Soviet submarine K-77
K-77 docked in Providence, Rhode Island
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History | |
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Soviet Union | |
Name | K-77 |
Ordered | 1950s |
Builder | Krasnoye Sormovo Factory No. 112, Gorky |
Laid down | 31 January 1963 |
Launched | 11 March 1965 |
Commissioned | 31 October 1965 |
Renamed | 1977, B-77 |
Stricken | 1994 |
Fate | Sold for scrap, August 2009 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Juliett-class submarine |
Displacement | |
Length | 85.9 m (281 ft 10 in) |
Beam | 9.7 m (31 ft 10 in) |
Draft | 3.29 m (10 ft 10 in) |
Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 240 m (790 ft) |
Complement | 78 |
Sensors and processing systems |
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Electronic warfare & decoys | Nakat-M ESM |
Armament |
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K-77 was a "Project 651" (
K-77 was built later in the Juliett class, so her
The boat flooded and sank during a storm in 2007. She was refloated a year later and subsequently scrapped.
Background and description
In the late 1950s, the Soviet Navy was tasked to neutralize American bases and aircraft carriers. It began construction of a large number of expensive nuclear-powered (Echo-class submarines) to accomplish this, but could not build enough nuclear reactors to equip them in a timely manner. Even though the Juliett class was inferior to the Echos, it was ordered into production because it did not require resources needed for the nuclear boats.[1]
The Juliett-class boats are a
Propulsion and performance
The Juliett class is powered by a
On the surface, the submarines have a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). Using their diesel-electric system while snorkeling gives the Julietts a range of 18,000 nautical miles (33,000 km; 21,000 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). Using just the electric motors underwater, they have a maximum range of 810 nmi (1,500 km; 930 mi) at 2.74 knots (5.07 km/h; 3.15 mph). Their best submerged speed on electric motors is 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph), although it reduces their range to 27.8 nmi (51.5 km; 32.0 mi). They could carry enough supplies for 90 days of operation.[4][5]
Armament
To carry out the Julietts' mission of destroying American carrier battle groups and bases, they were fitted with two pairs of missile launchers, one each fore and aft of the sail. The launchers were used by the surface-launched SS-N-3 Shaddock family of long-range, turbojet-powered, cruise missiles. The P-5D version was codenamed SS-N-3c by NATO and was a dedicated land-attack missile that could be equipped with either a high-explosive or nuclear warhead; it was withdrawn from service in 1965–1966. The P-6 (SS-N-3a) variant was a radar-guided anti-ship missile that could also be fitted with high-explosive and nuclear warheads.[6]
The more traditional armament of the Julietts consisted of six 533-millimeter (21 in)
Fire control and sensors
The submarines relied upon aircraft for their long-range anti-ship targeting which they received via the Uspekh-U
The boats are fitted with Artika-M (MG-200) and Herkules (MG-15) sonars, Feniks-M (MG-10) and MG-13 hydrophones and an Albatros RLK-50 search radar[3] (NATO reporting name: Snoop Tray). They are also equipped with a Nakat-M Electronic warfare support measures system.[8]
Construction and career
K-77 was
Post-decommissioning
Finland
At the end of the
As a restaurant, K-77 was modestly successful, but was not lucrative enough to satisfy Komulainen. In 1998, he leased his submarine to a Canadian promoter, who towed it to
Widowmaker
The eBay auction, however, caught the attention of
Museum
The film wrapped up in 2002, when the submarine was purchased by the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation,[12] towed to Collier Point Park in Providence, Rhode Island, and opened to the public in August 2002. K-77 offered public tours and a comprehensive educational program in accordance with New Standards and attuned to the advancement requirements of both Boy Scout and Girl Scout programs.
When the Saratoga Museum Foundation took possession of the submarine, it was described as K-81 in the initial press releases from the Saratoga Museum Foundation. The foundation spent months refurbishing the interior, which included removing several bulkheads, moving large pieces of equipment, and going deep into the bilges. During this process, documents were found which provided incontrovertible proof that the submarine was K-77 and not K-81 as earlier thought. The records confirming this information include maintenance reports, equipment exchanges, radio messages, duty rosters, log entries, and torpedo firing exercises, which all identify the submarine as K-77.
Sinking
The submarine sank on 18 April 2007 after a storm, and plans were made to raise it off the river bottom.[13] The Museum's theory on why the submarine sank is that a modified hatch was not properly watertight.[14] Recovery efforts by U.S. Navy and Army divers began in June 2008 as part of a project to train military divers through real-world, community-based projects.[15][16]
On 2 June 2008, divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two in Norfolk, Virginia arrived and began preparations to raise the submarine. On 25 July 2008, she was brought to the surface by US Navy and Army divers. The work of pumping out water was completed in August 2008.[17] The sub was badly deteriorated and in need of substantial repair.[18]
On 11 August 2009, RI Recycled Metals LLC towed the sub to a facility 1,000 yards (910 m) from the museum site so that it could be scrapped.[19]
A portion of the vessel remained in the river and in 2017, a judge ordered that the remnants be removed.[20]
A section of the submarine was destroyed in a fire in March 2021 while in the process of being dismantled at a Providence scrapyard.[21]
References
- ^ Friedman, p. 344; Vilches Alarcón, pp. 13–14
- ^ Pavlov, p. 60; Vilches Alarcón, p. 13
- ^ a b Hampshire, p. 24
- ^ a b Pavlov, p. 60
- ^ Friedman, p. 402
- ^ Vilches Alarcón, pp. 12, 18, 22; Polmar & Noot, p. 289
- ^ Polmar & Moore, p. 97; Hampshire, pp. 26–27
- ^ a b Hampshire, p. 25
- ^ Vilches Alarcón, pp. 19–20
- ^ a b c Zuckerman, Elizabeth (5 June 2005). "Soviet submarine once prepared to attack East Coast now calls Providence home". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ^ "Anitra Ahtola – Biography". IMDb.
- ^ "Homepage of the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation". Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "Providence submarine museum sinks – The Boston Globe".
- ^ "Juliett 484 News – WHAT HAPPPENED? [sic]". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- ^ "Photo of recovery operation".
- ^ "FOXNews.com – Sunken Submarine Becomes Training Ground for Navy and Army Divers". Fox News.
- ^ Providence Journal Archived June 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Agreement Reached on Disposition of Russian Submarine". December 24, 2008. Archived from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
- ^ "Juliett 484 – News". www.juliett484.org. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011.
- The Associated Press. 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
- ^ Gammans, Bay (9 March 2021). "Russian sub used in Harrison Ford movie catches fire in Providence scrapyard". WPRI.com. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
Bibliography
- ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Hampshire, Edward (2018). Soviet Cruise Missile Submarines of the Cold War. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-47282-499-8.
- Pavlov, A. S. (1997). Warships of the USSR and Russia 1945–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-671-X.
- ISBN 978-1-57488-594-1.
- Polmar, Norman & Noot, Jurrien (1991). Submarines of the Russian and Soviet Navies, 1718–1990. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-570-1.
- Vilches Alarcón, Alejandro A. (2022). From Juliettes to Yasens: Development and Operational History of Soviet Cruise-Missile Submarines. Europe @ War (22). Warwick, UK: Helion & Co. ISBN 978-1-915070-68-5.