

The Russian leader said in December his country would be building more nuclear-powered submarines that "will ensure Russia's security for decades to come." Meanwhile, a Kremlin document signed by Putin in 2017, which lays out the Russian navy's improved capabilities, its evolving strategic and operational role, and its future ambitions, states the nation "must possess powerful balanced fleets in all strategic areas" by 2030.Īmid the arms reforms, there have been deployments of Russian submarines that mirror Soviet-style submarine deployments in the Cold War, Newsweek has been told. United States commanders and military observers are sounding the alarm about the activity of Russia's submarine fleet off the U.S.
Russian nuclear submarine off us coast full#
Thus completed the full life-cycle of the Foxtrot Submarine B-39.Russian nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgorukiy (NATO reporting name: SSBN "Borei", or "Dolgorukiy") is seen during the Navy Day Military parade July, 27, 2014, in Severomorsk. Pacific Maritime Group proudly donated in-kind services and expertise at and below cost as part of its commitment to help support the San Diego Maritime Museum’s Mission. The scrap metal value of the B-39 lies in her internal pressure hull, which is made of high quality steel, in excellent condition for recycling, which contributed to offsetting the costs of disposal. Meanwhile, back in San Diego, PMG completed its assist work by providing a floating crane to remove the old anchor and chain moorings from the bottom of the Bay. With a kind assist from local tugs in Ensenada, the old submarine made an unceremonious landing for the last time.

The tow to Ensenada was uneventful, except for the nature of the voyage itself. The Blarney, along with two PMG assist tugs Harbor Captain and Contender arrived, moorings were cast-off and the B-39 slipped away to sea for one final voyage. Many, many meetings guided the process through to that final February morning. A containment “fence” was wrapped around portions of the outer hull to prevent debris from falling off during transit. Special rigging was designed and installed.
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Professional surveys, stability tests and detailed tow plans all had to be prepared and Coast Guard approved. San Diego Maritime Museum entrusted the Project Management from cradle to grave to Pacific Maritime Group. US Coast Guard Sector San Diego required assurances that neither would occur! The shockingly poor outward appearance of the vessel seemed to indicate a potential for capsizing or sinking. The B-39 disposal presented a long list of challenges. PMG has helped with many Museum vessels, including the sailings and dry-dockings of the Star of India, the launching of the San Salvador, and many other circumstances calling for experience and care. Pacific Maritime Group and the San Diego Maritime Museum are both San Diego locals, with deep ties to the Maritime industry, local community, and to one another.

Plans were made to dispose of the submarine. Unfortunately, the cost and effort to maintain the old vessel became prohibitive.

sometimes referred to as “Black Widow” or “Cobra”, the danger was real and a constant fact of life at sea for her adversaries.Īt the end of her active career, B-39 eventually found her way to the San Diego Maritime Museum, where visitors could get a first-hand experience of what life at nearly 1,000 under water was like. Her crew of 78 specialized in prowling the seas from her commissioning in the 70’s into the 90’s. At nearly 300 feet long, armed with 22 torpedoes and 10 torpedo tubes, B-39 was among the largest non-nuclear submarines in the Soviet navy. In her day she was a predator to reckon with. Onlookers that chilly morning noted the rusted outer hull, peeling paint and slight list as the retired sub trailed obediently along behind the Blarney like a tired old hound. Time was not kind and took a harsh toll as the years went by. The voyage of the B-39 that took her from the Cold War to the scrap yard was a long one. There was something both nostalgic and poetic to see the beautifully restored and modernized US Navy tugboat taking an old nemesis to her final port of call and ultimate demise. On this clear February morning, the old B-39 was being towed by the Pacific Maritime Group tug Blarney, itself a re-purposed veteran of the US Navy. The sub had been part of the San Diego Maritime Museum’s display fleet since 2005. Fortunately, this was not an act of war, it was to be the final voyage of the B-39 Project 641 Class Soviet era submarine, dubbed “Foxtrot” by NATO.
