Top U.S. General Says Russian Subs In Atlantic ‘More Active Than We’ve Seen Them in Years’

A photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, Oct. 26, 2022, the Tula nuclear submarine of the Russian navy is on a mission to conduct a practice launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile as part of drills of the country's nuclear forces. “The Russians have been more active than we’ve seen them in years,” Army Gen. Chris Cavoli, the top commander for NATO and U.S. military operations in Europe, told Congress on Wednesday of Moscow’s undersea capabilities.((Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP) 

 Reuters: U.S.: Russian Subs in Atlantic ‘More Active Than We’ve Seen Them in Years’  

The threat posed by Russia’s undersea forces serves as only one example of how its military retains its capabilities despite the war in Ukraine, top U.S. military officials warn. 

Russia has increased its submarine presence in the Atlantic at a higher level than ever in recent years, the top U.S. officer overseeing operations in Europe said Wednesday, citing one of several examples contradicting conclusions that the military loyal to Russian President Vladimir Putin has been severely degraded by his war in Ukraine. 

“The Russians have been more active than we’ve seen them in years,” Army Gen. Chris Cavoli, the top commander for NATO and U.S. military operations in Europe, told Congress on Wednesday of Moscow’s undersea capabilities. 

“Their patrols into the Atlantic and throughout the Atlantic are at a high level most of the time, at a higher level than we’ve seen in years,” Cavoli testified before the House Armed Services Committee. “And this, despite all the efforts they’re undertaking in Ukraine.”  

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WNU Editor: These U.S. and Russian submarine deployments are now the new normal. We have to get use to it.

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace Says Multiple Russian Submarines Moving in 'Strange Routes'

Russian Navy Northern Fleet Yasen-class nuclear-powered sub Kazan arrives at its home base in Severomorsk, on Russia's Arctic coast, June 1, 2021. Lev Fedoseyev\TASS 

 Newsweek: Multiple Russian Submarines Moving in 'Strange Routes,' U.K. Says 

Russian submarines have been traveling on "strange routes" that deviate from those deemed typical by Western defense officials, according to British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. 

Wallace said the U.K. had been tracking Russian submarines "in the North Atlantic and in the Irish Sea and in the North Sea doing some strange routes that they normally wouldn't do," Wallace said Tuesday while speaking to the media during a visit to Washington, D.C. The British Defence Ministry confirmed the remarks to Newsweek on Wednesday. 

Alarm bells have been ringing among NATO allies about Russia's underwater fleet, which one expert previously told Newsweek is "the critical challenge that the United States faces." There have been increasing indications of Russian submarines operating off U.S. and Mediterranean coasts, in what appear to be "Soviet-style submarine deployments" reminiscent of the Cold War.  

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WNU Editor: The U.S. nuclear submarine fleet is also busy .... In the dark depths of the Pacific, US submarines patrol with an eye fixed firmly on China (CNN).

Russian Nuclear Submarines Have Been Deployed Off The U.S. Coast

Dmitry Donskoi nuclear powered submarine © Pyotr Kovalyov/TASS 

DNYUZ/Newsweek: Russia Nuclear Submarines Deployed Off U.S. Coast Spark Alarm  

As Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s war in Ukraine continues to rage, United States commanders and military observers are sounding the alarm about the activity of Russia’s submarine fleet thousands of miles away, off the U.S. coast. 

Throughout the war, which began when Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine last February, there has been a buildup of Russian Navy forces in the Black Sea. 

There has also been an increasing presence of Russian submarines off of U.S. coasts and in the Mediterranean, according to officials.  

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Update: US Military Warning of Russian Nuke Subs Off Coasts (Newsmax)  

WNU Editor: I do not know why Russian nuclear submarines being deployed off the US coast is causing alarm. The U.S. is actively involved in the Russia - Ukraine war. What does Washington expect?

Russia Decommissions The World's Largets Nuclear Submarine

❗️#NavalNews #Submarines
1. Project 941UM Akula/Typhoon-class SSBN "Dmitriy Donskoi" (TK-208) was decommissioned from the Russian Navy.
This was reported today to TASS by the head of the All-Russian Fleet Support Movement Vladimir Maltsev. pic.twitter.com/4eGbNcJ9Ae

— Saturnax 🇸🇰🇪🇺🇺🇦 (@Saturnax1) February 6, 2023

EurAsian Times: Russia’s Gigantic Nuke Submarine, Dmitry Donskoy, Among The Biggest In The World, Finally Retires! 

Forty-three years after it was commissioned, the Russian Navy’s Project 941 Akula-class heavy nuclear-powered strategic submarine Dmitry Donskoy has been finally withdrawn from service. 

