Victor class submarine

The Victor class (Russian name Type 671 Shchuka (Pike) is the general NATO classification for a type of nuclear-powered submarine that was originally put into service by the Soviet Union around 1967. In the USSR, they were produced under Project 671. Victor-class subs featured a teardrop shape, which allowed them to travel at high speed. These vessels were primarily designed to protect Soviet surface fleets and to attack American ballistic missile subs, should the need ever arise.

The Soviet Union discovered through its spy network that Americans could easily track Victor II-class subs (one of the sub-classifications listed below) and subsequently halted production of that type to design the Victor III class.

Versions

Three versions of Victor-class subs existed:

Victor I

Victor I - Soviet designation Project 671 Yorzh (Rufe) - was the initial type that entered service in 1967; 16 were produced. Each had 6 tubes for launching Type 53 torpedoes and SS-N-15 cruise missiles, and mines could also be released. Subs had a capacity of 24 tube-launched weapons or 48 mines (a combination would require less of each).

Victor II

Victor II - Soviet Designation Project 671RT Semga (a type of Salmon)- entered service in 1972; 7 or more were produced in the 1970's. These were originally designated Uniform class by NATO. Similar armament to "Victor I".

Victor III

Victor III - Soviet Designation Project 671RTM Shchuka (Pike) - entered service in 1979; 25 or 26 were produced until 1991. Quieter than previous Soviet submarines, these ships had 2 tubes for launching SS-N-21 or SS-N-15 missiles and Type 53 torpedoes, plus another 4 tubes for launching SS-N-16 missiles and Type 65 torpedoes. 24 tube-launched weapons or 36 mines could be on-board. The Victor-III caused a minor furore in NATO intelligence agencies at its introduction because of the distinctive pod on the vertical stern-plane. Speculation immediately mounted that the pod was the housing for some sort of exotic silent propulsion system, possibly a Magnetohydrodynamic drive unit. Another theory proposed that it was some sort of weapon system. In the end, the Victor-III's pod was identified as a hydrodynamic housing for a reelable towed passive sonar array; the system was subsequently incorporated into the Sierra-class and Akula-class SSNs.

Incidents

On September 6 2006, a Victor III "Daniil Moskovsky" suffered an electronics fire while in the Barents Sea, killing two crew members. The boat was 16 years old and overdue for overhaul. It was towed back to Vidyayevo. [http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-09-07T180714Z_01_L07663566_RTRUKOC_0_US-RUSSIA-SUBMARINE.xml&pageNumber=1&imageid=&c
] Dead link|date=March 2008] [http://www.bellona.org/subjects/1140451820.2 Northern Fleet accidents and incidents - Bellona ] ]

General characteristics

*Length: 93 to 102 meters (303 to 335 feet)
*Beam: 10 m (33 ft)
*Draft: 7 m (24 ft)
*Displacement: 6,085 tons to 6,990 tons
*Propulsion:
**2 VM-4 pressurized-water reactors
**1 propeller
*Crew: about 100
*Armament:
**6 torpedo tubes
**cruise missiles
**mines
*Speed: 56 km/h (32 knots/35 mph)
*Commissioned: November 5, 1967

Notes

References

* [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/k19/sub_detail_sov3.html National Geographic: Victor class] accessed March 14, 2004.
* [http://www.ais.org/~schnars/aero/nato-shp.htm NATO Code Names for Submarines and Ships] accessed March 14, 2004.
* [http://ship.bsu.by/main.asp?id=101051 Article in Russian Language on Victor I]
* [http://ship.bsu.by/main.asp?id=101090 Article in Russian Language on Victor II]
* [http://ship.bsu.by/main.asp?id=101098 Article in Russian Language on Victor III]
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/rus/671.htm Article in English from FAS]
* [http://www.bellona.org/articles/sub_fire Fire breaks out aboard Northern Fleet nuclear sub, killing 2]