Russia: SSBN Yekaterinburg Burned with Nuclear Weapons Onboard

 

Strategic submarine SSBN Yekaterinburg being on fire on Dec 29, 2011 was docked in Roslyakovo, Murmansk region with nuclear weapons on board, writes Kommersant today.

According to the magazine, up to 16 strategic missiles R-29RMU2 Sineva with 4 nuclear warheads each was on board the sub. There were torpedoes and ASW rocket torpedoes possibly equipped with nuclear warheads. In addition, the submarine was armed with standard number of conventional torpedoes.

SSBN Yekaterinburg was docked with unloaded armament because she was prepared for scheduled patrol in order to maintain strategic nuclear equation, writes Kommersant.

Other sources say the submarine was docked for repair of sonar head punched by tug during moorage operations.

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Naval Today Staff , February 14, 2012