Submarine "Lada", project 677

Military operations at sea have a mass of peculiar features. It's not for nothing that the navy service was always considered to be especially honorable, and the title "Admiral" was almost always appreciated above the general's rank. One of the features of the battle on the water is that attacks can always be expected not only from enemy surface ships and aircraft, but also from under the water.

The submarines of the Germans became a nightmare for the Allies during the Second World War, sending millions of tons of cargo and thousands of ships to the bottom of the Atlantic. The Soviet Union appreciated the German contribution to the development of the submarine fleet, beginning in the postwar period extensive development in this direction.

When uttering the word "submarine", most people immediately have an association with a huge ship of nuclear submarines carrying a deadly cargo on board in the form of heavy ballistic missiles capable of bringing huge problems to the probable enemy. At the same time, laymen forget that small diesel-electric submarines are no less valuable in the modern fleet. They are indispensable in the sabotage case, for secret landing of troops on the enemy shore.

One of the most successful projects was the Lada submarine. We will tell about it today.

General information

Project 667 ships are intended for carrying out reconnaissance and sabotage measures against surface ships and enemy submarines, protecting coastal areas from enemy landings, as well as for setting up minefields and other similar tasks. Thus, the submarine "Lada", whose photo is in the article, is optimally suitable for the tasks of modern war, which requires maximum mobility and invisibility.

A feature of the submarines of this series is the scheme of their construction, called "one and a half". The fact is that the body (made of steel AB-2) has the same diameter along its entire length. Unlike large nuclear boats, the nose and forage have a well-defined spherical shape. Thanks to the bulkheads, the body is divided into five independent compartments. There are three decks on the ship.

Impressive hydrodynamic characteristics are provided thanks to the body of a specially designed, especially well-streamlined shape. The retractable devices have exactly the same obstruction as the 877 project ships, but the stern plumage is cross-shaped, and the front rudders are mounted on the fence. This is done to ensure that they create as little interference as possible with the operation of the sonar equipment, which is equipped with a submarine. The project "Lada" in this sense is a true standard: it is extremely quiet, it is extremely difficult to detect by means of sonar and hydroacoustic.

Armament of the submarine

The main means of protection and attack are six vehicles for launching torpedoes with a caliber of 533 mm, with two shafts on the upper deck intended for firing guided ammunition. The standard ammunition includes 18 torpedoes. More often, the submarine Lada 677 uses universal type munitions (SAET-60M, UGST), special torpedoes for the destruction of enemy submarines. On board there can be cruise missiles, as well as 22 mines model DM-1. There is the possibility of combat use of anti-submarine missiles of the Shkval type.

The fire control system allows both single shots and salvo firing from six mines simultaneously. For reloading the torpedo tubes, the "Murena" complex is responsible, which allows to carry out the entire operation in a fully automatic mode. The whole process is completely controlled from the commanding command post, which is equipped with a submarine. The Lada project was the first in the Soviet Union to develop a non-nuclear submarine that would use so many sophisticated and highly efficient automatics.

To ensure the protection of the boat from the enemy's combat aircraft, the crew can use six MANPADS of the Igla-1M model. Coordination of all combat systems is ensured through the use of the "Lithium" system. Thus, the submarine "Lada", whose armament we have painted, with its small dimensions of the way to deliver great problems to any enemy.

Sonar complex

For sonar reconnaissance is the "Lira" complex, which includes powerful sensitive antennas. The plant consists of three antennas, one of which is located on the nose of the submarine, and two - mounted on its sides. Engineers have maximized their diameter for the sake of measuring undersea noise accurately. So, the front antenna occupies almost the entire space on the nose of the submarine. In case of damage to the on-board equipment, there is a produced sonar equipment, which the Lada submarine (project 677) can tow for itself on the march.

Navigation system

Navigation system - inertial type. Responsible for providing data on the exact location of the ship, as well as for determining the optimal speed at which the weapons on board can be used with maximum efficiency.

As part of the system, there is a periscope equipment such as UPK "Parus-98", which includes the following elements:

• Non-permeating periscope commander, "Sail-98KP." Has a day and low-level channels (optical and TV). The degree of magnification varies from 1.5 to 12X, there is the possibility of video recording of the observed data.
• The mast is optron, non-penetrating type "Parus-98UP". In fact, it is a multifunctional universal periscope. As part of the design - two channels (day and low-level), the degree of increase - as in the commander's telescope, there is a highly effective laser range finder.

Thus, the submarine "Lada", the TTX of which we briefly painted, can be used with equal success in day and night conditions. She always remains invisible to the enemy.

Other elements of the navigation system

The most important element is the radar system of the radar model KRM-66 Kodak. Includes active and passive radio channels, it can work in a combined mode. With active use, a specially protected, hidden communication channel can be activated . It gives a complete picture of the surrounding submarine environment (including the surface), but it does not unmask the ship. In this sense, the Lada submarine (Project 677) is in many respects a unique object, which has no analogues in the world, no matter how beaten the phrase sounded.

