On September 3, 2013, Yuri Dologorukiy, the lead submarine of the Project 955 Borey project, left the Sevmash plant for the naval base in Gadzhieyvo, where it will join the 31st submarine division of the Northern Fleet.
The submarine was officially accepted for service in December 2012. At that time it was reported that it will not get its missiles until January 2014.
In a related development, the NOTAM data suggest that Russia will conduct a Bulava launch between September 6 and 10, 2013. It was reported earlier that two test launches are scheduled for 2013 - a single-missile launch from Aleksandr Nevskiy and a salvo launch from Vladimir Monomakh. Aleksandr Nevskiy is expected to be accepted for service on 15 November 2013.
The book
Comments
Do we anticipate the Aleksandr Nevskiy and Vladimir Monomakh will deploy (base) to the Pacific Fleet or has this been changed as well?
Frank Shuler
USA
Frank: As I understand, the plan is that the subs will stay with the Northern Fleet for some time.
It’s been a general assumption the Delta III (Project 667BDR) boats at Vilyuchinsk are in the process of “standing down”. Are we to assume the Russian Navy is only going to base strategic submarines with the Northern Fleet? Are the assumptions wrong?
Frank Shuler
USA
That is definitely an incorrect assumption.
There may be multiple reasons why hull 1 would be in Gadzhiyevo. Proximity to repair facilities, need to temporarily replace the unavailable Ekaterinburg, living arrangements for the crew, etc. We don't even know if it's a permanent homeporting or temporary.
I agree - it is very unlikely that the Pacific base will be eliminated. Russia invested some efforts to renovating it. At the same time, it appears that it's not ready yet. Or maybe there is some other reason.
artjomh
It was a two part assumption. With the delay posting the three 955-class submarines to the Pacific Fleet, will the Delta III boats decommission or remain in limited service until the Yuri Dologorukiy-submarines are “relocated” from Gadzhiyevo “sometime in the future”?
On a second note, there are rumblings in New Delhi that India is interested in leasing another Russian submarine; one “specifically designed” to carry cruise missiles. I guess it could be an Oscar II class submarine but the speculation centers on the Severodvinsk. Have you heard any rumors of such?
Frank Shuler
USA
Frank, ok, let's separate the issues:
1) Just my assumption, but I think Delta III's will be decommissioned in parallel with commissioning of Borei's. Regardless of where the first Borei hulls will be originally homeported. There may be a later reshuffle with regards to the basing, thought, but I think the plan is to keep a constant number of boats in active commission. A reshuffle is not unprecedented, e.g. Ryazan transferred from the Barents to the Pacific about 10 years ago.
2) Severodvinsk is almost 100% out of the question. Not going to happen. I also have my doubts with regards to giving IN one of the Oscars, if only for the reason that Granit SLCM is nearing end of service and the replacement (Project 949AM, AKA Oscar-III AKA Oscar with Club SLCMs) is still very much on the drawing board.
The only thing that I've head is that the Russians are pushing India to fund construction of the last remaining Akula (unchristened Order 519) which is sitting about 60% complete in the Amur Shipyard. She would be identical to Nerpa/Chakra which the Indians are currently in possession of. Indians, so far, have no signed or agreed to anything.
Video from Gadzhiyevo is here:
http://video.tv21.ru/news/60895.mp4
artjomh
Alexander Stukalin
Any follow-up news on the fire damage to The Tomsk?
Frank Shuler
USA