon performed significantly better or worse than expected. But these things are hard to measure.
As far as I understand, construction of the seventh boat was stopped around the time of the Soviet Union breakup and I would guess it has something to do with it. I've never heard of any design flaws in Typhoon and would doubt if its maintenance was too overwhelming for sailors.
There are quite a few books written by former Soviet submariners that could help you get a sense of what they thought about various systems, but they are all in Russian.
Gentlemen , hello and good afternoon !
I am very interested about the "TYPHOONS" because I buildt one of them in scale 1:45. It`s about four meters and I will finish it maybe this year. Now I have a qoestion in terms of them.
In march this year(2008) i searched the base of the Typhoons via google earth.I`ve found it right near zapatnaja litsa.There were three of them laying on the docks and i also watched that they will be loaded . Some weeks later , I didn`n mind about it,two of them were disapeared and one of them had changed position. Since there nothing chanched, and the site wouldn`t be oploaded.
Are you really sure that only TK208 , Dimitri Donskoij is duty?
What happened to TK 17 "Archangelsk"
Tk 20 "Severstal"
TK 12 "Simbirsk" ?
I believe that there is not only one of them on patrol. They must be more.
Does someone know about?
I would be glad to hear from you,
with best regards and thank you
Andi Pfisterer / vienna / Austria / Europe
Project 941 submarines have been decommissioned. Check out this post. Dmitry Donskoy is the only one that goes to sea - it was converted to a test bed for the Bulava missile.