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Russian submarine Sankt Peterburg

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Sankt Peterburg in 2010
History
Russia
NameB-585 Sankt Peterburg
NamesakeCity of Saint Petersburg
OrderedUnknown
BuilderAdmiralty Shipyard
Laid down26 December 1997
Launched28 October 2004 (2004-10-28)
Commissioned8 May 2010
Decommissioned5 February 2024[1]
StatusDecommissioned, to be scrapped
General characteristics
Class and typeLada-class diesel-electric submarine
Displacement2,800 tons submerged; 1,675 tons surfaced[2]
Beam7.1 m (23 ft 4 in)[3]
Draft6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)[2]
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) submerged[4]
Range1,050 km (650 mi) submerged at cruising speed[3]
Endurance45 days[3]
Test depth300 m (984 ft)[3]
Complement35[4]
Armament6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes for 18 × torpedoes or missiles or 44 × naval mines[2][4]

B-585 Sankt Peterburg (Russian: Б-585 «Санкт-Петербург»; named after Saint Petersburg) is the lead boat of the Lada-class submarines of the Russian Navy. The Lada class is the fourth generation of diesel-electric submarines designed and constructed in the former Soviet Union and Russia to replace the Kilo class. Construction of the boat started in December 1997, and she was launched in October 2004. After undergoing a series of sea trials, Sankt Peterburg was commissioned in May 2010. However, the Russian Navy decided not to accept the St. Petersburg class after it was discovered that the boat's propulsion and sonar systems were inadequate. After design corrections the submarine was accepted. In 2014, Sankt Peterburg joined the Northern Fleet. In 2023, it was reported that due to the extremely high costs of modernising the submarine, the Sankt Peterburg was to be decommissioned and scrapped, with the funds being diverted to new submarine construction.[5]

Background and construction

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Sankt Peterburg is first boat of Rubin Design Bureau's Lada class, of which a total of eight were expected to be procured by the Russian Navy. A less capable version, the Amur class, is marketed for export. Designed during the 1990s, the St. Petersburg class is intended to be the successor to the larger Kilo class.[2] The Kilo class is considered to be one of the quietest diesel classes in operations, giving rise to the nickname "Black Hole".[citation needed] Among the expected capabilities improvements of the St. Petersburg class over its predecessor were the incorporation of improved anechoic coating (to minimize sonar contact), extended cruise range, and the upgrade to newer weapons for anti-submarine and anti-ship operations.[citation needed] St. Petersburg-class boats can also conduct reconnaissance and defend naval facilities and sea lanes.[3]

Amid a severe shortage of funds experienced during the 1990s following the dissolution of the Soviet Union,[6] the keel of Sankt Peterburg was laid down on 26 December 1997, in Saint Petersburg by Admiralty Shipyard.[2] The company specialises in submarine construction, having built more than 300 boats,[citation needed] including the Victor and Alfa-class nuclear-powered submarines. By 2006, two more of Sankt Peterburg's sister boats, Kronshtadt and Sevastopol had had their keels laid down.[citation needed] Sankt Peterburg was launched on 28 October 2004, to coincide with the 300th anniversary of Sankt Peterburg's founding, before undergoing several sea trials, to validate her systems, until 2009.[7][8]

As of 25 February 2008, Sankt Peterburg was part of the 13th Brigade of Ships Under Repair and Construction (military unit number 22875), Leningrad Naval Base.[9]

Operational history

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On 6 May 2010, Sankt Peterburg was commissioned into the Russian Navy, signalling the official start of her operational service. The boat thereafter underwent combat training with the Baltic Fleet and participated in a naval parade and an exercise.[3][10][11][12] At the same time, she continued sea trials until late 2011.[11]

Despite having been commissioned, in November 2011 the Russian Navy decided that the St. Petersburg class would not be accepted into service, as Sankt Peterburg had fallen far short of requirements during trials.[4] According to Izvestia, the main drawback was the propulsion unit's inability to produce half of the expected power, along with the inefficiency of the sonar system. With the construction of the other two St. Petersburg-class submarines being halted, the Russian Navy ordered additional Improved Kilo-class submarines.[13] The decision to reject the St. Petersburg class was confirmed in February 2012 by Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, who stated, "The Russian Navy does not need the St. Petersburg in its current form."[14] Sankt Peterburg would remain an experimental prototype.[4]

