I’ve been bit out in the woods with these new revelations so correct me if I’m wrong but to my eyes the submarine in the backround doesen’t belong to the same class as the one in the front.

If you look closely to the one in the back you’ll notice that the Sail’s height compared to the level where the missilehump starts to go horizontally is different than in the firts one. Its much longer which means that either the sail is taller or that the missilehump is shorter in height. As the sail seems othervice similar to the one fitted in the boat that is in the leading role of this pic, I dare to state that the missilehump is shorter. This would mean that it carries a different type of missiles.

If I’ve missed something obvious concerning these new SSBN spottings (like that it should be different in the first place) please correct me.

I tryed to zoom in on the picture but i realy cant see what you are talking about..? There is a small building hiding some of the sail though…

Another thing, hard to believe they would test a new propulsion on a new SSBN. The SSBN are too important to play around with a such a thing…better to test it out on one of the other SSN’s…Agree?

Sumbandila satellite launch from Delta IV submarine

http://en.rian.ru/science/20070305/61585197.html

Are Russia the only one to launch sivil payloads into orbit from subs? Nice way to test your missiles, low cost..

Third test of Bulava missile failed

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20061226/57820495.html

Yes, she was rolled out of the repair hall on October 10, 2006.

That is correct. i guess K-18 Karelia and K-407 Nowomoskowsk is next…

I believe that K-51 Verkhoturye and K-84 Yekaterinburg also has been upgraded/overhauled. They are the oldest boats of this class, and according to press K-84 launced a Sineva missile from the North pole on September 9 2006. Since the improved SS-N-23 Sineva is one of the upgrades ( Skiff is the “old” missile) I assume they both received mid-life overhaul. Gatorfrey, have you seen dry-dock pictures of these boats? Thinking of those visual differences you have noticed on Tula…

Cant find much information on K-64. Read somewhere that she has been converted into a special-forces submarine..?? Info about this gatorfrey? BTW, do you have any info on russian Auxiliary Submarines/SSAN? They have several different types don’t they? Uniform/Stretch etc. Good to have you back. Looking forward to see your next book in store!

Anyone knows which missile system they are talking about on the Admiral Nakhimov and the Oscar II-Class? I guess it it just a small upgrade of the Granit, and not a comletely new missilesystem? It takes years to develop a new missile system, and they dont have a project going on now, at least not in this size..
And this isn’t exactly new boats..