Russian submarine Tula (K-114) explained

K-114 Tula (К-114 Тула) is a Project 667BDRM Delfin-class (NATO reporting name: Delta IV) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). As such, she carries a complement of R-29RM Shtil and R-29RMU Sineva nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) as her primary deterrent mission, along with anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, the latter for self-defense. Built in Severodvinsk during the late 1980s, she served with the Soviet Navy before being transferred to the Russian Navy following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Tula underwent an extensive overhaul during 2000–2004 and was fitted with upgraded Shtil SLBMs, several of which were launched from her during her later operational life. She was sponsored by the city of Tula, and is homeported in Gadzhiyevo.[1]

Construction

Construction of the nuclear submarine Tula (K-114) began at the Northern Machinebuilding Enterprise (Sevmash) in Severodvinsk on 22 February 1984, before being commissioned into the Soviet Navy on 30 October 1987. She was the fourth of the seven-boat Project 667BDRM Delfin class, which was developed at the Rubin Design Bureau in September 1975. A ballistic missile submarine, she was designed primarily to carry up to 16 R-29RM Shtil (NATO designation: SS-N-23 Skiff) SLBM for use against military and industrial facilities in the case of a nuclear war. Each Shtil missile carries ten 100 kt multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles, and has a circular error probable of 500m (1,600feet). She is also equipped with RPK-7 Veter (NATO designation: SS-N-16 Stallion) anti-ship missile for use against enemy submarines, and self-defense torpedoes.

Operational history

Due to her nature as an SSBN, and like most submarines, the operation of Tula is mostly classified. During 1987–1988, the boat conducted seven patrols, including five in the Arctic, 17 combat duties, and firing of twelve missiles. In October 1990, Soviet Deputy Minister of Defense General V. M. Kochetov visited Tula; this happened shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the boat was transferred to the Russian Navy. Until 2000, she logged 134856miles in total distance travelled, 77245miles of which was submerged.[2]

From June 2000 until 21 April 2004, Tula underwent overhaul at the Zvezdochka shipyard, Severodvinsk, the third boat after Verkhoturie (K-51) and Ekaterinburg (K-84).[1] The overhaul extended her service life by ten years, and allowed her to carry R-29RMU Sineva missiles.[1] She conducted sea trials in early 2006 and re-entered service shortly thereafter, despite plans to do so in 2005.[1] Tula post-overhaul operational history is characterised by a number of missile launches, the first of which occurred on 17 December 2007, when she launched a Sineva missile aimed at the Kura Test Range in the Kamchatka Peninsula.[3] Within eight days, Tula launched another missile, again aimed at Kura; both tests were successful.[4] [5] [6]

Another four launches took place during 2008–2011, mostly from the Barents Sea. On 11 October 2008, Tula launched a Sineva while submerged. The missile reached the equatorial Pacific region after having flown for 11547km (7,175miles), a record for the missile.[7] [8] [9] The launch was part of the bigger "Stabilnost 2008" exercise, which comprised eight surface ships, five submarines, 11 aircraft and 5,000 sailors.[9] Tula launched the Sineva again on 4 March 2010 after an unremarkable 2009. The test was successful,[10] as was another launch of two more missiles, on 6 August 2010, aimed at the Kura Test Range.[11] On 29 September 2011, Tula conducted the latest launch of the Sineva missile aimed at Kura from the Barents Sea.[12] Tula received a second major overhaul in 2014 by the Ship Repair Center Zvezdochka[13] and returned to active service in December 2017.[14] In 2022 during the Ukraine crisis, the submarine participated in nuclear exercises together with other elements of Russian nuclear triad forces.[15]

