XLT+: Construction of "Kronshtadt" Diesel Sub Continues

"Kronshtadt" bow module section ready for transfer to Workshop 12 (2014)
[credit: Admiralty Shipyards]

                                         [translation of "Admiralteyets" newspaper article]

SUBMARINE "KRONSHTADT": FIRST MODULE ON BUILDING WAY!
December 15, 2014

In the coming days, the bow module section of the second Project 677/Lada-class submarine "Kronshtadt" will be transported from Workshop 9 to Workshop 12. Today, construction of the serially-produced unit, which was restarted in July 2013, is in full swing.

In 2009, the Ministry of Defense ordered a halt to the construction of "Kronshtadt", which was laid down in 2005. Four years later, this unique project was given a "second life" - a state contract to continue construction was signed by RF deputy defense minister Yuriy Borisov and Admiralty Shipyards general director Aleksandr Buzakov.

New Life for Lada Project
Today, the bow and stern module sections of the second Project 677 submarine are in Workshop 9, and internal structures requiring rework have been dismantled. The bow module is being prepared for transport to a construction way in Workshop 12. It's symbolic that Bay 6, the same bay used for the construction of "Sank-Peterburg", has been prepared to receive the new bow module.

Work continues on the stern module - a joint in the fourth compartment has already been cut, and upgrades to the end of the stern section are underway.

"In accordance with drawings we received from our designer, Rubin Central Design Bureau of Naval Technology, adjustments were made to the design of the shaft line, which is why the stern section tip is undergoing modifications. To this end, serious efforts are underway," explains project manager and Construction Department 6 senior builder Viktor Mishkin. "The layout of some spaces has changed somewhat - mostly in the fourth and fifth compartments, where the diesel generators and electric propulsion motor are located. Work is also underway to improve designs; this requirement arose while the first hull was being tested."

According to the project manager, the changes being made are primarily focused on improving technical characteristics and habitability, as well as simplifying the ability to service onboard systems.

At the same time as the submarine's construction, a lot of effort is underway to survey structures that were completed earlier. Outfitting buildings and units and machine-building equipment have been activated.

According to Viktor Mishkin, construction of the submarine hasn't reached the most intensive phase yet. Only the scope of work clearly defined by the designers is underway: "As soon as we receive drawings, we immediately start working. First and foremost, the reliability of the submarine depends on clear adherence to the parameters set forth in the design."

Workshop 9 employees - builders under the supervision of Oleg Sosunov, assemblers led by Nikolay Borisenko, teams of welders under Roman Shemenkov and Valeriy Kichigin - are now actively involved in the construction. Preparation of the bow module section for transport to Workshop 12 is being handled by Vladimir Kozlov's assembly team and Yevgeniy Agapov's metal worker team. These are the same workers who participated in construction of the first Project Lada submarine.

A majority of the work is also being performed by Workshops 6 and 7 and by machine-building production personnel.

The transfer of the stern module section into Workshop 12 is scheduled for spring 2015. During this time, the submarine's hull will be prepared for insulation work. "Habitability conditions inside the submarine depend on the quality of insulation, and this step also helps prevent accumulation of condensation, which is not desired when operating machinery," explains Viktor Mishkin. "After insulation work, the module section can be moved to the construction way, where installation of equipment will begin."

Upon completion of the first stage of construction in Workshop 9, all factory teams will be brought in to work on the submarine.

We Create... And Build
Despite the fact that "Kronshtadt" is not a lead hull, it is being built using a corrected technical design. "Nearly 20 years have passed since the draft design was completed," says Construction Department 6 senior builder Mark Khazanov. "Since then, based on construction and testing experience, new types of equipment and requirements have materialized, which the designer has reviewed and which will be introduced during construction. We could consider that, at some level, "Kronshtadt" - for us - is a submarine that isn't being built, but rather created. There's a difference!"

New, Modern!
Currently, Project 677 submarines are the most modern non-nuclear submarines. Despite the large scope of work, timelines for building this unique submarine are rather tight: according to the signed documents, the transfer of "Kronshtadt" to the Russian Navy is scheduled for 2017.