The head of the Russian Movement for Navy Support, Vladimir Maltsev, told TASS, “The Dmitry Donskoy submarine cruiser has been decommissioned from the Russian Navy. It will await utilization at a naval base in Severodvinsk with two other units of this project.”

 Earlier in June 2022, Russian media reports cited unnamed sources in the defense industry who said, “The submarine Dmitry Donskoy has been removed from the fleet and is to be scrapped.”  

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Update #1: Russia Loses World's Largest Nuclear Submarine (Newsweek)  

Update #2: Russia’s nuclear-powered sub Dmitry Donskoy withdrawn from service (TASS)  

WNU Editor: This is one big sub.

A Look At Russia's Newest Attack Submarine

TASS: Yasen

Cutting-edge submarine: Russia’s underwater fighter

The Project 885 ‘Yasen’ multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarine is one of the Russian underwater fleet’s most breakthrough fourth-generation subs. It is called a masterpiece of underwater shipbuilding and is frequently compared with an attack craft capable of delivering strikes against surface and underwater ships and coastal targets.

The work on the conceptual design of the fourth-generation submarine began back in the late 1970s. The Yasen was finally designed in the 1990s. However, the first submarine’s weapons suite was completely different compared to the sub that is on combat duty in the Fleet today.

The experience of operating the Soviet Project 705K ‘Lira’ and Project 971 ‘Shchuka-B’ third-generation submarines was used to design the new submarine (in particular, the engineers used the technology to reduce the noise level). Today, precisely Project 971 subs make up the backbone of Russian multi-purpose attack submarines.

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WNU Editor: There are a lot of details posted by TASS in this report on Russia's newest attack sub. 

Russian Navy Submarine Surfaces Near Alaska

The HQ of @NORADCommand and @USNorthernCmd are closely monitoring the Russian submarine that surfaced near Alaska today. We closely track vessels of interest, including foreign military naval vessels, in our area of responsibility.

— U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) August 27, 2020

A Russian submarine surfaced near Alaska on Thursday during a Russian war game exercise, U.S. military officials said. https://t.co/AoimcCdu5f

— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) August 28, 2020

RFE: U.S. Military 'Closely Monitoring' Russian Submarine That Surfaced Off Alaska

U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Command are closely monitoring a Russian submarine that surfaced near Alaska on August 27.

"We closely track vessels of interest, including foreign military naval vessels, in our area of responsibility," U.S. Northern Command said on Twitter.

It was unclear why the submarine surfaced. U.S. Northern Command said it had not received any requests for assistance from the Russian Navy or other mariners in the area.

"We always stand ready to assist those in distress," the command’s tweet said.

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WNU Editor: This reminds me of the movie .... The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (Wikipedia).

More News On A Russian Navy Submarine Surfacing Near Alaska

Russian Submarine Sets Off Alarm Bells After Surfacing Near Alaska Amid Rash Of Posturing -- Warzone/The Drive
American Fishing Vessels Spooked As Russian Nuclear Submarine Surfaces Near Alaska -- Zero Hedge
Russian Navy Submarine Surfaces Off Alaska; Likely Same One That Fired Cruise Missile Earlier In Exercise -- Forbes
U.S. Forces 'Stand Ready' After Russian Sub Surfaces Near Alaska -- Newsweek
Russian navy conducts major maneuvers near Alaska -- AP
Russian Submarine Surfaces near Alaska During War Exercise -- Military Times/AP
Watch Drills of Russian 'Omsk' Submarine Near Alaska -- Sputnik

A Powerful Russian Submarine Has Entered The Baltic Sea

The upgraded Oscar-II cruise missile submarine can reportedly carry 72 cruise missiles of different sorts. H I Sutton

Forbes: Powerful Russian Submarine Seen Entering Baltic Sea

An Oscar-II class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine was seen entering the Baltic early Thursday. Russia normally only deploys diesel-electric submarines to the area. While these are potent, and can carry a few long range cruise missiles, the arrival of the OSCAR-II is a massive increase in Russian Navy firepower. So when one turns up it gets noticed by NATO and the Baltic States.

Its arrival was monitored by open-source intelligence analysts. As it passed under the Great Belt Bridge which spans the entrance of the Baltic, it had to do so on the surface, so it was briefly visible on the public webcams on the bridge. OSINT analysts shared the information and identified the submarine.

The submarine is believed to be Orel (K-266), which is expected to appear at the Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg on July 26. There is often more to it than just a parade, however. The submarine may participate in training exercises with other units, and is seen as a show force in the Baltic. Already the Russian Ministry of Defense has shown naval vessels practicing an amphibious operation ahead of the parade.

