Russian Boat Design

[redboat219]

Questions about Russian boats design:

1. Is there a reason why they prefer to use that bulbous sail instead of the
usual foil shaped sail?

2. How come Russian boat don't use anhedrals like those on the LA, Seawolf
or Virginia class?

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Questions about Russian boats design:

1. Is there a reason why they prefer to use that bulbous sail instead of the
usual foil shaped sail?

2. How come Russian boat don't use anhedrals like those on the LA, Seawolf
or Virginia class?

Different Russian design offices have different design philosophies -- the Rubin design office goes for 'American style' sails, with the attendant sail-foil-roll problems. But, that sail is very user friendly when it come to housing and deploying retractable masts.

Another design office over there likes the 'blended', i.e. blended sail. We see these on NOVEMBER, ALFA, and AKULA class boats.

The blended sail contributes much less foil roll force in a high-slip turn than the foil shaped sail, but is harder to manage all the masts needed for normal operations.

The Russians favor different means to deploy and stream their towed sensors -- and apparently either don't appreciate the stabilizing forces (unlikely) of the anhedrals, or don't see the need. The Russian's may drive their boats within the bounds of a more conservative performance envelope than we hot-dog American's.

I don't know ... I was a dumb Torpedoman, for Cripe's sake! Our motto was: "I may not know how to spell it, but I can lift it!".

I make this crap up as I go.

David,