Construction of the nuclear submarineK-407Novomoskovsk began at the Northern Machinebuilding Enterprise (Sevmash) in Severodvinsk on 2 February 1987,[4] and it became part of the Soviet Navy on 27 November 1990. She was the last of seven 667BDRM Delfin submarines and the last SSBN submarine built in the USSR. This class of submarines was developed at the Rubin Design Bureau in 1975 and is considered one of the most successful Soviet submarine missile carrier designs.[5]
The submarine has a submerged displacement of 18,200 tons and a surface displacement of 11,700 tons. It is 167m (547ft 11in) long and 11.7m (38ft 5in) wide. It is powered by two nuclear reactors with a total power of 180MW (240,000hp). The submarine's immersion depth is 400m (1,300ft); its surface speed is 14 knots (26km/h; 16mph), and its underwater speed is 24 knots (44km/h; 28mph). It carries a crew of 135. Armaments include a D-9RM missile system (16 RSM-54 ballistic missiles) and four 533mm (21.0in)torpedo tubes.[3]
The RSM-54 missile (3M37, R-29RM, or SS-N-23 according to the NATO classification) is a liquid-propellant, three-stage missile with separable heads (it carries four or ten warheads depending on the modification). It has a range of 8,300km (5,200mi), a CEP of 500m (1,600ft), and a launching mass of 40.3 tons. It is 14.8m (48ft 7in) long and 1.9m (6ft 3in) in diameter.[6]
On 6 August 1991 at 21:09 Novomoskovsk, under the command of Captain Second Rank Sergey Yegorov, became the world's only submarine to successfully launch an all-missile salvo, launching 16 ballistic missiles (RSM-54) of total weight of almost 700 tons at an interval of several seconds (operation code name "Behemoth-2"). The first and the last missiles hit their targets successfully, while the others were self-destroyed in the air according to the plan. This operation was considered by the Soviet Navy as a part of possible nuclear war scenario ("Dress rehearsal of the Apocalypse") and experimentally confirmed the technical possibility of a safe underwater all-missile salvo. Politically, the Soviet ballistic missile submarines passed a reasonability check as a part of strategic triad. The previous attempt of an all-missile salvo (operation code name "Behemoth") was performed in 1989 and finished unsuccessfully, however with no casualties. As the experiment took place just before the August Putsch in the USSR, its results were forgotten for a while, and the crew's work wasn't rewarded by the Soviet government authorities.[7]
On 19 March 1993, Novomoskovsk, under the command of Captain First Rank Andrey Bulgakov,[8] collided with USSGrayling. The American submarine was trailing the Russian submarine and miscalculated its speed. Both submarines returned to their homeports, and though badly damaged both returned to service. Grayling was decommissioned in 1997, while Novomoskovsk remains in service 30 years later.[9]
In 1996, Novomoskovsk, together with the submarine K-447, successfully fired a batch of ballistic missiles. The city of Novomoskovsk in Tula Oblast took the submarine under its patronage, and on June 19, 1997, K-407 received the name Novomoskovsk.[10]
The unusual launch was the first time a commercial payload had ever been sent from Earth into orbit from a submarine and the first commercial space launch in the history of the Russian Navy.[12]
In 1999, Novomoskovsk pioneered the launch of a ballistic missile from the geographic location of the North Pole.[7]
On 17 February 2004, Novomoskovsk seemingly attempted to test-fire a SS-N-23 ballistic missile, but the missile failed to come out of its silo because of an unspecified technical problem. The Russian Navy, despite earlier statements describing the test, explained that no "physical" launch was intended at all: the exercise was supposed to be a simulation. President of RussiaVladimir Putin was aboard Arkhangelsk, an Akula-class ballistic missile submarine (NATO reporting name Typhoon), to observe the exercise.[13][14]
On 17 March 2004, Novomoskovsk physically test-fired two SS-N-23 ballistic missiles, successfully hitting designated practice targets on the Kamchatka Peninsula.[15]
Like the other 667BDRM Delfin ships in service with the Northern Fleet, K-407 is slated to receive new SLBMs to replace the RSM-54. The missile is a new-build, minor modernization of the RSM-54. It does not bear a separate designator from the RSM-54/R-29RM/SS-N-23 asides from the name "Sineva". Testing of the R-29RM "Sineva" was completed in June 2004.[16]Novomoskovsk is the third Delfin-class submarine in line to receive the new missile (after her siblings K-51 Verkhoturye and K-84 Ekaterinburg). She was fully overhauled and modernized in 2006 before returning to service.[17]
In July 2006, cleric of Aleksandr Nevskiy Cathedral, the head of the Diocesan department on interaction with the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies, priest Leonid Leontiuk was temporarily included in the personnel list of the K-18 Kareliya and was on board of K-407 Novomoskovsk. During the deployment the priest has performed the consecration ceremony of submarine's compartments, met with submarine personnel, led discussions on the basics of faith and spiritual life. Six sailors got baptized on board.[18]
In November 2008 K-407 Novomoskovsk went to the Zvezdochka plant for general overhaul and modernization. On 29 July 2012 the refit was finished and the submarine returned to active service.
