The submarine’s massive size and quiet operation—owing to advanced sound-dampening technologies—made it a formidable ghost in the deep.
Back in 2023, the Dmitry Donskoy (TK-208), the first unit produced of the Soviet-era Typhoon-class nuclear-powered submarine, was decommissioned. After more than two years of hemming-and-hawing, Russian sources report that the decision on the fate of this iconic submarine—made famous by the hit film The Hunt for Red October—has finally been made.
Thankfully, rather than being broken down into scrap, Russia has opted instead to make the submarine a museum ship based in St. Petersburg.
The USSR’s Fearsome Akula-class Subs
The TK-208 was laid down on June 30, 1976, at the legendary Soviet Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. This facility, by the way, was renowned for constructing some of the Soviet Union’s most iconic and advanced submarines. Crafted by the Rubin Design Bureau during the height of the Cold War, the Typhoon-class (its NATO reporting name) was known in the USSR as the Project 941 Akula-class.
At the time it was conceived, Moscow sought a submarine capable of carrying an unprecedented number of ballistic missiles, ensuring the Soviets possessed a robust second-strike capability in the event that the Cold War turned nuclear-hot. This undersea beast was eventually launched in 1980 and commissioned in the Soviet Red Fleet in 1982.
Typhoon-class submarines were distinctive, featuring a multi-hull configuration with two parallel pressure hulls encased with an outer hull, a layout that enhanced survivability but still provided ample space for its armament. Powered by two OK-650 pressurized-water nuclear reactors, each delivering 120,700 horsepower, and supplemented by steam turbines, the TK-208 could achieve speeds of 12 knots (13 miles) per hour while surfaced and 27 knots (31 mph) while submerged.
These subs had an operational depth of 1,312 feet. Its crew of 160 operated a vessel equipped with luxurious amenities for its time, including a sauna, swimming pool, and gymnasium—features intended to sustain morale during extended missions beneath the Arctic ice.
The Submarine Was Ready for Armageddon
As for its primary armaments, these were the stuff of nightmares. They had 20 R-39 Rif (NATO reporting name SS-N-20 Sturgeon) submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), each capable of carrying multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). That arsenal, combined with the submarine’s ability to launch from submerged positions under ice cover, made the TK-208 a cornerstone of the Soviet Union’s nuclear deterrence. Additional weapons included four 533mm and two 650mm torpedo tubes capable of firing a mix of conventional torpedoes and cruise missiles, such as the RPK-2 Viyuga and RPK-7 Vodopad.
TK-208 joined the Soviet Northern Fleet in 1982. Its early years were marked by Cold War tensions, as it patrolled the Arctic, a region critical for concealing missile submarines from American detection. The submarine’s massive size and quiet operation—owing to advanced sound-dampening technologies—made it a formidable ghost in the deep, embodying the Soviet strategy of projecting power through strategic ambiguity.
The Typhoon’s Post-Cold War History
In 1987, TK-208 earned a place on the Soviet Navy’s Roll of Honor. Two years thereafter, in 1989, it was recognized on the Ministry of Defense’s Honors Board, further reflecting its operational excellence.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, the subsequent Russian Federation was plagued by budget crises. That economic turmoil harmed TK-208, which by 1991 had been placed at Sevmash for modernization under Project 941U. Work finally resumed in 1996 under the updated Project 941UM, focusing on adapting the submarine to test the new RSM-56 Bulava SLBM, a lighter and more advanced missile intended to replace the older R-39. After a 12-year overhaul, the TK-208 rejoined the Northern Fleet on July 26, 2002.
Upon her relaunch, and in keeping with the Putin government’s commitment to restoring Russia’s linkages with her historic past following decades of Soviet repression, TK-208 was renamed the Dmitry Donskoy, after legendary Grand Duke of Moscow Dmitry Donskoy—who lived from 1359-1389 and is credited with successfully defeating the Mongol Golden Horde at the Battle of Kulikova.
A Happy Ending for a Legendary Submarine
From 2005-2010, the Dmitry Donskoy served as a test platform for the Bulava missile, conducting its first launch on September 27, 2005, from the White Sea, followed by an underwater test on December 21 of that year.
During that second test, the Bulava missile successfully struck the Kura Test Range on Kamchatka. But by 2010, the Bulava testing role shifted to the newer Borei-class submarines, relegating the Dmitry Donskoy to secondary duties, including fleet exercises, parades, and support for trials of other vessels, such as the Krasnoyarsk in 2022. Inevitably, the newer and smaller Borei-class submarines replaced the aging Typhoon-class boats. By February 2023, the Northern Fleet officially confirmed its decommissioning.
However, after much back-and-forth, Russian veterans’ groups managed to successfully lobby the Russian government to preserve the Dmitry Donskoy as a unique cultural and historical artifact. Today, the submarine is set to become a military museum in Saint Petersburg, where future generations can learn about this important facet of Russia’s Cold War-era naval history.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Irina Veselova.