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WNU Editor: I am not concerned about this deployment. Russia' annual Navy Day parade is in a few days (see here).  My guess is that the brass want to show-off this sub in St. Petersburg.

Wall Street Journal: Russia Sent 10 Subs To The Atlantic At Once In 2019

Warzone/The Drive

Sputnik: 10 Russian Subs Reportedly Sent to the Atlantic in 2019 for 'One of Largest Drills Since Cold War'

The Russian Defence Ministry has repeatedly underscored that any movement by the country’s naval vessels at sea is conducted in strict accordance with international norms.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported that in late 2019, at least ten Russian submarines “slipped out of their bases on Russia’s Arctic coast and set an underwater course westward toward the North Atlantic”. The Russian Defence Ministry has not commented on the issue yet.

The newspaper cited NATO military officials as calling the deployment "one of the largest [naval] exercises since the Cold War", reflecting the Russian Navy’s “ambition not only to defend its homeland but also to project power into the Atlantic”.

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WNU Editor: Hate to bust the Wall Street Journal's bubble, but this is old news. WNU covered it last year .... Russia Conducting Major Submarine Exercises In The North Atlantic (October 30, 2019).

Unique Satellite Image Shows Russia’s Newest Ballistic Missile Submarine Leaving The Port City Of Severodvinsk

The Satellite image shows the Russian Navy Submarine Knyaz Vladimir leaving Severodvinsk where it was built. H I Sutton (Imagery from Sentinel Hub)

Forbes: Russia’s Newest Submarine Caught In Unusual Satellite Image

On Monday, a satellite passing over Russia’s arctic north captured an intriguing image. You can see a bright light, followed by a long plume stretching miles behind it. At first glance you could be forgiven for thinking that it has caught a rocket launch in mid-flight. But it is in fact Russia’s newest submarine, the Knyaz Vladimir.

The image was spotted by open-source intelligence expert Frank Bottema (twitter). Bottema was researching other vessel movements when he noticed what looked like a missile streaking out into the White Sea from the port city of Severodvinsk. Its location, and the fact that no warning notices or sea closures were reported (which can indicate missile tests) quickly pointed to something other than a missile test. But visually,it is unusual for a submarine to look like this in satellite imagery.

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WNU Editor: That is one hell of a long wake. 

Russian Navy Currently Building 6 Different Classes Of Submarines

The Russian Navy is currently building 6 different classes of submarine as part of a major fleet modernization program H I Sutton

Forbes: 6 Types Of Submarines: The Russian Navy’s Extreme Modernization

Russia and America do things differently. The U.S. Navy is currently building just one type of submarine, the general-purpose Virginia Class. From October it will be joined in the shipyards by the Columbia Class ballistic missile submarine, making it two types. In contrast, Russia is simultaneously building six distinct classes.

Despite budget challenges, and resulting delays, Russia is investing big in submarines. Together the six types represent the greatest modernization since the Cold War.

Russia has a history of building multiple classes of submarines going back to the Cold War. Each submarine fills a distinct role, but also there were often alternative designs meeting the same basic need. But the collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent economic woes curtailed Russian submarine building. Many projects were cancelled, or continued at a snail’s pace. Now the submarine industry has began to recover.

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WNU Editor: The above is a good summary on Russia's submarine building program.

Entire Crew Aboard A Russian Nuclear Submarine Are In Quarantine After Being Exposed To Covid-19

b-port.com

The Barents Observer: Entire crew of nuclear submarine in coronavirus quarantine

A civilian who went onboard the cruise-missile carrier “Orel” had met with a man who tested positive to the coronavirus.

“Orel” (K-266) is an Oscar-II class nuclear-powered submarine sailing for the Northern Fleet. Normally, the submarine has a crew of about 110 sailors.

The civilian that had met with a man infected with the coronavirus was on board “Orel” in a “business matter”, Murmansk-based news-online B-port reports.

Also, the crew of a nearby submarine and the personnel on a floating workshop are placed in quarantine.

The submarine is based in Zapadnaya Litsa, the westernmost bases of the Northern Fleet on the Kola Peninsula.

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Update #1: Entire Crew Of A Russian Nuclear Submarine Is In Quarantine After COVID-19 Exposure (Warzone/The Drive)
Update #2: Another Submarine Quarantined: Nowhere Is Out Of Reach Of Coronavirus (Forbes)

WNU Editor: If you can read Russian, the original report is here .... Экипаж подводного крейсера «Орёл» поместили на карантин (b-port.com).

