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Sierra II

Nuclear powered attack submarine.

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History

The Sierra II class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) is essentially an improved version of the Pr. 945 ""Barrakuda"" design, incorporating a number of technological improvements. Designated Project 945A ""Kondor,"" the 945A submarines incorporates an advanced ""US style"" bow mounted spherical sonar array, which required moving the bow mounted torpedo tubes amidships and angling them outward, a method initiated by the Americans years earlier. In addition, the sail was redesigned, being lengthened by almost 20 feet and flattened, to give it a more streamlined appearance. All masts, sensors, and hatches were moved to the starboard side so that two, rather than one, rescue trunks, could be attached. The 945A retain the same armament of the original Pr. 945 series, which included two internal 53cm torpedo tubes, two external 53cm torpedo tubes, and four internally mounted 65cm torpedo tubes capable of launching 53 and 65cm wake following and wire guided torpedoes, BA-111 Shkval underwater rockets, P-100 anti-ship missiles, RPK-6 rocket delivered nuclear depth charges, RPK-7 rocket delivered homing torpedoes and the S-10 Granat strategic cruise missile.

Construction of the Zubatka class was severely curtailed by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Only two submarines were actually built and the last three which were to be modified and re classed as Project 945B ""Mars"" boats, were scrapped prior to construction. In addition, the Soviet navy had come to the realization that it lacked the production capabilities to continue producing titanium hulled submarines and so committed itself to the production of the steel hulled Project 971 ""Bars"" submarines instead.

Deployed roughly at the same time as the American Improved Los Angeles class fast attack submarines, the 945A boats were comparable with the 688I boats in terms of radiated noise at very low speeds but this performance fell away rapidly as speed increased. In addition, the performance of the 945A submarines deteriorated rapidly as the submarines aged. Both Zubatka class submarines were decommissioned in 1997 as a result of high operating costs.