VS class

The VS class or Project 1827 is the name for a series of Ballistic missile submarines developed by Velikoslavia. The subs formed the backbone of the Velikoslavian nuclear deterrent for decades. They carry missiles of the M-12 Rapier family. Each of the four subclasses were upgrades on the original VS I class design.

VS I (Project 1827A)

A VS I class submarine
Class overview
Name:	V I class submarine
Builders:	Actaeon Industries and Fortuna Ironworks
Operators:	Velikoslavia
Preceded by:	Havae class
Succeeded by:	VS II class submarine
Built:	1970-1976
In service:	1970-1991
Completed:	3
Retired:	10
General characteristics
Displacement:	Surfaced: 7800 tons Submerged: 10,000 tons
Length:	139 m (456 ft)
Beam:	12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Draught:	9 m (29 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	two pressurized water-cooled reactors powering two steam turbines driving two shafts and each developing 38.7 MW (57,000 shp)
Speed:	Surfaced: 14 knots Submerged: 27 knots
Range:	Unlimited, except by food supplies
Complement:	130
Sensors and processing systems:	Active and passive sonar arrays towed sonar buoys SN-2 Satellite Navigation and Guidance Interface
Armament:	D-9 launch tubes for 12 SLBMs 4x 533mm torpedoes tubes

The VS I class was capable of diving deeper than its predecessor and deploying missiles from a significantly greater distance than previous strategic assets. The VS I was developed in secrecy at the National Institute of Naval Design in 1964 and the VS-12 was authorized to be constructed in concealed drydocks in 1967. It was subsequently launched in 1970. A total of 3 vessels were constructed before they were decommissioned beginning in 1988. The missile compartments and sensitive electronic equipment were removed from all vessels by 1990 and the hulls were scrapped.

Development

The VS I was the first major SSBN development after the Havae class missile submarine. The class itself was very much experimental with the first Havae, H1, debuting in 1954 as one of the first nuclear powered submarines. The design employed older architecture and language from diesel-electric era boats. It was determined that the approach to the SSBN had to be reconsidered as the Havae had significant drawbacks, namely its limited space for storage of provisions in favor of carrying seven missiles. This was deemed adequate due to the distance strategic assets often had to travel. Later, it was noted that long deployments where the sub was able to lay in waiting to strike was the ideal form of deterrent and the limited patrol range of the Havae did not fit this doctrine. The Navy commissioned a case study to b carried out by the National Institute of Naval Design (NIND) in 1961. The study reconsidered and refined SSBN deployment tactics as well as overall submarine design. Developments in ballistic missile technology determined that newer boats were going to be much larger than the Havae and require significant endurance to position themselves and remain in the best positions in the event of a preemptive strike or a less likely return strike on a major target.

The study results were published to the entire Naval High Bureau in 1964. The NHB quickly set aside funding and commissioned MIND to develop a new class of submarine incorporating all of these findings. Initial development began in top secrecy in early 1965. A viable design was presented in 1968 and refined by the Research and Development Committee. Several new concepts were put into place aboard the Havae class submarine H73. This included firing tests with the new satellite assisted tracking and targeting system. Significant effort to apply additional noise reduction tactics went into the testing phase, including internal seals on compartments housing machinery and testing on additional rubberized seals on major pipes and machinery. As a result, the H73 achieved some major technological advantages over any submarine of that era. Nuclear tests conducted involving the submarine showed a significant increase in accuracy of fired ordinance as well as significantly improved detection avoidance. The test ship was relegated to a storage vessel in late 1969 but the Naval High Bureau had been more than convinced and Project 1827A was given the green light for the construction of an initial ten boats.