A Guided Tour Of 'Knyaz Vladimir', A Russian Nuclear-Powered Project 955A Borei-A Class Ballistic Missile Submarine

Warzone/The Drive: Video Shows Thrusters, Sauna, Other Features Of Russia's Newest Ballistic Missile Submarine

The Borei-A class boats are said to be among the quietest in Russia's fleet and they feature some amenities that are distinctly Russian.

A guided tour of sorts of the first of Russia's nuclear-powered Project 955A Borei-A class ballistic missile submarines, the Knyaz Vladimir, one of the country's most advanced types, which is in the very final stages of construction, is something that promises to be interesting from the start. With the Russian Navy's submarine force and its activities being major topics of discussion recently, including within the U.S. government, as well as the public at large, it's something even more worth watching now.

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WNU Editor: There are a lot of details revealed in the above video on what is inside this sub.

Russian Engineers Want To Build The World's Largest Submarine

The Pilgrim submarine tanker would be by far be the largest submarine ever built. H I Sutton

Forbes: The Largest Submarine In The World Could Get Eclipsed

Today the largest submarine in the world is Russia’s mighty Typhoon Class ballistic missile sub. It’s massive, but it could be dwarfed if Russian engineers get their way. A ginormous undersea tanker called the Pilgrim has been proposed to transport liquid natural gas (LNG) in the Arctic. Submarine tankers would literally slip under the ice.

St. Petersburg-based Malachite Design Bureau has unveiled a design for a massive submarine capable of carrying 170,000 to 180,000 tons at a time. That is far in excess of the volume of any previous submarine. At 1,180 feet long and 230 feet across the submarine tanker would dwarf the Typhoon. The latter is around half the length at 574 feet and one third the width at 75 feet. So in terms of volume it will be more than six times the size of the Typhoon.

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WNU Editor: It would be bigger than a US aircraft carrier.

Russia Continues To Build Non-Nuclear Submarines

The latest Russian Navy submarine to be commissioned, B-274 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, in St. Petersburg, November 25 2019. Unlike U.S. Navy submarines she is conventionally powered. Russian Ministry of Defense

Forbes: The Latest Russian Submarine Is Unlike Any In U.S. Navy Service

There is an aspect of submarine operations where the Russian and U.S. Navies take fundamentally different stances. The latest Russian submarine to enter service, B-274 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, illustrates this. She is unlike anything in U.S. Navy service because she is conventionally powered, meaning that she does not have a nuclear reactor. For comparison the last time the U.S. Navy commissioned a non-nuclear submarine was in the 1950s.

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WNU Editor: Cheaper to build and maintain. That is why Russia is building them.

Russia Conducting Major Submarine Exercises In The North Atlantic

Russian Delta-IV submarine in the Barents Sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen

Barents Observer: Russian subs honing stealth skills in major North Atlantic drill, says Norwegian intel

At least eight nuclear-powered submarines sailed out from their homeports on the Kola Peninsula last week, the Norwegian military intelligence says to NRK.

The aim of the massive operation is to get as far out to the North Atlantic as possible without being discovered by NATO, the intelligence service informs to NRK. Such maneuvers haven’t been seen from the Northern Fleet since the days of the Cold War.

The operation started early last week, before Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Commander of the Northern Fleet, Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev visited Kirkenes in northern Norway last Friday.

Lavrov had bilateral talks with his Norwegian counterpart Ine Eriksen Søreide and the two said at the following press conference that security situation in northern Europe was one talking point.

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Update: Russia Sends Ten Subs Into North Atlantic In Drill Unprecedented In Size Since Cold War (Warzone/The Drive)

WNU Editor:  I cannot remember the last time that Russia/Soviet Union used ten subs in an exercise.

U.S. Navy: Russian Submarines Are Getting Harder To Find

Russian Black Sea Fleet's B-265 Krasnodar Improved Kilo-class submarine. Russian MoD

Business Insider: Russia's submarines are getting harder to find, and the Navy is sending more people to keep an eye on them

* The Russian navy, its submarine force in particular, is getting more sophisticated and becoming more active around Europe.
* The US and NATO are aware of this, and the US Navy is responding to a more complex environment with more robust command and control.

The Russian sub fleet is growing and growing more active, and the US and its NATO partners are more concerned about what those boats and rest of the Russian navy are up to around Europe.

For the US Navy, that means more focus on the Atlantic, especially the North Atlantic, closer to the home base of Russia's Northern Fleet on the Barents Sea.

At the end of September, the Navy reestablished Submarine Group 2 in Norfolk, Virginia, five years after the unit was deactivated. The reactivation comes just over a year after the Navy reestablished its Second Fleet, which oversees the western half of the Atlantic up into the high north.

