The “Dmitri Donskoy” nuclear-powered submarine. Unveiling the secret

15:0010 Jun, 2015 8464
Photo: Oleg Kuleshov/Defending Russia

Oleg Kuleshov, the “Defending Russia” correspondent, accompanied by his photo camera, has visited the “Dmitri Donskoy” strategic nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser — the largest submarine in the world.

Russian prince Dmitri Ivanovitch did not just beat the tartars in the first Russian battlefield. 601 years after Mamay had run away from the Kulikovo field the lead ship of project 941 (“Akula”, Eng.shark) entered the service with the Soviet Navy.

The left board and conning tower of “Dmitri Donskoy”. To get to this point one is to pass through three checkpoints: at the base territory, at the loading crane and at the submarine itself.

Dmitri Donskoy strategic nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser
Photo: Oleg Kuleshov/Defending Russia

Russia today has in total three nuclear submarines of project 941: the TK-208 “Dmitri Donskoy”, the TK-17 “Arkhangelsk” and the TK-20 “Severstal”.

The K-17 “Arkhangelsk” (on the left) and the TK-20 “Severstal”. Photo: Oleg Kuleshov/Defending Russia

Despite the fact it was made the first “Dmitriy Donskoy” is the state-of-the-art submarine of the “Akula” project.

The “Dmitri Donskoy” and the loading crane. Photo: Oleg Kuleshov/Defending Russia

Thanks to the “Sevmash” enterprise development under the 941 UM project of 1996-2002 the submarine carries death – the newest R-30 “Bulava” intercontinental ballistic missile. These are the contours of the ballistic pit hatchways. The “Prince” keeps the “Bulavas” in some of them.

Photo: Oleg Kuleshov/Defending Russia

Entrance into the mast fairwater, which is popularly called the cockpit.

Photo: Oleg Kuleshov/Defending Russia

The photos cannot convey the true size of the submarine but the marked index lines display he 1 m distance. Two lines – 2 meters.

Photo: Oleg Kuleshov/Defending Russia

The “Akulas” are the world largest submarines. Each is as long as two football fields and as high as a 9-floor house. The width is 3 meters more than that of the Yak-40.

Photo: Oleg Kuleshov/Defending Russia

Ussein Bolt would run along the submarine for as long as 15 seconds.

Photo: Oleg Kuleshov/Defending Russia

Not all of the 941 Project submarines have the same interior. The interior of the “Dmitriy Donskoy” is quite different from those of the “Severstal” and the “Arkhangelsk”. Even the control center is located elsewhere. The TK-17 and the TK-20 are equipped with the old-fashioned tube shield displays.

Photo: Oleg Kuleshov/Defending Russia

Next time the “Defending Russia” will post the pictures of the submarine’s interior. The relaxation zone, the control center, the “Bulava”. A good reason to add the site to the Favorites and follow the exclusive content updates.

Photo: Oleg Kuleshov/Defending Russia
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