DISCONTINUED N700061 SOVIET SUBMARINE PROJECT 667 BDRM DOLPHIN (NATO NAME DELTA IV)

The Delta IV were Soviet nuclear-powered submarines carrying ballistic missile (SSBN) missiles, which were built from 1984 or 1985 at the shipyard in the city of Severodvinsk. It is estimated that seven units of this class were created. The length of the Delta IV-class ship is 164 m, width 12 m, and the underwater displacement reaches 13,550 tons. The maximum underwater speed is approx. 24-25 knots. The main armament of units of this class consists of 16 SS-N-23 (R-29RM) ballistic missile launchers and 6 533 mm torpedo tubes. The Delta IV type ships (project 667 BDRM) were constructed as a development of the Delta III ships. Compared to their predecessors, they were about 10 meters longer and could fire more modern, more powerful ballistic missiles (SS-N-23), capable of hitting targets at a distance of 8,300 kilometers. These missiles, like the SS-N-18 used on the Delta III ships, were MIRV missiles, i.e. missiles with several nuclear warheads that could be aimed at various surface targets. Delta IV class units also had a slightly changed set of sonars and a different combat management system called Omnibus BDRM. Probably five units of this type remain in the Navy of the Russian Federation at the moment.