SUBMARINE SALVAGE OPERATIONS, SARANNAYA BAY, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00171R000301560001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 1, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/30: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000301560001-7
SUBMARINE SALVAGE OPERATIONS,
SARANNAYA BAY, USSR (S)
INTRODUCTION
3. This report contains one location map, one conceptional drawing, six annotated satellite
photographs, and one ground photo (Figure 2) of an operational C-I. (S/WN)
DISCUSSION
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The Salvage Force
4. The C-I departed Petropavlovsk K Missile Loading Facility on 0 for 25X1
operations in the Sarannaya Bay area. After the apparent occurrence of some type of equipment failure
(possibly in the aft machinery spaces), the submarine sank in approximately 38 meters of water near 52-
45-OON 158-35-OOE. (S/WN)
5. The Soviets assembled a large salvage force with ships from the Petropavlovsk and Vladivostok
areas. C3 was provided by the Admiral Senyavin, a Sverdlov-class light cruiser (CL; flagship for the Pacific
Fleet) and a Desna-class experimental auxiliary (AGE). In addition, a Don-class submarine tender (AS),
which has extensive C3 capabilities, was also present. Salvage vessels at the site included a Prut-class
submarine rescue ship (ASR), a T-58 ASR, an Ingul-class salvage and rescue ship (ARS), a Mikhail
Rudnitskiy ARS (equipped with a submersible), and a Katun ARS. A civilian Bogatyr-class floating crane
(YD) and a smaller YD provided the primary lifting capability for the operation. Additional units involved
included a Vala-class special liquids tanker (AOS), a Sura-class buoy tender (AGL), two Yelva-class diving
tenders (YDT), a Voda-class water tanker (AW), tugs, survey ships, torpedo retrievers, and replenishment
ships. Six mooring buoys were positioned around the primary salvage units and a Grisha-Ill Corvette (FFL)
provided security for operations. Figure 3 shows a portion of the salvage force assembled in the bay
during the recovery. (S/WN)
6. The Pacific Fleet's class auxiliary submarine (SSA), designed specifically for submarine salvage and
rescue, was unavailable for the C-I salvage operation. It was undergoing modification at Vladivostok
Naval Base and Shipyard, 202 to carry larger submersibles. One of the five submersibles 25X1
known to be in the Vladivostok area was not observed afte~and may have been used at Sarannaya 25X1
Bay. Of the remaining four submersibles, two were at Vladivostok 202 and two were at Vladivostok
Submarine Base Ulisa Bay (S/WN) 25X1
Initial Recovery Operations
7. During July, bad weather obscured Sarannaya Bay several times. In mid-July, on the first
coverages of the area after the C- I sank, little activity was discernible. The Prut ASR and the Bogatyr YD
were precision moored over the submarine salvage site. The two Yelva YDTs were positioned next to the
Bogatyr-class YD (Figure 4), and the remaining ships in the salvage force were anchored in close
proximity. By~ the Bogatyr YD had returned to Petropavlovsk Port Facilities . On[-] 25X1
the YD, with a possible salvage float alongside, was seen 2 nm west of the salvage site. It is not 25X1
known why the crane was at this location, although it may have been directly related to later activity
observed there on the YD, with a pair of diving tenders, had returned to the site. 25X1
(S/WN)
Raising the C-I
8. Actual raising of the C-I probably began on I The possible method of salvage involved 25X1
attaching salvage floats (suspended in the water) to the hull and filling them with sufficient air to create a
*The C-I was initially deployed between 1967 and 1973 and is the first class of Soviet submarine to carry cruise missiles that can be
launched from a submerged platform. It is equipped with eight SS-N-7 antiship cruise missiles housed in the bow in two canted
rows of four and has six forward torpedo tubes.2 (S/WN)
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state of equilibrium for the submarine. In this state, at least part of the submarine's dead weight is
neutralized and the new weight of the hull is within the lifting capacity of a YD. The C-I has a submerged
displacement of 4,780 metric tons and the Bogatyr class YD, such as the one employed in Sarannaya Bay,
has a lift capacity of 300 tons.2 Probably through the use of this technique, the C-I, along with the
Prut/YD combination, was gradually moved closer to the shore (Figure 5). The gradual, staged movement
avoided an uncontrolled surfacing by the submarine. The C-I salvage operation culminated in surfacing
the hull and restoring watertight integrity. (S/WN)
9. The C-I was refloated between The partially-raised submarine was first observed 25X1
in a stern-down position, with the hull aft of the sail still submerged (Figure 6). Two of the salvage floats
were placed abreast of the sail and two were attached to the stern. Because the stern was submerged with
the salvage floats positioned around it, major flooding may have occurred in the aft (machinery) spaces.
