Top 5 best attack Submarines

What is a Submarine?

A submarine is a specific Warship, which can operate missions/tasks beneath seawater. It is usually cylindrical shaped. It is included in the category of boats instead of ships irrespective of its size. It was first widely used in War 1 (1914-1918). It can be used for both military and civil purposes. In the military it is used to sink enemy ships (both military and merchant) on the sea surface, to sink or protect aircraft carriers during a battle, to destroy other enemy submarines, for covert operations of special forces, reconnaissance, land attacks and nuclear strikes etc. Civil uses of submarine includes underwater exploration, marine science, underwater installed technical maintenance, marine research, undersea cable repair, sea tourism, underwater search and rescue missions, and sea archaeology etc. 

 Top 5 powerful attack submarines in the world are:

             1. Sea Wolf Class Submarine  

Sea Wolf is a class of nuclear powered fast attack submarines used by the United States Navy. It is the successor of Los Angeles class submarines. Initially it was planned to build up a fleet of about 29 Sea wolf Submarine, but later on the number was reduced to only 12 submarines. The primary reasons were end of cold war and decrease in navy budget. Currently the USN have only 3 active Sea wolf submarines. Its production started in 1989 till 2005. Due to cancellation, it is succeeded by relative smaller more effective Virginia Class Submarines. Actually it was designed and build by General Dynamics's Electric Boat. The per unit cost of Sea wolf is 5 billion US dollars which makes it the most expensive submarine of the US Navy. It's length is 353 feet with a maximum speed of 65 km/h. It's range is unlimited because it is a nuclear powered submarine. The only  hurdle in its range is limited food supplies. It can dive 2000 feet deep in the sea. It have 8 660-mm torpedo tubes. It have the capability of carrying 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles or 50 Harpoon anti ship missiles or 50 Mark 48 ADCAP Torpedoes or 100 underwater Mines.

          2.  Virginia Class Submarines 

Virginia is a class of nuclear powered fast attack submarines commissioned in the United States Navy. It is also known as SSN-774. It is designed and manufactured by General Dynamics's Electric Boat and the Huntington Ingalls Industries. It is the American Navy's latest inducted under sea war platform which have the latest stealth, information gathering and weapons system technology. It is specially designed for anti-submarine and information gathering missions. It was designed to replace to replace the aging Los Angeles Class Submarines, many of which have already been retired. Its production started in 2000 and commission in 2004-present. A total number of 66 will become the part of US Navy in the near future. Only 19 are commissioned in the navy and 11 are in production process. Per unit cost is 2.3 to 3 billion US dollars. Its length is 377 feet, speed 45 km/h, unlimited range, and maximum dive capability of 800 feet. It can carry 38 torpedoes or Tomahawk ballistic missiles or Mines. It is equipped with 12 Vertical Launching System (VLS) and four torpedo tubes. It can launch 16 missiles at a time. It can carry 135 personnels (15 officers and 120 sailors).

          3. Astute Class Submarines

The Astute class submarines is a  nuclear powered class of submarines operated by the Royal Navy (UK). It is developed to replace the Trafalgar Class Submarines of the Royal Navy. It is the latest class of submarines used by the Royal Navy with advanced and improved weapons load, communication facilities and stealth. Its builders are BAE Systems, Maritime Submarines, and Barrow in Furness. It was first commissioned in 2010 and fully operational in May 2014. This class of submarines include a total number of 7 submarines, 3 of which are active and the remaining are in production process. It's per unit cost is 2 billion US dollars. Its length is 317 feet and maximum speed 56 km/h. It can carry 98 personnels. It can dive upto 984 feet. It have six torpedo tubes and can carry 38 weapons like Tomahawk or Spearfish heavy weight torpedoes.

           


          4. Yasen Class Submarines

Yasen also known as Graney is a class of newest nuclear powered submarines of Russian Navy, designed by Malakhit and built by Sevmash military shipbuilding heavy industry. It's design is based on Akula and Alpha Class Submarines. The main purpose of its building is to replace the Soviet Era nuclear attack submarines in the current Russian Navy. It is preceded by Oscar class and Akula Class Submarines and succeeded by Laika Class Submarines. Per unit cost is 800 million US dollars. Its production started in 1993 and commission in 2013 in the Russian Navy. 10 Yasen submarines are planned to be build, 3 of which are active while the remaining are in production process. It have two variants Yasen M and Yasen. Yasen M is 430 ft long while Yasen is 457 ft. It's maximum speed is 65 km/h. It's range is unlimited but endurance is only limited by food and maintenance requirements. Yasen have 10 torpedo tubes and 8 Vertical Launch System. It can carry 32 Oniks anti-ship cruise missiles or 40 Kalibar anti-ship, land attack, and anti submarine cruise missiles or KH-101 cruise missiles. Yasen M have 8 torpedo tubes and 8 Vertical Launch System. It can carry Igla-M surface to air missiles. It can carry 60 personnels. Its dive capability is 600 m.

         


        5. Sierra 2 Class Submarines

Sierra 2 is a nuclear powered attack submarines. It was first intended for the Soviet Navy and currently in service with the Russian Navy. This class of submarines is unique because of it's body which made of Titanium, and which enables it to dive to greater depths, low radiated noise and more resistance to torpedo attacks. This class is the upgraded version of Sierra 1 class submarines of the Soviet Era. It is specially developed for search and destroy missions against US and NATO Submarines. It's speed and diving depth is greater than its counterpart American submarines. It is preceded by Alpha and Victor Class Submarines and succeeded by Akula Class. 2 Sierra 2 is active in the Russian Navy, while 4 are completed and 1 is cancelled. It's length is 360 ft and speed is 60 km/h. It's range is unlimited except by food supplies. It can carry 61 personnels. It have four torpedo tubes. It can carry Sampson cruise missiles, Starfish anti submarine weapons, type 40 Torpedos, and 42 mines instead of torpedos.