                                                     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Probable "Kronshtadt" hull section loaded on "Luga" floating dry dock (December 15, 2014)
[credit: "Curious"]

It appears that some transfer activity has already occurred. On December 16, Admiralty Shipyard's floating dry dock "Luga" did transfer a hull section from the northern area of the shipyard to a southern construction facility. The larger bow section also may have been transferred on December 16 or could be transferred during a separate operation by the end of this month.

Contracts linked to "Kronshtadt" construction include (listed by order of scheduled delivery):

• 1Q2015: 72V29KM remote control equipment; oil-water separators; automated air compressor systems
• 2Q2015: hydraulic mooring capstan; LGS-42 special-purpose hydraulic winch; P407/P-408 communications systems; MG-65 emergency underwater communications system; air/water heaters; PD-3MA2 incinerators; anti-vibration mounts 
• 3Q2015: Baget 41-10 computer; diesel generators 
• 4Q2015: ARM-5 automated steering apparatus; Gnom-2 device
• 1Q2016: reserve propulsion system

Third Russian-Built Kilo Submarine to Begin Journey to Vietnam Next Week

Track of "Rolldock Star" - December 4, 2014

Final preparations are underway for the transfer of the third Kilo-class diesel submarine, named "Haiphong", from Russia to Vietnam.

"Haiphong" conducted three phases of underway training for the submarine's future crew in July, August and September. The submarine then conducted two brief underway periods on October 29-November 2 and November 5-10. Over the past month, Admiralty Shipyards completed some final cosmetic touch-ups on the boat in preparation for the official hand-over.

In October, shipyard officials stated that "Haiphong" would depart for Vietnam before December 10. And it looks like that may be close to the truth.

The heavy-lift ship "Rolldock Star" (IMO: 9656498) departed Antwerp, Belgium, at 14:00 GMT today en route to St. Petersburg, where it is expected to arrive at 15:00 GMT on December 8. "Rolldock Star" was used to ferry the second Vietnamese Kilo ("Ho Chi Minh City") from Russia to Vietnam earlier this year. With an approximate six-week transit, the heavy-lift ship should arrive in Cam Ranh Bay in late-February 2015.

Possible Land-Attack Cruise Missile Launch Scheduled for Next Week

Flight bans (yellow) and an area closure for missile activity (red) - December 8-10, 2014

                        [updated December 6 to include flight bans and modify launch candidates]

Unusual flight bans and area closure for Barents Sea missile activity have been announced for December 8-10:

G2604/14 - TEMPO DANGER AREA ACT:
692800N 0351600E-695500N 0351400E-702900N 0450400E-691700N 0474000E-684500N 0474000E-683600N 0475000E-683000N 0482000E-682800N 0492000E-682000N 0494000E-681000N 0490000E-680900N 0482000E-675500N 0481000E-675000N 0474000E-675200N 0472000E-683100N 0463800E-681800N 0452500E-694500N 0435000E-692100N 0360000E-692800N 0351600E.
SFC - FL070, DAILY 0200-1700, 08 DEC 02:00 2014 UNTIL 10 DEC 17:00 2014.

G2610/14 - FLT PROHIBITED WI AREA BOUNDED BY COORD:
692800N 0351600E-692100N 0360000E-691500N 0351000E-692800N 0351600E.
SFC - FL070, DAILY 0200-1700, 08 DEC 02:00 2014 UNTIL 10 DEC
17:00 2014. CREATED: 05 DEC 05:02 2014

HYDROARC 349/14
ARCTIC.
BARENTS SEA.
MISSILES.
DNC 22.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 0200Z TO 1100Z DAILY 08 THRU 10 DEC IN AREA BOUND BY:
69-55.0N 035-14.0E, 70-29.0N 045-04.0E, 68-54.0N 048-13.5E, 68-43.0N 048-37.0E, 68-03.0N 049-54.0E, 67-35.0N 047-52.0E, 67-49.0N 046-42.0E, 68-29.0N 045-47.0E, 69-45.0N 043-50.0E, 69-15.0N 035-10.0E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 101200Z DEC 14.

The area closure has two legs measuring approximately 215nm and 180nm - for a total length of nearly 400nm. The range is longer than known ranges of Russian anti-ship cruise missiles, and the dog-leg turn is not something one would expect of an anti-ship cruise missile area closure, suggesting this is a land-attack cruise missile launch. The eastern-most leg ends at the shoreline that is adjacent to Cheshkaya Guba.

