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Russia`s new nuclear sub heads for northern base
Russia`s new multi-purpose Gepard nuclear submarine is on its way to the northern fleet naval base where it will be stationed, fleet officials told the Interfax news agency.
Russia's new multi-purpose Gepard nuclear submarine is on its way to the northern fleet naval base where it will be stationed, fleet officials told the Interfax news agency.
The Gepard submarine is the creation of the same Sevmash shipyard in the Port of Severodvinsk which seven years ago launched the Kursk, which sank with a crew of 118 last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally inaugurated the Gepard two weeks ago in an attempt to boost the navy's morale, which has been low since the Kursk disaster.
His personal appearance was seen as a sop to bruised feelings in the navy after the sacking of several top admirals which shocked the Russian naval hierarchy. The moves have been seen as shots across the bows to chiefs in other areas of the armed forces seen as obstructing his reform plans to adapt the Russian army to post-Soviet realities.
The third-generation Gepard is the last in the bars series of 14 nuclear submarines, with seven in the northern fleet and seven in the Pacific fleet.
It is considerably smaller than the Kursk, with a crew of 63, displacement of up to 12,770 tonnes and a maximum speed of 33 knots. Experts said it was among the fastest and quietest submarines in the world, with an enhanced rescue system.
Bureau Report
The Gepard submarine is the creation of the same Sevmash shipyard in the Port of Severodvinsk which seven years ago launched the Kursk, which sank with a crew of 118 last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally inaugurated the Gepard two weeks ago in an attempt to boost the navy's morale, which has been low since the Kursk disaster.
His personal appearance was seen as a sop to bruised feelings in the navy after the sacking of several top admirals which shocked the Russian naval hierarchy. The moves have been seen as shots across the bows to chiefs in other areas of the armed forces seen as obstructing his reform plans to adapt the Russian army to post-Soviet realities.
The third-generation Gepard is the last in the bars series of 14 nuclear submarines, with seven in the northern fleet and seven in the Pacific fleet.
It is considerably smaller than the Kursk, with a crew of 63, displacement of up to 12,770 tonnes and a maximum speed of 33 knots. Experts said it was among the fastest and quietest submarines in the world, with an enhanced rescue system.
Bureau Report