Typhoon-class SSBN (Ballistic missile submarine)

 

Typhoon-class SSBN (Ballistic missile submarine)

One thing about Typhoon class SSBN (Project 941 Akula) is that this is the largest submarine in the world. The name of the class of this submarine is "Akula". The NATO reporting name "Akula" means "Project 971 Shchuka-B"-class hunter-killer submarine Typhoon is not the most heavily armed submarine in the world if there are not the 50 megatons thermonuclear weapon in it.

 Normally the Typhoon carries 20 SS-N-20 "Seahawk" ballistic nuclear missiles, and probably some other nuclear missiles and torpedoes, which can be launched from those submarines torpedo tubes. SS-N-20 "Seahawk" (R-39 Rif) was a special missile type, what was carried onboard on Typhoon. The reason why I wrote about the "other nuclear weapons" is that weapons like SS-N-15 "Starfish" missiles can shot from torpedo tubes. 

Typhoon class SSBN has two nuclear reactors, which gives that submarine extremely long range. Two reactors also allow that the reactor fuel does not necessarily change when the submarine is taken in service, which makes it easier to cover the secrets of that boat. The big size of the Typhoon was remarkable, and some western specialists thought that the Typhoon was similar to the "Oscar" class cruise-missile submarine, which would have both SS-N-19 "Shipwreck" (R700) anti-ship cruise missiles and SS-N-20 "Seahawk" ballistic missiles. But Typhoon was "only" the ballistic missile submarine. 

The construction of Typhoon is unique, the missile and torpedo tubes are in front of the command center, and the engines are below that place. This thing makes it possible to close the sections if there are problems with the crew. And also that design would allow keeping the machine men out from the missile and torpedo section, which makes it possible to share secrets of that missile submarine in the smallest possible parts. 

The Typhoon was the largest submarine class in the world, but Ohio-class SSBN had more firepower if the number of ballistic missiles is calculated. Ohio is armed with 24 Trident missiles and torpedoes. There is also the possibility to carry Tomahawk cruise missiles onboard of Ohio, but that kind of weapon is used in lighter hunter-killer submarines. The thing is that nuclear submarines are causing discussions about the safety of nuclear weapons all the time. And there is a possibility that somebody might attempt to affect the crew of nuclear missile submarines by using infra-sound acoustic systems. 

Sources:

Forbes article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2020/08/23/last-typhoon-can-the-worlds-largest-submarine-still-destroy-the-world/#d9615296ec22

NATO reporting name"Akula"-class submarine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akula-class_submarine

Ohio-class submarine:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio-class_submarine

Oscar-class submarine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar-class_submarine

SS-N-15 "Starfish": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPK-2_Vyuga

SS-N-19 "Shipwreck" cruise missile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-700_Granit

SS-N-20 "Seahawk" missile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-39_Rif

Typhoon-class submarine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon-class_submarine

Tomahawk cruise missile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_(missile)

Trident missile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trident_(missile)

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon-class_submarine