New Russian Sub Joins Fleet: "Gepard" Claimed to be the World's Fastest and Most Awesome

Strana.ru ^ | 4/12/2003 | Michael Stedman

[ex-Texan]

Found this while surfing on Russian news sources. Apologize if it has been posted before.

[Illbay]

...under the blue and white Russian fleet flag of St. Andrew.

My how times have changed.

Russian Fleet Flag "St. Andrew"

[grobdriver]

Gepard is viewed as the most formidable ship in the Russian Navy. Construction began in 1991.

P-3 fodder.

[bmwcyle]

bttt

[bmwcyle]

It is not how quiet you build them. It is how much money you spend to keep them quiet.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

More radioactive junk on the ocean floor.

[So Cal Rocket]

Interesting that the Russians would name their sub after a Missouri Congressman.

[KeyWest]

Wish our "Gepard" was as quiet in his presidential run. Keeps trying to take all our tax money.

[Tijeras_Slim]

named Cheetah in English

Maybe they confused him with Tarzan's chimp.

[cardinal4]

Interesting. Where are the Russians now on this type of technlogy now? I remember at the height of the Cold War, they always lagged about 10-15 years behind us in the tech sector..

[Tacis]

The Russians named their new attack sub after the Congressman from Missouri for two reasons. First, it is in recognition of all he did and has done for the communists and other anti-Americans, worldwide. Second, it is a hope that if Russia and America ever go to war, the sub will do as much damage to America as it's namesake has done.

[Just mythoughts]

So is this what Russia used all that cash from "Oil for Food and Medicine" on?

Sure wasn't the space station.

The article doesn't say how much it cost to build.

[Spook86]

Russian boats got much quieter in the 1980s and 1990s, thanks (in part) to precision machining technology transferred illegally from Japan's Toshiba Corporation, to the former Soviet Union. The high-tech machines acquired from Toshiba allowed the Russians to build propellers and shafts that were much quieter...anti-submarine warfare is not my speciality, but I've been told that the Navy was "stunned" by how quiet the new Russian boats were.

From a technical standpoint, the new Russian sub (looks like an advanced Akula-class) looks impressive. But there are some fundamental weaknesses in the Russian sub fleet, including crew training and the sub fleet's operational schedule. These days, Russian subs--even the attack boats--spend a lot more time at the dock than underway. That translates into less time at sea, and less time for crew training. The Gepard may be technically advanced, but it is no match for a late-model Los Angeles-class SSN/SSGN, with a much better trained crew.

Overall conditions in the Russian sub fleet remain dismal, despite the addition of this new boat. Two indications: the Russian sub threat to our fleet has decreased so dramatically that all of the carrier-based S-3 Viking sub hunters have been converted to tanker and electronic combat missions. Additionally, the number of Russian sub hulls has declined to the point that their Pacific fleet may no longer have an operational SSBN--a ballistic missile boat--by 1995.

[blam]

Alabama State Flag

[WorkingClassFilth]

Too bad they misspelled little Dick Gephardt's name. I mean, honoring the Democratic Congressman for all of the work he's one on their behalf is really tip of the hat, but misspelling their benefactors name is just inexcusable.

[surelyclintonsbaddream]

That's funny, I thought the same thing!! Now I know why he is never in Missouri, it busy with the Russians.

[surelyclintonsbaddream]

ping

[r9etb]

Too bad they misspelled little Dick Gephardt's name.

Maybe they spelled it that way because it only kinda looks like him, except the sub has eyebrows...

[cardinal4]

Interesting post. The Sovs and the Russians today, arent known for quality control. I guess Im just surprised to hear of any Russian breakthroughs. When one thinks of the Kursk, commissioned in 94(?), and its untimely demise, as well as air disasters, mining cave ins, space explosions, and bio-weapon escapes, it makes it hard to champion Russian engineering feats.