Key Points – Russia’s Typhoon-class (Project 941 Akula) submarines, the largest ever built, were formidable Cold War-era nuclear ballistic missile platforms (SSBNs) designed for strategic deterrence, capable of hiding under Arctic ice for extended periods.
-This submarine was designed to fight and win a nuclear war during the Cold War.
-Each carried twenty R-39 or later Bulava SLBMs, many with multiple independently targetable warheads (MIRVs).
-Their immense size allowed for unusual crew amenities like a sauna.
-Though once symbols of Soviet naval power and inspiration for “The Hunt for Red October,” these expensive-to-operate giants were gradually retired post-Cold War, with the last, Dmitry Donskoy, decommissioned in 2023.
Typhoon-Class: Inside Russia’s Monster Subs That Carried 20 Nuclear Missiles
One Russian submarine that has been overlooked over the years is the Typhoon-class SSBN “boomer” nuclear missile boat.
These gargantuan subs were one of the best ever built. They have all been retired, but the public fascination with these submarines remains ongoing, and at least one is being converted into a museum vessel for the Russian public to admire.
The Typhoon-class was the largest Russian sub of all time, with a displacement of 30,460 tons and a length of 574 feet. But these boats proved too expensive to keep in the water.
Even though they brought great prestige to the Soviet and later the Russian Navy, several were decommissioned because the Cold War ended, and Moscow could no longer afford to continue funding the program. Later, the group of remaining subs ran out of steam, and the last Typhoon-class was retired in 2023.
Stay Silent and Deep to Launch ICBMs
Russia had grand plans for the Typhoon-class. The idea was for the submarines to dive deep beneath the Arctic ice and remain submerged for extended periods. They would remain hidden until a U.S. first nuclear strike and a follow-on Russian response from bombers and ICBMs that delivered nuclear payloads.
Then, the Typhoon-class would fire its own nuclear missiles if needed. Moscow considered the subs “super weapons.”
Did You Say a Sauna Was On Board?
Since sailors on the Typhoon-class were expected to stay on board for long periods, the subs had creature comforts not seen before. There was a sauna inside for relaxation and stress relief. The food was excellent and plentiful. Since the sub was so huge and the crew small, there was much more room to sleep and shower. The crew usually served 120 days and were rotated out with another group of sailors to keep the Typhoon-class at the highest level of readiness.
What Is a ‘Submarine-Cruiser?’
The Typhoon-class was initially called a “submarine cruiser” due to its large size, endurance, and firepower. The first hull was laid down in 1976, and the Dmitriy Donskoy was delivered to the sailors in 1981. This sub could be compared to the U.S. Navy’s Ohio-class but even bigger.
The Typhoon-class was built to carry the R-39 or RSM-52 ICBMs. Twenty were on board with two sets of launch tubes. Each missile had ten independently targetable multiple re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). These missiles were supposed to be better than the American Trident-1 ICBM. The R-39 was solid-fueled with three stages. It was two times as long and three times heavier than the Trident-1.
Bulava ICBM Could Bring Death and Destruction in Nuclear Warfare
In 2005, Dmitry Donskoy tested the SS-N-30 Bulava ICBM, which has a more extended range than the earlier missiles. The Bulava is a highly significant ICBM and a major component of the Russian nuclear triad. It is 36 feet long with 100 ton to 150 kilo-ton nuclear warhead. The Bulava also has ten MIRVs.
The Typhoon-class had a multi-hull design with five inner hulls. This created a high level of survivability and noise reduction. Sound-cancelling tiles were coated around the boats. The subs had 19 different compartments, and that gives you an idea of how roomy they were.
The Typhoon-class was explicitly designed for traveling under the ice and for ice-breaking. They were Northern Fleet stalwarts during the Cold War. Very difficult to detect and operating in ultra-cold conditions, the Typhoons were well-suited for the second- and third-strike nuclear weapon missions.
The Typhoon-class had two periscopes plus a mast for different types of radio and communications systems. However, the boats rarely surfaced to increase their level of stealthiness. Crew members likened service on the Typhoon-class to riding on spaceships or serving in a space station. They had accouterments on board, but their mission was deadly serious, and creating any type of noise was frowned upon by superiors.
Maximum diving depth was 1,300 feet. The Typhoon-class had two nuclear water reactors driving two steam turbines, but the Typhoon-class were not fast boats. Twenty-five knots was the top speed when submerged, and only 12 knots when surfaced.
The sonar systems for the Typhoons were some of the best in the Russian Navy. “The sonar was an active/ passive search and attack type with the sonar mounted on the hull under the torpedo room. The submarine is fitted with I/J-band surface target detection radar. Countermeasures include ESM (electronic support measures), radar warning system and direction-finding system,” according to Naval-Technology.com.
Hunt for Red October Inspiration
The first and last Typhoon-class, the Dmitry Donskoy, was retired in 2023. The Donskoy may have been the inspiration for the Tom Clancy techno-thriller “The Hunt for Red October.” The Typhoon-class was highly secretive at the time Clancy wrote the book and the Department of Defense wondered how the former insurance agent derived the information about the Soviet sub.
The Typhoon-class will go down as one memorable group of submarines. Any vessel with a built-in sauna is music to Russian ears. These were huge boats that carried a substantial force of ICBMs. It is a good thing the Soviet and Russian Navy never had to deploy nuclear weapons on board. The Typhoon-class surely made an unforgettable experience for Russian sailors who served. Many probably rued the day they were assigned to smaller subs with fewer creature comforts and cramped space. The Typhoon-class will go down as a vaunted keeper of the sea for Mother Russia.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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