The Virginia-class submarine is approaching Block III. Virginia-class nuclear submarine

Virginia-class submarines are the latest, technologically most advanced submarines in the United States Navy.

The first "Virginia" went to sea just eight years ago, during which time only nine ships of this type were built.

The construction of one submarine takes five years and 2.4 billion dollars.

Here we will walk through the Virginia-class submarine from stern to bow and find out what makes these ships unique.

We will begin our journey in the engine room, then visit the reactor room, the cockpit, the command center and go down to the torpedo room.

The Virginia-class submarine is a new generation of high-tech submarines that has emerged since the end of the Cold War.

Christina Shaw / US Navy

The length of the boat is about 400 feet, the Virginia-class submarines have been in service since 2003.

The boat is designed in such a way that it can successfully operate both at great ocean depths and in shallow coastal waters.

To date, 9 submarines of this type have been commissioned. Pictured is Cheryl McGuinness, the widow of one of the pilots who died on September 11, at the naming ceremony for the ship when it was launched (USS New Hampshire)

The USS Virginia engines do not rotate an ordinary propeller, but a pump-type hydrojet propulsion unit.

This design greatly reduces corrosion and makes the ship quiet.

In the engine room of the submarine, here the energy derived from the SG9 nuclear reactor propels the submarine (nearly 32 miles per hour, submerged).

This passage - running from the engine room, above the reactor, through the cockpit to the central part of the ship, is immersed in darkness so that the sailors can sleep.

The ship has a lock chamber with room for 9 SEALs (saboteurs-scuba divers)

Through this lock chamber, "fur seals" can leave the submarine, which is in a submerged position.

The lock chamber is located in the central part of the submarine.

Divers eat well, the menu is designed in such a way as to relieve stress and alleviate the hardships of many months of life under water.

As one of the sailors said: "It's like having delicious food 24 hours a day."

The Virginia-class submarine command center is much more spacious than older submarines.

The command center is not located directly under the wheelhouse, because the Virginia does not have a periscope.

The monitor that the commander is looking at is the submarine's "periscope", a state-of-the-art photoelectronic system that allows you to see more in real time than the human eye could ever see.

On the "Virginia" there are no traditional ones - the helmsman, the floater, the commander of the watch and the officer who monitors the ballast. Their duties are carried out by two officers working at two stations.

The submarine is equipped with a spherical sonar that scans all 360 degrees.

The full crew of the Virginia consists of 134 sailors.

Despite the presence of computer navigation system, the route of the submarine is also laid manually.

Under the command center is a torpedo compartment, where members of the special operations unit can be temporarily located

Submarine armament - 12 Tomahawk vertical takeoff missiles and 38 torpedoes

Pictured: USS Texas officer testing torpedo tubes

Virginia-class submarines were designed to carry the Advanced SEAL Delivery System, midget submarines for delivering SEALs on mission.

The only thing that is in front of the torpedo room is the forward compartment, in which the sonar is mounted, and it is designed in such a way as to make the submarine as quiet as possible.

Even after construction is completed, improvements and updates are made to the design of submarines.

This is what the United States has in the deep sea

Before a new submarine is sent on a campaign, it is being tested. The first of its type, like the Virginia, must go through tests of all equipment and mechanisms on the ship in order to make sure that they are in good condition and comply with the design assignment.

Recently, the Virginia (SSN 774), a multipurpose submarine based in Groton, began testing all the ship's systems at sea off the coast of Florida, from propulsion to weapons and navigation.

After completion of the tests, the crew will begin preparations for the first combat campaign, which, as expected for this type of submarine, will last six months.

"The Virginia's first cruise will be a milestone for our fleet," said Admiral Harry Rowhead, Chief of Naval Staff, during a visit to Groton. "It new type submarines and the most technologically advanced submarine ever built."

Captain 2nd Rank James Waters, commander of the Virginia, notes that the ship is "far gone" from those where he happened to serve earlier.

