Article Posted on : - Sep 13, 2011

An Akula-class nuclear submarine. The Graney-class nuclear attack submarines are based on Russia's Akula-class and Alfa-class submarines. A file photo.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia's first Graney class nuclear attack submarine on Monday left the Sevmash shipyard for scheduled sea trials.

According to a news report in RIA Novosti, Severodvinsk nuclear attack submarine will undergo exhaustive sea trials before being inducted in the Russian Navy by 2011-end.

The multi-purpose vessel was floated out in June last year after over a decade-long delay in its construction.

Russia began the construction of Severodvinsk in 1993 which was scheduled to be completed by 1998. But financial and technical snags delayed the project.

Severodvinsk is the first Graney class nuclear attack submarine. Another vessel of this class, Kazan, is presently under construction.

The new-generation submarine has water displacement of 9,700 tons when surfaced and 13,500 tons when submerged.

The large vessel is capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles that include the 3M51 Alfa SLCM, the SS-NX-26 Oniks SLCM or SS-N-21 Granat/Sampson SLCM, and also anti-ship missiles such as the SS-N-16 Stallion. It is also equipped with eight torpedo launchers.

The Graney-class nuclear attack submarines are based on Russia's Akula-class and Alfa-class submarines. They are slated to replace the Soviet-era Akula class and Oscar class subs of the navy.