Submarines: August 13, 2003

Archives

Last week Russia launched a new type of submarine ("Project 210") that had been building, in secrecy, since the late 1980s. It's a nuclear powered boat with odd, spherical shapes. This led it be nicknamed "Losharik", after a popular Russian cartoon character. The only information about the boat is that it can dive to 20,000 feet, and will be used for rescuing crews from other subs stuck underwater and for "special operations." The sub is also said to be the quietest Russia has ever built. Construction was said to have been delayed by a lack of money, which slowed down or halted many ship building projects.