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Sierra I class

Nuclear-powered attack submarine

The titanium-hulled Sierra I class boats could descent to unprecedented depths

Entered service	1987
Crew	61 men
Diving depth (operational)	480 m
Diving depth (maximum)	550 m
Sea endurance	?
*Dimensions and displacement*
Length	107 m
Beam	~ 11.5 m
Draught	~ 9 m
Surfaced displacement	7 200 tons
Submerged displacement	8 100 tons
*Propulsion and speed*
Surfaced speed	10 knots
Submerged speed	34 knots
Propulsion	One pressurized water reactor, rated at 190MW delivering power to one shaft, 2 x 1002 hp emergency motors
*Armament*
Missiles	SS-N-15 Starfish or SS-N-16 Stallion anti-submarine missiles; SS-N-21 Samson cruise missiles
Torpedoes	4 x 650-mm and 4 x 533-mm torpedo tubes
Other	42 mines in place of torpedoes

Russia's small and expensive Project 945 Barracuda class (NATO designation Sierra I class) was the successor to the ill-fated Alfa class, built form the mid-1960s to 1981 and all are now phased out from active service.

It's two light and strong titanium hulls enabled it to operate at great depths and provided reduced radiated noise levels as well as increased resistance to damage of torpedo attacks.

Soviet titanium technology was far in advance of the West, requiring fewer passes to achieve a successful weld, but the cost of the hulls limited the numbers built, despite advantages in depth and underwater speed.

The first Sierra I class boat, Tula (ex-Karp) was laid down in 1982 at Gorky Shipyard, launched in August 1983, and was fitted out in Severodvinsk. It was laid up in 1997. The survivor, Kostroma (ex-Krab) was launched in 1986, and commissioned in 1987. This boat is active as of 2012.

The Sierra I class was the first fitted with a releasable escape pod for the crew, covered by a V-shaped casing on the port side of the sail.

The Sierra I class was followed by Sierra II class boats.

Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Status
Tula	1982	1983	1984	laid up
Kostroma	1986	1986	1987	active, in service

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