Russian submarine Chelyabinsk (K-442)

The K-442 Chelyabinsk is an Oscar II Class (Project 949A) SSGN of the Russian Navy.

History
Soviet Union, Russia
NameK-442 Chelyabinsk
NamesakeNamed after the Russian city Chelyabinsk
Yard number638[1]
Laid down21 May 1987
Launched18 June 1990[1]
Completed28 December 1990[1]
Commissioned28 December 1990
HomeportRybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base
StatusIn modernization
General characteristics
Class and typeOscar II class Submarine
Displacement13.400 t, 16.400 t
Length154 m (505 ft 3 in)
Beam18.2 m (59 ft 9 in)
Draft9 m (29 ft 6 in)
Propulsion2 nuclear reactors OK-650b (HEU <= 45%[2]), 2 steam turbines, 2/7-bladed props
Speed32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) submerged, 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) surfaced
Test depth300 to 1,000 m (980 to 3,280 ft) (by various estimates)
Complement44 officers, 68 enlisted
Armament
  • 24 × SS-N-19/P-700 Granit
  • 4 × 533 mm and 2 x 650 mm bow torpedo tubes

History edit

K-442 was laid on May 21, 1987 at Severodvinsk before being listed by the Soviet Navy on February 20, 1989. In June 1990, it was launched before being commissioned on December 28, 1990. On August 18, 1991, K-442 along with another Oscar II Class SSGN, K-173, left Zapadnaya Litsa Bay to sail underneath the North Pole to transition from the Northern Fleet to the Pacific Fleet.[3] They arrived on September 12, 1991 at Krasheninnikov Bay in Vilyuchinsk and officially was assigned to the Pacific Fleet on September 24.[4]

K-442 did not receive the name 'Chelyabinsk' until April 13, 1993. During 1994, the K-442 took part in an operational tour in the Pacific.[4][5] This included it tracking the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) Battlegroup. During the tracking of the Kitty Hawk CVBG, the US conducted ASW operations against it between July 7–8, 1994.[6] The voyage also including tracking the USS Independence (CV-62),[5][4] which was based in Yokosuka, Japan.

In May 1999, the K-442 was laid up due to wear and tear before returning to service around 2002. In 2008, The sub was laid up again awaiting repair. The submarine is currently located at the Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base, in Vilyuchinsk, near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.[4]

Outfitting edit

  • Electronics Fit:
    • Radar: Tobol surface search
    • Sonar: MGK-540, Skat 3
    • Other: Medveditsa 949M navigation, Tsunami space communications


References edit

  1. ^ a b c "K-442 (6129543)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  2. ^ "Marine Nuclear Power:1939 – 2018" (PDF). July 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Атомный подводный крейсер К-173 "Красноярск". Проект 949А". www.deepstorm.ru. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  4. ^ a b c d "Подводная лодка К-442, "Челябинск". Проект 949А". www.deepstorm.ru. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  5. ^ a b "Oscar II class". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  6. ^ "USS Kitty Hawk CV-63 History - US Navy". US Navy Historical Website.[permanent dead link]