Navy North of Korea. North Korea is building ballistic missile submarines

The Pentagon believes North Korea's military lost contact with one of its submarines earlier this week and is unable to find it. This statement was made on Friday by the American television company CNN.

According to her sources from among the officials, whose identities were not disclosed, “the US military was monitoring the submarine, it stopped moving when it was off the eastern coast of the DPRK.” The broadcaster also claims that "American satellites, aircraft and ships secretly monitored the North Korean navy for several days as they tried to find the submarine."

The United States does not know whether the ship sank or is drifting underwater, but believes that there were some problems on board during the exercise. According to CNN, the DPRK military could practice launching missiles from a submarine.

On March 10, North Korea launched two short-range missiles towards the Sea of Japan. Similar missiles were also launched on March 3...

For reference:

The backbone of the DPRK's submarine fleet is Type 033 diesel submarines.

Submarine 033 was produced under license from the USSR in the DPRK in the 60s. The Soviet submarine "Romeo" 633 was taken as the basis.

Maximum length - 76.6 m.

Maximum width - 6.7 m.

Draft - 5.2 m.

Surface displacement - 1.475 tons.

Underwater displacement - 1,830 tons.

Full speed over water - 15 knots

Full speed in submerged position - 13 knots

Diesel - 2 x MTU 12V 493

Immersion depth - 300 m

Armament: 8 torpedo tubes

Crew - 54 people

As of 1999, the DPRK Navy operated 22 Type 033 submarines, half of them operating along the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula.

In addition, the DPRK HSR is armed with:
- mini-submarines Sang-O coastal type, designed with technical assistance from Yugoslavia and intended for special operations, minelaying and actions against ships and vessels. The lightweight hull and fencing of the submarine's cabin are made of fiberglass. Construction of the series began in 1991. Recently, the construction of submarines has been carried out at a rate of 2 to 6 units. per year. In the series, in addition to the main torpedo version of the submarine (with Soviet torpedoes of type 53-56), two ships were built for special operations, each carrying 16 mines on an external sling. Submarines can also transport underwater carriers for light divers. The submarine's armament includes a 12.7 mm machine gun and a portable missile launcher.

On September 17, 1996, one of these submarines ran aground and was captured off the coast of South Korea. There were 26 crew members and DPRK special forces soldiers on the boat. The DPRK military, seeing the futility of defending the boat, abandoned it and tried to retreat to the DPRK, fighting with South Korean troops. Most of them died, one was captured and another was able to break into the DPRK.

In June 1998, a similar submarine of the DPRK Navy became entangled in fishing nets near the South Korean city of Sokcho. The boat crew committed suicide.
- mini-submarine Nahong. The boat is armed with mines suspended from the outside or 533 mm heavy torpedoes.

The main torpedo of the North Korean Navy is the Soviet torpedo type 53-56 (more precisely, its Chinese copy). This is a heavy oxygen-kerosene torpedo of 533 mm caliber, length 7.45 m, torpedo weight about 1900 kg, the warhead contains 400 kg of explosive. The torpedo engine is piston type. The 53-56 torpedo has virtually no trace, is intended to destroy surface ships, has a speed of 40 knots and a range of 13 km. The torpedo is equipped with a maneuvering device and an NV-57 optical proximity fuse. Produced in the USSR since 1960.

Apparently, the accident, if it happened, occurred on a boat of project 033. And God forbid that everything happened without loss of life!

As of 2008, the strength of the DPRK Navy was 46,000 people, in 2012 it was 60,000. The conscription service life is 5-10 years.

The naval headquarters is located in Pyongyang. The majority of the Navy consists of Coast Guard forces. The Navy is capable of conducting border protection operations in the coastal zone, offensive and defensive operations, mining and conventional raid operations. At the same time, due to the unbalanced composition of the fleet, it has limited capabilities to control sea spaces, act as a deterrent, or fight against submarines. Over 60% of North Korean warships are located at forward bases.

The main task of the Navy is to support the combat operations of ground forces against the South Korean army. The Navy is capable of conducting missile and artillery attacks on coastal targets.

North Korea builds its own small and medium-sized submarines, mainly at the Nampo and Wonsan shipyards.

The Navy command has two fleets under its command, Eastern and Western, consisting of 16 battle groups. Due to the geographical location, there is no exchange of ships between fleets.

The Western Fleet, consisting of 6 squadrons of approximately 300 ships, operates in the Yellow Sea. The naval headquarters is located in Nampo, the main ports are Pipha-got and Sagot, and the smaller bases are Cho-do and Tasa-ni. The fleet includes a brigade of landing boats, two brigades for guarding the water area, four divisions of missile boats, four divisions of submarines, and a separate division for guarding the water area.