"When you first get on board, it's scary," he continues. “You think: wow, there’s a lot of stuff here that I haven’t seen anywhere before.”

He especially likes the improved acoustics, which allows him to detect an enemy submarine long before it detects the Virginia.

“We always need to know where the enemy submarines are - in order to press the “Start” button and send them to the bottom,” says the commander, “War does not involve any romance when two equal opponents are in a duel situation. Things may not go as planned. Things can go wrong as we want."

Waters notes that so far the ship shows good compliance with the design task at sea.

"We started the tests at a very high pace, and the crew and the ship proved to be excellent" - such is the opinion of the commander.

Virginia was commissioned in 2004. At the same time, intensive testing of all systems began.

"It's not enough to say: they had to - and they did," says second-class torpedo specialist Paul Bovter, "We must be the first to go all the way and describe all the procedures."

Rear Admiral Cecil D. Honey, who was on the Virginia during sea trials, notes that individual elements of the ship require refinement or repair, but this is an expected result when operating such a large number of complex systems.

“You can’t say that there are zero comments on the Virginia, but everything is normal,” concludes Hani, the commander of the submarine formation. This was his last trip on a submarine - he was transferred to the Pentagon to the post of head of the anti-submarine warfare department.

The Virginia was already at sea in 2005, but only for three months. The ship was then taken back to the dock for a whole year for minor modifications, hull coating and electronics upgrades.

The submarine's crew is currently completing trials ahead of a six-month voyage scheduled for 2009.

“We will go camping with great pleasure - instead of conducting tests, we will mind our own business,” said Chief Officer Todd Schultz and added that the ship functions “as expected, and even better” and that the crew’s activities “will make life easier for all ships of this project".

"We're here to test the ship, systems, and present the full Virginia concept to command, the Pentagon, and civilians," he said.

Crew members are waiting - they can't wait until the ship enters service.

“After the first trip, the crew unites and feels their unity with the submarine,” explains Chief Engineer Curtis Norris. “You depend on each other in many ways. When you live with a group of people in a confined space for six months, you learn a lot about your neighbors.”

A small curved line on the screen of the acoustic technician changes color from green to white. The technician moves the cursor to listen.

"Possible underwater contact at bearing 190," he reports. This is a test for the team using a mock target.

The acoustics technician feeds the information to the fire control system technicians, who use it to come up with a "solution" - the distance, heading and speed of the other submarine.

After escorting the submarine, the technicians report: "The decision is ready, the weapon is ready."

"Firing on the developed bearing," is commanded by Lieutenant David Grogan, the officer in charge of the submarine's tactics. An order means shooting at the target location.

"Torpedo tube number 1 - sigh!"

"The torpedo came out, the wires are in order." The wires transmit information between the ship and the torpedo.

"Home mode enabled." The torpedo is looking for a target.

"You're buried," Waters remarks.

"Final Guidance". Target found.

"Fuses cocked, telemetry lost." The wires, now useless, have been cut.

"Strong explosion in the west." Target destroyed.

“All this technology is nothing but a fight with a bully,” says Waters. “Take two guys - two subs, and one of the guys is acting aggressive, the other - oh, I have to work out a solution! The guy is getting ready to shoot.

When the crew enters target simulator information into the system, the Virginia's systems respond by being ready to hear, track and "shoot" water from the torpedo tube like a giant water gun.

Last week they gathered here for firing exercises with the Hartford (SSN 768), another Groton-based submarine, during which 12 training torpedoes were planned to be fired.

Bright orange training torpedoes do not have a warhead. They are marked "non-explosive, returnable" and the toll-free number of the Naval Underwater Weapons Center in Newport. $50 reward.

"There's a good joke about it," says Lieutenant Justin Hardy. “What if someone mails it?”

Hart, the lead sergeant in the torpedo room, was calm about the victory over the Hartford.