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WNU Editor: The growing Chinese submarine fleet is also raising concerns .... The Chinese Navy’s New Mystery Submarine (Forbes).

Russian Navy Will Get More Submarines Next Year Than Any Time Since The Soviet Union

Russian Borei-class submarine Yury Dolgorukiy fires a RSM-56 Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile in the White Sea, September 27, 2016. The Borei and Yasen classes are the newest additions to Russia's growing underwater fleet. Russian Ministry of Defense

Newsweek: Russia Will Get More Submarines Next Year Than Any Time Since End of Soviet Union

Russia is reportedly set to receive six new submarines in 2020, the most it's received in a single year since right after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Citing a defense industry source, the state-run Tass Russian News Agency reported Friday that the Russian navy would receive four nuclear-powered and two diesel-powered submarines next year, the most since receiving the same amount of submarines in 1992, just months after the Soviet communist empire collapsed in December 1991. Along with it, much of what was by far the world's largest military and the most expansive submarine fleet was divided and dissolved.

Since first coming to power at the dawn of the 21st century, however, Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to revamp his country's naval power and introduce new, modernized underwater equipment.

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Update: Russian Navy to get six submarines in 2020 for first time over past 28 years (TASS)

WNU Editor: From the above .... the Russian navy would receive four nuclear-powered and two diesel-powered submarines next year, the most since receiving the same amount of submarines in 1992, just months after the Soviet communist empire collapsed in December 1991.

Is This Russia's New 'Stealth' Submarine?

Mark Episkopos, National Review: Meet Russia's New Lada-Class Submarine: The Next 'Stealth' Threat to the U.S. Navy?

The new class of subs is missing one key feature.

The second Lada-class submarine has been laid down and is set to undergo a series of trials over 2019, according to Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy Vladimir Korolyov .

“Serial production of the non-nuclear Lada-class submarines continues. This year, testing will commence on the second non-nuclear Lada-class submarine-- “Kronstadt,” which was laid down in September 2018,” announced Korolyov.

Russian news outlet RT has obtained and published just under a minute of footage commemorating the occasion. The clip features several close-up shots of the submarine-- Kronstadt-- afloat, in motion, and sitting in a floating dock.

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WNU Editor: Like all new Russian military projects. This one is also having development problems.

The Submarine That Holds The Record As The World's Fastest Is A Soviet Era Missile Sub

K-162/K-222 underway. USN

Warzone/The Drive: The Soviet's 'Golden Fish' Missile Submarine Still Holds The Record As The World's Fastest

The only Project 661 boat ever made was extremely fast underwater, but was also costly and complex to build and operate.

Sixty years ago, Soviet engineers began developing a new submarine under strict orders to eschew previous design decisions in favor of innovative concepts wherever possible. The resulting boat, a guided missile submarine that was known first as K-162 and eventually as K-222, established a still-unbeaten underwater speed record and was the first titanium-hulled submarine ever, but also proved too expensive and complicated to be anything more than a one-off, earning the nickname "Golden Fish."

K-162/K-222, the only Project 661 submarine ever built, was the product of a direct order from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and country’s Council of Ministers on Aug. 28, 1958. The directive called for a new “high-speed submarine” and development began the following year. The Project 661 design was also known as the Anchar-class in the Soviet Union and NATO referred to it as the Papa-class, even though there was only ever one boat.

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WNU Editor: The top speed of this sub was 51 miles per hour/44 knots. This compares to the latest American Virginia-class attack submarines have a publicly stated top submerged speed of around 29 miles per hour/25 knots.

The U.S. Navy Is Worried About This Russian Nuclear Submarine

Wikimedia

National Interest: Russia's Most Advanced (And Stealthly) Nuclear Submarine Ever Just Went to Sea

And the navy is worried, and for good reason.

Russia’s second Severodvinsk-class submarine K-561 Kazan , which is a modified Project 08851 Yasen-M design, went to sea for the first time for builder’s trials on September 24.

The massive nuclear-powered guided missile submarine (SSGN) was designed by the Malachite design bureau in St. Petersburg and was built in the northern Russian city of Severodvinsk. Kazan was launched on April 8, 2027, and was originally expected to be delivered to the Russian Navy this December, but construction work on the vessel was delayed. At present, Kazan is not expected to be delivered to the Russian Northern Fleet until at least 2019. Nonetheless, the Russian vessel is expected to be the most formidable enemy submarine the United States Navy has ever faced.

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WNU Editor: The Russians want a capable submarine fleet. It looks like they are accomplishing it.