Russian submarine hit by missiles now in new hiding place in Sevastopol
Naval News
By H.I. Sutton
7 June 2024
The submarine was hit by Storm Shadow / SCALP cruise missiles in Sevastopol on September 13 2023. Although limited information is available from inside the submarine, the damage has been assessed to be extensive. The submarine is now being hidden deeper in the port.
The Russian Navy Kilo Class submarine which was hit by Storm Shadow / SCALP cruise missiles has been moved. The Rostov on Don is now in a new hiding place further inside the Crimean port of Sevastopol. It is camouflaged but has not gone unnoticed.
H I Sutton 07 Jun 2024
The Russian Navy’s Improved-KILO class submarines remain a major concern for Ukraine. They are used to launch Kalibr cruise missiles, with some likely involved in the massive missile attacks on Ukraine on June 1 2024. And they pose a persistent threat to merchant ships sailing to and from Ukraine’s remaining Black Sea ports.
But one of these submarines, the Rostov-on-Don (B-237), was taken out by cruise missiles in September last year.
Analysis of multiple sources confirms that the submarine, the only hit so far, has now been moved. The submarine has been hidden deeper in the port. The fact that it is still in a dock reinforces the assessment that she is not seaworthy.
Strike On The Russian Submarine
On September 13 2023 Ukrainian missiles struck the Project 636.3 Improved-Kilo Class submarine Rostov-on-Don (B-237) while it was in a dry dock in Sevastopol. In one fell swoop the cruise missiles knocked out both a valuable submarine and the dry dock it was in.
It has taken months to clear the wrecked submarine from the dry dock. And indications are that it will not be returning to the fight.
The submarine has now been moved to a lesser used dry dock within the port, in the vicinity of 44.6125º, 33.5566º. Camouflage nets have been thrown up to disguise its presence and to make observation more challenging.
The submarine has been moved from the location of the strike to a floating dock deeper in the port.
Sevastopol No Longer Safe For The Russian Navy
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 Sevastopol was a safe haven for the Russian Navy. All of the major warships, including the flagship cruiser Moskva, and all Kilo class submarines, were based there. However Ukrainian drones started to threaten the base in late 2022. The missile strike on Rostov on Don, and a landing ship Minsk, in September 2023, marked the arrival of more potent missiles.
The British and French supplied Storm Shadow / SCALP cruise missiles have led to Russia evacuating almost all of its major warships and submarines much further east to Novorossiysk.
The U.S. supplied ATACMS missiles have only reinforced this, being responsible for sinking a missile corvette Tsiklon in the port in May 2024.
Importance Of The Dry Dock In Sevastopol
Moving the submarine to a smaller dock frees up the dry dock for other vessels. Many of the Black Sea Fleet’s ships are likely overdue dry dock maintenance. We can expect to see various warships brought in to Sevastopol for important maintenance. During this they will be particularly vulnerable to Ukrainian ATACMS and Storm Shadow strikes.
Although there is broad consensus among serious analysts that the submarine is a write-off, Russian sources had claimed that it was only lightly damaged and would return to the war. Analysts will be watching this closely.
The attempt at camouflage may also be aimed at maintaining the impression that the submarine may be returned to service. Russian propaganda is designed to hide embarrassing losses from their population as much as from the enemy.