The Eastern Fleet, consisting of 10 squadrons of approximately 470 ships, operates in the Sea of Japan. The naval headquarters is located in Taidong, the main ports are Najin and Wonsan, and the smaller bases are Chaho, Chongjin, Myang Do and Puam-ni. The fleet includes two brigades of landing boats, two brigades of water area protection, a brigade of boats, a division of URO frigates, three divisions of missile boats, a separate division of torpedo boats, three divisions of submarines, a separate division of midget submarines (sabotage and reconnaissance forces).

The submarine fleet is decentralized. Submarines are based in Chaho, Mayangdo and Pipha-got.

Najin-class frigate of the DPRK Navy

The fleet includes 3 guided missile frigates (2 Najin, 1 Soho), 2 destroyers, 18 small anti-submarine ships, 4 Soviet submarines of Project 613, 23 Chinese and domestic submarines of Project 033 (Project 633), 29 small submarines boats of the Sang-O project, more than 20 midget submarines, 34 missile boats (10 project 205 Osa, 4 Huangfeng class, 10 Sozhu, 12 project 183 Komar; the boats are armed with P-class anti-ship missiles 15 Termit or Chinese CSS-N-1 SCRUBBRUSH), 150 torpedo boats (about half are domestically built), fire support boats (including 62 CHAHO class), 56 large (6 Hainan, 12 Taejong, 13 "Shanghai-2", 6 "Chonju", 19 "SO-1") and more than 100 small patrol boats, 10 small landing ships "Hante" (capable of carrying 3-4 light tanks), up to 120 landing boats (in including about 100 “Nampo”, created on the basis of the Soviet torpedo boat P-6, having a speed of up to 40 knots and a range of up to 335 km and capable of transporting up to 30 fully equipped paratroopers), up to 130 hovercraft, 24 minesweepers “Yukto” -1/2", 8 floating bases of ultra-small submarines, a submarine rescue vessel, 4 hydrographic vessels, minelayers.

DPRK Navy patrol vessel

The use of high-speed missile and torpedo boats allows for surprise attacks on enemy warships. Submarines can be used to block sea communications, lay minefields and land special operations troops. Approximately 60% of ships are based near the demilitarized zone.

The Navy has two sniper brigades on amphibious vessels.

The coastal forces include two regiments (thirteen anti-ship missile battalions) and sixteen separate coastal artillery battalions. Coastal batteries are armed with surface-to-sea missiles S-2 Sopka, CSSC-2 SILKWORM (a Chinese copy of the Soviet P-15M), and CSSC-3 SEERSUCKER with a range of up to 95 km, as well as coastal artillery installations of 122/130/152 mm.

The DPRK fleet has extensive experience in laying minefields. Its fleet has a significant number of surface vessels designed to lay mines against coastal landings from amphibious ships, protect strategic ports and provide sea protection for ground forces. The coastal defense system combines minefields with artillery and missile coastal batteries.

DPRK semi-submersible boat

The DPRK Navy operates semi-submerged vessels used by the Navy's 137th Squadron to disembark special forces soldiers from the sea. Due to their low profile, these vessels are poorly visible on radar. The speed on the surface of the water is 45 knots (83 km/h), the speed in a semi-submerged state is 4 knots (7.4 km/h).

In addition to combat ships, there are 10 cargo ships under the direct control of the Ministry of People's Armed Forces.

The majority of the Navy consists of Coast Guard forces. The Navy is capable of conducting border protection operations in the coastal zone, offensive and defensive operations, mining and conventional raid operations. At the same time, due to the unbalanced composition of the fleet, it has limited capabilities to control sea spaces, act as a deterrent, or fight against submarines. Over 60% of North Korean warships are located at forward bases.

The main task of the Navy is to support the combat operations of ground forces against the South Korean army. The Navy is capable of conducting missile and artillery attacks on coastal targets.

North Korea builds its own small and medium-sized submarines, mainly at the Nampo and Wonsan shipyards.

The Navy command has two fleets under its command, Eastern and Western, consisting of 16 battle groups. Due to the geographical location, there is no exchange of ships between fleets.

The Western Fleet, consisting of 6 squadrons of approximately 300 ships, operates in the Yellow Sea. The fleet headquarters is located in Nampo, the main ports are Pip'a-got and Sagot, the smaller bases are Cho-do (Korean 초도, English. Ch"o-do) and Tasa-ni (Tasa-ri). The fleet includes a brigade of landing boats, two brigades for guarding the water area, four divisions of missile boats, four divisions of submarines, and a separate division for guarding the water area.
The Eastern Fleet, consisting of 10 squadrons of approximately 470 ships, operates in the Sea of Japan. The fleet headquarters is located in Taedong (T'oejo-dong), the main ports are Najin and Wonsan, smaller bases are Chaho (Korean 차호), Chongjin (Korean 창전), Myang Do and Puam-ni. The fleet includes two brigades of landing boats, two brigades of water area protection, a brigade of boats, a division of URO frigates, three divisions of missile boats, a separate division of torpedo boats, three divisions of submarines, a separate division of midget submarines (sabotage and reconnaissance forces).

