The change in the geopolitical situation after the liquidation of the USSR led to the need to create a submarine with a lower cost than a submarine of the Sea Wolf type. Initially, the task was to preserve the main tactical and technical characteristics, implement new technical solutions in the rigging of the chassis and warhead, and get a multi-purpose submarine to solve a wide range of combat missions. In 1998, the US Navy ordered the first instance of a new series of submarines. They laid it in 1999, and launched it in 2003. The first Virginia submarine from this project was put into service in 2004.
Housing
The hull of the submarine "Virginia" has a length of 113 m, a width of 10.2 m. It includes integrated units, the design of which provides for the possibility of quick replacement for repair or modernization. The outer coating has a "damping" effect, which makes the noise level of the Virginia submarine lower than that of the fourth-generation submarines of the Russian Navy.
Power point
The main innovation implemented in the Virginia nuclear submarine is the use of a “disposable” nuclear reactor. Its resource is designed for the entire life of the boat - 30-33 years. The reactor does not need to recharge and expose personnel and equipment to the risk of radioactive contamination. During the reloading of the reactor, the boat cannot be on alert duty and perform assigned tasks. The Virginia submarine and others in its series are devoid of this drawback.
Armament
US submarines of the Los Angeles class are equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have proven themselves in the theater of war in many conflicts. These missiles are reliable, relatively cheap and well-developed. Later-built submarines of the Virginia type received the advanced fourth-generation Tomahawk missiles. These missiles have a more flexible control and guidance system: they are able to change the target in flight and barrage in anticipation of receiving the target.
The Virginia submarine is equipped with four torpedo tubes, 26 standard torpedo ammunition. type Gould Mark 48. They are capable of hitting surface targets and high-speed submarines. The guidance system has passive and active components:
- when the target is captured, the torpedo guides the course with the calculation of the smallest trajectory;
- when the target is lost, its independent search, capture and subsequent attack are made;
- multiple attack system allows several times to search and capture the target when it is lost.
The range of torpedoes Gould Mark 48 is 38 km at a speed of 55 knots or 50 km at a speed of 40 knots. The maximum immersion depth of the target is 800 m.
It also provides for the use of small Harpoon missiles with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 225 kg. The range of the Harpoon missiles is from 90 to 220 km, depending on their modifications.
Hydroacoustic equipment
Initially, it was planned to equip the Virginia submarine with the AN / BQQ-10 sonar system, which was tested on the Sea Wolf submarine. But the diameter of the bow of Virginia is much smaller than that of the Sea Wolf, because of this the placement of this complex would lead to severe tightness of the nose.
Later, a modernized version of the acoustic complex was developed under the label AN / BQG-5A. Its acoustic antennas have a smaller diameter and are better suited for Virginia-class submarines. The need for reliable location of mines at shallow depths led to the development and installation of a new antenna, which is why the submarine acquired in appearance a characteristic "chin" in the bow.
The high resolution of this antenna allows you to confidently maneuver at shallow depths and find anchored mines located above the ground in the water column.
From the towed antennas of the hydroacoustic system, the choice fell on TV-16 (located in a special hangar on the starboard side) and TV-29A. The second is a more modern version of the towed antenna TV-29, which was rejected at the design stage due to its high cost.
Submarine Adaptation
In 2010, the US Navy command lifted the ban on serving women in submarines. In this regard, the Electric Boat company began to finalize the submarine "Virginia" and some of its other class to adapt them to women's needs. The following ideas will be implemented:
- increase in the number of showers;
- separate latches;
- separate sleeping cabins;
- easier control from the point of view of physical effort by mechanisms and equipment elements;
- the location of informative labels is slightly lower;
- installation of ladders near multi-tiered beds.
It should be noted that at present in the US Navy about 80 female officers and approximately 50 female sailors are serving in submarines. And every year their number is increasing. The adaptation of submarines to women's needs and characteristics of the female body is a necessary and necessary measure, although it lends itself to criticism from the men of submariners.