Digital communication system of the "Distance" model. Allows you to exchange information on a bidirectional, secure information channel with onshore command posts, ships and aircraft (assuming they are at periscope depth). If there is a need to send an urgent message from a great depth, an exhaust towed antenna is used. This equipment is in a particularly strong case, capable of protecting it even in the event of hostilities. Simply put, "Lada" - the boat is very tenacious.

Finally, the complex of navigation equipment "Appassionata". It contains an inertial navigation system, as well as a GPS / GLONASS satellite navigation module. The accuracy of locating at its use is extremely high, but depends on the proximity of the base station adjustment for a particular "provider".

Power point

"The heart" of the submarine is a diesel-electric power plant, made according to a scheme that provides for movement only on the electric path. This is what distinguishes the submarine "Lada" from foreign analogues. TTS (transport-technical systems) of foreign ships of this class can provide traffic only on a diesel engine.

The diesel engine is located in the fourth compartment. For generation of electricity, two 28DG generators are used, coupled with rectifiers with a capacity of 1000 kW each. Energy is stored in two groups of batteries. In each of them there are 126 elements (they are in the first and third compartments). The total aggregate capacity of the entire plant in the peak state is 10580 kW / h. The working motor is electric, it is excited by permanent magnets. The SED-1 grade, the specific power is 4100 kW.

The selected engine power and the capacity of the batteries are not accidental. The matter is that it is with this ratio that it becomes possible to accelerate the loading of batteries, which almost doubles the finding of a submarine at periscope depth. Since there is no brush collector in the generator, the maintenance and operation of the entire plant is greatly simplified and becomes much safer. In this respect, "Lada" is a boat that in many respects outstripped its time.

The basic scheme of work of engines

The all-mode electric power unit fulfills the role of the main propulsor in all marching conditions of the ship. In principle, we have already talked about the fact that the motion on a diesel engine alone is not provided in principle. The propeller has seven blades, it is made on special, low-noise technology. This state of affairs was largely achieved thanks to the saber-like shape of the blades, which gives the minimum level of noise when driving. In addition, the submarine has two remote steering columns of the RDK-35 brand.

The maximum achievable speed in the above-water position reaches 21 knots. In the underwater position, the submarine does not accelerate over 10 knots. The cruising range is about 6,000 miles, but when driving at an economical speed, you can increase the resource by an additional 650 miles.

On the living and working conditions of the ship's crew

The crew consists of 35 people. To save people in case of emergency, the rescue system KSU-600 is provided. It assumes the remote automatic release of life rafts of the PSNL-20 model. In total there are two of them, they are located in the superstructure for retractable devices.

The residential area on the submarine is located in the third compartment. Unlike the surface ships of the USSR and the Russian Federation, very good living conditions have been created for the crew. Two-person cabins are provided for the personnel. Each officer is assigned a separate room.

The meal takes place in the wardroom, combined with a pantry room. The food reserves, depending on their characteristics and storage requirements, are located in refrigerated and uncooled pantries. In recent years, the submarines of this series began to install galley equipment of a new type: with a very compact size it provides the preparation of a full and diverse food allowance for the crew.

Stocks of fresh water are stored in cisterns of food grade stainless steel. You can replenish the supply of food fresh water directly in the field. For this purpose, desalination plants are provided, which use heat from operating diesel engines to operate. In general, with the regular flow of the hike, water supplies are sufficient to provide not only domestic, but also technical needs. Completely loaded with everything necessary, the submarine remains autonomous for 45 days.

Further exploitation and prospects of the ship

As it often happens, the submarine Lada has not coped well with the test of time. The fact is that its technical characteristics do not meet modern requirements, which are imposed on such a class of vessels. So, at the moment there is an intensive work on the creation of anaerobic power plants. At the end of 2012, India, a long-standing strategic partner of our country, expressed the desire to acquire six such boats of the 677 Lada project.

Simply put, the country needs such diesel-electric submarines, which could be in combat campaigns for as long as possible, without the need to rise even to periscope depth. The submarine "Lada", whose air-independent power installation will be perfected, will be able to make many months "swim". It should be noted that scientific research in this direction is quite successful.

What's New?

Innovations in the design of a well-established ship will be brought a lot. The developer is the famous enterprise of the Central Design Bureau of MT Rubin. In mid-2013 it was finally decided that the submarine "Lada" will continue to be in service with the Russian Navy. In the modernized, of course, option.

Great attention was paid by Russian specialists to the modernization of on-board electronic systems. The automation of the torpedo installation was completely rethought, almost completely redesigned (taking into account the use of modern technologies) the mechanics of the electric power plant.

The navigation has not been left out: considering how many new solutions were put into it, we can safely say that this system has been recreated. It is not surprising that such a submarine Lada inevitably attracts the attention of foreign customers.

Kronstadt will come down first from the stocks. Ironically, the former "old women", who were preparing to completely write off, today are among the most advanced non-nuclear submarines in the world. One can say with certainty that, provided that the pace of work continues, they will be enjoyed with pleasure not only by the Russian Navy, but also by many foreign customers, supporting the country's budget.

However, as many boats of the 677 Lada project as of today are needed by Russia, as these ships are an excellent means of protecting maritime borders and coasts, which our country has plenty of.