Vaegir-class submarine

File:Vaegir-Class1.png Stasnovan submarine SRNS Visari (K-618)
Class overview
Builders:	8 Noyabrya Shipyards, Stasnov
Operators:	File:Stasnovsky revolutionary navy by dj chay-d8g00vd.png Stasnovan Revolutionary Navy
Planned:	30
Building:	3
Completed:	9
Active:	9
General characteristics
Type:	Ballistic missile submarine
Length:	173 m
Beam:	14 m
Draught:	10.7 m
Propulsion:	1 × YR-14V nuclear reactors 1 × UPT steam turbine 1 × shaft and propeller (pump-jet)
Speed:	Submerged: 32 knots Surfaced: 16 knots
Range:	Unlimited; endurance restricted by food stores
Complement:	124 total crew
Armament:	x24 R-37KPL ASBM/SLBM with 3 MIRVed warhaeds x6 533 mm torpedo tubes RPK-2 Viyuga cruise missiles

The Vaegir -class is a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines produced by Stasnov and operated by the Stasnovan Revolutionary Navy. The class is intended to be used as the platform for the R-37KPL, the submarine-launched version of the Stasnovan Anit-Ship Ballistic Missile R-37K.

Design

When the Krasnyy Port Missile Design Bureau first presented the R-37D Mobile launcher-based Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile to the Stavka (Stasnovan Military High Command) for the first time in 1999, after the demand for a "Carrier group-killer" missile, the Stavka's members were very pleased with the new weapon, especially after the extremely succesful tests. However, the missile's range, though still long, would label the weapon unaible to attack Carrier Groups that stayed away from the Stasnovan coasts. And the Stavka wanted something more than a area denial weapon: they wanted an offensive weapon. Thus, a submarine-based version of the R-37K was created in 2007, dubbed R-37KPL.

It was figured out that no ballistic missile submarines already is Stasnovan service at the time were fit for the R-37PL, and the developement of a submarine to be used as a base for the R-37PL started along with the development of the missile itself. This is how the Vaegir-class was created. It doesn't differ much in terms of design to other modern nuclear-powered ballistic submarines, being slightly larger than the Borei-class, however, its missile launch tubes are much smaller, due to the size of the R-37PL when compared to nuclear SLBMS, hence enabling the Vaegir-class to carry 24 of the missiles.

The Vaegir submarines are approximately 173 metres long, 14 metres in diameter, and has a maximum submerged speed of 32 knots. They are equipped with a floating rescue chamber designed to fit in the whole crew.

Deployment strategy, tactics and role

The Vaegir-Class submarines are a mix between an attack submarine and a ballistic missile submarine. While its main armament are ballistic missiles, they do not carry nuclear warheads and their purpose is not to engange strategic land targets targets, but rather to engage surface combatants, primarily large groups of vessels, especially Carrier Strike Groups.

The deployment strategy of the submarines is an offensive one. They are to be deployed to open sea if an enemy task force is out of the range of the Stasnovan coastal Cruise Missile batteries and Mobile launcher-based R-37K units. It is known that a single Vaegir-class submarine poses a threat to every naval formation with its 24 R-37KPL missiles, since a single one can engage and strike multiple combatants, let alone if a Vaegir unleashes its full payload of missiles, totalling 72 warheads.

Ships

Ship	Hull Number	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Refuel, Overhaul	Homeport
Vaegir ships
Vaegir	K-618	17 February 2008	19 April 2012	1 March 2012
Visari	K-619	29 March 2008	27 January 2012	6 March 2012
Krukov	K-620	28 May 2009	17 August 2013	21 August 2013
Yakov	K-62	18 June 2009	2 October 2013	17 October 2013

See also

• List of active Stasnovan Revolutionary Navy ships