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    HomeNewsRussia Retires Behemoth Typhoon Submarine as Borei-Class Silent Predators Rise

    Russia Retires Behemoth Typhoon Submarine as Borei-Class Silent Predators Rise

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    A Borei class submarine at sea” by Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation is licensed under CC BY 4.0

    The titanic Typhoon-class submarines, once the pinnacle of Soviet naval power and the largest submarines ever constructed, have now officially sailed into history with the retirement of the Dmitry Donskoy, the last of its kind.

    131115-N-ZT599-131.JPG” by U.S. Pacific Fleet is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

    Decommissioned in February 2023, the Dmitry Donskoy, originally known as TK-208, marked an end of an era, an era when the Cold War dictated the massive size and striking capabilities of undersea leviathans.

    USS Hornet CVS-12 DSC_0382” by wbaiv is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

    Commissioned in 1981, the Dmitry Donskoy served the Russian Navy for more than four decades, predominantly as a test platform for a new generation of submarines – the Borei and Yasen classes.

    An unmanned aerial vehicle delivers a payload to the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730) near the Hawaiian Islands.” by Official U.S. Navy Imagery is licensed under CC BY 2.0

    The Typhoon-class submarines were a testament to their time, built to rival the U.S. Ohio-class submarines in both size and nuclear capability.

    The Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726)” by #PACOM is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

    Weighing in at 48,000 tons, stretching nearly 600 feet in length with a beam of 23 meters, the sheer scale allowed for amenities unheard of in other submarines, including a small swimming pool and sauna for its crew.

    Russian submarine Dmitriy Donskoi (TK-208) in Kronshtadt. ПЛАРБ ‘Дмитрий Донской’ в Кронштадте.” by Peer.Gynt is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

    It’s reported that Dmitry Donskoy initially carried D-19 strategic intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) as its basic armament, following an extensive upgrade, it took part in tests of the seaborne Bulava ICBM.

    File:KnyazVladimirSeaTrials.jpg” by HoteitH is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

    The Dmitry Donskoy’s decommissioning may have been earlier than expected, but this vessel’s name will not be forgotten, as it is set to be bestowed upon a new Borei-class submarine, continuing the legacy of the grand duke it was named after.

    Borei Class Ballistic Missile Sub in Severomorsk” by Christopher.Michel is licensed under CC BY 2.0

    Stepping into the silent waters vacated by the Typhoons, the Borei-class submarines are Russia’s first post-Soviet designed ballistic missile submarines, known for their silent running and smaller crew requirements.

    АПЛ ‘Владимир Мономах’” by Пресс-служба Северного флота (г. Североморск) / Press Service of the Northern Fleet (Severomorsk) is licensed under CC BY 4.0

    Despite being half the size of the Typhoon-class, the Borei-class still packs a formidable punch with its 16 to 20 Bulava SLBMs, each capable of carrying multiple warheads.

    L09” by Harwich & Dovercourt is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

    Designed with a hydrodynamically efficient hull and the first of the Russian subs to feature a pump-jet propulsion system, they offer significant noise reduction and improved stealth capabilities compared to their predecessors.

    «Дмитрий Донской»” by Sergey Fedyunin is licensed under CC BY 4.0

    The Borei-class measures 560 feet long and can reach speeds of over 25 knots when submerged. Each carries 1.3 million components and requires significant resources to construct, evidencing the complexity and technological advancement of these modern warriors of the deep.

    COMPENDIUM: 350 Photostream images of HMAS MELBOURNE [II]. Pt 7. Wellington, NZ, Aug. 11, 1979.” by Kookaburra2011 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

    As of now, seven Borei-class submarines have been commissioned with a successor, the Arcturus-class, already on the horizon, set to continue the evolution with even greater stealth features.

    HMS Dragon operates with a RAF Typhoon Jet” by Royal Navy Media Archive is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

    The legacy of the Typhoon-class is undeniable, a chapter in naval history characterized by the colossal scale and nuclear might. These vessels not only dominated the seas but also captured the public imagination, inspiring Cold War thrillers like “The Hunt for Red October.”

    WITH THE RAN IN SE ASIA: Ton Class ships in Tamar Basin, Hong Kong, May 1966 – Bob Westthorp.” by Kookaburra2011 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

    But as with all technological marvels, time marches on, and the silent, more efficient hunters of the Borei-class have arrived to carry forward Russia’s undersea deterrence.

    USS TYPHOON (PC 5)_140316-N-LO156-093” by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet is licensed under CC BY 2.0

    The decommissioning of the last Typhoon-class sub may signal the end of an era, but it also ushers in a new age of submarine warfare, where silence is the deadliest weapon.

    Relevant articles:
    Russia’s Typhoon-Class Submarine Could Kill Millions and Had a Swimming Pool, The National Interest
    Russia’s Borei-Class Submarines Run Silent and Could Kill Millions, The National Interest
    Russia’s Monster Submarines Are Even Scarier Than You Imagined, Yahoo
    Typhoon: Russia’s Biggest Submarine Ever Armed with a Swimming Pool?, 19FortyFive

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