Russia's Massive New 'Doomsday' Sub

World's largest sub carries Poseidon nuke torpedo that can flatten coastal cities, but sub is also designed for spying.

July 29, 2022 - The Russian navy has taken delivery of the world’s largest submarine. The Belgorod has been designed to carry the Poseidon, a giant nuclear torpedo capable of wiping out a coastal city.

At 178 metres, the Belgorod is the longest submarine in the ocean today – longer than Russia’s 175-metre Typhoon-class and U.S.’s 171-metre Ohio-class.

Experts say its design is a modified version of Russia's Oscar II class guided-missile submarines, made longer with the aim to eventually accommodate the Poseidon, the world’s largest torpedo.

One of Vladimir Putin’s six so-called “super weapons” highlighted in a fiery address in 2019, Poseidon’s 100-megaton warhead could devastate the U.S. coast with a massive tsunami and intense radiation.

The Soviet “Tsar Bomba”, the biggest nuclear device ever detonated, was 58 megatons.

The Belgorod could in the next decade set the stage for a return to scenes of the Cold War under the ocean, with U.S. and Russian subs tracking and hunting each other in tense face-offs, CNN reports.

DUAL ROLES

But naval expert HI Sutton notes a contradiction. Indeed Belgorod will bring new capabilities to the Russian Navy.

“To be operated on behalf of the secretive Main Directorate of Undersea Research (GUGI), the submarine may be central to Russia's intelligence gathering capabilities.”

Yet, as noted she also carries a new strategic weapon.

“Belgorod’s intended purpose presents Western analysts with an enigma. She will combine two seemingly contradictory roles.”

“The first is as a host submarine (read ‘mothership’) for deep diving nuclear powered midget submarines. These are capable of working on cables and other objects on the sea floor.”

“The concern in NATO is that these could include the undersea internet cables connecting Western countries. This is termed a ‘special mission’ in navy parlance (which is full of euphemisms for covert activities).”

“These two roles are seen as contradictory because performing one may compromise the other.”

“The nuclear deterrence role requires remaining hidden and out of harms’ way. While the ‘special mission’ may take her into potential harms way.”

“And which role will be the primary one is also unclear. “

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/06/russias-gigantic-submarine-belgorod-sails-for-the-first-time/

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