The first cases of the use of submarines for military purposes date back to the middle of the 19th century. However, due to its technical imperfection, the submarines for a long time played only an auxiliary role in the naval forces. The situation completely changed after the discovery of atomic energy and the invention of ballistic missiles.
Goals and dimensions
Submarines have different purposes. The size of the world's submarines varies depending on their goals. Some are designed for a crew of only two people, while others are capable of carrying dozens of intercontinental missiles on board. What tasks do the world's largest submarines perform?
Triumphan
French strategic nuclear submarine. Its name in translation means "triumph". The length of the boat is 138 meters, displacement - 14 thousand tons. The ship is armed with M45 three-stage ballistic missiles with multiple warheads equipped with individual guidance systems. They are capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 5300 kilometers. At the design stage, the designers were tasked with making the submarine as inconspicuous as possible for the enemy and providing it with an effective system for early detection of enemy anti-submarine defenses. A thorough study and numerous experiments showed that the main reason for revealing the location of the submarine is its acoustic footprint.
When designing the "Triumphan" were used all known methods of reducing noise. Despite the impressive size of the submarine, it is a fairly complex object for acoustic detection. The specific shape of the submarine helps to reduce hydrodynamic noise. The sound level produced during the operation of the ship’s main power plant is significantly reduced due to a number of non-standard technological solutions. "Triumfan" has on board an ultra-modern sonar system designed for the early detection of anti-submarine means of the enemy.
Jin
A strategic nuclear missile submarine cruiser built for the Chinese Navy. Due to the increased level of secrecy, a significant part of the data on this vessel does not come from the media, but from the intelligence services of the United States and other NATO countries. The dimensions of the submarine are determined on the basis of a photograph taken in 2006 by a commercial satellite designed to receive digital images of the earth's surface. The length of the vessel is 140 meters, displacement - 11 thousand tons.
Experts note that the size of the Jin nuclear submarine is larger than the dimensions of previous, technically and obsolete Chinese submarines of the Xia class. The new generation vessel is adapted to launch the Juilan-2 intercontinental ballistic missiles equipped with separable atomic warheads. The maximum range of their flight is 12 thousand kilometers. The Jiuilan-2 missiles are an exclusive development. When designing them, the size of Jin class submarines intended to become carriers of this formidable weapon was taken into account. According to experts, the presence of such ballistic missiles and submarines in China significantly changes the balance of power in the world. About three quarters of the United States is in the zone of destruction of the Jin boats located in the Kuril Islands. However, according to information available to the US military, the test launches of the Juilan missiles often end in failure.
Wangard
British strategic nuclear submarine, the size of which allows you to compete with the largest submarines in the world. The length of the vessel is 150 meters, displacement - 15 thousand tons. Boats of this type have been in service with the Royal Navy since 1994. To date, Wangard-class submarines are the only carriers of nuclear weapons in the UK. They are equipped with Trident-2 ballistic missiles. This weapon deserves special mention. It is produced by the famous American company Lockheed Martin for the US Navy. The British government took on 5% of the cost of developing missiles, which, according to the designers, were to surpass all their predecessors. The Trident-2 zone of destruction is 11 thousand kilometers, and its accuracy reaches several feet. Missile guidance is independent of the US global positioning system. Trident-2 delivers nuclear warheads to the target at a speed of 21 thousand kilometers per hour. Four Wengard boats deployed a total of 58 of these missiles, which are the UK’s "nuclear shield."
Murena-M
Soviet submarine built during the cold war. The main goals of creating the boat were to increase the range of missiles and overcome American sonar detection systems. The expansion of the affected area required a change in the dimensions of the submarine compared to previous versions. The launch shafts of the Murena-M boat are designed for D-9 rockets, the launch mass of which is twice the usual mass. The ship is 155 meters long and has a displacement of 15 thousand tons. According to experts, Soviet designers were able to complete the original task. The range of the missile system increased by about 2.5 times. In order to achieve this goal, the Murena-M submarine had to be made one of the largest submarines in the world. The dimensions of the missile carrier did not change for the worse the level of its secrecy. The design of the boat was designed to absorb vibration of the mechanisms, since in those days the US sonar tracking system became a serious problem for Soviet strategic submarines.
"Ohio"
At the service of the American Navy there are 18 submarines of this class, capable of carrying half of the country's thermonuclear arsenal on board. The size of the largest submarine in US history is amazing. In terms of size, "Ohio" has almost no competitors in the world. Only the size of the Russian submarines "Borey" and "Shark" break the record of the American giant. The length of the Ohio is 170 meters, the displacement is 18 thousand tons. Boats of this type are designed for continuous patrol and intimidation of potential opponents. "Ohio" has no equal in the number of launch mines: the ship can accommodate 24 ballistic missiles "Trident-2". According to some reports, the submarine has a very low noise level, however, accurate information about this remains classified. Four Ohio class boats in 2003 were converted to install Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Northwind
The development of this nuclear submarine cruiser began in the Soviet Union. It was finally designed and built in the Russian Federation. Its name comes from the name of the ancient Greek god of the north wind. In accordance with the plans of the creators, the boat "Borey" in the foreseeable future should replace the submarines of the classes "Shark" and "Dolphin". The cruiser is 170 meters long and has a displacement of 24 thousand tons. The Borey was the first strategic submarine built in the post-Soviet era. First of all, the new Russian boat serves as a platform for launching Bulava ballistic missiles equipped with multiple nuclear warheads. The range of their flight exceeds 8 thousand kilometers. Due to funding problems and disruption of economic relations with enterprises located in the former Soviet republics, the completion date for the construction of the ship was repeatedly postponed. The boat "Borey" was launched in 2008.
"Shark"
According to the classification of NATO, this vessel has the designation "Typhoon". The size of the submarine "Shark" surpasses everything that was created over the history of the existence of submarines. Its construction was the answer of the Soviet Union to the Ohio American project. The enormous size of the Shark heavy submarine was due to the need to deploy R-39 missiles on it, the mass and length of which significantly exceeded that of the American Trident. Soviet designers had to come to terms with large dimensions in order to increase the flight range and weight of the warhead. The Akula boat, adapted to launch these missiles, has a record length of 173 meters. Its displacement is 48 thousand tons. To date, the "Shark" remains the largest submarine in the world.
Spawn of an era
The first lines of the ranking are occupied by submarines of the USA and the USSR. This is understandable: the superpowers involved in the Cold War believed in the possibility of delivering an advance strike. They saw their main task in imperceptibly placing nuclear missiles as close to the enemy as possible. This mission was entrusted to large submarines, which became the legacy of that era.