3Key Points: The Oscar II-class submarine, a nuclear-powered cruise-missile vessel designed to target U.S. and NATO battle groups, is one of the largest submarines in the world. Known for its anti-ship capabilities, it can carry 24 SS-N-19 Shipwreck missiles and torpedoes.

However, its legacy is marred by the tragic 2000 Kursk disaster, when a torpedo explosion sank the submarine during a training exercise in the Barents Sea.

-Despite Russian Navy rescue attempts, British and Norwegian divers later confirmed no survivors. All 118 aboard perished, and the incident damaged the reputation of newly elected President Vladimir Putin.

AfriPrime App link:  FREE to download...

https://www.amazon.com/Africircle-AfriPrime/dp/B0D2M3F2JT

Power, Precision, and Loss: The Story of Russia’s Oscar II-Class Submarines

Russia has a long history of building submarines. Today, the Russian Navy operates several different types of subs. The Oscar II class is perhaps one of the best known.

The Oscar II class Submarine

The Oscar II is a nuclear-powered cruise-missile class of submarines.

The the Oscar II class was designed for the main mission of attacking U.S. and NATO naval battle groups, especially carrier battle groups. In addition, the subs could conduct intelligence gathering operations.

At almost 500 feet in length, the Oscar II class is one of the largest submarines in the world. The class first came into service in the mid-1980s, and a handful of vessels are still in service.

When it comes to weapons systems, the Oscar II-class submarines could carry a combination of torpedoes and cruise missiles. The subs can carry up to twenty-four SS-N-19 Shipwreck supersonic, long-range anti-ship missiles that can carry both a conventional and nuclear warhead. The submarines have four 25-inch (650 mm) and four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes divided into two launching systems in the bow of the ship. They can also lay anti-ship mines and block sea routes.

The Russian Navy possesses significant submarine warfare capabilities. The Kremlin has one of the largest and most powerful submarine fleets in the world with attack, cruise missile, and ballistic missile vessels that can carry a combination of conventional and nuclear munitions.

The Kursk Tragedy

In the absence of a large-scale conflict for the submarine to display its qualities, the Kursk tragedy remains one of the main events for which the Oscar II class is known.

In August 2000, the K-141 Kursk was participating in a large-scale exercise in the Barents Sea. All seemed to be going fine, and the submarine was responding to the training scenarios as intended. However, during a training “attack” against a surface combatant, a Type 65 torpedo fueled by hydrogen peroxide exploded, creating a hole in the submarine and sinking it. 

The Kursk came to rest at a relatively shallow depth (350 feet). That was when the true ordeal began. Most of the crew survived the initial blast, and the Russian Navy scrambled to rescue them. In the end, after several days of failed attempts by the Russian Navy, it was British and Norwegian divers who reached the sunk submarine. They found no survivors. All 118 officers and enlisted men were killed in what is one of the deadliest submarine disasters in history.

The loss of the Kursk was a heavy blow to the Russian Navy. The submarine was one of the best in the fleet, with citations for its impressive performance. A newly elected Russian President Vladimir Putin came under fire for his handling of the situation. For most of the ordeal, Putin remained at his summer residence in Sochi – his admirals told him that the situation was under control – and interacted with the families in a cold, callous manner.

AfriPrime App link:  FREE to download...

https://www.amazon.com/Africircle-AfriPrime/dp/B0D2M3F2JT