The submarine fleet is decentralized. Submarines are based in Ch'aho, Mayangdo and Pip'a-got.

The fleet includes 3 guided missile frigates (2 Najin, 1 Soho), 2 destroyers, 18 small anti-submarine ships, 4 Soviet submarines of Project 613, 23 Chinese and Soviet submarines of Project 033 (Project 633), 29 small submarines boats of the Sang-O project, more than 20 midget submarines, 34 missile boats (10 project 205 Osa, 4 Huangfeng class, 10 Sozhu, 12 project 183 Komar; the boats are armed with P- anti-ship missiles 15 Termit or Chinese CSS-N-1 SCRUBBRUSH), 150 torpedo boats (about half are domestically built), fire support boats (including 62 CHAHO class), 56 large (6 Hainan, 12 Taejong, 13 "Shanghai-2", 6 "Chonju", 19 "SO-1") and more than 100 small patrol boats, 10 small landing ships "Hante" (capable of carrying 3-4 light tanks), up to 120 landing boats (in including about 100 “Nampo”, created on the basis of the Soviet torpedo boat P-6, having a speed of up to 40 knots and a range of up to 335 km and capable of transporting up to 30 fully equipped paratroopers), up to 130 hovercraft, 24 minesweepers “Yukto” -1/2", 8 floating bases for midget submarines, a submarine rescue vessel, 4 hydrographic vessels, minelayers.

The Navy has two sniper brigades on amphibious vessels.

In addition to combat ships, there are 10 cargo ships under the direct control of the Ministry of People's Armed Forces.

Story

Creation of a fleet

The history of the DPRK Navy dates back to June 5, 1946, when the North Korean Maritime Security Forces were formed in Wonsan with the help of Soviet advisers. Initially, the naval forces were subordinate to the North Korean Ministry of Internal Affairs, but with the receipt of torpedo boats and the formation of the 2nd TKA Division on August 29, 1949, the naval forces were reorganized into a separate branch of the military.

By 1950, the DPRK Navy included:

1st division of patrol ships - three sea hunters of the OD-200 type
2nd torpedo boat division - five G-5 type boats (Wonsan base)
3rd minesweeper division - two ex-American YMS type minesweepers and one ex-Japanese
division of ships under construction - 7 ships with a displacement of 250 and 800 tons;
one floating base
one military transport with a displacement of 2000 tons (formerly American, transferred from South Korea in October 1949)
six different boats and schooners (displacement 60-80 tons)
two marine regiments
coastal defense artillery regiment
anti-aircraft artillery regiment (24 37-mm MZA guns and 12 85-mm SZA guns)
three naval bases (Wonsan - GMBB, Nampo, Seocho)
Naval Academy in Wonsan.

Korean War 1950-1953

Coastal batteries, deployed for defense against enemy shipping, anti-amphibious defense and minefield protection, were equipped primarily with medium caliber field guns. Marine battalions also carried out defense on the most important sections of the coastline. The density of coastal defense was extremely low; on average, one three-gun battery was used to protect 50-60 km of coastal area. To compensate for the small number of coastal defenses, mobile batteries were effectively used. However, to combat coastal batteries, American troops were forced to pull together a significant number of ships and aircraft. In addition, the batteries deprived enemy ships of the opportunity to approach close to the shore and conduct targeted fire at the coastal and ground forces of the KPA.

North Korean Navy in the post-war period

On January 23, 1968, a US Navy reconnaissance vessel was captured by a small anti-submarine ship and three torpedo boats of the DPRK with air support. Pueblo"(AGER class). The ship was in the territorial waters of the DPRK in order to determine the nature of the activities of the North Korean Navy and reconnaissance of the radio technical situation in the area of its eastern coast, as well as to monitor USSR warships in the Tsushima Strait area and determine the reaction of the DPRK and the Soviet Union to the ship's reconnaissance in the Sea of Japan . The ship was shelled by 57 mm guns and machine guns and then towed to the port of Wonsan. After 11 months of captivity, the crew of the Pueblo was released, and the ship itself remained at the Wonsan pier for a long time as a museum. In the late 90s, "Pueblo" was secretly relocated to the Yellow Sea, entered the Taedong River and is now one of the tourist attractions of the capital of the DPRK. The relocation went unnoticed by American and South Korean forces.
In February 1985, a Project 633 submarine built in the DPRK sank in the Yellow Sea with its entire crew. Officials say the submarine was sunk by a fishing seiner, but it was most likely sunk by American or South Korean forces. The USSR Navy ships PM-37 “Akvarel” and “Sayany” took part in the rescue operation, with the support of the TFR in combat escort.
On September 18, 1996, near the city of Gangneung on the coast of the Sea of Japan, a stranded DPRK submarine (according to the NATO classification, “Akula” type) was discovered stranded. There were 26 crew members and DPRK special forces soldiers on the boat. The DPRK soldiers abandoned the boat and tried to escape the South Korean troops on foot. Most of them died, one was captured and another was able to go to the DPRK.
In June 1998, a North Korean Navy submarine became entangled in fishing nets near the South Korean city of Sokcho. The boat crew committed suicide.
On December 18, 1998, a half-submerged DPRK ship was sunk by South Korean Navy vessels 56 miles south of Yokji-do.
Between June 7 and June 15, 1999, 20 DPRK fishing vessels and 7-8 patrol vessels crossed the sea border with South Korea. The ships were blocked by South Korean Navy ships, and on June 15 fire contact occurred, as a result of which one DPRK torpedo boat was sunk and several ships were damaged.
On June 29, 2002, several South Korean ships invaded the territorial waters of the DPRK near the island of Yeonpyeongdo and fire contact occurred. As a result of the battle, a South Korean boat was sunk and 2 North Korean boats were damaged.
On March 27, 2010, the corvette Cheonan of the South Korean Navy was torpedoed and sunk in the Yellow Sea near the island of Pangyeondo. According to some sources, the corvette may have become a victim of an attack by a submarine of the DPRK Navy. As a result of the incident, 46 of the 104 crew members were killed or missing.