While the launch platform is not yet known, there are at least two candidates, both of which are armed with the SS-N-30 land-attack cruise missile (range: 800nm-1,400nm, depending on the warhead payload):

• Severodvinsk-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine "Severodvinsk"
• Kilo-class diesel submarine "Novorossiysk", which arrived in Polyarnyy last month

[Follow-up: On December 8, Victor III-class nuclear-powered submarine "Obninsk" successfully launched a cruise missile from a submerged location in the Barents Sea towards the Chizha Test Range, according to a Northern Fleet spokesperson.]

XLT: Status of Petersburg SS Construction

Petersburg SS "Sankt-Peterburg"
(Image courtesy of TASS)

                                                      [Translation of TASS news article]

SECOND PROJECT 677 SUBMARINE FOR RUSSIAN NAVY TO BE LAUNCHED IN LATE 2015
October 28, 2014
http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/1538231

The second Project 677 diesel-electric submarine for the Russian Navy, "Kronshtadt", will be launched in late 2015. Admiralty Shipyards general director Aleksandr Buzakov informed TASS about this at Euronaval-2014. Previously it was reported that work on the submarine "Kronshtadt" should be completed in 2017.

"There is still a year before the launch of 'Kronshtadt'," said Buzakov. "Everything will depend on equipment delivery timelines, and not timelines for conducting factory work. When the equipment shows up, we can talk about more precise timelines for a launch," he added.

The general director reported that one quarter of the hull work on "Kronshtadt" has been completed.

Construction of a third submarine

Admiralty Shipyards has begun construction of a third Project 677 diesel-electric submarine for the Russian Navy, although a contract has not yet been signed. The submarine has been named "Sevastopol", Buzakov explained. "A final contract has not been signed, but the cost and a number of other contract parameters have been agreed to. That is to say, at the present time, several formalities are proceeding to completion. Therefore, part of the work on the submarine is already underway," Buzakov explained, noting that a small percentage of hull work has already been completed as part of the submarine's construction.

The general director noted that the first three Project 677 diesel-electric submarines will not be equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP). "This will be a series of three submarines that will not be equipped with AIP. The lead unit, "Sankt-Peterburg", is undergoing trial operations. On the other two submarines, everything will be verified in terms of quality and other parameters, which must be raised to the level of the design," Buzakov said.

AIP allows non-nuclear submarines to operate under the water for long periods without having to surface.

Project 677 (Lada) diesel-electric submarines were developed to combat surface ships and were designed for antisubmarine warfare, destruction of enemy naval bases, facilities and sea lines of communication, as well as for intelligence and patrol missions.

Overhauled Kilo Subs Remain Kalibr-less

Kilo "Vladikavkaz" - September 19, 2014
(Image courtesy of Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center)

Six new (Project 636.3) Kilo-class diesel submarines are being built for the Russian Navy at Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg. All six, which are destined for the Black Sea Fleet, will be armed with the Kalibr-family of missiles: the SS-N-27 Sizzler anti-ship cruise missile, the SS-N-30 land-attack cruise missile, and the 91R ASW missile. But will happen with the older Kilos?

Two 25-year-old Northern Fleet Kilos have undergone overhauls at Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center in Severodvinsk, but the overhauls apparently do not include backfitting them with the Kalibr system.

"Kaluga" arrived at the shipyard in 2002 for repairs, but without a decision on whether to repair or scrap the submarine, it remained idle for about six years. In 2008, Onega Scientific Research Technological Design Bureau drafted documentation for "medium repairs" (i.e., overhaul, which gives the submarine another 10 years of service) of the submarine, but only in 2010 was "Kaluga" finally moved into a repair hall. The submarine was rolled back out in May 2012. In 2013, the shipyard made it clear that "Kaluga" was not backfitted with the Kalibr system.

