The author for NI has compiled a list of the most powerful nuclear submarines in service with Russia and the United States. In the event of a hypothetical conflict, just one ship of this type is enough to reduce 288 targets the size of a city to radioactive ash within 30 minutes.
Although, fortunately, they have never been used during hot wars, nuclear submarines capable of carrying missiles with nuclear warheads are the deadliest weapons ever created by humans. In some cases - as was the case with the Ohio-class submarines at the height of the Cold War - just one ship is enough to reduce 288 targets the size of cities to radioactive ash within 30 minutes. Indeed, if World War III had started, these submarines and their combat equipment could have destroyed civilization in less time than it takes to order pizza.
In this article, we have compiled a list of the most powerful nuclear submarines that are already in service or will soon be commissioned. Older models like the Soviet Project 941 Akula submarines are not being considered, as most of them have already been decommissioned. Only the Dmitry Donskoy remains in service with the Russian Navy, which is being used as a test ship, from which all ballistic missiles have been removed.
Ohio-class submarines with ballistic missiles
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| The submarine USS Georgia. |
| Source: © CC0 / Public Domain, U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kimberly Clifford | Go to Photobank |
The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines in service with the US Navy are capable of carrying 24 UGM-133A Trident II (D5) submarine-launched ballistic missiles, each equipped with 12 W88 thermonuclear warheads with a capacity of 475 kilotons. Given the accuracy of the Mk5 warhead, which has a circular deflection of no more than 90 meters, Ohio-class submarines and their Trident II missiles can be used as a first-strike weapon. According to a 2010 Review of the Composition and Quantity of nuclear weapons, the United States expects to have 14 Ohio-class submarines in service, and two of them will be under repair at any given moment. Today, each such submarine carries 20 missiles, which together gives 240 deployed Trident II missiles. In 2016, nine Ohio-class submarines were in the Pacific Ocean, while the remaining five were in the Atlantic Ocean.
Columbia-class submarines with ballistic missiles
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| The project of the American Columbia-class nuclear submarine. |
| Source: © Photo : Public Domain |
The Ohio-class submarines are an aging model, despite their impressive capabilities, and the first submarines launched are already nearing the end of their 42-year service life. To replace the Ohio-class submarines, the U.S. Navy is building new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. These new nuclear submarines equipped with ballistic missiles have a slightly larger displacement than the Ohio class, 20,800 tons, but are capable of carrying only 16 Trident II missiles. Most of these submarines are occupied by a new reactor capable of operating without reloading fuel during the entire life of the ship, as well as a permanent magnet electric motor, which, although it works very quietly, still takes up a lot of space. These submarines are based on technologies used in Virginia-class attack submarines. They also use many systems installed on smaller submarines. In some respects, Columbia is a larger, more advanced Virginia-class submarine. The construction of the Columbia submarines will begin in 2021, and the first boats will enter service in 2031.
Project 955 Borey submarine
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| Nuclear submarine missile cruiser of the Borey project. |
| Source: © Photo : SEVMASH enterprise |
To keep up, America's Cold War opponent - although now its military power has become significantly smaller - is trying to maintain parity with the United States in one area: nuclear weapons.
Therefore, no one should be surprised that Russia is creating a fleet of extremely powerful new Project 955 Borey ballistic missile submarines. The submarines of the Borey project are smaller compared to their giant predecessors, the submarines of the 941 Akula project. With a displacement of 24,000 tons, the Borei is larger than the Ohio and Columbia class submarines, but less powerful than these American submarines. Nevertheless, the Borey is the quietest of Russia's existing ballistic missile submarines, and it is equipped with a jet propulsion system. This submarine is capable of carrying 16 RSM-56 Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missiles, each equipped with 10 nuclear warheads with a range of 8000 kilometers. The accuracy of the hit is quite high - a circular probable deviation in the range of 250-300 meters - and they are designed in such a way as to bypass missile defense systems.
Dolphin Project 667BDRM ballistic missile Submarine
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| The K-18 Karelia submarine, January 1, 1994. |
| Source: © CC0 / Public Domain, US gov | Go to Photobank |
Created around the same time as the powerful Project 941 Akula submarines, today the Dolphin submarines form the backbone of the Russian fleet of ballistic missile submarines. The Dolphin Project 667BDRM submarines with a displacement of 18,200 tons are a powerful platform and are equipped with 16 three-stage liquid-fueled ballistic missiles R-29RMU Sineva, each of which can carry from four to eight warheads. Unlike previous versions of Project 667, the Dolphin is capable of firing missiles in any direction from a fixed course in a circular sector. It is also capable of firing missiles at a depth of 55 meters and traveling at a speed of 6-7 knots.
Cruise missile submarines of the 885M Yasen project
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| The submarine of the Yasen-M project. |
| Source: © Photo : SEVMASH |
Severodvinsk-class cruise missile submarines are not ballistic missile submarines, however, equipped with 32 3M-14K Kalibr cruise missiles, produced in dual-conventional and nuclear-equipped, with a range of 2,500 kilometers, these Project 885M submarines pose a serious threat to the United States. Yasen submarines move quickly and very quietly, and they are equipped with very sensitive sensors - if the Office of Naval Intelligence of the US Navy is correct in its estimates. According to some estimates, the Severodvinsk or Kazan submarines can easily approach the American east coast at a distance of 2,000 kilometers and strike deep into the continent, up to the Great Lakes. Indeed, if such a submarine approaches a distance of 1,000 kilometers - and given its stealth, it is capable of doing so - it can strike even Chicago and St. Louis.
