01:17Russia: Black Sea Fleet's latest super-stealth sub 'The Black Hole' launched in St. Petersburg
The last vessel in a series of super-stealth diesel-electric submarines for the Black Sea Fleet, the Kolpino, was launched in St. Petersburg on Tuesday. The ceremony took place at a dry dock with the submarine entering the water after being blessed by a priest in the presence of St. Petersburg Governor Georgi Poltavchenko.
The hull of the submarine is made of magnetic steel and sheathed with rubber, making it almost silent when ploughing its way under the surface. Due to its quietness, NATO allegedly nicknamed it 'the Black Hole'.
The Kolpino is sized for 52 crew members and can be underwater at the depths of up to 300 metres (984,2 ft) for 45 days. The vessel is 74 m (242.7ft) in length and carries 4 missiles, 18 torpedoes and 24 mines on board. The submarine can hit targets on land, sea, underwater, and in the air.
The first submarine of the series, the Novorossiysk, was delivered to the Russia Fleet two years ago while its predecessor, the Veliky Novgorod was launched in March.
01:17The last vessel in a series of super-stealth diesel-electric submarines for the Black Sea Fleet, the Kolpino, was launched in St. Petersburg on Tuesday. The ceremony took place at a dry dock with the submarine entering the water after being blessed by a priest in the presence of St. Petersburg Governor Georgi Poltavchenko.
The hull of the submarine is made of magnetic steel and sheathed with rubber, making it almost silent when ploughing its way under the surface. Due to its quietness, NATO allegedly nicknamed it 'the Black Hole'.
The Kolpino is sized for 52 crew members and can be underwater at the depths of up to 300 metres (984,2 ft) for 45 days. The vessel is 74 m (242.7ft) in length and carries 4 missiles, 18 torpedoes and 24 mines on board. The submarine can hit targets on land, sea, underwater, and in the air.
The first submarine of the series, the Novorossiysk, was delivered to the Russia Fleet two years ago while its predecessor, the Veliky Novgorod was launched in March.