Sankt Peterburg successfully carried a missile launch in accordance with the combat training schedule in the Barents Sea. The cruise missile was launched from an underwater position at a naval target on 17 November 2016.[15] Tests were successfully finished in December 2018.[16]

Nevertheless, as of 2020, the submarine continued to be used as a test platform for the class and according to one report, was noted not to be fully operational.[17] In April 2020, the boat was reported undergoing new trials in the Baltic to prepare for her return to the Northern Fleet where her role in protecting the SSBN force was described as "vital".[18] Another report in 2020 suggested that her deployment could in future be shifted to the Baltic Fleet.[19] In 2021 it was reported that after years of being used as a "test platform", she was formally "accepted into service".[20]

On 18 April 2023, it was reported that Sankt Peterburg is planned to be decommissioned, as its modernisation is very expensive and a new submarine could be built using those funds.[21] On 5 February 2024, the submarine was withdrawn from the navy.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Головную подлодку проекта "Лада" "Санкт-Петербург" вывели из состава ВМФ". TASS (in Russian). 5 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Project 677 Lada class Project 1650 Amur class Diesel-Electric Torpedo Submarine". Federation of American Scientists. 7 September 2000. Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "St. Andrew's flag flies over new sub". Rusnavy.com. 11 May 2010. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Russian Navy May Waive Lada Class Submarines". Rusnavy.com. 24 November 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  5. ^ "In Russia, the Saint Petersburg Submarine was Decommissioned, While Being in the Fleet Only for Two Years, Although it Was Built for Decades". 19 April 2023.
  6. ^ Vego, Milan. "The Russian Navy revitalized". Armed Forces Journal. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  7. ^ Kramar, Vladislav (12 November 2004). "Подводный охотник" вышел в плавание ["Underwater Hunter" went to sea]. Nezavisimaya Gazeta (in Russian). Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  8. ^ "Final sea trials set for Russian Lada sub". United Press International. UPI.com. 23 January 2007. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  9. ^ Журнал «Власть» № 7(760) от 25.02.2008. Military Unit number is via warfare.ru, http://warfare.be/?catid=321&linkid=2225&title=western-military-district---osc-west. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  10. ^ "Russian Navy Waives Further Construction of Project 677 Lada Submarines". NavalToday.com. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Submarine St. Petersburg to continue trials in 2011". Rusnavy.com. 24 December 2010. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  12. ^ Военно-морской флаг поднят на подлодке "Санкт-Петербург" [Naval flag hoisted on a submarine "Saint Petersburg"] (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 8 May 2010. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  13. ^ Thalmann, Denis (23 November 2011). ВМФ отказался от новейших подлодок проекта "Лада" [Navy refused to newest submarine project "Lada"]. Izvestia (in Russian). Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  14. ^ "Russian Navy to Drop Lada Class Subs – CinC Vysotsky". RIA Novosti. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  15. ^ "'Saint Petersburg' submarine launches cruise missile in Barents Sea". TASS. 17 November 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
  16. ^ "В ходе испытаний ДЭПЛ "Санкт-Петербург" показала характеристики на порядок выше, чем у проекта 636". armstrade.org (in Russian). 17 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-12-18. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
  17. ^ Nersisyan, Leonid (10 September 2020). "Russia splashes the cash on corvettes and frigates". Shepherd Media. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Analysis: St. Petersburg submarine expects upgrade for new arms trials - take 1". Navyrecognition.com. 23 April 2020. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Analysis: latest Russian Navy contracts offer development conclusions". Navyrecognition.com. 16 September 2020. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Analysis 1/2: Lada-class diesel-electric submarine of project 677 for Russian Navy".
  21. ^ "Источники заявили о решении списать головную подлодку типа "Лада"". flotprom.ru (in Russian). 18 April 2023.
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