Haze Gray Photo Feature

Soviet & Russian Navy

'TYPHOON' Class Ballistic Missile Submarines


[THUMBNAIL] A 'TYPHOON' class (Project 941 "Akula") ballistic missile submarine. The 'TYPHOON' class subs are by far the world's largest; they displace at least 33,800 tons, but some reports place the true figure at over 40,000 tons. These gigantic boats were apparently intended for a post-nuclear war role - they would go to sea prior to the outbreak of war, hide under the Arctic ice during the initial nuclear exchange, and surface through the ice to launch follow-up attacks. This mission required extremely long endurance, which in turn forced construction of very large submarines to provide the necessary crew habitability and stores. The boats carried 20 SS-N-20 SLBMs in tubes forward of the sail - a unique configuration. The hull was made up of two side-by-side cylindrical pressure hulls enclosed within the outer skin, plus three smaller pressure vessels - one for the torpedo tubes, one at the base of the sail for the control room, and one aft for steering gear. 6 'TYPHOON' class boats were built, but all are now out of service; most are being scrapped with US assistance, but one or two may be retained for refit with the not-yet-operational SS-N-28 SLBM.
[THUMBNAIL] Another view of a 'TYPHOON' class SSBN. The rounded lower section of the sail is in fact the upper half of a small pressure hull housing the control room.
[THUMBNAIL] A 'TYPHOON' at sea.
[THUMBNAIL] A stern view of a 'TYPHOON'. This was the first published photo of a 'TYPHOON'.
[THUMBNAIL] A 'TYPHOON' class stern quarter view.
[THUMBNAIL] An overhead view of a 'TYPHOON'.
[THUMBNAIL] A broadside view of a 'TYPHOON'.

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