Giant new Russian sub’

Press, 6 December 1977, Page 9

Giant new Russian sub’

NZPA-Reuter Brussels The Soviet Union is constructing a gia: 1 submarine that could carry two dozen nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, according to informed North Atlantic Treaty Organisation sources. They say the submarine, which is being constructed I in a shipyard near the I northern port of Murmansk, j will probably carry the new-; jest Russian submarine-’ : launched missile, the long-i ] range SSNXIB. which is still) 'being tested. j The sources s«y the’

submarine is either the first of a new class or a bigger variant of the present Deltaciass submarines, which are among the largest in the world. The Deltas cai.y 12 or 16 SSNB inter-continental ballistic missiles, each one with a single nuclear warhead. The new submarine if it carries 24 of the new missiles each with three nuclear warheads as expected, will : be much more powerful than the present Delta submarines. i Although the new l sub: ine will be a consid-'

erable improvement on the present Soviet bailis 4’>missile fleet, it will still be considerably less efficient than American ballistic submarines.

American Benjamin Frank-lyn-class and Lafayette-class submarines carry IS Poseidon missiles, each of which has 10 warhCv. Is, although their range is less than either the SSNB or the new Soviet missiles. The next class of American submarine, the Trident, i will carry 24 missiles, each I of which will be tipped with “m«re than 15 warheads.