Project 667BDRM/Delta IV

Center repair "Little Star" in 2011, plans to transfer to the fleet after upgrading SSBN Novomoskovsk "


Severodvinsk, October 7. (ITAR-TASS). "Center for repair" Little Star "(Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk region) plans in 2011 to provide the fleet since the mid-renovation and modernization of K-407 SSBN Novomoskovsk" project 667BDRM ( "Delta-4 according to NATO classification), PRIME - TASS referring to the general director of "star" Vladimir Nikitin.

The modernization will significantly improve technical and tactical characteristics of the ship, the replacement of the missile complex.

"Delivery" Novomoskovsk "we will complete the cycle averages of repairs and modernization for the missile project", - said Vladimir Nikitin.

Repair SSBN Novomoskovsk "began in 2008 to this" repair center "Star" to comply with the average repair with modernization project Submarines: 667BDRM K-51 "Verkhoturye" (1999), K-84 Ekaterinburg (2003) , K-114 Tula (2006), K-117 "Bryansk" (2008). In 2009, repairs will be completed K-18 "Karelia".

Submarine K-407 was built in 1990 in Severodvinsk. K-407 became the seventh and last in a series of seven submarine cruisers of this type, built from 1984 to 1990. Ballistic missile submarine purpose of the project 667BDRM form the basis of naval strategic nuclear forces of Russia. Displacement SSBN this type is 11,74 tons surfaced and 18,2 tons submerged. Speed submerged - 26 knots. Depth - up to 400 m.

Armament SSBN constitute 16 SLBMs and four torpedo tubes 533 mm. Crew - 135 people. All boats are 667BDRM project in the Northern Fleet.

http://www.arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=76502&cid=44

Fire breaks out during Russian nuclear sub repairs, no radiation threat

RIA Novosti

19:59 29/12/2011

MOSCOW, December 29 (RIA Novosti) - A fire broke out at the Yekaterinburg nuclear submarine on Thursday during repairs at a shipyard in northern Russia, the local emergencies ministry department said.

Fire safety violations during routine maintenance works are seen as the most likely cause of the blaze at a floating repair dock.

"No deaths or injuries have been reported. There is no threat of nuclear pollution," the department said in a statement.

Wooden scaffolding around the submarine caught fire, which spread to the submarine's light outer hull, Northern Fleet spokesman Capt. 1st Rank Vadim Serga said.

"There is no possibility of fire burning through the hull and no threat to on-board equipment," Serga said.

The K-84 Yekaterinburg nuclear submarine is one of seven Delta-IV class submarines in service, all deployed in the Northern Fleet. It carries 16 Sineva (NATO classification "Skiff") submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

The Delta-IV class submarines are the core of the naval component of the Russian nuclear triad at present and may remain in service for another 10 years.


http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/russia/2011/russia-111229-rianovosti01.htm

Medvedev orders repair of fire-damaged sub

RIA Novosti

16:16 30/12/2011

MOSCOW, December 30 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered the repar of a Russian submarine damaged by fire while in dry dock near Murmansk, the Kremlin said in a press release.

The outer hull of the Yekaterinburg, a Delta-class nuclear submarine, caught fire on Thursday during repairs at a shipyard in the northwest Russian Murmansk Region, the local Emergencies Ministry department said.

Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday reported that the fire has been put out. Firefighters battled the blaze for nine hours after it broke out.

Medvedev instructed deputy prime ministers Igor Sechin and Dmitry Rogozin to take all necessary measures for the restoration of the submarine.

Fire safety violations during routine maintenance works are seen as the most likely cause of the blaze at the floating repair dock.

No deaths or injuries among the crew and shipyard workers have been reported. However, nine people were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation, a law enforcement source in the Murmansk region said. Two have already been discharged from hospital.

President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered the Prosecutor General’s Office to thoroughly investigate the incident and to punish those responsible.