Discoloration on the forward outer hull plating possibly indicated damage to the anechoic coating caused
by either the accident or the salvage operation itself. The BRICK PULP electronic support measures (ESM)
antenna on the submarine was in a raised position; the reason for this position is unclear. The antenna
has also been in a raised position on subsequent coverages. (S/WN)
10. The submarine, still between the Prut ASR and the YD, was gradually moved by to a 25X1
position about 2 nm west of the original salvage site. The shallower water and the sheltered harbor in this
area offered more protection from the elements. By0 the entire submarine was visible and was 25X1
floating in almost normal trim, without the aid of the salvage floats or pumping (Figure 7). Evidence of
apparent watertight integrity after only a few days on the surface suggests that the pressure hull and the
ballast tanks were probably undamaged. (S/WN)
Repairs
11. Onl the C-I SSGN was at Petropavlovsk K Naval Missile Loading Facility, probably 25X1
offloading missiles before beginning repairs (Figure 8). The bow diving planes and the Brick Pulp antenna
were deployed, and discoloration was still visible on the hull. Several of the vessels involved in the
salvage operation also returned to the Petropavlovsk area on that date, including the Prut ASR, two Yelva
YDT, the Bogatyr YD, and several tugs. Only a Sura AGL remained in Sarannaya Bay in the vicinity of the
salvage site. (S/WN)
12. Between the C-I was robabl placed in the covered floating drydock (YFDM) 25X1
at Petropavlovsk K Shipyard Seldavaya Bay East for a complete visual inspection of its hull. 25X1
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By the C-I was removed from the covered drydock, transferred to a pier at Petropavlovsk K
Naval Base and Shipyard Seldava a Ba and was berthed outboard a V-I nuclear-powered
attack submarine (Figure 9). By all eight missile tube doors were open and the outer hull
plating over the engineering spaces in the reactor area had been removed. The discoloration on the port
side of the hull was still visible. The hatch covering the escape chamber forward of the sail appeared to
have been removed, and the BRICK PULP ESM antenna was still extended. (S/WN)
13. The C-I may remain at Petropavlovsk until repairs are complete or may be moved to Petrovka
Naval Base and Shipyard which has more extensive repair facilities. (S/WN)
Aftermath
14. The Soviet Navy has 11 C-I SSGNs. Five have been assigned to the Northern Fleet and six to the
Pacific Fleet. Since the C-I accident in Sarannaya Bay, a C-I from the Northern Fleet has completed an_
under ice transfer to the Pacific Fleet, possibly as a replacement for the damaged C-I. (S/WN)
IMAGERY
All applicable satellite imagery acquired from mid-July 1983 through early October 1983 was used in the
preparation of this report. (S/WN)
DOCUMENTS
1. NAVOPINTCEN. 272256Z Jul 83, Soviet Submarine Casualty in Sarannaya Bay, 24 June 1983
2. DIA. DST-1210H-049-79, Naval Ship Characteristics-USSR Combatants (U), Nov 79 (SECRET/NOFORN*)
*Extracted information
Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to
Soviet Strategic Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
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SC-628276/83 Top Secret
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