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Notes

Literature

Foreign Military Review, 7/2008
NORTH KOREA COUNTRY HANDBOOK. MARINE CORPS INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY. MAY 1997





Unrecognized and partially recognized states

An excerpt characterizing the Naval Forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Uncle sang as the people sing, with that complete and naive conviction that in a song all the meaning lies only in the words, that the melody comes by itself and that there is no separate melody, and that a melody is only for the purpose. Because of this, this unconscious melody, like the melody of a bird, was unusually good for my uncle. Natasha was delighted with her uncle's singing. She decided that she would no longer study the harp, but would only play the guitar. She asked her uncle for a guitar and immediately found the chords for the song.
At ten o'clock a line, a droshky and three horsemen sent to look for them arrived for Natasha and Petya. The Count and Countess did not know where they were and were very worried, as the messenger said.
Petya was taken down and placed like a dead body in a line; Natasha and Nikolai got into the droshky. Uncle wrapped Natasha up and said goodbye to her with completely new tenderness. He escorted them on foot to the bridge, which had to be forded, and ordered the hunters to go ahead with lanterns.
“Farewell, dear niece,” his voice shouted from the darkness, not the one that Natasha knew before, but the one that sang: “Like powder since evening.”
The village we were passing through had red lights and a cheerful smell of smoke.
- What a charm this uncle is! - Natasha said when they drove out onto the main road.
“Yes,” said Nikolai. - Aren't you cold?
- No, I’m great, great. “I feel so good,” Natasha even said with bewilderment. They were silent for a long time.
The night was dark and damp. The horses were not visible; you could only hear them splashing through the invisible mud.
What was going on in this childish, receptive soul, which so greedily caught and assimilated all the varied impressions of life? How did it all fit into her? But she was very happy. Already approaching the house, she suddenly began to sing the tune of the song: “Like powder since the evening,” a tune that she had been catching all the way and finally caught.
- Did you catch it? - said Nikolai.
- What were you thinking about now, Nikolenka? – Natasha asked. “They loved asking each other that.”
- I? - Nikolai said, remembering; - you see, at first I thought that Rugai, the red male, looked like his uncle and that if he were a man, he would still keep his uncle with him, if not for the race, then for the frets, he would have kept everything. How nice he is, uncle! Isn't it true? - Well, what about you?
- I? Wait, wait. Yes, at first I thought that we were driving and we thought that we were going home, and God knows where we were going in this darkness and suddenly we would arrive and see that we were not in Otradny, but in a magical kingdom. And then I also thought... No, nothing more.
“I know, I was right about him,” Nikolai said, smiling, as Natasha recognized by the sound of his voice.
“No,” Natasha answered, although at the same time she really was thinking about Prince Andrei, and about how he would like his uncle. “And I keep repeating, I repeat all the way: how well Anisyushka performed, well...” said Natasha. And Nikolai heard her ringing, causeless, happy laughter.
“You know,” she suddenly said, “I know that I will never be as happy and calm as I am now.”
“This is nonsense, nonsense, lies,” said Nikolai and thought: “What a charm this Natasha is! I don’t have and never will have such another friend. Why should she get married, everyone would go with her!”
“What a charm this Nikolai is!” thought Natasha. - A! there’s still a fire in the living room,” she said, pointing to the windows of the house, which shone beautifully in the wet, velvety darkness of the night.