Recent footage of the Tula shows that it has been fitted with a 'cope cage' to prevent drone strikes, the first ocean going asset to carry such a modification.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tula submarine is back from overhaul. 1 February 2006. Bellona Foundation. 30 December 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090703235623/http://www.bellona.org/english_import_area/international/russia/navy/northern_fleet/general/41842. 3 July 2009.
  2. Web site: http://www.deepstorm.ru/DeepStorm.files/45-92/nbrs/667BDRM/K-114/K-114.htm. ru:К-114, "Тула" проект 667БДРМ. ru. Deepstorm.ru. 31 December 2011. С момента вступления в состав ВМФ АПКСН прошел 134856 ходовых миль, из них 77245.. https://web.archive.org/web/20120322033422/http://www.deepstorm.ru/DeepStorm.files/45-92/nbrs/667BDRM/K-114/K-114.htm. 22 March 2012. live. dmy-all.
  3. Web site: Siminov, Roman. ru:Ударим "Синевой" по Камчатке. http://www.ng.ru/politics/2007-12-17/100_raketa.html. Ng.ru. 17 December 2007. ru. 31 December 2011. 17 декабря ВМС России преподнес подарок своим коллегам из РВСН ... успешно отстрелявшись межконтинентальной баллистической ракетой РСМ-54М "Синева". По сообщению службы информации и общественных связей ВМФ, пуск произведен с борта атомной подводной лодки «Тула» Северного флота. Головная часть ракеты успешно прибыла на полигон Кура на Камчатке.. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201215232/http://www.ng.ru/politics/2007-12-17/100_raketa.html. 1 February 2014. live. dmy-all.
  4. Second launch of R-29RM Sineva in December. Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces . Russianforces.org. 25 December 2011. 31 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120304185516/http://russianforces.org/blog/2007/12/second_launch_of_r29rm_sineva.shtml. 4 March 2012. live. dmy-all. Podvig . Pavel .
  5. Test launch of R-29RM SLBM. Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces . Russianforces.org. 17 December 2007. 31 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120304185657/http://russianforces.org/blog/2007/12/test_launch_of_r29rm_sineva_sl.shtml. 4 March 2012. live. dmy-all. Podvig . Pavel .
  6. News: Russia's Submarine Successfully Fired IBM. Kommersant. 25 December 2007. 31 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201224052/http://www.kommersant.com/p-11818/IBM_submarine/. 1 February 2014. dead. dmy-all.
  7. News: http://news.mail.ru/politics/2086004/. ru:Медведев: при запуске ракеты "Синева" зафиксирован рекорд дальности. ru. Digital Sky Technologies. Mail.ru. 11 October 2008. 31 December 2011. «В результате успешного пуска была зафиксирована дальность 11 тысяч 547 километров. Это лучший результат, который когда-либо был достигнут при использовании этой баллистической ракеты», — заявил президент России.. https://web.archive.org/web/20120612165513/http://news.mail.ru/politics/2086004/. 12 June 2012. live. dmy-all.
  8. Sineva extended range launch. Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces . Russianforces.org. 11 October 2008. 31 December 2011. On October 11, 2008 the K-114 Tula ... conducted a successful test launch of a R-29RM Sineva missile. The missile was launched from a submerged submarine deployed in the Barents Sea [before reaching] its target area in the equatorial region of the Pacific after flying 11,547 km. This was reported to be the longest range demonstrated by the missile.. https://web.archive.org/web/20120130134507/http://russianforces.org/blog/2008/10/sineva_extended_range_launch.shtml. 30 January 2012. live. dmy-all. Podvig . Pavel .
  9. News: President observed missile launches. Barents Observer. 13 October 2008. 31 December 2011.
  10. Successful launch of R-29RM Sineva missile. Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces . Russianforces.org. 4 March 2010. 31 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120304184646/http://russianforces.org/blog/2010/03/successful_launch_of_r-29rm_si.shtml. 4 March 2012. live. dmy-all. Podvig . Pavel .
  11. News: http://www.newsru.com/russia/07aug2010/sineva.html. ru:С подлодки Северного флота РФ успешно запущены две баллистические ракеты, одна из них - "Синева". NEWSru. ru. 7 August 2010. 31 December 2011. Стратегическая атомная подводная лодка Северного флота (проект 667 БДРМ) произвела вечером в пятницу успешный пуск баллистической ракеты "Синева", сообщил РИА "Новости" источник в командовании Северного флота...Согласно сообщению "Интерфакса", атомная подводная лодка Северного флота "Тула" в пятницу произвела залповую стрельбу двумя межконтинентальными баллистическими ракетами из акватории Баренцева моря по полигону Кура на Камчатке.. https://web.archive.org/web/20110424092109/http://www.newsru.com/russia/07aug2010/sineva.html. 24 April 2011. live. dmy-all.
  12. News: http://lenta.ru/news/2011/09/29/liner/. ru:Минобороны успешно запустило новую баллистическую ракету. Lenta.Ru. Yulia Minder. ru. 29 September 2011. 31 December 2011. В четверг из акватории Баренцева моря был произведен успешный запуск баллистической ракеты морского базирования "Лайнер", передает агентство ИТАР-ТАСС со ссылкой на Управление пресс-службы и информации Минобороны РФ. Атомный подводный крейсер Северного флота "Тула" выпустил ракету по полигону "Кура" на Камчатке. "В ходе подготовки корабля к ракетному пуску и при проведении стрельбы экипаж крейсера показал высокий профессионализм и выучку", - подчеркнули в управлении.. https://web.archive.org/web/20120116052727/http://lenta.ru/news/2011/09/29/liner/. 16 January 2012. live. dmy-all.
  13. Tula submarine arrived in Severodvinsk for overhaul. Pavel. Podvig. 15 December 2014. Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. 18 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180419053121/http://russianforces.org/blog/2014/12/tula_submarine_arrived_in_seve.shtml. 19 April 2018. live. dmy-all.
  14. Web site: "Звёздочка" завершила ремонт АПЛ "Тула". livejournal.com. 18 April 2018.
  15. Web site: Russia tested all legs of nuclear triad over the Arctic .
  16. Web site: Ukraine UAV attacks force Russia to fit anti-drone cages on submarines. Christopher McFadden. 21 March 2024.

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