OVERVIEW: The PLARB-667AU Yankee I [Navaga] is a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) of the Project 667A Navaga (Yankee I) class, operated by the Soviet Union. Commissioned in 1973, this vessel represents an early generation of Soviet SSBNs designed to provide a strategic nuclear deterrent capability.

DETAILS:
The Project 667A Navaga class emerged from a pressing need within the Soviet Navy for a credible sea-based nuclear strike force. Prior to its development, Soviet SSBNs were hampered by short-range missiles requiring them to transit into the heavily defended GIUK gap for launch positions. The Yankee I class was therefore designed to carry the longer-ranged SS-N-6 Serb SLBM, enabling them to target the continental United States from the relative safety of Soviet home waters. The design incorporated a double-hull construction for enhanced survivability and ice-breaking capability, a significant factor considering Soviet operating areas. The arrangement of the sixteen missile tubes in two rows behind the sail became a characteristic feature of the class. The Navaga design, while a significant advancement, was also inherently noisy compared to subsequent Soviet and Western SSBN designs. The 667AU variant indicates a modification program during the submarine's service life, potentially involving improvements to noise reduction, sonar, or missile systems.

The primary role of the PLARB-667AU Yankee I was strategic nuclear deterrence, ensuring the capability to deliver retaliatory strikes against enemy targets in the event of a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. Secondary roles may have included intelligence gathering and underwater surveillance, leveraging the submarine's inherent stealth capabilities. However, the primary focus remained on maintaining a credible second-strike capability. The vessel would typically patrol within designated areas of the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, remaining submerged for extended periods to minimize the risk of detection. The presence of the SS-N-6 Serb missiles significantly extended the Soviet Navy's strategic reach, providing a more survivable alternative to land-based ICBMs.

The PLARB-667AU benefitted from a suite of sensors designed to aid in navigation, target detection, and self-defense. The 'Shark Teeth' [MKG-100 Kerch] and 'Shark Fin' [MKG-100 Kerch] sonars provided active and passive acoustic detection capabilities, essential for detecting surface ships and other submarines. The 'Park Lamp' system likely functioned as an electronic warfare support measure (ESM), detecting and analyzing enemy radar emissions. 'Snoop Tray 1' [RLK-101 Albatross] provided radar capabilities for surface search and navigation. The 'Brick Pulp' [MRP-10] radar system offered a more robust and high-power radar capability, further enhancing surface detection. The presence of 'Mine Avoidance' [MG-14 Arfa-G] demonstrates an awareness of mine warfare threats and an effort to mitigate them. The two periscopes, one optical and one with low-light television (LLTV), provide visual observation capabilities, particularly useful in shallow waters or for identifying surface contacts. The 533mm torpedo tubes would have been used against surface ships and submarines, while the 400mm torpedo tubes were potentially for smaller anti-submarine torpedoes or countermeasures.

SPECIFICATION: Length: 128.0 m || Beam: 11.7 m || Draft: 7.9 m || Disp: 7770 t

SENSORS: Shark Teeth [MKG-100 Kerch] || Shark Fin [MKG-100 Kerch] || Park Lamp || Snoop Tray 1 [RLK-101 Albatross] || Brick Pulp [MRP-10] || Generic Acoustic Intercept || Mine Avoidance [MG-14 Arfa-G] || Generic Submarine Periscope, Optical || Generic Submarine Periscope, LLTV

ARMAMENT: 533mm TT || Signal Ejector || SS-N-6 Serb Mod 2 SLBM || 400mm TT