Design

The VS I class was split into seven different compartments; Torpedo bays, Operations, Fire Control, Crew Quarters, Provisions storage, Ordinance Storage, and Reactor Bay. Each compartment housed an important part of the vessel's internals. The two torpedo bays at the front of the vessel housed the four 533mm torpedo tubes. The submarine could use these in its own defense against other subs or to strike at enemy vessels. These bays were relatively small, highlighting the sub's purpose as a long distance strike vessel for its missile armament. The Operations Compartment comprised the bridge where the vast majority of the day to day operations took place. The sensor arrays are also here. It comprises the conning tower as well as a small section under the tower. Sonar buoys and the main sonar devices are directly under this and are considered part of Operations. The captain and crew would spend significant amounts of time here steering the sub, managing internal pressure, controlling depth, and much more. Behind that sat the Fire Control Compartment. The weapons officers would be here managing the ordinance. The Fire Control compartment contained the controls for launching the nuclear ordinance and required three keys from the head engineer, captain, and chief weapons officer before the warheads on the missiles could be activated and launched. The room was strictly off limits to crew not involved in managing the combat assets. Directly under and behind that sat the Crew Quarters, which contained bunks, the mess hall, and the small leisure lounge. Provisions Storage lay next in line where the vast majority of food and supplies were stored for the crew. A significant fire proof bulkhead separated the Provisions Storage from the Ordinance Storage, where the ship's missile bays sat. Each bay was accessible for maintenance of the ordinance and reloading. The final section of the ship was the reactor bay, where the two primary power reactors and steam turbines sat. The engineering crew that worked in this compartment was responsible for managing the power and propulsion of the vessel.

Units

VS-class

Number	Shipyard	Project	Laid down	Launched	Decommissioned	Status
VS-1	Anacom Heavy Yard 4	1827A	1970	1972	1991	Retired and subsequently scrapped in 1995
VS-2	Anacom Heavy Yard 4	1827A	1971	1973	1991	Retired and subsequently scrapped in 1995
VS-3	Anacom Heavy Yard 4	1827A	1972	1974	1991	Retired and subsequently scrapped in 1995

VS II (Project 1827B)

A VS II class submarine
Class overview
Name:	VS II class submarine
Builders:	Fortuna Ironworks
Operators:	Velikoslavia
Preceded by:	VS I class submarine
Succeeded by:	VS III class submarine
Built:	1975-1980
In service:	1975-1991
Completed:	2
Retired:	2
General characteristics
Displacement:	Surfaced: 9,350 tons Submerged: 10,500 tons
Length:	155 m (508 ft 6 in)
Beam:	12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Draught:	9 m (29 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	2x GR-1 lead-bismuth cooled fast reactors producing 51 MW (58,000 shp)
Speed:	Surfaced: 14 knots Submerged: 26 knots
Range:	Unlimited, except by food supplies
Complement:	130
Sensors and processing systems:	Active and passive sonar arrays towed sonar buoys SN-2 Satellite Navigation and Guidance Interface
Armament:	D-9D launch tubes for 16 x SLBM's 4x 533mm 2x 400mm torpedo tubes

The VS II class submarine was a large ballistic missile submarine designed to remedy shortcomings in the VS I class submarine. The design was essentially the same, however the submarine was lengthened in the 4th and 5th compartments by 16 meters to allow the installation of 4 more missile tubes. The new type of VS also received additional quietening measures including having the steam turbines mounted on shock absorbers, having all pipes and hydraulics separated from the hull through rubber insulation, and a special hydroacoustic coating being applied to the hull. Only 3 of these vessels were built in favor of the VS III class submarine that was introduced in 1978.

Development

The shortcomings of the VS I became readily apparent after the first boats were in service. The endurance still wasn't satisfactory and the number of missiles carried was deemed too few. Additional methods to reduce noise and the introduction of the Lead-Bismuth fast reactor, the first in the world, meant that the VS I was already rapidly aging. Funds were appropriated for MIND to develop a successor based on the same hull and general specifications with minor improvements. Construction was moved from Actaeon Industries to the more secure shell company, Fortuna Ironworks, which was fully owned by the Imperial government at the time. VS II boats were constructed in secret hidden drydock facilities to prevent enemy spies from catching wind of the improvements.

