B-237 Rostov-na-Donu in 2014
History
Russia
NameB-237 Rostov-na-Donu
NamesakeRostov-on-Don
Laid down21 November 2011
Launched26 June 2014
Commissioned30 December 2014
StatusDamaged by Storm Shadow missiles, 13 September 2023[1][2]
General characteristics
Class and typeKilo-class submarine
Displacement
  • Surfaced: 2,300 tons
  • Submerged: 3,040 tons full load
Length76.2 m (250 ft 0 in)
Draught6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • Surfaced: 10–12 knots (19–22 km/h; 12–14 mph)
  • Submerged: 17–25 knots (31–46 km/h; 20–29 mph)
Endurance45 days
Test depth300 m (980 ft)
Complement52
Armament

Rostov-na-Donu (B-237) (Russian: Б-237 «Ростов-на-Дону») is an improved Kilo–class attack submarine of the Russian Navy. On 13 September 2023 the vessel was struck during a Ukrainian missile attack on the Sevastopol Shipyard where she was under repair. Based on open-source imagery, the UK Ministry of Defence assessed that the vessel "likely suffered catastrophic damage."

Ship

Rostov-na-Donu is a diesel-electric submarine of the Improved Project 636.3 class of modern Russian ships. B-237 was built in Saint Petersburg shipyard, laid down on 21 November 2011, launched on 26 June 2014 and commissioned on 26 December 2014.[3]

Operation

The submarine is part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet but had been deployed in the Mediterranean Sea in the early 2020s. The submarine returned to the Black Sea in February 2022, passing the Bosporus on 13 February.[4] With Rostov-na-Donu, the Russian Black Sea Fleet had four Improved Kilo–class submarines equipped with Kalibr land-attack missiles deployed in the Black Sea as of February 2022, with at least three of those four believed to be active.[4][5][6]

Missile attack on B-237

On 13 September 2023, the Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev claimed that Sevastopol Shipyard, belonging to Sevmorzavod, was struck by a Ukrainian "missile attack" at 2 am, causing a large fire. The Russian MoD claimed that ten cruise missiles were fired, with seven shot down. The attack also involved three "maritime drones", which were allegedly all destroyed. The Ministry said, "As a result of being hit by enemy cruise missiles, two ships under repair were damaged". At least 24 people were reported injured. The ships damaged were the landing ship Minsk and the Rostov-na-Donu.[7][8][9][10] Ukraine claimed the two ships were "likely damaged beyond repair", which the Russian government denied and stated they would be repaired and returned to full operational status.[11] Based on open-source imagery, the UK Ministry of Defence has assessed that the vessel has "likely suffered catastrophic damage".[12]

On 18 September, two images were leaked online of the damage dealt to the Rostov-na-Donu and, as assessed, the damage was extensive. Two large breaches in the hull of the submarine are shown, one around the midpoint of the starboard side to the rear of the conning tower and another on the top bow.[13][14] Due to the nature of the damage, it is assessed that the submarine will be out of action for the duration of the war due to the closure of the Dardanelles Straits to all foreign warships at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in accordance with the terms of the Montreux Convention.[15] The submarine would need to be transported to the Admirality Shipyards in Saint Petersburg to be repaired, however it is assessed to be more practical for an entire new boat of the class to be constructed instead due to the extensive repairs that would be required to make the submarine seaworthy again.[16]

References

  1. ↑ Haynes, Deborah (13 September 2023). "British cruise missiles were used in significant Ukrainian attack on Russian submarine". Sky News. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "New images show extent of damage endured by Russian submarine in Sevastopol". Ukrinform. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  3. ↑ "Submarine B-237 Rostov-on-Don - Project 06363 / Improved Kilo class". www.kchf.ru. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  4. 1 2 Ozberk, Tayfun (12 February 2022). "Russia's Improved Kilo-Class Submarine Entering Black Sea". Naval News.
  5. ↑ "The Russian Navy's Kilo-class submarine Rostov-na-Donu B-237 enters..." Getty Images (in German). Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  6. ↑ "Black Sea Fleet deployments-Wk07/2022".
  7. ↑ Rachel Amran (13 September 2023). "UPDATE: Explosions reported at marine plant in occupied Sevastopol, 24 reported injured". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "Fire at naval shipyard in Russia-annexed Crimea after Ukraine air attack". Aljazeera. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  9. ↑ Andrés R. Martínez; Marc Santora (13 September 2023). "Ukraine Strikes Russian Naval Ships in Black Sea". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  10. ↑ Will Taylor (13 September 2023). "Russia's $300 million Kilo-class submarine hit in attack on Black Sea Fleet naval base as fireballs light up shipyard". LBC. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Satellite images show damage to Russian naval vessels struck in Ukraine attack". Reuters. Sep 14, 2023. Retrieved Sep 14, 2023.
  12. ↑ United Kingdom Ministry of Defence [@DefenceHQ] (September 15, 2023). "Intelligence Update 15 September 2023" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 September 2023 – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ Malyasov, Dylan (18 September 2023). "Haunting images of burnt Russian submarine leaked". Defence Blog. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "Photos of the damaged Rostov-on-Don submarine appeared". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  15. ↑ Ozberk, Tayfun (2022-02-28). "Turkey closes the Dardanelles and Bosphorus to warships". Naval News. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  16. ↑ "Submarine Rostov on Don suffers critical damage: new photos reveal extent of September 13 attack". Navy Naval News Navy Recognition. 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
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