Soviet engineers developed the 3rd generation Project 949A "Antey" submarines (NATO codification — Oscar-II ) to counter American aircraft carriers. This was their main task, writes military expert Brandon J. Weichert in an article for The National Interest.
The "Aircraft Carrier Killer" was created to deliver devastating strikes against critical targets from long distances, while remaining difficult to detect underwater. They leveled the playing field.
Eleven Oscar-II project submarines were built at the "Sevmash" plant in Severodvinsk between 1982 and 1996. Five of them joined the Northern Fleet, and six joined the Pacific Fleet.
After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Oscar-II was a priority for the Russian Navy, so submarines of this project were guaranteed to receive maintenance.
Later, it was decided to modernize the submarines, replacing the P-700 "Granit" missiles with newer 3M-54 "Kalibr" or P-800 "Onyx" cruise missiles. The submarines also received improved "Omnibus-M" combat information systems and "Simfoniya-3.2" navigation systems.
Characteristics of Project 949A "Antey":
- Surface speed — 15 knots
- Submerged speed — 32 knots
- Submerged displacement — 23,900 tons
- Greatest length — 154 m
- Hull width — 18.2 m
- Operating depth — 520 m
- Maximum depth — 600 m
- Endurance — 120 days
- Crew — 107 people
Read more on the topic:
The National Interest called the Russian submarine of project 09852 "Belgorod" a "monster"
MPK "Onega" went to the White Sea to destroy a submarine of a mock enemy