Units

VS-class

Number	Shipyard	Project	Laid down	Launched	Decommissioned	Status
VS-11	Fortuna Heavy Production Facility No. 1	1827B	1975	1977	1993	Retired and laid up as a training vessel
VS-12	Fortuna Heavy Production Facility No. 3	1827B	1976	1979	1993	Mothballed in 1996 and subsequently scrapped in 2010

VS III (Project 1827C)

A VS III class submarine
Class overview
Name:	VS III class submarine
Builders:	Fortuna Ironworks
Operators:	Velikoslavia
Preceded by:	VS III class submarine
Succeeded by:	VS IV class
Built:	1978-1985
In service:	1978-1995
Completed:	3
Retired:	3
General characteristics
Displacement:	Surfaced: 13,500 tons Submerged: 18,200 tons
Length:	166 m (544 ft 7 in)
Beam:	12.3 m (40 ft 4 in)
Draught:	8.8 m (29 ft)
Propulsion:	2x GR-1 lead-bismuth cooled fast reactors producing 51 MW (59,000 shp)
Speed:	Surfaced: 15 knots Submerged: 27 knots
Range:	Unlimited, except by food supplies
Complement:	135
Sensors and processing systems:	Active and passive sonar arrays towed sonar buoys SN-2 Satellite Navigation and Guidance Interface
Armament:	D-9D launch tubes for 16 x SLBM's 4x 533mm 2x 400mm torpedo tubes

The VS III class submarine was a large ballistic missile submarine. Like the earlier VS class submarines the VS III was a double hulled design with a thin low magnetic steel outer hull wrapped around a thicker inner pressure hull. Development began in 1975 at the Marvius Institute of Naval Design. The submarine was the first Veliko submarine that could could cold launch any number of missiles in a single salvo, also the first submarine capable of carrying ballistic missiles with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles.

The VS III was also equipped with a new battle management system for the fire control of torpedoes in deep-water, also a new inertial navigation system. A hydroacoustic navigational system called Vamax allowed the submarine to determine its position from hydroacoustic buoys. It was equipped with a new sonar system as well that was capable of greater range and power.

Units

VS-class

Number	Shipyard	Project	Laid down	Launched	Decommissioned	Status
VS-14	Fortuna Heavy Production Facility No. 1	1827C	1978	1980	1995	Retired and subsequently scrapped in 1995
VS-15	Fortuna Heavy Production Facility No. 2	1827C	1978	1980	1995	Retired and subsequently scrapped in 1995
VS-16	Fortuna Heavy Production Facility No. 3	1827C	1978	1980	1995	Retired and subsequently scrapped in 1995

VS IV (Project 1827D)

A VS IV class submarine
Class overview
Name:	VS IV class submarine
Builders:	Fortuna Ironworks
Operators:	Velikoslavia
Preceded by:	VS III class
Succeeded by:	Hydra class
Built:	1981-1986
In service:	1981-Present
Completed:	3
Active:	3
Preserved:	0
General characteristics
Propulsion:	2x GR-2 lead-bismuth cooled fast reactors producing 51 MW (59,000 shp)
Speed:	Surfaced: 15 knots Submerged: 26 knots
Range:	Unlimited, except by food supplies

The VS IV class was the final development of the VS series that was designed to modernize the older ships with modern equipment as well as introduce new noise deadening equipment. It was one of the quietest and most technologically advanced submarines developed in its era when it emerged in 1982. Additional noise deadening equipment meant it traveled in near silence when cruising in stealth configuration. The rapid cold launch system was further improved and the silos were enlarged by two meters in diameter to accommodate the new R-15 ICBM. Improvements to the pressure hull and internal plumbing resulting in a thirty meter depth increase from previous VS ships. The subs are still in service today and were the last major SSBNs constructed by Velikoslavia in the 20th century.

Units

VS-class

Number	Shipyard	Project	Laid down	Launched	Decommissioned	Status
VS-24	Fortuna Heavy Production Facility No. 1	1827D	1981	1984		In service with the 4th Heavy Submarine Sqdn
VS-25	Fortuna Heavy Production Facility No. 2	1827D	1981	1984		In service with the 4th Heavy Submarine Sqdn
VS-26	Fortuna Heavy Production Facility No. 2	1827D	1981	1985		In service with the 4th Heavy Submarine Sqdn