The submarine’s hydro acoustic system, disabled by the fire, will need to be replaced before it is brought back into service, an expert said.

The antennas of the submarine’s hydro acoustic system were damaged by the fire, Moscow Defense Brief chief editor Mikhail Barabanov said.

The fire was caused when fuel and lubricants were set ablaze by welding in the system’s nose section, he said.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/russia/2011/russia-111230-rianovosti02.htm

Repairs of fire-damaged nuclear sub to take at least one year

Repairs of the Yekaterinburg nuclear sub, damaged by fire while in dry dock near Murmansk, will take no less than a year, a spokesman for the Zvezdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk said.

The outer hull of the Yekaterinburg, a Delta-class nuclear submarine, caught fire on Thursday during repairs when when fuel and lubricants were set ablaze by welding in the system's nose section. Fire safety violations during routine maintenance works are cited as the most likely cause.

The submarine's hydro acoustic system was disabled by the fire and possibly will have to be replaced before it is brought back into service.

"According to our specialists, the repair terms will be known as soon as the damage is assessed and when it becomes clear whether a new hydro acoustic complex is needed for the sub," Zvezdochka spokesman Yevgeny Gladyshev said. "According to our first assessments, repairs may take as long as one year."

It is yet unclear at what facility the sub will be repaired.

http://www.en.ria.ru/mlitary_news/20111231/170571318.html

Submarine’s torpedo compartment was on fire



http://www.barentsobserver.com/submarines-torpedo-compartment-was-on-fire.5003663.html

It is pretty much toast.

What a pity to see such relatively modern and important submarine like Delta 4 being burnt due to carelessness.

Do they have a culture of safety in docks when a Nuclear submarine is going repair ? Or do they gulp few glasses of vodka before they work.

The torpedo room was on fire. The bow of the ship is gutted.

GarryB wrote:

It shouldn't be impossible to cut off the front section and replace it... wont be cheap, but then again will be cheaper than a new sub.

No one died, no radiation leaked... this can just be a safety reminder for shipyards everywhere.

The sub is 27 years old, the refit was only supposed to keep it in service until 2018. It won't be cheap and it won't be done once they get around to announcing it.

Russia’s nuclear submarine damaged by fire in a dry dock in late December will be repaired and put back into combat duty according to schedule, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Tuesday.

On December 29, the outer hull of the Yekaterinburg Delta-class nuclear submarine caught fire during repairs at a shipyard in the northwest Russian Murmansk Region. Seven crewmembers and two rescuers were injured as they battled the fire, which was put out the following day.

Rogozin inspected the damaged submarine on Tuesday and later told journalists that he is “now more optimistic than late last year.”

“We have inspected the submarine, all of its compartments, and the forward compartment was damaged. We have also come to technical solutions, which would allow the submarine to be repaired and returned to the fleet in due time,” Rogozin said but did not specify the date.

The official added that all those guilty in the incident would be named after an investigative commission completes its work.

Military investigators already opened a criminal case under the statute “destruction or damage of military property due to negligence.”

Fire safety violations during routine maintenance works are seen as the most likely cause of the blaze at the floating repair dock.

The K-84 Yekaterinburg nuclear submarine is one of seven Delta-IV class submarines in service, all deployed in the Northern Fleet. It carries 16 Sineva (NATO classification "Skiff") submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

The Delta-IV class submarines are the core of the naval component of the Russian nuclear triad at present and may remain in service for another 10 years.

http://www.en.ria.ru/mlitary_news/20120110/170697703.html

It will definitely be repaired, 30 million is chump change for a critical component of the deterrent force.

It would cost $30 million just to retile the hull. It is more like $300 million to replace the bow.

Vladimir79 wrote:It would cost $30 million just to retile the hull. It is more like $300 million to replace the bow.

According to who?!?! The entire bow does not need replacing, as post fire pics show. Even if it, 300 million it would not cost. Rogozin denied it would even take 30 million to fix, BS or not.