"The only enemy of a submarine can only be a submarine," he said. We know each other's actions, and whoever raises his hand sooner, whoever is faster, as in westerns, will win. And that will be us."

“There's not much difference in acoustics between the Virginia and the Los Angeles-type Hartford,” says Hart. “In the underwater world, if you're a quiet guy, you're on top all the time. Acoustically, we'll tear them up."

Viewed from the side, the Virginia approaches the pier easily and freely. Inside the submarine is a completely different picture.

Other ships appear on the locator screen in pink circles representing areas the boat should avoid. On the surface, the submarine is not very maneuverable. Most of the ship is hidden underwater and people mistake it for a small ship.

When the submarine approaches the pier, most of the crew members disperse to their posts. Waters climbs to the bridge at the top of the submarine's deckhouse to help lookouts locate ships, especially those that may not appear on the radar screen, such as small fishing boats.

Additional observers are posted in the general turmoil. Others prepare for potential emergencies such as a collision. The crew takes places at the fire extinguishing and drainage systems, oxygen supply.

“Everyone is ready,” says Electrician Seaman First Class Michael Armstrong. He will draw his 9mm pistol and report upstairs if an alien ship gets too close.

“We had a case of an attempt to approach us from outside. It looked like they were husband and wife,” Armstrong says. “They started taking pictures, and then they sailed away. Not letting them get close is really a problem.”

After a short call at Port Canaveral, the Virginia returns to rendezvous with the Hartford to test the weapon systems.

“We have confidence in the systems,” says Captain 1st Class Michelle McLaughlin, Chief of Staff to the Commander, Submarine Forces. Design work is a phenomenon in itself, but applying the design to the concept is something else entirely. This requires hard and motivated work by the crew.”

According to McLaughlin, the crew of the Virginia is doing their job right: “This crew has received the ship and is running it wonderfully. We are proud of them. They are true pioneers."

