|
AKULA Submarine model
The Soviet Navy
launched its Akula class nuclear-powered attack
submarines in the mid-1980s. Thirty years later they
remain the mainstay of the Russian nuclear attack
submarine fleet—and are quieter than the majority of
their American counterparts.
Construction of the
first Akula submarine, began
in 1983. The new design benefited from advanced
milling tools and computer controls imported from
Japan and Sweden, respectively, allowing Soviet
engineers to fashion quiet seven-bladed propellers.
The launch of Akula
submarine
shocked the Western world. Before that, the U.S.
Navy was confident it had the Soviet submarines
outmatched because they were all extremely noisy.
The Akula was nearly as stealthy as the Los Angeles
class. American submariners could no longer take
their acoustic superiority for granted. More trouble
for the US Navy, the Akula sub could operate 480 meters
deep, two hundred meters deeper than the
Los Angeles class subs. And it swam a
fast thirty-three knots!
The large Akula
submarine
featured a steel double hull typical to Soviet
submarines, allowing the vessel to take on more
ballast water and survive more damage. The attack
submarine’s propulsion plant was rafted to dampen
sound, and anechoic tiles coated its outer and inner
surface. Even the limber holes which allowed water
to pass inside the Akula’s outer hull had
retractable covers to minimize acoustic returns. The
111-meter-long vessel needed a crew of around
seventy, for about three months at sea.
The Akula
I submarines—designated Shchuka in Russian
service—were foremost intended to hunt U.S. Navy ballistic-missile submarines.
Four 533-millimeter torpedo tubes and four large
650-millimeter tubes could deploy up to forty
wire-guided torpedoes, mines, or long-range SS-N-15
Starfish and SS-N-16 Stallion antiship missiles. The
Akula sub could also carry up to twelve Granat cruise
missiles capable of hitting targets on land up to three
thousand kilometers away.
Today the Russian Navy
maintains ten Akula submarines, but only three are in operational
condition, while the rest await repairs. Nonetheless,
the Russian Navy has kept its boats busy. In 2009, two
Akulas were detected off the East Coast of the United
States—supposedly the closest Russian submarines had been
seen since the end of the Cold War. Three years later,
there was an unconfirmed claim that another Akula
submarine had
spent a month prowling in the Gulf of Mexico without
being caught. The older Kashalot even has been honored
for “tailing a foreign submarine for fourteen days.” In
the last several years, Russia has also been upgrading
the Akula fleet to fire deadly Kalibr cruise missiles,
which were launched at targets in Syria in 2015 by the
Kilo-class submarine Rostov-on-Don.
Akula subs
continue to make up the larger part of Russia’s nuclear
attack submarine force, and will remain in service into
the next decade until production of the succeeding Yasen
class truly kicks into gear.
This primarily wood model of the Akula submarine is
22" long (1:200 scale) x 6.5" tall x 4" wide (including the
base's dimensions)
$1,790
 Shipping and insurance in the US included.
Canada $90.
Other countries, $200 flat rate.
This model is guaranteed to be more accurate and higher craftsmanship than
any other wooden models. If
you can find a better model, we will refund
100% your money plus $300 transferable gift card
that you can spend anytime in our store.
30.5"
long (1:144 scale)
$1,990 Shipping and insurance in the US included.
Canada $120.
Other countries, $250 flat rate.
This one is built
per commission only. We require only a small deposit
to start the process (not full amount, not even
half) to start the process $500 The
remaining balance won't be due until the model is
completed, in
several months.
For different sizes,
contact us for a quote:
Services@ModelShipMaster.com.
For different
Russian submarines, click here:
Oscar class,
Alfa class.
When you are choosing
a reputable builder for your favorite submarine,
look for large photos showing details to verify if a
model is worth the title "museum quality" as wildly
claimed by some. Remember that models
might look good from afar but will disappoint when
held in your hands. For example, look at the bow of
some of the models out there. How many torpedo
tubes?
Learn
more about the Akula class here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akula-class_submarine
|
