Russian design office & # 39; Malachite & # 39; has started to develop two projects of small multipurpose submarines – the nuclear “ Gorgon & # 39; & # 39; and the small non-nuclear submarine (NNS) Serval. AiF.ru & nbsp; found out what is known about these submarines.
The builder reports that development is done on initiative, technical proposals have already been made and the appearance of two submarines has been determined. This is a removable modular design for placing a payload, which includes weapons, self-defense equipment, group submarine propulsion systems and unmanned underwater vehicles . The full package will depend on the specific tasks and will be determined before setting sail.
The Gorgon submarine, like all ships with nuclear facilities, is an almost fully classified project. There is no data on the features and purpose of this device. & Nbsp; According to experts, it could be a modernization or a continuation of the Losharik project. In 2019, this nuclear-powered offshore vehicle, located at the Northern Fleet training ground in the Kola Bay area of the Barents Sea, caught fire. The fire killed 14 submariners. & Nbsp;
The Russian nuclear submarine AS-12 Losharik. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
We know a little more about the submarine P-750B Serval. This is the first submarine to feature an anaerobic engine, which means it doesn't need oxygen to operate. Hence, it does not need any air trapping. Length – 66 meters, width – seven. Cruising range is 4.3 thousand miles, range is 30 days. The submarine will carry Caliber cruise missiles, as well as torpedoes and mines.
Desk “ Malachite '' previously engaged in the development of small submarines. He developed the small coastal submarine Piranha, its modified version Piranha-T, as well as the small submarines P-550 and P-650E. Their displacement varies from 220 to 720 cubic meters, and the maximum immersion depth & mdash; from 200 to 300 meters. The slowest of the Malachite mini-submarines & mdash; Piranha & mdash; swims at a speed of 6.6 knots, and the fastest & mdash; P-550 & mdash; at a speed of 15.5 knots. & nbsp;
Small submarines can participate in sabotage operations and imperceptibly come closer to enemy targets than large diesel-electric and nuclear submarines can. They also have other advantages. For example, they are faster and cheaper to build and can be transported by train or plane, while large ships follow independently to the desired point.
Small submarines are needed not only by the military, but also by research agencies and coastal services.