Count Ilya Andreich resigned from the leadership because this position was associated with too much expense. But things didn’t improve for him. Often Natasha and Nikolai saw secret, restless negotiations between their parents and heard talk about the sale of a rich, ancestral Rostov house and a house near Moscow. Without a leader there was no need to have such a large reception, and Otradnensky life was conducted more quietly than in previous years; but the huge house and outbuildings were still full of people, and more people still sat down at the table. All these were people who had settled into the house, almost members of the family, or those who, it seemed, had to live in the count’s house. These were Dimmler - a musician with his wife, Yogel - a dance teacher with his family, the old lady Belova, who lived in the house, and many others: Petya's teachers, the young ladies' former governess and simply people who were better or more profitable to live with the count than at home. There was not such a big visit as before, but the course of life was the same, without which the count and countess could not imagine life. There was the same hunting, even increased by Nikolai, the same 50 horses and 15 coachmen in the stable, the same expensive gifts on name day, and ceremonial dinners for the entire district; the same count whists and bostons, for which he, throwing out cards to everyone, allowed himself to be beaten by hundreds every day by his neighbors, who looked at the right to form Count Ilya Andreich’s game as the most profitable lease.
The Count, as if in a huge snare, walked about his affairs, trying not to believe that he was entangled and with each step becoming more and more entangled and feeling unable either to break the nets that entangled him or to carefully, patiently begin to untangle them. The Countess felt with a loving heart that her children were going bankrupt, that the count was not to blame, that he could not be different from what he was, that he himself was suffering (although he hid it) from the consciousness of his own and his children’s ruin, and she was looking for means to help the cause. From her female point of view, there was only one remedy - Nikolai's marriage to a rich bride. She felt that this was the last hope, and that if Nikolai refused the match she had found for him, she would have to say goodbye forever to the opportunity to improve matters. This party was Julie Karagina, the daughter of a beautiful, virtuous mother and father, known to the Rostovs from childhood, and now a rich bride on the occasion of the death of the last of her brothers.
The Countess wrote directly to Karagina in Moscow, proposing her daughter's marriage to her son, and received a favorable response from her. Karagina replied that she, for her part, agreed that everything would depend on her daughter’s inclination. Karagina invited Nikolai to come to Moscow.
Several times, with tears in her eyes, the countess told her son that now that both of her daughters were settled, her only desire was to see him married. She said that she would have gone to bed calm if that had been the case. Then she said that she had a beautiful girl in mind and asked his opinion about marriage.
In other conversations, she praised Julie and advised Nikolai to go to Moscow for the holidays to have fun. Nikolai guessed where his mother’s conversations were heading, and in one of these conversations he called her to complete frankness. She told him that all hope of improving matters was now based on his marriage to Karagina.
- Well, if I loved a girl without a fortune, would you really demand, maman, that I sacrifice my feelings and honor for the fortune? - he asked his mother, not understanding the cruelty of his question and only wanting to show his nobility.
“No, you didn’t understand me,” said the mother, not knowing how to justify herself. “You didn’t understand me, Nikolinka.” “I wish your happiness,” she added and felt that she was telling a lie, that she was confused. - She cried.
“Mama, don’t cry, just tell me that you want this, and you know that I will give my whole life, everything, so that you can be calm,” said Nikolai. I will sacrifice everything for you, even my feelings.
But that’s not how the Countess wanted to pose the question: she didn’t want a sacrifice from her son, she herself would like to sacrifice to him.
“No, you didn’t understand me, we won’t talk,” she said, wiping away her tears.
“Yes, maybe I love the poor girl,” Nikolai said to himself, well, should I sacrifice my feelings and honor for my fortune? I’m surprised how my mother could tell me this. Because Sonya is poor, I cannot love her, he thought, “I cannot respond to her faithful, devoted love. And I’ll probably be happier with her than with some Julie doll. I can always sacrifice my feelings for the good of my family, he told himself, but I cannot command my feelings. If I love Sonya, then my feeling is stronger and higher than anything else for me.”
Nikolai did not go to Moscow, the countess did not resume conversation with him about marriage, and with sadness, and sometimes even embitterment, she saw signs of greater and greater rapprochement between her son and the dowryless Sonya. She reproached herself for this, but could not help but grumble and find fault with Sonya, often stopping her for no reason, calling her “you” and “my dear.” Most of all, the good countess was angry with Sonya because this poor, dark-eyed niece was so meek, so kind, so devotedly grateful to her benefactors, and so faithfully, invariably, selflessly in love with Nicholas, that it was impossible to reproach her for anything. .
Nikolai spent his vacation with his relatives. A fourth letter was received from Prince Andrei's fiancé, from Rome, in which he wrote that he would have long been on his way to Russia if his wound had not unexpectedly opened in a warm climate, which forces him to postpone his departure until the beginning of next year . Natasha was just as in love with her fiancé, just as calmed by this love and just as receptive to all the joys of life; but at the end of the fourth month of separation from him, moments of sadness began to come over her, against which she could not fight. She felt sorry for herself, it was a pity that she had wasted all this time for nothing, for no one, during which she felt so capable of loving and being loved.
It was sad in the Rostovs' house.

