Russia’s second-best submarine midgets, the largest in the US fleet

With Russia’s best and largest nuclear submarine now decommissioned, the next best option in its submersible fleet still eclipses the largest US vehicles in some ways.

After months of speculation, Vladimir Maltsev, head of Russia’s naval support movement, confirmed to the Russian press on Monday that the country’s largest nuclear-armed submarine, the Dmitry Donskoi, has been officially shut down. The craft was the last of Russia’s Cold War-era Typhoon-class submarines, considered the world’s largest by tonnage.

With the Dmitry Donskoi From the fleet now falls the honor of the largest submarine in the Russian fleet Belgorodan Oscar II class submarine launched in July.

While Belgorod Not yet fully equipped with nuclear armament, it is capable of carrying the Poseidon nuclear-capable underwater drones, hailed as the “weapon of the apocalypse” by Russian naval forces.

“This nuclear ‘mega-torpedo’ is unique in world history,” wrote American submarine expert HI Sutton in Naval News in March. “Poseidon is a whole new weapon category. It will reshape naval planning in both Russia and the West, leading to new requirements and new counter-weapons.”

At just over 603 feet in length, the Belgorod also holds the distinction of being the longest submarine in the world, considerably longer than the longest ships in the US Navy fleet. The Ohio-class submarines are the largest ever deployed by the United States, reaching approximately 560 feet in length.

A successor to the Ohio class, known as the Columbia class, is currently under development and is scheduled to enter naval service in 2031. These vehicles will have the length of their predecessors, which will match those of Russia Belgorod the lead in that metric for the foreseeable future.

Without the Poseidon weapons it would be Belgorod remained secondary to nuclear readiness Dmitry Donskoi in Russia’s fleet. However, Russian state news agency Tass recently reported that a first batch of the armor has been built and will be delivered soon. With their realized nuclear capabilities, the Belgorod will surpass the now decommissioned vehicle in every facet.

“The first batch of Poseidon ammunition has been manufactured and will be delivered to shortly [the] Special nuclear-powered submarine Belgorod‘ a source told the outlet in mid-January.

The source also said that “various trials of core components of [the] Poseidon underwater drones, including the nuclear power plant, were complete, according to Tass. news week has not been able to independently verify these claims, nor has the Russian government commented on the matter.

news week turned to military experts for comment.