The submarine was expected to remain in service until 2020.[19] However, she was still listed in commission as of 2022.[20]
2010s
Novomoskovsk was described in Russian sources as being "worthy" of the proud name of "the most shooting" submarine of the Russian Navy.[7] The submarine is part of the 31st Order of the Red Banner underwater strategic missile cruiser division of the 12th submarine squadron of the Northern Fleet (Olenya Bay, Skalisty Naval Base). The submarine's commander in 2012 was Captain Stepan Kelbas.[21]
As a member of association of Russian regions and cities, patrons of Northern Fleet ships and units, the Tula Oblast patronages K-114 Tula and K-407Novomoskovsk submarines and assists in "patriotic education" and preparation of young people for serving in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Citizens of Novomoskovsk have preference to serve on K-407Novomoskovsk. The submarine crew are regularly provided by humanitarian goods and visited by the city authorities.[10]
In popular culture
In 2007, Russian plastic model manufacturer Alanger introduced a 1:350 scale model of K-407Novomoskovsk.[22] In 2021, Rockstar Games added to GTA Online Kosatka, A Submarine owned by player, and run by Russian sailor called Pavel. The Submarine is highly based on 407 Novomoskovsk
A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each of which carries a nuclear warhead and allows a single launched missile to strike several targets. Submarine-launched ballistic missiles operate in a different way from submarine-launched cruise missiles.
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. These submarines became a major weapon system in the Cold War because of their nuclear deterrence capability. They can fire missiles thousands of kilometers from their targets, and acoustic quieting makes them difficult to detect, thus making them a survivable deterrent in the event of a first strike and a key element of the mutual assured destruction policy of nuclear deterrence.
The R-39 Rif was a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) that served with the Soviet Navy from its introduction in 1983 until 1991, after which it served with the Russian Navy until 2004. The missile had GRAU indices of 3M65, 3M20, and 3R65. It was carried on board Typhoon-class submarines.
The Yankee class, Soviet designations Project 667A Navaga (navaga) and Project 667AU Nalim (burbot), was a series of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines built in the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy. In total, 34 units were built: 24 in Severodvinsk for the Northern Fleet and the remaining 10 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur for the Pacific Fleet. Two Northern Fleet units were later transferred to the Pacific. The lead boat K-137 Leninets received its honorific name on 11 April 1970, two and one half years after being commissioned.
The M45 SLBM was a French Navy submarine-launched ballistic missile Forty-eight M45 were in commission in the Force océanique stratégique, the submarine nuclear deterrent component of the French Navy. The missiles, derived from the M4, were produced by Aérospatiale. Initially, an ICBM land-based version was considered, but these plans were discarded in 1996 to favour an all-naval deployment.
The M51 SLBM is a French submarine-launched ballistic missile, built by ArianeGroup, and deployed with the French Navy. Designed to replace the M45 SLBM, it was first deployed in 2010.
