Project 971: Akula class

GarryB wrote:Sounds like it would need substantial repairs and spend a long time being worked on... when that slipway could be used for a new sub and money could go to other things.

There is another explanation.  It could be that the K-152 was build to an "export-standard" and lacks the sensitive tech and equipment that is available on Russian boats (eg she doesn't have SOKS).  Costs to fully retrofit and repair her for Russian service are probably sufficiently high that the money would be better spent on a new sub of more modern design.  IIRC she is in Vladivostok and Amur yard is not yet up to repairs/refurb of nuclear boats, so would need to be transferred to somewhere like Sevmash or Nerpa yard (I expect these boat houses are all spoken for).

I can't imagine that the hull(s) can be so damaged by a failure of a compressed air cyclinder that the K-152 is beyond salvage.  The Indians patched up and sailed her to Russia under her own power. Doesn't sound to me like a boat that is irrepairably damaged, so there are clearly other factors at play here.

AMCXXL wrote:

https://x.com/Saturnax1/status/1723965521597468854?s=20

Were these images released by the Russian Navy? How did he get hold of these images? He mostly posts anti Russian stuff on X, expected from a low life Slovak.

Tolstoy wrote:Were these images released by the Russian Navy? How did he get hold of these images? He mostly posts anti Russian stuff on X, expected from a low life Slovak.

These are old pictures. I can find posts with them online from 2011. My guess is back then Russia had better relations with the US, and with the Yasen entering service it wasn't considered critical technology anymore. You can find similar photos online of the Seawolf sonar.

When they say 3 are in storage, do they mean 3 have been marked for scrapping or 3 have been mothballed and places in reserve?

As best as I can tell ( ), the current status of the 971 boats is roughly as follows. Updates welcome...

Pantera - inactive, in reserve?

Leopard - Modernisation to 971M, on sea trials, return to service is likely in early 2024
Volk - Modernisation to 971M (*1)
Tigr - Modernisation to 971M (*1)

Samara - inactive, to be modernised to 971M, yet to start?

Gepard - Repaired 2015, Active
Kuzbass - Repaired 2015, Active
Vepr - Repaired 2020, Active

Bratsk - inactive, slated to be decomissioned
Nerpa - inactive, slated to be decomissioned

ex-Magadan - to be modernised and leased to India as Chakra-III? (*2)

Irbis - incomplete, preserved?

(*1) continual delays but expected to start sea trials soon
(*2) Kashalot was originally to be the basis of Chakra-III but was deemed unsuitable and is being scrapped.