Nuclear-powered submarine steams north in surface position

The Northern Fleet has for unknown reasons called home three warships that were supposed to show strength at Russia's Main Naval Parade in St. Petersburg later this month.


The Viktor-III class submarine Tambov steams along the surface of Skagerrak on Monday. Photo: Norwegian Armed Forces


By Thomas Nilsen
July 15, 2024
INDEPENDENT BARENTS OBSERVER


As reported by the Barents Observer on Sunday, the nuclear-powered submarine Tambov, the destroyer Admiral Levchenko and the landing vessel Ivan Green suddenly departed the Baltic Sea.

On Monday, the Norwegian Armed Forces informs that the warships are in Skagerrak south of Norway.

The Barents Observer has got new photos showing that the Tambov sails along on the surface.

Normally, a submarine will hide below.

One reason not to dive could be that there are only a limited number of crew, as the submarine was in transit when sailing south earlier this month, heading to the naval parade and was not out for patrol or exercise.

Spokesperson with the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, Henrik Omtvedt Jenssen, says to the Barents Observer that Tambov sailed part of the voyage southbound also on the surface when transiting from the Barents Sea to the Baltic Sea.

The sudden change of plans, not to participate at the Main Naval Parade in St. Petersburg on July 28, is not explained in any Russian sources, neither media nor official statements. There are no information about possible cancellations of the Navy’s biggest annual event, or about shrinking the scale of the celebrations.

B-448 Tambov sails together with Admiral Levchenko and Ivan Green in the same direction. The vessels will likely head north outside Norway towards to Kola Peninsula over the next few days.

“The Defence Forces follows all traffic in our areas of interest. Having a good overview of all activity is a priority and important task for us,” says Jenssen.

The Tambov is one of the oldest nuclear-powered submarines still in operation with the Northern Fleet. Based in Vidyayevo, the Viktor-III class was recommissioned last year after a 7-years lasting modernization at the Nerpa shipyard north of Murmansk.

The vessel is an attack submarine, armed with torpedoes. She is powered by two water-cooled reactors and is considered to be a rather noisy.

The Russian Northern Fleet destroyer Admiral Levchenko. Photo: Norwegian Armed Forces

The big landing ship Ivan Gren on Monday. Photo: Norwegian Armed Forces