According to foreign media, the newest Russian nuclear submarine K-560 "Severodvinsk" has earned a special "honor". Rear Admiral Dave Johnson, head of the American submarine development program of the US Naval Command, posted a mock-up of the domestic nuclear submarine in his office, explaining that he must constantly see it and remember what a formidable adversary the Russian boat, created according to project 885, is. Ash". Experts refer to the submarines of this project as the fourth generation, as well as American submarines of the Virginia type. Both lines of nuclear submarines belong to the multi-purpose category. “If we say that the Virginia is multi-purpose, then our Ashes are super multi-purpose. The Russian boat carries a wide variety of weapons capable of hitting ground, surface and underwater targets and laying mines. According to the nomenclature of weapons, there are no such boats in the world anymore, ”said military expert Alexander Mozgovoy in an interview with the Zvezda TV channel. The birth of 4th generation multi-purpose nuclear submarines The creation of a fourth-generation nuclear submarine began in the Soviet Union in the 80s. According to the developers, the new nuclear submarine was supposed to attack enemy aircraft carriers and missile carriers, destroy coastal targets, and fight submarines. Then they wanted to create an all-purpose nuclear boat in order to get rid of other types of submarines and reduce the cost of their operation. The construction of the boat of the Ash project was delayed. The bookmark was carried out at Sevmash in December 1993, and the launch took place 17 years later in June 2010. Three years later, the military received the submarine. All the fault was the political upheavals in the country and the collapse of the USSR. The Americans created the Virginia in the late 90s, and already in 2004 the first submarine of the project left the stocks of the Electric Boat shipyards in Groton. According to experts, the cost of the boats speaks in favor of the Russian submarine. “If we take the situation of our long-term construction, when the price of Severodvinsk is $ 1.5 billion over 17 years, against $ 3.1 billion over five years for the lead "Virginia", then this is more than acceptable. Moreover, Russian manufacturers report that with improved performance, the next Ashes will cost a third less, and all cooperation between enterprises in their construction will be exclusively Russian, ”says military expert Mikhail Timoshenko to the Zvezda TV channel. General characteristics of nuclear submarines The Yasen project is a combination of the best of what the domestic submarine shipbuilding industry has developed over the past few decades. It is known that the boat 885 of the project has not a double (traditional), but the so-called one-and-a-half hull, when only the bow of the ship is covered with an additional outer shell to reduce its noise. The hull of the submarine is made of low-magnetic heavy-duty steel, which allows you to dive to a depth of 600 meters. An additional, special coating on the submarine's hull reduces its visibility in the radio frequency and infrared ranges. The maximum speed of the Ash is 31 knots (a little over 60 km per hour). “If we compare our and the American boat Virginia, then we have a greater working depth. They (the Americans) have a maximum of 500 meters, and our 600 is additional stealth and the ability to get away from many types of modern anti-submarine weapons, ”said military expert Alexander Mozgovoy. For the first time in the practice of domestic shipbuilding, torpedo tubes are located not in the bow of the ship, but behind the compartment the central post, which made it possible to place the antenna of the new hydroacoustic complex of the Irtysh-Amphora-Ash nuclear submarine in the bow of the submarine. There are conformal antennas on the sides of the submarine, the hull itself consists of blocks of hydroacoustic stations that listen to the sea along the sides,” explained military expert Alexander Mozgovoy. for domestic submarine shipbuilding of a mixed architectural and constructive type. As a result, the search potential of the powerful sonar complex has been significantly increased, ensuring the superiority of the ship in a duel situation: it will “hear” enemy ships earlier, ”RIA Novosti quotes an official representative of the St. Petersburg Marine Engineering Bureau Malachite, the developer of the submarine project. According to data from open sources, Yasen has "sensitive ears" that allow it to recognize enemy ships and submarines at a distance of about 250 km. In terms of noise level, the Yasen and Virginia boats are approximately equal, the expert is sure, although domestic developers have applied a special system of dampers, which reduced the noise level of the new domestic boat tenfold. Armament Missiles are the main armament of the Russian nuclear submarine. "Ash" - an underwater ship, which houses cruise missiles with a vertical launch. They are located in the central part of the boat's hull, each of the 8 shafts can accommodate up to 4 missiles. According to experts, "Ash" can attack the enemy with supersonic missiles "and Caliber", the distance to destroy land targets and enemy ships is about 500 kilometers. In the future, experts suggest, Kh-101 strategic missiles with a range of up to 5,500 kilometers can be put on the submarine. The Russian boat is also armed with ten torpedo tubes, which fire homing and remote-controlled torpedoes, the ammunition of which is 30 units. According to experts, the combat capabilities of the Yasen are many times greater than the potential of the American Virginia. Cerebral. He noted that American submarines do not have missiles similar to the Onyx and capable of attacking ships. "Virginia" with the help of "Tomahawks" can only destroy coastal targets. The Russian "Ash" has already received the nickname "aircraft carrier killer". According to experts, 4-5 missiles will be enough to send a large warship to the bottom. "Ash" as a deterrent Experts agree that in modern conditions, multipurpose submarines of the Yasen type will act as a non-nuclear strategic deterrent. “Why chase a ship across the ocean, you can shoot at a gas tanker from a long distance, the consequences will be from a nuclear explosion. Yes, we are still lagging behind in number, the Americans have 11 boats of this type, we have one Severodvinsk, but they are really afraid that there will be much more of our Ashes, it’s not for nothing that the US military reports that the new Russian boat will create problems in ensuring protection United States from Russian cruise missiles,” Mozgovoy notes. The expert recalled that the Americans launched a program to modernize Virginia-type boats, they are going to install a new combat module on submarines in order to increase the number of cruise missiles to 40 units. Russia, on the other hand, continues to build new multi-purpose boats already under the improved Yasen-M project. The ships were laid down and received the names "Kazan", "Novosibirsk", "Krasnoyarsk" and "Arkhangelsk". It is planned that by 2020 Russia will have from 4 to 8 new boats of the Yasen project.