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The Delta class, Soviet designations Project 667B Murena, Project 667BD Murena-M, Project 667BDR Kalmar, Project 667BDRM Delfin, are a family of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, designed and built in the Soviet Union, which formed the backbone of the Soviet and Russian strategic submarine fleet since their introduction in 1973. They carry nuclear ballistic missiles of the R-29 Vysota family, with the Delta I, Delta II, Delta III and Delta IV classes carrying the R-29/SS-N-8 'Sawfly', R-29D/SS-N-8 'Sawfly', R-29R/SS-N-18 'Stingray' and R-29RM/SS-N-23 'Skiff' respectively.
The R-29RM Shtil was a liquid propellant, submarine-launched ballistic missile in use by the Russian Navy. It had the alternate Russian designations RSM-54 and GRAU index 3M27. It was designed to be launched from the Delta IV submarine, each of which is capable of carrying 16 missiles. The R-29RM could carry four 100 kiloton warheads and had a range of about 8,500 kilometres (5,300 mi). They were replaced with the newer R-29RMU2 Sineva and later with the enhanced variant R-29RMU2.1 Layner.
The RSM-56 Bulava is a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) developed for the Russian Navy and deployed in 2013 on the new Borei class of ballistic missile nuclear submarines. It is intended as the future cornerstone of Russia's nuclear triad, and is the most expensive weapons project in the country. The weapon takes its name from bulava, a Russian word for mace.
RSM-45R-31 was a Soviet submarine-launched ballistic missile.
R-39UTTH Bark, NATO reporting name SS-NX-28, was a Russian submarine-launched ballistic missile. The missile was an upgraded version of the R-39 missile that was designed for the Typhoon class. The new missile was to be carried by the new Russian nuclear submarines of the Borei class. The third test launch of a prototype R-39M on 25 November 1998 resulted in a catastrophic failure of the SLBM's booster. The missile exploded roughly 200 meters after take-off from its ground-based launch facility. Having failed its first three test firings the project was ordered abandoned by the Russian Security Council. The missile was later replaced by the Bulava and Layner missile systems.
The R-29RMU2 Sineva, code RSM-54, is a Russian liquid-fueled submarine-launched ballistic missile with GRAU index 3M27, designation SS-N-23A Skiff. It can carry four warheads and is designed to be launched from Delta IV-class submarines, which are armed with 16 missiles each. As of 2017, there are 96 launchers deployed on the submarines.
Operation Behemoth-1, Behemoth-2 were military exercises held by the Soviet Northern Fleet in 1989 and 1991. Behemoth-2 was the first time ever when a ballistic missile submarine launched all of its missiles at once. The excercise took place barely four months before the collapse of the Soviet Union.
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The R-29RMU2.1 Layner is a Russian liquid-fuelled submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and the newest member of the R-29 missile family, developed by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau and produced by the Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Plant. Derived from the R-29RMU2 Sineva SLBM, the Layner can carry twelve nuclear warheads, three times as many as Sineva. It was expected to enter service with the Russian Navy's Delta IV-class submarines after a successful test programme that spanned from May to September 2011. The Russian Navy confirmed in 2014 that the system was now in use.
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K-51 Verkhoturye is the lead submarine of the Project 667BDRM Delfin class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines currently in service with the Russian Navy. It was built at the Sevmash shipbuilding company in Severodvinsk between 1981 and 1984 and was commissioned in 1984. It is named after the city of Verkhoturye.
References
Yuriy Apalkov, Podvodnyye lodki, vol. 1, part 1 "RPKSN i mnogotselevyye PL" (St. Petersburg: Galea Print, 2002).
Yuriy Apalkov, Podvodnyye lodki, vol. 1, part 2 "Mnogotselevyye PL i PL spetsnaznacheniya" (St. Petersburg: Galea Print, 2003).
S.S. Berezhnoy, Atomnyye podvodnyye lodki: VMF SSSR i Rossii (Moscow: Naval Kollektsiya, 2001).
V. Demyanovskiy et al., Podvodnyy shchit SSSR, vol. 1 "Atomnyye mnogotselevyye podvodnyye lodki" (Rybnisk: Star, 2003).
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