Drops idea to rebuild subs for cargo transport
Plans to use Typhoon submarines for under-ice deliveries of oil and ore in Arctic waters is inexpedient, says the designer of the world’s largest ever built submarine.
Ideas to refit two of Russia’s huge nuclear powered submarines to carry ore were earlier discussed between Rubin Central Design Bureau and metallurgical giant Norilsk-Nickel.
The designers also said it could be possible to replace the 20 intercontinental nuclear missiles with tanks to carry oil from re-loading terminals under the ice in the Arctic.
With the missile launchers removed, the projected cargo capacity could be 15,000 tonnes.
- Their use for civilian purposes is inexpedient, said Andrei Diachkov, director general of Rubin at a press conference before Christmas, reports RusNavy, a portal that monitors Russian navy developments.
The Russian navy has three remaining submarines of the Typhoon-class. One, the thirty-year old “Dmitri Donskoy” is used as a test-launch platform for the new Bulava missile. The two others, “Severstal” and “Arkhangelsk” are in reserve and their missiles are removed.
BarentsObserver reported last year that “Severstal” and “Arkhangelsk” could get overhaul and by that stay in service until 2019.
Read also: Typhoons will come back in service
The 175 meter (574 feet) long and 24,000 tons heavy submarine is the largest nuclear powered submarine ever built. During the Cold War the six Typhoon-class submarines were based at the naval base in Zapadnaya Litsa on the Kola Peninsula, only some 50 kilometers from the border to Norway.
