Navy officials claim that it is possible to extend operations of the Typhoons until 2005-2007. Otherwise, a submarine's service life shrinks to 10-15 years. The operational lifetime of these submarines is estimated to be 20-30 years, though in order to operate a ship for this period requires that a major overhaul be performed every 7-8 years. In 1997 two Typhoon submarines were decommissioned. All but one of the Typhoon class submarines are slated to be withdrawn from service within a few years, and it is unlikely that units of the class would be modified to accomodate new missiles. The lead unit of this class, the TK-208, had been in overhaul since 1992 with the intent of receiving these modifications, but it now appears that it will not return to service. The Typhoon submarines were initially intended to be retrofitted with a replacement of the D-19 launch system with an advanced system, and the new SS-N-28 missile. A seventh vessel was begun but never finished. They formed part of the 1st flotilla of atomic submarines based in the Western Theater of the Northern fleet based at Nyerpichya. Between 19 six Typhoon submarines entered service. After intensive testing the heavy ballistic missile submarine 941-"TK-208" was commissioned in September 1980 and introduced into the Northern fleet on 12 December 1981. The developer was the Leningrad design bureau which is now the Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering "Rubin". The development of the 941 heavy strategic submarine was authorized in December 1972, and on 19 December 1973 the governmental officially issued the order to design and build the 941 ballistic missile submarine. It also employs two floating antenna buoys to receive radio messages, target designation data and satellite navigation signals at great depth and under an ice cover. The "Slope" system allows to track 10-12 vessels simultaneously. The Typhoons are equipped with the "Slope" hydroacoustic system that consists of four hydroacoustic stations. To reduce the acoustic signature a two-spool system of rubber-cord pneumatic shock-absorption is employed as well as a block layout of gears and equipment, a new sound isolation and andrihydroacoustic coating. Compared to the first and second generation of SSBNs the Typhoon enjoys far greater maneuverability Despite of its larger displacement the Typhoons are less noisy than their predecessors. The main machinery consists of two reactors each and two steam turbines of 190 MW that provide a maximum speed of 25-27 knots. The Typhoon has an automated torpedo and missile loading system including 6 torpedo tubes with calibres of 650 and 533 mm. They are arranged in silos in two rows in front of the sail between the main hulls. The submarine is equipped with the D-19 launch system with 20 solid-fuel propellant R-39 missiles which have a range of up to 10,000 km. The sail and sail guard have a reinforced rounded cover for ice-breaking. The retractable systems include two periscopes (one for the commander and one for general use), radio sextant, radar, radio communications, navigation and direction-finder masts. The nose horizontal hydroplanes are in the bow section and are retractable into the hull. It has an advanced stern fin with horizontal hydroplane fitted after the screws. The submarine's design includes features to enable it to both travel under ice and for ice-breaking. A protected module, comprising the main control room and electronic equipment compartment, is arranged behind the missile silos above the main hulls in a centerplane under the guard of retractable devices. The pressure hulls, the centerplane and the torpedo compartment are made of titanium and the outer light hull is made of steel. Both hulls and all compartments are connected by transitions. The missile compartment is arranged in the upper part of the bow between the pressure hulls. The pressure hulls are arranged parallel to each other and symmetrical to a centerplane. The submarine has two separate pressure hulls with a diameter of 7.2 m each, five inner habitable hulls and 19 compartments. The design of the Typhoon submarine is multi-hulled and bears resemblance to a catamaran. Each submarine is capable of carrying twenty long-range ballistic missiles with up to 200 nuclear warheads that were once aimed at the United States. The Typhoon is the world’s largest submarine and was one of the most feared weapons of the Cold War. They are able to do so tied up at their docks. These submarines do not have to submerge or go to sea to launch their long-range missiles. During the Cold War the Typhoon submarines prowled the waters of the North Atlantic.
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