"Kaluga" was inactive so long that the crew it had in 2002 had been nearly disbanded, reduced to just a few crew members. As such, the crew of another Kilo, "Yaroslavl" (commanded by Captain 2nd Rank Oleg Mikholap), manned "Kaluga" throughout its post-overhaul sea trials (2012-2013) and transfer back to Polyarnyy (July 2013). In 2013, Mikholap was replaced by his executive officer, Captain 3rd Rank Yuriy Gusarov, as the "Yaroslavl" commanding officer; however, as "Yaroslavl" was non-operational, Gusarov's crew remained on "Kaluga". In October-November 2013, just three months after returning from the shipyard, "Kaluga" (under Gusarov's command) conducted a month-long deployment (area unknown). Gusarov and his crew remained on "Kaluga" as late as June 2014 and could still be on board.

The second Kilo to be overhauled at Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center, "Vladikavkaz", was transferred to Severodvinsk in 2008. Due to a similar "indecision-making" process, a contract for the submarine's "medium repairs" was not signed until 2011. The submarine was rolled into the repair hall in late 2011 for a nearly two-year overhaul period. The submarine rolled out of the repair hall on September 19 of this year and will be returned to the Russian Navy in late 2015.

Although neither Kilo was backfitted with the Kalibr missile system, they did receive the MGK-400V.1 sonar system, which provides improved sonar capabilities. Other upgrades were made to navigation and weapons-related components.

Next up: either "Magnitogorsk" or "Yaroslavl". "Magnitogorsk" has been performing duties in the Baltic Fleet since late 2013 (it did a similar Baltic Fleet deployment in 2012). Its return to the Northern Fleet may have been delayed until one of the Baltic Fleet's own Kilos, "Vyborg", returns to service following lengthy repairs. "Yaroslavl" has been inactive for at least two years. As with "Kaluga" and "Vladikavkaz", none of these old Kilos are expected to receive Kalibr upgrades.

Petersburg Diesel Submarine Construction Continues

Petersburg SS "Sankt-Peterburg" moored on Neva River in St. Petersburg - July 2010
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

Construction of the second hull of the Petersburg diesel submarine class, named "Kronshtadt", was restarted in July 2013 when a new contract (Z/1/2/0280/GK-13-DGOZ) was signed with Admiralty Shipyards. Construction was stopped in 2009 after the Russian Ministry of Defense decided it would no longer fund the plagued program following the poor performance and prolonged testing of the first hull, "Sankt-Peterburg". But "Kronshtadt" is now showing signs of life.

"Sankt-Peterburg" was laid down in December 1997 and launched in October 2004. During factory testing, multiple issues with sonar, power plant, and propulsion systems significantly impacted the submarine's ability to achieve the technical and tactical performance requirements set by the Russian Navy. The submarine was finally commissioned in April 2010 - but only for "trial operations." After several years of limited operations, the submarine was transferred from the Baltic Sea to the Barents Sea in October 2013 for additional at-sea testing. "Sankt-Peterburg", which remains in a "trial operations" status, apparently has conducted few (if any) at-sea operations since the transfer based on a total lack of reporting.

"Kronshtadt" was laid down at Admiralty Shipyards in July 2005, and little information about the submarine was known about it after construction was halted in 2009. Since the new contract was signed in July 2013, however, there have been signs that real construction is underway, as proven by a dozen contracts for equipment deliveries announced between December 2013 and now.

(Description / cost / delivery date)

• 72V29KM rapid remote-control equipment / ??? / 1Q2015
• hydraulic mooring anchor capstan / ??? /2Q2015
• reserve propulsion system / ??? /1Q2016
• LGS-42 winch / ??? / 2Q2015
• oil-water separators / ??? / 1Q2015
• ARM-5 automated steering apparatus / ??? / 4Q2015
• automated air compressor systems / ??? / 1Q2015
• Baget 41-10 computer / ??? / 3Q2015
• modernization of Zhikler mast-raising devices / RUB 1,780,800 / ???
• Gnom-2 acoustic digital recorder / ??? / 4Q2015
• diesel generators / ??? / 3Q2015
• MG-65 emergency underwater communications system / ??? / 2Q2015
• diesel generator pedestals / RUB 5,332,671 / Jan 2015

When the new contract went into effect in July 2013, Admiralty Shipyards reported that "Kronshtadt" was scheduled for handover to the Russian Navy in 2017. While the completion dates for the above contracts seem to suggest a 2017 delivery date is possible, it remains to be seen if sub-contractors for components can stay on schedule.