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20120110/170697703.html

Replacing the fiber glass lower bow and a new sonar set is doable within 2012.

The Yekaterinburg, a Russian nuclear submarine damaged by fire while in dry dock in late December, will be repaired and re-enter service in summer 2014, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin wrote in his twitter account.

“We plan to return the submarine to duty earlier, in summer 2014,” Rogozin wrote in his twitter account in response to a question from a blogger who suggested that the repairs would take three or four years.

On December 29, the outer hull of the Yekaterinburg, a Delta-class nuclear submarine, caught fire during repairs at a shipyard in northwest Russia's Murmansk Region. Seven crewmembers and two responders were injured as they battled the fire, which was put out the following day.

The repairs are scheduled to start this summer.

http://www.en.ria.ru/mlitary_news/20120112/170726267.html

My take: Secret info on twitter, great planned leak to NATO!

Repair, modernization of fire-damaged sub may cost $30 mln

The cost to repair and modernize the Yekaterinburg, a Russian nuclear submarine damaged by fire late last December, could total 900 million rubles ($30 million), a representative of United Shipbuilding Corporation said on Monday.

“Preliminary costs of repairs and modernization of the Yekaterinburg nuclear powered submarine are estimated between 600 million and 900 million rubles, depending on the price of the instruments and mechanisms that will be installed in the new hydro acoustic complex,” the USC representative said.

Some media reports previously said the costs would exceed 1 billion rubles but Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin denied the reports.

Rogozin said the submarine would be repaired and re-enter service in summer 2014.

On December 29, the outer hull of the Yekaterinburg, a Delta-class nuclear submarine, caught fire during repairs at a shipyard in northwest Russia's Murmansk Region. Seven crewmembers and two responders were injured as they battled the fire, which was put out the following day.

There was no radiation leak because the reactors had been shut down before repairs began.

The submarine’s hydro acoustic system was disabled by the fire and will need to be replaced before it is brought back into service.

Delta-class submarines have an outer skin of anechoic rubber, designed to absorb sound from sonars to make the boat harder to detect, that can burn in a dry environment. The boat has a double hull of thick steel, however, which would protect its interior from external fire.

The repairs are scheduled to start this summer.

http://www.en.ria.ru/russia/20120116/170781121.html

GarryB wrote:We should keep in mind that the vessel was in drydock... likely for a life extension overhaul, so there were probably a few other things they wanted to do to it anyway.

The middle of 2014 is a significant period, but not the end of the world.

Exactly, they are just bundling the life extension and fire repairs into one now. Sub will be out for a number of years, but when it comes back, will be ready to go for another decade hopefully.

After-Fire Recovery of SSBN Yekaterinburg Needs Two Years

Repair of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Yekaterinburg suffered fire in Dec 2011 will start on June 21 at JSC Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center and last up to the middle of 2014, reports RIA Novosti referring to a source in the shipyard.

According to the source, SSBN Yekaterinburg (Project 667BDRM Delfin) will arrive at the yard on June 21. "Through the next two years, the sub's technical availability will be recovered; it is also planned to carry out emergency repairs of sonar system damaged by fire", reports the news agency.

The source of RIA Novosti said that "recovery works on Yekaterinburg were supposed to start in Dec 2011, but due to the fire repair was postponed for June 2012".

"After thorough examination of the sonar system, experts decided not to replace it but repair which is considerably cheaper", pointed out the interviewee.

Upon termination of the all-up repairs, the sub will stay in service at least till 2018, reports RIA Novosti.

http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=15359

Topwar.ru carried an Interfaks story saying Delta IV-class SSBN Novomoskovsk is nearing the end of a modernization to extend its service life to 2021. The sub went to sea for some trials last week. It is, by the way, the newest of the class. Zvezdochka is also working on Verkhoturye, and both SSBNs will reportedly return to service by the end of 2012. See this earlier-posted related item.

Yekaterinburg arriving @ Zvezdochka for repairs after the fire.