Christmastide came, and except for the ceremonial mass, except for the solemn and boring congratulations of neighbors and courtyards, except for everyone wearing new dresses, there was nothing special to commemorate Christmastide, and in the windless 20-degree frost, in the bright blinding sun during the day and in the starry winter light at night, I felt the need for some kind of commemoration of this time.
On the third day of the holiday, after lunch, all the household went to their rooms. It was the most boring time of the day. Nikolai, who went to see his neighbors in the morning, fell asleep in the sofa. The old count was resting in his office. Sonya was sitting at the round table in the living room, sketching a pattern. The Countess was laying out the cards. Nastasya Ivanovna the jester with a sad face was sitting at the window with two old women. Natasha entered the room, walked up to Sonya, looked at what she was doing, then walked up to her mother and stopped silently.
- Why are you walking around like a homeless person? - her mother told her. - What do you want?
“I need it... now, this very minute, I need it,” said Natasha, her eyes sparkling and not smiling. – The Countess raised her head and looked intently at her daughter.
- Don't look at me. Mom, don't look, I'm going to cry now.
“Sit down, sit with me,” said the countess.
- Mom, I need it. Why am I disappearing like this, mom?...” Her voice broke off, tears flowed from her eyes, and in order to hide them, she quickly turned and left the room. She went into the sofa room, stood, thought, and went to the girls' room. There, the old maid was grumbling at a young girl who had come running out of breath from the cold from the yard.
“He will play something,” said the old woman. - For all the time.
“Let her in, Kondratievna,” said Natasha. - Go, Mavrusha, go.
And letting go of Mavrusha, Natasha went through the hall to the hallway. An old man and two young footmen were playing cards. They interrupted the game and stood up as the young lady entered. “What should I do with them?” thought Natasha. - Yes, Nikita, please go... where should I send him? - Yes, go to the yard and please bring the rooster; yes, and you, Misha, bring some oats.
- Would you like some oats? – Misha said cheerfully and willingly.
“Go, go quickly,” the old man confirmed.
- Fyodor, get me some chalk.
Passing by the buffet, she ordered the samovar to be served, although it was not the right time.
Fok's barman was the angriest man in the whole house. Natasha loved to try her power over him. He didn't believe her and went to ask if it was true?
- This young lady! - said Foka, feigning a frown at Natasha.
No one in the house sent away as many people and gave them as much work as Natasha. She could not see people indifferently, so as not to send them somewhere. She seemed to be trying to see if one of them would get angry or pout with her, but people didn’t like to carry out anyone’s orders as much as Natasha’s. “What should I do? Where should I go? Natasha thought, walking slowly down the corridor.
- Nastasya Ivanovna, what will be born from me? - she asked the jester, who was walking towards her in his short coat.
“You give rise to fleas, dragonflies, and blacksmiths,” answered the jester.
- My God, my God, it’s all the same. Oh, where should I go? What should I do with myself? “And she quickly, stamping her feet, ran up the stairs to Vogel, who lived with his wife on the top floor. Vogel had two governesses sitting at his place, and there were plates of raisins, walnuts and almonds on the table. The governesses were talking about where it was cheaper to live, in Moscow or Odessa. Natasha sat down, listened to their conversation with a serious, thoughtful face, and stood up. “The island of Madagascar,” she said. “Ma da gas kar,” she repeated each syllable clearly and, without answering m me Schoss’s questions about what she was saying, left the room. Petya, her brother, was also upstairs: he and his uncle were arranging fireworks, which they intended to set off at night. - Petya! Petka! - she shouted to him, - take me down. s - Petya ran up to her and offered her his back. She jumped on him, clasped her arms around his neck, and he jumped and ran with her. “No, no, it’s the island of Madagascar,” she said and, jumping off, went down.
As if having walked around her kingdom, tested her power and made sure that everyone was submissive, but that it was still boring, Natasha went into the hall, took the guitar, sat down in a dark corner behind the cabinet and began plucking the strings of the bass, making a phrase that she remembered from one opera heard in St. Petersburg together with Prince Andrei. For outside listeners, something came out of her guitar that had no meaning, but in her imagination, because of these sounds, a whole series of memories were resurrected. She sat behind the cupboard, her eyes fixed on the strip of light falling from the pantry door, listened to herself and remembered. She was in a state of memory.
Sonya walked across the hall to the buffet with a glass. Natasha looked at her, at the crack in the pantry door, and it seemed to her that she remembered that light was falling through the crack from the pantry door and that Sonya walked through with a glass. “Yes, and it was exactly the same,” thought Natasha. - Sonya, what is this? – Natasha shouted, fingering the thick string.

The North Korean authorities have seriously begun modernizing their submarine fleet, designing submarines capable of carrying ballistic missiles. Against the backdrop of successes in testing nuclear weapons and space technology, Pyongyang can create a full-fledged triad of nuclear forces. This is stated in the analytical review of the military publication Jane's Defense .

