N700039 SOVIET SUBMARINE PROJECT 945 BARRAKUDA (NATO NAME SIERRA I)

The Sierra I and II class ships (or Project 945 and Project 945A) were Soviet and are now Russian nuclear powered fighter submarines (ANNs). The first Sierra I / II ship probably entered service in 1984. The Sierra I type vessel was 107.2 m long and approx. 12.3 m wide, with an underwater displacement of approx. 8,300 tons. The maximum underwater speed was around 32-34 knots, although you can also find information that it was up to 36 knots! In the case of the Sierra I type, the armament consisted of two bow torpedo tubes: two 650 mm and four 553 mm. Sierra I class submarines were developed based on the experience gained from the operation of the Alpha and Victor classes. Like the former, they received a titanium hull, which allowed them to reach considerable immersion depths, probably clearly exceeding 500 meters. They also kept the highly streamlined shape of the hull, which allowed them to run at high underwater speeds. It can also be assumed that their noise reduction levels were at least the same as on Victor III-class ships, and perhaps even better. They also received very modern, for the 1980s, electronic equipment. The main task of this type of units was to track down and destroy American submarines, while maintaining considerable anti-surface ship abilities. At the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, the Sierra II class entered production, which was slightly longer and wider, and was even better muted and received better sonar. It is assumed that only 4 Sierra I / II class ships were built in total, 3 of which are probably still in active service. Such a small scope of production of these undoubtedly very valuable ANNs resulted from the incredibly high costs and high complexity of the entire structure.