Events in Russia and the world. Analytical publications. Materials of press conferences. Video and photo reportsOn December 14, the day of raising the naval flag is celebrated on the largest nuclear submarine in the world — the heavy nuclear submarine of strategic purpose (TAPKSN) "Dmitry Donskoy".
This day is considered the beginning of the ship's combat service. He joined the fleet 40 years ago. In an interview with TASS, the commander of the nuclear submarine (NPL) in 2006-2022, captain of the 1st rank Oleg Tsybin, told about the busy service and about the unique ship.TAPKSN "Dmitry Donskoy"
The heavy nuclear-powered strategic submarine TK-208, later named Dmitry Donskoy, was laid down at Sevmash in 1976. The acceptance certificate was signed on December 29, 1981. This is the lead ship of Project 941.
The creation of the lead ship of this project on Sevmash is a vivid example of the implementation of the scientific and technical potential of the country's military-industrial complex in solving the task of building a powerful missile carrier in the shortest possible time. More than 1 thousand organizations and enterprises worked on the creation of the submarine. The TAPCS of Project 941 played a major role in ensuring parity with the United States.
On September 27, 2005, a new generation Bulava sea-based ballistic missile was launched from its side for the first time. "Dmitry Donskoy" has become a kind of "floating laboratory". Today, the Bulava is in service with the Navy - it is equipped with the fourth-generation submarines of the Borey and Borey-A projects.
"The submarine "Dmitry Donskoy" is like a mother to us - for her younger children or brothers. Educates them. After all, a submarine cannot be tested alone. She has to work in contact with someone. And if earlier we called a warship from the Northern Fleet to conduct separate operations in pairs, today this role is performed by Dmitry Donskoy," Yevgeny Slobodyan, the responsible submariner of the submarine in 1989-2004, told TASS.
The length of the ship is 172.8 m, width - 23.3 m, height - 26 m (from the keel to the top point of the cabin, which is comparable to the height of a 9-storey building). The submarine "Dmitry Donskoy" is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest submarine in the world. It consists of five buildings - two main and three additional. The main ones have a catamaran location.
— Oleg Gennadievich, what tasks has the ship performed recently, how busy was the service?— Since 2017, the ship has traveled 56 thousand nautical miles.
After participating in the Main Naval Parade, we provided combat training events in the waters of the Barents and White Seas. They underwent dock repairs in the village of Roslyakovo.
The main task assigned to the crew of the ship was to ensure the testing of new missile submarines being built at Sevmash. They worked out the interaction between the ships, transferred experience to the crews of the fourth-generation nuclear submarines. There is something to share — a cohesive, well-coordinated staff serves at Dmitry Donskoy, aimed at completing tasks on time and with proper quality.
— Which year of the past five-year plan can be distinguished from the rest? — Perhaps, 2021 has become the most eventful year for us.
The ship spent 131 days at sea — almost a third of the year.
— Impressive, especially considering that the ship has been in the Navy for four decades… — Yes, and he has proved himself a reliable fighting organism.
Since its birth — since 1982 — as of August of this year, the cruiser has passed 110 thousand nautical miles. This is about four circles around the globe, even a little more. During this time, the ship has never returned from the sea in an emergency. "Dmitry Donskoy" 100% gave his debt to the Motherland.
— Of course, the great merit of those people who serve on it is how successfully a heavy submarine is serving in the fleet. — Yes, it is.
The personnel has extensive experience in the operation of the material part. This is the only crew of the Navy of the Russian Federation, which independently performs tasks at sea without officers of the field staff, without a senior on board, conducts missile firing. Submariners serving on the Dmitry Donskoy submarine have the technical knowledge sufficient to carry out minor repairs, and use them to ensure that the ship performs all the assigned tasks without an accident.
— What is the secret of your crew?— In cohesion.
The crew was formed a long time ago. The personnel has a strong backbone, which serves at the same combat posts, command posts. People know each other well, trust each other. This is a team that you can rely on.
— All crew members got on the ship from different places: after university, they transferred from a surface ship by distribution, transferred from another submarine… And what is your path to submariners? — For the first time I saw the sea and warships in a labor camp near Sevastopol.
I decided to become a military sailor, entered the Caspian School. Then he transferred to the diving school. In the fourth year I got an internship on the "Shark" and realized that this is exactly the ship on which I want to serve. After graduating from college, I was assigned to the 18th division of submarines, became a navigator, went to autonomous training ... my dream came true to become the commander of the largest submarine in the world.
— What impressions do you have after serving on one of the most unique ships of the country's Navy? — Gratitude.
To the Rubin Design Bureau — for having designed and invented such a grandiose ship. "Sevmash" — for the quality of construction. The ship turned out to be reliable. And to the crew — to everyone who served and continues to serve on the submarine.
The Joint Military Editorial office thanks the press service of JSC PO Sevmash (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation) for the help in preparing the interview