The DPRK launched its first ballistic missile in its history on November 28, 2015 from an experimental Sinpo-class submarine. Apparently the test was unsuccessful,

as South Korean authorities later found debris on the surface of the sea.

Less than a month later, North Korea conducted a repeat test. According to experts, it was produced not from a submarine, but from a barge test bench submerged in water. North Korean television released footage of the missile test in early January, showing the country's leader Kim Jong-un, smiling, watching the missile take off from under the water and go beyond the clouds.

The DPRK began designing, assembling, and operating submarines of various types—patrol, littoral, and miniature—from the mid-1960s.

According to experts, the DPRK’s submarine fleet is currently one of the largest in the world: about 70 submarines.

For example, Britain and India each have 15 submarines, and the United States, according to open sources, has 72.

Information about the development of the submarine fleet in the DPRK remained under seal for a long time, and the emerging data often turned out to be contradictory and unreliable. However, some incidents with North Korean submarines since the mid-1990s have shed light on the level of technology and types of ships used.

Shinpo class submarine

One such case was the accident and subsequent capture by the southerners of a North Korean submarine on September 18, 1996, near the city of Gangneung on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The 34 m long San-O class diesel submarine is designed to support special operations and reconnaissance, and has two versions: a standard version equipped with torpedoes, and its reconnaissance version, in which the torpedo compartment is replaced by a chamber for divers to escape. On September 15, the boat landed three scouts on the South Korean coast to collect data on the military installations of the southerners. While trying to pick up the spies three days later, the boat ran aground, after which the crew decided to destroy all valuable equipment and flee towards the DPRK.

However, the sailors were noticed; during the operation to seize the boat, one was captured, the rest were killed in a shootout or shot by fellow soldiers for the failure of the operation.

Today this boat, lost by the DPRK due to the backwardness of the technical base and lack of competent coordination of actions, is installed in a park in the city of Gangneung.

According to intelligence data, since the 2000s, the DPRK Navy began to carry out a number of programs to modernize its submarine fleet. With the coming to power, the country's submarines began to be often used in propaganda videos on local TV.

In July 2014, an experimental ballistic missile submarine was launched at the Sinpo shipyard of the DPRK. Its length is almost 67 m, its width is 6.7 m, its displacement is 900-1500 tons, its wheelhouse is located in the middle.

The central part of the cabin is a 4.25 by 2.25 m rectangular section that hides one or two ballistic missile chambers.

Outwardly, it resembles the Russian Project 677 submarines, although it does not have horizontal rudders on the wheelhouse, like the Russian ship. In addition, experts saw similarities between the boat and a series of Yugoslav diesel-electric submarines of the Sava and Hero type, which were in service from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Submersible test stand

The influence of Yugoslav engineering on the achievements of North Korean designers does not surprise experts due to the close military contacts between the two countries until the early 1990s.

“The decision to create a third base for a nuclear triad at sea is based on the fact that, given their size and invulnerability in the ocean, such submarines would be difficult to find and destroy in the event of a nuclear attack,” said experts Joseph Bermudez and Carl Dewey. “A key component of the theory of nuclear deterrence is the possibility of a guaranteed nuclear response, regardless of the size of the territory already affected.”

Over the next few hundred years, the submarine went through a series of evolutionary changes, improving its mobility, practicality, and other capabilities. This list contains the 10 countries with the largest submarine fleets in the world. The ranking includes the total number of diesel-electric and nuclear boats. This does not mean at all that the largest fleet is the strongest. This is a pure unit count that indicates who has the most military submarines. A few points may surprise you, but rest assured, all the big players are included here.

South Korea - 14 submarines

We start with the submarines of South Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy currently operates 14 diesel-electric submarines. 12 of these submarines are German boats type 209 and 214, while two small submarines are built in Korea. Current plans for Korea call for the 214 class to be built at its own shipyards - it will be a high-end, technologically advanced submarine. The Type 214 has eight torpedo launchers, the ability to launch anti-ship missiles and lay mines. In all likelihood, South Korea will soon rise significantly in this list, since new submarines will be introduced into the navy very soon.

Türkiye - 14 boats

Along with South Korea, Türkiye is the largest operator of German submarines in the world. All submarines of the Turkish Navy are Type 209 diesel electric submarines. This particular submarine is one of the most exported types, which can be customized according to all the wishes of potential clients. Costing approximately $290 million, each of the Turkish Navy's 209 S submarines has a Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher. Next year, the Turkish Navy plans to replace some of the 209s with a more modern German type of diesel-electric submarine, the 214.

