Author Topic: The Yasen  (Read 1738 times)

Pen-Pusher

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The Yasen
« on: August 26, 2016, 06:53:36 PM »
Continuing my never-ending series of boring articles on submarines, I thought this might be considered something akin to a less tedious submission?
The Russian Navy will soon operate some of the best nuclear powered submarines in the world. Although technologically somewhat behind American nuclear submarines in terms of sensors and in terms of quietness (though they are very quiet themselves), their rugged construction and safety measures in many ways exceed that of US submarines and their weapons fit are just as impressive - maybe in some cases better.

After the fall of the Soviet Union due to severe fiscal reduction, the submarine force fell into a state of disrepair. The old Soviet force of scores of nuclear attack, guided missile, and ballistic missile submarines fell off to the point where the Russian Navy did all it could to maintain perhaps 8-10 vessels in a seaworthy state.

For the attack submarines, from the late 1980s through the first decade of the 2000’s these consisted of a few Victor III boats, two or three Seirra boats and a few Akula submarines. The Akula I and Akula II submarines were approaching the later spec of the Los Angeles attack submarines that the US Navy deployed in the 1990’s but the US Navy had since moved on to the Sea Wolf and new Virginia Class attack submarines (of which ten have already been build and put into service) which, until the advent of the British Astute class were the quietest and most lethal attack submarines that existed.

The Russian desire to build a new, modern class of attack submarine able to compete with the American boats resulted in the Project 885, Yasen class submarine. Initial designs for the boat germinated not long after the fall of the Soviet Union in the late 1980’s but plans had to be put on hold again due to financial considerations. Russian started constructing the first Yasen boat in 1993 but were unable to proceed to completion and so the project remained on hold.

Finally in the 2004 enough funding was sourced to proceed but because the national emphasis was (and remains) on the new class of Ballistic Missile Submarines, Borei (SSBN) class, progress in the attack submarine business was slow. Ultimately in June 2010, the first boat, the Severodvinsk, K-329, was launched and began sea trials in September 2011 before being commissioned into the Russian fleet in December 2013.

A second boat, the Kazan was laid down in July 2009 and a third boat, the Novosibirsk, was laid down the following year. The 2nd boat is expected to be launched in 2014 with the 3rd boat due in 2017. Russia intends to build ten of these vessels.

The Yasen class are large vessels. The Russians designed these boats really to be a hybrid vessel to replace both the SSN class attack submarines like the Victor III’s, the Akula and Sierra boats and to replace the Oscar and Oscar II Class SSGN guided missile submarines as well. Although they will be officially classed with the SSN designation, they will be very capable in both roles. Interestingly, the US Navy intends to insert a new hull extension into Virginia Class SSNs beginning in 2018. This ‘Payload Module’ will add 28 vertical launch tubes to future Virginia Class SSNs, bringing their total VLS tube count to 40 making them hybrid SSN/SSGN boats like the Yasen..

The Specifications of the Yasen class are:

Displacement: 13,000 tons
Length: 390 ft. (120 m)
Beamt: 50 ft. (15 m)
Draft: 27.3 ft (8.4 m)</br>
Speed:
- 20 knots surfaced
- 28 knots submerged (Quiet)
- 35 knots submerged (Max)
Depth: 1,950 ft (600 m) (Test)
Crew: 90 (32 officers)
Armament:
- 32 x VLS Cells
- 08 x 650mm torpedo tubes
- 02 x 533mm torpedo tuibes
Thirty two Cruise missiles, Anti-ship missiles, or anti-submarine missile for VLS tubes
Forty torpedoes, anti-ship missile, anti-submarine missiles, or mines for torpedo tubes.

Hobby Boss builds numerous 1/350 scale submarines. They invariably produce nicely detailed injected molded plastic parts and some photo etched detailed parts to each. This Yasen Class issue is no exception.

As usual the hull comes in two pieces, an upper and lower half which ‘dry fit’ extremely well with no gaps and very little seam. The sail is built into the upper hull and has that characteristic smooth, blended shape of all recent Russian attack submarines. The detail on the hull has been done very well, with the various tiles and flood vents finely etched into or raised appropriately on the surface. The prop assembly looks very good with little of no flash on the pieces.

The kit includes a sprue containing the sail, dive planes, stabilizers and all  the antennae and sensors for the masts (25 parts altogether). Another bag contains the base for the stand. The aforementioned PE sprue contains various sensors, panels and a name plate for the stand (12 parts altogether). making a total of 40 parts which should allow for a fairly quick build. (See photos)
The decals contain the usual hull markings, flags, and other detailing for various hatches and sensors on the vessel. The paint scheme, like all Hobby Boss paint schemes is on a glossy, full color sheet that gives a very good representation of the vessel and all of its markings in three views. The instructions are on a two page instruction sheet and are very simple to follow.
There is much debate on the colour of various Russian submarines. Early Nuclear boats like the K.3 and K.19 were Soviet light sea grey overall or occasionally rust red below the ‘surface’ waterline. My research tells me that since the Alpha submarines, the Russian Navy has progressed their colour schemes from grey through dark grey to black-grey to black! The Yasen’s so far have appeared in a black-grey finish with only the forward ¼ below the waterline in either dark blue-grey or rust-red. This is the are which houses the boats radar and sonar with the torpedo tubes offset further back

I enjoy these 1/350 scale submarines. They go together quickly but are well crafted and provide enough detail for a really nice model. I look forward to completing this one so your patience and pain isn't over yet....!