Israel - 14 submarines

When it comes to naval forces, few people even think about Israel. In military terms, most people think of Israel in terms of airpower, or infantry, but the country does have a fleet of 14 submarines. As with many other aspects of the Israeli military, it is difficult to obtain any precise information on the fleet. According to a number of sources, the Israeli Navy currently operates 14 submarines (although some sources claim a lower number). The most famous and certainly the most capable are the Dolphin class boats. Built in Germany since 1998, the diesel-electric Dolphin-class submarines are capable of carrying Israeli nuclear weapons. Israel also has one of the best tanks in the world.

Japan - 16 submarines

Since World War II, strict sanctions have governed the Japanese military, and the country's constitution stipulates that Japan must possess only defensive weapons. Ultimately, Japan has a small but very modern military, including the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Today, Japan's submarine fleet is made up of diesel-electric torpedo submarines. They are divided into two classes of very modern submarines, the oldest of which was built in 1994. The newest Soryu class submarines are equipped with all the latest technologies, have a range of 7,000 miles, and can launch missiles, torpedoes and lay mines.

India - 17 submarines

Currently, the vast majority of India's submarines are diesel-electric torpedo submarines built by the Russians and Germans. Their presence has allowed India to flex its muscles around its coastal waters in the Indian Ocean. Later, steps were taken to convert the Indian submarine fleet to nuclear power. A lease agreement has been signed for Russia's Akula nuclear-class submarine and the development of its own ballistic missile are clear signs that India wants to significantly expand the capabilities of its submarine fleet. Given the time and expense involved in building nuclear submarines, the current diesel-electric ships will remain the mainstay of the Indian Navy for the next few years. But in the future, the country may rise several positions on the list.

Iran - 31 submarines

No, this is not a typo, because Iran does currently have the fifth largest submarine fleet in the world. Iran traditionally devotes most of its military budget to air and ground forces. Over the past few years, the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy has begun developing new surface vessels and submarines. The submarine force is primarily focused on littoral and short-range operations around the Persian Gulf. The most advanced submarines are three Russian-built Kilo-class diesel electric ships. Built in the 1990s, these submarines can travel more than 7,000 miles, lay mines and counter any naval forces approaching Iranian shores. They are complemented by a number of other submarines designed for shallow coastal water operations.

Russia - 63 submarines

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the Soviet Navy, like most military forces, suffered from poor funding and maintenance. This situation has changed dramatically over the past few years as Russia seeks to transform and modernize its forces under the leadership of Vladimir Putin. The Russian Navy's submarine fleet has certainly benefited from this reform. Russia has a number of submarines with ballistic missile capability and 30 submarines with nuclear strike capability. In addition to nuclear submarines, the fleet includes 20 Kilo-class diesel electric ships. New submarines are being built to replace outdated and dangerous old models. It is obvious that Russia’s submarine forces will at least not lose their place on this list, but rather will even rise higher in the coming years. I also advise you to read about the most powerful weapons in history.

China - 69 submarines

Over the past 30 years, China's military has undergone a program of major expansion and modernization. In addition to the ground forces and air force, significant development is also observed in the field of navy. The country has only a few nuclear-powered modern submarines, and the majority of its submarine fleet consists of 50 diesel-electric submarines. It is generally accepted that Chinese military doctrine is primarily focused on protecting its territories and coastal waters from potential enemies. The nuclear strike capability is used as a deterrent, and only a few submarines have it. While not as powerful as American or Russian designs, Chinese ballistic missile submarines are still capable of launching long-range nuclear weapons at any country foolish enough to attack China. China also has one of the most powerful nuclear missiles in the world.

USA - 72 submarines

Second on this list is the United States Navy. Although the US operates only the second largest submarine force in the world, it is the most powerful and modern in the world. Since the construction of the first submarine, USS Holland, in 1900, the nation has built a very effective submarine force. The active US fleet is entirely nuclear, so military operations are limited only by the amount of food the ships can carry. Currently, the most numerous type of submarine is the Los Angeles-class torpedo submarine, with 40 of them in service. Built between the 1970s and 1990s, the submarine costs approximately $1 billion in today's currency, displaces almost 7,000 tons, can dive to a depth of about 450 meters and is armed with four torpedo launchers. To maintain its leadership, the US has begun replacing these Cold War-era boats with newer, more modern Virginia-class submarines costing $2.7 billion.

North Korea - 78 submarines

The North Korean army ranks first on this list with a fleet of 78 submarines. All of North Korea's submarines are diesel-electric, and none move more than 1,800 tons. The potential danger of this force was demonstrated in 2010 when the small 130-ton Yono class sank the South Korean corvette Chonan. However, it is a second-rate force made up of aging Soviet-era boats and smaller, home-made coastal submarines. North Korean small submarines have good capabilities in shallow waters, can lay mines, conduct reconnaissance in enemy harbors and transport special forces to enemy shores. If North Korea continues to expand its fleet of small submarines, it is unlikely to relinquish its lead on this list anytime soon. In continuation, read also about the countries with the largest armies, to which a special selection is dedicated.